Monday, May 7, 2018

And another day of WTF is going on in India, the “Be Best” initiative, and of course horrible people like Blankenship, Zimmerman, and North somehow still getting the spotlight comes to a merciful close:

“Am I not pretty enough; Is my heart too broken; Do I cry too much; Am I too outspoken.” -- Kasey Chambers

Don Blankenship is running on Trumpism in West Virginia. The GOP is worried it will work.

But wait, there’s more to Don Blankenship: 29 miners died. Their boss went to prison. Now he's running for Senate and telling voters Obama framed him. This mindset is a mental disorder.

The Trump administration has decided to refer every person caught crossing the border illegally for federal prosecution, a policy that could result in the separation of far more parents from their children at the border. The move would also mean that even if immigrants caught at the border illegally have valid asylum claims, they could still end up with federal criminal convictions on their record regardless of whether a judge finds they have a right to live and stay in the US.

U.S. says it will separate families crossing border illegally.

CEO of Cambridge Analytica owner: Trump used same tactics as Hitler to get elected. And I’ll never forgive anyone who voted for Trump yet refuses to admit they made a mistake and has no plans to correct it by refusing to vote Republican in the foreseeable future.

Oliver North to be NRA’s new President. We are truly living in Bizarro World.

In case you forgot: Oliver North was a key figure in the Iran-Contra arms-for-hostages scandal under US president Ronald Reagan.

“Maybe a fellow with an established record in shady weapons deals and covering up the truth is just the right guy to lead the NRA.” -- David Corn

I have lost all respect for most white evangelicals.

A second teen girl is reported to have been raped and set on fire within days in India. WTF?

George Zimmerman--the former neighborhood watch volunteer who shot an unarmed Trayvon Martin in 2012--has now threatened a private investigator working for a documentary filmmaker.

A new study finds that people are more likely to bullshit if they think they can get away with it, or think they won’t be held accountable for it. Call the bullshit out!

Melania Trump launches 'Be Best' initiative to promote children's well being.

Melania Trump Just Swaggerjacked Michelle Obama, Again. This Time With Her Stupidly Named ‘Be Best’ Initiative

A new study finds that dementia patients are increasingly being given antipsychotic drugs — despite the fact they're not approved to treat dementia.

Judge issues final ruling requiring coffee to carry cancer warning labels in California.

“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.” -- Wayne Huizenga

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, May 6, 2018

And another day of lava, porn and divorce, and wondering about the Fifth comes to a close:

“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” -- Jim Rohn

Rudy Giuliani not ruling out Trump taking the 5th Amendment in Russia investigation.

“The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the fifth?” -- Donald Trump, 9/28/2016.

Rudy Giuliani says Michael Cohen might have paid other women for President Trump "if necessary.”

Kellyanne Conway says President Trump was not aware of Stormy Daniels payments when they occurred. And the story changes again.

2017 had more active shooting incidents than any other year on record: FBI report.

Gina Haspel reportedly offered to withdraw nomination to lead CIA over torture concerns.

An Arizona man heads to trial in a little-known case in which he’s accused of killing a white woman because she was dating a black man. Jesus, this case.

Schools don’t know to handle girls’ menstrual periods, and their education is suffering because of it. When a girl doesn’t get bathroom breaks, or have access to pads and tampons to manage her period, it affects her learning. This is complete bullshit.

Hawaii residents on Big Island under threat of lava, earthquakes and gas.

People who start to watch porn are more likely to divorce, says study. But what if they watch porn together?

After nearly a decade of delays, calorie counts are coming to menus across the country.

New laws crack down on service dogs.

“Change is the end result of all true learning.” -- Leo Buscaglia

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Saturday, May 5, 2018

And another day of lies, ‘dirty ops,’ and a doctor (?), comes to a close:

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” -- Mark Twain

Rep. Eric Swalwell: "If he's willing to lie to the American people about what he did with this payoff, I think we can assume that he may be lying to us about what happened with the Russians prior and after the election." Um...yep. He’s a serial liar.

Trump team hired spy firm for ‘dirty ops’ on Iran arms deal. Israeli agency told to find incriminating material on Obama diplomats who negotiated deal with Tehran.

U.K. officials, doctors decry Trump's remarks on London stabbings.

Three Democratic senators ask about Ukraine involvement in Robert Mueller probe.

Trump will appoint Mehmet Oz to his council on sport, fitness and nutrition. Known on TV as Dr. Oz, he has been harshly criticized by other physicians who said he had "an egregious lack of integrity." Dr. Oz? Sheesh. “Oz is well-known as a host of an eponymous television show on health and medical issues and, before that, for appearances on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." But he has become a lightning rod for controversy for featuring what critics say is unscientific advice on his show.” America, 2018. One giant reality TV show.

Trump's former doctor told NBCNews that Trump himself wrote the letter describing his health during the 2016 campaign.

Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as president protested Saturday in scores of cities across the country.

In a first for the French capital, Paris museum opens its doors to nudists. People shouldn’t get so hung up about nudity.

Becky Hammon is interviewing to become the first female head coach in the NBA.

Jittery Hawaii residents may have to endure weeks or months of uncertainty as Kilauea volcano grows more volatile.

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” -- Albert Einstein

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Friday, May 4, 2018

And another day of pandering to a fetish comes to a close:

“The guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warships, are all symbols of human failure.” -- Lyndon B. Johnson

Trump speaking at NRA Convention in Dallas: "You have an administration fighting to protect your Second Amendment ... your Second Amendment rights are under siege, but they will never, ever be under siege as long as I'm your president.” Wait. Aren’t you president? And didn’t you just say they are under siege?

Trump Denies Changing Story About Stormy Daniels Payment. He wants you to believe the truth is whatever he says it is at that moment in time.

Trump knew about Stormy Daniels payment months before denial.

A federal judge expresses deep skepticism in the bank fraud case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller's office against Paul Manafort, at one point saying he believes that Mueller's motivation is to oust President Trump.

Nunes didn't read document that prompted Russia investigation. He declined to read the two-page document.

Pruitt made travel wishlist and asked staff to find "official" reasons to take trips. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

U.S. job growth picks up, unemployment rate falls to 3.9 percent. That’s the lowest since 2000.

Mike Pence’s doctor is resigning. Hmmm.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs into law the strictest abortion regulation in the nation.

Native American men removed from Colorado State University tour after parent tells cops they made her "nervous.”

DJ Khaled says he doesn't perform oral sex, but expects it from his wife because he's the king: "Different rules for men". Um...no. You’re just an asshole.

Delaware is likely to become the first state in the nation to institute a no-exceptions ban on anyone under the age of 18 getting married.

Hawaii volcano eruption forces lava and dangerous gas through cracks in ground causing mandatory evacuations.

A 6.9 earthquake shakes Hawaii’s Big Island, prompts further volcano eruptions.

“I just go where the guitar takes me.” -- Angus Young

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, May 3, 2018

And another day of monitoring phones, settling “several problems,” and ignoring prayers comes to a close:

“To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.” -- Mahatma Gandhi

Paul Ryan’s firing of Father Conroy should worry us all. “This is all straightforward. But in recent years a new, perverted version of Christianity has surfaced: the so-called Prosperity Gospel. Those who preach this distortion of the message of Jesus assert that the rich are rich because God approves of them. It encourages people to have faith so they can become rich. It celebrates wealth as a sign of God's grace.” And the people who preach such shit can go to Hell (you know, if there really was one).

House chaplain Rev. Patrick Conroy gets job back after he rescinded his resignation, and Paul “I’m a horrible person” Ryan backs down. If you support Paul Ryan you’re just as horrible.

Trump and Mitch McConnell are giving the religious right exactly what it wants. And if this is truly what the religious right wants, then they are all horrible people. I don’t believe all religious people want this shit. Most are decent and caring. They need to step up and say enough of this shit, this is not who we are.

Giuliani outlines conditions of a potential Trump-Mueller interview. Because horrible people get support from other horrible people.

So let’s get this straight: Trump says him paying Cohen $130,000 for hush money spent on Daniels is “very common among celebrities and people of wealth.” But recall that in April Trump said he had no knowledge of Cohen having paid Daniels. So he’s straight up lying. He’s not even trying to hide it. Then there’s the whole Trump reimbursed Cohen $460,000 or $470,000 using $35,000/month installments through a Trump family account for having--get this--”settled several problems” for the president. Isn’t that just “mob” talk for getting rid of things that would be damaging to the boss or “family?”

Feds monitored Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s phones.

Rudy Giuliani called Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, "disposable" — and warned that special counsel Robert Mueller should stay away from Ivanka Trump.

Scott Pruitt reimbursed himself $65,000 from Oklahoma attorney general campaign. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

Oklahoma senators approve bill allowing adults to carry guns without permits. And another reason to avoid going to Oklahoma. Guns are not the answer. They never have been, they never will be. It’s a fetish. Some people get off on shooting guns, I get that. It’s pretty freaking cool. But allowing people to carry guns without a license is a public danger. And don’t give me that shit that some people would just do it anyway. That’s a tired old argument that could be used to render every single law there is irrelevant. Yes, there will be people that break laws. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have them.

Oklahoma House votes 56-21 on bill that would grant legal protections to faith-based adoption agencies that don’t want to place children with same-sex couples. What a horribly disappointing state.

Arizona governor signs plan Thursday to give striking teachers a 20 percent pay raise, ending their five-day walkout.

Roughly 2,900,000 women and children in Yemen are acutely malnourished; another 400,000 children are fighting for their lives; and nearly a third of Yemen's population rely completely on food aid or else they would starve.

Kidnapped sex slaves help Islamic State gain turf in Afghanistan.

