Apparently last week I was very popular in Italy. Almost the same numbers as my Russian friends. Maybe I'm something like Eurovision, my popularity will just bounce around the continent (or Europe-Asia as it were).
"Taoufik Moalla was driving along jamming to 'Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)' — the 90s hit by C+C Music Factory when he was pulled over by a cop for singing too loudly." Oh fuck. I guess I'm going to have to tone it down a little.
"A new NASA study shows that solar wind… creates a complex electrical environment on Phobos, which could possibly affect astronauts and any scientific equipment brought to the irregularly shaped moon in future missions." Well that's going to leave a mark.
"Prominent chefs, bakers and restaurant owners want the Supreme Court to rule against a Colorado baker who wouldn’t make a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding… The food makers say that once they open their doors for business, they don’t get to choose their customers." Public accommodation means all the public.
The Florida arrests of three supporters of Richard Spencer, after they shout "Heil Hitler" and then shot at some counter protestors. After the actual protests were done and people were on their way home. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
Ah, Texas. "It was one of the hardest areas hit by Hurricane Harvey, but a clause in a grant application has many asking questions in the city of Dickinson… In section 11 of the application, applicants must agree to not boycott Israel during the agreement."
"A Cub Scout is now without a den after getting kicked out when he asked a Colorado state senator some tough questions." He asked why they thought a person who abuses their spouse should deserve to have access to a gun. More scouts should ask adults uncomfortable questions, IMHO.
A man who claimed to be a Vietnam veteran and Navy SEAL in a Fox News segment earlier this month has admitted to lying about his service and faking his awards, including two Purple Hearts." And it's just amazing the president doesn't call out Fox News as fake. (Grokked from Jim Wright)
"Wayne Simmons, who presented himself as a national security expert and was a part of the conservative media push for a congressional investigation of the Benghazi attack, has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges." Ay yep. Hey, guess which news channel he regularly appeared on. Aw, it's no fun unless you guess. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
"Entire industrial regions of China are being temporarily shut down, and the unusual sight of blue skies is reappearing as environmental inspectors go about their work. After decades of doing little about the pollution that has plagued much of the country, China's government may be finally getting serious about enforcing its environmental laws." I'll believe it when I see it (although apparently getting a license for a car is expensive for a gas vehicle, but relatively easy and free for an electric car). As to the shutdowns making our Xmas a little bit more hectic 1) probably not, most items for our Xmas sales were shipped weeks and months ago and 2) oh look, it's an actual war on Xmas.
"The ideological and rhetorical spine of his remarks was a paean to MAGA. The old days were good. We had real religion. Things were right with women. There was no abortion. Honor was sacred and respected. Now it’s all crap because of people like Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D), a showboater from Florida who transgressed our last sacred space." Also notice it's becoming about the character of the congresswoman, not about what Trump said.
"The Environmental Protection Agency is beefing up security measures surrounding Administrator Scott Pruitt to an unprecedented level, CNN has learned, as members of Congress are asking if the costs are a 'potential waste or abuse of taxpayer dollars.'" He's also had a "soundproof room" in his office and was thinking about adding biometric security. Not sure if I should go with the "paranoidal tendencies" or "if you have nothing to hide, these things wouldn't be necessary." It's a toss up. But mostly it's these people have no fucking clue how to serve the public (or understanding that serving the public is their job).
"'One aspect of the conflict, by the way, that I will never ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest-income level of America, and the highest-income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur,' McCain said, in an apparent reference to the diagnosis that allowed Trump to be medically disqualified for service in 1968."
"A video of Rep. Frederica Wilson’s (D-FL) speech at a 2015 FBI building dedication ceremony, taken by the Sun Sentinel newspaper and resurfaced on Friday, shows that the congresswoman did not brag about securing the funding for the building as White House Chief of Staff John Kelly claimed she had." Gen. Kelly lied? Shocked, shocked I am… Really, given how much of the rest of the speech was horse shit, I'm not surprised.
"Three Texas men who turned out to support white supremacist Richard Spencer's speech at the University of Florida were identified Friday as suspects in a shooting involving protesters a short distance from campus." From a direct provocation because they were spoiling for a fight.
"The Hilton Tucson El Conquistador golf resort said it will no longer host a March 2018 'immigration conference' for VDare, a publication that routinely publishes stories bylined by white nationalists, becoming the third venue this year to back out of holding the site’s planned conference."
So, another thought here, how can I justify mandating that bakers (or other service/craftsman people) can not refuse trade, but a resort/univeristy can? And that took a little to sink in and work it's way through. But here is the difference, resorts and universities hosting an event do have the right to bar abusive, offensive, obnoxious and disruptive guests from their property. This is a safety, legal liability, and hygiene issue. If gay people (or anybody really) come into a shop and breaks things, insults the other customers, stink up the place, or makes a general nuisance of themselves they can also be ejected from that store. And that's where these venues have a legal standing to refuse custom.
"Georgia Rep. Betty Price, R-Roswell, in a study committee this week asked if the government could “quarantine” people with HIV… Price is married to Tom Price, who recently resigned as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services."
"In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton said the pardon only freed Arpaio from possible punishment. In a four-page order offering a check on the president’s executive power, Bolton wrote that a pardon could not erase the facts of the case." You're still a criminal, Joe.
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