Sorry for the late links and not a lot of material from today, alligators overboard.
"Green energy advocates may soon be turning blue. A new membrane could unlock the potential of 'blue energy,' which uses chemical differences between fresh- and saltwater to generate electricity. If researchers can scale up the postage stamp–size membrane in an affordable fashion, it could provide carbon-free power to millions of people in coastal nations where freshwater rivers meet the sea." But it's hella expensive right now.
"While this season may peak on the early side, the most unusual aspect is that it's being driven by an influenza B strain. This isn't necessarily good or bad, just unusual."
"America is one of the only developed countries in the world that pays people to donate blood, much of it sold abroad (70% of the world's plasma is of US origin), and as commercial blood donations have soared, blood now accounts for 2% of the country's exports -- more than corn or soya." JFC. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley.
"New Zealand has ordered 1,292 square feet of skin to treat patients injured in Monday's volcanic eruption on White Island, authorities said Wednesday… A total of 47 people were on White Island, off the coast of North Island, when the eruption occurred. Six have been confirmed dead, while 25 people are currently hospitalized in critical condition. Search and recovery operations are continuing for those still missing and presumed dead on the island." That's a lotta skin.
"At least three patients died on Wednesday after hundreds of lawyers besieged a cardiac hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, for hours — attacking doctors, guards and other staff and setting several vehicles ablaze, officials said." Don't piss off the lawyers.
"Within the next few weeks Chrome will roll out a feature that lets you know immediately with a pop-up if you enter a password that's been compromised somewhere, and prompts you to change it everywhere you use it. (Yes, they see you reusing passwords across different sites even though we all know it's data hygiene 101 to never do that.)"
"To counter the growing sophistication of computer attacks, Intel and other chipmakers have built digital vaults into CPUs to segregate sensitive computations and secrets from the main engine computers use. Now, scientists have devised an attack that causes the Software Guard Extensions—Intel's implementation of this secure CPU environment—to divulge cryptographic keys and induce potentially dangerous memory errors." Better shield meet better sword.
"Greta Thunberg is Time's 2019 Person of the Year."
"Documents obtained by NPR shed new light on a bitter fight between defrauded student borrowers and U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos." Yes, the Secretary overruled her career staff. Gee, I wonder if her own personal interests got in the way of loan forgiveness? You know, until she was personally sued for that decision.
"After many insurers agreed to sell plans on the Obamacare marketplace, Congress enacted a provision in an appropriations bill… seeking to prevent the government from making most of the payments under the risk corridor program. The question in Maine Community is whether the government is still obligated by the Affordable Care Act’s original promise to make these payments, or whether the rider effectively ended the requirement." A Lanister always pays their debts.
"India could be set to pass a bill that would give Indian citizenship to immigrants from three neighboring countries -- but not if they are Muslim." Bad Idea™.
How go the Trade Wars? "House Democrats and the Trump administration agreed to tweaks on the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, paving the way for its implementation." NAFTA v2. Depending on which side you listen to it's either a major update or just some minor tweaking (for both the changes the Democrats won and for the whole deal). Also, Mexico welcome your new middle-class. I know the provision for cars must mostly be assembled by people making $16/hr is being sold as a "Jobs back to the USA" provision, but paying Mexican workers $16 is still cheaper than paying US workers $16/hr (most unions have higher rates, also there's healthcare and Social Security/Medicare employer contributions).
"A group of doctors seeking to provide detained migrants with free flu vaccinations say they were arrested by federal authorities on Tuesday. They had been protesting outside the Border Patrol's San Diego headquarters over the immigration agency's resistance to their bid… It is unclear what exactly they were detained and cited for." Your tax dollars at work. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"The Pentagon’s inspector general is launching an 'evaluation' of the Trump administration’s military deployments to the U.S.-Mexico border, the watchdog office announced Tuesday."
"A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from using $3.6 billion in funds allocated by Congress for military construction projects to help pay for a wall on the southern border… U.S. District Judge David Briones of El Paso ruled the administration's use of an emergency proclamation last February to divert those funds to the border wall is unlawful." To the Supreme Court we go.
"Parnas had told the Justice Department officials responsible for making arrangements for bail after his October arrest that he and his wife had about $450,000 in total assets and income, prosecutors said in a Manhattan federal court filing Wednesday night. In actuality, prosecutors said, Parnas had more than three times that amount — including a $1 million payment from a Russian bank account in September of 2019." Again, sure a lot of fucking Russians around these days. Article was linked in a tweet from Chris Murphy who states, "Let me decode this for you… The guy Trump was relying on to help him get Ukraine to destroy the Clintons and Bidens was being paid - handsomely - by RUSSIA." (Grokked in a roundabout way from Gabriel Novo)
"Gearing up for an impeachment trial in the Senate, President Donald Trump and his top advisers are considering expanding his legal team and bringing on controversial attorney and professor Alan Dershowitz, multiple sources told ABC News." It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas… (Grokked from Eric VanNewkirk)
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Linkee-poo Wednesday
"Sometimes, failure is a success. That's what happened last week when NASA pushed a test version of a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket fuel tank past its limits, ripping a huge gash in its side. The test made NASA engineers very happy, and we can finally enjoy the spectacular footage of the blowout." Remember when everything was over-engineered this way?
"Although some studies have linked limited alcohol consumption to lower risks of certain types of cancer, even light to moderate consumption has been associated with a higher risk of cancer overall."
"United Nations judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) must act to stop continuing genocide of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, Gambia's justice minister said on Tuesday."
"Gun attacks are rare in the Czech Republic, which has some of the most liberal gun laws in the European Union. In 2017, it filed a lawsuit against a European Union directive for tighter controls on firearms. The case was dismissed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on December 3." Funny how liberal gun laws and mass shootings sort of go together (not funny).
"The Glock handgun that was used in Friday's shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola was purchased legally in the U.S., the FBI says. Mohammed Alshamrani, a Saudi national, used the weapon to kill three sailors and wound eight more people." Um, wait a second… No, I don't expect anything to change (after two weeks of being "very concerned" by lots of conservatives).
"George Church's lab at Harvard Medical School is working to make humans immune to all viruses, eliminate genetic diseases and reverse the aging process. Scott Pelley reports on how close the geneticist's team is to a breakthrough." Yes, they're always just on the edge of a breakthrough… which never materializes. George Church took a lot of money from notorious child-rapist Jeffrey Epstein. Now Church is also starting up a dating app based on "genetics" (to stop the transmission of inherited diseases, according to him). This is straight up eugenics wrapped in new paper. He's not the only one working on using patient stem cells to regrow transplantable organs, on life prolongation, or any of these ideas. Why is 60 Minutes giving this person and his views air time?
"The New England Patriots acknowledged that their production crew inappropriately filmed the field and sideline during Sunday's game between the Bengals and Browns in Cleveland and accepted full responsibility in a statement released Monday night." Oopsie.
How go the Trade Wars? "Based on analysis of Chinese and U.S. data, Chinese imports of American soybeans between September and November this year increased 13 times from the same period last year, according to Xiaoping Zhang, Greater China Regional Director for the U.S. Soybean Export Council." So what's 13 times zero? "As a result, all Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans this year occurred through specific arrangements, outside normal trade channels that would otherwise subject the imports to retaliatory tariffs of about 30%, Zhang said in a phone interview Monday."
"President Trump has long complained that the United States is a loser on the playing field of global trade. Now his administration is going after the ref. The United States is taking action to sideline the World Trade Organization, which has been the chief enforcer of global trading rules. Allies say the president simply wants to reform the organization. Critics say he is tearing it apart." The WTO is the foundation of global trade in the free world. Destruction of that organization will lead to instability, weakness, and a less than unified front against our adversaries (note, Russia has gotten the fuzzy-end of the WTO lollipop since it's beginning).
"President Trump's new national security adviser is warning of a information security doomsday scenario for U.S. allies that allow Chinese telecommunications company Huawei to build their next generation 5G networks." Booga booga booga.
"The executive order, according to White House officials, will state that title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin, will also be applied to 'Jewishness'" This is mostly to stop college campus "boycott-Israel" movements. So, just what nation do the Jewish people belong to? Just where are the Jewish people a nation? So much for protecting "free speech" on campus. This is a seriously fucked up concept and bad policy. But hey, I'm sure calling out Jews for special treatment is :: checks notes :: totally in line with Nazi eugenics and anti-semitism. (Grokked in a roundabout way from Chuck Wendig)
"Back then, he was watching the number of risky mortgages grow and grow. Now he's watching student loans, 'and there are a lot of similarities,' he says. 'You've had an absolutely explosive growth in the amount of student debt. In fifteen years it's gone from about $300 billion to now $1.6 trillion.'" Insert dramatic music here.
"The CBO says the U.S. budget deficit will average $1.2 trillion a year from 2020 to 2029, amounting to 4.4 percent to 4.8 percent of gross domestic product." And yet carry a breeze from all the conservatives who were/are oh so concerned about budget deficits when Obama (and Clinton) was president. Strange that. It's almost as if they're a bunch of fucking hypocrites. Expect that to change the second a Democrat wins the White House. (Grokked for someone, sorry, lost the link)
"However, despite expectations that policy makers will stand pat on rates, economists are wondering whether hints about future policy may be gleaned Wednesday from the statement, updated economic forecasts and a subsequent Q&A with reporters hosted by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell."
"The emboldened religious right has unleashed a wave of legislation across the United States since Donald Trump became president, as part of an organised bid to impose hardline Christian values across American society… A playbook known as Project Blitz, developed by a collection of Christian groups, has provided state politicians with a set of off-the-shelf pro-Christian 'model bills'." So first ALEC and now CPCF all developing "model bills" (ie. writing legislation) by non-elected people, all on the right side of the political spectrum. I'll note there is not equivalent organization pushing a progressive agenda. Conservatives are taking their marching orders from an unelected cadre pushing a theocratic vision of America's future. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
And in today's episode of What the Hell Happened to You?… "NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Marie Brenner, writer at large for Vanity Fair, about her look into the early days of Attorney General William Barr, and how his views were influenced by his father." Nothing like a son out for revenge for his father.
"For rogues, scoundrels, tyrants, princes and princesses of corruption—and their henchmen—the truth is a threat. It must be crushed. It must be vanquished. Abuse of power cannot exist alongside accountability. Malefactors cannot survive within an atmosphere of truth. It is a suffocating poison for them. So they must deceive, and they must dissemble. That is what the United States’ top law enforcement officer demonstrated this week." The mis-information war is coming from inside the White House. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
To wit… "Donald Trump is looking to survive impeachment the same way he built his powerful presidency -- by assaulting facts and seeking to expand the limitations of the office he is accused of abusing… On the day that Democrats proposed two articles of impeachment against him, the President and his courtiers laid down a fresh fog to obscure the evidence that incriminates him."
"If that scenario sounds familiar, it sounds doubly familiar to those of us who were around and plugged into politics around 1986-87, when a scandal called the Iran-Contra affair nearly toppled the 40th presidency of Ronald Reagan — until abruptly, it didn’t." (Grokked from John)
"InfoWars host who called for Obama to be lynched interrupts impeachment hearing: 'Trump is innocent'… A host who pushed 'Pizzagate' and Sandy Hook conspiracy theories accuses Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of 'treason'…" Wingnuttery rates continue to climb.
Meanwhile, on Bullshit Mountain… "Here’s what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has done by undertaking a reckless and partisan drive to impeach the president: absolutely guaranteed that anyone who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 will vote for him again next year. Guaranteed, as a result, that Trump will be reelected." You keep believin', Liz. "Across the United States, tens of millions of Americans are furious that Donald Trump, a man they respect, has been bullied and bloodied by hate-filled, crazed political antagonists who mock him, lie shamelessly about his policies, obstruct his every move and, most disgusting of all, savagely demean his wife and children." Hey, I remember the Obama presidency, Liz. You can fuck off back into your troll-hole right now.
"In conversations with the White House, the Kentucky Republican has made clear he hopes to end the trial as soon as he can, an effort to both get impeachment off his lap and protect his conference from potentially damaging votes should the process break out into partisan warfare. That will include a continuous whip count until McConnell feels he has the votes to acquit the President and end the show… But the show is exactly what Trump wants. He's made clear to advisers privately that rather than end the trial as quickly as possible, he is hoping for a dramatic event, according to two people familiar with his thinking." Welcome to the show, we're here to let you know our time is now, your time is running out.
Tweet of my heart: @atrupar The Russian foreign minister has now done one more press briefing on US soil than @PressSec (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"Although some studies have linked limited alcohol consumption to lower risks of certain types of cancer, even light to moderate consumption has been associated with a higher risk of cancer overall."
"United Nations judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) must act to stop continuing genocide of the Rohingya minority in Myanmar, Gambia's justice minister said on Tuesday."
"Gun attacks are rare in the Czech Republic, which has some of the most liberal gun laws in the European Union. In 2017, it filed a lawsuit against a European Union directive for tighter controls on firearms. The case was dismissed by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on December 3." Funny how liberal gun laws and mass shootings sort of go together (not funny).
