Linkee-poo is working hard

"Buckle up, this is going to get weird." Possible detection of a 4th spacial direction (non-technical article). (Grokked from Dan)

"…(O)n the night of January 8, 1811, more than 500 enslaved people took up arms in one of the largest slave rebellions in U.S. history. They carried cane knives (used to harvest sugar cane), hoes, clubs and some guns as they marched toward New Orleans chanting 'Freedom or Death,' writes Leon A. Waters for the Zinn Education Project." The slave uprising that almost succeeded, but was then buried and kept from most histories. (Grokked from Tobias Buckell)

"'Factories will be pouring into this country,' Mr. Trump told a crowd in St. Charles, Mo., in November. 'The tax cut will mean more companies moving to America, staying in America and hiring American workers right here.'… The bill that Mr. Trump signed, however, could actually make it attractive for companies to put more assembly lines on foreign soil." This is my shocked face. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)

"But the spacecraft apparently did not separate as it was supposed to from the upper stage of the rocket and did not reach a stable orbit, according to a U.S. administration official and two sources who were briefed on the matter. The sources would not confirm what exactly the payload was, saying it was classified." It always amazes me how many "spy satellites" never make it to their orbits. Here's the kicker to know what really happened. It didn't make a "stable" orbit (which by other accounts was a low orbit). So that means someone somewhere is going to see a really spectacular meteor. Or not. (Grokked from Dan)

"A child born in the United States has a 70 percent greater chance of dying before adulthood than kids born into other wealthy, democratic countries, a new study has found." Best healthcare system in the world, my Aunt Fanny. "Perhaps most startling, children between the ages of 15 and 19 are 82 times more likely to die from gun homicide in the United States than in peer countries." (Grokked from Christopher Moore)

"What the federal government didn’t know was that Garza negotiated an unusual contract with county commissioners that earned him 1.5 percent of every dollar the drainage district spent on the levee project — in addition to his six-figure salary. In the end, Garza’s personal yield totaled at least $3.5 million, according to county records." And the graft didn't stop there. This isn't unusual, people who write grant applications for governments often get a part of the grant money. Some grants even have a line item built into the grant. For the record, grant writing is a skill and while some smaller grants are easy for locals to win, to get the big ticket items if often takes the help of pros. And local governments often rely on "experts" for certain matters. But they also should have read their contracts ands made counter proposals. Also, hooray for County Clerks. (Grokked from Jim Wright)

"The Interior Department has adopted a new screening process for the discretionary grants it makes to outside groups, instructing staff to ensure those awards “promote the priorities” of the Trump administration… 'Subjugating Congress’ priorities to 10 of the Secretary’s own priorities is arrogant, impractical and, in some cases, likely illegal,' said Hayes, executive director of the New York University School of Law’s State Energy and Environmental Impact Center." (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)

"Mr. Trump’s planned appearance at an event that is synonymous with wealth and elite prestige comes as he enters the second year of a term he won on a message of economic populism… Presidents have rarely attended the forum in Davos, in part out of a concern that it would send the wrong message to be rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s richest individuals." I'm sure he wants to talk to the wealthy and well-to-do about the plight of our country's coal miners… I couldn't get through typing that joke with a straight face. Suckers!

"President Donald Trump appeared to contradict himself multiple times in a meeting on immigration with a bipartisan group of lawmakers Tuesday -- a reflection of growing frustration from Capitol Hill about the lack of direction from the White House on the issue." Man, all this winning. I can barely stand it.

"After what the Associated Press reported as a brief meeting between Zinke and Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott at the Tallahasee airport, Zinke said oil-drilling in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico would be 'off the table.'" Dear conservation groups, the Republicans will take care of themselves, don't wast resources on their states.

We're number 1! "President Donald Trump, who recently said he would announce the 'MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR,' has been awarded the title of the world’s most oppressive leader toward press freedom by the Committee to Protect Journalists." So much winning that I'm tired of. (Grokked form Dan)

"The infamous Russia dossier was not the sole basis for the FBI's investigation into Donald Trump's ties to Russia, according to a newly public document that notched a tactical win for Democrats inside Washington, D.C." No, NPR. The testimony shows that Steele, while he was building the Trump Dossier felt that Trump may already be being blackmailed went to the FBI with his information to find the FBI was already investigating the Trump campaign's ties to Russia. As for Sen. Grassley's rending of garments over the release and how it hampers the investigation, see to your own transgressions Senator. It's your and your GOP comrades actions of leaking and posturing that forced this disclosure. Maybe running a tighter ship on your side of the aisle might actually be a better remedy.