"Fish will mate with a species outside their own if the male's colouring is attractive enough or if the female can't see him properly, according to new research." But this is based on cichlids, which IIRC have a high degree of phenotypes, but genetically they're very similar.
"Call it a tale of science and derring-do. An international team of researchers has spent six years fanning across the globe, gathering thousands of samples of wild relatives of crops. Their goal: to preserve genetic diversity that could help key crops survive in the face of climate change. At times, the work put these scientists in some pretty extreme situations."
"The way many of us think about weight loss is totally counterproductive. Here are some tips on approaching weight loss in a different way — a saner way — that might help you achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle while being a little kinder to yourself."
"With fewer than 100 days left before the 2020 census is fully underway, rural communities caught in the digital divide are bracing for a potential undercount that could make it harder for them to advocate for resources over the next decade." Making sure all are counted, which is normally the government's job. There was a similar reaction in the last census, although in the opposite political direction. In 2010 libertarians and what would become known as the alt-right were totally convinced that Obama was going to use the Census to round them up, so they would refuse to participate. Which meant people actually knocked on their doors (to various receptions). But this time, with the citizen's question, the fact that conservatives are all in on using the internet to help the count (something they were dead set against in 2010), it does appear there is some credence to claims the government will intentionally undercount in minority areas.
"The numbers tell one story. Unemployment in the US is the lowest it’s been in 50 years. More Americans have jobs than ever before. Wage growth keeps climbing… People tell a different story. Long job hunts. Trouble finding work with decent pay. A lack of predictable hours… The 'whole story' told by the index, he adds, is 'the devaluation of American labor.'" Most jobs today are low-quality (ie. they pay below the average). (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
How go the Trade Wars? "The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to counter what it calls the 'arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment' of Uighur Muslims in China." Can't wait for the conservative talking point about how tariffs are an attempt to gain a lever to change China's behavior vis a vis the Uighurs and Hong Kong.
"Page after page, the names stack up: 629 girls and women from across Pakistan who were sold as brides to Chinese men and taken to China. The list, obtained by The Associated Press, was compiled by Pakistani investigators determined to break up trafficking networks exploiting the country’s poor and vulnerable." And government officials in China and Pakistan are dismantling and disabling law enforcement efforts to break up the human trafficking rings. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"The Trump administration will announce a plan Wednesday to end food stamps benefits for more than 700,000 Americans, issuing a new regulation that makes it harder for states to gain waivers from a requirement that beneficiaries work or participate in a vocational training program, according to people familiar with the matter."
"In hearings this week, House Democrats sought to highlight an emerging set of facts concerning the President’s conduct. On this week’s On the Media, a look at why muddying the waters remains a viable strategy for Trump’s defenders. Plus, even the technology we trust for its clarity isn’t entirely objective, especially the algorithms that drive decisions in public and private institutions. And, how early radio engineers designed broadcast equipment to favor male voices and make women sound 'shrill.'" Recommended for all parts, but especially the first one. This is what's also known as "throwing sand in the bull's eyes." And the algorithm part is also highly recommended. Computers aren't neutral, because the programming isn't. Very important as we automate more and more of our work. And the last segment is also very important, structural (and engineered) sexism about voices and the social implications.
"That the nation under Donald Trump is politically polarized — with Republicans on one side and Democrats on the other — has become a cliché of American political journalism… As it happens, the plurality of Americans actually identify as independents (38 percent, according to Gallup), rather than Democrats (31 percent) or Republicans (30 percent). So the cliché is not technically accurate." Also pointed out that while opinion on impeachment "hasn't moved", the majority of people still believe the president should be impeached with slightly less believing he should be removed from office. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"FactChecking Trump’s NATO Remarks." The president is a habitual liar.
"Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter is guilty. He is likely out of office and on the way to jail. And it all started when a reporter asked reasonable questions about his spending habits."
"For months, President Donald Trump has fired off tweet missives accusing House Democrats of 'getting nothing done in Congress,' and being consumed with impeachment… Trump may want to look to the Republican-controlled Senate instead. Democrats in the House have been passing bills at a rapid clip; as of November 15, the House has passed nearly 400 bills, not including resolutions. But the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee estimates 80 percent of those bill have hit a snag in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is prioritizing confirming judges over passing bills."
"When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from the hospital last weekend after another in a string of health scares, blue America breathed a sigh of relief. Only one more month, many whispered, until the start of a presidential election year when filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court would be off limits in the Senate… But would it?" Asking conservatives to be ethically consistent is a wish on the wind.
"'But I think today, American people have to focus on something else, which is the sacrifice and the service that is given by our law enforcement officers,' (AG William) Barr said. 'And they have to start showing, more than they do, the respect and support that law enforcement deserves ― and if communities don’t give that support and respect, they might find themselves without the police protection they need.'" That's some deep blackshirt shit right there. Okay, true story time. When I was Chairman of Safety for my little community, we had a very bad relationship (for good reasons) with the county sheriff. At one county-wide meeting the sheriff called I attended along with my police chief, the mayor, and our solicitor. We all went to hear how the sheriff was about to screw us all over again (that's another long story). The solicitor went to help me restrain the mayor in case something went wrong (a 50/50 chance). During the meeting, where the sheriff stood in front of 3 of his armed deputies (I told you there was good cause), he made the statement about how his office needed more money that he was getting from our taxes, and that maybe communities might want to donate to his budget and mentioned that those who didn't might not get as much protection as the others. My police chief, myself, and the mayor physically restrained our solicitor from attacking the sheriff (as in fortunately we were all paying attention and were ready when the solicitor leapt out of his seat to attack the sheriff). It wasn't because we didn't want to beat the crap out of the asshole ourselves, but because of the collateral injuries that would happen (3 armed deputies) and the lawsuit we'd face. I can't state the my level of contempt for leaders, especially law enforcement types, who spout such shit here because that would invite a visit from the Secret Service, but this is the kind of thing that people get ridden out of town on a rail for. (Grokked from Vincent O'Connor)
"Armed with never-before-seen phone records, Democrats on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump's allies of coordinating with a conservative journalist to peddle 'false narratives' about Trump's opponents as part of his multi-pronged pressure campaign on Ukraine… The House Intelligence Committee's impeachment report -- which was made public Tuesday -- says the committee's top Repub(l)ican, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, was linked to that effort." Whoa. I guess Devin should have attended more of those meetings. I believe that's what's known, in colloquial terms, as disqualifying heinous fuckery. So not only is Rep. Nunes Trumps lapdog, he's a coconspirator. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
You may remember Nunes from 2017 when he held an impromptu press conference declaring, "President Trump and his associates… had been caught up in surveillance by US intelligence agencies. Nunes then rushed to the White House to share the information in person. It was a remarkable breach of protocol… Further complicating matters is the fact that Nunes was an adviser to Trump's transition team."
And in what can only be described and impeccable bad timing… "Rep. Devin Nunes of California… filed suit against CNN Tuesday, alleging the cable-news network defamed him when it reported on allegations about the President and his representatives seeking information from Ukraine officials that would raise suspicion about the presidential campaign of Joe Biden."
?"According to the pro-Trump Republican lawmaker (Nunes), the calls with individuals at the heart of the impeachment inquiry against the president were joking in nature—or maybe didn’t even happen at all (despite records saying they did)." They can't even lie well.
"Fact-checking House Republicans’ impeachment report defending Trump on Ukraine."
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed new laws that allow authorities to designate individual journalists, bloggers, or virtually anyone else who uses social media as foreign agents. It's an expansion of powers that many fear will be used to further silence dissenting voices in Putin's Russia." Waves to my Russian friends.
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