Twitter urges all users to change passwords after glitch.

Europe Just Banned the Chemicals That Lay Waste to Honeybees. But They’re Still Everywhere in the US.

High school senior sounds the alarm on teen "juuling" trend with eye-opening video.

“Praying is like a rocking chair--it’ll give you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere.” -- Gypsy Rose Lee

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

And another day of a moron (Giuliani) and a fake Christian (Pence) spouting some really stupid shit comes to a close:

“The men the American people admire most extravagantly are the most daring liars; the men they detest most violently are those who try to tell them the truth.” -- HL Mencken

House Republicans nominate President Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. Republicanism is a mental disorder.

Rudy Giuliani says Trump repaid Michael Cohen’s $130K payment to silence porn star Stormy Daniels. Hmmm, that’s a contradiction to what Trump says. So he did know about it all. For those keeping score at home, that’s called lying.

Rudy Giuliani says Trump fired Comey because he wouldn’t assure him FBI was not targeting him in Russia probe. God damn, what a lawyer Trump has there.

Trump has all but decided to withdraw from Iran nuclear deal.

Mike Pence on Joe Arpaio: a “tireless champion of strong borders and the rule of law.” Mike Pence has no morality. He’s as fake and vile as they come. Arpaio was actually found guilty of criminal contempt of court. How the fuck is that a “tireless champion” of the rule of law?

White Supremacist Jacob Goodwin convicted of beating black man at Charlottesville White Nationalist Rally. Good.

Iowa approves one of strictest abortion bills in US. Banning most abortions once fetal heartbeat is detected.

Trump Organization lawyer disputes account by president's former personal doctor of "raid" for president's medical records.

A white Texas school principal tells her staff that the next time this black disabled student tries to leave school grounds “We won’t chase him. We will call the police and tell them he has a gun so they can come faster.” Another example of a fine outstanding human being down there in Texas.

Pope said to admit being 'part of the problem' of covering up clergy sexual abuse in Chile.

Forced surgery, sterilization: Japan's trans community faces uphill battle.

Sunscreen may protect skin, but some of its chemicals are destroying coral reefs. And now, Hawaii is taking legal action.

Scientists have developed a “green” concrete that they say is more environmentally friendly than the ordinary material, as well as more durable and twice as strong.

U.S. Boy Scouts to change name in appeal to girls.

“Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response.” -- Arthur M. Schlesinger

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

And another day of the rich getting richer, of Kanye West saying shit, and of cancer once again taking someone I know much too early finally comes to a close:

“Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” -- Paul Simon

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein vowed that the Justice Department “is not going to be extorted” by certain critics, and he depicted as cowards a group of Republicans who have drafted articles of impeachment against him.

Michael Cohen owes more than $280,000 in state taxes, records show. You know, like all good people do.

Israel seems to be preparing for war with Iran, say U.S. officials.

Some 'Caravan Migrants' Allowed To Apply For U.S. Asylum.

The uninsured rate is rising again. But only for Republicans.

Trump’s doctor told NBC News that he felt "raped, frightened and sad" when Keith Schiller and another "large man" came to his office to collect the president's records. The incident took place two days after the doctor told a newspaper that he had prescribed a hair growth medicine to Trump for years. Trump is such a small man. No self-confidence. No self-respect.

Seven states sue to end DACA, potentially jumbling its legal future. Leave it to Texas to lead the way, followed by Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

Facebook wants to help you find love (so please hand over more data).

Kanye suggests that slavery—which, by definition, is not a choice—was a choice. How does anyone take this guy seriously? A TMZ staffer, Van Lathan, responded after the stupid slavery is a choice comment by saying to Kanye, among other things, “And frankly, I’m disappointed, I’m appalled, and brother, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact you have morphed into something, to me, that’s not real.” He said much more, and it was all fantastic. Read it and see the pictures here.

'On Fire For God's Work': How Scott Pruitt's Faith Drives His Politics. Scott Pruitt is a horrible human being. He doesn’t get a pass because he “believes” in a god. He is a danger to the country, which in turn is a danger to the world.

Two influential staffers at the EPA are leaving the agency. Sure, Scott Pruitt doesn’t know how to manage it.

Trump has asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of receiving foreign payments. Mmmm hmmmm.

“If Dems win midterms, I’ll be impeached.” -- Donald Trump

Apple will buy back up to $100 billion worth of shares. And you thought that tax reform bill that Congress passed was designed to help you. You’re being laughed at by those that just keep getting richer.

Legendary U.S. guitar-maker Gibson files for bankruptcy.

Liquid nicotine is a poison, so why is it being packaged like junk food? This needs to change.

Illnesses from ticks, mosquitos, flea bites have tripled in recent years, the CDC says. Warmer weather is partly to blame.

Kentucky, Indiana report hepatitis A outbreaks.

RIP S.B.

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” -- Lao Tzu

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.