I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Linkee-poo ain't got nothin' but love, babe, 8 days a week

"Shells are one of the oldest ways humans have adorned and expressed themselves, with examples of deliberately-collected shell assemblages at human sites dating as far back as 160,000 years ago found across North Africa, South Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean. Shells from one Mediterranean Paleolithic site, Qafzeh Cave (dated to 120,000 years ago) are all naturally perforated (in contrast to the unperforated shells found at a nearby older site, Misliya Cave), suggesting that these shells were deliberately collected and strung together as beads."

"Flooding and mudslides have stranded hundreds of people in scenic hot springs and hiking areas in central Japan, while rescue workers searched Thursday for more people missing in rain-related disasters that have already killed more than 60 people."

"NASA has completed its investigation into Boeing's problematic first test flight of a Starliner crew capsule as the company and agency look toward a second test flight sometime this year." They found 80 items they want Boeing to change/address.

"Many of the disaster recovery workers who came to Midland did get sick. A cluster of roughly 20 confirmed cases of the coronavirus drew the attention of local health officials. It also shined a light on a multibillion-dollar industry that's growing fast as climate-driven disasters become more frequent and more expensive."

"'Our guidelines are our guidelines, but we are going to provide additional reference documents to aid basically communities in trying to open K-through-12s,' (Director Dr. Robert) Redfield said. 'It's not a revision of the guidelines; it's just to provide additional information to help schools be able to use the guidance we put forward.'"

"The United States reported more than 60,000 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, setting a fresh record for new cases reported in a single day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University." The deaths should be coming inline with the new spike any day now. And I hate to say it this way, but until people in charge are willing to piss the president off and disobey his orders, we aren't going to see any relief.

"Members from University Hospitals were at the Cortland Fire Department Wednesday doing a research study to test first responders for coronavirus antibodies." Not everyone is being tested, and it's mostly a research project.

"If you want to be one of the first to receive an experimental vaccine for Covid-19, now's your chance… Wednesday, a new website -- coronaviruspreventionnetwork.org -- went live allowing people in the United States to register to take part in clinical trials for vaccines… The website will handle registration for the four large vaccine studies that are expected to start this summer and fall, and any others that follow."

"'This is what happens when people go crazy and get tested,' (Ohio state Rep. Nino) Vitale wrote on Facebook this week. 'STOP GETTING TESTED!'… Vitale was evidently incensed by an order from DeWine and state health officials that people in seven Ohio counties with severe outbreaks must wear face coverings when out in public. That order took effect Wednesday." Idiots gonna be idiots. I would say it's funny to watch as reality doesn't give a damn for conservative spin, but there are people dying because of that spin.

"26 simple charts to show friends and family who aren't convinced racism is still a problem in America."

"Seemingly radical notions like defunding police departments or outright abolition of the police have gained momentum in no small part because police departments have proven, again and again, resistant to even the most modest reforms. Even smaller-bore efforts to remove so-called "bad apples" have often gone nowhere; police officers seldom lose their jobs for brutality and misconduct. They're also rarely arrested or indicted — let alone convicted — of wrongdoing in criminal cases."

"New York City started painting a Black Lives Matter mural Thursday on Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower… Local television network WPIX reported the block of the street would be closed to cars until Sunday while the mural was painted."

"A white California couple has been charged with a hate crime after they were seen on video defacing a Black Lives Matter mural, according to a statement from the Contra Costa District Attorney's office."

"Sustained demonstrations across the US calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality in the wake of the May killing of George Floyd are being met with a rising trend for apparent counter-protesters using vehicles to threaten or slam into marchers… Tension has also continued between protesters and police in some areas, with reports of law enforcement officers confronting crowds with flash-bang grenades and pepper spray."

"Andres Guardado was killed on June 18 after multiple shots were fired by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. An independent autopsy, performed at the request of his family, has found that the 18-year-old Guardado was shot five times in the back, and died as a result of these gunshot wounds."

"From airlines to paper mills, the job news is grim, and there are growing signs it won't be getting better anytime soon. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported nearly 2.4 million new applications for state and federal unemployment benefits last week."

"United Airlines says up to 36,000 of its workers could be furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic… That amounts to almost half of the company's total US-based frontline workforce." And they said that dreaded word, "right-sizing."

"You’ve heard about the trade war with China. There may be a separate, potential 'financial war' brewing… The Securities and Exchange Commission wants you to know more about what is happening with Chinese companies that list in the United States. The regulators also want you to know that they are having a really hard time finding out exactly what is going on." A new front in the Cold War/Trade War with China is opening up.

"A wooden sculpture of U.S. first lady Melania Trump was torched near her hometown of Sevnica, Slovenia, on the night of July Fourth, as Americans celebrated U.S. Independence Day, said the artist who commissioned the sculpture."

"Dozens of foreign nationals working as journalists in the U.S. for Voice of America, the federal government's international broadcaster, will not have their visas extended once they expire, according to three people with knowledge of the decision… Those with knowledge of the decision say the new CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Michael Pack, signaled he will not approve the visa extensions. Also Wednesday, according to those with knowledge of the decision, Pack ordered the dismissal of former Radio Free Asia chief Bay Fang, whom Pack had previously demoted. The sources asked not to be identified because of a fear of retaliation." Good thing the new appointee isn't actively trying to destroy VoA as he said he wasn't going to do, because it would be much worse that just this idiocy. Not. Breaking government.

"U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed for years that Vladimir Putin's Russia is supporting America's enemies in Afghanistan with cash and weapons. And President Donald Trump has said nothing publicly about it, even as he has pursued warmer relations with Putin and Russia, including ordering his intelligence agencies to cooperate with Russia in the Middle East."

"Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry, is retiring from the US Army after more than 21 years of military service because he determined that his future in the armed forces 'will forever be limited' due to political retaliation by the President and his allies, his lawyer told CNN Wednesday."

"The U.S. Supreme Court handed President Trump a big loss Thursday, ruling that he is not 'categorically immune' from having his pre-presidential financial records released to a New York grand jury. But in a second decision on the House's request for similar information, the court appeared to question the breadth of congressional authority… Both cases were sent back to lower courts, and above all, Americans will not see the president's taxes before Election Day."

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