I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Linkee-poo, go go Godzilla

So apparently we'll get to read David Nunes' spy thriller fan fiction.

"Here's your chance to download and read these Oscar-nominated scripts for free." (Grokked from Gabriel Novo)

"After lengthy discussions between team owner Paul Dolan and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, the Indians are shelving the big-toothed, smiling, red-faced caricature, which has been used in used in various expressions by the team since 1947." Start the wailing and garment rending in 3… 2… 1…

"The reverse merger, whereby VMware would actually buy the larger Dell, would then allow Dell to be traded publicly without going through a formal listing. It would also likely be the biggest deal in tech industry history, giving investors who backed Dell's move to go private in 2013 a way to monetize their deal, while helping Dell pay down some of its approximately $50 billion debt." Well I'm glad it's all about the money.

"The president was silent for a moment and then turned on McCabe, suggesting he ask his wife how it feels to be a loser — an apparent reference to a failed campaign for state office in Virginia that McCabe’s wife made in 2015." There's more of that stable genius for you. Apparently the president felt that since he fired Comey long distance (Comey was in LA) that this would abandon Comey in LA. So when he used a government plane for his return trip to DC, Trump was furious. That's the kind of asshole the president is, he'd intentionally fire people while they are traveling on official business and expect that they would have to stay there. (Grokked from John)

"FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who was expected to retire in the coming months, is stepping down, according to multiple reports." Well, there's a head for Nunes' wall.

"Mike Pompeo told the BBC there had been no significant diminishing of Russian attempts at subversion in Europe and the US." Again, the story ends just after the plot resolves. Russia's goals haven't been (fully) meet, the plot has not resolved. (Waves to all my Russian friends) But then Director Pompeo was asked about North Korea. "'Our task is to have provided the intelligence to the president of the United States that will deliver to him a set of options that continue to take down that risk by non-diplomatic means.'" I, uh… seriously?! Considering he's also discussed "unfettering the CIA" I certainly hope he's not insinuating what I think he is. Because those actions have never turned out well for the US. Which is why the CIA has fetters.

"One day before President Trump’s first State of the Union address on 30 January 2018, images appeared on social media of invitations to the event issued by the House of Representatives in which the word 'Union' was misspelled 'Uniom.'" True fact, a lot of type setting applications don't have automatic spellcheck.

"Trump erupted in anger while traveling to Davos after learning that Associate Attorney General Stephen Boyd warned that it would be 'extraordinarily reckless' to release a classified memo written by House Republican staffers. The memo outlines alleged misdeeds at the FBI and Justice Department related to the Russia investigation." (Grokked from Michele)

"But given the political heat being cranked up by Trump, GOP aides on Capitol Hill and in the pro-Trump media, it would not surprise anyone if special counsel Robert Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is next to go… Though such a step would trigger political mayhem and a potential constitutional showdown that could imperil Trump's presidency, such steps, if they happened, could be seen as the logical outcome of a pressure campaign that has raised concerns about Trump's tendency to rage against legal norms constraining his office."

"Those hoping the special counsel will prosecute the president are engaging in fantasy… So, every time you read about the threat to fire Mueller, remember this—the critical actor in most future scenarios is not Mueller, but Rosenstein." Well, yes. Frankly I think many of these reports coming out about Trump's behavior and actions are leaks from the Mueller investigation. THey're in a position to know, and Mueller is a much better politician than most on the hill. He knows how to leak information and not get fingered as the leak. (Grokked from Joy Reid)

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