December 19, 2016 Open Thread; Goan Independence Day.
December 19 is the 353rd day of the year. There are 12 days left.
Today's number is 19
19 is a prime number (the eighth prime)
The only magic hexagon with more than 1 cell has 19 cells
19 is potassium
The metonic cycle is roughly 19 years and pops up in calendars throughout history; 19 years = 235 lunar months
A zero point hand in cribbage is called "nineteen" because no cribbage hand can have a 19 point score
The 19th hole on a golf course is the bar
A go board is a 19 x 19 grid
19 is a palindromic Roman Numeral -- XIX --(Thanks Lookout)
And, thanks to eyo
Title 19 of the US Code is CUSTOMS DUTIES
19 BCE was the Year of the Consulship of Saturninus and Vespillo
The Aqua Virgo was completed
The poet Virgil died
19 CE was the Year of the Consulship of Silanus and Balbus
Germanicus Julius Caesar died
On this day in:
1606 -- Settlers sailed from England to start colonizing the New World at Jamestown, Virginia.
1675 -- Colonists slaughtered great numners of Narragansett in the The Great Swamp Massacre
1777 -- The Continental Army went into winter quarters at Valley Forge
1941 -- Hitler became Supreme Commander-in-chief of the German Army.
1946 -- Official start of the Anti-French resistance in Viet Nam, though the Viet Min had been fighting since 1945.
1961 -- India annexed Goa, Daman and Diu, after freeing them from Portuguese rule.
1986 -- Gorbachev released Andrei Sakharov from exile in Gorky
1998 -- Clinton was impeached by the House
2012 -- Park Geun-hye was elected president of South Korea, the first female so elected
Born this day in:
1820 -- Mary Livermore, abolitionist, suffragette, and journalist
1852 -- Albert Abraham Michelson, physicist, chemist, and Nobel winner (think Michelson-Morley)
1875 -- Carter G. Woodson, historian and author, founded Black History Month
1899 -- Martin Luther King, Sr., largely forgotten pastor, missionary, and activist
1901 -- Rudolf Hell, engineer, invented the Hellschreiber
1910 -- Jean Genet, author, poet, and playwright
1915 -- Edith Piaf, singer, songwriter, and actress. The Little Sprrow
1918 -- Professor Longhair, singer, songwriter and pianist
1920 -- Little Jimmy Dickens, singer, songwriter and guitarist
1929 -- Bob Brookmeyer, trombonist, pianist, and composer (Played with Gerry Mulligan)
1929 -- Gregory Carroll, singer, songwriter and producer (one of the Orioles and other doo wop groups)
1935 -- Bobby Timmons, pianist and composer
1940 -- Phil Ochs, singer, songwriter and guitaris
1941 -- Maurice White, singer, songwriter and producer, Co-founder of Earth, Wind & FIre
1942 -- Cornell Dupree, guitarist
1944 -- Richard Leakey, paleontologist and politician (seems almost redundant)
1944 -- Alvin Lee, singer, songwriter and guitarist
1944 -- Zal Yanovsky, singer, songwriter and guitarist, co-founder of the Lovin' Spoonful
1945 -- John McEuen, singer, songwriter and guitarist, a Nitty, Gritty, Dirty guitarist
Died this day in:
1819 -- Thomas Fremantle, admiral and politician
1848 -- Emily Bronte, novelist and poet
1851 -- Joseph Mallord William Turner, painter
1953 -- Robert Andrews Millikan, experimental physicist
1993 -- Michael Clarke, drummer
1996 -- Marcello Mastroianni, actor and singer
1997 -- Jimmy Rogers, singer, songwriter and guitarist
2000 -- Rob Buck, guitarist and songwriter
2005 -- Vincent Gigante, lousy shot
2012 -- Robert Bork, lawyer, judge, and scholar; inspiration for the word borked
Holidays, Holy Days, Festivals, Feast Days and such:
Goan Independence Day
So, for music
Edith Piaf
Professor Longhair
Little Jimmy Dickens
Bob Brookmeyer
Gregory Carroll
Bobby Timmons
Phil Ochs
Maurice White
Cornell Dupree
Alvin Lee
Zal Yanovsky
John McEuen
Michael Clarke
Jimmy Rogers
Rob Buck
Edith Piaf
Professor Longhair
Little Jimmy Dickens
Bob Brookmeyer
Gregory Carroll
Bobby Timmons
Phil Ochs
Maurice White
Cornell Dupree
Alvin Lee
Zal Yanovsky
John McEuen
Michael Clarke
Jimmy Rogers
Rob Buck
OK, what's on your minds?
