Anthony Bourdain, and so it goes. (link from Xeni Jardin) (most of the following links were tagged yesterday)
Janiece tells the truth about big-D.
"Suicide rates have increased in nearly every state over the last two decades, and half of the states have seen suicide rates go up more than 30 percent." A major public health issue that's being drown out by all the other major public health issues. Working in the ER I can tell you from first hand experience we've seen an explosion of "suicidal ideation" as it's called. I've even had conversations with co-workers because they don't understand how big-D depression is different from the "I'm a little sad because…" depression. "One resource is the website: www.BeThe1to.com. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)."
"A couple weeks ago, I traveled to Vinton County, Ohio. It's a place that's been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. And in recent months, that crisis has changed. It's metastasized into a major meth problem. But no matter the drug, the effects of parents struggling with addiction have been devastating for Vinton County's children." NPR is doing a series about how America's drug problem (not just opioids, they're only the latest fashion in addiction) and how it affects the people in part of my home state. You don't hear about these people when you see outlets like the NYT go into "Trump Country", but this actually is Trump Country. Dear people's there, the president you helped elect doesn't give a shit for the problems you're dealing with.
"'Our data suggests that suicide is more than a mental health issue,' Schuchat said. 'We think that a comprehensive approach to suicide is what's needed. If we only look at this as a mental health issue, we won't make the progress that we need.'" Imma fix that for you, "All these other economic and stress related causes we've identified also affect your mental health." We can do something about the economic stresses in society fairly easily, but not with the current GOP anywhere near the controls of power. If you didn't see that connection coming, you haven't been paying attention.
"NASA’s Curiosity rover has found new evidence preserved in rocks on Mars that suggests the planet could have supported ancient life, as well as new evidence in the Martian atmosphere that relates to the search for current life on the Red Planet. While not necessarily evidence of life itself, these findings are a good sign for future missions exploring the planet’s surface and subsurface." Is there life on Mars? Oh look, something else for people to have denialism over. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)
"NASA scientists reported that, after drifting for nearly 20 years, the largest iceberg ever to break away from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf is about to disappear forever." (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
"NASA has officially announced that its $1 billion Juno mission is getting a critical life extension to study planet Jupiter."
"In the past 70 years, tropical cyclones around the world have slowed down 10 percent, and in some regions of the world, the change has been even more significant, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature." We're boned.
"The doctors would fertilize one of her eggs with her husband's sperm. Next, they would use her husband's sperm to fertilize an egg from another woman paid to donate eggs. And then the scientists would remove most of the DNA from the other woman's fertilized egg, and replace it with Tamara's and her husband's." Long time readers of my blog know my innate distrust of new genetic technologies, but I don't have on in this case. In fact, I think this technological use is fanfuckingtastic. Look, it will screw up genetic heritage testing (for some of them they specifically test your mitochondrial DNA in the same way the look at mens' 23rd Y chromosome). But mitochondria kinda keep to themselves, which have lead many to speculate that mitochondria are their own form of life that was engulfed by our (very, very, very) distant ancestors. It has evolved with us, and what we're seeing here is a subversion of natural selection, but, again, I'm okay with that in this case. Might this someday lead to "designer babies"? Yes (not this actual procedure, but the techniques used and the openess to this action). But the only question of that is "when" not "if we should."
"The share of people working in 'alternative' work arrangements, an important government measure of the prevalence of 'gig' work, is shrinking rather than rising, according to newly released BLS data. Alternative in this case means people who are not employed directly or regularly at the place they usually work, including independent contractors and temp workers." Maybe companies are realizing the headaches of the gig economy and that it costs them more than normal. Or maybe people are tired of busting their asses for extremely low pay and no benefits.
"Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday announced for the first time an unconditional ceasefire with the Taliban, coinciding with the end of the Muslim fasting month, but excluding other militant groups, such as Islamic State." Divide and conquer.
"'Sixteen thousand people, many of them in Texas, for whatever reason that is. People went out in their boats to watch the hurricane,' Trump said. 'That didn't work out too well.'… No one could explain the president’s comment." A round of applause for our "stable- genius" president, everybody. He thinks the Coast Guard had to do so many water rescues because people went out in boats to watch the hurricane. "When asked by the Houston Chronicle to confirm if Texans were out on boats gawking at the storm, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he had 'no information one way or another about that.'" Dear Gov. Abbot, the correct response was, "Of course not, what fucking moron thinks people go out on boats to watch a hurricane?" Also left out are the many citizens who mobilized to help rescue people. Here we will also note that we're in the next hurricane season and much of Puerto Rico still doesn't have reliable power or shelter and would not be able to withstand even a weak hurricane direct strike. The US Virgin Islands are only slightly better off (concentrated, smaller population with more resources).
