Just as a heads up, the alligators have been nice enough to phone ahead this week. So things might be sparse here until Friday. Sorry about that, but the jobs pay the bills.
"A 1,200-year-old standing stone discovered in the Highlands has carvings never before seen on a Pictish stone, archaeologists have said… The stone was found lying in the ground and covered by vegetation at an early Christian church site near Dingwall." In case you ever want to know what turns my dials to 11, this right here is one of them. (Grokked from Dr Caitlin Green)
"The Johnstown Police Department issued a warning on their Facebook page Thursday morning after authorities said they discovered 'Nerds Rope edibles containing 400mg of THC' while fulfilling a search warrant in Stoneycreek Township. The department also recently seized 60 pounds of marijuana from the area, reports CBS Pittsburgh." Nobody is going to give away their stash, people. Hell, hardly anyone gives away full-sized candy bars. Nobody is going to spring for edibles for the little kiddies.
"Nearly half of all children who develop Type 1 diabetes don't know they have the disease until they end up in a coma in the hospital… Researchers in Virginia have set out to see if a genetic test for Type 1 diabetes can eliminate many of those emergencies." The problem is the test is not very accurate (at this time), and there are many non-genetic risk factors for diabetes. But attempting to reduce hypo and hyperglycemic emergencies is a good thing.
"The case is one of dozens of death investigations across the country, including more than two dozen in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, that The Times found were complicated or upended when transplantable body parts were taken before a coroner’s autopsy was performed." The modern resurrectionists at work. (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
"The new law will be implemented over time and will eventually mandate middle schools to start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools to begin no earlier than 8:30 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Times." And yes, there is medical research that supports this decision.
"Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of our time – or any time in history. She proved that Sunday at the World Championships, where she raked in her 24th and 25th world medals, both gold." She's so good, they're trying to keep other gymnasts from matching her moves by discounting the difficulty of those moves far below what they should.
So there was a lot of press for Eliud Kipchoge who broke the 2 hour marathon barrier, but that course was so rigged in his favor they won't award him the record. But, "Kenya's Brigid Kosgei won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday with a time of 2 hours 14 minutes 4 seconds, breaking the previous world record by 81 seconds."
"On Monday in the nation's capital, there is no Columbus Day. The D.C. Council voted to replace it with Indigenous Peoples' Day in a temporary move that it hopes to make permanent. Several other places across the United States have also made the switch in a growing movement to end the celebration of the Italian explorer in favor of honoring Indigenous communities and their resiliency in the face of violence by European explorers like Christopher Columbus." Columbus was an asshole. And, as usual, there are the bog-standard history apologists attempting to rehabilitate Columbus because he's an icon of Italian-Americans.
How goes Brexit? "Boris Johnson's government has set out 'ambitious' policies on crime, health, the environment and Brexit in a Queen's Speech that opposition parties have dismissed as an 'election manifesto'… But with the PM having no majority, many of the bills may not become law."
"A white police officer fired through the window of a black woman's home early Saturday and killed her after responding to a call that a neighbor placed about an open front door, authorities in Fort Worth, Texas, say." One, it was an open structure call, why did he have his firearm drawn? There are reports that there was a gun in the house (but no indication she was holding the gun at the time), but so far the NRA hasn't come out to defend Atatiana Jefferson had the right to own the gun and protect her house (castle laws). Odd their strange silence on that issue.
"Construction has begun on President Trump's border wall between Arizona and Mexico, and conservationists are furious. The massive barrier will skirt one of the most beloved protected areas in the Southwest — Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, recognized by the United Nations as an international biosphere reserve." And, again, it's not a new wall, it's replacing an existing barrier. And then… "The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has warned that the wall, with its bright lights, human activity and impermeable barrier, could negatively impact 23 endangered and at-risk species, including the Sonoran pronghorn antelope. And the National Park Service says construction could destroy 22 archaeological sites. Yet, for this stretch of western desert, the government has waived 41 federal environmental laws to expedite construction."
"Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Sunday that any attempt to divide China would be crushed, as four months of anti-government protests continue in Hong Kong and the United States ramps up criticism over Beijing's treatment of Muslim-minority groups… 'Anyone attempting to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones,' he said during a visit to Nepal on Sunday, according to China's state broadcaster CGTN." Totally not a totalitarian statement at all.
"A retired four-star Marine general on Sunday bluntly criticized President Donald Trump over the ongoing Turkish military offensive in northern Syria, saying, 'There is blood on Trump's hands for abandoning our Kurdish allies.'" And it appears that Turkey is, because we couldn't get more medieval here, using irregular shock troops to spearhead their advance. And these irregulars are committing genocide and executing prisoners and civilians. And now as a remedy Trump is enacting "severe sanctions" against Turkey, a fellow NATO member. Because all of this pays into the hands of Putin.
"Trumbull County has cut 36 voting locations since 2015, including eight this year, in an effort to save money and provide 'more specialized assistance' to those casting ballots, an elections official said… The reductions have been in larger communities as it’s easier to move those voters to a closer location, Massullo said." Uh, yeah, Bob (severe side-eye).
"Donald Trump's 2020 re-election campaign has disavowed a parody video showing the US president massacring media outlets and political rivals… The video was on display at a conference organised by American Priority, a pro-Trump group." And then shown at their conference, which was held at Trump's National Doral Miami. And now nobody seems to know who did it or why it was shown at all. It's so strange when your supporters take your word and go off-script.
"'Sadly, this is not the first time that supporters of the President have promoted violence against the media in a video they apparently find entertaining -- but it is by far and away the worst. The images depicted are vile and horrific,' CNN said in a statement Sunday night." It's just so strange his supporters keep doing these things.
"The video, which can be found on YouTube, depicts Trump inside the 'Church of Fake News,' shooting, beating and stabbing congregants with the logos of Vox, Politico, CNN and other media outlets emblazoned over their faces. He also shoots MSNBC personality Rachel Maddow and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence."
"Hunter Biden… said through his attorney that he was stepping down from the board of a Chinese company that has been the subject of criticism from Trump and his allies. He added that he would not work for a foreign-owned company if his father is elected president in 2020." Unlike the Trump children, or, if you believe conspiracy theories, Trump himself.
"First up on Monday, Trump's former top National Security Council Russia specialist Fiona Hill is expected to give a deposition to House committees -- and could shed some light on the behind-the-scenes maneuvering between Trump, administration officials and outsiders acting on his behalf in Ukraine, including Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani."
"Moscow is not blaming U.S. President Donald Trump for failing to improve U.S.-Russian relations, a pledge he had made during his election campaign, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with Arab broadcasters." But it's funny how much of Trump's actions have both directly and indirectly aided Russia and their ambitions.
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