Happy National Cat Day!
We helped friends paint their new abode yesterday and by the time we got home I was tired, stiff and hurting. LOL! Dearest made dinner and I was just falling asleep on the couch. I don’t even remember going to bed. And I’m still tired.
The Victorian Latte Shawl was totally neglected last night.
It is overcast and intermittently drizzling today and I want to go back and crawl into bed. I looked and the US map this morning and there is a belt of rain stretching from the North to South. I guess I should not complain too much. We did our errands early but forgot to do the recycling. Hrumpf!
Friend Janis has put 6 of her gutairs up for sale to help fund some projects.
http://www.guitargal.com/search/node/Janis Ian
The above site also has a piece of merchandise that I would love to get my hands on. No, I can’t bookmark this site.
Have a good one.
Recommended Reading
As Europe erupts over US spying, NSA chief says government must stop media
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/25/europe-erupts-nsa-spying-chief-government The right way to make a federal budget
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-sanders-federal-budget-20131028,0,7763172.story - axzz2izytBpc7
Law change means raw milk cheeses no longer illegal in Brazil
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24636919 How do you catch an escaped lion-tailed monkey?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24736906 Brazilian Carlos Burle surfs huge wave in Portugal
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24726495 If This Is What 2016 Is Going To Look Like, The GOP Is In Big Trouble
http://www.nationalmemo.com/if-this-is-what-2016-is-going-to-look-like-the-gop-is-in-big-trouble/ Bill Moyers: Technology Is Turning Society into Something We Experience Alone, Together
http://admin.alternet.org/culture/bill-moyers-how-rise-technology-turning-society-something-we-experience-alone-together?akid=11088.204376.JNhT6G&rd=1&src=newsletter916298&t=5 Hemp Returns to U.S. Soil After 56 Years -- and Magic Soap King Dr. Bronner's Is Ready to Buy
http://admin.alternet.org/drugs/hemp-returns-us-soil-after-56-years-and-magic-soap-king-dr-bronners-ready-buy?akid=11088.204376.JNhT6G&rd=1&src=newsletter916298&t=13 Good Stuff go watch it
https://www.upworthy.com/hes-speaking-shes-playing-and-im-just-over-here-trying-to-pick-my-jaw-up-off-the-floor?c=upw8 Republican Says He'd Bring Back Slavery If His Constituents Asked Him To - WTF?
http://www.alternet.org/nevada-republican-says-hed-bring-back-slavery-if-voters-demanded-it?akid=11091.204376.nq07Ts&rd=1&src=newsletter916696&t=5 Gulf Ecosystem in Crisis Three Years After BP Spill - What? And you thought it wouldn’t be?
http://truth-out.org/news/item/19526-gulf-ecosystem-in-crisis-after-bp-spill What We Know About Government Malfeasance Is Primarily Due to Whistleblowers
http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18281-what-we-know-about-government-malfeasance-is-due-to-whistleblowers The Out-of-Control NSA
http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18279-robinson-out-of-control-nsa Urban Shield: 'The Epitome of State Repression' Coming to Town Near You
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/10/24-5 Glenn Greenwald: US Spying on Allies Shows "Institutional Obsession" With Surveillance
http://truth-out.org/news/item/19690-glenn-greenwald-us-spying-on-allies-shows-institutional-obsession-with-surveillance Glenn Greenwald: Spying not about terror
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/glenn-greenwald-spying-not-about-terror-98974.html On MTP Chuck Todd points out the Republican House "Majority" is largely due to GOP Gerrymandering
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/28/1251179/-On-MTP-Chuck-Todd-points-out-the-Republican-House-Majority-is-nothing-but-GOP-Gerrymandering?detail=email How You Pay Farmers to Watch Their Crop Shrivel Up and Die
http://convio.motherjones.com/site/R?i=Nu4pMOrEtLl5Jnx_E3HWeQ FDA May Finally Do Something to Make Pet Food Safer
http://www.care2.com/causes/fda-may-finally-do-something-to-make-pet-food-safer.html Why Science Is Telling All of Us to Revolt and Change Our Lives Before We Destroy the Planet
http://admin.alternet.org/environment/naomi-klein-why-science-telling-all-us-revolt-and-change-our-lives-we-destroy-planet?akid=11094.204376.YoCiHE&rd=1&src=newsletter916829&t=5 It’s Hard To Run A Democracy With An Ignorant Public
