Friday, June 22, 2018

And another day of being beaten down and wondering if I’m reaching my limit comes to a close:

“It’s a sad, sad story when a mother will teach her daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger.” -- Dixie Chicks

Trump meets families of Americans killed by illegal immigrants, says they're coping with 'permanent separation,' not 'for a day or two.' Calls studies showing crime rate among native-born Americans far higher than among illegal immigrants 'not true.' The continuation of demonizing a group of people by appealing to your most basic instinct: fear.

President Trump's roundup of immigrants is beginning to resemble a sort of ethnic cleansing campaign. He's already proven that he won’t be constrained by our democratic norms, our respect for human rights or even basic human decency.

Trump urges Republican lawmakers to drop immigration bill effort.

The House floor broke into chaos after congressman tries to play audio of detained children. “Why are we hiding this from the American people?” -- Rep Ted Lieu

America is at on #8 on this list:

The Republican tax law is becoming less popular, not more. God damn it takes some people a long time to understand some things.

While you’re being distracted by everything else: All your consumer protections are dying.

Americans born into poverty are more likely than ever before to stay that way under the Trump administration, according to a United Nations report on poverty and inequality in the US.

Americans think Russia investigation is serious and should continue. Most Americans continue to believe that the Russian effort to influence the 2016 presidential election is a serious matter that should be investigated, but the constant criticism by President Donald Trump of special counsel Robert Mueller is taking its toll. He’s following the lead of many authoritarians before him...and apparently he’s winning.

42 percent of Americans support impeaching Trump. Shockingly it’s along party lines: 77% of Democrats; 9% of Republicans.

Five teens who mocked, laughed and videoed a drowning disabled man will not face charges. “I know that everyone was sickened by the callous disregard for human life exhibited by these young people. We can only hope that this was an isolated and rare circumstance that will never happen again," said Florida State Attorney Phil Archer in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately, Florida law does not address this behavior and we are ethically restrained from pursuing criminal charges without a reasonable belief of proving a crime beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt.”

Release of 'Wolf Pack' behind Spanish sex assault sparks protests. Five men convicted of sexually assaulting a young woman at the Pamplona bull running festival in 2016 were released on bail on Friday, re-igniting outrage over the case which has led to mass protests calling for tougher punishment of sex crimes.

Twenty-seven out of 195 countries have passed laws allowing gay marriage, according to the Pew Research Center.

The man who was fired by a machine. "It's another example of a failure of human thinking where they allow it to be humans versus machines rather than humans plus machines," he said. Holy cow!

The FDA has approved an implantable glucose monitor for diabetics that lasts for months.

“We are beaten, we will make no bones about it; but we are not too badly beaten still to fight.” -- James Larkin

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, June 21, 2018

And another day of saying “I really don’t care. Do U?” (But we really do care, don’t we?) comes to a close:

“Oh yeah, life goes on. Long after the thrill, of living is gone.” -- John Mellencamp

Immigrant children as young as 14 housed at a juvenile detention center in Virginia say they were beaten while handcuffed and locked up for long periods in solitary confinement, left nude and shivering in concrete cells. "They handcuffed me and put a white bag of some kind over my head," he said, according to his sworn statement. "They took off all of my clothes and put me into a restraint chair, where they attached my hands and feet to the chair. They also put a strap across my chest. They left me naked and attached to that chair for two and a half days, including at night."

Texas state inspectors identified nearly 250 violations at facilities run by Southwest Key, the non-profit now housing migrant children separated from their parents in a converted Walmart in Brownsville, Texas.

“They walk through Mexico like it's walking through Central Park. It's ridiculous," President Trump says of migrants' journey to the U.S.-Mexico border. However, many migrants are extorted, raped, kidnapped, sold into sex slavery. They die from the heat, from the cold, from “La Bestia,” or are killed by gangs. This is the perilous journey on a migrant caravan through Mexico.

Jeff Sessions Now Says The Trump Administration "Never Really Intended" To Separate Families At The Border. They move between lies of bullshit with such ease.

