"A Chinese researcher has claimed he helped make the world’s first genetically edited babies — twin girls born this month that represent perhaps the next monumental test of science and ethics." Well, 1) someone had to be first, but 2) the technology isn't all that mature to really do this experiment. And 3) it's not like China doesn't have a history of "advances" that turn out to be nothing.
"Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said a new experimental Alzheimer's disease vaccine showed promising results during recent testing in mice and are hopeful the vaccine will make it to human trials." Unfortunately we don't really understand the relationship of amyloid plaques and tau to Alzheimers.
"For more than a decade, it’s been clear that there’s a gaping hole in American food safety: Growers aren’t required to test their irrigation water for pathogens such as E. coli… After several high-profile disease outbreaks linked to food, Congress in 2011 ordered a fix, and produce growers this year would have begun testing their water under rules crafted by the Obama administration’s Food and Drug Administration… But six months before people were sickened by the contaminated romaine, President Donald Trump’s FDA – responding to pressure from the farm industry and Trump’s order to eliminate regulations – shelved the water-testing rules for at least four years." How's that "less regulation" thing working out for us? (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
How goes the economy? "The total debt shouldered by Americans has hit another record high, rising to $13.5 trillion in the last quarter, while an unusual jump in student-loan delinquencies could provide another signal that the nation's economic expansion is growing old." So when you hear about comparing how a government is run as compared to personal or business finances (as a way of saying no to debt), just remember how much we all are in debt. And two, it's almost as if we're about to hit a recession again. I can't wait to hear how it's the Democrats' fault.
"Migrants approaching the U.S. border from Mexico were enveloped with tear gas Sunday after a few tried to breach the fence separating the two countries." (Grokked from Matt Staggs)
"President Trump on Monday urged Mexico to deport Central American migrants who are attempting to reach the U.S., and threatened to permanently shut down the southern border." Yeah. That'll work. It'll play well to his base, though.
"A major US-Mexico border crossing in San Diego was closed for hours on Sunday after a group of migrants on the Mexican side rushed the border area, leading US Border Patrol agents to fire tear gas at the group." The border was closed before the incident. This was manufactured.
"A Fox News guest on Monday brushed off worries about using pepper spray on migrant women and children, while suggesting that it was so harmless that it could be used as a condiment on snacks… 'It’s natural,' he insisted. 'You could actually put it on your nachos and eat it! So it’s a good way of deterring people without long-term harm.'" Okay Ronald Colburn, President of the Border Patrol Foundation, I fucking dare you to do this. Not what you think it is, but the actual component used in pepper spray. And oh, by the way, we have photos of the empty canisters, you racist moose-dropping. (Grokked form Laura J Mixon)
"Ohio is poised to become the first state to allow businesses to pay taxes with bitcoin in a new initiative that may become available to individual taxpayers as well." Why? Because we're stupid. Or at least our lawmakers are stupid.
"When federal agents searched the Washington, DC, house of two brothers they had linked to the suspected Pittsburgh synagogue shooter, they found a troubling scene… There were hollow-point bullets, 'ballistic vests and helmets,' a 'marijuana grow' operation, and a Nazi flag. A noose dangled from a bunk bed, a small toy hung by its neck, and a flyer was found promoting the neo-Nazi organization known as Atomwaffen Division." Again, can't wait for the NRA to defend this jerk (one brother killed himself) for his high-capacity magazine. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
"Republicans are plotting a strategy to vigorously defend President Donald Trump amid a barrage of expected Democratic investigations into the President, with some of Trump's allies urging the White House to resist cooperating with Democrats at all costs." The strategies are firming up.
"Nine Democratic members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are urging House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to back three rules changes as she aims to drum up enough support to take over the Speakership in the next Congress."
"'Justice Roberts can say what he wants,' Trump tweeted, referring to a rare statement from the top-ranking member of the Supreme Court defending the independence of the judicial branch of government, 'but the 9th Circuit is a complete & total disaster.'" All those talking heads who say the Democrats should work with conservatives to find the middle ground. Tell me again where the middle ground is here, because I've seemed to have lost it again by the "with us our our enemy" stance of conservatism. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
"Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina and the head of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said Sunday he believes former FBI Director James Comey's planned testimony to Congress should be videotaped and made public. Appearing on 'Face the Nation,' Gowdy said he does not agree with Comey's insistence that he should testify in a public hearing." Why do it this way instead of having an opening meeting? Because written testimony and video can be redacted… to leak information in the same way as Comey has accused Congress of doing.
Why would Putin want a weakened West? "Russian warships seized three Ukrainian naval vessels on Sunday in a narrow waterway that provides access from the Black Sea to the much smaller Sea of Azov near Crimea, ramping up already bitter tensions between the two countries… Trump has not commented on the incident."
Just because I've seen this "argument" come up. "What's True… President Obama attempted to delegitimize Fox News by calling their oppositional stance 'destructive' for the country, took questions from Fox News correspondents less frequently than he did from those of other major networks in press briefings, and his administration expressed a willingness to exclude Fox reporters from interviews with top officials… What's False… The Obama administration never rescinded the press passes of Fox News reporters nor ejected or banned them from White House press conferences."
"The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office declined to file felony domestic violence charges against attorney Michael Avenatti on Wednesday, choosing instead to refer the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney's office for consideration of misdemeanor charges." This really doesn't mean anything because domestic abuse often isn't prosecuted to the fullest extent of the (already weak) laws. It doesn't argue for innocence or guilt. But just part of the continuing drama. What I think is interesting is the fact that Avenatti is still married (while in the process of divorce) and the women he's been living with since January 2017 is still married ("separated") to someone else. Even ten years ago that would have been the scandal.
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