Why is that?

Common Sense: An Endangered Species?

Perhaps it’s been said before – “common sense isn’t so common anymore.”

Maybe even, at one time, or another, you’ve said as much.

Common sense, of course, is a thought process that implies a.) one is thinking, and b.) one is using process of reasoning.

And, without exception, EVERYONE thinks. Not everyone exercises good judgment.

Some take common sense for granted, while others do not.

Common sense may arise from experience, and/or education, and sometimes, experience is a harsh taskmaster – lessons learned aren’t always learned the easiest, or best way. But, it’s education nevertheless.

Point being, is that when we think, we use our highest and best faculties, which separates us and makes us unique in the animal kingdom.

So let’s quickly talk about common sense and politics – an area in which many seem to disagree, some even vehemently, and unfortunately, sometimes violently.

When we fight, we often “lose our mind,” and are motivated and actuated by feelings… which can often betray us. Yet, even in structured fighting, such as war, we employ our faculties of reason to win the victory. War, its strategies and tactics, is studied, and taught. So that very act itself demonstrates that our thinking faculties are a higher order than feeling.

Note that instead of saying “I think,” many people say, “I feel.”

That, I think, is a mistake to say that one “feels” rather than “thinks” when expressing an opinion, for it – the feeling – is something which rationally, one cannot argue against. Feelings may be pleasant, or unpleasant. And if one feels this way, or that way, it is a merely a feeling – and may be, and often is, fleeting, or passing – it is temporal, and lasts only briefly. Consider the feeling of being sad, bloated, or even gassy.

This too, shall pass.

But let’s not delve too deeply into the matter, not to become too philosophical or analytical, per se, and suffice it to say that we want to share some common sensical thoughts – ones that many, if not most, or, even all, could agree upon – in the realm of politics.

It is, after all, political season, and we human beings are political animals.

Trump Daily Death Count June 23, 2020

Today’s COVID-19 US Daily Death Count bought to you by…

Republicans – The Party of White!

Because White Makes Right.

As of this evening, June 23, 2020, at least 121,224 Americans have sacrificed their lives for DJ Trump, the narcissistic incompetent Liar in Chief who pretends to be the President of the United States.

Thank you for your sacrifice.

And for those who have become infected, but have not died,

Iowa Republicans Foul Up Farm Bill

Republican Kim Reynolds is Iowa’s first female governor. So far, not good. As Lieutenant Governor, she succeeded to the office upon the resignation of Governor Terry Branstad to become U.S. Ambassador to China in May 2017. She won the 2018 election with a narrow plurality of votes – 50.26%, over Democratic challenger Fred Hubbell with 47.53%.

When I read the headline

“Smokable Hemp Possession Or Sale In Iowa Punishable With Fines, Jail In State’s New Hemp And CBD Regulations,”

the VERY FIRST THOUGHT I had was…

I’ll bet “Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds” is a Republican.

Yep.

Sho’ nuff!

What the hell is it with these goddamned GOPers these days, eh?

Stupid mofos!

Seriously.

Stupid.

Kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

They could fuck up a wet dream.

Iowans are NOT happy with her… or with Republicans.

Iowa Starting Line, a news source of Iowa politics wrote a story dated August 6, 2017 and headlined as “Iowa Now Dead Last In GDP Growth Under All-Republican Control” which stated in part that there was

“Very bad news this week for both Governor Kim Reynolds and the Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported the second quarter economic growth by state (GDP). Iowa’s economic growth was a negative .7%, dead last among all 50 states. Of the 50 states, 48 had positive growth in this period. Only Iowa (-.7%) and South Dakota (-.3%) had a negative growth rate.

“While one quarter’s performance doesn’t predict future growth, it’s a huge embarrassment for the Iowa Republican Party. The Republican Governor and the GOP control majorities in both branches of the Legislature and have driven Iowa’s economy to last place in the nation. They can’t blame the Democrats for this economic disaster.”

Look what Republicans did to the Voting Rights Act.

Look what they did to money in politics.

Look what they did in Citizens United.

Look what they did to the PPACA, aka “Obamacare.”

Look what they’ve done to Voting access in the various states, through purges and reductions in polling locations.

Look what they did to the economy with a fouled-up practically non-existent Federal response to COVID-19.

Look what they’ve NOT done for American protectorate “shit hole” countries like Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

Look what they did to minority communities of almost every variety.

Look what they’ve done to healthcare and the disastrously abysmal lack of healthcare for Americans.

Look what they’ve done to Social Security.

Look what they’ve NOT DONE for the nation’s Economic Infrastructure!

Look what they’ve done to the tax system.

Look what they’ve done to schools and public education.

Look what they’ve done to our Law Enforcement, Justice, and Corrections/Penal systems.

Look at what’s NOT happening to online monoliths like Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon.

Look at what’s happening to your privacy.

If you’re not wealthy and White, you’re trash.

At least that’s how they see it.

It’s time to get those pieces of garbage OUT of the nation’s and states’ capitols.

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Smokable hemp possession or sale in Iowa punishable with fines, jail in state’s new hemp and CBD regulations

Smokable hemp possession or sale in Iowa punishable with fines, jail in state’s new hemp and CBD regulations

Published June 19, 2020

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New regulations clarifying the types of hemp and CBD products that are legal to sell and purchase in Iowa took effect with the enactment of the Hemp Consumer and Public Safety law on Wednesday.The law changes certain provisions of the Iowa Hemp Act, which Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed to legalize hemp production in the state in May 2019.

