TomCat

Open Thread – 1/21/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 212020

It’s a hectic day here in the CatBox, as medical mayhem is back in the driver’s seat. For some reason my Medicare Advantage premiums stopped being deducted from my social security check, so I have to pay the bill and get it fixed again. In addition, I have to call the hospital to get my stress test scheduled before my endoscopy (camera in stomach). Lisa (Cardiologist) tipped me off that, once the hospital finds the stress test ordered, they will delay the endoscopy until after the stress test, and you know how much trouble I had scheduling that endoscopy. Today is also a grocery order day and the first day of the Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch Show. ARGH! Have a great day!

Later: I scheduled the stress test and straightened out the Medicare Advantage premiums. Social Security Refusing to deduct Medicare Advantage premiums is a gift to American Seniors from Trump* and the Republican Reich. I have put it on my card automatically.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:39 (average 5:10). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Remember “Je suis Charlie”?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (CNN Channel): MLK Jr.’s son reacts to President Trump’s tweet

When the impeached twit* tweets, he often puts his Republican racism in display, but in this case, he’s just lying. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Gun Rights Activists Rally Against Gun Control Legislation In Richmond

This is how Ammosexual, racist, violent Republicans celebrated MLK Day! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Platters – Only You – Lyrics

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Remembering MLK!

Posted by TomCat at 6:16 am Politics

Jan 202020

It was a pleasure to work with Dr. King on Vietnam Summer. Of all the people I have met in my life, he stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is last year’s article. It is even more applicable today.

Normally, I would wish you a Happy Martin Luther King Day, but my conscience will not allow it at a time when Donald Trump* and the Republican Party have trashed so much of what he accomplished, and today, Dr. King would grieve. But he would also…

RESIST!!

Personal Update – 1/20/2020

Posted by TomCat at 6:15 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 202020

I’m writing most of this on Sunday Night, and in the morning I’ll fill in puzzle times. Congrats to Nameless and KC. However, I was shocked and disgusted to see far more Bloomberg than Budweiser during the game. I should be back from my cardiologist around 1:00 PM, so by the time I get out of my street clothes, put everything away, and eat, it will be well past my nap time. I’ll try to do a “got home safe” check-in before I lie down.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:25 (average 4:44). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 1/19/2020

Posted by TomCat at 7:44 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 192020

I’m hurrying to finish as much work as I can, before WWWendy arrives. This afternoon, I’ll meditate on the Holy Ellipsoid Orb. I’ll be rooting for the Chiefs in deference to one, who shall remain Nameless. I’ll also prepare tomorrow’s articles in advance, except for the puzzle.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:55 (average 4:12). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

In case you forgot, RepubliCare is the Republican Reich plan to replace ObamaCare.

Short Takes:

From Alternet: …Trump’s cold sweats are significant, because everyone who has been following this case knows that the Senate will acquit him. Not because he’s innocent — no one who has actually consulted the evidence is foolish enough to believe that — but because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republicans who control the Senate decided long ago that they would cover up for their shamelessly corrupt president no matter what he does. With such an assured outcome, Trump’s fears seem overblown and silly, even for someone crippled by sociopathic narcissism and its accompanying paranoia.

But it’s also true that high-profile travesties of justice, such as the one Senate Republicans are currently preparing to commit, can often provoke major political backlash. Getting a jury to acquit the obviously guilty can, as history shows, cause a public that’s already outraged about the crime to get even more furious. That, I suspect, is what Trump is sweating.

What the Senate is about to do is akin to the practice of jury nullification. That’s where a jury decides that either they don’t think the crime should be a crime at all, or that they believe people like the defendant should above the law, and so refuse to convict no matter how guilty the defendant is. This something that in theory, and sometimes in practice, can be used for good as when a jury refuses to throw someone in prison for a low-level drug offense, or refuses to enforce a law restricting free speech. But historically in the U.S., jury nullification has tended to be used to uphold injustice and reinforce racist or sexist systems of power….

As I so strongly implied yesterday, the Republican Reich is prepared to goose-step behind criminal Fuhrer Trump* into political extinction. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Senator makes prediction ahead of impeachment trial

Coons is spot on that testimony from Jon Bolton and Lev Parnas is both relevant and probative, while testimony from Joe and Hunter Biden is neither. Coons’ argument would be valid, if this were a legal trial. It is not. Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch and the Republican Reich set the rules. They can would our objections to Joe and Hunter as an excuse to disallow all witnesses. So if Joe and Hunter appearing is what it takes to get us the real witnesses, bring them on! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Bill Maher from 1/17

Posted by TomCat at 8:51 am Politics

Jan 182020

It’s finally that time of week again, so here are four excellent video clips from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

Monologue: I Need a Vacation

One week of following Fuhrer Trump* could debilitate anyone. Look what it did to me! I agree that Trump* will deny knowing Don Jr. I want the Audible version of “A Very Stable Genius”.

