I'm sitting here trying to finish this post and I have been hearing the music from that infernal ice cream truck for the past half hour. It is making yet another run through the complex. Is there a penalty for knocking that musical ditty into next week? Luckily, my kids could not care less. I suppose that is one small blessing. Today has been hot again — 31 C (88 F) — but by Friday, Canada Day, temperatures should come down a bit. On Friday, Canada will be 149 years old, while on Monday, the US will be 237 years old, so this weekend will be full of picnics, outings, and fireworks. I am staying close to home with the furbabes. But for those who like to celebrate in a big way, be safe and
PARTY HARDY!!!
Short Takes
Alternet — Samantha Bee is back, and in fine form!
Sam nails it like usual! When I saw the markets tumbling earlier this week as a result of the Brexit vote, I kept saying to myself, "don't panic" and "don't rush to a hasty judgement", advice I would give my clients when I was working in investments. I hear the markets have now fully recovered, or at least the TSX (Canada) and the DOW (US).
YouTube — Published on Mar 11, 2016
Tonight on Real Time, Bill Maher left a guest speechless. Moreover, the audience did, too, when they began cheering so loudly that the speakers had to pause. The first time was when Maher mentioned that a Donald Trump rally in Chicago was canceled because of protesters. The second time was when Bill Kristol brought up how successfully Bernie Sanders has been relying on private donations to fund his campaign.
Bill is always funny and of course irreverent. The token Drumpf supporter is shut down.
Think Progress — Colorado Republicans nominated El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, a former Colorado Springs councilman and self-described “unapologetic Christian constitutional conservative pro-life second amendment-loving American,” for U.S. Senate on Tuesday. Despite his paltry campaign fundraising and his vow to oppose keeping Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as his party leader, Glenn easily beat the establishment favorite. He received endorsements from Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who he has said he would like to see appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK).
In an April state Republican convention speech, Glenn told the party faithful, “The one dorsed by Ted CruzI’m absolutely tired of hearing is Republicans reaching across the aisle. We need to step up and lead, ladies and gentlemen, I’m tired ofbeen en reaching across the aisle.” Here are some of the positions he would take with him to Washington if pseudo Christian nut job, defeats Sen. Michael Bennet (D) in November.
He does not believe the U.S. armed forces need follow war crimes laws.
As part of his speech at the Colorado GOP convention in April, Glenn also suggested getting rid of war crimes rules for the military. “We need to make sure our men and women are given the necessary tools and training and equipment to do their jobs, remove those rules of engagement and allow them to win,” he said. While the U.S. military has generally been given a wide berth in war times, such a move would have meant those involved in the My Lai massacre and the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal would not have been subject to any punishment.
From what I can see, this is one scary Republican and Coloradans better beware! He has been endorsed by Ted Cruz, Republican pseudo Christian nut job, and by Bullseye Barbie, Sarah Palin, or as Jim P calls her, Sarah Palinsane. Just read the article to get his positions on six other issues. JD, is Darryl Glenn in your neck of the woods? Have you any additional information you can share?
My Universe — After seeing this dog "kill" BB-8 by decapitation, and having just seen an ad for it at $170 (Canada), I was worried about this expensive toy. Turns out the head does come off and you just put it back on — held on by magnets. It really is quite interesting but I will not be getting one.
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Cross posted to Care2
http://www.care2.com/news/member/775377582/3995828
It's June 30th when I write this so I think I can say: Have a Happy Canada Day tomorrow, Lynn, and the same to all Canadians of course. Enjoy the day, you've got the weather for it.
Alternet: Thanks for the Sam Bee video.Lynn. She's deliciously politically incorrect spot-on again. As you say, the markets are coming back to normal levels now, but their's is an uncertain future in Europe and especially in the UK with a government AND opposition completely in shambles and leaderless. They've put initiating a Brexit off until the Tories have chosen a new PM, but that may continue until after new elections have been held and then… Meanwhile no one knows how new elections would turn out as both major parties are in shambles, which might give UKIP an advantage – as many of its supporters don't give a toss about being lied to by Farage – and which would further split the country.
People who have voted for a Brexit seem belong to three distinct groups (in no particular order): one who's members voted 'out' out of protest against the establishment, who didn't think their vote would matter and are now shocked and scared now Britain is actually going to leave the EU. The next group wanted to leave because they believed the promises made by the 'out' campaigners that things would go better for Britain but now realize they've been lied to as both Farage and Johnson are backtracking fast. The last group wants to keep immigrants from coming to England, with some of this group only who want to keep EU workers out, others who want to keep all immigrants out, and some who even want to deport all immigrants. The third group has been the most vocal, leading to nasty anti-immigrant incidents already, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are the majority, which probably is the forth group of all those who wanted to leave and still do so, but aren't necessarily strongly anti-Europe or anti-immigrant.
You Tube: Since this Real Time in March nothing much has changed, has it. The media are little more careful with their mindless promotion of Drumpf's propaganda and are pointing out his lies now and again, but now the GOP establishment is supporting Drumpf and have adopted the same method of trying to make what Herr Drumpf says more palatable as all of his followers use, by coming up with all kinds of excuses why he has said that, or didn't really mean it, or was misinterpreted or…whatever.
