{"id":18025,"date":"2015-12-05T02:28:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-05T10:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=18025"},"modified":"2015-12-05T02:38:40","modified_gmt":"2015-12-05T10:38:40","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-05122015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/12\/05\/squatchs-open-thread-05122015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch\u2019s Open Thread 05\/12\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, Friday is done and Saturday is upon us.  Teaching went well today.  When I am there, I usually get called to explain other things like letters and today it was a report card for the 8 year old girl.  Even though she was born in Canada, she has difficulty with English because she speaks Juba at home with her mother.  But she is making good progress and I am really proud of her!  On top of that, I learned another Farsi expression . . . ché ha bas . . . which means what's up?  Of course this is a phonetic spelling using the English alphabet.  Learning new stuff keeps a person young.<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzle<\/strong> — Today’s took me 2:57 (average 5:17). To do it, <\/span>click here<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. How did you do?<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The Nation<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>— I hate to pick on Carly Fiorina, since she’s dropping in GOP presidential polls, but she’s the most avid purveyor of falsehoods in the 2016 Republican field next to Donald Trump. She spewed some whoppers Thursday on MSNBC’sMorning Joe<\/em>. They’re worth examining because they show the way GOP cynics, most of whom know better, are exploiting anti-government hysteria on the right as they close their ears to overwhelming public demand for tougher gun laws. <\/p>\n

Isn't it truly amazing how the Republican presidential hopefuls are whipping up anti-government sentiments in their base while seeking to lead that same government.  And the base either does not see this, is wilfully ignorant, or just doesn't care as long as the black man in the White House is gone.  And her arguments hold no water.  Fiorina is such an airhead.<\/span><\/p>\n

CBC<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — Governor General David Johnston called Canada's response to the refugee crisis a defining moment for the country earlier this week as he met with aid agencies and political, business and community leaders to discuss how to better coordinate the work of resettling 25,000 Syrians by February.<\/p>\n

"This is a defining moment for Canada, a defining moment for all of us,'' he told the forum. "It's even more than that. It's an opportunity to reimagine how we take care of the most marginalized and vulnerable among us.<\/strong><\/span>"<\/p>\n

But does that sentiment extend beyond the imperatives of a current crisis?<\/p>\n

A good question for all nations that have indigenous peoples.  GG David Johnston's statement "<\/span>It's an opportunity to reimagine how we take care of the most marginalized and vulnerable among us.<\/strong>", should be enough of a catalyst for Canadians to embrace the plight of our First Nations peoples, as well as the Syrian refugees that are coming.  I hope we don't have to wait until 2017 to see the federal government's plan of addressing First Nations' issues.  We, as a society have to drop our stereotypical approach and attitude, rather seeing all people as equal partners in society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Huffington Post<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>As global population soars, healthcare is reaching a crisis point: developing countries struggle with a lack of access while countries like the U.S. struggle to manage an inefficient system that spends billions on unnecessary care. After a life-changing trip to Haiti, one doctor teamed up with a small bioengineering company with a mission to empower patients. <\/p>\n

With a title like "<\/span>Canadian Doctor's Device Could Save Americans Billions<\/span><\/a>", I was intrigued as to what this could be.  So that I don't give away anything, and as someone with multiple health issues, <\/span>SIGN ME UP!!!!!  NOW!!!!!  <\/span><\/strong>Click through to the 12 minute video.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mother Jones<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>[Missouri] <\/span>State Rep. Stacey Newman, a Democrat, prefiled a bill this week for the next legislative session that, if passed, would subject potential gun buyers to the same rigmarole of restrictions—a 72-hour waiting period, an explanatory video, a doctor meeting, a facility tour, reviews of photographs, and more—that are already imposed on or have been proposed for Missouri women seeking abortions.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, this seems very reasonable, especially given the recent spate of mass shootings.  Are Republicans trying to say that the life of a zygote is more precious than the lives of 20 grade one children, or eight African American church members, or seventeen adults with families to support and love?  When we drive a vehicle, we must have training, a license, insurance etc.  Why not when buying a gun which can be equally deadly?  Of course, this is just too much common sense for any Republican.<\/span><\/p>\n

My Universe<\/strong> <\/span>— <\/p>\n