Bonus tune(s):
Comments
Good morning.
Thank you for Piaf, other tunes, and the open thread, el.
All that comes to mind to add for 19 this morning is Juneteenth, June 19, African American emancipation day. Guess that needs to wait until June to fit the essay.
Might get above freezing today. We've been in a cold wave, or maybe it's an arctic blast. 8 inches of snow the other day, and single digits.
Only 12 days left. Wow. Then 20 days to the inauguration. That should be an interesting day.
Happy Monday, c99ers!
We've had three (or 4?) days of freezing nights, which
is oretty unusual here.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Also today,
The Electoral College members cast their ballots. Then, according to CNN, on January 6, Congress counts the ballots and makes it official. Biden presides over the count.
And possibly the start of the second American Civil War?
I really wonder if he will declare Hillary the winner by
some parliamentary trick. I would not be surprised which tells you how low the (D) party has sunk.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
With any luck, the "Hamilton Electors" will not stop spamming
you tube.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Hopefull my frieinds online and off
who are the now the Democratic progressive faithful and are so damn fearful of the worst evil ever since Hitler will stop posting article about the mythical Hamilton electors. These people were not particularly partisan until the specter of The Hairball was tossed into the equation. Some are life long Greens some are Democrat's who supported Bernie, some are Indies and many think they are in the center of the fake political spectrum. Moderation that's the key, the only problem being where is the moderate in a world running on fear, loathing, greed and naked violent power?
Anyway they have all gone crazy because the lesser evil, who is in reality not at all lesser, lost. My fb feed usually quite liberal, humanistic, entertaining and informative has been bombarded with people desperately posting Hamilton Electors, Wikileaks (Assange) is in league with Putin , fake news, spooks are our friends, and the Russian's did it bs. Since when did the Wapo and the CIA become trustworthy? Or The Mad Bomber and crew for that matter. These people need to quit listening to NPR, turn off their TV's and let go of their belief in the American system which is thoroughly broken on all levels begining with the electoral theater of horrors. Were So Screwed-2016.
Good Morning EL - Geistesverwirrung - I suffer under it
Thank you for your long list of songs, may be the only thing that can distract me from an acute manifestation of "Geistesverwirrung". Because I need to get better, I decided to take a hike and not come back to talk.
Have a good day, all of you, and thanks for all you do for this site to all of you as well.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Sounds quite unpleasant. Google says anything from
derangement (whatever the hell *that* means) to alienation. I hope you enjoy your hike and thanks or dropping in.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
The shortest 12 days of the year, lol
I had to pay $20 to mail a late package (2 day delivery) to Dallas to my son. At least I got it done, and my post office had only a short line. Amazing that there were people taping up enormous U-haul boxes there. Maybe they are relocating and sending their stuff by USPS. Cheaper than a moving van?
A solar day here, but it's up to 16F. Somewhat icy, with flooding of my driveway yesterday, now all ice. I drove up, only minor slippage. The only casualty is a recycling bin, upside down, now frozen to the ground. Tomorrow is another sunny day and may get above freezing so I will try for bin rescue then.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
We've had frost and frozen standing water, but that is
as horrific as it ever gets here. Good luck and watch your footing.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Paul Krugman outdid himself in today's NYT.
Just couldn't help myself, I'm afraid.
" But what directly drives the attack on democracy, I’d argue, is simple careerism on the part of people who are apparatchiks within a system insulated from outside pressures by gerrymandered districts, unshakable partisan loyalty, and lots and lots of plutocratic financial support.
