Linkee-poo, here we are now, entertain us

"Dream Foundry 2019 Contest… The GRAND PRIZE winner will receive $500 USD and three written critiques of their winning story from professional writers selected by the Dream Foundry… SECOND and THIRD place winners will receive two written critiques each of their winning stories from professional writers selected by the Dream Foundry." Unfortunately for me CC Finley has already read the stories I would have ready to submit. And, damnit, I would still qualify. (Grokked from CC Finley)

"Living with anxiety can be tough — your thoughts might race, you might dread tasks others find simple (like driving to work) and your worries might feel inescapable. But loving someone with anxiety can be hard too. You might feel powerless to help or overwhelmed by how your partner's feelings affect your daily life." With some tips on how to handle it with a loved one.

"LightSail 2 has successfully deployed its solar sails. Shortly after 12:00 pm PST The Planetary Society tweeted that the sails were deployed, and that the spacecraft was sailing with sunlight. We can all enjoy their success and start to wonder how solar sails will fit into humanity’s plans for space exploration."

"In fact, the federal government spends, on average, about $8 billion a year subsidizing crop insurance for farmers… That number could be a lot bigger this year. Officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture are expecting up to $1 billion in 'prevented planting' payments to farmers in Henry's situation. At the end of the season, more claims will arrive from farmers who planted seeds but ended up with poor harvests." The cost of climate change is higher than the cost to try and mitigate it.

"An Idaho wildfire sparked by a lightning strike Monday burned 90,000 acres in less than 24 hours, forcing the partial evacuation of the nation's leading nuclear energy research laboratory." Water and fire in the west.

Meanwhile in the East, "Cape Cod was hit by a rare tornado Tuesday, the National Weather Service said."

Further East, "The French city of Bordeaux has hit its highest temperature since records began, as Western Europe braces for the second heatwave to hit this summer."

"Fearful that communities of color will miss out on the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy, Carney is working to introduce solar in places where it has yet to take off and to people who may not think that solar is for them."

"A growing number of states have been passing laws saying that only foods made of animal flesh should be allowed to carry labels like 'meat,' 'sausage,' 'jerky,' 'burger' or 'hot dog.'… Who has a beef with this deal? Makers of plant-based foods, of course — like Tofurky. But also the American Civil Liberties Union. Both are in a coalition that this week sued Arkansas, arguing that the state's new label restrictions… censor speech and play favorites with industries. Similar lawsuits are pending against Missouri and Mississippi." I wonder if there would be a case to then also stop that labeling if there is a certain percentage of "fillers" added?

The On the Media podcast which talks about the history of racism (and the president's language), Puerto Rico meltdown, and "left-tube." All of it is great, but highly recommend the 3rd segment on YouTube. "(On the Media) Producer Micah Loewinger considers how YouTube creators on the left, like Natalie Wynn, are challenging the platform’s surge of far right extremism. Listen."

"And with 40 million D&D players, there’s a growing need for dungeon masters, or DMs. Some voice actors and playwrights are turning to D&D as a source of income. High-end DMs charge up to $500 per session, according to Mary Pilon, who wrote about professional dungeon masters for Bloomberg Businessweek." Professional DMs. I just can't. I mean, good DMing is a skill and damn hard work, but $500 a session? Shit, we were happy if we could afford pizza and pop. (Grokked from Matt Staggs)

"'There was a senator, I think it was after my pancreatic cancer, who announced, with great glee, that I was going to be dead within six months,' (Justice Ginsburg) recalled. 'That senator, whose name I have forgotten, is now dead himself, and I,' she added with a smile, 'am very much alive.'" "Whose name I have forgotten," and that's how you throw shade like a pro.

"A public school district in Pennsylvania that faced a national outcry after threatening to place children in foster care over unpaid cafeteria debt has received several offers to pay off the entire tab, but school officials do not seem interested." It's almost like it wasn't about the money, but to punish certain parents. There's that story about crabs in a bucket pulling each other down. That doesn't mean the fishermen don't shake the bucket to help keep those crabs down. Yeah, I remember the whole, "they need to learn moral lessons" arguments. My answer remains the same.

How goes Brexit? "Theresa May has faced MPs' questions for the final time before Boris Johnson becomes prime minister… She told them she would continue as a constituency MP and was happy to hand over to a successor committed to delivering Brexit and creating 'a bright future for this country'."

"Boeing reported second-quarter results on Wednesday with a massive loss, as costs continue to pile up for the aerospace giant while its flagship 737 MAX jet remains grounded."

Beating the drums of war. "China has warned against what it describes as a growing threat from 'separatists' in Taiwan, and said it would not rule out using force against the self-governed island Beijing regards as part of its territory."

"An Arkansas federal judge has temporarily blocked three new abortion restrictions, including a requirement that physicians providing the procedure be board certified — a move that would likely have caused the closure of the state's only surgical abortion clinic."

"Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is expected to resign Wednesday after more than a week of protests that rocked the island's capital city, a source familiar with the situation told CNN."

"Director Wray says FBI made about 100 domestic terrorism arrests this year, and a 'majority of domestic terrorism cases that we have investigated are motivated by some version of what you might call white supremacist violence.'" "What you might call"? WTF does that mean? (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)

"And that’s because the exchange Trump described apparently didn’t happen in reality. It wasn’t long after the president made his public comments that Indian officials delicately contradicted the American leader, explaining, 'It has been India’s consistent position … that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.'" Never make up things about people who 1) will be told, 2) can affect actual outcomes and 3) have a microphone themselves. Actually it's best to never make things up. Our president is an embarrassment. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)

"Trump makes a hand gesture while saying AOC's name." Remember when the conservatives we all, "this 'okay' hand sign thing, totally a joke." No. No it's not.

"After reasserting that investigations into Russia’s election meddling found 'no collusion,' Trump claimed, 'Then I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.'"

"Special counsel Robert Mueller's deputy Aaron Zebley is expected to appear next to the special counsel as his counsel at Wednesday's hearings on the special counsel's report, according to a House Judiciary committee source."

What's clear to me is the Democrats had a good plan and divided up the Mueller Report so they wouldn't stomp on each other's questions. The Republicans just had attacking points. While either side might not move the needle today, and the Democrats' might be going a little too legal for the "average person" to follow and the Republicans are making Fox News (and their own newsletter) sound bites, the Democrats are coming off as more unified and informed.