Jun 252016
 

Yesterday the day started out well, removing the plaque under twilight anesthesia.  When I returned home I learned that the Otis Elevator Company had screwed up my life.  They came to fix the elevator and told the managers they would be done that day.  They disassembled the elevator, told the managers they needed a part that they could not get until Monday and left.  When I returned from surgery, nobody knew how to get me up to the third floor.  The manager called the Fire Department and asked for help.  They refused.  They suggested I go stay with a friend.  The one I could have stayed with ism in NJ.  Finally, they collected four husky guys, who work at other company buildings.  I put on George, and with my arms around the shoulders of two of the guys, I climbed up to the third floor.  Two more guys carried my chair.  That’s the first time I’ve climbed more than three steps.  I was thoroughly winded and sweat soaked.That was the last thing I was supposed to be doing the day of surgery.  Today I removed the patch from my eye for the first time, but I still need to wear it to sleep for protection.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:27 (7:41).  To do it click here.  How did you so?

Killer Dawg and Eye Update:

IMG_0176

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Across the United Kingdom on Friday, Britons mourned their long-cherished right to claim that Americans were significantly dumber than they are.

Luxuriating in the superiority of their intellect over Americans’ has long been a favorite pastime in Britain, surpassing in popularity such games as cricket, darts, and snooker.

But, according to Alistair Dorrinson, a pub owner in North London, British voters have done irreparable damage to the “most enjoyable sport this nation has ever known: namely, treating Americans like idiots.”

“When our countrymen cast their votes yesterday, they didn’t realize they were destroying the most precious leisure activity this nation has ever known,” he said. “Wankers.”

Andy could not be more literal!

From Daily Kos: Look out, Sen. Richard Burr. Democrat Deborah Ross is nipping at your heels. From Public Policy Polling:

We continue to find him with just a narrow lead over Deborah Ross for reelection—40/37, with Libertarian Sean Haugh at 5%. The overall state of the race remains steady—Burr is unpopular, with only 30% of voters approving of the job he’s doing to 40% who disapprove. That makes voters open to a change. But Ross is currently unknown with 62% of voters having no opinion about her one way or another. They’re open to the possibility of replacing Burr but don’t know enough about Ross yet to decide if they think she would be an upgrade.

“Richard Burr’s the most vulnerable Republican Senator that no one’s talking about,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “His numbers aren’t any better than those of folks like Pat Toomey and Rob Portman who are widely accepted to be facing tough reelections.”

That puts Ross within the 3.2 percent margin of error in this poll.

Here’s what I need to know about Ross. She isn’t Burr!!  Vote Blue!!

From Media Matters: A review of coverage of major speeches this week by presumptive presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump finds that CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News all devoted at least twice as much coverage directly before and after the speeches to commenting on Trump’s speech than they did Clinton’s two speeches combined.

Media Matters counted how much time the three networks spent discussing the speeches before and after they aired. Comparing how much attention the networks give to the speeches is a way of determining the relative importance they are assigned. In their coverage of this week’s speeches, the networks have treated Trump speaking as a major event worthy of substantial coverage both before and after he begins speaking. They did not afford the same status to Clinton.

0625clinton_trump2

And the Republican Reich calls MSNBC librul!

Cartoon:

0625Cartoon

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  13 Responses to “Open Thread – 6/25/2016”

  1. How ghastly!  Yet a good thing you do have George–it might not have worked otherwise.

    Some say this is a result of US foreign policy:

    How Western Military Interventions Shaped the Brexit Vote

    Michael Hudson argues that military interventions in the Middle East created refugee streams to Europe that were in turn used by the anti-immigrant right to stir up xenophobia
    http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=16612

    A media ploy to keep her in line with VP choice and what platform positions she'll choose to actually support?

    Reminds me of yesteryear in Los Angeles.

  2. 7:57  A repeat, but still the Hardest. Puzzle. Ever.  You be careful, TC – a cat in France was brought in to the vet nearly dead and it turned out she had been munching carpet.  She needed 21 incisions – not stitches, but 21 (vingt et une) separate incisions – to save her.

    What a horrible experience.  So glad you survived it and even managed to pose for a cute picture.  (Killer Dawg is also cute.) 

    New Yorker – Andy often uses Harland Dorrinson as a stock character.  I love that for a Brit he made it Alistair Dorrinson.  (The rest of the article is maybe too true to be funny.)

