It’s a tired day here in the CatBox, and it’s a very slow day for news, so this is today’s only article from me. I see the thoracic surgeon in two weeks, so I’ll know more about my cancer then. I hope that your your week is Republican free.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:09 (average 5:39). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Takes:
From YouTube (Full Frontal Channel): Full Frontal Rewind: How We Destroyed Health Care
Didn’t Sam do a great job with this? American health care is screwed for three identical reasons: the Republican Reich! RESIST!!
From CNN: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested immunity from prosecution in three corruption cases in which he faces indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Netanyahu submitted the request to the Knesset late Wednesday night, saying he plans on leading the country “for many years to come.”
“What is being done to me is a field court-martial by misleading the public,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement Wednesday evening in Jerusalem. “The immunity law is intended to protect elected officials from fabricated legal proceedings — from political indictment intended to damage the will of the people. This law intends to ensure that those elected can serve the people according to the will of the people, not the will of the law clerks.”
Charges against Netanyahu were unveiled in November. He’s maintained his innocence throughout the ongoing criminal proceedings, calling them an “attempted coup” led by the left and the media.
Butcher Bibi should share a cell with his beloved idol, from whom he has learned so well to dodge the consequences of his crimes. RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Byrds – Eight Miles High – 9/23/1970 – Fillmore East (Official)
I had left NYC and the Lower East Side by then, but I loved the Byrds, I loved this instrumental version, and I loved Fillmore East. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!
Vote Blue!!
18 Responses to “Open Thread – 1/2/2020”
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Cartoon: Yep, sadly…
FFC: Love Sam. I know it’s excellent, and will be watching later. I’ll be passing on too. thx.
CNN: wth?? Yep, he sounds like what dt would say and do. ugh!
YT: Awesome music!
I feel tired too, and like you said, the news is slow. Hope that you get your rest, take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
This just in: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead ~
2. re: dt – “If you like subpoena coladas and getting caught in Ukraine….” ~ Irene C. ~
3. ‘Donald Trump’s Reading List’. “Talk about an oxymoron.” ~ Tomas F. ~
4. “We all know treason when we see it.” ~ Jose M. ~
5. “The SoTU address would be an excellent and well covered opportunity for dt to totally lose it, one and for all to see.” ~ Howard H. ~
5:20 They can’t be Devin, since Devin has shown his/her photo, and besides, it’s the human one that’s the clown.
Cartoon – I was musing on a related subject lately and came up with some thoughts, which the cartoon’s comment on immigration brings back to mind …A guilty pleasure of mine is playing computer games (not the online ones, but the ones one downloads and plays at one’s own pace, following a storyline with tasks and puzzles). One that I played last year or the year before has two (count ‘em, two) villains whose endgame to take over the empire is to poison the water supply. It just took my breath away how dumb that was. If they succeeded (of course they wouldn’t, this is a game), they would be the sole rulers of a huge tract of land with no population (and incidentally no water), land which they did not have the first clue how to maintain, and, with no population, they would have to do everything themselves. No janitors — they’d have to clean everything up after themselves. No farmers — they’s have to grow their own food, and, BTW, no cooks. No sempsters — they’d have to make all their own clothes, and mend them when necessary. No entertainers (and entertainment may not have quite the value our society puts on it, but it does have value). No one to look after the beasts (IIRC, transportation in that one was mostly by riding gryphons). Not even anyone to talk to except each other (and I doubt if they could have stood each other for more than a day or two — not nice people.) Just really dumb. But do you think those CEO’s of empire would have ever changed their minds about the importance of other occupations? Not a chance.
Sam – My only quibble is that “we” didn’t kill it – it was Republicans. (A passing thought – she pointed out another kind of life Republicans care about besides fetuses – the incurably brain dead. You know – their voters.) Yes. She did a great job. So great I’m glad I didn’t have anything to eat first.
CNN – So Bibi wants what Trump has in the infamous DOJ memo (something else we need to tidy up when we get the Presidency.) And someone must have told him what Bibi has had – being his own Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of State, and Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (although he dropped Health on Sunday and is dropping the others now under threat of lawsuits.) “Many years to come”? Oy veh, I hope not!
Past – I remember the Byrds, but not this cover.
I do the same thing and play Bingo, Gin Rummy, Cribbage, and Backgammon. What games do you play?