"The Glock handgun that was used in Friday's shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola was purchased legally in the U.S., the FBI says. Mohammed Alshamrani, a Saudi national, used the weapon to kill three sailors and wound eight more people." Um, wait a second… No, I don't expect anything to change (after two weeks of being "very concerned" by lots of conservatives).
"George Church's lab at Harvard Medical School is working to make humans immune to all viruses, eliminate genetic diseases and reverse the aging process. Scott Pelley reports on how close the geneticist's team is to a breakthrough." Yes, they're always just on the edge of a breakthrough… which never materializes. George Church took a lot of money from notorious child-rapist Jeffrey Epstein. Now Church is also starting up a dating app based on "genetics" (to stop the transmission of inherited diseases, according to him). This is straight up eugenics wrapped in new paper. He's not the only one working on using patient stem cells to regrow transplantable organs, on life prolongation, or any of these ideas. Why is 60 Minutes giving this person and his views air time?
"The New England Patriots acknowledged that their production crew inappropriately filmed the field and sideline during Sunday's game between the Bengals and Browns in Cleveland and accepted full responsibility in a statement released Monday night." Oopsie.
How go the Trade Wars? "Based on analysis of Chinese and U.S. data, Chinese imports of American soybeans between September and November this year increased 13 times from the same period last year, according to Xiaoping Zhang, Greater China Regional Director for the U.S. Soybean Export Council." So what's 13 times zero? "As a result, all Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans this year occurred through specific arrangements, outside normal trade channels that would otherwise subject the imports to retaliatory tariffs of about 30%, Zhang said in a phone interview Monday."
"President Trump has long complained that the United States is a loser on the playing field of global trade. Now his administration is going after the ref. The United States is taking action to sideline the World Trade Organization, which has been the chief enforcer of global trading rules. Allies say the president simply wants to reform the organization. Critics say he is tearing it apart." The WTO is the foundation of global trade in the free world. Destruction of that organization will lead to instability, weakness, and a less than unified front against our adversaries (note, Russia has gotten the fuzzy-end of the WTO lollipop since it's beginning).
"President Trump's new national security adviser is warning of a information security doomsday scenario for U.S. allies that allow Chinese telecommunications company Huawei to build their next generation 5G networks." Booga booga booga.
"The executive order, according to White House officials, will state that title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin, will also be applied to 'Jewishness'" This is mostly to stop college campus "boycott-Israel" movements. So, just what nation do the Jewish people belong to? Just where are the Jewish people a nation? So much for protecting "free speech" on campus. This is a seriously fucked up concept and bad policy. But hey, I'm sure calling out Jews for special treatment is :: checks notes :: totally in line with Nazi eugenics and anti-semitism. (Grokked in a roundabout way from Chuck Wendig)
"Back then, he was watching the number of risky mortgages grow and grow. Now he's watching student loans, 'and there are a lot of similarities,' he says. 'You've had an absolutely explosive growth in the amount of student debt. In fifteen years it's gone from about $300 billion to now $1.6 trillion.'" Insert dramatic music here.
"The CBO says the U.S. budget deficit will average $1.2 trillion a year from 2020 to 2029, amounting to 4.4 percent to 4.8 percent of gross domestic product." And yet carry a breeze from all the conservatives who were/are oh so concerned about budget deficits when Obama (and Clinton) was president. Strange that. It's almost as if they're a bunch of fucking hypocrites. Expect that to change the second a Democrat wins the White House. (Grokked for someone, sorry, lost the link)
"However, despite expectations that policy makers will stand pat on rates, economists are wondering whether hints about future policy may be gleaned Wednesday from the statement, updated economic forecasts and a subsequent Q&A with reporters hosted by Fed Chairman Jerome Powell."
"The emboldened religious right has unleashed a wave of legislation across the United States since Donald Trump became president, as part of an organised bid to impose hardline Christian values across American society… A playbook known as Project Blitz, developed by a collection of Christian groups, has provided state politicians with a set of off-the-shelf pro-Christian 'model bills'." So first ALEC and now CPCF all developing "model bills" (ie. writing legislation) by non-elected people, all on the right side of the political spectrum. I'll note there is not equivalent organization pushing a progressive agenda. Conservatives are taking their marching orders from an unelected cadre pushing a theocratic vision of America's future. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
And in today's episode of What the Hell Happened to You?… "NPR's Rachel Martin talks to Marie Brenner, writer at large for Vanity Fair, about her look into the early days of Attorney General William Barr, and how his views were influenced by his father." Nothing like a son out for revenge for his father.
"For rogues, scoundrels, tyrants, princes and princesses of corruption—and their henchmen—the truth is a threat. It must be crushed. It must be vanquished. Abuse of power cannot exist alongside accountability. Malefactors cannot survive within an atmosphere of truth. It is a suffocating poison for them. So they must deceive, and they must dissemble. That is what the United States’ top law enforcement officer demonstrated this week." The mis-information war is coming from inside the White House. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
To wit… "Donald Trump is looking to survive impeachment the same way he built his powerful presidency -- by assaulting facts and seeking to expand the limitations of the office he is accused of abusing… On the day that Democrats proposed two articles of impeachment against him, the President and his courtiers laid down a fresh fog to obscure the evidence that incriminates him."
"If that scenario sounds familiar, it sounds doubly familiar to those of us who were around and plugged into politics around 1986-87, when a scandal called the Iran-Contra affair nearly toppled the 40th presidency of Ronald Reagan — until abruptly, it didn’t." (Grokked from John)
"InfoWars host who called for Obama to be lynched interrupts impeachment hearing: 'Trump is innocent'… A host who pushed 'Pizzagate' and Sandy Hook conspiracy theories accuses Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of 'treason'…" Wingnuttery rates continue to climb.
Meanwhile, on Bullshit Mountain… "Here’s what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has done by undertaking a reckless and partisan drive to impeach the president: absolutely guaranteed that anyone who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 will vote for him again next year. Guaranteed, as a result, that Trump will be reelected." You keep believin', Liz. "Across the United States, tens of millions of Americans are furious that Donald Trump, a man they respect, has been bullied and bloodied by hate-filled, crazed political antagonists who mock him, lie shamelessly about his policies, obstruct his every move and, most disgusting of all, savagely demean his wife and children." Hey, I remember the Obama presidency, Liz. You can fuck off back into your troll-hole right now.
"In conversations with the White House, the Kentucky Republican has made clear he hopes to end the trial as soon as he can, an effort to both get impeachment off his lap and protect his conference from potentially damaging votes should the process break out into partisan warfare. That will include a continuous whip count until McConnell feels he has the votes to acquit the President and end the show… But the show is exactly what Trump wants. He's made clear to advisers privately that rather than end the trial as quickly as possible, he is hoping for a dramatic event, according to two people familiar with his thinking." Welcome to the show, we're here to let you know our time is now, your time is running out.
Tweet of my heart: @atrupar The Russian foreign minister has now done one more press briefing on US soil than @PressSec (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Fix the Fucking Software
Here's a screen grab of reporting results from Google/Blogger for today.
Dear Google/Blogger, fix the fucking software. Fortunately the blogger stats isn't my only window into statistics for this blog. But it's really damn pathetic that it believes I have readers yesterday for a post I didn't make until today. Our Russian (and Italian) friends are good, but they're not that good.
Dear Google/Blogger, fix the fucking software. Fortunately the blogger stats isn't my only window into statistics for this blog. But it's really damn pathetic that it believes I have readers yesterday for a post I didn't make until today. Our Russian (and Italian) friends are good, but they're not that good.
Linkee-poo Tuesday
Alligators, they're back and bite-y as all heck.
"House Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday morning, charging him with abuse of power in the Ukraine affair and obstruction of Congress." The work gets harder from here on out.
"Those relationships mean that researchers can use the mass of a white dwarf to calculate its age. And over the last decade, astronomers have discovered around 100 white dwarfs with masses so low they appear to be older than the 14.8-billion-year-old universe."
"An extended mission for the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage after launch Thursday with a space station cargo ship helped demonstrate SpaceX’s ability to perform long-duration flight sequences to inject U.S. military payloads directly into high-altitude geosynchronous orbit."
"The missing American couple, whose families hadn’t heard from after the New Zealand volcano eruption, has been located." Joe and the Volcano Cosplay isn't to be taken lightly.
"Houston Police chief Art Acevedo on Monday lambasted Republican senators for their failure to take action on gun violence and the long-stalled Violence Against Women Act after a city police sergeant was fatally shot while responding to an incident of domestic violence." Domestic violence is all fun and games (for conservative and some liberal politicians) until they kill a cop.
How goes Brexit? "The United Kingdom will vote on December 12, and the country’s unfinalized divorce with the European Union looms over it all… These are the Brexit elections. Even if many wish they weren’t." Yep, my money is still on hard Brexit.
"President Donald Trump's support for Saudi Arabia in the wake of a deadly shooting by a Saudi national at a Florida naval base is underscoring the latitude Trump gives the Kingdom's rulers, even as Congress has pushed to limit the ties between Washington and Riyadh."
"When Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last visited the White House, President Trump had just fired his then-FBI director, James Comey. At the time, Trump bragged it would remove pressure related to an investigation into whether his campaign had ties to Moscow. But instead, it had the opposite effect, fanning the political flames over his Russia policy." Lavrov is set to visit today. Lavrov is also assumed to be a handler, one who handles Russian foreign assets. So, new orders?
"The Justice Department's internal watchdog determined the FBI had sufficient evidence to open the Russia probe but criticized the bureau over its surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser."
"But the inspector general report’s other major findings — that there were serious problems with the way the FBI obtained a secret national security warrant to spy on a Trump campaign aide — were also noteworthy, if somewhat overshadowed by the bigger headlines." It's not "spying" if there's a warrant. But, yes, we've all known since 2001 that FISA warrants are a problem. "Because the criticism of the FBI was politically beneficial to Trump, Democrats who are normally quick to seize on abuses of national security power were notably muted. One group that was not was the non-partisan American Civil Liberties Union, whose national security director, Hina Shamsi, expressed alarm." And that's why I support the ACLU.
"President Trump criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray in no uncertain terms on Tuesday morning, slamming the bureau chief for his acceptance of the findings laid out in the Justice Department inspector general’s report on the origins of the Russia probe." (Grokked from Elizabeth Bear)
And on Bullshit Mountain, "The U.S. attorney who is conducting a wide-ranging investigation of the origins of the Trump-Russia probe released a rare statement Monday saying he disagrees with conclusions of the so-called FISA report -- after DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found in that review that the probe's launch largely complied with DOJ and FBI policies."
"With its meddling operation in 2016, Russia had planned to inject the nation with bad blood, setting Americans against one another, fanning divisions and undermining confidence in US democracy… It worked better than President Putin can have dared hope." As I said back in 2016, from Putin's standpoint the gambit is win-win. Putin would win if Trump won, Putin would win if Trump lost.
"Harry Reid, who retired in 2017 after representing Nevada for 30 years in the U.S. Senate—a dozen of them as chair of the Democratic caucus, eight of them as Senate majority leader—was supposed to be dead already; his pancreatic cancer was forecasted to prove fatal within weeks. But he’s still here, which is how I came to be talking with him, not long before Thanksgiving, in a conference room at the Bellagio, asking him why he remains the person to whom many of the Democratic presidential candidates come for advice and anointment."
"House Democrats unveiled two articles of impeachment against President Trump on Tuesday morning, charging him with abuse of power in the Ukraine affair and obstruction of Congress." The work gets harder from here on out.
"Those relationships mean that researchers can use the mass of a white dwarf to calculate its age. And over the last decade, astronomers have discovered around 100 white dwarfs with masses so low they appear to be older than the 14.8-billion-year-old universe."
"An extended mission for the Falcon 9 rocket’s second stage after launch Thursday with a space station cargo ship helped demonstrate SpaceX’s ability to perform long-duration flight sequences to inject U.S. military payloads directly into high-altitude geosynchronous orbit."
"The missing American couple, whose families hadn’t heard from after the New Zealand volcano eruption, has been located." Joe and the Volcano Cosplay isn't to be taken lightly.
"Houston Police chief Art Acevedo on Monday lambasted Republican senators for their failure to take action on gun violence and the long-stalled Violence Against Women Act after a city police sergeant was fatally shot while responding to an incident of domestic violence." Domestic violence is all fun and games (for conservative and some liberal politicians) until they kill a cop.
How goes Brexit? "The United Kingdom will vote on December 12, and the country’s unfinalized divorce with the European Union looms over it all… These are the Brexit elections. Even if many wish they weren’t." Yep, my money is still on hard Brexit.
"President Donald Trump's support for Saudi Arabia in the wake of a deadly shooting by a Saudi national at a Florida naval base is underscoring the latitude Trump gives the Kingdom's rulers, even as Congress has pushed to limit the ties between Washington and Riyadh."
"When Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last visited the White House, President Trump had just fired his then-FBI director, James Comey. At the time, Trump bragged it would remove pressure related to an investigation into whether his campaign had ties to Moscow. But instead, it had the opposite effect, fanning the political flames over his Russia policy." Lavrov is set to visit today. Lavrov is also assumed to be a handler, one who handles Russian foreign assets. So, new orders?
