May 062017
 

I got some sleep last night, and I must have been really tired as I napped again this morning.  Tomorrow Wendy will be here to de-stink the sticky TomCat and help with assorted chores, including the dreaded task, so please expect no more that a Personal Update or an Open Thread.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:47 (average 5:08).  To di it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Jeff Merkley [D-OR]: In response to President Trump’s executive orders removing protections and moving to reopen risky offshore drilling, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today re-introduced the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, a major piece of legislation to permanently protect the Arctic from offshore drilling.

The legislation would prevent any new or renewed leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other mineral in the Arctic Ocean planning area.

“Opening up new areas to oil exploration in the Arctic at a time when we are already dealing with the devastating impacts of climate change is the height of irresponsibility. The Trump administration’s reckless efforts to open a vast new source of carbon pollution would threaten local communities, resources and ecosystems, while exacerbating the climate change already damaging our economy and environment,” said Merkley. “The Arctic is much too fragile to withstand the type of oil spill that would be inevitable if drilling proceeds. In order to prevent environmental catastrophe, we must put the Arctic Ocean completely and permanently off limits to drilling.”

The Department of the Interior estimates that there is a 75 percent chance of a large oil spill, exceeding 42,000 gallons, should drilling leases in the Arctic be developed. The Arctic has one of the world’s most delicate ecosystems, as well as some of the most extreme and dangerous navigational conditions, severely limiting ability to respond to an oil spill or accident. To date, there has not been a successful oil and gas operation in the Arctic Ocean. Shell’s initial 2012 venture into the Arctic resulted in an abandoned oil rig and a Coast Guard operation to save eight lives.

The Arctic is also home to endangered species such as bowhead whales, polar bears and ringed seals, as well as invaluable and fragile ecosystems that are critical to local fisheries, indigenous populations and subsistence hunters. Drilling operations in the Arctic Ocean will threaten these species and communities, all for oil that will set back efforts to transition to a clean energy economy.

Because of these costs and dangers, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management removed Arctic Ocean leases from its five-year program for oil and gas development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Additionally, former President Obama, in conjunction with actions by the Canadian government, moved to permanently protect large areas of the Arctic Ocean from offshore drilling. However, President Trump has already signaled a fossil-fuel focused energy plan and today explicitly pledged to increase offshore oil and gas drilling.

The truth is, we cannot afford to continue burning fossil fuels for decades upon decades if we want to maintain a safe environment for our children. The worst impacts of climate change will happen if we allow global warming to exceed 2 degrees Celsius, or almost 4 degrees Fahrenheit. The world must transition aggressively and rapidly away from conventional fossil fuels and toward the use of renewable energy, and we certainly cannot continue to push new, dangerous fossil fuel development.

The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA).

Senator Merkley first introduced the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act in July 2015. In June of that year, Senator Merkley led a group of Senators in authoring a letter to President Obama urging the administration to rescind Shell Oil Company’s conditional Exploration Permit in the Chukchi Sea. Senator Merkley wrote that new lease sales in the Chukchi Sea and Arctic Ocean are an unnecessary risk that threatens local communities, fragile ecosystems, and efforts at climate change mitigation.

A PDF of the Stop Arctic Drilling Act of 2017 is available here.

Support Jeff’s Stop Arctic Drilling Act of 2017. Call your Senator. Oregon leads the way! RESIST!!

From TPM: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) said he would “consider” waiving some of the Affordable Care Act’s insurer mandates, including its protections for people with pre-existing conditions, as would be an option for states if a GOP Obamacare repeal bill that passed the House this week became law.

Republicans have been arguing that the waivers in RepubliCare do not matter, because no Republican governor would even consider waiving protections for those with preexisting conditions. The former Wisconsin isn’t even bright red, but the Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan is just drooling to strip those folks of coverage, even though that would kill several.  RESIST!!

From Think Progress: On Wednesday, a customer service representative from the FDA’s Office of Facilities sent an email to staff informing them that TVs in a Silver Spring, Maryland office will now be exclusively turned to Fox News.

The email — a screencap of which was initially obtained and shared to Twitter by journalist Paul Thacker and later by BuzzFeed’s Julia Reinstein— was sent to “let everyone know” why TVs had been changed “from CNN to FOX.” It was sent to researchers at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the FDA branch that oversees medical products.