Sinclair Broadcasting Group--the pro-Trump media conglomerate--forced its TV stations to air pro-Trump propaganda on family separation. This isn’t Fox News. These are local television stations across the country. And this is why the country has a good chance of falling. Politicians over the past few decades have allowed this to happen, and now because of it, the country suffers. Here’s a list of Sinclair owned television stations by state.

Facebook blocks ad for actual news claiming it's 'political'. The story? The one that broke yesterday about children at detention centers allegedly being drugged. They can’t figure out what’s real news, what’s fake news, and what’s “political content.”

America’s long history of casting suspicion and blame on non white children. Part of the rationale for these atrocities was that these children are not really children, in the way white people understand it—those families were not really families, and those people were not really people.

While the Trump admin signed an order to keep families together at the border, it will still enforce Jeff Sessions’ zero-tolerance policy which requires illegal border crossings to be prosecuted as crimes.

An immigrant detainee at a federal Bureau of Prisons facility northeast of Los Angeles has tested positive for chickenpox, and the president of the local prison guard union says he fears for the health of jailers there. He doesn’t fear for the health of the detainees, obviously.

New FBI Study Shows Mass Shooters Aren’t Loners Who Suddenly Just Snap. Rampage killers plan, give off warning signs—and mostly get their weapons legally.

The explosive film lifting the lid on sex trafficking between India and LA. “Everyone thinks it’s something that only happens in somebody else’s country, or happens far, far away,” says Noorani. “They watch the film and they realise it is down the street where they live.”

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that states can collect state sales taxes from online retailers on consumer purchases.

The White House unveiled a plan today to merge the Education and Labor Departments into a single Cabinet agency: the Department of Education and the Workforce. The GOP has wanted to eliminate the Department of Education for a long time.

GOP candidate suggests diversity in America will spark a civil war. What a maroon.

Melania Trump doubles-down with "I really don't care. Do U?” jacket. All to distract you from what’s really going on. Don’t fall for it.

Senators call on the National Science Foundation to investigate the foundation's grant-making process.

Four Republican senators say a $4 million program to boost climate reporting by meteorologists is not science, but "propagandizing.”

Canadian border guards have been screening travellers using a huge, secretive US anti-terrorism database that is almost never referred to publicly, new documents reveal.

'This is how Russia could look': World Cup fans surprised by relaxed policing.

Saudi Arabia is about to spend millions to troll Qatar by turning it into an island. Yes, that’s an actual thing. Humans...so full of hate for others.

Herpes viruses linked to Alzheimer's disease in new brain research.

For some Christian voters in Oklahoma, medical marijuana is a "moral issue." Oklahoma Faith Leaders: “Their intent is to undo the influence of the church in Oklahoma - or ‘unbuckle the bible belt.’ This is why we must vote NO!” There’s no reasoning with someone who has irrationally taken their religious beliefs to such extremes.

RIP Koko, the gorilla who knew sign language. She was 46.

“There is nothing permanent except change.” -- Heraclitus

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

And another day where we inch closer to saying “Goodbye, darling,” and “Get him out of here,” comes to a close:

“No home, no job, no peace, no rest.” -- Bruce Springsteen (This is a great version with Tom Morello joining Bruce on stage.)

Detention centers = internment camps = one step away from concentration camps.

Trump signed an executive order to keep parents and children together, contradicting assertions that only Congress could act to end separations at the border. In other words, Trump is a lying sack of shit. He created this disaster, then came in to make it look like he is the savior. What a fucking despicable human being.

Trump’s executive order to end family separation might run afoul of a 1997 court ruling. The solution to the crisis of family separation at the US-Mexico border, the Trump administration has decided, is to get rid of a 1997 federal court decision that strictly limits the government’s ability to keep children in immigration detention. Of course it does. This looks likes he trying to set up indefinite internment camps...you know, like the Nazis.