"The Justice Department's internal watchdog determined the FBI had sufficient evidence to open the Russia probe but criticized the bureau over its surveillance of a former Trump campaign adviser."
"But the inspector general report’s other major findings — that there were serious problems with the way the FBI obtained a secret national security warrant to spy on a Trump campaign aide — were also noteworthy, if somewhat overshadowed by the bigger headlines." It's not "spying" if there's a warrant. But, yes, we've all known since 2001 that FISA warrants are a problem. "Because the criticism of the FBI was politically beneficial to Trump, Democrats who are normally quick to seize on abuses of national security power were notably muted. One group that was not was the non-partisan American Civil Liberties Union, whose national security director, Hina Shamsi, expressed alarm." And that's why I support the ACLU.
"President Trump criticized FBI Director Christopher Wray in no uncertain terms on Tuesday morning, slamming the bureau chief for his acceptance of the findings laid out in the Justice Department inspector general’s report on the origins of the Russia probe." (Grokked from Elizabeth Bear)
And on Bullshit Mountain, "The U.S. attorney who is conducting a wide-ranging investigation of the origins of the Trump-Russia probe released a rare statement Monday saying he disagrees with conclusions of the so-called FISA report -- after DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz found in that review that the probe's launch largely complied with DOJ and FBI policies."
"With its meddling operation in 2016, Russia had planned to inject the nation with bad blood, setting Americans against one another, fanning divisions and undermining confidence in US democracy… It worked better than President Putin can have dared hope." As I said back in 2016, from Putin's standpoint the gambit is win-win. Putin would win if Trump won, Putin would win if Trump lost.
"Harry Reid, who retired in 2017 after representing Nevada for 30 years in the U.S. Senate—a dozen of them as chair of the Democratic caucus, eight of them as Senate majority leader—was supposed to be dead already; his pancreatic cancer was forecasted to prove fatal within weeks. But he’s still here, which is how I came to be talking with him, not long before Thanksgiving, in a conference room at the Bellagio, asking him why he remains the person to whom many of the Democratic presidential candidates come for advice and anointment."
Monday, December 9, 2019
Linkee-poo Mondays
Caroll Spinney and René Auberjonois, and so it goes.
"Or, how about this approach: Simply limit your daily eating window to 10 hours. This means that if you take your first bite of food at 8 a.m., you'd need to consume your last calorie of the day by 6 p.m." Yeah, with my schedule that won't work for me.
"At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several reported missing after a volcano that is a tourist attraction suddenly erupted off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island on Monday."
"The U.S. winter flu season is off to its earliest start in more than 15 years… The agency on Friday estimated that there have already been 1.7 million flu illnesses, 16,000 hospitalizations, and 900 flu-related deaths nationally." Get the goddamn flu shot.
"The dilemma at dinner concerns a little less than $25 and how much it's worth to this family of four… Whitney and Tim Phinney couldn't have imagined how much time they would spend scrutinizing amounts like these, weighing options that never seem ideal. But then they had children in America." I don't have kids, but I've seen lots of people at work go through these decisions. Including one coworker for whom it was cheaper for their spouse to stay home than to work and pay for day care.
"A Southern California church is displaying a nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a family separated at the U.S.-Mexico border… A photo posted Saturday on Facebook by a senior minister at Claremont United Methodist Church, east of Los Angeles, showed the Holy Family inside three chain link cells topped with razor wire." Can't wait to hear conservatives talking about how churches shouldn't be political.
Who needs regulations? "Authorities said an electrical short circuit appeared to cause a fire that killed at least 43 people in a factory in central New Delhi early Sunday, as relatives of the workers who were trapped inside examined photos on police officers' phones to identify the dead… Firefighters had to fight the blaze from yards away because it broke out in one of the area's many alleyways, tangled in electrical wire and too narrow for vehicles to access, authorities said."
How goes Brexit? "UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to stop European Union migrants from treating Britain 'as their own country' if he wins this week's general election… 'You've seen quite a large number of people coming in from the whole of the EU — 580 million population — able to treat the UK as though it's basically part of their own country, and the problem with that is there has been no control at all and I don't think that is democratically accountable,' Johnson told Sky News on Sunday." I'm so glad Brexit wasn't about xenophobia, because if it was this would be a very bad place for the UK. And, oh, look, it's another "points based system" to only bring in the "right people." Fucking Nazis. (Grokked in a roundabout way from Tasha Suri)
"When turmoil erupted in the US overnight lending market in September, it came as a big surprise… But a big question has loomed: What caused the shock, unprecedented since the global financial crisis?"
"The FBI is investigating the shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Friday as an act of terror."
"Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday and expressed his condolences and support for the families of the victims of the Florida naval base shooting, according to the state news agency." Just a reminder that most of the 9/11 hikackers were Saudis.
"Attorney General William Barr counseled President Donald Trump that his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has become a liability for his administration, The Washington Post reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the conversations… In one instance, the Post said, Barr warned Trump that Giuliani was not serving him well as his lawyer, according to one person with knowledge of the situation." The Attorney General is not the president's personal lawyer.
"One of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies said it was 'weird' and 'odd' that the president's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was back digging for dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine… However, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told ABC's 'This Week' it was promising to hear that Trump said Giuliani wants to speak to Congress about his latest trip to Ukraine." Yeah, I didn't make enough popcorn for this. Say, isn't it illegal for a private citizen to conduct themselves as if they were enacting foreign policy and representing the United States in an official capacity?
"The findings from the House Judiciary Committee do not spell out the formal charges against the president, which are being drafted ahead of votes, possibly as soon as next week. Instead, the report refutes Trump's criticism of the impeachment proceedings, arguing that the Constitution created impeachment as a 'safety valve' so Americans would not have to wait for the next election to remove a president." Next up, water is wet.
"The second annual Reagan National Defense Survey, completed in late October, found nearly half of armed services households questioned, 46%, said they viewed Russia as ally." Well that's a little disturbing. There's a difference between respect and being an ally. I know I poke fun at them, and use some derogatory terms, but I do respect the ability of the Russians and their tech (waves to my Russian friends). But they are an adversary, not an ally. Our goals may align temporarily and I certainly support friendly relations and cooperation, but it's important to never forget that our national interests on the global stage are almost diametrically opposed. (Crooked from Laura J Nixon)
"US President Donald Trump told a pro-Israel conference Saturday night that some American Jews don’t love Israel enough. He also noting that he did not have to worry about getting his audience’s votes, because they would cast ballots with business interests in mind." That's not antisemitic at all. He also joked about not leaving office after his term is up. Again. "'You’re not going to vote for the wealth tax,' he went on. 'Let’s take 100 percent of your wealth away. No, no. Even if you don’t like me — and some of you don’t; some of you, I don’t like at all, actually — and you’re going to be my biggest supporters because you’ll be out of business in about 15 minutes.'" (Grokked from Jim Wright)
"US presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has released details of her past legal income, showing she earned $1.9m (£1.4m) in work for corporate and other private clients dating back to 1985." Yes, over the course of 30 years working as a lawyer with a lot of recognition for her expertise, Mrs. Warren made almost $2M. That averages to a little below $67,000 a year. I really don't see why this is actually newsworthy.
Tweet of my heart: @KameronHurley They keep coming for Warren with stuff like "she was paid a fair wage for doing work" and I'm like wow, why are they wasting space on this. That said, they sank the last woman candidate for sending emails while her opponent committed treason and tax fraud, so who the fuck knows.
"Or, how about this approach: Simply limit your daily eating window to 10 hours. This means that if you take your first bite of food at 8 a.m., you'd need to consume your last calorie of the day by 6 p.m." Yeah, with my schedule that won't work for me.
"At least five people were killed, up to 20 injured and several reported missing after a volcano that is a tourist attraction suddenly erupted off the coast of New Zealand’s North Island on Monday."
"The U.S. winter flu season is off to its earliest start in more than 15 years… The agency on Friday estimated that there have already been 1.7 million flu illnesses, 16,000 hospitalizations, and 900 flu-related deaths nationally." Get the goddamn flu shot.
"The dilemma at dinner concerns a little less than $25 and how much it's worth to this family of four… Whitney and Tim Phinney couldn't have imagined how much time they would spend scrutinizing amounts like these, weighing options that never seem ideal. But then they had children in America." I don't have kids, but I've seen lots of people at work go through these decisions. Including one coworker for whom it was cheaper for their spouse to stay home than to work and pay for day care.
"A Southern California church is displaying a nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a family separated at the U.S.-Mexico border… A photo posted Saturday on Facebook by a senior minister at Claremont United Methodist Church, east of Los Angeles, showed the Holy Family inside three chain link cells topped with razor wire." Can't wait to hear conservatives talking about how churches shouldn't be political.
Who needs regulations? "Authorities said an electrical short circuit appeared to cause a fire that killed at least 43 people in a factory in central New Delhi early Sunday, as relatives of the workers who were trapped inside examined photos on police officers' phones to identify the dead… Firefighters had to fight the blaze from yards away because it broke out in one of the area's many alleyways, tangled in electrical wire and too narrow for vehicles to access, authorities said."
How goes Brexit? "UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to stop European Union migrants from treating Britain 'as their own country' if he wins this week's general election… 'You've seen quite a large number of people coming in from the whole of the EU — 580 million population — able to treat the UK as though it's basically part of their own country, and the problem with that is there has been no control at all and I don't think that is democratically accountable,' Johnson told Sky News on Sunday." I'm so glad Brexit wasn't about xenophobia, because if it was this would be a very bad place for the UK. And, oh, look, it's another "points based system" to only bring in the "right people." Fucking Nazis. (Grokked in a roundabout way from Tasha Suri)
"When turmoil erupted in the US overnight lending market in September, it came as a big surprise… But a big question has loomed: What caused the shock, unprecedented since the global financial crisis?"
"The FBI is investigating the shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola on Friday as an act of terror."
"Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday and expressed his condolences and support for the families of the victims of the Florida naval base shooting, according to the state news agency." Just a reminder that most of the 9/11 hikackers were Saudis.
"Attorney General William Barr counseled President Donald Trump that his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has become a liability for his administration, The Washington Post reported Sunday, citing people familiar with the conversations… In one instance, the Post said, Barr warned Trump that Giuliani was not serving him well as his lawyer, according to one person with knowledge of the situation." The Attorney General is not the president's personal lawyer.
"One of President Donald Trump's staunchest allies said it was 'weird' and 'odd' that the president's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, was back digging for dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden in Ukraine… However, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., told ABC's 'This Week' it was promising to hear that Trump said Giuliani wants to speak to Congress about his latest trip to Ukraine." Yeah, I didn't make enough popcorn for this. Say, isn't it illegal for a private citizen to conduct themselves as if they were enacting foreign policy and representing the United States in an official capacity?
"The findings from the House Judiciary Committee do not spell out the formal charges against the president, which are being drafted ahead of votes, possibly as soon as next week. Instead, the report refutes Trump's criticism of the impeachment proceedings, arguing that the Constitution created impeachment as a 'safety valve' so Americans would not have to wait for the next election to remove a president." Next up, water is wet.
"The second annual Reagan National Defense Survey, completed in late October, found nearly half of armed services households questioned, 46%, said they viewed Russia as ally." Well that's a little disturbing. There's a difference between respect and being an ally. I know I poke fun at them, and use some derogatory terms, but I do respect the ability of the Russians and their tech (waves to my Russian friends). But they are an adversary, not an ally. Our goals may align temporarily and I certainly support friendly relations and cooperation, but it's important to never forget that our national interests on the global stage are almost diametrically opposed. (Crooked from Laura J Nixon)
"US President Donald Trump told a pro-Israel conference Saturday night that some American Jews don’t love Israel enough. He also noting that he did not have to worry about getting his audience’s votes, because they would cast ballots with business interests in mind." That's not antisemitic at all. He also joked about not leaving office after his term is up. Again. "'You’re not going to vote for the wealth tax,' he went on. 'Let’s take 100 percent of your wealth away. No, no. Even if you don’t like me — and some of you don’t; some of you, I don’t like at all, actually — and you’re going to be my biggest supporters because you’ll be out of business in about 15 minutes.'" (Grokked from Jim Wright)
"US presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren has released details of her past legal income, showing she earned $1.9m (£1.4m) in work for corporate and other private clients dating back to 1985." Yes, over the course of 30 years working as a lawyer with a lot of recognition for her expertise, Mrs. Warren made almost $2M. That averages to a little below $67,000 a year. I really don't see why this is actually newsworthy.
Tweet of my heart: @KameronHurley They keep coming for Warren with stuff like "she was paid a fair wage for doing work" and I'm like wow, why are they wasting space on this. That said, they sank the last woman candidate for sending emails while her opponent committed treason and tax fraud, so who the fuck knows.
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Linkee-poo Weekend
"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."
"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."
Friday, December 6, 2019
Linkee-poo Fridays
"Whenever you decide to directly quote, excerpt, or reproduce someone else’s work in your own—whether that’s a book, blog, magazine article, or something else—you have to consider, for each use, whether or not it’s necessary to seek explicit, legal permission from the work’s creator or owner." (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu a year ago, and the spinning top-shaped space rock has been full of surprises. The latest findings now classify it as an active asteroid with observable events happening on the surface."
