Wednesday, June 17, 2020

And another day of books, charges, settlements, polls, bills, nooses, flags, restaurants, tests, disinfectant tunnels, $9 billion, and a new candle comes to a close:

“Bow down before the one you serve. You’re going to get what you deserve.” -- Nine Inch Nails

Deaths

US: 119,941 (+809)

World: 451,263 (+5277)

Countdown: 139 days.

PSA: Senate Republicans knew what John Bolton had to say. They didn’t want the world to hear it.

John Bolton's new book portrays a president who is single-minded about pursuing and preserving his own interests.

Federal prosecutors are mulling criminal charges against John Bolton. — A step closer to a banana republic. 

Ex-Atlanta officer Garrett Rolfe charged with felony murder and 10 more counts in Rayshard Brooks' death; other officer charged with assault.

Since 2003, Minneapolis has paid out $45 million in settlements over police misconduct.

76% of white Republicans say Trump’s message in response to the protests surrounding George Floyd’s death has been mostly or completely right; 94% of white Democrats say it’s been completely or mostly wrong. — Because Republicanism, which today means following Trump, is a mental disorder. 

Senate Republicans' police reform bill encourages against no-knock warrants and chokeholds, but doesn't outright ban them. It also doesn't contain action on qualified immunity, an item Democrats are calling for in police reform legislation. — No, the two parties, Republican and Democrat, are not the same. 

Matt Gaetz Shouts Down Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond: ‘Who the Hell Do You Think You Are?!’ The House chambers got beyond heated when Gaetz took offense to Richmond suggesting Republicans do not know what it’s like to fear for a Black son.

California police investigate nooses found hanging on trees as hate crime.

Fox News opinion host claims Democrats are calling Trump racist 'with zero evidence'. — A racist doesn’t call out other racists—they support them. Don’t fall for the gaslighting.

The city of Gulfport, Mississippi, is removing the state flag at all city-owned buildings and facilities because it includes the Confederate battle flag.

Florida restaurants under no obligation to report employees who test positive for COVID-19. — Stay away from Florida. 

260 out of 500 workers tested test positive for COVID-19 at Orlando International Airport, governor says.

Trump’s COVID Data Crunchers See Coronavirus Racing Down America’s Major Highways.

Hundreds of flights in and out of Beijing were canceled on Wednesday as authorities stepped up measures to rein in a sudden outbreak of coronavirus in the Chinese capital, placing it under a so-called "soft lockdown."

Israeli researchers say they've invented a reusable face mask that can disinfect itself, killing viruses using heat from a phone charger.

Brazil's Bolsonaro says time to end 'abuses' of Supreme Court. — Making his move?

Facebook to allow users to "turn off seeing" political ads.

A special disinfectant tunnel has been installed in Russian President Vladimir Putin's house to protect him from coronavirus, state media reported. The tunnel is designed to disinfect everyone passing through it with a "fine water mist."

The House of Representatives will vote on a bill to make the District of Columbia the 51st state this month. The bill has over 220 cosponsors, which means it will pass the House — but will likely face strong opposition in the GOP-controlled Senate. -- Time and time again, the GOP have shown they should not control anything.

According to our analy­sis, the Trump administration has so far doled out over $9 billion to build ~585 miles of wall. The project has been characterized by cost overruns, lawsuits, sycophantic contractors, and a notoriously ineffective final product. -- At $1 a second--$3600 an hour--it would take about 290 years to spend $9 billion. Imagine what that money could have been used for.

Plan to release genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida gets go-ahead.

Gwyneth Paltrow releases 'smells like my orgasm' candle as follow up to Goop's 'vagina candle'. — You needed to know that. 

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

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