Remember, Nazis never saw themselves as villains. They thought they were the victims. You know, just like today with how the republicans see themselves. And don’t get all pissed at me for saying it. You know this is Trump’s party. It’s no longer the party of Bush or Reagan or Nixon or, for crying out loud, Lincoln. The current version of the Republican party is racist, xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic, and an embarrassment to the human race.

If you think the left is intolerant, then know that you have become a Nazi.

What will happen to the thousands of children already separated from their parents after Trump's latest order? That's unclear.

Despite President Trump's executive order, families may never be put back together.

Immigrant children forcibly injected with drugs, lawsuit claims. Trump’s zero tolerance policy is creating a zombie army of children forcibly injected with medications that make them dizzy, listless, obese and even incapacitated, according to legal filings that show immigrant children in U.S. custody subdued with powerful psychiatric drugs...The lawsuit alleges that children were told they would not be released or see their parents unless they took medication and that they only were receiving vitamins.

Kids taken from parents at border get their toys confiscated, too.

United and American Airlines ask feds to not transport children separated from parents at border on their flights. White House officials accuse them of "buckling to a false media narrative." Can’t be a ‘false media narrative’ since you just signed the executive order.

Michael Cohen resigns from RNC post, criticizes Trump's 'heart wrenching' border policy.

Trump rallies supporters in Minnesota. Oh look, a gathering of Nazis.

Former Texas priest sexually abused girl for years — including during confession.

Burger King is sorry for offering a lifetime supply of Whoppers to Russian women who get pregnant by World Cup players to get "the best football genes." WTF?

“In war, you can only be killed once, but in politics, many times.” -- Winston Churchill

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

And another day of what will clearly be labeled as one of the lowest moments in American history comes to a close. So much happened today that it may be too much to digest at one time. I apologize that this may be the longest daily summary, yet, but I thank you for reading, for wanting to know what is happening in our country and our world.

“What’s that crashing sound, follows us around? That’s the sound of all things good breaking.” -- The Decemberists

Trump administration unveils new health plan; Democrats call it 'junk insurance'. The Trump administration's new health insurance option offers lower premiums for small businesses and self-employed people, but the policies are likely to cover fewer benefits. Another caveat: if healthy people flock to the new plans as expected, premiums will rise for those who need comprehensive coverage. The GOP wants those who are poor and/or in poor health to cease existing on this planet. Everything they do seems to further this agenda. And they’re using the children in cages as cover to try and pass this through. Such horrible, horrible people, these GOP members.

In case you didn’t want to read the lead story, here’s a summary: The Trump administration issued a new rule that will allow Americans to purchase skimpy health insurance plans, which are not subject to the same coverage requirements of Obamacare. But because there’s always more...House GOP unveils budget to fast-track tax cuts and end Obamacare.

Now, fuck “going high” when they “go low.” No longer is it acceptable to sit by and let the GOP and Trump supporters, aka Nazis, get by with the horrible things they say and do while we try to find some “reasonable” way--some tolerable way--of debating them to try and get them to see the error of their ways. They’re not going to see it...because they’re Nazis. So yes, in the words of the congressional intern today who yelled at Trump: “Mr. President, fuck you!”

Uproar grows as administration digs in on child separation policy. Davidson said he quit after he was forced to tell family that they couldn’t hug each other goodbye. You want America changed? Then change it.

Trump administration officials have been sending babies and other young children forcibly separated from their parents at the U.S.-Mexico border to at least three “tender age” shelters in South Texas, The Associated Press has learned. America, this is on you. Your government represents you. If you want this to end, then fucking end it.

Former ICE Director: Some migrant family separations are permanent. "You could be creating thousands of immigrant orphans in the U.S.," said ex-Acting Director John Sandweg.

“Just following orders” or “Just doing my job” are not excuses. The personnel at the border that are carrying out these atrocities, along with those in charge above them, need to be held accountable, as well.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions says comparing separating children from their parents at the border to Nazi Germany is an "exaggeration". Actually, it’s not. You are literally one step away from sending the children to the “showers.”

