Linkee-poo come on baby light my fire

"Hurricane Michael has intensified to a Category 4 major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico."

"Doctors have gradually come to realize that people who survive a serious brush with death in the intensive care unit are likely to develop potentially serious problems with their memory and thinking processes." And unlike chemobrain, this doesn't always go away.

"Passwords that took seconds to guess, or were never changed from their factory settings. Cyber vulnerabilities that were known, but never fixed. Those are two common problems plaguing some of the Department of Defense's newest weapons systems, according to the Government Accountability Office."

"Why does Issue 1 — the (Ohio) statewide ballot measure to reduce drug penalties — have to be a constitutional amendment?"> I'll take "To Prevent Heinous Fuckers from Committing Heinous Fuckery" for $500, Alex. "The most obvious rejoinder, though, to the argument that amending drug laws should be handled by smart, emotionally detached state legislators is that they haven't handled it." (Grokked from Marie Vibbert)

"Oil refinery explosion was 'Thanksgiving miracle', says newspaper owned by family that owns the refinery." The press is only free if you own the press. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)

"But the new (US) embassy (in Jerusalem) has become a magnet for American visitors, many of them devout Christians who support what it stands for: an about-face in U.S. policy, recognizing Israel's sovereignty claims to the coveted city." It's "Biblical Prophecy" coming true, in their eyes. The story also highlights much of the double-think they people have (conservative Christians) for many issues, including racism. "'It doesn't mean that you discriminate against the Palestinians,' said Brunner, the visitor from Georgia. 'You know, you love them and they should be taken care of, and things like that. But Israel is sovereign and they should have their own sovereignty. This is their land.'" Bless her heart.

"In a groundbreaking case, Israel has detained an American graduate student at its international airport for the past week, accusing her of supporting a Palestinian-led boycott campaign against the Jewish state."

"'I felt very strongly that this was a key function for an inspector general's office, to have a robust whistleblower program,' (Rob) Storch (NSA's new inspector general) said in an interview at his office on one of the top floors at NSA headquarters." Uh, yeah, Rob.

"But an Associated Press investigation drawing on hundreds of court documents, immigration records and interviews in the U.S. and Central America identified holes in the system that allow state court judges to grant custody of migrant children to American families — without notifying their parents." If it were any other organization besides the government that would be called kidnapping and human trafficking. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)

"'I really worry that someone is going to be killed and that those who are ratcheting up the conversation ... they have to realize that they bear some responsibility if this elevates to violence,' (Sen Rand) Paul said." Gee, Rand, finally getting worried about the Tea Party and the number of armed people going to Democratic representative town halls… eight years ago. But it's different conversation the gun is possibly pointed at you, Rand? Cause I seem to remember you being a supporter of "Second Amendment Solutions." Also, people have already died. As so many have pointed out to you, her name is Heather Heyer. After so many years of the conservative blabosphere talking about the next Civil War, you've finally woken up to the fact that the liberals may also shoot back. Maybe you could take your rhetoric and shove it now, Rand. (Grokked from so many people)

And Rand, since you're now so worried about the level of discourse in our country, how about you do something about the leader of your party. "'Democrats want to raise your taxes, impose socialism, dismantle law enforcement, eliminate (the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency) and get rid of American borders,' Trump said in a state where immigration is a particularly divisive topic because of the influx of laborers who support farming and other industries." I also didn't link to it earlier, but Trump also said, "'Every single Democrat in the U.S. Senate has signed up for the open borders, and it's a bill, it's called the "open borders bill." What's going on? And it's written by, guess who? Dianne Feinstein.'" And now you know why Trump's lawyers don't want him to get anywhere near the Mueller investigation. The man can't not lie.

Only the best people. "A watchdog organization is calling for an investigation into seven private flights taken by United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley that were paid for by South Carolina business executives… The 2017 flights, which Haley listed on her public financial disclosure report this year, were between New York, Washington and three cities in her home state of South Carolina, where she was governor before joining the Trump administration. The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said the flights were likely worth about $24,000 and should be investigated by the State Department’s inspector general." (Grokked from Joy Reid)

What does your millions get you? "Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson has never been more powerful. The Trump administration has advanced his ideological and financial interests, including an assist in his quest to build a casino in Japan." More millions.

"The office of Russia’s infamous troll factory believed to be at the vanguard of Russia’s information war has been set on fire in St. Petersburg overnight." Not that The Moscow Times is the most reputable news outlet in Russia. Stay safe, my Russian friends. Fire is a timeworn way to cover up. (Looks at blog traffic, see's reliable viewership spike is about 50% of normal, waves to my Russian friends) (Grokked in a roundabout way from Lisa Morton)

"New reports over the past two days have brought increased attention to three long-simmering subplots in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation."

"The Roger Stone aide who is mounting a constitutional challenge to special counsel Robert Mueller wants to take his case to the Supreme Court and feels 'great' that Justice Brett Kavanaugh will be on the bench to, hopefully, deal a major blow to the Russia investigation." (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)