Friday, May 18, 2018

And another day where Generation Lockdown has to deal with yet another school shooting, this one the 16th of the year (and in just 20 weeks, too!), comes to a deadly close:

Ten dead. Ten wounded.

“I’ve always kind of felt like it was eventually going to happen here, too.” -- Paige Curry, Santa Fe High School student

Which means our society has failed our youth.

VP Pence addresses deadly shooting at Texas high school: "We say to the students, the families, the teachers of Santa Fe high school and all of those affected in the entire community: We're with you." No you’re not. Meaningless words that mean bullshit because you don’t actually do anything except say “We’re with you” or you’re sending “thoughts and prayers.” Your inaction speaks volumes of what you really think about ordinary Americans. They mean nothing to you.

2018 has been deadlier for schoolchildren than service members. Think about that.

Remember, “praying” is not going to bring back those kids.

Ted Cruz is a horrible person. Just had to get that out there. Yeah, I know I went out on a limb there.

Texas Lt. Governor suggests having 'too many entrances' to schools makes shootings worse. Anything--absolutely anything--to keep from discussing gun control.

America just hit a grim milestone. Today’s Santa Fe High School shooting was at least the 100th mass shooting in the US since 1982.

Georgia police: 2 people shot, 1 dead near high school graduation.

Reports: FBI's informant talked to multiple Trump campaign aides.

House Farm Bill Fails As Conservatives Revolt Over Immigration.

Trump urged U.S. Postal Service to double package rates for Amazon.

The new Trump plan to defund Planned Parenthood, explained. People wanting to defund Planned Parenthood are not “pro-life” people.

NASA Administrator Changes His Mind And Now Agrees Humans Are Causing Climate Change. The former Representative from Oklahoma didn’t exactly say that humans are the main drivers of climate change, but saying they contribute “in a major way” shows he at least acknowledges the science backing climate change. That took less than a month.

A Third Of The World's Protected Areas Are Being Destroyed By Humans.

“It’s shortsighted not to view the education of a future generation of Americans as a priority for all Americans.” -- Mel Martinez

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

And another day of plea deals, memos, chemicals, and knowing the difference between HIV and HPV (well, for most people, anyway) comes to a close:

“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away.” -- Paul McCartney / John Lennon

Paul Manafort's former son-in-law reportedly cuts plea deal with feds.

Mueller's office files unredacted memo outlining scope of Russia probe: filing.

Senate confirms Gina Haspel as CIA director in 54-45 vote. Two Republicans voted no on Haspel's confirmation and six Democrats voted yes. Four of the six Democrats are up for reelection in states which voted for President Trump in 2016.

Donald Trump and the disturbing power of dehumanizing language. History and psychological science show us that when we refer to people as “animals” or anything other than “people,” it flips a mental switch in our minds. It allows us to deny empathy to other people, makes us feel numb to their pain, and lets us forgive ourselves for causing them harm.

Wednesday was a busy and bad news day for Michael Cohen. Here’s what we learned.

Trump Twice Asked Bill Gates What The Difference Was Between HIV And HPV. Twice. Jesus. Christ. He snowed all of you that voted for him. He’s really as dumb as a rock--which is an insult to rocks, of course.

Noisy babies at a birthday party spark AK-47 gunfire, 5-hour standoff, Oregon cops say. More guns, or guns in everyone’s hands, is obviously the answer.

Politicians move to get lawyer caught in viral video making anti-immigrant rant disbarred. The guy’s a fucking asshole.

Study finds massive amounts of a banned, ozone-depleting chemical in atmosphere.

Child abuse case in California spotlights lack of oversight of home schooling.

An Oregon teenager who admitted his fireworks started a blaze in the Columbia River Gorge faces the possibility of paying $37 million in restitution. At $3600 an hour--a dollar a second--for twenty four hours a day, this would take around 425.5 days to pay in full.

GOP congressman asks if rocks are causing sea levels to rise. You know, by “erosion” and the rocks falling into the sea. The level of stupid is high with this one.