"A new study shows that since 2008, more white people in the United States oppose welfare programs, in part because of increasing 'racial resentment.'… One of the reasons for this opposition, according to the report, is white Americans' perceptions that they might be losing their financial and social status while people of color make gains in those areas." This is my shocked face. The answer to the last question in the article is very telling in the current political climate. They used the term "racial resentment" instead of racism because of how racism is changing (apply this to the hordes of people who will state they are not "racist" when they exhibit traits that are obviously racism).
Then there's this. "Dan Moore, a 58-year-old steel mill worker, gives the president an 'A+' on everything from tax cuts to foreign policy, but he's not so sure about tariffs… 'We need tariffs, but when it starts to impact the company where you work ... you're thinking, well wait a minute, timeout!' he said." See, Trumps shitty actions weren't supposed to affect him in a negative way, just all those other people he doesn't care about. All those "other people" who were skating by on the good life while he was working his ass off, those were the ones who were supposed to be hurt. Just wait until they see what happens at their Walmart (note, Walmart no longer touts their "rolling back prices").
"Provisions inside the delayed House farm bill would roll back restrictions on the wealthy obtaining federal farm subsidies, as well as allow extended family members to receive lucrative payments… Up to 2 million SNAP recipients could lose or have their benefits slashed under the proposed rule changes, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities." Well fuck, they got the country to swallow their tax bill, why wouldn't they do this as well? (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"President Trump signed legislation Wednesday paving the way for a major overhaul of the Department of Veterans Affairs and expanded access for veterans to VA-funded care in the private sector." Welcome to the private sector healthcare, veterans (actually, many already did have access, this is just allowing the government to pay for it instead of spousal benefits). You just left a system that would delay your care for months to enter a system where you can get a new doctor's appoint as early as, :: checks notes :: six months from now. Take advantage of it while you can until the providers find out how little they'll be reimbursed or Congress finds out just how much this will cost them (note, that was part of the reasoning behind the VA hospital system).
"In an unexpected move, the Justice Department filed a brief this evening urging a Texas court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act’s crucial insurance reforms—including the prohibition on refusing to cover people with preexisting conditions. Although the ACA is not in immediate peril, the brief represents a blow to the integrity of the Justice Department. It also displays enormous contempt for the rule of law." The battle is still going on. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"The U.S. State Department has sent 'a number of individuals' from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China back to the U.S. after screenings showed they may have been affected by mysterious health problems similar to what diplomats experienced in Cuba."
Not all evangelicals. "Mr. Claiborne and his group were far more audacious, but they also faced disappointment, resistance and fear. They were taking on Lynchburg, a company town where Liberty University is the biggest employer. Their 'Red Letter Revival' revealed the state of the evangelical church in 2018: The loudest voices and institutional power and money are with Mr. Trump; the dissenters are fired-up, underfunded and scattered; and the vast majority of pastors are silent for fear of dividing their congregations or risking their jobs." Also, so much for the tolerance of those who criticize the tolerance of the tolerant left. (Grokked from John)
"The Wisconsin Republican gingerly undercut a core Trump talking point during a news conference Wednesday, arguing that he had seen 'no evidence' to back Trump’s assertion that the FBI wrongfully planted a spy in his campaign. Ryan also panned Trump’s argument that he has the power to pardon himself… 'Obviously, the answer is he shouldn’t, and no one is above the law,' Ryan said." Glad you saved that for your last 6 months. Oh, and the answer was, "Obviously no one is above the law, so the President can't sit in judgement of himself therefore he can't pardon himself." And that the 2 Republicans inline to replace Ryan refuse to join even this weak statement shows how corrupt the GOP has become. They are actively subverting the law.
"A longtime US Senate staffer was arrested late Thursday on charges of lying to federal agents as part of an investigation related to the unauthorized disclosure of non-public information, according to a federal indictment."
"The White House said Trump would depart mid-morning on Saturday, skipping sessions on climate change and the environment. An aide will take his place, the White House said." Of course he'll miss those sessions. If he didn't, he wouldn't be able to continue lying about climate change, or to express surprise when the time comes when they can no longer deny reality. Also note this G7 meeting is coming at the same time Putin is in the EU talking about political ties.
If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning, I'd hammer in the evening, all over this land. It'll be hilarious when he's brought up on charges of encouraging criminal activity (destruction of evidence). I think Hannity, who is also an advisor to Trump, might be a little worried he is 1) being watched and 2) what someone might have on their phone from him. We're almost at the point of the investigation where people start attempting to throw each other under the busses. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"It’s unclear what Trump and Kim may agree to in Singapore, but so far Kim hasn’t offered much. Trump, meanwhile, has."
Get the Fox News supporters to the barricades. "The Justice Department's internal watchdog is set to release a hotly anticipated report next week that is expected to condemn department leaders and the FBI over the investigation during the 2016 presidential campaign into Hillary Clinton's private email server."
"President Trump called on the world’s leading economies on Friday to reinstate Russia to the Group of 7 nations four years after it was cast out for annexing Crimea, once again putting him at odds with America’s leading allies in Europe and Asia." Beginning to see the collusion?
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