"Infrared photography has helped to identify tattoos on seven mummified individuals dating to at least 3,000 years ago at a site called Deir el-Medina, archaeologist Anne Austin of the University of Missouri–St. Louis reported November 22 at the annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research. Although the identities of these tattooed folks are unknown, artisans and craft workers at Deir el-Medina built and decorated royal tombs in the nearby Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens."
"New research raises concern about the safety of permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners, especially among African American women. The study was published Wednesday in the International Journal of Cancer."
"After decades of progress against one of the most contagious human viruses, the world is seeing measles stage a slow, steady comeback… The World Health Organization and the CDC say in a new report that there were nearly 10 million cases of measles last year, with outbreaks on every continent… And so far 2019 has been even worse."
"Samoa has arrested an anti-vaccination campaigner as the country continues to battle a deadly measles outbreak… Edwin Tamasese was charged with incitement against a government order after he was detained on Thursday."
Who needs regulations? "A Detroit property contaminated with uranium and other dangerous chemicals partially collapsed into the Detroit River on Nov. 26, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has confirmed… The news is especially concerning because the Detroit drinking water intake lines are nearby downriver." I'm sure there's no reason (not) to panic. (Grokked from Joy Reid)
"A study designed to test the effectiveness of a controversial practice known as 'abortion pill reversal' has been stopped early because of safety concerns." Whispers, it doesn't work no matter what the pro-lifers want to believe.
"In recent years though, biologists and fisherman noticed something was wrong. On sections of the Clinch and other waterways in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, dead mussels were turning up on shores and could be seen glinting from the river bottom. Surveys revealed more fresh dead or dying mussels half-buried and rotting in still-clasped shells." They might not be sexy, but freshwater mussels do a lot of heavy lifting in the food web. Another spoke in the mass extinction event going on around us.
"The U.S. Justice and Treasury departments took action Thursday against a Russian hacking group known as 'Evil Corp.,' which stole 'at least' $100 million from banks using malicious software that swiped banking credentials, according to a joint press release." To my Russian friends, I've really been restraining myself from making Boris and Natasha jokes, but if you keep this up with things like "Evil Corp" and Maksim Yakubets I'm not going to be able to hold back. I mean, come on, at least come up with something like SPECTRE. Let's not be lazy here. And for everyone else, these days there is very little difference between the government, intelligence, and organized crime in Russia. They all tend to stew in the same pot. (Grokked form Kathryn Cramer)
"Uber disclosed 3,000 sexual assaults reported in U.S. rides last year in its long-awaited safety report, amid widespread criticism of its safety practices and pressure to increase its transparency over the issue." Da fuq? "In a lengthy report, which divides sexual misconduct into 21 categories, Uber said it recorded 235 rapes last year and hundreds more reports of assault that could involve unwanted touching, kissing or attempted rape." Oh, well, at least we broke it down. Oh, and that statement about how they're bringing transparency to "something that touches every corner of society"… That's PR speak for, "not our fault." (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
How goes Brexit? "But old ties are being tested to their limits with a possibly devastating impact on Labour, which is fighting to defeat the ruling Conservative Party. Voters in Hartlepool feel they have missed out on the economic growth of the last few decades, which has transformed London and the southeast of England. This is the eastern edge of what pollsters have called the 'red wall' of Brexit-supporting seats Labour holds with a majority of less than 8,000 votes."
How go the Trade Wars? "China will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, China’s finance ministry said on Friday, citing a decision by the country’s cabinet." China's pork industry has suffered catastrophic losses because of African Swine Fever and they've already been pulling from their strategic frozen pork stock.
"The tariff war has caused a lot of anxiety for business owners and farmers. But how much has it hurt the overall economy?" It's a mixed picture.
"U.S. employers added a better-than-expected 266,000 jobs in November in a sign the economy continues to power ahead… The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%. Job gains for the two previous months were revised up by a total of 41,000." The numbers were juiced by the end of the UAW strike, but still a good number.
"The wealth of the top 1% of Americans has grown dramatically in the past four decades, squeezing both the middle class and the poor. This is in sharp contrast to Europe and Asia, where the wealth of the 1% has grown at a more constrained pace." I wonder how that could happen?
"Thousands of people are marching in the streets of Paris, Lyon, Marseilles and other French cities Thursday, as more than 30 unions launch a massive workers' strike that's meant to shut down the country and force President Emmanuel Macron to reevaluate his plans for pension reform." They're marching in Paris, again.
"Four men held over a high-profile rape and murder case in India have been shot dead by police while they were in custody, an official confirmed Friday, drawing praise from the family of the victim." When vigilantism is praised, there's a problem with law enforcement.
"A video taken by a Mexican citizen shows the newly replaced border fence in Mexicali being scaled by two men with a rope ladder, one of whom makes it over to the United States." The CBP says the system worked as intended, and only one person got over and they were caught. Yeah, sure, Bob.
"A sick Guatemalan boy who died in government custody was lying on the floor for hours before someone found him dead, a video first obtained by ProPublica shows… But Border Patrol logs obtained by ProPublica indicate that three welfare checks were done on Carlos over the period in which the video suggests the boy laid on the floor. The logs do not indicate how those checks were done or note that anything was amiss." Falsification of records is a crime.
"Two Muslim US congresswomen have been targeted by a vast international operation that exploits far-right pages on Facebook to inflame Islamophobia for profit, a Guardian investigation has found… A mysterious Israeli-based group uses 21 Facebook pages to churn out more than a thousand coordinated fake news posts per week to more than a million followers around the world. It milks the traffic for revenue from digital advertising." Like Uber, but for fake news. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
Why diversity in representation matters… "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed the Trump administration’s decision to implement cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), referencing her family’s past reliance on food stamps."
"The first House member to endorse Donald Trump, Chris Collins of New York, pleaded guilty to insider-trading charges…The second House Trump endorser, Duncan Hunter of California, pleaded guilty to criminal misuse of campaign funds… Is a pattern emerging?" I wouldn't say it's emerging, more like deepening in color and texture. We've already seen the pattern. Note the article doesn't mention the number of people in his inner circle, campaign and administration who have gone to jail or been accused of crimes. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"The story of the House Democrats' impeachment report has quickly become all about the phone records." And with this, "Nunes said… 'I'll go back and check all my records. It seems very unlikely that I'd be checking calls from random people.'" I agree, Devin. It seems unlikely that you'd spend time talking with someone you don't know, just some bloke from off the street. (Grokked from Jim Wright) "CNN has learned that the number the House Intelligence Committee's impeachment report said was 'associated' with the Office of Management and Budget is a number that could go to multiple officials within the White House complex, including the White House itself. Real Clear Politics was first to report on the phone number issue." Well, yeah, you can transfer phones almost anywhere. Considering Giuliani also called numbers that go to the West Wing, this is a very bogus defense. And then… "'For his part, Mr. Giuliani has now confirmed speaking to Mick Mulvaney, who continues to serve as both the head of OMB and Acting Chief of Staff in the White House,' the House Intel committee official said in a statement."
"Other officials in the West Wing and numerous Trump associates learned about his latest foreign adventure, which included a stop in Ukraine, by reading the news. Many of them expressed exasperation at the thought of Giuliani—himself reportedly in the crosshairs of federal investigators—continuing to cause headaches for the White House. Others feared he would cause tangible damage to U.S. foreign policy." It's the Daily Beast, so take that as you will.
"Parnas' lawyer Joseph Bondy said that Parnas 'remembers' what the pair allegedly spoke about in a tweet directed at Nunes yesterday, responding to the California representative's claim that he was 'not able to confirm' whether the pair had any phone conversation." And now you see why professionals in government keep copious notes.
"The California Democrat forcefully pushed back on the idea that she and her caucus are proceeding with articles of impeachment because of a personal dislike of Trump, after being asked by a reporter from Sinclair, James Rosen, if she hates him on her way out of the weekly press conference." That was a moment.
Meanwhile in the Senate… "But Senate Republicans are beginning to deliver a reality check to the president and House Republicans that there are limits to what they can do."
"NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission arrived at near-Earth asteroid Bennu a year ago, and the spinning top-shaped space rock has been full of surprises. The latest findings now classify it as an active asteroid with observable events happening on the surface."
"Infrared photography has helped to identify tattoos on seven mummified individuals dating to at least 3,000 years ago at a site called Deir el-Medina, archaeologist Anne Austin of the University of Missouri–St. Louis reported November 22 at the annual meeting of the American Schools of Oriental Research. Although the identities of these tattooed folks are unknown, artisans and craft workers at Deir el-Medina built and decorated royal tombs in the nearby Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens."
"New research raises concern about the safety of permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners, especially among African American women. The study was published Wednesday in the International Journal of Cancer."
"After decades of progress against one of the most contagious human viruses, the world is seeing measles stage a slow, steady comeback… The World Health Organization and the CDC say in a new report that there were nearly 10 million cases of measles last year, with outbreaks on every continent… And so far 2019 has been even worse."
"Samoa has arrested an anti-vaccination campaigner as the country continues to battle a deadly measles outbreak… Edwin Tamasese was charged with incitement against a government order after he was detained on Thursday."
Who needs regulations? "A Detroit property contaminated with uranium and other dangerous chemicals partially collapsed into the Detroit River on Nov. 26, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has confirmed… The news is especially concerning because the Detroit drinking water intake lines are nearby downriver." I'm sure there's no reason (not) to panic. (Grokked from Joy Reid)
"A study designed to test the effectiveness of a controversial practice known as 'abortion pill reversal' has been stopped early because of safety concerns." Whispers, it doesn't work no matter what the pro-lifers want to believe.
"In recent years though, biologists and fisherman noticed something was wrong. On sections of the Clinch and other waterways in the Pacific Northwest and Midwest, dead mussels were turning up on shores and could be seen glinting from the river bottom. Surveys revealed more fresh dead or dying mussels half-buried and rotting in still-clasped shells." They might not be sexy, but freshwater mussels do a lot of heavy lifting in the food web. Another spoke in the mass extinction event going on around us.
"The U.S. Justice and Treasury departments took action Thursday against a Russian hacking group known as 'Evil Corp.,' which stole 'at least' $100 million from banks using malicious software that swiped banking credentials, according to a joint press release." To my Russian friends, I've really been restraining myself from making Boris and Natasha jokes, but if you keep this up with things like "Evil Corp" and Maksim Yakubets I'm not going to be able to hold back. I mean, come on, at least come up with something like SPECTRE. Let's not be lazy here. And for everyone else, these days there is very little difference between the government, intelligence, and organized crime in Russia. They all tend to stew in the same pot. (Grokked form Kathryn Cramer)
"Uber disclosed 3,000 sexual assaults reported in U.S. rides last year in its long-awaited safety report, amid widespread criticism of its safety practices and pressure to increase its transparency over the issue." Da fuq? "In a lengthy report, which divides sexual misconduct into 21 categories, Uber said it recorded 235 rapes last year and hundreds more reports of assault that could involve unwanted touching, kissing or attempted rape." Oh, well, at least we broke it down. Oh, and that statement about how they're bringing transparency to "something that touches every corner of society"… That's PR speak for, "not our fault." (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
How goes Brexit? "But old ties are being tested to their limits with a possibly devastating impact on Labour, which is fighting to defeat the ruling Conservative Party. Voters in Hartlepool feel they have missed out on the economic growth of the last few decades, which has transformed London and the southeast of England. This is the eastern edge of what pollsters have called the 'red wall' of Brexit-supporting seats Labour holds with a majority of less than 8,000 votes."
How go the Trade Wars? "China will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States, China’s finance ministry said on Friday, citing a decision by the country’s cabinet." China's pork industry has suffered catastrophic losses because of African Swine Fever and they've already been pulling from their strategic frozen pork stock.
"The tariff war has caused a lot of anxiety for business owners and farmers. But how much has it hurt the overall economy?" It's a mixed picture.
"U.S. employers added a better-than-expected 266,000 jobs in November in a sign the economy continues to power ahead… The unemployment rate dipped to 3.5%. Job gains for the two previous months were revised up by a total of 41,000." The numbers were juiced by the end of the UAW strike, but still a good number.
"The wealth of the top 1% of Americans has grown dramatically in the past four decades, squeezing both the middle class and the poor. This is in sharp contrast to Europe and Asia, where the wealth of the 1% has grown at a more constrained pace." I wonder how that could happen?
"Thousands of people are marching in the streets of Paris, Lyon, Marseilles and other French cities Thursday, as more than 30 unions launch a massive workers' strike that's meant to shut down the country and force President Emmanuel Macron to reevaluate his plans for pension reform." They're marching in Paris, again.
"Four men held over a high-profile rape and murder case in India have been shot dead by police while they were in custody, an official confirmed Friday, drawing praise from the family of the victim." When vigilantism is praised, there's a problem with law enforcement.
"A video taken by a Mexican citizen shows the newly replaced border fence in Mexicali being scaled by two men with a rope ladder, one of whom makes it over to the United States." The CBP says the system worked as intended, and only one person got over and they were caught. Yeah, sure, Bob.