For 400 months in a row, the Earth has been warmer than 20th century average.

New eruption at Hawaii Kilauea volcano prompts evacuation, produces volcanic ash cloud higher than Mount Everest.

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo has spread to an urban area.

A promising new Ebola vaccine is about to be put to the test.

The FDA has approved the first drug designed to prevent chronic migraines.

Your hotel swimming pool may be carrying germs that can get you sick, new study says.

“Health is not valued until sickness comes.” -- Thomas Fuller

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

And another day of dehumanizing a group of people finally comes to a god damn close:

“Twenty twenty twenty four hours ago, I wanna be sedated.” — The Ramones

“These aren’t people. These are animals.” -- Donald Trump on undocumented immigrants during California sanctuary cities roundtable discussion. When one group of people view another group of people as “lesser,” then atrocities are committed. You are no fucking better than anyone else. And Trump? Well, he’s a disgusting bigot who’s channelling Hitler. And yet he has a 42.1% job approval rating. You may not see it, or refuse to see it, or actively embrace it, but if you’re part of that 42.1% then you are on the wrong side of history.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee say they have obtained documents that suggest Russia used the National Rifle Association to help President Trump's 2016 campaign.

Giuliani: Mueller's team told Trump's lawyers they can't indict a president. He can only be impeached.

Scott Pruitt Just Testified Before Congress. It Didn’t Go Well. He has at least 14 federal investigations into his ethical conduct, alleged retaliation against whistleblowers, and extravagant spending. Fourteen. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

Senate votes to overturn FCC’s net neutrality repeal. Now to the House. Call your representatives and tell them to reinstate net neutrality.

After Senate victory, House announces plans to force its own vote on net neutrality.

Trump's decision to eliminate role of cybersecurity czar rattles experts. "This is definitely not the signal you want to send to your allies and your adversaries.”

North Carolina's teachers are taking to the streets in huge numbers. Here's why.

Michigan State will pay out a $500 million settlement to 332 of Larry Nassar's victims. Three hundred and thirty two. Fucking bastard.

The percentage of children and teens hospitalized for suicidal thoughts or actions in the United States doubled from 2008 to 2015, new research shows.

74% of American adults say they try to talk to God (or another higher power in the universe), and 28% say God (or a higher power) talks back. “Welcome to the new Dark Ages.” -- Bad Religion

Brain research is advancing so quickly that ethicists are scrambling to keep up. Yale scientists keep pig brains alive outside the body — and that’s just one of several provocative new brain science studies. Another includes growing new brains using human cells. This is mind-blowing, fascinating stuff.

Vermont is the first state in the US to pass legislation that could allow the importation of less-expensive prescription drugs from Canada.

‘Laurel’ or ‘Yanny,’ the debate is over, creator speaks out. It’s officially “Laurel,” not “Yanny.”

Batman's Butler Alfred Is Finally Getting the Live-Action Origin Story He Deserves.

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology.” -- Carl Sagan

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

And another day of horrible people doing and saying horrible things (oh, and a couple really cool things, too) comes to a close:

“If you truly believe in the value of life, you care about all of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society.” -- Joni Eareckson Tada

"Hamas is paying these people. They're pushing civilians, women, children into the line of fire with the view of getting casualties," Israeli PM Netanyahu says in an interview with CBS Evening News'. What good does it do for “civilians, women, and children” to be paid by Hamas just to be killed? His reasoning seems illogical. Could it be he is being disingenuous with his comments?

US Ambassador Nikki Haley tells UN 'no country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has'. Nikki Haley is a horrible person.

Gulf widening between US and key allies over Gaza.

The Trump-Kim summit is in doubt. North Korea says it may pull out if the US insists it gives up nuclear weapons. The art of the deal.

North Korea warns the US about the fate of the upcoming Trump-Kim summit and suspends talks with South Korea over its joint military drills with the US.

Trump sought to evacuate military families from South Korea before the Winter Olympics.