More than 75 former U.S. attorneys are calling on Jeff Sessions to stop family separations, saying the decision to implement the policy "falls squarely on your shoulders."

"Mexico does nothing for us. You heard it here. They do nothing for us. They could stop it. They have very, very strong laws. Try staying in Mexico for a couple of days, see how long that lasts, okay?” -- Donald Trump, Racist in Chief.

The Racist in Chief ends anti-immigration speech by hugging US flag.

"I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag." -- Craig Washington

The Racist in Chief falsely insists there are only two options when dealing with illegal immigrants: “Totally open borders or criminal prosecution”.

Senate Democrats decline to bargain on separating families. The Democrats didn’t create this. There is no law separating families. This is all on Trump’s shoulders and the GOP in general. If the Democrats cave again and compromise on this bullshit by giving Trump his fucking wall, or killing the ACA, then they will be held accountable. Just like Republicans, they are not entitled to be in office. Other people can and will run against them. We encourage you to go forward wisely, Democrats.

A mother from Guatemala whose 7-year-old son was taken from her after they were detained for crossing the border illegally is suing the Trump administration, saying officials will not tell her where her son is, even though she has now been released from custody. So much for holding the kids safe while detaining the parents. Isn’t that really called “kidnapping?”

A 10-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Has Been Separated From Her Family at the Border. Remember, Trump thinks less of people with disabilities.

And after hearing about the above girl with Down Syndrome, Corey Lewandowski...well, he’s a horrible person.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz were denied access Tuesday to a Homestead shelter where as many as 1,000 unaccompanied immigrant children are being held. "The company running this facility told us we would be welcomed to tour the facility," Nelson said on Twitter. “HHS then denied us entry and said that they need 'two weeks notice' to allow us inside. That's ridiculous and it’s clear this administration is hiding something."

Members of Jeff Sessions' own church file formal complaint against him, accusing him of "child abuse," "immorality," "racial discrimination" and “dissemination of doctrines contrary to the established standards of doctrines” of United Methodist Church. Jeff Sessions is a horrible person. Even members of his own church know this.

U.S. withdraws from United Nations human rights body. Because our leaders now have a different definition of “human rights.”

Children make up more than half of the refugee population, the U.N. says.

The train is rolling: In America, naturalized citizens no longer have an assumption of permanence. Last week the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (U.S.C.I.S.) formed a task force in order to identify people who lied on their citizenship applications [which is fuzzier than one might assume] and to denaturalize them. Amid the overwhelming flow of reports of families being separated at the border and children being warehoused, this bit of bureaucratic news went largely unnoticed. But it adds an important piece to our understanding of how American politics and culture are changing.

For those who still claim “It Can’t Happen Here,” it is.

Trump has been watching the coverage on television with increasing anger, telling confidants he believes media outlets are deliberately highlighting the worst images — the cages and screaming toddlers — to make him look bad. He’s a sad excuse for a human being.

Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen is 'willing to give info' about the President. "He knows a lot of things about the President and he's not averse to talking in the right situation," one of Cohen's New York friends who is in touch with him told CNN. "If they want information on Trump, he's willing to give it." We shall see.

Trump lashes out at Canada over trade. Trump accused Canadians of crossing the border with the U.S. to buy products and "smuggle" them back into their country because their tariffs are so high.

A critical cartoon of Donald Trump could get you fired in America. No criticizing the leader! He’s the leader! He leads...and does….things...like leads.

Rudy Giuliani says he was interviewed about leaks regarding the Hillary Clinton investigation.

The Dow has erased all its gains for 2018 — as investors fret about the growing trade spat between the US and China. Republicans, they obviously know how to run the economy.

The Supreme Court Just Guaranteed That Millions of Americans Will Vote in Districts That Have Been Ruled Unconstitutional. In two decisions, the court punted on major partisan gerrymandering cases.

What is Juneteenth? It should be a national holiday. On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive.