http://www.nationalmemo.com/its-hard-to-run-a-democracy-with-an-ignorant-public/ Congressman Blasts GOP Colleague For Obamacare Sabotage
http://www.nationalmemo.com/watch-congressman-blasts-gop-colleague-for-obamacare-sabotage/ Love this house
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/19325945?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u380&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0 A Summary Of McMinimum Wages And McWelfare In One Hilarious Clip
https://www.upworthy.com/a-summary-of-mcminimum-wages-and-mcwelfare-in-one-hilarious-clip?c=upw8 GPS bullets are latest weapon for American police
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24731080 Adobe hack: At least 38 million accounts breached
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24740873 Priceless Naples treasure of San Gennaro goes on show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24740616 The club where you can smash stuff up
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24734296 Graham Stark has passed - he did muck more than the panther films.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24741605 India's elephant girl takes on the herds
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24572894 US scientists track what's killing golden eagles
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24719185 Dark matter hunt nears final phase
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24733131 Dutch art may have been stolen by Nazis during Holocaust
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24733491 Caught Again! Rand Paul Is Plagiarizing Full Wikipedia Articles in his Speeches - oops! AGAIN! Maybe Wikipedia should sue him for plagiarizing.
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/caught-again-rand-paul-plagiarizing-full-wikipedia-articles-his-speeches?akid=11095.204376.rXpiqF&rd=1&src=newsletter917241&t=15 Scott Walkers New Book - Lies Exposed Even BEFORE It's Released
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/29/1251562/-Scott-Walker-New-Book-Lies-Exposed-Even-BEFORE-It-s-Released?detail=email Gore on fire: Says humans treating atmosphere 'as if it is an open sewer'
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/29/1250324/-Gore-on-fire-says-humans-treating-atmosphere-as-if-it-is-an-open-sewer?detail=email Dick Cheney says Iraq War was worth it because now we know they didn't have WMDs- WTF? That’s morally reprehensible.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/29/1251545/-Dick-Cheney-says-Iraq-War-was-worth-it-because-now-we-know-they-didn-t-have-WMDs?detail=email The Coming Food Stamp Cut Will Hit 900,000 Veterans
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/29/2850751/food-stamps-cut-veterans/ Church In Dixon, Illinois Closely Resembles A Penis From God's Vantage Point
http://chicagoist.com/2013/10/29/church_in_dixon_illinois_closely_re.php Nurse Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Was Harassed, Refused Treatment and Finally Fired -- by her Hospital
http://www.alternet.org/investigations/nurse-diagnosed-breast-cancer-was-harassed-refused-treatment-and-finally-fired-her?akid=11095.204376.rXpiqF&rd=1&src=newsletter917241&t=5 Koch Pipeline Spills 400 Barrels Of Crude Oil In Texas
http://www.alternet.org/environment/koch-pipeline-spills-400-barrels-crude-oil-texas?akid=11095.204376.rXpiqF&rd=1&src=newsletter917241&t=9 Will Dick Cheney be Arrested For War Crimes in Canada?
http://www.alternet.org/activism/will-dick-cheney-be-arrested-war-crimes-canada?akid=11095.204376.rXpiqF&rd=1&src=newsletter917241&t=3 A Very Good Idea!
Click to view
Go sign the petition:
http://climatenamechange.org/ The Commerce Dept's Internet Policy Task Force proposed making it a felony to stream copyrighted content (aka SOPA Section 201).
Interpreted broadly, this proposal would apply to anyone who uploads a YouTube video of themselves covering a song without permission, a video with copyrighted music playing in the background, even your friend's embarassing karoke performance or your family singing "Happy Birthday To You."
The federal government wants to make streaming -- including material which falls under the "public performance" category -- punishable by years in prison.
