Well, I'm back from foreign lands. What shall we talk about?
"While 18-year-old Salvador Ramos was inside adjoining classrooms, a group of 19 law enforcement officers stood outside the classroom in the school for roughly 50 minutes as they waited for room keys and tactical equipment, CNN has reported. Meanwhile, children inside the classroom repeatedly called 911 and pleaded for help, Texas officials said." This story was a textbook case of "don't trust the first reports." JFC. As to the reports of "we thought it was a barricaded shooter, there were several 911 calls from inside the classroom. So, no, the police froze.
"Alleged school shooter Salvador Ramos was in the classroom for 77 minutes before officers entered and killed him, ABC News reported… During that time, he discharged 315 rounds of ammunition, with hundreds of those rounds fired within the first four minutes of his arrival, authorities said."
"The Uvalde Police Department and the Uvalde Independent School District police force are no longer cooperating with the Texas Department of Public Safety's investigation into the massacre at Robb Elementary School and the state's review of the law enforcement response, multiple law enforcement sources tell ABC News." If you've got nothing to hide…
"An activist confronted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in a Houston restaurant on Friday night in a testy exchange after the lawmaker delivered a speech at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention blaming violent video games, social media and other factors besides guns for mass shootings in the U.S."
And the narrative continues to evolve… "Texas officials had said a teacher propped a door open at Robb Elementary in Uvalde just before the gunman entered and carried out a mass shooting — but they now acknowledge that the woman closed the door, after the teacher's attorney spoke out… It's the latest shift in a narrative that has continued to change since last Tuesday — an extraordinary process that has seen officials repeatedly correcting earlier statements, after they're contradicted by new information."
"Amerie Jo Garza, one of the 21 victims killed in a mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, has been posthumously given the highest award in the Girl Scouts organization — the Bronze Cross." We should live in a society that doesn't have to award 10-year olds for putting the lives of others above their own, and by the gods we should never have to award it posthumously.
"The Food and Drug Administration is investigating two brands of strawberries sold at top grocery stores for Hepatitis A… The agency is 'investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada potentially linked to fresh organic strawberries branded as FreshKampo and HEB,' the FDA website says."
"Starting Wednesday, residents across Southern California will have to limit how much they water their yards under new restrictions placed in response to the drought."
"This glorious Hubble Space Telescope image showcases spiral galaxy IC 342, also known as Caldwell 5. No matter what you call this galaxy, scientists have had some difficulty observing it due to obstacles in the way, earning it its 'hidden' nickname, according to NASA."
"Megalodon, the giant shark that lived more than 23 million years ago and was inspiration for the movie "The Meg," was almost four times bigger than the great white shark that cruises our oceans today… However, the two shark species, which once coexisted, likely hunted some of the same prey. This competition could potentially have been one reason why the 65-foot-long (20-meter-long) megalodon went extinct, a new study has suggested."
"A bison gored a woman visiting Yellowstone National Park and tossed her into the air, park officials said Tuesday… The 25-year-old woman, who was visiting from Ohio, was not identified in a news release from the National Park Service." Don't approach wild animals.
"Paleontologists have been debating for decades whether dinosaurs were warm-blooded, like modern mammals and birds, or cold-blooded, like modern reptiles. Knowing whether dinosaurs were warm- or cold-blooded could give us clues about how active they were and what their everyday lives were like, but previous methods to determine their warm- or cold-bloodedness — how quickly their metabolisms could turn oxygen into energy — were inconclusive. However, in a new paper published in the journal Nature, scientists are unveiling a novel method for studying dinosaurs’ metabolic rates, using clues in their bones that indicated how much the individual animals breathed in their last hour of life."
"In a policy shift aimed at reducing deaths from overdoses, Canada is decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of drugs in the western province of British Columbia… Drug overdose deaths have risen sharply across Canada over the past five years, with opioid-related deaths linked to fentanyl more than doubling."