"A sick Guatemalan boy who died in government custody was lying on the floor for hours before someone found him dead, a video first obtained by ProPublica shows… But Border Patrol logs obtained by ProPublica indicate that three welfare checks were done on Carlos over the period in which the video suggests the boy laid on the floor. The logs do not indicate how those checks were done or note that anything was amiss." Falsification of records is a crime.
"Two Muslim US congresswomen have been targeted by a vast international operation that exploits far-right pages on Facebook to inflame Islamophobia for profit, a Guardian investigation has found… A mysterious Israeli-based group uses 21 Facebook pages to churn out more than a thousand coordinated fake news posts per week to more than a million followers around the world. It milks the traffic for revenue from digital advertising." Like Uber, but for fake news. (Grokked from Kameron Hurley)
Why diversity in representation matters… "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) slammed the Trump administration’s decision to implement cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), referencing her family’s past reliance on food stamps."
"The first House member to endorse Donald Trump, Chris Collins of New York, pleaded guilty to insider-trading charges…The second House Trump endorser, Duncan Hunter of California, pleaded guilty to criminal misuse of campaign funds… Is a pattern emerging?" I wouldn't say it's emerging, more like deepening in color and texture. We've already seen the pattern. Note the article doesn't mention the number of people in his inner circle, campaign and administration who have gone to jail or been accused of crimes. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"The story of the House Democrats' impeachment report has quickly become all about the phone records." And with this, "Nunes said… 'I'll go back and check all my records. It seems very unlikely that I'd be checking calls from random people.'" I agree, Devin. It seems unlikely that you'd spend time talking with someone you don't know, just some bloke from off the street. (Grokked from Jim Wright) "CNN has learned that the number the House Intelligence Committee's impeachment report said was 'associated' with the Office of Management and Budget is a number that could go to multiple officials within the White House complex, including the White House itself. Real Clear Politics was first to report on the phone number issue." Well, yeah, you can transfer phones almost anywhere. Considering Giuliani also called numbers that go to the West Wing, this is a very bogus defense. And then… "'For his part, Mr. Giuliani has now confirmed speaking to Mick Mulvaney, who continues to serve as both the head of OMB and Acting Chief of Staff in the White House,' the House Intel committee official said in a statement."
"Other officials in the West Wing and numerous Trump associates learned about his latest foreign adventure, which included a stop in Ukraine, by reading the news. Many of them expressed exasperation at the thought of Giuliani—himself reportedly in the crosshairs of federal investigators—continuing to cause headaches for the White House. Others feared he would cause tangible damage to U.S. foreign policy." It's the Daily Beast, so take that as you will.
"Parnas' lawyer Joseph Bondy said that Parnas 'remembers' what the pair allegedly spoke about in a tweet directed at Nunes yesterday, responding to the California representative's claim that he was 'not able to confirm' whether the pair had any phone conversation." And now you see why professionals in government keep copious notes.
"The California Democrat forcefully pushed back on the idea that she and her caucus are proceeding with articles of impeachment because of a personal dislike of Trump, after being asked by a reporter from Sinclair, James Rosen, if she hates him on her way out of the weekly press conference." That was a moment.
Meanwhile in the Senate… "But Senate Republicans are beginning to deliver a reality check to the president and House Republicans that there are limits to what they can do."
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Linkee-poo Thursday
"A U.S. Navy sailor shot and killed two civilian employees of the Defense Department and wounded a third, before killing himself at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor military installation."
"Since it launched in August 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has rocketed around the sun three times, getting closer than any spacecraft before it and traveling faster than any other human-made object in history."
"Rogue plasma waves. Floating magnetic islands. Showers of charged particles. These are just some of the things NASA’s Parker Solar Probe witnessed during its first two intimate encounters with the sun."
"A study published on Wednesday involving 70,716 birds killed from 1978 through 2016 in such collisions in the third-largest U.S. city found that their average body sizes steadily declined over that time, though their wingspans increased."
"Long story short: 'We find that climate models published over the past five decades were generally quite accurate in predicting global warming in the years after publication.'" And yes, that means we're boned in case you were wondering. Also, "To be clear, almost all the models chosen are no longer in use, having been superseded by more sophisticated models since."
"Seven people in San Diego have died in the last two months from a flesh-eating bacteria associated with black tar heroin use, according to health officials." People are still using black-tar heroin? Sure, it's probably cheaper, but still. Also, it's so shocking to hear that drug pushers may not have sterile procedures in place.
"Over the past decade there has been a surge of interest in a novel approach to helping the world's poor: Instead of giving them goods like food or services like job training, just hand out cash — with no strings attached. Now a major new study suggests that people who get the aid aren't the only ones who benefit." It's almost like the thing that keeps people poor is their lack of access to ready cash. I know this goes against the American Dream™ as portrayed by conservatives that tells you the poor are that way because they don't know how to make money, handle money, not be lazy, behave, play the game correctly, and whatever trait the rich want to believe they aren't. Because here's the thing, there is no trickle down. Tides don't rise because a river swells. A tub doesn't fill because the water falls into it, it fills because it holds the water. "The net effect: Every dollar in cash aid increased total economic activity in the area by $2.60." Poor people spend money, rich people horde money. Giving more money to rich people doesn't increase economic activity (sure, they may invest it, but that's as far as it goes). Giving more money to poor people, they may save a little, but they will spend most of it on necessities. Those who provide those necessities will spend that money purchasing more, or on their own necessities. Economy isn't about the water level in the tub, but how the water moves in the tub. (Grokked from Ann Leckie)
"As the family later learned, Glenda Moore had the right to appeal the Medicare decision, or to apply for Medicaid — and, if she qualified (which she later did), to stay in the nursing home on Medicaid for as long as she needed nursing care. Instead, Moore’s family said, Moore became one of thousands of Americans discharged against their wishes or evicted from nursing homes each year." If you have someone in your life who is on Medicare/Mediaid, I strongly advise getting to know the social workers, Medicare advocates and case workers, and finding a lawyer who can help you navigate this system. Do it at the beginning. Also I highly recommend preparing for this possible outcome early. Also, interview these facilities before you need to make a decision. It's a lot of work.
"But the lofty expectations placed upon Johnson came crashing down this week, when (Chicago) Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a former police board president who was elected earlier this year, unexpectedly fired Johnson, saying he misled the people of the city and 'intentionally lied to me several times' in connection with an incident in October in which he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car."
"Faulty Takata airbags have already caused the largest auto recall in history, with tens of millions of cars affected. Now a newly discovered defect has prompted the recall of another 1.4 million vehicles."
"Instagram will start requiring all new users to provide their birthdays when making an account. The new requirement starts today and is seemingly geared toward creating 'age-appropriate experiences.' A user’s age might produce different recommended privacy settings or generate in-app information about staying safe online, the company says in a blog post. Birthdays will be hidden from other users, and existing users won’t have to add their birthdays for now. Users have to be 13 to join the service." You know, totally for programing experiences so the kiddies are safe and not to link more information together for Facebook to sell.
How go the Trade Wars? "China gives little indication US trade talks are progressing…" Shocked, shocked I am… Here we go again. This is becoming more annoying than the Ross and Rachel thing.
"Labour, which founded the NHS in 1948, frames the choice facing voters this way: Will the U.K. preserve the service as a pillar of postwar society, providing free health care in a system that's rated as the best in the developed world?… Or will the U.K. allow increased influence from the United States, whose far more expensive free-market-oriented model is ranked worst in the world, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan research organization." Hint to our British friends, you don't want to have what we're having. Also in the article is a link to the video of people in London being asked if they know the costs of healthcare in America. That's really an unfair question (I mean, how much does a gallon of milk cost in England), but their responses to the actual prices are what we should also be having.
"The Pentagon has denied a report that the United States was weighing sending up to 14,000 more troops to the Middle East in the face of a perceived threat from Iran."
"A Florida Republican congressional hopeful who apparently called for Rep. Ilhan Omar and other Democrats to be hanged in a fundraising email has been removed from a GOP initiative that supports candidates." It's not everything they could do, but it's a start. Now do something about the Danielle Stella, who tweeting something similar and is running against Rep. Omar.
"President Donald Trump campaigned on claims that the rest of the world was 'laughing at' the United States and its leaders, arguing he would get the world to take the US seriously… A video posted to Twitter by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation shows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemingly mocking Trump during a candid moment at a reception. And other world leaders — including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands — appear to be in on the joke." They aren't laughing at you… well, yes, I guess they were. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly canceled a news conference that was scheduled to cap a contentious trip to the U.K. for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 70th anniversary meeting." Somebody's feeling were hurt. Hot mics all around.
"It’s too easy, and too often an easy coverup for, yes, epistemological nihilism: The notion that are no facts, so let’s not bother to try establishing them… But here’s the thing: There are facts. There is truth. We do live in a country that abides by laws and a Constitution, and nobody ought to be above them." Margaret Sullivan on the media game and being gamed.
"Democrats are injecting an urgent new argument into their already fast-moving impeachment drive: President Donald Trump poses such a flagrant threat to the republic that there is no time to waste."
"Melania Trump admonished one of the legal scholars testifying at Wednesday's impeachment inquiry hearing after the professor made a joke involving her son, Barron, for which the professor later apologized." I appreciate the first lady's concern, but this is also changing the context of the comment by Dr. Karlan. The choice of naming the child Barron was what was used, not the child himself. This is just an attempt to crowd out what was a damaging day of testimony.
"Across from a Capitol Hill impeachment hearing that President Trump and his allies loudly rebuked, members of the White House legal team and its top legislative aide huddled Wednesday with Senate Republicans over lunch to plot out a potential trial in the upper chamber." So, thinking about "due process", how many defendants' legal teams get to have negotiations with the jury prior to a trial?
"Since it launched in August 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has rocketed around the sun three times, getting closer than any spacecraft before it and traveling faster than any other human-made object in history."
"Rogue plasma waves. Floating magnetic islands. Showers of charged particles. These are just some of the things NASA’s Parker Solar Probe witnessed during its first two intimate encounters with the sun."
"A study published on Wednesday involving 70,716 birds killed from 1978 through 2016 in such collisions in the third-largest U.S. city found that their average body sizes steadily declined over that time, though their wingspans increased."
"Long story short: 'We find that climate models published over the past five decades were generally quite accurate in predicting global warming in the years after publication.'" And yes, that means we're boned in case you were wondering. Also, "To be clear, almost all the models chosen are no longer in use, having been superseded by more sophisticated models since."
"Seven people in San Diego have died in the last two months from a flesh-eating bacteria associated with black tar heroin use, according to health officials." People are still using black-tar heroin? Sure, it's probably cheaper, but still. Also, it's so shocking to hear that drug pushers may not have sterile procedures in place.
"Over the past decade there has been a surge of interest in a novel approach to helping the world's poor: Instead of giving them goods like food or services like job training, just hand out cash — with no strings attached. Now a major new study suggests that people who get the aid aren't the only ones who benefit." It's almost like the thing that keeps people poor is their lack of access to ready cash. I know this goes against the American Dream™ as portrayed by conservatives that tells you the poor are that way because they don't know how to make money, handle money, not be lazy, behave, play the game correctly, and whatever trait the rich want to believe they aren't. Because here's the thing, there is no trickle down. Tides don't rise because a river swells. A tub doesn't fill because the water falls into it, it fills because it holds the water. "The net effect: Every dollar in cash aid increased total economic activity in the area by $2.60." Poor people spend money, rich people horde money. Giving more money to rich people doesn't increase economic activity (sure, they may invest it, but that's as far as it goes). Giving more money to poor people, they may save a little, but they will spend most of it on necessities. Those who provide those necessities will spend that money purchasing more, or on their own necessities. Economy isn't about the water level in the tub, but how the water moves in the tub. (Grokked from Ann Leckie)
"As the family later learned, Glenda Moore had the right to appeal the Medicare decision, or to apply for Medicaid — and, if she qualified (which she later did), to stay in the nursing home on Medicaid for as long as she needed nursing care. Instead, Moore’s family said, Moore became one of thousands of Americans discharged against their wishes or evicted from nursing homes each year." If you have someone in your life who is on Medicare/Mediaid, I strongly advise getting to know the social workers, Medicare advocates and case workers, and finding a lawyer who can help you navigate this system. Do it at the beginning. Also I highly recommend preparing for this possible outcome early. Also, interview these facilities before you need to make a decision. It's a lot of work.
"But the lofty expectations placed upon Johnson came crashing down this week, when (Chicago) Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a former police board president who was elected earlier this year, unexpectedly fired Johnson, saying he misled the people of the city and 'intentionally lied to me several times' in connection with an incident in October in which he fell asleep behind the wheel of his car."
"Faulty Takata airbags have already caused the largest auto recall in history, with tens of millions of cars affected. Now a newly discovered defect has prompted the recall of another 1.4 million vehicles."
"Instagram will start requiring all new users to provide their birthdays when making an account. The new requirement starts today and is seemingly geared toward creating 'age-appropriate experiences.' A user’s age might produce different recommended privacy settings or generate in-app information about staying safe online, the company says in a blog post. Birthdays will be hidden from other users, and existing users won’t have to add their birthdays for now. Users have to be 13 to join the service." You know, totally for programing experiences so the kiddies are safe and not to link more information together for Facebook to sell.
