Saturday, May 26, 2018

Saturday, May 26, 2018

And another day of being gaslighted by this shitty administration, of Trump trying to create and sell his own personal version of reality, and of course him thumping his racist chest in the name of nationalism comes to a close:

“Do you understand how much of a nazi you have to be to pull a frightened, crying child away from a mother, offering no reassurance or explanation of when the child will see that mother again? And then wake up, go to work, and do it again? Be ashamed. We are the shithole nation.” — David Simon

Taking children from their parents is a form of state terror. The Trump administration needs to be stopped. They are walking, no, make that running the country into echos of history many said could never happen here. Well, it’s happening.

Outrage Grows as Horror of Policy to Split Children and Parents at Border Becomes Clear. “There is something terrible happening here that Americans would not support if they understood it,” F. Scott McCown, director of the Children’s Rights Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. “When he was deported three months later no one could tell him where his son was beyond saying he was “somewhere in Texas.” “I cried. I begged,” he said. “No one could tell me anything.” Yes, this is America. Is this what you want your country doing in your name? Immigrants and refugees are still people. They deserve better than this shit.


US lost track of 1,500 immigrant children, but says it's not 'legally responsible'. Unacceptable.

Trump's immigration crackdown is a boom time for private prisons. Private prisons need to be abolished. They are ripe for abuse. One should never be able to earn a profit off incarceration.

Ignorance is Strength: The Trump Administration’s Creepy War on Language. Say goodbye to words like “vulnerable,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “peaceful,” and “democratic.” Orwell warned us. Many refused to listen.

“In recent years, and even decades, too many people have forgotten that truth. They've forgotten that our ancestors trounced an empire, tamed a continent, and triumphed over the worst evils in history." -- Donald Trump. And now those “evils” of history are repeating themselves. The orange one continued: “We are not going to apologize for America.” What a bunch of white supremacist bullshit.

Trump claimed The New York Times quoted a White House official who "doesn't exist," but the comments were made in briefing with dozens of reporters listening. “But reporters listened to that official, in person and on the phone, on Thursday during a White House-sanctioned background briefing.” Living in his own reality and trying to take the rest of the country with him.

Trump's legal team wants briefing on classified info. shared with lawmakers about FBI investigation into Russian meddling, Giuliani says. Shitless, they are scared.

Russian oligarch who purportedly had nothing to do with Michael Cohen payments met with Michael Cohen.

'Trump's son should be concerned': FBI obtained wiretaps of Putin ally who met with Trump Jr.


The simple voting reform that works wherever it’s tried. I was surprised to learn the state I live in is only one of three that does this. That needs to change.

Ireland overturns abortion ban.

Elon Musk is gaslighting us. I guess he had to just get in on Trump’s gaslighting action.

Florida declares state of emergency as storm Alberto approaches. And so it begins...

Body camera footage shows police fatally shoot naked man.

"I don’t want my son to be named after someone who sent children like him to their deaths." Hans Asperger's dark past has sparked a movement to rename Asperger's syndrome.

RIP Alan Bean. He was 86. The fourth man to walk on the moon. You know, back when the country gave a shit about science.

“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” -- Anne Frank

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Friday, May 25, 2018

And another long day, complete with a school shooting, a well deserved and long-awaited arrest, and more horrible people than usual making the list tonight, comes to an agonizing close:

“Let it go, this too shall pass.” -- OK Go

Trump lawyer met Russian oligarch at Trump Tower 11 days before inauguration.

The Unbearable Whiteness of NFL Ownership. At least 70% of NFL players are black. There are no African American team owners. And the NFL Players Union wasn’t even consulted regarding the kneeling policy. That’s bullshit. Stop watching the NFL. Your time is much too valuable to support such a horrible organization.

The free speech debate often centers on college protests and social media "mobs." But the rich and powerful largely control the flow of information in America.

EPA: Pruitt spent $3.5 million on security during first year in office. Scott Pruitt is a horrible person.

McConnell said if a Supreme Court vacancy were to happen this year, he would work to fill the seat before the midterm elections. Mitch McConnell is a horrible person.

Former acting Attorney General Sally Yates says President Trump's pressure on the Department of Justice is "a step beyond dangerous.”

US Customs and Border Protection has released a slightly different account of a border agent's fatal shooting of an undocumented migrant in Texas, raising new questions about what actually happened. The initial report was that migrants attacked with “blunt objects” but later in the day changed it to the group “rushed” the officer after ignoring orders to get on the ground. Hmmmm.

