It’s a comparatively lazy day, here in the CatBox. Today’s articles are my only chore, except routine food prep and cleanup. I am a bit tired, because stayed up to watch the 13th ranked Oregon Ducks win the PAC 12 by beating the 5th ranked Utah Utes 37 – 15. Tomorrow is a Holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos are playing the Texans. Pat will get to watch it. I won’t. Sadly, no matter how much I yell at Pat, her team is just too horny for my guys. Tomorrow is also a WWWendy Day. One of our planned chores is to fleece the shaggy TomCat, before de-stinking the rancid TomCat. Therefor, please expect no more than a Personal Update. Have a great weekend.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:23 (average 5:07). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Takes:
From Alternet: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rammed through eight of President Donald Trump’s lifetime judicial picks in just three days this week, accelerating the far-right court takeover that one commentator warned is “absolutely going to hamstring efforts to make the U.S. into a responsible, civilized country, for as long as we live.”
The latest slew of confirmations, according to Bloomberg‘s Sahil Kapur, means that Trump and his Federalist Society allies have now hand-picked “about one in every five American federal judges,” or 170 judges total.
“Nearly all are in their 40s or 50s with lifetime appointments and positioned to shape American law for generations,” Kapur noted on Twitter. “It gets a tiny fraction of attention compared to other stuff he does but this is the Trump legacy that’ll echo for generations after he’s gone.”
I wish I knew what to do. Frankly, I’m at a loss. Can we impeach 170 at once? My best guest is that the majority are guilty of crimes, if only lying during their confirmation process. As soon as we return DOJ to the people, they all should be investigated, and most, indicted, convicted, and/or disbarred. RESIST!!
From YouTube (RWW Channel): RWW News: Rick Wiles Says ‘The Democrats Are Forcing Me to Stockpile Ammunition’
Barf Bag Alert!!
Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, the polar opposites of true authentic Christians, are experts at projection. That is, they accuse the left of committing their own crimes. It is these Ammosexuals, who art plotting the overthrow of America through violent Talibangelical Jihad, not Democrats! RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Monkees – I’m a Believer, 1966 (HQ Stereo)
Ah… the memories! RESIST!!
Vote Blue!!
16 Responses to “Open Thread – 12/7/2019”
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5:09 Very soothing.
If you are looking for a stocking stuffer for a progressive woman who wears necklaces, earrings, or pins, here’s the Ruth Bader Ginsburg collection. (And there is at least one pair of earrings it would be childishly simple to turn into two keychains, so progressive men can participate too.)
Stephen Colbert opening last night –
The opera on the radio today is “Akhnaten.” About the Egyptian Pharaoh {~1350 BCE) who revolutionized his society to get away from a vast load of superstitions. After he died, everything he had done was destroyed by the people and priests who preferred their superstitions. Hmmm.
Cartoon – One of the days which will live in infamy … along with 9/11 and 11/9
AlterNet – I’m sure we’ll have to do some impeaching. But I think we will also have to add new judges … and some justices too. Yes, that’s difficult – to say the least. But we will have to work hard and be creative, because it has to be done, if we are not going to give up on democracy.
RWW – Not watching that. I’ve seen Rick Wiles enough. You are, of course, correct.
Past – I do remember this one. It’s cute.
Akhnaten still believed that he was the divine son of the sun, but he may have been the inspiration for Moses. You may find the book Moses and Monotheism interesting.
Read it about 50 years ago. (And no production of Akhnaten would be complete without mentioning it – it was a major source for Glass. His libretto follows Akhenaten’s “Hymn to the Sun” in the language of the audience with Psalm 104 in Hebrew.)
No, I was thinking of a much looser analogy. If you challenge people’s false ideas, whether directly, or simply by being who you are – expect your legacy to get trashed. At least Akhnaten didn’t have to live to see it.
Well said!
Wasn’t that a good book? I gave a presentation on it in a college Speech class in 1966. The pseudo-Christian Prof gave me an F, and lectured the class on how skilled “communist” sprakers like me were a threat to the American way of life.