For such people, toeing the party line and defending the party’s rule are all that matters. And if they sometimes seem consumed with rage at anyone who challenges their actions, well, that’s how hacks always respond when called on their hackery." -Krugman
This is just funny. So smart - so clueless. ( irishking)
Search Results i·ro·ny1 ˈīrənē/ noun noun: irony a literary technique, originally used in Greek tragedy, by which the full significance of a character's words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character noun: dramatic irony
Thanks for the chuckle.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Whatever happened to the old NYT?
Very good article. It goes into detail about the many covert operations that were done to manipulate, co-opt and outright destroy political parties and governments of foreign nations that do not kowtow to US interests.
I'm thinking we have slipped into an alternative universe where western media has taken on the roll of the media in the now defunct USSR. There just might be a lesson to be learned here.
Thanks so much for The Bluest Blues omg guitar heaven
here is Alvin Lee about it in the tube comment -
Good one! thanks el
This one's for me, and any others feeling like it. Peace be the journey.
thanks
Thanks, I need a way to remember to sneak that tune
up into the number section, where it will always be relevant.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Obama had his Wheaties this morning
This is a good start given what we have been seeing:
Obama: Dems lost because we didn't 'show up'
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/310969-obama-dems-lost-because-we-d...
'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member
That's almost correct...
The copy should have read:
We didn't show up because the Dems were lost.
And this makes it obvious, they are still clueless.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
But, he fails to acknowledge that the main reason people didn't
'show up' was because Hillary was not the candidate who exemplified the Dems core values. But, then again, neither does Obama (anymore).
I'm believing more and more, that Bernie would have won against Trump hands down if he would have had support from the DNC. He would have won the primaries easily w/o the DNC working at destroying him. Just look at how well he performed despite all that was going against him - DNC, media, Clinton machine w/ 1%'rs. The least of his opponents was the Republicans!
This is just more hopey, changey bullshit from Obama
Not sure Obama ever exemplified the core.
By this time in 08 there was almost as much outrage at Obama's cabinet picks as Trump. Instead of the stem winding inspirational inauguration speech we hoped for we got weak tea. He secretly sold out single payer healthcare before congress ever began hearings and similarly turned over the OFA database to the DNC.
Then dithered away almost the first full year getting the ACA passed even with a majority in both houses. They admitted that they didn't wake up and get it done until they realized that the Senate might be up for grabs. They never pushed back on calling it Obamacare which of course was just waving a red flag at a GOP bull. He was so disengaged with politics that they ignored the nomination of a totally unqualified Democratic candidate in Massachusetts who lost Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. Think about that. The Obama DNC could not hold the brightest blue senate seat in the nation. A DNC preview of Christmas yet to come?
Yes he did manage to jump start the economy but eight years later we continue the perpetual war against ideology. Women still make less than men. The Audacity of Hope became the audacity to put social security on the alter of a Grand Bargain with the GOP. And Git-Mo remains open.
Yes the economy has improved. The stock market continues to break records, the banks are open for business as usual, the billionaires are having an Ecstatic Christmas. Nothing says "Have an Ecstatic Christmas" like another hundred million dollar CEO bonus. Back in the real world, 99% of the people saw they buying power diminish even in an almost inflation free economy.
Oh yes and a multi-millionaire, establishment candidate, with a mile long, 100 oil car train load of baggage, couldn't excite the common people and beat a total buffoon. A change election cycle? Who would have guessed?
Maybe there are other reasons for the election outcome than just the Russians which seem to have become a scapegoat and which simultaneously makes them look dangerously powerful and the US dangerously weak to the rest of the world.
Yes Trump is horrible and maybe worse than we can imagine. To me the Obama administration has been largely a cerebral place holder. There are of course counter arguments and everyone is entitled to their opinions but that's my general take.
Excerpt from that article
Of course the Hillbots are ready with their pre-programmed line:
Drama Queens.
The Hilbots should have listened to Putin back in Jun 19, 2016
He told Fareek Zakaria that the Electoral College was not truly democratic because presidents can be elected despite having the least number of popular votes.