Kris Kobach tried to prove the existence of mass voter fraud in Kansas. Instead, he humiliated himself—and top "expert" voter fraud alarmists—and is now constitutionally prohibited from enacting his signature voter suppression law. Every once in awhile some good news crosses my path during the day.

Joe Hagin, a top Trump aide, is resigning, a day after BuzzFeed News reported his ties to backers of an alleged “sex cult.” He hires only “the best.”

Mad Max violence stalks Venezuela's lawless roads. Holy shit.

A Democrat funded by AT&T could sabotage California's Net Neutrality law.

What drinking alcohol means for your cancer and death risk. Yet the study also found that a person's combined risk of dying younger or developing cancer is lowest among light drinkers: those consuming only one to three alcoholic drinks per week. That risk increases with each additional drink consumed per week.

Mexican soccer player urges fans to stop using anti-gay chant.

Canada legalises recreational marijuana. Yay, Canada! The first G7 country to legalise. Canadians will be able to buy and use recreational marijuana as soon as September.

Most New Yorkers who are found smoking marijuana in public after September 1 will no longer be subject to arrest, the New York Police Department has announced. Um…”most”?

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Monday, June 18, 2018

And another day where it is becoming increasingly obvious that there are very few republicans worthy of being called a decent human being painfully comes to a close. Yes, this was a hard day:

“The evil that men do lives on and on.” -- Iron Maiden

No, the United States is not better than this. Many of you just had your eyes closed and are shocked now that you have them open. Good. Now it’s time for change. The country can be better than this. It’s up to us to make that happen.

Photographer describes poignant image of crying child at border. "As a father myself, it was very difficult for me to see these families detained, knowing that they would soon be split up," Moore told Getty's FOTO of his recent ride-along with the Border Patrol. "I could see on their faces that they had no idea what was about to happen."

Border Patrol object to detention cages reports. They say they are “uncomfortable” using the word “cages” to hold children; that it’s ‘Not inaccurate, but they’re not treated like animals.’ If you’re keeping children in a cage, then you are treating them like an animal. And you may be “uncomfortable,” but you’re not nearly as uncomfortable as the children you have in cages.

And the question now is: Where are the girls?

Sessions on separating families: If we build a wall and pass legislation, we won't have these 'terrible choices'. Which means you just admitted you’re holding children as hostages. Jeff Sessions is a horrible waste of flesh.

“The President of the United States has stolen 2,000 little children from their parents and locked them in cages, to be released only if Congress gives him money to build a wall with Mexico. I’m pretty sure I have that right.” -- Chris Murphy

Border Patrol agent caught on tape joking as migrant children separated from parents scream and cry: “Well, we have an orchestra here. What’s missing is a conductor". The world may not be full of assholes, but there sure are a lot of infected pimples on its ass. Listen to the children cry.

DHS Secretary Nielsen denies separation amounts to 'child abuse'.

California Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris has called for the resignation of US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen over family separations at the border.

Ted Cruz introducing emergency legislation to keep illegal immigrant families together. Of course, they’ll be held in gulags, but I digress. Ted Cruz is a horrible person.

Here’s How You Can Help Fight Family Separation at the Border.

Texas detention officer charged with "super aggravated sexual assault" of a 4-year-old girl after authorities say her mother, an undocumented immigrant, was being blackmailed to stay silent about the abuse — or face deportation. And you get pissed off because NFL players take a knee.

"Donald Trump is presiding over a sunset to democracy that is spreading across the world, eradicating much of the spirit of globalism that once was a beacon to freedom, free trade and democratic values." -- David A. Andelman

A Republican Who’s a White Nationalist Won a County Post in Washington State. The GOP may be scrambling to distance themselves from him, but it’s all a show. This is the face of the current GOP.

In a recent survey, only a quarter of U.S. adults could fully identify factual statements, as opposed to opinion, in news stories. Holy shit that’s depressing.

Ann Coulter is worse than a horrible person.

And Laura Ingraham is worse than Ann Coulter.

And Tucker Carlson is just plain vile.

