Sunday, May 31, 2020

And another day of America drifting rudderless--and leaderless--in a torrential sea of chaos comes to a close:

“I can’t breathe.” -- George Floyd

Deaths

US: 106,195 (+638)

World: 373,899 (+2981)

Countdown: 156 days.

George Floyd protests go global.

Violent protests are not the story. Police violence is. The protests will eventually end. But state-sanctioned violence against black Americans won’t.

Images of police using violence against peaceful protesters are going viral.

Videos, threats, but few signs protests have been stoked by 'outsider' extremist groups.

'Because they can get away with it': Why African Americans are blamed for crimes they didn't commit: Experts. African Americans make up 49% of wrongful convictions since 1989. Both the phony 911 call and the alleged kidnapping story follow, experts say, the stereotypical notion of black men as criminals and the ingrained racism that has existed in American society for generations. Although some may find it shocking that people are still resorting to these tropes, experts say that a culture of relative impunity has allowed it. "It's because they can get away with it. They do it because the criminal justice system is not going to give them consequences," said Gloria Browne-Marshall, professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Trump envisioned 'American carnage.' Now, he's got it. The president has met protests against state violence with calls for more of it. -- It’s what fascists do.

Trump Plays Macho Man as America Burns. The Trump Presidency has “already given us an impeachment trial, a deadly plague, and the biggest economic collapse since the Great Depression. We can now add the worst riots in a generation.”

Commentary: White Privilege Anger. Anger is not exclusively reserved for white people.

"There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military (and their tactics) becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people" -- William Adama

Rubber and plastic bullets too dangerous for crowd control, says study. -- So why are police shooting protesters with them?

Trump, Putin and Bolsonaro find their populist playbooks are no match for coronavirus. The coronavirus pandemic could have been a moment of glory for the world's populist leaders. This is a period of heightened fear and anxiety — emotions that typically allow them to thrive. Instead, some populists are finding themselves powerless.

Trump tweets Antifa will be labeled a terrorist organization but experts believe it is unconstitutional.

Journalists covering protests face assault and arrest. From Minneapolis to Washington DC, from Louisville to Las Vegas, reporters are facing assault and arrest while reporting on widespread protests and unrest. -- It’s what fascists do.

Police shoot non-lethal rounds at people as they stand on their porch in Minneapolis.

A sheriff put down his baton to listen to protesters. They chanted 'walk with us,' so he did. -- There is good happening throughout this shitshow. Don’t forget it.

Many Republicans were silent about the president’s remarks. -- Modern Republicans are not capable of governing. They all must go.

Gov. Jay Inslee is dispatching an additional 200 National Guard troops to Seattle to help maintain order after a peaceful protest over the killing of George Floyd was hijacked by violent demonstrators Saturday night.

Bolsonaro joins rally against Brazil's top court; judge warns democracy at risk.

Recreational venues in South Korea, including bars, nightclubs and indoor gyms, will be required to keep a QR code-based customer log from June 10, Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said Sunday. This data will be automatically erased after four weeks to safeguard customer information.

Some Republicans are afraid if Iowa Rep. Steve King wins his primary next week, his district is in jeopardy of getting picked up by Democrats. King has a history of making offensive comments. -- Steve King is an asshole.

Emergency COVID-19 vaccines will have to convince a skeptical public.

'Shame on you': NFL's Roger Goodell accused of hypocrisy in protest response. -- It was a bullshit response. Oh yeah. And stop watching the NFL.

Don’t make any bones about it: Let people know they should expect to have Covid-19 cases on campus this fall, says one communications expert.

Herd Of Fuzzy Green 'Glacier Mice' Baffles Scientists. Intrigued, he and two colleagues set out to study these strange moss balls. In the journal Polar Biology, they report that the balls can persist for years and move around in a coordinated, herdlike fashion that the researchers can not yet explain.

La Liga resumes on June 11 after a three-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Two American astronauts boarded the International Space Station from a SpaceX capsule.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.