"Contrary to popular myth, forgoing coffee isn’t likely to improve your health. The opposite might be true: Years of research suggests that drinking coffee is linked with a lower risk of death… The latest addition to that body of research was published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study looked at around 120,000 people in the U.K. who regularly drank unsweetened or sugar-sweetened coffee over seven years. The findings suggested that those who drank 1.5 to 3.5 cups a day had a lower risk of death during those seven years than non-coffee drinkers, even if they added a teaspoon of real sugar — not artificial sweetener — to every cup." Oh look, the latest round of industry sponsored research is ready. "But the researchers didn't look at causality, so they couldn't say whether coffee is directly responsible for the outcome." I'll bet you they did look at causality, but didn't include it in the study.
"For decades now, experts believed monkeypox would simply stay put in Africa. This May, the zoonotic virus proved the fallacy of that idea, appearing in 23 countries — many of them in Europe —prompting the World Health Organization to declare Sunday that it was a 'moderate' global public health risk." Note this story makes all the errors outline in the On the Media podcast issue with a segment about Monkey Pox (further below).
"At least 650 children have been diagnosed with a mysterious and severe hepatitis infection since early April, according to the World Health Organization. The cases, which have so far puzzled health officials, have been reported in 33 different countries… At least 38 children have required a transplant, and nine have died, according to a Friday statement from WHO. There are also 99 cases pending classification."
"While there has indeed been significant research into long Covid over the past two years – including a few studies published last week – some infectious disease experts say we still don’t know enough about the prevalence of the condition, what causes it, and how to treat it."
"As we trudge through our third year of the pandemic, what is the state of our immunity to COVID? On this week’s On the Media, hear how vaccines and reinfections interact with fast-evolving variants. Plus, why we should take the recent monkeypox outbreak seriously, but avoid panicking."
"Covid-19 care, including distribution of lifesaving therapies, was significantly delayed for Black and Hispanic patients due to inaccurate oxygen readings from devices that can work poorly in darker-skinned individuals, according to a study published Tuesday. The finding may be one reason much higher Covid-19 mortality rates have been seen in communities of color across the United States." This is a known issue. WTF is this not being addressed?
"The Justice Department asked a federal appeals court on Tuesday to overturn last month's court decision by a federal judge that declared the mandate requiring masks on airplanes and other public transportation unlawful." One of the odd things about being in foreign, is that travel there was fairly easy, and they require masking on the flights that come in. Travel back was a PIA and we had to pass COVID testing, although there is no masking requirement for US travel. Try and rationalize that one. And yes, we wore our masks for all the flights.
"When asked to comment Tuesday about its weekend troubles, Delta pointed to a statement it issued last week, when it said it faced challenges including rising COVID-19 cases among workers." Remember that Delta has been leading the charge to roll back masking and other mandates. And now in their C-suite there are a large amount of chickens looking for roosting space.
"Job openings fell by nearly half a million in April, narrowing the historically large gap between vacant positions and available workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday… That left a gap of 5.46 million between openings and the available workers, still high by historical standards and reflective of a very tight labor market, but below the nearly 5.6 million difference from March. As a share of the labor force, the job openings rate fell 0.3 percentage point to 7%."
"A Republican commissioner on a federal mine safety agency sought advice on personnel matters from a closely held collection of outside advisers that appears to have included at least one coal industry executive, according to documents obtained by POLITICO… The revelations prompted the commission’s Democratic chair to request a review by an outside inspector general, alleging what appeared to be a violation of federal ethics rules."
"Families are transferring to Singapore, she said, but small- and medium-sized businesses are also on the move. Whereas one company executive might have left in the past, now 'they’re all going,' she said. Small companies are 'taking the entire team and putting them into Singapore.'" It's CNBC, so they often get motivations wrong. Such as with this article, the first claim about reasons why people are moving out of Hong Kong has to do with COVID restrictions. Singapore has had stricter and longer lock downs than Hong Kong.
"Shanghai celebrated Wednesday with a long-awaited burst of life, as the government lifted its city-wide lockdown. But the process of reopening is likely to be slow and painful, as residents in the financial hub contend with the trauma of the past two months."
"Elon Musk has told Tesla employees to come back into their respective offices at least 40 hours a week or leave the company… In two emails obtained by Electrek, Musk said that people must show up for at least 40 hours per week in a main Tesla office. 'If you don’t show up, we will assume you have resigned,' he said in one of the emails."
