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

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Linkee-poo clears the weekend

So, basically, this morning the president threw his son under the bus by admitting the Trump Tower meeting with the Russians was to get dirt on Clinton. Knew it was Russian intelligence, knew it was to help his campaign. But he didn't know about it. Apparently he also doesn't know that accepting foreign gifts for an election is a felony.

"New research published by Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday shows that several strains of these bacteria have begun adjusting to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. They're not resistant to the alcohol — at least, not yet — but they're becoming "more tolerant" of it, the authors write. That means the bacteria were able to survive for longer periods of time after being doused with alcohol." Life finds a way.

John Scalzi on the rhetorical tactic of the alt-right. "It's really frustrating to me that more people don't understand that racist/alt-right people have gamified their rhetoric…" And yes this. They have no interest in actual debate and there is no chance to really move them off their point (yes, there is the rare case of someone coming back to reality, but again, they're rare and typically not in the spittle-flecked side of the club). Part of this is to score points and move the Overton window farther to the right. Part of this is the knowledge that the ocean will dissolve the mountain eventually. You might remember the studies showing that people only have so much "initiative" (related to spoon theory, think of the days you might have hit the point were you just can't make one more decision, even if it's just to order from a menu for dinner). These are attempts to sap away your strength. And while you're busy "debating" these assholes, other people keep advancing their agenda. (Grokked from Jim Wright, even though I follow Scalzi, Jim's tweet was the one that pointed me to this)

More than one way to skin a cat. "Specifically, the NRA warns that it has lost insurance coverage — endangering day-to-day operations. 'Insurance coverage is necessary for the NRA to continue its existence,' the complaint reads. Without general liability coverage, it adds, the 'NRA cannot maintain its physical premises, convene off-site meetings and events, operate educational programs … or hold rallies, conventions and assemblies.'" I'll believe it when I see it. Basically the NRA is suing to stop NY state from legal action regarding their "liability policies" they sold member, claiming that such insurance was illegal in NY. Now the NRA is "begging the Poor House" that if the NY attorneys general keep the suit up that they'll never be able to get any liability insurance, and will have to shut down. While this isn't much more than a legal tactic, the filings do state that the NRA is having trouble securing banking services because of public sentiment. That would be a deal ender. Although I hear there are plenty of banks in Russia. (Grokked from Chia Evers)

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