I’m starting to like researching and writing earlier in the day enough that I just may make a habit of it. I’m a little down today, because tomorrow is a volunteer day in prison, and I’m not quite up to ii yet. I miss working to help my guys.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:12 (average 5:26). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: The National Security Agency moved swiftly and forcefully today to remind its employees of its longstanding zero-tolerance policy on conscience, warning that any violation of that policy would result in immediate termination.
“When you sign on to work at the N.S.A. you swear to uphold the standards of amorality and soullessness that this agency was founded upon,” said N.S.A. director General Keith B. Alexander. “Any evidence of ethics, decency, or a sense of right and wrong will not be tolerated. These things have no place in the intelligence community.”
To enforce the policy, General Alexander said that once a month all N.S.A. employees will be wired to a computer to take full inventory of what is going on in their minds: “We want to be sure they are spending their free time playing Call of Duty, not reading the Federalist Papers.”
This may be satire, but the thinking behind it is far too accurate for my comfort.
From Crooks and Liars: Mary Matalin, a Republican strategist and former advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney, on Sunday dismissed newly-appointed National Security Advisor Susan Rice as President Barack Obama’s "presidential pet."
Leave it to a mouthpiece for ChickenHawk Cheney to dehumanize a distinguished civil servant. Matalin would not have referred to Rice as a "pet" had she been white. Only on Faux Noise.
From Mother Jones: Less than half of Americans living with mental illness receive the treatment they need—a failure that lands large numbers of mentally ill people in jails, emergency rooms, and on the streets. One provision of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, a.k.a Obamacare, would help fix the problem. Under the law, states will get hundreds of billions in federal money over the next ten years to provide health care to 2.7 million poor mentally ill people who are currently uninsured. But 17 states—including some states with among the worst mental-health programs in the country—are rejecting these funds.
Click through to see the map. I don’t have to tell you which political party controls the states that are refusing federally funded help for their mentally ill citizens, putting both them and others at risk.
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–6/11/2013”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
3:21 I flit, I float! Who's coming with me?
3:57 Not enough sugar-water in me I guess.
4:03 I fell off the branch…and landed on top of TomCat.
I beat the minute rule and I'm STILL last! 🙁
Memo to James Carville:
What were you thinking?!?!
She must be very good at something other than politics.
Yeah, but if you have to listen to her talk then is it really worth it? My God, what a nasty shrew.
There's a word for it: masochism.
Gotta be.
A major problem with the needless deaths of American's… sigh
Florida being one of the states…
My sympathies Richard. I hope you are able fo find help anyway. 😉
You will be back to your volunteer job in no time at all if you do things the correct way and heal thoroughly. Easy, friend.
New Yorker ~ Not so far from the truth.
Crooks and Liars ~ I have often wondered how Carville and Matalin ever got together. There must be some royal battles in their house.
Mothe Jones ~ I bet they have some HUGE prisons though.
Cartoon ~ Some desecrate it by wearing the pin on their lapels.
Thanks, Patty.
Amen!
See above.
Bingo!
Also true.
Angelica, I have been asking that same question. Love James Carville. He reminds me of Mr. McGoo. So cute, He does not deserve to be married to that RWNJ.
See my reply to Angie please, Dotti.
Hang in there, TC and do what you need to do to get well. I am sure your guys at the prison want you well, as we all do.
Thanks Edie. 🙂
Puzzle — 3:21 I flit, I float! Who's coming with me?
The New Yorker — I love AB! Satire is often close to the mark. Really good satire, like that from AB, is so close it hurts!
Crooks and Liars — For some reason the video doesn't want to play. Saw it at C&L. What an ignoramus!
Mother Jones — Every last one a red state. The only ones these guys care about are their elitist friends. The overall health of a society is only as srong as the weakest individual within that society. Republican/Teabaggers are the piranha of the political world.
Cartoon — Ain't that the truth!
Bigfooted!
I agree.
That's strange. It's playing right now.
Amen.
Thanks!