Here’s How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children. This is unacceptable and should piss you off.

The head of the Border Patrol union says Trump's National Guard plan has been one giant mess.

Trump administration has cut a deal with China's ZTE.

Federal prisons director resigns amid Kushner, Sessions infighting on prison reform.

Indiana middle school shooting leaves teacher, student injured; suspect in custody.

15 people injured after a bomb explosion at restaurant in Mississauga, Canada.

Walmart is paying $20 billion to shareholders. With that money, it could boost wages to more than $15 an hour.

Harvey Weinstein is arrested. Good. Nothing but a poor excuse for a human being.

Weinstein's lawyer at the courthouse today: "Mr. Weinstein casting couch in Hollywood was not invented by Harvey Weinstein." Really? That’s your defense? His lawyer is a horrible person, too. (Yes, I know this is about whether a crime was committed or not, but quite frankly, the “casting couch” should be a crime.)

Rohrabacher says he's fine with housing discrimination against gay people. Dana Rohrabacher is a horrible person.

ACA premiums to rise an average of 15% next year, says CBO. Thank a Republican.

In an Iraqi village, a little girl hides skin disease from neighbours. Wow.

As a teen, Emily Joy was abused by a church youth leader. Now she’s leading a movement to change evangelical America.

U.S. proposes scrapping program aimed at attracting foreign entrepreneurs. You know, because they’re foreigners.

Dozens of American newspapers aren't available online in Europe anymore because of the EU's new data privacy law.

Brazil authorizes army to clear trucker protest.

Fiat Chrysler recalls 4.8 million vehicles, tells drivers don't use cruise control.

Blaming dating apps for the rise of STDs is just the latest form of sex panic.

At least 52 people in Utah were poisoned by fake cannabis oil.

Arizona Moves to Alter Wording About Evolution in Education. What a disappointing state.

“History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” -- Karl Marx

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Thursday, May 24, 2018

And another day of cancellations, spies, and sexually inappropriate behavior comes to a close:

“Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” -- Albert Einstein

Trump cancels Singapore summit in letter to Kim Jong Un. "I was very much looking forward to being there with you. Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," Trump wrote. "Therefore, please let this letter serve to represent that the Singapore summit, for the good of both parties, but to the detriment of the world, will not take place." He tells the man he often refers to as “little rocket man.”

Trump reportedly told a friend this week that he wanted to “brand” the FBI informant a “spy.” This morning, he used the term three times in a single tweet. Our democracy is slipping through our fingers.

Trump suggests that NFL players should "have to stand proudly" for the national anthem, or perhaps they "shouldn't be in the country." If you are not allowed to kneel during the national anthem, then you are not truly free.




Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has been probing Roger Stone's finances as it summons a series of witnesses to gather more information about one of President Trump's longtime advisers.

Parents, children ensnared in 'zero-tolerance' border prosecutions. Forced to wear a bracelet (um, that’s insignia) and ripped away from their children. America. 2018.

Marco Rubio is buying into some far-fetched Russia theories in Latin America. Of course he is.

Eight women accuse Morgan Freeman of sexually inappropriate behavior. And another pillar falls.

Facebook and Twitter launch new rules for political ads to counter misinformation.

Netflix is now worth more than Disney and Comcast.

Amazon: Alexa Echo device recorded conversation and sent it to one of their contacts.

“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.

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

And another day of having trouble believing some of the things that happen comes to a close:

“You know, I tried to talk about good roads and good schools and all these things that have been part of my career, and nobody listened. And then I began talking about niggers, and they stomped the floor.” -- George Wallace. This is worth the quick read. “We imagine the American past as filled with rabid bigots. But there have always been at least as many people who have some sense that bigotry is wrong, though they may say nothing. And then there are a select few who are fairly clear on right and wrong, but simply see more upside in being wrong.”

Cohen received a secret payment of at least $400,000 to fix talks between the Ukrainian president and Trump. Cohen denies the allegation. Shortly after the Ukrainian president returned home, his country's anti-corruption agency stopped its investigation into Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort. Well isn’t that interesting?

Kushner's security clearance restored, met with Mueller team a second time. It’s a permanent security clearance.