Trump overruled national security officials to help a Chinese phone maker that’s repeatedly violated US sanctions on Iran and North Korea. Days earlier, a Trump-branded project in Indonesia got a $500 million loan from China. Coincidence? Um, no.

A judge just ruled that Mueller had the authority to indict Manafort.

Key Democrat will support Haspel’s nomination for CIA director despite past connections to torture. Torture! It’s the American way!

EPA launches investigation into Pruitt's use of private email accounts. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

Former Texas GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold says his lawyers told him not to repay the government for his sexual harassment settlement out of his own pocket.

The White House National Security Council is ending the role of cyber coordinator. Hmmm. Now?


Trump’s Tax Cuts Didn’t Benefit U.S. Workers, Made Rich Companies Richer, Analysis Finds. Suckers.

The Air Force would appreciate some help finding a box of grenades that fell off a truck.

Betsy DeVos just made it a lot easier for for-profit colleges to rip you off. She “is sending a signal that the US Department of Education under her watch is going to turn a blind eye to fraud.” Betsy DeVos is a horrible person.

Nearly all public school teachers report digging into their pockets to pay for school supplies, spending nearly $480 a year, according to a study by the National Center of Education Statistics.

Fox News is settling 18 racial and gender discrimination lawsuits for around $10 million.

Uber says it is taking steps to help reduce the culture of silence around sexual violence on its platform in the wake of a CNN investigation into sexual assaults and abuse by Uber drivers.

This map depicts abortion access across America and it's really bleak. Wow.

Twitter says it will start hiding tweets that ‘negatively impact’ the service.

Society needs the Artificial Intelligence Data Protection Act now. It’s not a matter of “if,” it’s a matter of “when.”

Scientists in England trained a tiny spider to jump on command — so they can create spiderlike robots that one day might be used to kill crop-eating insects. Or take over the world. You know, whatever.

This May Be the Best Evidence Yet of a Water Plume on Jupiter's Moon Europa.

The hungriest black hole ever detected gobbles a sun-sized star every two days. Holy cow!

“Freedom is nothing but a chance to do better.” -- Albert Camus

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Monday, May 14, 2018

And another day of “traitors and cowards” comes to a close:

“A traitor is everyone who does not agree with me.” -- George III

On the opening of U.S. embassy in Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers shot and killed at least 50 Palestinians. The deadliest day in Gaza since the cross-border war of 2014.

Trump explains that lifting sanctions on huge Chinese company is OK because it’s just a personal favor for China’s president.

Trump tweets that his leaky staffers are "traitors and cowards, and we will find out who they are!" As all dictators do.

Senate votes Wednesday on effort to reinstate 'net neutrality' rules.

Trump and Sean Hannity reportedly call each other every night before bed. Horrible people stick together.

240,000 girls a year die in India due to gender discrimination, study finds.

Canada to add third gender option in government surveys.

Seattle approves tax on businesses like Amazon, Starbucks to fight homelessness.

Perks such as payments, free meals and speaking fees may be strongly influencing some doctors to prescribe opioids, researchers say.

We're running out of clean water. Bats know where to find it.

Ticks have infected people with seven new germs — including bacteria, parasites, and viruses — between 2004 and 2016, according to the CDC.

Chili's hit by data breach, credit and debit card information compromised.

It looks like Apple's tool that stops cops from hacking your iPhone isn't coming to iOS 11.4.

Supreme Court strikes down federal law prohibiting sports gambling. States now have the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports.

A fast-moving asteroid the size of a city block is set to give Earth a close shave tomorrow. The space rock will pass us at a distance of 126,000 miles, or about half the distance from the Earth to the moon. It’s only a matter of time.

RIP Margot Kidder. She was 69.

“You -- you’ve got me? Who’s got you?” -- Lois Lane (Superman, 1978)

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

And another day of mockeries, scapegoats, loud noises, and addictions comes to a close:

“It is an ironic habit of human beings to run faster when we have lost our way.” -- Rollo May

Paul Ryan Just Made a Complete Mockery of Campaign Finance Rules. “So Ryan can't ask for $30 million, but he can make the entire case for it—and lend the scene a certain gravitas as perhaps the country's second most powerful elected official—then promptly leave the room so the sausage can get made.” He left the room so his his friend could ask and secure the $30 million for him. Paul Ryan is a horrible person.