“A decision from the current administration administrative officials has requested that all monitors, under our control, on the White Oak Campus, display FOX news,” it says. “Sorry for the inconvenience, but I am unable to change any of the monitors to any other news source at this time.

Poor people! Fo9rdsing them to watch the Republican Reichsministry of propaganda is torture, and that’s against the law!!  RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0506Cartoon

Share

  24 Responses to “Open Thread – 5/6/2017”

  1. 4:16  At least one of the nicknames suggest it is edible (or at least contains potable liquid).

    Jeff – I think the Department of the Interior is blowing smoke (never mind what kind).  Wherever there is drilling for oil in the ocean ther is a HUNDRED percent chance of an oil spill eventually, and possibly a 75% chance of it being sooner rather than later, but even then, I would estimate 90% based on my reading.  Yay for Jeff.  He has some support among legislators.  He needs more.  All he can get – because in this case "he" means "we."

    TPM – I see Scotty Baby blew up at a reporter who had the gall to ask him about the AHCA instead of whatever it was he wanted to talk about.  The farts are strong in that one.

    TP – Cruel and unusual indeed.  I would ask something rhetorical like "Is there no end to the depravity of Republicans?" but since I know the answer …

    Cartoon – Can't deny that it is lovely.  Can't deny that Louis was a jerk.

    • So you got at least one of the two "Head Scratchers" from the Friday Fun March for Science.  Congrats!

      (I had to look up the formula one)

      • PLEASE put me out of my misery by telling me the formula one!  Thanks!  Yeah, I know resistors, and even the obnoxious mnemonic for the order of the colors of the stripes.  Which I learned in the Marine Corps.

        Oh, by the way, this just in – probably the best-worded retraction in journalistic history.

        • Love it!

          But, if they weregoing to drink to their "victory," it probably would be some sort of swill lke that. But, you know, on the second thought, if they did drink lots of swill, rather thanjack each other off, they could just do Rumpy's favorite thing- Mutual golden showers!

        • It's (and I had NO idea until I started Googling)

          Make SEROTONIN – Not War

          5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter

          As I'm sure you're aware, serotonin is a mood enhancer.

          Apparently, it's actually quite popular as a tatoo – that's actually how I found it by Googling:

          https://www.pinterest.com/explore/serotonin-tattoo/

          The things you learn on the innertubes …

           

          • As a tattoo.  Oh. my.  I had almost 3 years of physics in high school and college, but no chemistry – I picked up what little I do know there, and later in life.  (Oh, and from Tom Lehrer, but that's way out of date now.)  Thank you.  Now it makes wonderful sense.

          • We had gent from the University of Connecticut confirm that in your thread.

  2. Mr. Merkley: Kudos to him and the others who co-sponsored this bill, this is much needed, now more than ever.

    TPM: This is downright nasty, imho. I have extended family members in WI, and they are having a hard time as it is, and now this.

    TP: W.T.H.??? I'd turn it off, or turn down the volume. imho.

    Glad that you got some rest, and a nap in too. Enjoy your evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.

  3. Jeff Merkley: Happily, BOTH of my sentoers are already co-sponsors!

    TPM: Dumber than dumb!

    TP: Isn't that what baseball bats are for?  I mean, if the damned thing will show nothing but FAUX shit?

    "Toon: don't give Rumpleshit any ideas, please!

  4. Stop Arctic Drilling:  You will note that the bill has no Republican support.  They cannot afford to insult their large contributors, the fossil fuel industry.

    TPM:  Walker and his ilk all will continue with state supported health care that the rest of us can only dream about.  My surgery in January cost nearly $300,000.00 and if I had not been fortunate enough to have insurance we would be bankrupt.

    Think Progress:  Of course he wants them watching Faux news, then only his perspectives will be heard.

    Get some rest, TC.

  5. For the record, WRT the election in France

    If Marine Le Pen defeats Emmanuel Macron: Devastated

    If Macron defeats Le Pen by < 10%: Worried

    If Macron defeats Le Pen by 10% – 15%: Satisfied, but a bit concerned

    If Macron defeats Le Pen by 15% – 20%: Happy

    If Macron defeats Le Pen by > 20%: ECSTATIC!

