Friday, January 15, 2021

And another day of claims and then walking back the claims, of accomplices and connections, of deaths, privilege, bankruptcy, a cannabis-laced menu, a rare animal caught on video, and Covid’s surprising impact on our sex lives comes to a close:

“Students who acquire large debts putting themselves through school are unlikely to think about changing society. When you trap people in a system of debt, they can't afford the time to think." — Noam Chomsky

Deaths

US: 401,856 (+3862)

World: 2,017,844 (+15,437)

Cases

US: 24,102,429 (+254,019)

World: 94,312,257 (+778,786)

Countdown: 5 days.

‘Strong evidence, including Chansley’s own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States government,' prosecutors wrote...In Chansley’s case, prosecutors said the charges “involve active participation in an insurrection attempting to violently overthrow the United States government,” and warned that “the insurrection is still in progress” as law enforcement prepares for more demonstrations in Washington and state capitals.

Justice Department prosecutors have formally walked back their assertion in a court filing that said Capitol rioters sought to "capture and assassinate elected officials."...The entire line the prosecutors want to omit from their court filing is: "Strong evidence, including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol, supports that the intent of the Capitol rioters was to capture and assassinate elected officials in the United States Government."

With Trump impeached, Democrats turn focus toward GOP 'accomplices' in Capitol siege. Representatives have called for multiple probes following last week's attack. As Americans grapple with the fallout from the deadly insurrection, Democrats have leveled increasingly serious accusations against their colleagues across the aisle, framing some Republican members as "accomplices" and "co-conspirators" in the assault. Allegations range from inciting rioters with inflammatory rhetoric to actively assisting the throngs of Trump supporters who laid siege to the Capitol complex.

Longtime Trump advisers connected to groups behind rally that led to Capitol attack. Roger Stone, Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn all promoted the Jan. 6 rally.

Biden's Sunday inauguration rehearsal postponed due to security concerns: report.

Local newspapers turn on Lauren Boebert as 68 state politicians demand investigation into Capitol riot role. Ms Boebert had tweeted details about the location of Speaker Pelosi during the 6 January attack on the US Capitol that had left five people dead. “We were locked in the House Chambers,” she wrote, followed shortly with, “The Speaker has been removed from the chambers," even as several House members confirmed that they were instructed to not share their location in the building.

Secret Service pays high rent for apartment near Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner's home for toilets and office space for agents.

President-elect Joe Biden has picked Dr. David Kessler, a former head of the FDA, to lead federal Covid-19 vaccine efforts for the incoming administration.

How Los Angeles became the place where Covid-19 kills 1 person every 6 minutes.

Health care in Brazil's Amazonas state in 'collapse' as Covid-19 infections surge. Hospitals in Brazil's largest state, Amazonas, are facing a crisis situation amid surging coronavirus infections, as oxygen supplies run short and hundreds of people wait in line for a hospital bed.

Teach your white kids about their privilege. It’s that lack of talking about race that can send a message—not about inclusivity, but that race is not something that is to be discussed in their family.

NRA files for bankruptcy. With plans to incorporate in Texas.

A teen with autism died after Louisiana deputies sat on him for 9 minutes, parents' lawsuit says. Deputies responded in January 2020 to a shopping center in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, as Eric experienced a "meltdown" related to his autism, according to the lawsuit and the family's attorneys.

Haute cuisine: Thai hospital rolls out cannabis-laced menu. From spicy "happy" salads to soups sprinkled with cannabis shoots and deep-fried marijuana leaves -- a Thai hospital restaurant has rolled out a weed-inspired menu which has curious customers flocking to sample its euphoria-inducing offerings.

Yellowstone’s rarest animal caught on trail camera for first time. The rare sighting of a wolverine in the Mammoth Hot Springs area last month had park biologists excited because of the rare sighting.

COVID-19 has had a surprising impact on our sex lives. The Lioness COVID study is first-of-its-kind sex research, with Lioness describing it as the "type of data and techniques mid-20th century researchers like Masters and Johnson dreamed of having." Unlike all other sex research gathered in a lab setting, the kind of data the Lioness platform can gather meets subjects in the natural habitat of their own bedrooms, Klinger said. But the study also makes clear that, "This is an exploratory study with retrospective data — which can't prove causality." What this exploratory study should be seen as is a flawed but intriguing real-time snapshot of an extraordinary moment in human sexuality — nothing more and nothing less...That's what Klinger believes is one of the benefits for users who opt into the research platform. "It's beneficial to the researchers for data, but it's also a way for users to learn more about themselves by participating and seeing some of the results from the findings."

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

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