TP: I have to be honest; reading the article about “unapologetic Christian constitutional conservative pro-life second amendment-loving American” Darryl Glenn, made me think: "Dear me, this love-child of Drumpf and Cruz has beat the establishment favorite because he gives the GOP the Drumpf-plus-Cruz extremism plus the so much needed African-American look. There's little 'black' in his political views, they're all on the Republican's right hand (TP) side, but he's got the look, and after Carson the Republicans desperately need that on board again".
My Universe: "The Bark side Awakens", so aptly named. I'm with you on the toy, Lynn. It's ridiculous to spend CD$170 on a toy you want to rip the head off after 5 seconds. 😉
Farage is like Drumpf . . . HuffPost will have to put an editor's note, a disclaimer on all articles.
Well, Colorado Springs – home to "Focus on the Family" and US Air Force Academy – is a pretty well-entrenched bastion of right-wing politics.
But with this sentence: “Unapologetic Christian constitutional conservative pro-life second amendment-loving American” I hereby award Darryl Glenn the "Most Oxymorons Packed Into One Sentence Certificate".
That BB-8 Droid toy really is pretty slick. While watching IT on the YouTube video there was a pop-out that said it was $60 at “Toys R Us”. But that’s probably the cheaper battery one rather than the rechargeable one that I found at Amazon for $130.
Anyone have any experience or knowledge about it? Reviews said it’ll work on carpeting, but slows down (depending on the pile of the carpet).
Does it get old for the critter?
Glenn is some piece of work, isn't he! Award well deserved!
AlterNet – So I hear Boris is out of the race, and who is this Michael Gove person? Not to mention Angels mini-Margaret-Thatcher? And don't those angry old ladies look ANGRY? Not that angry old ladies are a bad thing, if we are angry about the right things!
YouTube classic – Ah yes, that was when there were still two or three people in America who were not afraid of Trump.
Think Progress – And he only won because Jon Keyser was caught in election fraud – it wasn't the fraud itself – it was the getting very publicly caught. Daily Kos elections rates this race "Lean Democrat" and expects to color it bluer as we get closer. But of course, that's NOT a reason not to vote. I do not live inside the city limits of Colorado Springs so have never had the opportunity to vote against him, but of course I will now. Can we think about something just a little happier? Misty Plowright, who won the Democratic primary to be on the ballot opposing Doug Lamborn, is one of the first two transgender women ever to be on the ballot for a national office. (The other, in Utah, is also named Misty.) Umfortunately, both are in extremely dark red fights, but even the nomination is something. I voted for Misty Plowright and just sent her a small end-of quarter donation, mostly symbolic, alas.
Universe – Two thoughts – first, a toy that can make a sweet Lab into a killer, even in self defense, is probably not a good toy. Second, what if he swallowed that head? It's too small for a Lab. It might be big enough for a cat – if the cat didn't mistake those beeps for a vacuum cleaner or something and panic.
The toy head, being held just with magnets, got a "CHOKING" warrning at Amazon – but that's for kids.
The pediatric rule of thumb that anything that passes through a toilet roll tube is TOO SMALL – and so a choking hazard. Don't know about for dogs because so many sizes, but I'm sure it's too big for my cat to be a concern.
While we're on choking hazards – just a word about introducing solid foods to kids: They should be help to DISSOLVE MELT or CRUMBLE.
Don't know how many times I've seen parents give their kids a hot dog at 9-12 months of age (or younger). They're usually OK when I preface I'm a pediatrician and gently point out that I just want them to be aware that hot dogs at that age are a choking hazard … and ask if they're familiar with the Heimlich protocol for infants.
Then again, I've also been told to "Mind your own f**king business" too.
Check my next Open Thread for a bit about Gove. He is a conniving low-life. Notice how his name rhymes with a certain American low-life . . . Rove!
Happy Birthday to our wonderful northern country and its people, Canada.
Alternet: Buyer's remorse for voting YES to Brexit. Voting against your personal beliefs does have its consequences.
Bill Maher: In fine form as he shuts down a Drumpf supporter with cheering help from the audience.
Think Progress: Voters should be leery and worry about Darryl Glenn getting elected. Glenn's political positions are an extremist Tea Party right-winger. Glenn has been endorsed by loser pseudo Christian Sen. Ted Cruz & word salad ranter Sarah Palinsane. A self-described…“unapologetic Christian constitutional conservative pro-life second amendment-loving American” Darryl Glenn, made me choke. A confounding description in one sentence!
As for his statement "He does not believe the U.S. armed forces need follow war crimes laws." We need to let Glenn know that most americans hold a higher standard of conduct for and in our military.
Like most of us in PP, we are still waiting for Bushy, Cheney, Rumsfeld to be tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the hague.
Universe: Cute pup with BB-8 toy. lol.
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Jim, I think the majority of Americans have higher standards than any Republican on most subjects.
Thanks all!