As was pointed out last time they tried this, many artists depend on uploading YouTube covers to jumpstart their careers (including the young Justin Beiber...), and many others enjoy streaming creative interpretations of existing songs on their own websites or blogs. This proposal would make both subject to felony prosecution.
Click here to tell Obama NO to making streaming a felony, and NO new SOPA-style censorship:
http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/streaming/?referring_akid=2268.655732.bYRpA8&source=taf It is best that you watch this:
'We're building a domestic army' -Marine Corps colonel speaks out
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/08/15/1231397/--We-re-building-a-domestic-army-Marine-Corps-Colonel-speaks-out?detail=email ***How Government Cover-Up on Fish Farming Affects Your Health - Canada has a problem. It’s lengthy but worth the watch.
Petitions that need your signature
Subject: Here we go again…
The Monsanto protection act is back and may be included in the new 3-month spending bill!
Though wrapped in a “farmer-friendly” package, the Monsanto-driven rider remains simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant GE crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.
Will you join me in telling Congress to exclude this dangerous rider in the upcoming spending bill?
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/1881/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11974&sp_ref=10142675.65.579.e.2444.2 The USDA is about to slash regulations for poultry plants, saving big corporations millions at the expense of public health and workers’ safety.
If new rules are allowed to go into effect, poultry plants will be able to follow less stringent health and safety rules, speed up their production lines, and police themselves for any violations. That means that chicken will come doused with feces and bleach and that workers will be at greater risk of serious injury.
Now the only person who can reverse these regulations is President Obama. Will you join me in saying that these that these disgusting rules are unacceptable?
http://action.sumofus.org/a/usda-chicken/2/?sub=taf Rep. Darrell Issa is trying to pass a bill that would not only end Saturday delivery by the postal service, but also door-to-door mail service for millions. We must stop this outrageous attempt to kill the USPS and hand its business to FedEx and UPS. Go sign the petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/issa_usps?akid=8606.952925.D3Dc4S&rd=1&t=2 They are at it again
The Texas Taliban - also known as the rightwing majority on the Texas State Board of Education - want to revise the state's standards for science textbooks to require the addition of religious pseudoscience when teaching subjects like biology. And this isn't just bad news for Texas school children because the Texas standards will impact the textbooks used by millions of students nationwide.
Texas may want to dumb-down their children by teaching them pseudoscience but I don’t want the children of my state to be taught this way. Tell textbook publishers to stand up to the Texas Taliban and only publish books that are based on sound, peer-reviewed science scholarship. Click the link below to sign the petition automatically:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/texas_taliban/?sp_ref=7570952.4.422.e.0.2&referring_akid=8622.952925.lJjLf7&source=mailto_sp The Mind Your Own Business Act
http://mindyourownbusinessact.com/?source=Jun13Email America's top grocers are selling fake honey containing carcinogens, heavy metals, and banned antibiotics.
Get grocers to make sure they're selling us the real thing.
http://action.sumofus.org/a/honey-fake-walgreens/4/2/?akid=1806.65932.QE7P4I&rd=1&sub=fwd&t=3 The Wounded Knee site has been held sacred by the Lakota Sioux since the horrific massacre that happened there in 1890. Now, it's in danger of being sold to the highest bidder, including someone who would build a horse slaughterhouse on the plot.
The current owner has offered to sell the site to its rightful owners, the nearby Oglala tribe, for the cool price of $3.9 million. But The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, just a few miles from where Wounded Knee is located, is one of the poorest places in the country. To build a horse slaughterhouse on their sacred site after everything the tribe has already suffered would be unthinkable.
http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AhnMh/zNI6/3R2f And now a word about Monsanto and others like them. These profit-hungry biotech companies have found a way to exclusively ‘own’ something that freely belongs to us all -- our food! They’re trying to patent away our everyday vegetables and fruits like cucumber, broccoli and melons, forcing growers to pay them and risk being sued if they don’t.