How go the Trade Wars? "China gives little indication US trade talks are progressing…" Shocked, shocked I am… Here we go again. This is becoming more annoying than the Ross and Rachel thing.
"Labour, which founded the NHS in 1948, frames the choice facing voters this way: Will the U.K. preserve the service as a pillar of postwar society, providing free health care in a system that's rated as the best in the developed world?… Or will the U.K. allow increased influence from the United States, whose far more expensive free-market-oriented model is ranked worst in the world, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a nonpartisan research organization." Hint to our British friends, you don't want to have what we're having. Also in the article is a link to the video of people in London being asked if they know the costs of healthcare in America. That's really an unfair question (I mean, how much does a gallon of milk cost in England), but their responses to the actual prices are what we should also be having.
"The Pentagon has denied a report that the United States was weighing sending up to 14,000 more troops to the Middle East in the face of a perceived threat from Iran."
"A Florida Republican congressional hopeful who apparently called for Rep. Ilhan Omar and other Democrats to be hanged in a fundraising email has been removed from a GOP initiative that supports candidates." It's not everything they could do, but it's a start. Now do something about the Danielle Stella, who tweeting something similar and is running against Rep. Omar.
"President Donald Trump campaigned on claims that the rest of the world was 'laughing at' the United States and its leaders, arguing he would get the world to take the US seriously… A video posted to Twitter by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation shows Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seemingly mocking Trump during a candid moment at a reception. And other world leaders — including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands — appear to be in on the joke." They aren't laughing at you… well, yes, I guess they were. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly canceled a news conference that was scheduled to cap a contentious trip to the U.K. for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s 70th anniversary meeting." Somebody's feeling were hurt. Hot mics all around.
"It’s too easy, and too often an easy coverup for, yes, epistemological nihilism: The notion that are no facts, so let’s not bother to try establishing them… But here’s the thing: There are facts. There is truth. We do live in a country that abides by laws and a Constitution, and nobody ought to be above them." Margaret Sullivan on the media game and being gamed.
"Democrats are injecting an urgent new argument into their already fast-moving impeachment drive: President Donald Trump poses such a flagrant threat to the republic that there is no time to waste."
"Melania Trump admonished one of the legal scholars testifying at Wednesday's impeachment inquiry hearing after the professor made a joke involving her son, Barron, for which the professor later apologized." I appreciate the first lady's concern, but this is also changing the context of the comment by Dr. Karlan. The choice of naming the child Barron was what was used, not the child himself. This is just an attempt to crowd out what was a damaging day of testimony.
"Across from a Capitol Hill impeachment hearing that President Trump and his allies loudly rebuked, members of the White House legal team and its top legislative aide huddled Wednesday with Senate Republicans over lunch to plot out a potential trial in the upper chamber." So, thinking about "due process", how many defendants' legal teams get to have negotiations with the jury prior to a trial?
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Linkee-poo Wednesdays
"Fish will mate with a species outside their own if the male's colouring is attractive enough or if the female can't see him properly, according to new research." But this is based on cichlids, which IIRC have a high degree of phenotypes, but genetically they're very similar.
"Call it a tale of science and derring-do. An international team of researchers has spent six years fanning across the globe, gathering thousands of samples of wild relatives of crops. Their goal: to preserve genetic diversity that could help key crops survive in the face of climate change. At times, the work put these scientists in some pretty extreme situations."
"The way many of us think about weight loss is totally counterproductive. Here are some tips on approaching weight loss in a different way — a saner way — that might help you achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle while being a little kinder to yourself."
"With fewer than 100 days left before the 2020 census is fully underway, rural communities caught in the digital divide are bracing for a potential undercount that could make it harder for them to advocate for resources over the next decade." Making sure all are counted, which is normally the government's job. There was a similar reaction in the last census, although in the opposite political direction. In 2010 libertarians and what would become known as the alt-right were totally convinced that Obama was going to use the Census to round them up, so they would refuse to participate. Which meant people actually knocked on their doors (to various receptions). But this time, with the citizen's question, the fact that conservatives are all in on using the internet to help the count (something they were dead set against in 2010), it does appear there is some credence to claims the government will intentionally undercount in minority areas.
"The numbers tell one story. Unemployment in the US is the lowest it’s been in 50 years. More Americans have jobs than ever before. Wage growth keeps climbing… People tell a different story. Long job hunts. Trouble finding work with decent pay. A lack of predictable hours… The 'whole story' told by the index, he adds, is 'the devaluation of American labor.'" Most jobs today are low-quality (ie. they pay below the average). (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
How go the Trade Wars? "The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to counter what it calls the 'arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment' of Uighur Muslims in China." Can't wait for the conservative talking point about how tariffs are an attempt to gain a lever to change China's behavior vis a vis the Uighurs and Hong Kong.
"Page after page, the names stack up: 629 girls and women from across Pakistan who were sold as brides to Chinese men and taken to China. The list, obtained by The Associated Press, was compiled by Pakistani investigators determined to break up trafficking networks exploiting the country’s poor and vulnerable." And government officials in China and Pakistan are dismantling and disabling law enforcement efforts to break up the human trafficking rings. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"The Trump administration will announce a plan Wednesday to end food stamps benefits for more than 700,000 Americans, issuing a new regulation that makes it harder for states to gain waivers from a requirement that beneficiaries work or participate in a vocational training program, according to people familiar with the matter."
"In hearings this week, House Democrats sought to highlight an emerging set of facts concerning the President’s conduct. On this week’s On the Media, a look at why muddying the waters remains a viable strategy for Trump’s defenders. Plus, even the technology we trust for its clarity isn’t entirely objective, especially the algorithms that drive decisions in public and private institutions. And, how early radio engineers designed broadcast equipment to favor male voices and make women sound 'shrill.'" Recommended for all parts, but especially the first one. This is what's also known as "throwing sand in the bull's eyes." And the algorithm part is also highly recommended. Computers aren't neutral, because the programming isn't. Very important as we automate more and more of our work. And the last segment is also very important, structural (and engineered) sexism about voices and the social implications.
"That the nation under Donald Trump is politically polarized — with Republicans on one side and Democrats on the other — has become a cliché of American political journalism… As it happens, the plurality of Americans actually identify as independents (38 percent, according to Gallup), rather than Democrats (31 percent) or Republicans (30 percent). So the cliché is not technically accurate." Also pointed out that while opinion on impeachment "hasn't moved", the majority of people still believe the president should be impeached with slightly less believing he should be removed from office. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"FactChecking Trump’s NATO Remarks." The president is a habitual liar.
"Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter is guilty. He is likely out of office and on the way to jail. And it all started when a reporter asked reasonable questions about his spending habits."
"For months, President Donald Trump has fired off tweet missives accusing House Democrats of 'getting nothing done in Congress,' and being consumed with impeachment… Trump may want to look to the Republican-controlled Senate instead. Democrats in the House have been passing bills at a rapid clip; as of November 15, the House has passed nearly 400 bills, not including resolutions. But the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee estimates 80 percent of those bill have hit a snag in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is prioritizing confirming judges over passing bills."
"When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from the hospital last weekend after another in a string of health scares, blue America breathed a sigh of relief. Only one more month, many whispered, until the start of a presidential election year when filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court would be off limits in the Senate… But would it?" Asking conservatives to be ethically consistent is a wish on the wind.
"'But I think today, American people have to focus on something else, which is the sacrifice and the service that is given by our law enforcement officers,' (AG William) Barr said. 'And they have to start showing, more than they do, the respect and support that law enforcement deserves ― and if communities don’t give that support and respect, they might find themselves without the police protection they need.'" That's some deep blackshirt shit right there. Okay, true story time. When I was Chairman of Safety for my little community, we had a very bad relationship (for good reasons) with the county sheriff. At one county-wide meeting the sheriff called I attended along with my police chief, the mayor, and our solicitor. We all went to hear how the sheriff was about to screw us all over again (that's another long story). The solicitor went to help me restrain the mayor in case something went wrong (a 50/50 chance). During the meeting, where the sheriff stood in front of 3 of his armed deputies (I told you there was good cause), he made the statement about how his office needed more money that he was getting from our taxes, and that maybe communities might want to donate to his budget and mentioned that those who didn't might not get as much protection as the others. My police chief, myself, and the mayor physically restrained our solicitor from attacking the sheriff (as in fortunately we were all paying attention and were ready when the solicitor leapt out of his seat to attack the sheriff). It wasn't because we didn't want to beat the crap out of the asshole ourselves, but because of the collateral injuries that would happen (3 armed deputies) and the lawsuit we'd face. I can't state the my level of contempt for leaders, especially law enforcement types, who spout such shit here because that would invite a visit from the Secret Service, but this is the kind of thing that people get ridden out of town on a rail for. (Grokked from Vincent O'Connor)
"Armed with never-before-seen phone records, Democrats on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump's allies of coordinating with a conservative journalist to peddle 'false narratives' about Trump's opponents as part of his multi-pronged pressure campaign on Ukraine… The House Intelligence Committee's impeachment report -- which was made public Tuesday -- says the committee's top Repub(l)ican, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, was linked to that effort." Whoa. I guess Devin should have attended more of those meetings. I believe that's what's known, in colloquial terms, as disqualifying heinous fuckery. So not only is Rep. Nunes Trumps lapdog, he's a coconspirator. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
You may remember Nunes from 2017 when he held an impromptu press conference declaring, "President Trump and his associates… had been caught up in surveillance by US intelligence agencies. Nunes then rushed to the White House to share the information in person. It was a remarkable breach of protocol… Further complicating matters is the fact that Nunes was an adviser to Trump's transition team."
And in what can only be described and impeccable bad timing… "Rep. Devin Nunes of California… filed suit against CNN Tuesday, alleging the cable-news network defamed him when it reported on allegations about the President and his representatives seeking information from Ukraine officials that would raise suspicion about the presidential campaign of Joe Biden."
?"According to the pro-Trump Republican lawmaker (Nunes), the calls with individuals at the heart of the impeachment inquiry against the president were joking in nature—or maybe didn’t even happen at all (despite records saying they did)." They can't even lie well.
"Fact-checking House Republicans’ impeachment report defending Trump on Ukraine."
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed new laws that allow authorities to designate individual journalists, bloggers, or virtually anyone else who uses social media as foreign agents. It's an expansion of powers that many fear will be used to further silence dissenting voices in Putin's Russia." Waves to my Russian friends.
"Call it a tale of science and derring-do. An international team of researchers has spent six years fanning across the globe, gathering thousands of samples of wild relatives of crops. Their goal: to preserve genetic diversity that could help key crops survive in the face of climate change. At times, the work put these scientists in some pretty extreme situations."
"The way many of us think about weight loss is totally counterproductive. Here are some tips on approaching weight loss in a different way — a saner way — that might help you achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle while being a little kinder to yourself."
"With fewer than 100 days left before the 2020 census is fully underway, rural communities caught in the digital divide are bracing for a potential undercount that could make it harder for them to advocate for resources over the next decade." Making sure all are counted, which is normally the government's job. There was a similar reaction in the last census, although in the opposite political direction. In 2010 libertarians and what would become known as the alt-right were totally convinced that Obama was going to use the Census to round them up, so they would refuse to participate. Which meant people actually knocked on their doors (to various receptions). But this time, with the citizen's question, the fact that conservatives are all in on using the internet to help the count (something they were dead set against in 2010), it does appear there is some credence to claims the government will intentionally undercount in minority areas.
"The numbers tell one story. Unemployment in the US is the lowest it’s been in 50 years. More Americans have jobs than ever before. Wage growth keeps climbing… People tell a different story. Long job hunts. Trouble finding work with decent pay. A lack of predictable hours… The 'whole story' told by the index, he adds, is 'the devaluation of American labor.'" Most jobs today are low-quality (ie. they pay below the average). (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
How go the Trade Wars? "The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to counter what it calls the 'arbitrary detention, torture, and harassment' of Uighur Muslims in China." Can't wait for the conservative talking point about how tariffs are an attempt to gain a lever to change China's behavior vis a vis the Uighurs and Hong Kong.
"Page after page, the names stack up: 629 girls and women from across Pakistan who were sold as brides to Chinese men and taken to China. The list, obtained by The Associated Press, was compiled by Pakistani investigators determined to break up trafficking networks exploiting the country’s poor and vulnerable." And government officials in China and Pakistan are dismantling and disabling law enforcement efforts to break up the human trafficking rings. (Grokked from Xeni Jardin)
"The Trump administration will announce a plan Wednesday to end food stamps benefits for more than 700,000 Americans, issuing a new regulation that makes it harder for states to gain waivers from a requirement that beneficiaries work or participate in a vocational training program, according to people familiar with the matter."