  6. Russia attempts to interfere with French Elections

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 5/5/17
    Late cyber attack hits French presidential candidate Macron
    Richard Engel, NBC News chief foreign correspondent, talks with Rachel Maddow about a last minute cyber attack on French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron by what are believed to be Russian-backed attackers. Duration: 18:05

    http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/cyber-attack-hits-favored-french-candidate-937705539734
    .

  7. Puzzle — 4:36  Edible or not, this one sure had me over a barrel!

    Sen Jeff Merkley — The Orange Ogre has no idea what he has unleashed by removing protections and moving to reopen risky offshore drilling.  The US has a very small Arctic footprint compared to Canada's, yet this poses more danger to Canada's Arctic, and for what? . . . Drumpf's retaliation against Obama; his desire to undo anything Obama; his desire to show Canada who's boss; his greed and that of the fossil fuel industry executives?  I don't have a senator, but I stand with Jeff Merkley!

    BTW, on another note to do with an Oregon senator, this time Ron Wyden, seems he is going toe to toe with BC Premier Christy Clark and Canadian PM Trudeau over softwood lumber, among other things.  In Canada, "the next step targets the state of Oregon. … the Canada Border Services Agency could examine duties on Oregon's plywood, wine, flooring, wood chips and packaging materials."

    TPM — I had just been thinking a few days ago that the Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan had been very quiet, and it was so nice.  I thought too soon!  Just like a Republican!  I would argue that every Republican governor will "consider waiving protections for those with preexisting conditions" because it is in their DNA.  They would not be Republicans if they did not screw their constituents.

    Think Progress — Cruel and unusual treatment it is!  This is about indoctrination.  Drumpf hates it when other people know more than he does, especially employees!  Seems Drumpf's motto has been changed to "Make America Stupid Again!"

    Cartoon — I have been there.  Drumpf would love the place . . . it is gaudy, although not as much as his condo, if you can call it a condo.

    This was sent to me by Mitch and is so apropos, and so prophetic.

     

    Resist and Persist!!!

     

    I am off to the Alzheimer's Walk for Memories tomorrow morning so I may be a bit scarce tomorrow, depending on how sore my knees get.  It is supposed to be sunny.  I have raised $1,400 but a few people who said they would sponsor me have not yet gone online.  If one doesn't ask for support, one will not get it.  Even my dentist is supporting me. 

    • Hope you had a good Alzheimer's Walk for Memories, Lynn and that your knees allowed you to walk all of it. You must have been thinking of your Mum a lot while walking. Kudos to you for raising so much money!

    • Mencken was prophetic.

  8. You're having a hard day ahead of you tomorrow, TomCat, but at the end of it both your fur, your clothes and your bed sheets will be fresh and clean. I just love getting into bed after some clean sheets have been put on and am straight from a shower myself, don't you?

    Jeff Merkley: Three cheers for Jeff and all his co-sponsors for reintroducing the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act! An estimated 75 percent chance of a large oil spill comes down to announcing that there will be a large spill, it's just a matter of time. And the Arctic has no chance of recovering from it, because it is already under extreme stress from Global Warming and Climate Change. I doubt it'll pass but it is worth to fight for it over and over again because the RESISTANCE needs to

    FIGHT EVERY FIGHT

    with

    PASSION & GUMPTION

    TPM: Republicans argued that "no Republican governor would even consider waiving protections for those with preexisting conditions", so they apparently have put those waivers in Drumpfcare for Democratic governors to use?! How kind of them. It's not really surprising then that Scott Walker was the first to not let that pass and "consider" those waivers himself.

    TP: In the sixties this was called brainwashing and forbidden under humanitarian law. What's next, eye-clamps like in Clockwork Orange to force researchers to watch something they despise?

    I'm sure it won't be long before we learn of the many ways employees in this Silver Spring office have sabotaged these "news" monitors.

    Cartoon: The BBC is currently running the second series of "Versailles".I can recommend it to anyone with an interest in political intrigue and hunger for power. 

  9. Thanks all.  Hugs!!

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.