"New Poll: Most Americans don’t realize Robert Mueller’s investigation has uncovered crimes.” 59%. I’ll say it again: fifty nine percent. Even though there’s so far been 5 guilty pleas and 17 criminal indictments. But you already know that because you’ve been coming here to get some of your news. Now educate your friends and family members.

Trump Can No Longer Block His Haters on Twitter, a Federal Court Rules. Excluding them “constitutes viewpoint discrimination that violates the First Amendment.”

New NFL policy: Teams to be fined if players kneel during anthem. The league says "protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic." Um, no, the people who thought that are either stupid or racist. It was never about the flag. Stop watching the NFL. It’s a shitty league with no regard for the player’s health, and as was made official today, it has nothing but disrespect for the majority of its players regarding social issues. If you don’t want to see the social issues that are occuring while you are on your watch on the planet, then you are part of the problem. But fining players for quietly bringing attention to said issues is not going to make those issues go away. Stop worrying about a flag and start fighting for social justice. A human is worth more than a piece of cloth.

After a 10% drop last season, some team owners and fans argued that it was because players were kneeling during the National Anthem. No, it’s just a stupid game that causes irreparable damage to the players. No game is worth that.


Trump suggests car imports may be the next target for tariffs.

Congress debates freedom of speech on campus — one proposal is that universities should be deprived of public funds if they fail to show political parity in the professors they hire and the speakers they bring to campus. Ah, another way for Republicans to eliminate higher education for the masses. It is their goal, you know.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says impeachment is not a "policy agenda".

A new report highlights a massive pay gap between CEOs and typical workers — some ratios as high as 4,987 to 1. And you can’t tell me they “earned” that shit.

Eighties Babies Are Officially the Brokest Generation.

New internal memos show the White House considered ways to downplay climate science research.

Two infected Ebola patients flee treatment center in Congo.

Obesity now linked to 12 different cancers.

Apple is going to let you download all the data it collects about you.

RIP Philip Roth. He was 85.

“The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.” -- Philip Roth

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

And another day of violent ejections, racism in politics taken to a whole new level, history made in Georgia and on the NYSE, and a sinkhole trying to drain the swamp on the White House lawn comes to a rather hysterical close:

“Your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand, for the times they are a-changin’.” -- Bob Dylan

No Dems invited to White House briefing on FBI informant. Of course they’re not.

Donald Trump, a thrice-married former Democrat who used to describe himself as "very pro-choice," is offering catnip to conservative voters with a new push to strip funding from Planned Parenthood. Donald Trump is a...ah, fuck it. If you support him, you are a horrible person.

The worst, most thuggish Trump official just had reporters violently ejected from a government forum. Scott Pruitt is most definitely a horrible person.

The Republican Primary in Georgia Is Taking Racism to a Whole New Level. Jesus. Christ. There is no bottom. “Yep, I just said that.”

Stacey Abrams wins Democratic primary in Georgia. She could become the nation's first black woman governor.

Congress approves partial repeal of landmark Dodd-Frank law, sending the bill to Trump.

Lesley Stahl claims Trump told her that he bashes the press so 'no one will believe' negative stories about him. Of course he does. If you don’t see that then you are not paying attention.

Incoming NRA president Oliver North has blamed school shootings on a "culture of violence,” but yet was a consultant on “Call of Duty.” Of course he’s a hypocrite, he’s a Republican.

Shooter in Panama City, Florida standoff dead.

Stacey Cunningham just became the first woman president of the New York Stock Exchange in its 226-year history.

USC Faces Lawsuits, Calls For Resignation Over Alleged Sexual Abuse By Gynecologist.

34% of U.S. Catholics now say Pope Francis is "too liberal," including 55% of Catholic Republicans.

The Trump administration is moving to reverse Obama-era rules barring hunters on some public lands in Alaska from baiting brown bears with bacon and doughnuts and using spotlights to shoot mother black bears and cubs hibernating in their dens. “Under the proposed changes, hunters would also be allowed to hunt black bears with dogs, kill wolves and pups in their dens, and use motor boats to shoot swimming caribou. These and other hunting methods — condemned as cruel by wildlife protection advocates — were outlawed on federal lands in 2015. Members of the public have 60 days to provide comment on the proposed new rules.” Humans don’t deserve this planet.

Saudi Arabia expands crackdown on women's rights activists.

