{"id":17091,"date":"2015-11-07T14:38:59","date_gmt":"2015-11-07T22:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=17091"},"modified":"2015-11-07T14:38:59","modified_gmt":"2015-11-07T22:38:59","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-07112015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/11\/07\/squatchs-open-thread-07112015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch\u2019s Open Thread 07\/11\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has poured rain all day and tonight\/tomorrow is supposed to be very heavy rain and wind.  Time to button up under the blankets with the fur babes.  I was teaching today and had the most delightful surprise . . . as I was leaving, my little Simon, who is 18 moths old, grabbed my legs in a big hug and said "I love you".  Oh my, didn't that just bring tears to my eyes!  I guess this is what it feels like to be a grandma! (I never had childrren of my own)  Tomorrow, their mother is going to a dinner at the church so I volunteered to watch the kids.  We're having pizza for dinner which I know they all like.  Sure beats cooking!<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzle — <\/strong>Today’s took me 3:13 (average 4:54). To do it, <\/span>click here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.<\/a> How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alternet<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" is far and away the most refreshing thing on late-night TV. While other shows center around round-table chats and celebrity interviews, Oliver uses his massive platform to highlight overlooked but important political issues. Recently, he told CBS<\/a> that his focus was "absurd public policies." <\/p>\n

By highlighting the absurdities of American institutions, he milks the injustice for a laugh while drawing the attention of millions of viewers to the issue. It's a brilliant combination that, when it fires on all cylinders, makes for great comedy and sometimes even triggers reforms. <\/p>\n

Here are his seven best segments. <\/p>\n

1. Net Neutrality <\/strong><\/p>\n

Arguably Oliver's breakout hit, this segment masterfully dissected the knotty issue of net neutrality and its effect on free speech. Oliver explained why creating a two-tiered Internet was unfair, and even recruited the Internet's "vile commenters" to spam the FCC's website, which was taking public comment at the time. As a result, the website crashed<\/a> and FCC Chair Tom Wheeler had to hilariously insist to the public<\/a> that he "wasn't a dingo." <\/p>\n