{"id":40689,"date":"2020-08-08T10:36:57","date_gmt":"2020-08-08T17:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=40689"},"modified":"2020-08-08T10:36:57","modified_gmt":"2020-08-08T17:36:57","slug":"open-thread-8-8-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/08\/08\/open-thread-8-8-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 8\/8\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s a very tired day, here in the CatBox.  JD, would you please cover Bill Maher?  I have another lead story that needs doing.  Yesterday they increased my Fentanyl dosage to 25 mg, so I’ll be in less pain starting with my next patch change Monday.  <\/font>The PET scan was not good. My oncologist is seeking insurance approval for a drug called Pembrolizumab. The chances of severe side effects (excessive immune response) are less than 5%. If it works, which is a long shot, it will tag my cancer cells with markers that allow my own immune system to recognize and attack them. If insurance will not approve, because it’s a long shot, or if it doesn\u2019t work, I’ll be fortunate to see 2021.  I hope you have a great weekend.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today’s took me 3:02 (average 5:46).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

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Trump* Virus Update<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"0808TrumpVirusMap\"<\/font><\/p>\n

US Cases: 5,098,494
US Deaths: 164,144<\/font><\/strong> <\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From Alternet<\/a>: <\/font>The Sturgis, South Dakota motorcycle rally in 2015. This year\u2019s rally, now underway, is expected to attract 250,000 people.<\/p>\n

It would be too much to expect the millions of Americans who choose to celebrate their personal identity with intentionally loud<\/a> and purposely obnoxious, high-polluting<\/a> machines, operated at speeds in excess of 70 mph on our nation\u2019s highways, with zero protection between themselves and the roadway, all to care equally about potentially infecting other people with an invisible virus. <\/p>\n

Still, for at least a discrete subgroup of those folks who claim the \u201cindividual freedom\u201d to face a fatality risk 26 times<\/a> the rate of other motorists, attendance at the annual Sturgis motorcycle rally<\/a> in Sturgis, South Dakota this year in the midst of the deadliest global pandemic in over a century, signifies a quantum leap of sorts in both irresponsibility and crass disregard not only for their own lives, but for the rest of the people in this country as well. <\/p>\n

Certainly many bikers are not Republican fools.  They will not be there.  The deplorable Republican Sheeple will spread Trump’s* Republican plague far and wide!  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font> <\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Jerry Falwell Jr., one of President Trump\u2019s most prominent and controversial evangelical supporters, will take an indefinite leave of absence from his role as president and chancellor of Liberty University, the board of trustees announced [pseudo-Christians delinked<\/em>] on Friday. <\/p>\n

The news comes days after Mr. Falwell posted, and then deleted, a photograph on Instagram of him posing alongside a woman with his pants unzipped and his arm around her. <\/p>\n

Mr. Falwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier in the week, he apologized for the photo. <\/p>\n

Franklin Graham, who leads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, defended Mr. Falwell in an interview on Friday evening. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a great leader and he has taken this school \u2014 it is one of the largest universities in the United States. He\u2019s done an incredible job,\u201d Mr. Graham said. \u201cHe is a great leader and I certainly support him.\u201d <\/p>\n

I thought you might appreciate this follow-up. I wonder how many BJs Graham has gotten on Falwell’s yacht. RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font> <\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (a blast of protest): <\/font>Barry McGuire – Eve of Destruction<\/font><\/p>\n