The one I was referring to was the second one IIRC in the “Enchanted Kingdom” series by Domini. The “Dark Tales” series by AMAX puts out games based (increasingly loosely) on stories or poems by Poe. Elephant Games has a “Grim Tales” series which follows a family, essentially all i=of whom have some kind of supernatural power. I loved the “Dark Parables” series until the developer, Blue Tea, which was based in Hong Kong, quite a lot until another developer took it over (the timing of that was very suspicious to me and I’ve been praying all the employees are OK.) The “Enigmatis” series by Artifex Mundi is only three games long, but, though each is complete in itself, the three tell a building story with a convincing wrap-up (after finishing that one I had an opportunity to beta test for Artifex Mundi and I grabbed it..) The series I have been with the longest is the “Mystery Case Files” series which just issued its 20th game – at the rate of roughly one a year, that’s a long time (although one year there were two released, and I didn’t come to it from the beginning but from about the fifth game released.) But over the years I have played more games than I can possibly tell you about.
Thanks JD. I took a look at some of those and got the impression that they were mostly visual puzzles and hidden objects based. That isn’t a match for my vision problems, but you did inspire me to dust off my old Steam account.
Yes, it’s true they are highly visual. I am, however, mostly playing for the plot (including the pleasure of sometimes being smarter than the character – thinking, “If you do that, it will be nothing but trouble.” and then it is.) While I enjoy the challenges mostly, I’m not shy about using the “hint” and “skip” buttons rather than get frustrated.
Enjoy. I wish “highly visual” didn’t exclude me.
I do too. It’s a fine way to take out one’s frustrations on game villains, so as not to let them distract one from keeping all one’s wits about one to thwart the real ones. Reading mystery novels used to do that for me, but the villains were less outrageous then.
‘Toon: That’s where all 4 of my grandparents, and 2 of my mother’s grandparents arrived upon coming to the U.S.
American health care has been run by the insurance industry for almost ever.
CNN: Vigorously hoping that the clown is turned down.
In September of ’70, I was living in NY’s Soho district (SOuth of HOuston St.), and visiting the Fillmore East on occasion, twice running into old friends while on line to buy tickets. I love the Byrds. BTW: If anyone has not yet seen the CNN movie about Linda Ronstadt, check it out.
TC, I will be awaiting your results; GOOD LUCK!
Cartoon: Sad.
Sam: I agree with both Joanne and Mitch. Insurance companies have been a major factor in what been destroying it. They have taken away more of what is covered and continue to raise their stinking prices. I feel for the people who need their medications on a regular basis. These greedy companies have raised their prices and changed the tier level on many of them. It must be stopped. tRump and his Repugs have done nothing for us.
CNN: So he wants to be like tRump and be excused for all of his illegal crimes??? I too hope he is denied his request. I’m surprised he isn’t doing like you mention, TC.
BFTP: I remember the Byrds. Great song.
Hope you are doing well. I’m praying for you regarding your upcoming appointment.
I go in the morning for the left hand carpal tunnel.
Take care. Thanks TomCat
Knowing your appointment with your thoracic surgeon is now pinpointed in two weeks must give you some peace of mind, though waiting on something like that can’t be very nice, TomCat. Stay strong and resist.
3:25 Love those decorated cows. Did they show up in the US too?
Cartoon: They did send a lot back even then, didn’t they?
Sam 🐝: A tale of horror brought to the stage with excellence. Yet that dark tale hasn’t had its unhappy ending yet, so watch out for what the Republicans are concocting in their cauldron when no one is watching.
CNN: All dictators follow the rules of the same “Handbook on how to get above the law and stay there” and get away with it. The first edition was on clay tablets.
BFTP: Yes, The Byrds! One of the icons of the very long intros and neverending improvs against a background of colourful lights of that time.
In the early days of Ellis Island, tuberculosis was a big reason for sending people back, and there were some families separated because of it. There wasn’t a good way then of telling active from inactive TB (and some people wouldn’t have cared if there were anyway.0 My hubs has had inactive TB in his system at least since he was 2 and has nevr had any symptoms not transmitted it, and he’s now 76.
This just in: Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s Quds Force, killed in US air strike on Baghdad airport.
The Pentagon has confirmed the death of Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, saying the strike was ordered by President Donald Trump.
Are you ready for the war Trump needs to divert from Impeachment?
I knew that was going to be bad news before I heard the Mango Menace specifically ordered it. The man was not just a military leader, he was a much-loved military leader. Way to make it personal, Clownface.
Please see today’s lead article!
No,…I’m not, Lona. I’m horrified….
Lawmakers and Congress were not informed of the airstrike, and brings questions of the gravity of the actions by this administration in not doing so. imho..
Hell of a way to bring in a new year, eh?
Mitchell…I love Linda R. She is one phenomenal woman/singer.
Did you see this one?
https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/brad-wilmouth/2020/01/01/cnn-linda-ronstadt-likens-trump-hitler-mexicans-new-jews
Thanks and TGIF Hugs to all!