Andrew Yang 2020

I like one thing about Yang. Employed, unemployed, and unemployable people all need a living wage.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Nancy made a good point about how 70% of the American people want to hear witnesses in Fuhrer Trump’s* pseudo-trial. Will Republicans listen to the people, or will they goose-step behind Fuhrer Trump* into political extinction?

New Rule: Your Not-So-Highness

There must be fifty ways to leave your Republicans. Here only Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten* insists on being called ‘Your Highness’, but Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch is lobbying for the title.

Eight weeks without this shoe was seven weeks too long.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 1/18/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:51 am Blog News, Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 182020

It’s another crappy day, here in the CatBox, and I ALMOST went back to bed. Oh well, I get the camera in my gut in less than a month now. Tomorrow is a High Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, the Festival of Conference Finality. May the Orb shine it’s blessed light on your team, if it has survived. I’ll be out of the saddle on Sunday and Monday. Sunday is a WWWendy Day and we have a very stinky TomCat and lots of chores to manage. Please expect no more than a Personal Update or Open Thread. On Monday I have an appt. with my cardiologist. If you remember, a few weeks back, I was telling my PCP about my heartburn, when an acid bubble came up my esophagus. I put up my hand to my chest, winced, and lowered my head in pain. Megan freaked out. She slapped on the EKG stickers, and once she realized I wasn’t having a heart attack, she insisted I make an appointment with Lisa. That was set back a few weeks ago, because TriMet Lift was two hours plus late and could not pick me up until well after my appointment time. So Monday I hope to publish a Personal Update, and an MLK Day article, prepared a day in advance. I hope to be back in the saddle Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:24 (average 4:27). I’m amazed I beat the average. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: In the past, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was among the most popular Republicans in New England — a region of the United States that has become increasingly Democratic in recent years. Collins, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, was reelected by 17% in 2002, 23% in 2008 and 38% in 2014. But that was before Donald Trump became president, and according to polling by Morning Consult, Collins now enjoys 42% approval and 52% disapproval — making her the most unpopular politician in the U.S. Senate.

During the first quarter of 2017, according to Morning Consult, Collins enjoyed 67% approval in Maine. But the last quarter of 2019 found her overtaking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in terms of unpopularity.

It could not have happened to a more deserving bitch (apologies to female dawgs)! Maine… Vote Blue!! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): President Donald Trump Picks Jeffrey Epstein Lawyers For Impeachment

How much do you want to bet that Barrf and the Republican Reich had Epstein killed to cover up their own crimes? Of course Fuhrer Trump* would pick pervert-friendly lawyers. Birds of a feather… RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): –

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Personal Update – 1/17/2020

Posted by TomCat at 6:22 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 172020

I was up all night last night with Republicosis and severe heartburn; the latter persists. I hope to be in the saddle for a day tomorrow. TGIF Hugs to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

I could not do it (average 4:49). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Vote Blue!!

RESIST!!

Personal Update – 1/16/2020

Posted by TomCat at 5:11 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 162020

I’m in a big rush, as I have to dress and be in the lobby by 7:00 to go to my appointment with my Thoracic Surgeon. Per Nameless’ suggestion, I have dirty underwear. 😉 I’ll try to comment briefly, when I’m back. Hugs to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:44 (average 5:43). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Vote Blue!!

RESIST!!

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PHP is a programming language used to build websites. We have it at all through our hosting partner, BlueHost. In order to update it, we have to go through Bluehost. During his life, TomCat was the only one who had access to our account there. I (JD) am now the only one. I have been to BlueHost and investigated updating our PHP to 8.3 or even to 8.1. I found instructions to do so - in fact, I found two conflicting sets of instructions. I went through one set of the steps and got the message that Our site could not handle 8.3, but that it had successfully updated to 8.1. I then went back here to see what it looked like. But I couldn't get in - either as an administrator or as a reader. It was just gone. I had to reach BlueHost by phone. It was determined that Politics Plus is in fact not compatible with any version of PHP newer than the one we have. BlueHost therefore uninstalled it for me, and the site came back to normal. Of course, like everyone else, I care about security. But I also am aware that TomCat elected to use different providers for several of the services that BlueHost provides, for instance backups. We are backed up daily - but not by BlueHost. However, out PHP is through Bluehost. I feel that if they are not worried about the older version, I am not going to worry about it. I believe that our security here is all or mostly through WordFence, whom I trust.