    Daily Kos – And this is in North Carolina, where they really need some blue.  Good luck to her!

    Media Matters – Jeez Louise.  And Faux Noise covered both of them the least.  WTF is Faux covering instead?  Wait – wait – don't tell me – I don't think I want to know!

    Cartoon – Exactly.  I didn't reealize there was so much of it in England, but apparently there is.  Sigh.

  3. I'm so glad to hear that the operation went as planned and nothing untoward, but Murohy must have had it in for you, TomCat. Those elevator repairmen must have been working for the Republicans, no one els could have done something as stupid, careless totaly without empathy as leaving an elevator in a residential building out of order from Friday afternoon until Monday morning, and went home to enjoy an early start of the weekend. What were they NOT thinking! Please make sure you get plenty of rest now.

    TNY: Andy's not thrilled by what happened in the UK, that's for sure. A similar thing happening in America looming, getting to close for comfort.

    DK: If Burr is the vilnerable Republican senator nobody's talking about, then time has come to have dim the lights on him, have the spotlights turned on Ross and talk an awful lot about her. Familiarize those disgruntled Republicans with her and her accomplishment and she'll steal his seat right from under him.

    DK: I didn't know Rupert Murdoch had already taken over CNN and MSNBC, I thought he was still negotiating the deal.

    Cartoon: Can't see the polution from the fumes?

  4. Very sorry to hear about the elevator travesty.  Heaven forbid it ever happens again, but maybe using a refrigerator dolly would work.  They typically have a wide platform and securing straps.  Plus you could hold on yourself, and with four guys to secure you it might be an alternative.  (But probably a bit bumpy)

    If that is a picture of you and killer dog after you got up – I'll be much releived.  You both look great!

  5. Puzzle — 5:08  I agree with JD — that is a repeat and probably the hardest puzzle yet.  I studied the picture first to see the direction of the swirls and curls which really helped.

    The New Yorker — And here I thought that English football (soccer) was the most precious leisure activity.  Although now that I think about it, football is a calling . . . almost a religion!  Let's hope that the final British wish does not come true.   . . . that damn ditch!

    Daily Kos — Ross may not have the same name recognition, but she is not without legislative experience having been a member of the North Carolina General Assembly.  She launched Women Trust Ross, a statewide grassroots network of women.  Her website states "… I'll work for the people, not the powerful."  I agree with you TC

    VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO!

    Media Matters — With many right wing nut jobs crying foul over the "librul" media, it makes me wonder what the hell they are watching!

    Cartoon — I don't know where that is but suspect it is not China — you can still see some green trees and vehicles.  Either way, this is a disgusting bloody mess to leave for future generations.

    Lookin' good dude! . . . dawg too! . . . and nobody is glowing in the dark!  Your return home was without doubt a frightful experience, something that should never have happened.  Having fallen and broken my ankle 15 years ago, going up any number of stairs on one leg is not for the faint of heart. (I used to go up and down stairs in the house on my butt when I was really tired.)

    • What made this puzzle so rough is the multiple-way symmetry.  Top to bottom, left to right, upper left corner to lower right, lower left corner to upper right – all are symmetrical  So any given piece could possibly go in four different places.  Well, maybe not all four, since the pieces are al presented upright, but at least two.  Imagine if the pieces could be turned four ways.

  6. I'm relieved to read that you made it up to your apartment, safe and sound, with the men  helping you. Take good care, and rest, and relax. What a sweet picture of you, and Killer Dawg is adorable.

    Thanks, Tom.

  7. Damn good picture!  boy, that was all you needed!  apparently, hopefully, the stress did not hurt your eyes, or your recovery.

    Andy:  Almost caught me off guard, believing again.

    DK: Go Ross!

    MM: What is it that happens, Rumpy's idiocy brings more viewers to the show, to see just what new puss can pour out of his mouth?  So, the media goes where the money is.

     

  8. Wow, what a terrible way to spend your day after surgery!  I think you should convince Julie to leave Killer Dawg with you.

    The New Yorker:  Leave it to Andy.  He says what the rest of us think but don't know how to explain.

    Daily Kos:  Ross sounds like someone I would vote for, I hope she wins!

    Media Matters:  All of the networks have given Trump more press than anyone else since the nomination process started.  It seems to me that they want him elected.  Corporate owned companies protect their masters.

    Cartoon:  That is what the coal companies have said here for years as we watched our streams and rivers turn to muck.

     

  9. Thanks all!!  Hugs!!

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