Linkee-poo Wednesday Feb 8

"Residents of East Palestine in northeast Ohio (were) asked to evacuate, as officials fear the cars of a train that derailed nearby might explode or release toxic gases… Gov. Mike DeWine issued an evacuation order on Sunday evening for people living within a mile of the train derailment. According to DeWine, a majority of residents left prior to the evacuation notice, but at least 500 people had refused. Families with children who fail to evacuate could face possible arrest."v "Authorities (planned) to release toxic chemicals into the air from five derailed tanker cars that were in danger of exploding Monday, telling residents near the Ohio-Pennsylvania state line to leave immediately or face the possibility of death."

"Visitors to one of Florence’s most iconic monuments — the Baptistry of San Giovanni, opposite the city’s Duomo — are getting a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see its ceiling mosaics up close thanks to an innovative approach to a planned restoration effort."

Ah, something new has been added. "Astronomers have discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, putting the total count at a record-breaking 92."

"A small California city that was overrun by visitors four years ago when heavy winter rains produced a “super bloom” of wild poppies has a message for the public after this year’s deluge: Do not come. You could be arrested."

"But then I took a look closer — wait, this wasn’t a state tax credit that DeWine proposed, but a tax deduction." Ohio, doing nothing but trying to make it seem like something.

"Ohio’s privatized economic development office has finalized an agreement with Honda to infuse another $237 million into development of a massive battery plant project that the Japanese automaker plans to use to transform the state into its North American electric vehicle hub." Ah, Ohio is once again giving away the state.

"Search and rescue teams continue to look for survivors in Turkey and Syria on Wednesday, following the massive earthquake and multiple aftershocks on Monday. Thousands of buildings have been leveled and the confirmed death toll has soared past 11,000 people, according to the Associated Press."

"Rescuers in Turkey and war-ravaged Syria searched through the frigid night into Tuesday, hoping to pull more survivors from the rubble after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake killed more than 4,000 people and toppled thousands of buildings across a wide region."

"Monday's earthquake all but destroyed a 2,000-year-old castle in southeastern Turkey, according to state and local reports… Gaziantep Castle — located in the heart of the city closest to the quake's epicenter — began as an observation point during the Hittite Empire, was fortified during the Roman Empire and expanded under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century."

"For years, the people of Aleppo bore the brunt of bombardment and fighting when their city, once Syria’s largest and most cosmopolitan, was among the civil war’s fiercest battle zones. Even that didn’t prepare them for the new devastation and terror wreaked by this week’s earthquake."

"China on Monday accused the United States of indiscriminate use of force in shooting down a suspected Chinese spy balloon, saying it 'seriously impacted and damaged both sides’ efforts and progress in stabilizing Sino-U.S. relations.'"

"Two people, including a known neo-Nazi leader, were arrested last week after the FBI interrupted their plot to attack the Baltimore power grid, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced Monday morning."

"Florida lawmakers will meet Monday to begin a state takeover of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district and expand a migrant relocation program, key conservative priorities of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis ahead of his expected White House run." Killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

"When President Joe Biden suggested that Republicans want to slash Medicare and Social Security, the GOP howls of protest during his State of the Union address showcased a striking apparent turnaround for the party that built a brand for years trying to do just that." You know, just like they didn't "really want to overturn Roe v Wade."

"Sanders says the choice in the U.S. is 'normal or crazy' in GOP response to Biden." Well, in her favor, that is true. Just not in the direction she thinks it is. But then very few people when in the grips of a mental health issue can realize that they're crazy. It's always everybody else.

"A slew of bills, mostly in Republican-led states, are looking to restrict or prohibit drag show performances in the presence of children, part of a larger fight over a burgeoning culture war issue… Republicans say the performances expose children to sexual themes and imagery that are inappropriate, a claim rejected by advocates, who say the proposed measures are discriminatory against the LGBTQ community and could violate First Amendment laws."