And another day of Earth outside its ‘safe operating space for humanity,’ GOP warnings of non-existent mandates, impeachment inquiries, the flood disaster in Libya, the GOP closing the DOE, and American youth that may never be able to own a home comes to a close:
“Today’s GOP is what fascism looks like.” -- Dean Obeidallah
Earth is outside its ‘safe operating space for humanity’ on most key measurements, study says. Earth is exceeding its “safe operating space for humanity” in six of nine key measurements of its health, and two of the remaining three are headed in the wrong direction, a new study said. Earth’s climate, biodiversity, land, freshwater, nutrient pollution and “novel” chemicals (human-made compounds like microplastics and nuclear waste) are all out of whack, a group of international scientists said in Wednesday’s journal Science Advances. Only the acidity of the oceans, the health of the air and the ozone layer are within the boundaries considered safe, and both ocean and air pollution are heading in the wrong direction, the study said. “We are in very bad shape,” said study co-author Johan Rockstrom, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. “We show in this analysis that the planet is losing resilience and the patient is sick.”
There’s no sign of widespread COVID-19 mandates in the US. Republicans are warning of them anyway. While some individual schools and colleges have implemented temporary mask requirements, there is no sign that anyone in federal or state leadership is considering widespread COVID-19 restrictions, requirements or mask mandates. The administrations of several Democratic governors denied that any such moves are even under discussion. The overriding sentiment is to leave the decisions to individuals. -- Republicans are the masters of spreading fear and paranoia regardless of how much total bullshit their claims are.
DeSantis administration advises against Covid shots for Florida residents under 65. "What I have directed our department to do is to provide guidance that really recommends and advises against the use of these mRNA Covid-19 vaccines for anyone under 65," Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said at an online panel hosted by DeSantis on Wednesday. The statement ignores the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations: The agency said on Tuesday that everyone ages 6 months and up who has not gotten a Covid shot within the last two months should get a new booster, which targets a subvariant of omicron called XBB.1.5.
What’s ahead now that Republicans are opening an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said he is launching an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, yielding to mounting pressure from former President Donald Trump and his allies in what’s shaping up as an election-year clash between Congress and the White House. In a statement Tuesday, McCarthy said the House investigations into the Biden family this year have uncovered a “culture of corruption” that demands deeper review.
Searchers race to recover bodies in Libya as death toll from flooding hits 5,100. The Mediterranean city of Derna has struggled to get help after Sunday night’s deluge washed away most access roads. Aid workers who managed to reach the city described devastation in its center, with thousands still missing and tens of thousands left homeless. “Bodies are everywhere, inside houses, in the streets, at sea. Wherever you go, you find dead men, women, and children,” Emad al-Falah, an aid worker from Benghazi, said over the phone from Derna. “Entire families were lost.”
'Peak oil' could be on the horizon, but new fossil fuel projects are pushing ahead. Demand for fossil fuels is set to peak by the end of the decade, according to a new projection from the International Energy Agency — but it might not be enough to curb the worst impacts of climate change or outpace new fossil fuel projects.
What High Heat in the Classroom Is Doing to Millions of American Children. With extreme heat still baking the country, many schools aren’t prepared for the effects of the climate crisis, leaving students and teachers with no other choice than to work inside sweltering buildings.
Trump wants to close the Department of Education, joining calls by GOP rivals. Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he wants to close the Department of Education and have state governments “run the education of our children,” pushing for a long-held Republican goal that has been endorsed by several other 2024 GOP candidates. -- “States Rights” is Republican code for “no equality across the United States.” What state you live in will determine which rights you have as a US citizen. That sure doesn’t seem like it’s “The United States.” It’s more like 50 mini-countries. Vote Democrat and keep Republicans and their fascist form of government out of office.
18% of millennials, 12% of Gen Z believe they will never own a home. The No. 1 barrier to homeownership for millennials and Gen Zers is not exactly a surprise: affordability, as home prices are too expensive, per the survey. About one-third of millennial and Gen Z respondents said mortgage rates are also too high to buy a home, according to Redfin. Since reaching a low during the pandemic, mortgage rates have more than doubled, hitting their highest level in more than 20 years this summer, and home prices haven't softened.
Google’s search engine dominance is at the center of the biggest US antitrust trial in decades. The U.S. government is taking aim at what has been an indomitable empire: Google’s ubiquitous search engine that has become the internet’s main gateway.
‘We knew this day would come’: One of world’s most invasive species reaches Europe. The red fire ant, one of the world’s most invasive species, has been found in Europe for the first time, according to a new study. The imported ant, which has the scientific name Solenopsis invicta, is native to South America but has spread throughout much of the United States, Mexico, the
Caribbean, China, and Australia over the past century.
Justin Roiland used his ‘Rick and Morty’ fame to pursue young fans, text messages show. But as he partied with Los Angeles’ superstars and traveled the country for conventions, he also found he could use his fame to strike up conversations and develop relationships with young fans, including some who were underage.
NFL players union renews call for grass fields after Aaron Rodgers’ injury. “Like I said before, we already play a violent enough game. Don’t add to it.” -- Stop watching football.
Tantalising sign of possible life on faraway world. Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope may have discovered tentative evidence of a sign of life on a faraway planet. It may have detected a molecule called dimethyl sulphide (DMS). On Earth, at least, this is only produced by life. The researchers stress that the detection on the planet 120 light years away is "not robust" and more data is needed to confirm its presence. Researchers have also detected methane and CO2 in the planet's atmosphere. Detection of these gases could mean the planet, named K2-18b, has a water ocean.
Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.
Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.