"Delta Air Lines expects its revenue to return to 2019 levels this quarter thanks to a surge in travel demand and higher fares that helped it cover a jump in fuel costs, the carrier said in a filing Wednesday." Not if they can't get the airplanes in the air.
"Cracks are forming in the U.S. labor market as some companies look to curb hiring while others are desperate for employees… Microsoft, Twitter, Wayfair, Snap and Facebook-parent Meta recently announced they plan to be more conservative about adding new employees. Peloton and Netflix announced layoffs as demand for their products slowed, and online car seller Carvana cut its workforce as it faces inflation and a cratering stock price."
"Nationally, home prices were 20.6% higher than they were in March 2021, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index. That is higher than the 20% gain in February. The index is a three-month running average ending in March." I believe the word is "uncoupled."
"As rates increase, there are some key money moves financial experts recommend consumers make to put themselves in a better financial situation. These broadly include paying down debt and shoring up personal budgets to be able to withstand any sudden shocks to the economy."
"Gas prices in the Tri-State area are still well above the national average, but New York drivers will get a little relief starting today… That's because effective on June 1, New York is suspending its gas tax for the rest of the year."
"The US and Taiwan unveiled a new trade initiative, Taiwan's trade representative announced Wednesday, after Taiwan was excluded from the US Indo-Pacific economic initiative that President Joe Biden formally announced in Asia last week."
"The FBI thwarted a planned cyberattack on a children’s hospital in Boston that was to have been carried out by hackers sponsored by the Iranian government, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday."
"But that's where the similarities end. In the aftermath of the shooting, parents in Dunblane were able to mobilize with the kind of effectiveness that has eluded American gun control activists. By the following year, Parliament had banned private ownership of most handguns, as well as semi-automatic weapons, and required mandatory registration for shotgun owners. There have been no school shootings in the U.K since then."
"Grab your party hats and hang up your bunting -- the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the UK's Queen Elizabeth II are nearly upon us… No other monarch in British history has achieved 70 years of service."
"This week we're airing an interview that Brooke did while on a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome. She and her husband Fred Kaplan (author of the War Stories column in Slate), sat down with Mark Hannah, host of the podcast "None of the Above," produced by the Eurasia Group Foundation… From the Crimean War of 1853 to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this year, journalists, reporters, and the media have shaped the public’s understanding of war. But do the stories we read and the photos we see provide an impartial picture of the wars they document? As Hannah recently explained in Foreign Policy, certain aspects of American war coverage—reliance on government sources and incentives to simplify geopolitics as battles between good and evil—have long compelled news organizations to tilt toward military action." Recommended.
"President Joe Biden wrote in a Tuesday New York Times opinion essay that the more advanced rocket systems and munitions will enable Ukrainians to make more precision strikes on battlefield targets in their own country. He went on to outline what the U.S. will and won't do when it comes to the war in Ukraine."
"Russia on Wednesday sharply criticised a U.S. decision to supply advanced rocket systems and munitions to Ukraine, warning it could widen the conflict and increase the risk of direct confrontation with Washington." Whaaa. It's not a good look on you, Russia. And Lavrov can kiss my ass.
"Russian and Ukrainian troops traded blows in fierce close-quarter combat Sunday in an eastern Ukrainian city as Moscow’s soldiers, supported by intense shelling, attempted to gain a strategic foothold to conquer the region. Ukraine’s leader also made a rare frontline visit to Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city, to assess the strength of the national defense."
"Kozhemyako is the founder and CEO of Agrotrade Group, one of Ukraine's largest grain production, storage and export companies. But his focus is now on the war… 'Yes, I'm a businessman,' he says. 'And now I'm a commander of a military unit in Ukraine.'… Kozhemyako set up and leads his own light infantry battalion. It's formally known as Khartia or 'charter,' and consists mostly of civilians. It's casually called the "billionaire's battalion," referring to Kozhemyako's wealth in Ukrainian currency, not dollars. Along with other wealthy Ukrainians, Kozhemyako pays for training, weapons and vehicles. His unit takes orders from the army but operates independently."
