"The group of researchers, who published a commentary in the journal Nature, say there is growing evidence to suggest that irreversible changes to the Earth's environmental systems are already taking place, and that we are now in a 'state of planetary emergency.'" We're boned. This is he little told secret, climate change scientists have been projecting hope as a way to spur action. So people won't panic or say scientists are being doomsayers. But as I've said elsewhere, avoiding catastrophe is not really possible, we're negotiating the type and extent of catastrophe now. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"Levick had accompanied Scott to Antarctica, but was not one of the five expedition members on the final trek to the pole. The return journey claimed the lives of all five. Levick survived the expedition, however, and in 1914, published a manuscript summarizing his observations — the first scientific descriptions of Antarctic penguins… But he left something out." The homosexuality, promiscuity and other things that made them all icky. So why would he leave that part out (which is not actually answered in the article)? I don't know, maybe because at that time and until very recently animal observations were done in such a way as to illuminate human behavior (and provide models). And those kinds of things wouldn't fly (much like the penguins) in the early 20th century. Of course had he actually published that may have changed (but more than likely he just wouldn't have ever been invited back into the comfy society of scientists and their grant money).
"Rocket Lab launched its tenth Electron spacecraft on Friday morning, successfully delivering payloads for clients Spaceflight and Alba Orbital. The launch company also had an important secondary mission for this launch: testing the guidance, control and navigation systems of their first-stage rocket recovery system."
Why selling health insurance across state lines is a bad idea. "State regulators say an out-of-state health insurance company illegally sold inadequate plans to thousands of college students in Vermont and improperly denied nearly a half-million dollars in medical claims." This plans didn't meet the basic minimum requirements set in state law. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"Saturday is the deadline for most people with Medicare coverage to sign up for private drug and medical plans for next year. But members of Congress, health care advocates and insurance agents worry that enrollment decisions based on bad information from the government's revamped, error-prone Plan Finder website will bring unwelcome surprises."
"An internal investigation conducted two years ago by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the findings of which were not made public at the time, uncovered systematic mishandling of evidence. Deputies are required to turn in evidence at the end of their shift, but the audit found that more than 70% of them failed to do so. Instead, officers frequently waited days, weeks or even months to submit key evidence, including seized drugs, cash, photos and videos pertaining to criminal cases." Oopsie.
"On Friday, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) will introduce the Fairness For All Act, a purported compromise bill that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations — but carves out broad exemptions for churches and religious organizations." That's not a discrimination ban, that a codification of exemptions.
A year without a Santa Claus. "A town has canceled its annual Christmas parade over fears that protesters and supporters of its inclusion of Confederate groups would clash. After more than 70 years, the town of Wake Forest, North Carolina will not have a parade at all this holiday season." So, instead of saying, "hey, maybe leave the Confederacy bullshit at home," instead they just cancel the whole parade.
"In an interview with Glenn Beck, Haley also said that the murderer, Dylann Roof, 'hijacked' the supposedly virtuous nature of the Confederate battle flag." Uh, no. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
That Yule Log smells like chicken. "In a partnership with artificial fire log company Enviro-Log, Kentucky Fried Chicken is offering what's sure to be the hottest commodity of the season -- a hunk of flammable, chicken-scented bliss otherwise known as the 11 Herbs & Spices Firelog."
"In the spring of 2018, the antitrust division of the DOJ announced it would begin a bit of legal housekeeping - clearing the cobwebs, they called it. Basically, through the 1970s, many federal anti-trust agreements were perpetual. They never ended. Thus, the DOJ explained, it would review nearly 1,300 judgments going back over 100 years to evaluate whether they're still in the public interest. Those included antiquated sounding settlements aimed at curbing monopoly power over music roles for piano players and hoof pads for horseshoes." Rolling back regulations to allow monopoly powers to grow.
"Recent studies by the African Union show that Africa loses at least $50bn annually as a result of illicit financial flows from foreign companies doing business on the continent. Global Financial Integrity estimates that for every dollar that comes into the developing world in the form of foreign aid, $10 leave, mostly as a result of tax avoidance by multinational companies. These figures are a stark reminder of how foreign companies have thoroughly ravaged African economies, leaving little behind for the people of the continent." The chronic underdevelopment of Africa, as told through a story about bribery and fish and the Fishrot files. Or if you just ever wondered what it meant when someone was called a colonizer.
"Zelenskiy didn't mention the U.S. impeachment scandal, which few Ukrainians care about. He focused instead on his first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set to take place in Paris at a summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron on Dec. 9."
"Interviews with current and former officials show how the Trump administration's hold-up of aid to Ukraine was irregular and likely violated U.S. law, but has far-reaching consequences at home and overseas."
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