Watch at 2:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBTBBNOtbhM
Am I taking crazy pills?
Or did Caucus99 delete my last blog post?
last one I see....
by you is -
How Paranoid Am I Being?
12/15/2016 - 11:19pm
There is an unpublish link for you at the top of each essay - did you accidentally hit it?
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I'm pretty sure I didn't.
I don't know. What does it say on the label?
I also lose posts because sometimes it takes several minutes (3-5) to process after I click Save' and I inadvertently close the window too soon.
It posted, and there were 10 or 15 comments.
Now all I see is this:http://caucus99percent.com/content/golem-prague
My bet is there was a complaint to moderators and/or admins
that you were recommending violence. So they took it down in an excess of caution. But as we mentioned in the comments, "fight" doesn't equal violence. We fight for our rights.
If I were you, I'd message the admins and/or moderators, explain that it's one of many in your fractured fairy tales, that classic fairy tales have always had some violent content but that is not your intent, you're just parodying the current mess while also parodying the fairy tales. Ask if they took it down, and ask if they'll put it back up.
If they say no, well, it's one of those "it's their web site" moments, I'd let it go in that case. I think your other fairy tales will receive a better reception. If not, congratulations, you're hitting a nerve, the hallmark of the best parodies.
Good luck!
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
Thanks!
I'll do that.
Just a bug!
Since Twitter banned me from advertising, I'm all kinds of paranoid, but it was nothing. Just some kind of website bug!
Apologies to all for overreacting!
Glad to hear it!
Apologies for feeding your paranoia, but I followed the discussion the other day.
I hope all of us didn't lose content!
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
good morning el and c99
I had forgotten about the metonic cycle uniting the solar and lunar cycles. I think it was a big deal for the Mayans.
Nineteen is a great (palindrome) Roman numeral -
Thanks for the music and number fun, el.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Thanks for the roman palindrome - another thing to try to recall
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
DAPL water protector gets vote for President!
Good morning in the afternoon, EL! I find this hilarious, but I have a warped sense of humor. Don't have time to diary it, so I'll plunk it here.
So far, the only faithless electors are Hillary's! One of whom voted for a native American from Standing Rock: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/12/19/electoral_college_upda...
I find that so amusing I took a screenshot (original at link above):
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
Dec 19, 2016 5:30 PM EST Donald Trump
has been elected president as he passes 270 Electoral votes.
http://www.kiro7.com/news/local/electoral-college-vote-live-updates-on-s...
Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation
Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook
Has the world ended?
or is that in January?
Didn't you notice? The world ended in 2000. You have been
living in an alternate universe since. Don't worry though. Just preface everything political with 'neo' and you will get along just fine.
The USA as we knew it ended on 9-11
Most have forgotten that Bush was just blundering along and not particularly popular. He had never really projected a strong agenda. He was going to be the compassionate conservative. Remember that on the morning of 9-11 the most important item on his agenda was reading to kindergartners. But 9-11 gave him an agenda and the power to move it.
On 9-11 the US lurched into perpetual fear mode that was continually agitated by the administration and the press. At the end of the Shrub era the majority of people still believed that Iraq had WMD's even after Shub admitted it was never so. Every other headline and column used WMD somewhere probably even in the Christmas Fruitcake recipe. The professional agitators have never relented. We are now in an apocalypse of wild ass guessing and second guessing the first wide ass who is in turn.....
9-11 was when we awoke from the brief post cold war intermission and once again reentered the perpetual war and fear of wars mentality. Now it seems that there is no factoid too insignificant not to generate waves of gloom and doom.
9-11 was when the world ended for the US. Asama won larger than he could have ever imagined.
That was the day the 'basement crazies' crawled out from their
dank holes and infested the White House. They managed to contrive some of the worst disasters of American foreign policy in a century. Unfortunately, Obama did not do a thorough house cleaning when he took office. He allowed some of the more respectable ones to remain in the back bedrooms.
Seeking to remain ensconced in the White House, some of the backroom crazies hitched their wagon to Hillary's campaign while others hitched theirs to Trump