U.S. Armed Forces is getting a Space Force (over the objections of the Secretary of Defense). A sixth branch of the military to feed the ego of a pathetic excuse of a man, and cause another distraction from all the shit that’s hitting the fan. “Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”

Dozens of charter schools have used their greater flexibility to limit which kids make it through the schoolhouse doors — creating exclusive, disproportionately white schools. Which was the plan all along.

EPA moves to replace Obama-era rule protecting drinking water for 117 million.

'Incredibles 2': Theaters post warnings due to seizure concerns. Strobe lights? Really? In this day and age? With all the information we have regarding strobe lights and epilepsy/migraines Disney still chose to put this into a children’s movie. I expect better from the Mouse House.

A huge weed that can cause third-degree burns and even blindness has been found in Virginia.

In a bid to protect its ownership rights, Warner Bros. is going after Harry Potter fan events. Um, way to piss off the fan base WB. Not a good move.

“What a fucking day.” -- Anonymous

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

And another day where we celebrate fathers (which means the horrible practice of separating children from their parents at the border needs to end) comes to a close:

“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.” -- Jim Valvano

Inside an old warehouse in South Texas, hundreds of children wait away from their parents in a series of cages created by metal fencing. One cage had 20 children inside. Scattered about are bottles of water, bags of chips and large foil sheets intended to serve as blankets.

Yes, they are being held in cages. See the pictures.

Kids can suffer permanent damage from border separations.

Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen: “We do not have a policy of separating families at the border.” Then you’re doing it for fun? For sport? What the fuck you doing it for Kirstjen? Your sick, demented pleasure? You’re lying...and you know it. You do have a zero tolerance policy, so shut up.

Not necessary to justify separating kids, parents at border, 'it's zero tolerance’: Bannon. I see he crawled out from under his rock today.

Trump aide Stephen Miller on separating children at border: “It was a simple decision.” Stephen Miller is a horrible person.

“I know who’s going to hell. It ain’t Trudeau.” -- Kurt Eichenwald

Trump ally Roger Stone met with Russian offering dirt on Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Pope Francis says abortion to avoid birth defects is similar to Nazi crimes.

For some hunters, there isn't a contradiction between appreciating coyotes and killing them. But activists argue it's time to choose coexistence with other species over domination.

Agency that monitors earthquakes in Mexico said that an “artificial quake” was registered in Mexico City, possibly caused by “massive jumps during the goal from the Mexico national soccer team.” Mexico upset reigning World Cup champion Germany 1-0.

“Start every day off with a smile and get it over with.” -- W.C. Fields

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

And another day of...of...oh hell, just go and read it and be thankful it came to a close:

“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” -- Alice Walker

Trump suggests he is using his administration's separation of families at the US border as a negotiating tool to get Democrats to cave on his immigration demands, which include funding for a border wall. What a demented piece of shit.

Colleen Kraft, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, visited a Texan shelter for migrant children and saw a young girl of about two crying. Staff told her that federal regulations prevented them from touching or holding the child to soothe her. They are being deliberately cruel to other human beings; to frightened children who are suffering great traumatic stress. This new Trump policy has to stop.

The Trump administration, and his supporters, view these immigrants and their children as “lesser,” as not their human equal. This allows them to commit such atrocities as seperating children from their parents and holding them in cages, and who really knows what else is going on, free from guilt. You know, just like the Nazis did and every other god damn racist that’s ever existed.

Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani clarifies comments about Joe Biden in which he called the former Democratic vice president "a mentally deficient idiot": "I didn't mean that. I meant he's dumb," Giuliani says. And this is proper discourse in America in 2018.

China announces tariffs on $50B of U.S. products.

Road rage leads Colorado man to shoot woman and children, killing 13-year-old boy. More guns is not the answer.

24% of millennials with full-time jobs report receiving financial assistance from their parents.

23-foot-long python swallows Indonesian woman. "She was swallowed first from her head."

“Luck is great, but most of life is hard work.” -- Iain Duncan Smith

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.