Until now, products containing CBD were illegal to be sold or purchased over the counter in Iowa, as CBD still qualified as a controlled substance in the state.

CBD could only legally be sold in a small number of approved pharmacies.

Smokable hemp remains illegal in Iowa and the new rules impose penalties and restrictions on any harvested hemp used for inhalation such as cigarettes, vaporizers and others.Retailers caught selling smokable hemp products and consumers found using them could face “a serious misdemeanor” punishable by up to a year of confinement and a fine of $315-$1,875.

How prevalent is psychiatric disorder following natural disasters?

What implications does this have for survivors of Hurricane Katrina, California Wildfires, Earthquakes, the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the World Trade Center, or any other disaster?

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Psychiatric Disorders And Suicidal Tendencies In Survivors Of Natural Calamities

The Lancet Psychiatry
September 10, 2015

Survivors Of Natural Calamities Require Early Interventions To Alleviate Psychiatric Disorders

Background
Survivors of natural disasters are thought to be at an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, however the extent of this risk, and whether it is linked to pre-existing psychopathology, is not known. We aimed to establish whether Swedish survivors of tsunamis from the 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake had increased risks of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts 5 years after repatriation.

Methods
We identified Swedish survivors repatriated from southeast Asia (8762 adults and 3742 children) and 864 088 unexposed adults and 320 828 unexposed children matched for

Mississippi River Flooding, Diaster Response & Economic Theory

The opening lyric to Hank Williams, Jr.‘s – aka “Bocephus” – 1982 song “A County Boy Can Survive,” is “And the Mississippi River she’s a goin’ dry.”

At this juncture, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the case.

The Mississippi River has flooded to such an extent that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has decided to open floodgates and allow excess water from the river to flow toward the Gulf of Mexico through alternate routes.

Weeks of heavy rains and runoff from the melting of an extremely snowy winter have raised Mississippi River levels to historic proportions. Over 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) of farmland in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas along the river have been flooded, evoking memories of floods in 1927 & ’37.

On Saturday, the Corps opened two of 125 floodgates at the Morganza Spillway, and opened two more today (Sunday, 15 May 2011). The spillway is 45 miles northwest of Louisiana’s capitol, Baton Rouge. The Corps hopes that by opening them, it will

Out of sight, out of mind? Research Scientist finds Gulf of Mexico bottom dead

BIG OIL companies – in this instance and most notably BP – are quick to “remind” their consuming public that they are the “good guys” that always wear white and that they our “knight in shining armor coming to your emotional rescue.”

However, having never been one to believe in conspiracy theory, or genuine collusion, yet in all honesty, one must acknowledge that BIG OIL has significant self interest called stock held by Wall Street shareholders. Those are the masters to whom they are loyal… NOT the American people.

Scientist finds Gulf bottom still oily, dead

By Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer – Sat Feb 19, 8:53 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Oil from the BP spill remains stuck on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, according to a top scientist’s video and slides that she says demonstrate the oil isn’t degrading as hoped and has decimated life on parts of the sea floor.

That report is at odds with

Flickr: Deepwater Horizon Response’s Photostream

GULF OF MEXICO - Coast Guard Seaman Michael Paluh scans the site of the Deepwater Horizon Response at dawn as the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute patrols nearby July 8, 2010. The Resolute, home-ported in St. Petersburg, Fla., is serving as a search and rescue guard to help support and protect people and ships involved in Deepwater Horizon response efforts to stop the leak and recover oil on the water. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew Belson.

Flickr: Deepwater Horizon Response’s Photostream.

Rainwaters Flood Tennessee

Tennesseans Awash in Floodwaters

Photographs below…

Troy King claims Pharmacy Lawsuits Frivolous – OR – “I practice law AND (bad) medicine!”

Using my “Bob Riley and Troy King: The Saga Continues” post on Monday, February 1, 2010, as a guide, I crafted a “Letter to the Editor” (LTE) which was published by “The Times Daily,” a Florence, AL area newspaper serving the Shoals area and greater Northwest Alabama.

Here, in its entirety is the letter. I have redacted my name – though if you ask politely, via e-mail, I will share. I have nothing to hide.

“Alabama Attorney General Troy King has recently come under fire for requesting judges in five counties to

“… just send your cash,” and “I had meals with people who are dead.”

By definition, a dangling participle is “a participle intended to modify a noun that is not actually present in the text.”  While “a participle is a word formed as an inflection of the verb, such as arriving or arrived. A dangling participle is one left “hanging” because, in the grammar of the clause, it does not relate to the noun it should.” Thus, it makes the subject appear to be doing, or have done something it has not.

They are sometimes pesky parts of the English language, and can make even the most well-spoken, appear quite silly.

So, for your entertainment, Ladies and Gentlemen… I present The Ex-Presidents!

“I know a lot of people want to send blankets or water… just send your cash. One of the things that uhhh… the president and I will do is ta’ make sure your money is spent wisely.”

– Former President George W. Bush, speaking Saturday, January 16, 2010 in the White House Rose Garden at current President Barak Obama’s invitation to collaborate with former President William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton for Haitian disaster relief

“I have no words to say of what I feel… I wa… when you… I wa… I was in those hotels that collapsed. I had meals with people who are dead. The cathedral church that Hillary and I sat in 34 years ago is a total rubble.”

– Former President William Jefferson “Bill” Clinton, speaking Saturday, January 16, 2010 in the White House Rose Garden at current President Barak Obama’s invitation to collaborate with former President George W. Bush for Haitian disaster relief

President Obama announces collaborative Haitian Disaster Relief with Former Presidents Clinton and Bush