Linkee-poo is too alone to be proud

If you aren't reading Second Civil War Letters tweets you are missing some comic gold.

"Hawaii Gov. David Ige is expected this week to sign the world's first ban on the sale of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. The state is banning the products because of concerns they may be harming one of the state's biggest attractions — coral reefs." Yes, you can get sunscreen without those chemicals. As someone who did not really use sunscreen until after 30 (by product of being poor), and has had skin cancer, use the damn sunscreen.

"At Norwegian American Hospital and other emergency departments around the country, doctors and nurses have been struggling for months without crucial drugs like morphine, which is used to ease the pain of injuries like broken bones, or diltiazem, a heart drug. Norwegian has been out of morphine since March, and the shortages are part of a nagging problem that has intensified this year as a rash of decades-old staples became scarce." Can't say I've noticed this (although I did notice smaller bags of saline). But I have noticed an uptick in referencing different medicines. And to say I don't believe the excuses is a gross understatement. See, we've been in this situation for at least a decade (various drugs running short and going out of supply). It's just now they're the mainstay drugs instead of the fringe drugs. Consolidation of the industry isn't helping anyone.

"More and more, trouble is following fellow drug users, friends and relatives of those dying from overdoses. With the country's opioid crisis widening – having killed more people in 2016, for instance, than the deadliest year of the AIDS epidemic – bystanders to fatal overdoses are increasingly becoming criminal defendants." This is a fucking dangerous idea. You want people to feel okay with calling about an OD. You want people to feel okay with getting help and treatment. If you want to prosecute dealers, by all means do so, but lets go after the people moving pounds of the stuff, not the little people. They only get the little people because they're the easiest, but they're also the most replaceable. Other than private jails getting rich, this helps nobody.

"The world’s biggest commodity trader (Glencore Plc) said Tuesday that it’s been subpoenaed by the U.S. Department of Justice to hand over documents related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and U.S money laundering statutes. The documents relate to the company’s business in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Venezuela from 2007 to the present."

"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has electrified Democratic party activists, not only by pulling off a major political upset in New York's 14th District primary this week, but with her progressive politics, working class roots, and status as a Latina." A story that is more about younger women in politics and what they face on a daily basis. And I've seen the articles about "Should we vote for Millenials" and I'm all for that, but personally I'd like to see more Gen-X first, but sure, younger. I'll take it if it means getting the Boomers out.

"Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s (R) administration is canceling dental and vision benefits for thousands of people on Medicaid in the state following a judge blocking the state’s Medicaid work requirements… The cancellation of dental and vision coverage for almost 500,000 enrollees in the state’s Medicaid expansion is 'an unfortunate consequence of the judge's ruling,' Doug Hogan, a spokesman for the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told the Louisville Courier-Journal." It's not a "consequence", it's revenge from a petty guy. (Grokked from Seanan McGuire)

"President Donald Trump sent letters to the leaders of NATO allies, including Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada, demanding that they increase their defense spending and threatening to alter the US global military presence if they do not, according to a report in the New York Times on Monday." Putin is going to have to go into a hospital for his priapism.

"Rep. Jim Jordan, the powerful Republican congressman from Ohio, is being accused by former wrestlers he coached more than two decades ago at Ohio State University of failing to stop the team doctor from molesting them and other students." (Grokked from Cherie Priest)

"A federal judge ruled on Monday that the Department of Homeland Security has violated its own policies by refusing to release most asylum-seekers from immigration detention even if they are likely to win their asylum case."

"Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt became the most recent Trump administration figure to get an earful while trying to get a mouthful at a DC restaurant, according to a Facebook posting Monday."

"EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his aides have kept 'secret' calendars and schedules to overtly hide controversial meetings or calls with industry representatives and others, according to a former EPA official who is expected to soon testify before Congress. A review of EPA documents by CNN found discrepancies between Pruitt's official calendar and other records." And that should be it for Scott Pruitt. That's a federal offense.

"Although Coffer is fearful that his own job and those of his co-workers could all be at risk, he continues to support the Trump administration’s efforts." It's almost like Trump's election wasn't about economic uncertainty after all. (Grokked from Jim Wright)

"A German bank reportedly has evidence of 'suspicious transactions' related to Jared Kushner’s family accounts and is willing to hand the information over to Russia probe special counsel Robert Mueller." Apparently these are new issues. Also, it appears as if this is Deutsche Bank saying to Mueller, "please issue a new subpoena." (Grokked from Michele)

"Republican senators are at their breaking point with Donald Trump’s protectionist trade blitz." Yeah, but they won't do shit about it. Also of note to the coming recession, "Commodity prices in the heartland are sagging, U.S. allies are retaliating with tariffs of their own — and GOP leaders are fretting that the booming economy is about to go into a pre-midterms nosedive."