NFL’s Proposed National Anthem Rules: Penalties for Kneeling Being Considered. It would be up to the home team on whether both teams come out of the locker room for the anthem, and, should teams come out, 15-yard penalties could be assessed for kneeling. Stop watching the NFL. It’s a horrible league that has zero concern for the health of the players.

A federal court rules against a Virginia school district, holding that federal law protects a transgender student who sought to use the boys' bathroom at his school.

Poll: Support for vaccines falls. “70% say vaccinations for diseases like measles and polio are “very important.” That number is down from the 80% in November of 2008 who said the vaccines are crucial.” Lack of scientific understanding will be our downfall.

Researchers compared brain scans of 90 young children and found that those with ADHD symptoms also had smaller brain volume, especially in the frontal lobe -- the area that controls motor function, attention and decision making.

Mentally disabled man leaves prison after 20 years, taking the blame for obstructing justice when police extracted his false confession.

Amazon is selling police departments a real-time facial recognition system.

Creeping lava now threatens major Hawaiian power plant.

Parents win lawsuit to kick 30-year-old son out of their house.

Yes, a sinkhole has opened up on the White House lawn. Can’t make this shit up, but god damn it’s good for a laugh.

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” -- Desmond Tutu

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Monday, May 21, 2018

Monday, May 21, 2018

And another day of expanding the Russia investigation comes to a close:

“We’ll know for the first time, if we’re evil or divine, we’re the last in line.” -- Dio

Under pressure from Trump, FBI and Justice agree to expanded Russia probe.

Trump is now fundraising off conspiracy theory that FBI "infiltrated" his campaign.

In a victory for employers and the Trump administration, the Supreme Court on Monday said that employers could block employees from banding together as a class to fight legal disputes in employment arbitration agreements. More rights for corporations; less rights for actual people.

Vietnam says Chinese bombers in disputed South China Sea increase tensions.

Human race just 0.01% of all life but has destroyed over 80% of wild mammals – study. Bacteria are indeed a major life form – 13% of everything – but plants overshadow everything, representing 82% of all living matter. All other creatures, from insects to fungi, to fish and animals, make up just 5% of the world’s biomass.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tells police to end arrests for marijuana smoking.

Wyoming and Idaho are set to resume grizzly bear trophy hunting after a 40-year hiatus.

“No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.” -- Robin Williams

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Sunday, May 20, 2018

And another day where “I hereby demand” it comes to a close:

“The cancer that demands our urgent attention is corruption and poverty.” -- Miriam Defensor-Santiago

Trump Doubles Down on Unhinged Rant, “Hereby Demands” Probe Into Whether FBI “Infiltrated” Campaign. Just part of a wild morning of Twitteranting from the wannabe dictator. The man knows he’s in deep shit.

New NRA President Oliver North blames school shootings on Ritalin, “culture of violence.” “The disease is youngsters who are steeped in a culture of violence, they’ve been drugged in many cases.” Ollie North, ladies and gentlemen. An obviously intellectually supreme human being. Because Stephen Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, was a “youngster” at 64. This goes far beyond school shootings, Ollie. They are not committed in silos. Don’t try to confuse people by pretending they are.

Texas high school shooter studied previous mass shootings before carrying out the attack.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is a horrible person. “"This is not about guns," he said. "The smart things we can do about background checks and other issues we'll address, and we'll do. This is about us as a culture and a nation." He excoriated the video game industry, which he said propagates violence, and denounced a loss of faith and religion in society.” Scapegoat anything and everything, just make sure to not talk about guns.

The US is withdrawing aid from northwest Syria.

Former President Jimmy Carter says discrimination against women and girls is the world's biggest problem. Provided, you know, that you actually view women as equal to men.

French film director Luc Besson accused of rape.

Tax cut sparks record-setting $178 billion buyback boom. And many of you thought they gave a shit about you. Suckers. It was always about this boom...always. It was never meant to help you in anyway whatsoever except as an illusion.

Democrats are more supportive than Republicans of technology companies taking steps to restrict misinformation online. Shocking, I know. Republicans don’t want an educated, well-informed populace. It would hurt them, greatly.

Cougar kills mountain biker, injures another in Washington state. Hmmm, I’m reminded of the 1977 movie Day of the Animals. Yes, that’s Leslie Neilsen.

Students at most colleges don’t pick "useless" majors.

App that allows parents to spy on teens leaked thousands of passwords.

Vape pen explosion kills Florida man, police say.

“The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.” -- Peter Drucker

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.