{"id":18005,"date":"2015-12-16T22:14:44","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T06:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=18005"},"modified":"2015-12-16T22:14:44","modified_gmt":"2015-12-17T06:14:44","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-16122015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/12\/16\/squatchs-open-thread-16122015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch\u2019s Open Thread 16\/12\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">That&#39;s right, it&#39;s . . .&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/hump.gif\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18373\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"hump\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18373\" height=\"291\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/hump.gif\" width=\"278\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">After physio, I indulged in a drive about the area to take in some of the beauty that is too often wrapped in cloud and fog. &nbsp;A few pictures are below. &nbsp;I have a luncheon date tomorrow and after that a visit to the chiropractor to help the lungs to deal with this damn cold. &nbsp;If it is not one thing, it is another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>Puzzle<\/strong> &mdash; Today&rsquo;s took me 2:53 (average 4:48). To do it, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.jigzone.com\/puzzles\/2015-12-16\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>click here<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">. How did you do?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>Short Takes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alternet.org\/environment\/sustainability-three-worlds-most-sustainable-communities\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>Alternet<\/strong><\/span><\/a> &#8212; &#8230;&nbsp;they are doing what they can, right now, to transition away from fossil fuels and work toward an environmentally sustainable future.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"695\" height=\"391\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8yzqlISunFw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">We know that climate change and global warming are not hoaxes as many conservatives would have people believe. As cities and countries transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, we need to learn from each other and celebrate successes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.politico.com\/story\/2015\/12\/republican-debate-takeaways-trump-cruz-rubio-216838\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>Politico<\/strong><\/span><\/a> &#8212;&nbsp;The field feels narrower all the time, with only Trump, Rubio and Cruz driving the race&rsquo;s conversation. Chris Christie was at his best in Vegas, capping off a great month. But it wasn&rsquo;t enough to siphon attention away from his better-polling rivals. And Jeb Bush had a moment, but not a lasting one.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">I did not watch last night&#39;s Republican debate, but from what I have read in multiple articles, the winner was the Democrats while the clear loser was the American people. &nbsp;Certainly the latter sounds &quot;as usual&quot;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thenation.com\/article\/rand-paul-got-it-right-trump-would-defy-every-norm-that-is-america\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>The Nation<\/strong><\/span><\/a> &#8212;&nbsp;The bottom line from the Kentuckian: &ldquo;As commander-in-chief, I will do whatever it takes to defend America. But in defending America, we cannot lose what America stands for. Today is the Bill of Rights&rsquo; anniversary. I hope we will remember that and cherish that in the fight on terrorism.&rdquo; &nbsp;<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><strong>&#8230;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the basic liberties that define America, the truth is still as Benjamin Franklin&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/franklinpapers.org\/franklin\/framedVolumes.jsp?vol=6&amp;page=238a\">described it<\/a>: &ldquo;Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">For being a party that rails against Obama for not respecting the Constitution, there sure are a number of Republican candidates that would change its very life blood. &nbsp;Are they taking their cue from Baby Bush, Cheney and their neocon cabal?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\"><strong>My Universe<\/strong><\/span> &#8212;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18374\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"h0E2BDB5C\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18374\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-300x298.jpg\" width=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-300x298.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-96x96.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-24x24.jpg 24w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-36x36.jpg 36w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-48x48.jpg 48w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C-64x64.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/h0E2BDB5C.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color:#0000FF;\">You have heard me talk about the rain, and more rain . . .&nbsp;well this is what today looked like here &#8212; sunshine,&nbsp;clear skies, crisp temperatures . . . did I mention the sunshine? &nbsp;It rained last night which turned into freezing rain, but snow on the mountains. &nbsp;Tomorrow is scheduled for more rain and wind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18375\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sunny day lafarge park 16 12 15\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18375\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15-224x300.jpg\" width=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15-768x1029.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-lafarge-park-16-12-15.jpg 860w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size:9px;\">Fountain in Lafarge Lake<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-2-16-12-15.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18376\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sunny day view mountains 2 16 12 15\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18376\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-2-16-12-15-267x300.jpg\" width=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-2-16-12-15-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-2-16-12-15.jpg 612w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size:9px;\">Local mountains that I view daily<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-16-12-15.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-18377\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sunny day view mountains 16 12 15\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18377\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-16-12-15-300x195.jpg\" width=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-16-12-15-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-16-12-15-768x500.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-view-mountains-16-12-15.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size:9px;\">Local mountains from the main road.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"sunny day coquitlam river 16 12 15\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-18371\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.7thstep.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-coquitlam-river-16-12-15-169x300.jpg\" width=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-coquitlam-river-16-12-15-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-coquitlam-river-16-12-15-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-coquitlam-river-16-12-15-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/sunny-day-coquitlam-river-16-12-15.jpg 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><span style=\"font-size:9px;\">Coquitlam River running high and fast as it descends from the mountains.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>That&#39;s right, it&#39;s . . .&nbsp; After physio, I indulged in a drive about the area to take in some of the beauty that is too often wrapped in cloud and fog. &nbsp;A few pictures are below. &nbsp;I have a luncheon date tomorrow and after that a visit to the chiropractor to help the lungs <a href='https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/12\/16\/squatchs-open-thread-16122015\/' class='excerpt-more'>[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-open-thread","category-politics","category-35-id","category-5-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18005"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18005\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}