Black activists call for charges after video surfaces showing white Wisconsin police officer punching black teen outside mall.

White people keep calling the cops on black people for no reason. That’s dangerous. Disgusting racists.

Jeff Sessions Is Scapegoating the ACLU for Chicago’s Murder Rate Spike. In addition to Jeff Sessions being a horrible person, he also doesn’t want you to understand math.

Why we should care about FGM. And yes, you should.

A million children now live with their grandparents primarily due to their parents' addictions, increasingly because of opioids.

Canadian police investigate after 14th human foot washes up on coastline of British Columbia.

Hawaii residents scrambling for masks the government says won't help them.

Facial-recognition software is inaccurate in 98% of cases, a report finds.

Concerts, construction sites and even loud restaurants can permanently damage your hearing. One in four US adults shows signs of noise-induced hearing loss.

Uproar after prom organizers invite surprise guest to the dance floor: a fully-grown tiger. WTF?

From lab dog to lap dog: Research animals get new lease on life with laws that require institutions to offer healthy dogs and cats up for adoption, rather than killing them. Eight states? Eight?

“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” -- John Steinbeck

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Saturday, May 12, 2018

And another day of proudly shouting to the world that I’m a “never Trumper” comes to a close:

“The poetry of the earth is never dead.” -- John Keats

Crowd at Indiana rally cheers when Trump suggests he deserves an 'extension' on his presidency beyond two terms. These people are sick.

Former Trump campaign aide is helping Russian firm shed sanctions. WTF?

Rudy Giuliani says President Trump did not intervene to nix AT&T-Time Warner merger. One day he says one thing, the next day he says the opposite.

A new report shows the alarming tactics the Trump administration is using to arrest undocumented immigrants in sanctuary cities.

When John Kelly says these immigrants can't fit in, historians hear "an echo from the past". John Kelly is a horrible person. Read the historical quotes listed in the article.

Advisers bad-mouth Nielsen as a closeted ‘never Trumper’ who doesn’t fully back his agenda. Well to be fair, it is mostly a shitty, hate-filled agenda that fucks over just about everyone who is not rich, white, and male.

A majority of Americans, 55%, now say the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution “means in current times.” 67% of Republicans say the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution meant as originally written. 78% of Democrats say the court should base its rulings on what the Constitution means today. 

Oklahoma governor vetoes gun bill, signs adoption bill angering gun and gay rights groups. Yay and nay.

At FDA, TVs now turned to Fox News and can't be switched. The email goes on to inform employees that the decision came from the Trump administration. An FDA spokesperson got back to CBS News after our deadline, telling us, "There was no directive or memorandum from the Administration that went out to employees about broadcast news channels…” Interesting. You can find the email at the link, as well.

EPA chief Scott Pruitt wined and dined a Catholic cardinal accused of sexual abuse to talk climate change denial. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

Canada launches new organisation to track hate groups amid rise in far-right sentiment across the country.

The death of net neutrality becomes official in one month.

Brazil’s classrooms need more capitalism. 10% of Brazilian public high schools lack running water, 12% have no libraries and nearly 55% have no science labs.

U.S. rolls back protections for transgender prison inmates.

Kansas governor signs bill banning police officers from having sex during traffic stops. The new law bans sexual relations "during the course of a traffic stop, a custodial interrogation, an interview in connection with an investigation, or while the law enforcement officer has such person detained." Um, a majority of states--33 in fact (I guess 32 now)--have consensual sex between police and people in their custody as something that is not a crime.

Ebola Is Back and Trump Just Made It Harder to Fight.

World Health Organization to send vaccines to fight new Ebola outbreak.

Researchers have found that presenting statements using nouns rather than verbs can reduce feelings of anger.

4 women-owned companies making the sex tech industry more approachable.

“The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.” -- Hubert H. Humphrey

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.