"Belarusians like Kukhta see Ukraine's defense against Russia as inextricably linked to Belarus' fate as a future democracy free of Kremlin influence. The idea is that Russia's defeat in Ukraine would both deal a blow to the Russian President Vladimir Putin's imperial ambitions and bring down his close ally, Belarusian leader Aleksandr Lukashenko."
"But even Gonzales can understand why some people don't feel welcome at Pride, especially LGBTQ people of color. In Philadelphia, she has joined a new group of queer and trans activists who are trying to rebuild Pride into something more welcoming — and more revolutionary."
Again and Again… "In the wake of yet another racist mass shooting, this time in Buffalo, New York, media outlets are churning out heartbreakingly familiar stories, with the same tropes and the same helplessness. On this week's On the Media, how we've become mired in patterns and lost sight of the potential solutions. Plus, how journalists should cover the ongoing siege on democracy. Then, a deep dive into the forgotten legacy of one of America's most influential writers." And Again… "Lois Beckett is a senior reporter for The Guardian. She covered gun violence for many years, now gun policy. She says that mainstream coverage of the issue is flawed because it's focused mainly on one type of tragedy. She explained to me when I spoke to her 3 years ago, how better coverage would mean focusing on the root causes of gun violence."
"Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention, America's largest Protestant denomination, stonewalled and denigrated survivors of clergy sex abuse over almost two decades while seeking to protect their own reputations, according to a scathing 288-page investigative report issued Sunday."
"The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a Texas social media law from taking effect that intended to punish online platforms for removing political speech… The vote was 5-to-4, with the court's three most conservative justices filing a written dissent that would have allowed the Texas law to start. In a surprise move, liberal Justice Elena Kagan joined in the dissent, but she did not explain her rationale."
Meanwhile, on Bullshit Mountain… "Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has been a go-to destination for generations of American families, but the skyrocketing costs of admission, accommodations, and even spending inside the park are leaving many visitors wondering if a Disney vacation is now only reserved for the rich." I never went to Disney World as a kid, but in the last 4 years I have gone twice as an adult. While, yes, the loss of the Magic Express and dinning plan is bad, these prices are not new. This is the campaign to hurt Disney for not towing the conservative line. A Disney Vacation has always been for the rich.
"A stampede Saturday at a church charity event in southern Nigeria left 31 people dead and seven injured at a program that aimed to offer hope to the needy. One witness said the dead included a pregnant woman and many children."
"House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was booed as he began a virtual appearance at former President Donald Trump's rally in Wyoming on Saturday." Just a reminder that in authoritarianism, no dissent is allowed. Kevin forgot that part and thinks he can play both sides of the game. Also, it doesn't matter what the big guys says, once on the outs, always on the outs.
"A lawyer with ties to the US Democratic party has been cleared of lying to the FBI during the frenzied final days of the 2016 presidential campaign… Michael Sussman, 58, had been charged with lying to investigators and concealing his ties to Hillary Clinton's campaign… At the time, Mr Sussman was looking into possible links between Russian officials and the Trump campaign… The FBI looked into the allegations and found nothing suspicious." That's gonna leave a mark.
Meanwhile, on Bullshit Mountain… "And that's a little concerning because this looks more like a jury nullification, where even though the evidence was overwhelming, even though they, the government, proved their case, that the jury just decided that this wasn't a case worth pursuing."
"Video recordings of Republican Party operatives meeting with grassroots activists provide an inside look at a multi-pronged strategy to target and potentially overturn votes in Democratic precincts: Install trained recruits as regular poll workers and put them in direct contact with party attorneys… The plan, as outlined by a Republican National Committee staffer in Michigan, includes utilizing rules designed to provide political balance among poll workers to install party-trained volunteers prepared to challenge voters at Democratic-majority polling places, developing a website to connect those workers to local lawyers and establishing a network of party-friendly district attorneys who could intervene to block vote counts at certain precincts."
While a Yahoo link, it's still Bullshit Mountain story… "Former President Donald Trump is calling on the Pulitzer Prize Board to revoke prizes awarded to the New York Times and Washington Post in 2018 for their coverage of the Russia investigation, threatening legal action if they do not comply." He has no standing.
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