Oh, yeah. C. S. Lewis made the point that even the greatest of thinkers are often wrong (even glaringly wrong) when talking or writing outside of their own field. But he also made the point elsewhere that most people are most stubborn about hanging on to beliefs which are outside their fields (“side issue” was the term he used.) The problem with religious people and science or history (objective truth) is that, when something comes up that appears to contradict our faith, we never ask “Could I possibly be misunderstanding what I thought God said?” No, we jump to the conclusion that the new information is wrong. I’ve mentioned Acts 10-11 before, but this is a classic demonstration. The resistance of Peter himself, let alone the resistance he met with, which the Bible glosses over! Yet the question is one which would not be that difficult to teach, or to learn. Ok, rant over. For now.
Is it religious people or is it people who misuse religion to enforce their own prejudices?
Certainly the latter. But I’ve seen some of the former fall into the trap too. In fact, I cannot say honestly that I have always evaded it. Can you?
One form of propaganda is to attribute to your opponents your own worst characteristics. When you’re the pot, call the kettle black – even if you are blacker.
Cartoon: 78 years ago today. “A date that will live in infamy.” FDR. Horrific day.
AN: Isn’t this just awful?? Moscow Mitch needs to go. This is very unsettling news, for years to come. imho. Every one of these new confirmations should be kicked out & disbarred. ugh!
BBA: 21 seconds in. Nope. Nope. NOPE!!
BFTP: Good song, watched them Saturday mornings too. lol
Well, if nothing else, Tom, I’ll have an opportunity to yell (loudly) when ‘my’ Texans… flub a play…so we’ll see. It’ll be a good game. You’ll probably hear me too, all the way from Texas! 😉 lol 🙂
Hi, WWWendy! Hope that you have a good day tomorrow. Hope you get all your chores done, so that you can relax the rest of this day, and tomorrow….take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: “Went to see Santa.” pb “All I want for Christmas is a new President.” ~ Donna Ruse ~
2. “A WH spokesperson today said ‘dt has ordered all toilets & LED lights be removed from the WH. A 4-hole outhouse will be appropriately placed on the South Lawn. An assortment of candles w/be used for light. Obviously, no Happy Holiday around here.”~Jim Y.~DT- “I know more about sheet than anybody else.”~W. P.~
3, re: Rudy. “Better to keep quiet and be thought a fool then open your mouth by tweet….~ Renee M. ~
May I hear you LOTS!!
‘Toon: With Dumpy in office, we are as good as invaded by a foreign power!
Alternet: I saw this yesterday, and like you, do not have an answer, unless the Dumpster Administration, and all of its actions, retroactively, can be wiped away. FAT CHANCE!
RWW: Hey, schmuck, no one can make you respond in a particular manner. But, maybe your talk is treasonous. It certainly is poisonous. “Ignorance is a swamp that harbors superstition, confusion, and fear,” and that is where this clown lives. Funny how “swamp” keeps showing up. Dumpy’s swamp of ignorance must extend to the edges of his flat earth.
Monkies: Nice!
Re: Pat’s #3- Neither Dumpy, nor rudy, has brains enough to shut off the pouring idiocy.
“Swamp” does indeed keep showing up. And I consider that extremely insulting to the refuges that are necessary if we aren’t going to lose all our waterbirds (along with everything else.)
Cartoon: A day we shall always remember.
AN: Despicable. tRump and his cronies must go. We’ve suffered enough from all of their idiotic picks.
RWW: He’s insane.
BFTP: Remember this song very well. The Monkey were a fun group to listen to. Had some good tune.
Hope you had a great day. It’s been cold and rainy here.
Take care.
Thanks TomCat
Fleecing and washing are something to look forward to, TomCat.
3:32 Nice herb garden in the background.
Alternet: This onslaught on the judicial system will set America back several decades, will haunt it for decades to come and may ultimately keep Republicans in power for many years to come. All banana republics are looking with envy at what America has accomplished in such a short time.
BFTP: Of course I was a Monkees’ fan when I was a little teenybopper.
Have a great weekend Tom Cat and all.💌
Thanks and Ellipsoid Orb Hugs to all! 🏈