"In hearings this week, House Democrats sought to highlight an emerging set of facts concerning the President’s conduct. On this week’s On the Media, a look at why muddying the waters remains a viable strategy for Trump’s defenders. Plus, even the technology we trust for its clarity isn’t entirely objective, especially the algorithms that drive decisions in public and private institutions. And, how early radio engineers designed broadcast equipment to favor male voices and make women sound 'shrill.'" Recommended for all parts, but especially the first one. This is what's also known as "throwing sand in the bull's eyes." And the algorithm part is also highly recommended. Computers aren't neutral, because the programming isn't. Very important as we automate more and more of our work. And the last segment is also very important, structural (and engineered) sexism about voices and the social implications.
"That the nation under Donald Trump is politically polarized — with Republicans on one side and Democrats on the other — has become a cliché of American political journalism… As it happens, the plurality of Americans actually identify as independents (38 percent, according to Gallup), rather than Democrats (31 percent) or Republicans (30 percent). So the cliché is not technically accurate." Also pointed out that while opinion on impeachment "hasn't moved", the majority of people still believe the president should be impeached with slightly less believing he should be removed from office. (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"FactChecking Trump’s NATO Remarks." The president is a habitual liar.
"Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter is guilty. He is likely out of office and on the way to jail. And it all started when a reporter asked reasonable questions about his spending habits."
"For months, President Donald Trump has fired off tweet missives accusing House Democrats of 'getting nothing done in Congress,' and being consumed with impeachment… Trump may want to look to the Republican-controlled Senate instead. Democrats in the House have been passing bills at a rapid clip; as of November 15, the House has passed nearly 400 bills, not including resolutions. But the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee estimates 80 percent of those bill have hit a snag in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is prioritizing confirming judges over passing bills."
"When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from the hospital last weekend after another in a string of health scares, blue America breathed a sigh of relief. Only one more month, many whispered, until the start of a presidential election year when filling a vacancy on the Supreme Court would be off limits in the Senate… But would it?" Asking conservatives to be ethically consistent is a wish on the wind.
"'But I think today, American people have to focus on something else, which is the sacrifice and the service that is given by our law enforcement officers,' (AG William) Barr said. 'And they have to start showing, more than they do, the respect and support that law enforcement deserves ― and if communities don’t give that support and respect, they might find themselves without the police protection they need.'" That's some deep blackshirt shit right there. Okay, true story time. When I was Chairman of Safety for my little community, we had a very bad relationship (for good reasons) with the county sheriff. At one county-wide meeting the sheriff called I attended along with my police chief, the mayor, and our solicitor. We all went to hear how the sheriff was about to screw us all over again (that's another long story). The solicitor went to help me restrain the mayor in case something went wrong (a 50/50 chance). During the meeting, where the sheriff stood in front of 3 of his armed deputies (I told you there was good cause), he made the statement about how his office needed more money that he was getting from our taxes, and that maybe communities might want to donate to his budget and mentioned that those who didn't might not get as much protection as the others. My police chief, myself, and the mayor physically restrained our solicitor from attacking the sheriff (as in fortunately we were all paying attention and were ready when the solicitor leapt out of his seat to attack the sheriff). It wasn't because we didn't want to beat the crap out of the asshole ourselves, but because of the collateral injuries that would happen (3 armed deputies) and the lawsuit we'd face. I can't state the my level of contempt for leaders, especially law enforcement types, who spout such shit here because that would invite a visit from the Secret Service, but this is the kind of thing that people get ridden out of town on a rail for. (Grokked from Vincent O'Connor)
"Armed with never-before-seen phone records, Democrats on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump's allies of coordinating with a conservative journalist to peddle 'false narratives' about Trump's opponents as part of his multi-pronged pressure campaign on Ukraine… The House Intelligence Committee's impeachment report -- which was made public Tuesday -- says the committee's top Repub(l)ican, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, was linked to that effort." Whoa. I guess Devin should have attended more of those meetings. I believe that's what's known, in colloquial terms, as disqualifying heinous fuckery. So not only is Rep. Nunes Trumps lapdog, he's a coconspirator. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
You may remember Nunes from 2017 when he held an impromptu press conference declaring, "President Trump and his associates… had been caught up in surveillance by US intelligence agencies. Nunes then rushed to the White House to share the information in person. It was a remarkable breach of protocol… Further complicating matters is the fact that Nunes was an adviser to Trump's transition team."
And in what can only be described and impeccable bad timing… "Rep. Devin Nunes of California… filed suit against CNN Tuesday, alleging the cable-news network defamed him when it reported on allegations about the President and his representatives seeking information from Ukraine officials that would raise suspicion about the presidential campaign of Joe Biden."
?"According to the pro-Trump Republican lawmaker (Nunes), the calls with individuals at the heart of the impeachment inquiry against the president were joking in nature—or maybe didn’t even happen at all (despite records saying they did)." They can't even lie well.
"Fact-checking House Republicans’ impeachment report defending Trump on Ukraine."
"Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed new laws that allow authorities to designate individual journalists, bloggers, or virtually anyone else who uses social media as foreign agents. It's an expansion of powers that many fear will be used to further silence dissenting voices in Putin's Russia." Waves to my Russian friends.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Linkee-poo Tuesday
Alligators overboard.
NPR's 2019 Book Concierge list.
Trigger warning for descriptions of sex and sexual harassment. "This week on Hidden Brain, we explore how certain situations cause us to become strangers to ourselves. We hear from people who can't reconcile the person they believe themselves to be with their actions while in the grip of an intense feeling. And we look at the deep psychological mystery that occurs during these moments: no matter how many times we discover the strangers living inside us, the next time always catches us by surprise." On the Hot-Cold Empathy Gap.
"Two stories can be told about Tanzin v. Tanvir, a major religious liberty case that the Supreme Court agreed to hear last Friday." Damned if you win, damned if you don't win.
How go the Trade Wars? "President Donald Trump said Tuesday it might be better to wait until after the 2020 election to strike a trade deal with China." Here we go again.
"The U.S. government on Monday said it may slap punitive duties of up to 100% on $2.4 billion in imports from France of Champagne, handbags, cheese and other products, after concluding that France’s new digital services tax would harm U.S. tech companies."
"France and the European Union said on Tuesday they are ready to retaliate if U.S. President Donald Trump acts on a threat to impose duties of up to 100% on imports of champagne, handbags and other French products worth $2.4 billion." Remember when Trade Wars were "easy to win"? So how come we haven't won any?
"The NATO 'Leaders Meeting' in London this week features a cast of presidents and prime ministers who have left the alliance without the leadership it needs to tackle today's security challenges, which are unlike any since the end of the Cold War."
"North Korea on Tuesday said that the 'year end limit' is nearing for the U.S. and that 'it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get,' the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing Ri Thae Song, North Korean vice minister of foreign affairs in charge of U.S. affairs." So much winning.
It's not just the people coming to America, it's about the people already here. "A New Yorker who gained US citizenship as a child is suddenly facing deportation, along with several green card-holding members of his family, after apparent targeting by the Trump administration in what the family believes is a clear case of anti-Muslim bias."
"Democrats are expected to continue their march toward impeachment on Tuesday with the release of a report summarizing their case — one day after Republicans opened the bidding with a salvo of their own." It's the battle of reports.
"This is the second release of interview notes from Mueller's special counsel investigation sparked by lawsuits from CNN and BuzzFeed… Here are highlights from the documents…"
"The Justice Department says releasing secret grand jury documents from then-special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe to House lawmakers engaged in the impeachment inquiry could discourage future witnesses to presidential abuse from cooperating with grand juries." Bullshit.
"With the Justice Department’s inspector general report on the origins of the Russia investigation expected to be released in a matter of days, reports of Attorney General Bill Barr’s disagreement with the independent probe’s findings have begun to trickle out. In particular, Barr has reportedly told colleagues at the DOJ that he is not convinced by Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s conclusion that the FBI had sufficient evidence during the 2016 presidential campaign to properly and lawfully open an investigation into Russian interference on July 31, 2016." Because he was never going to accept the truth.
Because the who raison d'être of the Trump administration is conspiracy theory. "A product of tabloid culture, Trump has long trafficked in conspiracy theories. But as chief executive, he’s used the machinery of government to give the ones especially useful to him the stamp of official validation. (That’s the main reason he now faces impeachment in the House.) These baseless theories are a way for Trump to explain away his problems and undercut opponents."
NPR's 2019 Book Concierge list.
Trigger warning for descriptions of sex and sexual harassment. "This week on Hidden Brain, we explore how certain situations cause us to become strangers to ourselves. We hear from people who can't reconcile the person they believe themselves to be with their actions while in the grip of an intense feeling. And we look at the deep psychological mystery that occurs during these moments: no matter how many times we discover the strangers living inside us, the next time always catches us by surprise." On the Hot-Cold Empathy Gap.
"Two stories can be told about Tanzin v. Tanvir, a major religious liberty case that the Supreme Court agreed to hear last Friday." Damned if you win, damned if you don't win.
How go the Trade Wars? "President Donald Trump said Tuesday it might be better to wait until after the 2020 election to strike a trade deal with China." Here we go again.
"The U.S. government on Monday said it may slap punitive duties of up to 100% on $2.4 billion in imports from France of Champagne, handbags, cheese and other products, after concluding that France’s new digital services tax would harm U.S. tech companies."
"France and the European Union said on Tuesday they are ready to retaliate if U.S. President Donald Trump acts on a threat to impose duties of up to 100% on imports of champagne, handbags and other French products worth $2.4 billion." Remember when Trade Wars were "easy to win"? So how come we haven't won any?
"The NATO 'Leaders Meeting' in London this week features a cast of presidents and prime ministers who have left the alliance without the leadership it needs to tackle today's security challenges, which are unlike any since the end of the Cold War."
"North Korea on Tuesday said that the 'year end limit' is nearing for the U.S. and that 'it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get,' the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing Ri Thae Song, North Korean vice minister of foreign affairs in charge of U.S. affairs." So much winning.
It's not just the people coming to America, it's about the people already here. "A New Yorker who gained US citizenship as a child is suddenly facing deportation, along with several green card-holding members of his family, after apparent targeting by the Trump administration in what the family believes is a clear case of anti-Muslim bias."
"Democrats are expected to continue their march toward impeachment on Tuesday with the release of a report summarizing their case — one day after Republicans opened the bidding with a salvo of their own." It's the battle of reports.
"This is the second release of interview notes from Mueller's special counsel investigation sparked by lawsuits from CNN and BuzzFeed… Here are highlights from the documents…"
"The Justice Department says releasing secret grand jury documents from then-special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe to House lawmakers engaged in the impeachment inquiry could discourage future witnesses to presidential abuse from cooperating with grand juries." Bullshit.
"With the Justice Department’s inspector general report on the origins of the Russia investigation expected to be released in a matter of days, reports of Attorney General Bill Barr’s disagreement with the independent probe’s findings have begun to trickle out. In particular, Barr has reportedly told colleagues at the DOJ that he is not convinced by Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s conclusion that the FBI had sufficient evidence during the 2016 presidential campaign to properly and lawfully open an investigation into Russian interference on July 31, 2016." Because he was never going to accept the truth.
Because the who raison d'être of the Trump administration is conspiracy theory. "A product of tabloid culture, Trump has long trafficked in conspiracy theories. But as chief executive, he’s used the machinery of government to give the ones especially useful to him the stamp of official validation. (That’s the main reason he now faces impeachment in the House.) These baseless theories are a way for Trump to explain away his problems and undercut opponents."
Monday, December 2, 2019
Linkee-poo has had enough turkey already
I'll be over here in the corner hacking up a lung.
"Although there is enough expertise and knowledge to limit global warming, 'what is lacking is political will,' Guterres said. In order to combat the crisis, 'Our war against nature must stop,' he added. And that involves changing the old ways of doing things. 'We simply have to stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by renewable energy and nature-based solutions,' he said." We're boned.
"It's long been suspected but scientists can now show conclusively that thinning in the ring of floating ice around Antarctica is driving mass loss from the interior of the continent."
"Canada's vaping approach was based on a hypothesis — that the minority of Canadians who still smoked might switch to vaping… And today it's becoming clear that the utopian post-tobacco vision is not materializing the way it was imagined." Vaping is just a new way to create the next generation of nicotine addicts. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"However, if countertop-making businesses don't follow worker protection rules, cutting these slabs to fit customers' kitchens can release lung-damaging silica dust." And we all know how well companies follow safety regulations.
"Rolling back federal regulations has been a cornerstone of the Trump presidency. Now the administration has proposed rolling back some Obama-era rules for nursing homes and how they care for more than 1.3 million residents." Fuck no. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
So in Ohio we now have a law which requires doctors to "transplant" ectopic pregnancies to a woman's uterus. There is no known medical procedure (or even a process) that would make that feasible. It simply doesn't exist. You may thing that would be the height of the right-to-life idiocy. Here comes Pennsylvania telling Ohio to hold PA's beer. "Anti-abortion lawmakers in Pennsylvania want to pass a bill that would require health providers to arrange burials or cremations for all of a person's 'fetal remains,' which under the lawmakers' terms, includes fertilized eggs that never implanted in the uterus." (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
"But boarding in the ER affects much more than patients' state of mind. The American College of Emergency Physicians has identified boarding as one of the most important factors in ER overcrowding. And overcrowding, in turn, has been associated with everything from delays in administration of pain medication and antibiotics to longer inpatient stays, greater exposure to medical error, delayed treatment for heart attack and even increased mortality." Yes, this. And it's not unknown to have a patient in the ER for over 24 hours. These are mostly waiting for outpatient beds or treatment openings. Although there are several times patients have been cleared for admission, but sit in the ER waiting for hours until they're transferred in.
