OPEN THREAD (Version #002) authorized by the White House press office. (The folks at BTC News report that “[t]he White House press office sent out two versions of the speech delivered by president Bush … the first was the speech as prepared, the second the speech as delivered.”)
Can’t resist? Read and compare here.
Another rape victim in Pakistan:
Dr Khalid was employed at a hospital run by Pakistan Petroleum
A Pakistani doctor whose rape in the southern province of Balochistan last year sparked tribal clashes says she is still terrified.
“I was threatened so many times in Pakistan that I still feel scared,” Dr Shazia Khalid told the BBC. …
Reading the article, this is encouraging though:
I’ll keep my eye out for info that comes from this. Information sessions put the spotlight on the crimes, and gives some sense of power (i.e., a voice) to those affected.
For anyone interested, the AANA website (link). And the page for the conference in Houston July 2 (here).
I hope you will, Olivia. THANK YOU.
From David Sirota:
Notice how many “pro-national security” Republicans voted against this bill. Apparently to them, giving away taxpayer cash to wealthy corporations is more important than securing America.
This legislation follows the House passage of a bipartisan, Sanders-written amendment a few weeks ago that would reform the Patriot Act. Both of these bills show that with some creativity, progressives can forge new coalitions to press ahead with their agenda.
Stay tuned to see what the Senate does on both amendments – and whether the Republican leadership has the gall to strip out these measures in conference committee.
Bandar Bush has resigned:
The embassy in Washington has sought to play down rumours of his departure saying merely that he is on holiday.
Yes, just one really long holiday…
Is it really about his health? I heard something about depression.
The guy is 52, and he used to be a fighter pilot, so for sure he WAS in good health.
I’ve tried to find out what his “health” problems are with little success. Looks like King Fahd is about to kick the bucket and Bandar’s dad will move up to the #2 slot.
The reports I’ve seen is that Bandar will get to run the intelligence agency over there when that happens.
Pax
Thanks… you always have some info we don’t get much of.
If it were up to Bandar, wouldn’t he rather live in the U.S.?
Definitely.. he loves smoking and drinking alcohol, both banned in Saudi Arabia. He is also a major fan of american football which obviously isnt played in Saudi Arabia (he can watch on TV but not quite the same as box seats). He also spends a lot of time in Kennebunkport with the elder Bushes and loves it there…
Looks like he’s got a problem with pills, at least that’s what MSNBC is hinting at. But the real reason I think is that King Fahd is about to die and the royals are getting ready for the big shift when that happens.
Watch the oil market to tremble a little bit the next couple of days because of this.
I’d be depressed too if I had my head up Bush butts for so long.
I know this has nothing to do with anything, but I was wondering if any one could help me out.
Marley, my 7 year old cat, seems to be losing weight. He is skinner than I have ever seen him. He doesn’t have a cat box inside, so I can’t look at his poop for any kind of diagnostic help. He seem perfectly healthy otherwise and he does eat.
We can’t really afford to take him to the vet right now, but I am starting to get a bit worried. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
You don’t see worms around his anus?
Do you put his food outside? Might he have competition for his food?
Is he vaccinated? Feline leukemia too?
Could you keep him inside for a few days, with a litter box, and regular supply of food and see if he seems better? Then you could check his poo too.
AND (!) — here, the local privately run shelter for cats has an emergency fund for people who need help with vet bills. Try calling some local shelters to see if they’d hep you. (But they may want you to try keeping him in for a few days so you can check his stool, etc.)
Thanks Susan! No worms. Food is inside — we do have another year old kitty, but they have FINALLY learned how to take turns! 😉
I may try the “keeping him inside” thing, but boyohboy does he hate that! and, ahem, not at all sure he would actually USE a litterbox….he hasn’t for about 6 years….
I will call shelters though, that’s a good idea. Thanks again!
of feline lukemia (that is what I have been thinking the past few days — he does have a bit of a patch where it looks like he might have lost some hair, but it is growing back…)
He is fully vaccinated….
Gee, I guess I could go look this stuff up on the internet, huh? I am getting very lazy!
My Bear cries at the door if he doesn’t get to go out. Since he has zero street smarts, he goes outside in a big wire cage where he can watch all the birds and kids walking by. I drop food into his cage, and he loves hunting for it in the grass.
What kind of food does your kitty get? We’ve been trying some new kinds, including Serengeti, which they seem to love and is supposedly very nutritious. Wellness is also good.
…
Okay. I just asked my daughter about it. She said there’s no realistic way to tell what’s wrong with kitty until you take him to a vet. It could be diabetes, cancer, even leukemia since they can still get it even if they’re vaccinated. (And if he’s contagious, you need to keep him away from your other kitty.)
They’ll likely have to do blood work. DO CALL the private shelters first, then public shelters. If you lived near me, I’d tell you to call Peninsula Friends of Animals (PFOA) — they’re very good about pitching in with help for vet bills.
and I let him out — cancer, lukemia. Shit.
Blood work is so damned expensive too…
Please thank you daughter for me!
check around his throat and see if his thyroid is swollen, we have a 14 yr old cat who’s thyroid was causing him to lose a half his weight. Vet put him on some pills and he is doing fine now, don’t know if he will ever regain all his weight, but he is active and healthy again.
place as a human’s?
I will check that as soona s he comes back.
Pills, eh? Marley hates pills with a big ole passion….we had a hell of a time getting his anti-biotics in him a few months back after he had gotten in a fight with a racoon? dog? — something large.
Thanks, GDW — glad to hear your kitty is doing well!
we grind his pill up in some cat food and mix it all up and he eats it without knowing. The lump we felt on his neck was almost in the center of his neck, under his chin.
We tried that but he absolutely REFUSED to eat his food, even though we had used a pestle and mortar to grind the pills into a fine mist, we tried wrapping the pill in tuna, he didn’t care….we resorted to the old wrap the cat up in a towel and poke it down his throat trick.
It’ll be heating up to the high temp. of 97 here in a bit, so I’m sure he’ll be back soon (he’s mostly black) — I’ll feel for the lump.
I’m kind of scared and sad and at the smae time feeling bad to be this worried about kitty when so much other awfulness is going on.
I am feeling that dreadful paralysis coming on — all i want to do is avoid (as I have been avoiding my dissertation for the last month and a half)
The Canadian government passed same sex marriage legislation Tuesday night and news reports Wednesday morning proclaimed that strange popping sounds were heard across the country following the vote. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that – true to the prophesies – extreme religious people’s heads were actually exploding. Citizens were warned to stay away from such people in order to avoid being sprayed with unseemly residue.