Sunday, March 6, 2022

And another day of a far-right savior, Russian attacks, 6 million Covid deaths, the horribleness of Abbott and DeSantis, SCOTUS to help decide humanity’s fate, fighting book bans, reducing the number of college dropouts, and a huge fight at a Mexican soccer match comes to a close:

“This is your regular reminder that when Donald Trump withheld military aid for Ukraine to extort President Zelensky, 99% of republicans in Congress turned their back on Ukraine and refused to remove Trump from office.” — Bill Pascrell, Jr.

“Your taxes are not high because you're supporting food stamp recipients, those who can't afford health insurance or because of public schools. They're high because the ultra rich are not paying their fair share.” — Chris!

Deaths

US: 984,020

World: 6,020,421

Cases

US: 80,917,522

World: 446,665,086

‘Key to white survival’: how Putin has morphed into a far-right savior. The Russian president’s ‘strong man’ image and disdain for liberals has turned him into a hero for white nationalists. Researchers who monitor far-right groups agree that the moment of Putin enthusiasm in the US has intellectual underpinnings with deeper roots. Burghart said: “For almost a decade the work of Russian fascist Alexander Dugin has found a home in American white nationalist circles.” Dugin’s ideology is steeped in Russian Christian nationalism and has chimed with Putin’s world view. At the same time, it echoes much of the Christian nationalist activism in the US, where liberal values, gay rights and a desire to keep religion out of the state, are seen as decadent and responsible for American decline…That sort of language – contrasting Putin favorably against Democrats on mainstream US television – has an impact. Burghart commented: “After four years of praise for the Russian leader there’s a large swath of the right that has internalized that message. Some of the right have embraced Putin while others have been slow to denounce the invasion of Ukraine.” — Fuck Putin. And fuck you if you support him. The Republican Party is shit.

Russian attacks halt plans to evacuate Ukrainian civilians. A second attempt to evacuate civilians from a besieged city in southern Ukraine collapsed Sunday amid renewed Russian shelling, while Russian President Vladimir Putin turned the blame for the war back on Ukraine and said Moscow’s invasion could be halted “only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.” -- That’s a fucking laugh. Putin, like Republicans in America, is an expert at gaslighting. Fuck him.

Two GOP senators share photos of Zelenskyy during call after lawmakers asked not to by Ukraine. Senators and House members on a call with the Ukrainian president were asked to not tweet or post pictures of the call while it was in progress. Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Steve Daines of Montana posted pictures of Zelenskyy on their Twitter accounts during the Zoom meeting Saturday morning, writing that they were on a call with him. -- Both Rubio and Daines are legit fucking assholes.

Q: What’s the difference between a Republican and a Ukrainian?

A: A Ukrainian defends their Capitol.

Death toll nears 6 million as pandemic enters its 3rd year. The official global death toll from COVID-19 is on the verge of eclipsing 6 million — underscoring that the pandemic, now entering its third year, is far from over. -- But so many people have already decided that it is over.

As Texas targets trans kids, their families scramble to find lawyers. And lawyers who specialize in LGBTQ family law say the number of families reaching out in fear of potential child abuse investigations is unlike anything they’ve ever seen. — Fuck Gov. Greg Abbott. And fuck you if you support him.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis claims trans issues are 'injected' into classrooms. “When you actually look at the bill and it says ‘no sexual instruction to kids pre-K through three’, how many parents want their kids to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction?” said DeSantis. He continued: “It’s basically saying for our younger students, do you really want them being taught about sex? “And this is any sexual stuff. But I think clearly right now, we see a focus on transgenderism, telling kids they may be able to pick genders and all of that.”

Supreme Court’s Climate Skeptics Will Help Decide Humanity’s Fate. The larger, more important, point here is that Alito is apparently not among those “people” who view climate change as a global existential crisis—and, tragically, he’s also a justice about to render a decision about the extent of the EPA’s climate authority. So will Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who has also engaged in climate-crisis denialism. During her Senate confirmation hearing, she refused to accept that “climate change is happening and is threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink.” Rather, she suggested that the question was inappropriate…Alarmingly, Barrett’s characterization suggests that she would deem many regulations aimed at responding to the climate crisis as attempts to address a so-called “major question” that agencies are supposedly without authority to address.

Activism grows nationwide in response to school book bans. Over the past year, book challenges and bans have reached levels not seen in decades. Dozens of bills have been proposed that restrict classroom reading and discussion, and virtually all of the laws focus on sexuality, gender identity or race.

Liga MX suspended after dozens injured as fans fight on pitch at Queretaro v Atlas. At least 22 people were injured, including two critically, on Saturday when fans brawled during a football game in central Mexico. Unconfirmed reports in the Mexican media said up to 17 people had died in the violence. The Liga MX match between the hosts Queretaro and Atlas from Guadalajara was suspended in the 62nd minute when fights broke out in the stands. Security personnel opened the gates to the field so that fans, including women and children, could escape the stands…Graphic videos and photos circulated on social networks showing apparent fans motionless on the ground, in some cases stripped naked and covered with blood. — WTAF?

Colleges’ new solution to enrollment declines: Reducing the number of dropouts. Self-interest is pushing higher education to change long-held policies that thwart success.

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

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