"A small relic of wood believed to be a fragment of the manger where Jesus was laid after his birth arrived in Bethlehem on Saturday, a gift from Pope Francis to help mark the start of the Christmas season." The veneration of relics has always been interesting to me.
"As U.S. corporate jet use approaches pre-financial crisis levels and chief executives take an increasing number of personal trips on the company tab, many investors are being kept in the dark about the true cost of the perk." Ah, the poor investor not knowing exactly how much the CEO is being compensated and how much tax deductions are being lost because they use the corporate jet for personal travel.
"Police said Khan then left the building and moved to London Bridge, where he continued his attack before being apprehended by bystanders, one armed with a narwhal tusk, another with a fire extinguisher. Videos of the attack posted online show Khan being sprayed by a fire extinguisher as another man jabs forward with the tusk." You just couldn't make that up.
"Ten people were shot in New Orleans' French Quarter early Sunday morning, according to police. NPR affiliate WWNO reports that shooting victims were taken to University Medical Center New Orleans and Tulane hospital and that two victims are in critical condition."
How go the Trade Wars? "President Donald Trump announced Monday that the US will 'restore' steel and aluminum tariffs on Brazil and Argentina, citing a 'massive devaluation of their currencies.'"
"Spending on U.S. construction projects fell 0.8% in October, dragged down by declines in apartment and multi-family homebuilding."
"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this year that the summit on Dec. 3 and 4 will give members the opportunity to address 'current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead.'" And how to survive when the US is no longer a world leader.
"China will ban US warships and military aircraft from making stops in Hong Kong in the wake of Washington passing legislation supporting the territory's pro-democracy protesters, the country's Foreign Ministry said Monday." Tit meets tat.
"Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page who was mocked by Donald Trump for tweets she exchanged with her lover has spoken of her anguish at the president's "reprehensible" stunt at a rally in October." One being personally called out by the president.
Why is control of the courts important? "With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, there now are five conservative justices who may be willing to shut down many attempts at (gun) regulation, just as the NRA's lock on state legislatures may be waning."
"With the US deep in questions of impeachment, what lessons can we learn from divided societies abroad? This week, On the Media travels to Poland, where conspiracy, xenophobia and the rise of illiberalism have the country in an existential fight for its future. On the Media producer Leah Feder reports."
Again, the In The Media podcast, Purple Project, episode 3: "One of the reasons so many Americans have lost trust and faith is democratic institutions is simple misunderstanding about how the system is designed to work. Another, however, is familiarity with how the system does work— which isn’t exactly of, by and for the People. Anand Giridharadas is author of Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. He says the founders also didn’t plan on politicians constantly trash-talking government itself and that a decline in trust in government is the result of a concerted, private sector propaganda war waged over the last four decades."
"The rising stakes come as Republicans on Sunday launched a new offensive to destroy the legitimacy of the Democratic process by claiming that Trump's enemies are rushing the somber business of making him the third impeached President in order to dodge a voter backlash." Same crap, new wrapper.
Also, unsurprisingly, the Trump White House will not participate in the Judiciary Committee's look into impeachment. You would think they would at least want a lawyer in there.
"Ohio… Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the 'relatively unsophisticated' hacking attempt on Nov. 5 (of an election website), which was Election Day, originated in Panama but was traced to a Russian-owned company." Man, election hacking comes earlier and earlier every year. (Grokked from Michele)
"Professional trolls are good at their job. They have studied us. They understand how to harness our biases (and hashtags) for their own purposes. They know what pressure points to push and how best to drive us to distrust our neighbors. The professionals know you catch more flies with honey. They don’t go to social media looking for a fight; they go looking for new best friends. And they have found them." Waves to our Russian friends. (Grokked from Jim Wright)
"Facebook’s only Dutch factchecker has quit over the social network’s refusal to allow them to highlight political lies as being false." It's not that Facebook didn't learn or isn't aware, they are fully aware of what they're doing. And as long as the check clears, they're fine with it.
Annalee Newitz's NYT op-ed on the future of social media. At the great age I've obtained I've seen so many of these futures, which never actually appear. The problem with all these futures is they're normally top down driven, "Someone comes up with a bright idea…" kinds of solutions. It's a slow evolution and the only thing which progresses is the speed of processing. What I do see if an extendable social media presence. Twitter is almost, almost there. You can use other apps to read your timeline and exclude things you don't want to see (as long as you know how to block the correct terms). It was almost there with the blue check box. But then all of these things were subverted. Because there are multiple information wars going on. And as the old saying goes, when you're at a poker table if you can't tell who the sucker is, the sucker is you. (Grokked from John Scalzi among others)
"Vote totals in a Northampton County judge’s race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a Democrat, had just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than 100 precincts. Some machines reported zero votes for him. In a county with the ability to vote for a straight-party ticket, one candidate’s zero votes was a near statistical impossibility. Something had gone quite wrong." Turns out a paper audit showed he won. And as stated in the article, what if the glitch was only 10% of a vote? (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"Facing shots over his planned pick for an open U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Brian Kemp’s inner circle unleashed a special type of vitriol against U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida after he blasted the governor’s plans to select financial executive Kelly Loeffler." Usually this type of pissing match is reserved for intrastate and local politics. But not in Trump's party where loyalty is utmost on people's minds and the small minions of brown shirts are always willing to step into the fray. (Grokked from Joy Reid)
"Although there is enough expertise and knowledge to limit global warming, 'what is lacking is political will,' Guterres said. In order to combat the crisis, 'Our war against nature must stop,' he added. And that involves changing the old ways of doing things. 'We simply have to stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by renewable energy and nature-based solutions,' he said." We're boned.
"It's long been suspected but scientists can now show conclusively that thinning in the ring of floating ice around Antarctica is driving mass loss from the interior of the continent."
"Canada's vaping approach was based on a hypothesis — that the minority of Canadians who still smoked might switch to vaping… And today it's becoming clear that the utopian post-tobacco vision is not materializing the way it was imagined." Vaping is just a new way to create the next generation of nicotine addicts. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
"However, if countertop-making businesses don't follow worker protection rules, cutting these slabs to fit customers' kitchens can release lung-damaging silica dust." And we all know how well companies follow safety regulations.
"Rolling back federal regulations has been a cornerstone of the Trump presidency. Now the administration has proposed rolling back some Obama-era rules for nursing homes and how they care for more than 1.3 million residents." Fuck no. (Grokked from Kathryn Cramer)
So in Ohio we now have a law which requires doctors to "transplant" ectopic pregnancies to a woman's uterus. There is no known medical procedure (or even a process) that would make that feasible. It simply doesn't exist. You may thing that would be the height of the right-to-life idiocy. Here comes Pennsylvania telling Ohio to hold PA's beer. "Anti-abortion lawmakers in Pennsylvania want to pass a bill that would require health providers to arrange burials or cremations for all of a person's 'fetal remains,' which under the lawmakers' terms, includes fertilized eggs that never implanted in the uterus." (Grokked from Laura J Mixon)
"But boarding in the ER affects much more than patients' state of mind. The American College of Emergency Physicians has identified boarding as one of the most important factors in ER overcrowding. And overcrowding, in turn, has been associated with everything from delays in administration of pain medication and antibiotics to longer inpatient stays, greater exposure to medical error, delayed treatment for heart attack and even increased mortality." Yes, this. And it's not unknown to have a patient in the ER for over 24 hours. These are mostly waiting for outpatient beds or treatment openings. Although there are several times patients have been cleared for admission, but sit in the ER waiting for hours until they're transferred in.
"A small relic of wood believed to be a fragment of the manger where Jesus was laid after his birth arrived in Bethlehem on Saturday, a gift from Pope Francis to help mark the start of the Christmas season." The veneration of relics has always been interesting to me.
"As U.S. corporate jet use approaches pre-financial crisis levels and chief executives take an increasing number of personal trips on the company tab, many investors are being kept in the dark about the true cost of the perk." Ah, the poor investor not knowing exactly how much the CEO is being compensated and how much tax deductions are being lost because they use the corporate jet for personal travel.
"Police said Khan then left the building and moved to London Bridge, where he continued his attack before being apprehended by bystanders, one armed with a narwhal tusk, another with a fire extinguisher. Videos of the attack posted online show Khan being sprayed by a fire extinguisher as another man jabs forward with the tusk." You just couldn't make that up.
"Ten people were shot in New Orleans' French Quarter early Sunday morning, according to police. NPR affiliate WWNO reports that shooting victims were taken to University Medical Center New Orleans and Tulane hospital and that two victims are in critical condition."
How go the Trade Wars? "President Donald Trump announced Monday that the US will 'restore' steel and aluminum tariffs on Brazil and Argentina, citing a 'massive devaluation of their currencies.'"
"Spending on U.S. construction projects fell 0.8% in October, dragged down by declines in apartment and multi-family homebuilding."
"NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this year that the summit on Dec. 3 and 4 will give members the opportunity to address 'current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead.'" And how to survive when the US is no longer a world leader.
"China will ban US warships and military aircraft from making stops in Hong Kong in the wake of Washington passing legislation supporting the territory's pro-democracy protesters, the country's Foreign Ministry said Monday." Tit meets tat.
"Former FBI lawyer Lisa Page who was mocked by Donald Trump for tweets she exchanged with her lover has spoken of her anguish at the president's "reprehensible" stunt at a rally in October." One being personally called out by the president.
Why is control of the courts important? "With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, there now are five conservative justices who may be willing to shut down many attempts at (gun) regulation, just as the NRA's lock on state legislatures may be waning."
"With the US deep in questions of impeachment, what lessons can we learn from divided societies abroad? This week, On the Media travels to Poland, where conspiracy, xenophobia and the rise of illiberalism have the country in an existential fight for its future. On the Media producer Leah Feder reports."
Again, the In The Media podcast, Purple Project, episode 3: "One of the reasons so many Americans have lost trust and faith is democratic institutions is simple misunderstanding about how the system is designed to work. Another, however, is familiarity with how the system does work— which isn’t exactly of, by and for the People. Anand Giridharadas is author of Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. He says the founders also didn’t plan on politicians constantly trash-talking government itself and that a decline in trust in government is the result of a concerted, private sector propaganda war waged over the last four decades."
"The rising stakes come as Republicans on Sunday launched a new offensive to destroy the legitimacy of the Democratic process by claiming that Trump's enemies are rushing the somber business of making him the third impeached President in order to dodge a voter backlash." Same crap, new wrapper.
Also, unsurprisingly, the Trump White House will not participate in the Judiciary Committee's look into impeachment. You would think they would at least want a lawyer in there.
"Ohio… Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the 'relatively unsophisticated' hacking attempt on Nov. 5 (of an election website), which was Election Day, originated in Panama but was traced to a Russian-owned company." Man, election hacking comes earlier and earlier every year. (Grokked from Michele)
"Professional trolls are good at their job. They have studied us. They understand how to harness our biases (and hashtags) for their own purposes. They know what pressure points to push and how best to drive us to distrust our neighbors. The professionals know you catch more flies with honey. They don’t go to social media looking for a fight; they go looking for new best friends. And they have found them." Waves to our Russian friends. (Grokked from Jim Wright)
"Facebook’s only Dutch factchecker has quit over the social network’s refusal to allow them to highlight political lies as being false." It's not that Facebook didn't learn or isn't aware, they are fully aware of what they're doing. And as long as the check clears, they're fine with it.
Annalee Newitz's NYT op-ed on the future of social media. At the great age I've obtained I've seen so many of these futures, which never actually appear. The problem with all these futures is they're normally top down driven, "Someone comes up with a bright idea…" kinds of solutions. It's a slow evolution and the only thing which progresses is the speed of processing. What I do see if an extendable social media presence. Twitter is almost, almost there. You can use other apps to read your timeline and exclude things you don't want to see (as long as you know how to block the correct terms). It was almost there with the blue check box. But then all of these things were subverted. Because there are multiple information wars going on. And as the old saying goes, when you're at a poker table if you can't tell who the sucker is, the sucker is you. (Grokked from John Scalzi among others)
"Vote totals in a Northampton County judge’s race showed one candidate, Abe Kassis, a Democrat, had just 164 votes out of 55,000 ballots across more than 100 precincts. Some machines reported zero votes for him. In a county with the ability to vote for a straight-party ticket, one candidate’s zero votes was a near statistical impossibility. Something had gone quite wrong." Turns out a paper audit showed he won. And as stated in the article, what if the glitch was only 10% of a vote? (Grokked from Chuck Wendig)
"Facing shots over his planned pick for an open U.S. Senate seat, Gov. Brian Kemp’s inner circle unleashed a special type of vitriol against U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida after he blasted the governor’s plans to select financial executive Kelly Loeffler." Usually this type of pissing match is reserved for intrastate and local politics. But not in Trump's party where loyalty is utmost on people's minds and the small minions of brown shirts are always willing to step into the fray. (Grokked from Joy Reid)
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