Linkee-poo Fried-days

Alligators, what can you do. "A large-scale analysis of bird migrations in the contiguous United States confirms what ornithologists and amateur birders already suspected: Overall, birds’ seasonal long-distance flights are happening earlier than they did a quarter of a century ago… This shift is probably due to higher temperatures, which have risen on average around half a degree Celsius per decade, researchers report December 16 in Nature Climate Change." We're boned.

"A slice of the world's oldest fossilised forest has been found cemented into the ground at an abandoned quarry in Cairo, New York."

"It was reported last year that Facebook accesses your location even when you have switched off Location Services for the app, and the company has now confirmed this in a letter to two senators… The company says that it uses three different methods to track user locations, only one of which needs Location Services." Burn it with fire. (Grokked from John)

"This fall, there were nearly 250,000 fewer students enrolled in college than a year ago, according to new numbers out Monday from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which tracks college enrollment by student." Looks like there will be fewer tenure tracks in the future. Also, the economy is good, population is decreasing, college costs more than ever… yes, these are observable trends.

"When it comes to children's prospects in life, the neighborhoods where they grow up matter a lot. Schools, safety, access to healthy food, places to play are all things that help to shape their futures… Now, new data from the Institute for Child, Youth and Family Policy at Brandeis University reveal a sharp racial divide in access to such opportunities in almost every major metropolitan area of the country." It's almost like something systematic or designed… Note the trend holds even in higher than average opportunity areas. (Grokked from Mary Robinette Kowal)

"Boeing’s spacecraft Starliner did not achieve the proper orbit it needed to reach the International Space Station, shortly after the capsule launched from Florida early Friday morning." Oopsie. Although it's yet another blow to Boeing.

"Cybersecurity researchers said on Thursday that more than 267 million Facebook users had their personal data exposed in an online database that collected their names, Facebook IDs, and phone numbers. The database was available online without a password to anyone who accessed it for about two weeks, according to Comparitech, a tech website, and Bob Diachenko, a data-security researcher." They say this like it's a bug and not a feature.

"If the year ended right now, it would be the best annual gain for the stock market in six years. But if the rally keeps going just another couple percent, there’s a good chance at the best annual return in 22 years." Nothing to worry about. Everything is fine. Just a reminder that the stock market is not the economy.

"The number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits dropped from a more than two-year high last week, pointing to sustained labor market strength that should continue to underpin consumer spending and the economy." One month's data does not make a trend.

"As 2019 comes to a close, the US economy earns its highest ratings in almost two decades, potentially boosting President Donald Trump in matchups against the Democrats vying to face him in next year's election, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS." Pops champaign cork, scoops up some caviar.

There are reports of shooting around the FSB headquarters in Moscow with 3 dead yesterday. Keep safe my Russian friends.

"But today, thanks to relentless demonization by the Hindu right, more of India’s Muslims are more afraid, and adrift, than ever before. And following another governmental measure meant to further stifle Muslims’ rights, many of India’s college students are finally fighting back against this ostracism at an undeniable scale."

"A Missouri church leader allegedly tried to pay for sex on the gay hookup app Grindr — with an Arby’s card, according to a report." We have the meats. He also offered to fill up the prospect's tank, if you know what I mean. (Grokked from John)

"The Supreme Court refused Monday to hear a major case on homelessness, letting stand a ruling that protects homeless people’s right to sleep on the sidewalk or in public parks if no other shelter is available." I would like to say "yeah", but the cynical part of my brain says the majority view is, "we're not here for that."

And in the State of Washington… "'Representative Shea, as a leader in the Patriot Movement, planned, engaged in and promoted a total of three armed conflicts of political violence against the United States Government in three states outside the state of Washington over a three-year period,' according to the report released Thursday. 'In one conflict Representative Shea led covert strategic pre-planning in advance of the conflict.'… Immediately after the report was released, Rep. J.T. Wilcox, the Republican minority leader of the House, said Shea 'has been suspended from any role in the House Republican Caucus.'" Well, see, the Republicans can recognize treason, when they want to. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)

"The U.S. asylum system has been upended by the Remain in Mexico program… More than 55,000 migrants have been told to wait in Mexico under the program… The court data released Thursday show that about 24,000 of their cases had been completed as of Nov. 19… The success rate is less than 1%." Again, they say this like it's a bug and not a feature.

"'[Trump] said, "Hey, here's my deadline, here's what I need you to do." So we're gonna continue to work towards meeting that deadline," said Qualia, who is in charge of the Rio Grande Valley wall team. 'And we're either going to make it or not.'" Things down on the border don't seem to be going to well for Trump's border wall. Mostly because, surprise, many people who own land along the border aren't so keen to give it up for the wall. You know, despite the political rhetoric of these people shouting for relief from all the illegal immigrants crossing their land. "'It's very difficult to know who the rightful owners are. That's the biggest challenge,' said Rosalva Guerra, the chief appraiser of Starr County, where property records are notoriously incomplete." Um, how the hell can you assess property taxes (and values) if you don't know who actually owns the land. This is almost criminal neglect. And, "Garza is fighting the border wall. He voted for Trump, but he says he won't do so a second time. He fears the wall will kill his infant winemaking business." The "Exception Clause Fallacy" in effect. Well, yes he's going to build a wall, but it won't affect my property because… Yeah, sorry, you guessed wrong. "The president has asked for frequent updates. He reportedly told aides earlier this year, just 'take the land.'" Remember when conservatives were against eminent domain? And here's the president saying he's just going to confiscate land, ignoring laws and due process. Also note, this is exactly what a dictator would do, and it's what a fascist would do.

"Sarah Sanders apologizes for tweet mocking Biden during Democratic debate." And here we have the anatomy of conservative politics. Sarah Sanders is not a disconnected person, and yet she didn't know some of the basic facts about the former VP. Not because the facts weren't in the open, but because she just doesn't care to know. Because knowledge isn't prized on the right, adherence to ideology is. And then we have the "attack then apologize" MO of conservative social media.

"A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, conducted as the House prepares to vote on two articles of impeachment against the president, shows a deadlock. Among American adults, 48% favor his impeachment and removal and 48% oppose it… That represents a tiny shift in Trump’s favor since late October, when a 49%-46% plurality favored impeachment and removal." Um, those numbers are within the polling's margin of error. What you're seeing is a sampling anomaly being touted as "news."