Companies like Monsanto have found loopholes in European law to get away with this, so we just need to close them shut before they set a dangerous global precedent. And to do that, we need key countries like Germany, France and the Netherlands -- where opposition is already growing -- to call for a vote to stop Monsanto’s plans. Go sign the petition.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/monsanto_vs_mother_earth_loc/?bjeIjab&v=23911 Tell Nestlé: Stop trying to patent a natural cure
In a paper published last year, Nestlé scientists claimed to “discover” what much of the world has known for millennia: that nigella sativa extract could be used for “nutritional interventions in humans with food allergy”.
But instead of creating an artificial substitute, or fighting to make sure the remedy was widely available, Nestlé is attempting to create a nigella sativa monopoly and gain the ability to sue anyone using it without Nestlé’s permission. Nestlé has filed patent applications -- which are currently pending -- around the world.
Sing the petition:
http://action.sumofus.org/a/nestle-nigella-sativa/11/2/?akid=1601.65932.w0DNPx&rd=1&sub=fwd3&t=4 Maddow features PCCC activism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7LANHts78c Tell Congress Social Security is non-negotiable.
http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/standwithbernie Amazon is at it again! Please go sign this petition. It is not fair for those of us who make our living by writing. Authors are not libraries and while most of us enjoy the social side of writing we do this to pay our bills. If some one returns an ebook after reading it our royalties get reduced.
I just signed the pe
etition "Amazon Kindle e-Book Return Policy: Stop allowing refunds on e-Books after e-Books have been read." on
http://Change.org/ It's important. Here's the link:
http://www.change.org/petitions/amazon-kindle-e-book-return-policy-stop-allowing-refunds-on-e-books-after-e-books-have-been-read North Dakota just passed the most extreme abortion ban in the country. It's just one of some 300 bills across the country designed to take away women's rights and access to health care -- and ultimately to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Don't let lawmakers get away with it, take action today:
http://ppaction.org/WakeUpCall Click here to tell Obama to veto CISPA:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/veto_cispa/?referring_akid=a8234599.655732.Af5Ve3&source=auto-taf AT&T, Cablevision, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon have all agreed to start spying on their users.
The US's largest Internet Service Providers are implementing a new "online infringement" plan to identify and punish, with virtually no due process, users suspected of downloading copyrighted content.
https://act.demandprogress.org/letter/six_strikes_2013/?rd=1&t=1&referring_akid=undefined Remember CISPA? Well, it’s back - sign the petition
http://www.cispaisback.com/ Oppose Seismic Surveys in the Atlantic - sign it please
http://action.surfrider.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6937 Tell Congress to Dump Monsanto's Riders!
http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50865/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8644 Bury Power Lines in Cities and Towns, Prevent Long-Lasting Outages, Improve National Security
http://signon.org/sign/bury-power-lines-in-cities?mailing_id=7341&source=s.icn.em.cr&r_by=913515 Protect Global Internet Freedom - go sign the petition
http://protectinternetfreedom.net/ The Sierra Club has a variety of actions to be taken. Just follow the link.
Send the congress a letter here:
http://action.sierraclub.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&id=9962
Do you really own the smartphone or computer you’re using to read this email?
If you sold your computer, would you be breaking the law? A federal court in New York says you would be.
It's unbelievable, but trademark and copyright holders really are trying to take away your right to sell things that you own. Please click here to fight back:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/ The First-Sale Doctrine gives us the right to sell most property we own. But if the Supreme Court supports the lower court’s decision, we won't really “own” anything if it's from a different country. We expect them to issue a ruling later this year.
The President can urge the Court to side with consumers; then Congress will probably weigh in on the issue, no matter how the Court rules.
If we lose this fight, anybody who wants to resell foreign products, from Macbooks and iPhones to our clothing and textbooks, will have to ask copyright holders for permission first. And they'll have the right to deny it!
Just click here to email your lawmakers right away:
http://www.youvebeenowned.org/ There are two very bad internet bills that you need to be aware of. The first concerns making streaming content a felony. Read about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/letter/ten_strikes?akid=700.450896.5hVZPC&rd=1&t=1 and the second is the Protect-IP Act that gives the government power to censor search engines and browsers. Read more about it here:
http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/protectip_docs Both of the above pages have a petition to sign so please do so.
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