There's battle lines being drawn.
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.
Young people speaking their minds
getting so much resistance from behind

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Linkee-poo Weekend Feb 7

Christopher Plummer, and so it goes.

"A massive search-and-rescue operation was underway Sunday in northern India for at least 140 people missing after part of a Himalayan glacier broke off, triggering an avalanche of rock, mud, water and debris that swept away a hydroelectric dam… Video recorded by witnesses from across a valley showed a torrent of water and debris break through a dam that's part of the Rishiganga Hydroelectric Project, more than 300 miles north of New Delhi."

"The skies above Mars will witness some startling aeronautical displays in the next few days when three rival space robot probes reach the red planet after journeying for millions of miles across space… The United Arab Emirates’ probe Hope orbiter will arrive first, on Tuesday, followed by China’s Tianwen-1 spacecraft the next day. Finally, the US rover Perseverance will make its dramatic descent to the surface of Mars on 18 February."

"Between October 1 and January 30, just 155 Americans were hospitalized with the flu, compared to 8,633 during roughly the same time frame a year ago. That's a 98% decrease." Wearing masks and social distancing work. Also (said in a whisper) schools are super spreaders of the flu.

"A small Georgia city was still in shock Friday, days after state health workers raided the busiest medical clinic in the county and seized its Covid-19 vaccine supply because staffers had given doses to teachers."

"But the COVID infection never went away — for 154 days. 'He was readmitted to the hospital several times over the subsequent five months for recurrence of his COVID-19 infection and severe pneumonia,' says infectious disease doctor Jonathan Li at Harvard Medical School who helped to treat the man… So extraordinary in fact, that this man's case is offering scientists surprising clues about where the new coronavirus virus variants emerged, and why they're causing explosive outbreaks on three continents." In other news, doctors are surprised evolution actually happens.

"Kroger has joined a growing list of large US grocery store chains offering incentives for workers to get the Covid-19 vaccine… The company announced that its associates would get a one-time $100 payment if they show proof that they've received the full manufacturer-recommended doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. Workers that can't get the vaccine for health or religious reasons can get the payment if they take an educational health and safety course, the company said in a news release."

"Here’s how executive compensation breaks down at the 82 largest non-profit hospitals using the IRS 990 informational returns and auditing the latest year available… 13 organizations paid their top earner between $5 million and $21.6 million… 61 organizations paid their top executive between $1 million and $5 million… Only 8 organizations paid their top earner less than $1 million (which proves it’s possible)." Just wait until they do health insurance executives' salaries.

"Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday the US could see full employment next year if Congress passes President Joe Biden's proposed stimulus package, but warned the country's unemployment rate would remain elevated over the next few years without the additional $1.9 trillion in federal support." Imma not going to go that far. But yes, what we learned from the Great Recession was "go big."

"Today on the show: how a standoff between big market movers and an irreverent community of anonymous traders erupted into an epic showdown that is changing the way people think about power on Wall Street." The Planet Money podcast breakdown what happened and why different moves were made, explaining how the market works and the psychology behind the stock play.

"She's just one of the many young people who aren't as car crazy as members of their parents' or grandparents' generation. According to a University of Michigan study, the number of people under 30 with driver's licenses has been steadily declining… Santa Maria belongs to a public transit fan page on Facebook, called New Urbanist Memes for Transit Oriented Teens, with more than 200 thousand members. They call themselves NUMTOTS — and they share funny posts but also they debate transportation policies and fantasize about a world in which nobody needs a car."

"A divided Supreme Court blocked California's Covid-related ban on indoor worship services in a late-night order Friday but allowed other restrictions affecting houses of worship to remain in place."

"The Biden administration is ending agreements with the governments of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that the Trump administration said were meant to help drive down the number of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S. border."

"Around 5 a.m. Friday in the nation's capital, bleary-eyed senators who had spent hours debating a COVID relief bill looked up to see Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over the chamber… Within minutes, she would cast two important, tie-breaking votes on a budget resolution, clearing the way for what Democrats hope is the quick passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package that President Joe Biden sees as necessary to ramp up vaccine distribution and get America back on its economic feet."

"Fulton County employees, as well as election workers around the country, are still grappling with the emotional and psychological trauma they suffered as a result of Trump's disinformation campaign about the 2020 election, and it may have lasting consequences for recruiting and retention in the vital, but often under-appreciated field."

"After an election that saw record voter turnout, with many of those voters casting their ballots early and by mail, some Republican state lawmakers are proposing a wave of new voting laws that would effectively make it more difficult to vote in future elections… The proposals come in the aftermath of the unprecedented onslaught of disinformation about the conduct of the 2020 election by former President Donald Trump and some of his allies in the Republican Party." Shocked, shocked I am…

"Election technology company Smartmatic filed a massive lawsuit Thursday against Fox News, saying the network and some of its biggest on-air personalities made it into a villain and perpetuated false claims about the recent election… The suit names Fox stars Lou Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro, as well as Trump allies Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell."

"Fox Business Network's 'Lou Dobbs Tonight,' whose host has trumpeted unfounded assertions of voter fraud in the 2020 election, has been canceled. Fox News Media said in a statement Friday the move was part of routine programming alterations that it had foreshadowed in an announcement last fall."

"A man charged in connection to the January 6 Capitol riot made racist and xenophobic remarks during a public hearing before the Maine legislature in 2017… Video obtained by CNN shows Kyle Fitzsimons referring to immigrants as "replacements," echoing White nationalist rhetoric that immigrants to America are coming to wipe out White people." I know, it's like it's all about how the white nationalists feel they have a right to keep in charge and are mentally unbalanced enough to be a problem.

"As prosecutors from the House of Representatives prepare to present their case against Donald Trump at his impeachment trial next week for incitement of insurrection, supporters who heeded his call on 6 January to “fight like hell” and went on to storm the Capitol Building are finding themselves in far greater legal peril."

"Allies of former President Donald Trump are imploring his impeachment team to avoid one specific topic when they defend the ex-president at his Senate trial next week: the deadly riot that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol… Despite Trump’s likely acquittal on charges that he incited an insurrection, some of his most ardent supporters fear the trial could further damage his reputation if his attorneys wade into the events of Jan. 6, when five people were killed — including a Capitol police officer — after pro-Trump demonstrators stormed the halls of Congress." I'm sure it's a winning strategy to avoid talking about :: checks notes :: the direct results of the crime you've been charged with.

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