Monday, May 13, 2019

And another day of overturning precedent, inching closer to confrontation (read: war), inadmissible videos, and the planet being on “fucking fire,” comes to a close:

“I’ve never met an animal I didn’t like, and I can’t say the same thing about people.” -- Doris Day

Supreme Court's Breyer, mentioning abortion case, warns about overturning precedent. Among the cases that deserve respect as precedent is the court's 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld the fundamental right to an abortion, he wrote.

Trump Is Getting Dangerously Close to War With Iran. The administration has drawn a dubious red line that could be easily crossed.

Trump says it would be big mistake for Iran to try anything against U.S.

China has announced it is raising tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods in retaliation for the latest penalties on its exports announced by the Trump administration.

Trump said Monday that he would agree not to use any information hacked or stolen by foreign adversaries in his 2020 re-election campaign. Of course he doesn’t consider Russia a “foreign adversary.”

The Case for Jay Inslee. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee "is the only candidate in the [2020] race who is treating climate change the way the science says climate change should be treated: not as one issue among many, but as the overriding emergency of our age."

Bill Nye says it's time to grow up and realize the planet is on fucking fire.

CO2 levels are the highest since humanity began. The last time Earth hit 415 ppm, sea levels were 82 feet higher. But, you know, science and all.

Jay Inslee has signed a bill putting the state on track to create the first 'public option' health insurance in the US, using a hybrid system that will see private insurers offer state-defined plans.

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren pledges to nominate a public school teacher to head the Department of Education if elected president.

San Francisco journalist says police raided his home after he refused to identify source. “They took every electronic device that I own, every computer, every hard drive, every digital photograph that I have taken in the last 25 years," he said.

Judge grants Robert Kraft's request to suppress spa surveillance video. Because rich people should get away with whatever they want?

CDC: 1.1 million more Americans lost health insurance coverage in 2018. All part of the GOP plan.

California jury orders Monsanto to pay $2 billion to couple who claim Roundup weed killer caused their cancers. That’s with a “B.”

Dog disease that can be passed to humans confirmed in Iowa. Several cases of canine brucellosis have been confirmed at a commercial breeding facility for small dogs in Marion County.

As Democrats champion plans for free college, one GOP state already has a model program. Hmmm. They might be stretching that statement a bit.

RIP Doris Day. She was 97.

“The really frightening thing about middle age is the knowledge that you’ll grow out of it.” -- Doris Day

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

And another day of bills, sex strikes, and death threats comes to a close:

“There’s nothing permanent except change.” -- Heraclitus

Team Trump wants another foreign government's help for 2020. In 2016, the Trump campaign gladly accepted Russia’s help to defeat Hillary Clinton. And heading into the 2020 race, Rudy Giuliani is headed to Ukraine to push the country’s president to pursue an investigation into Joe Biden’s son. How isn’t this the biggest political story in America right now — Team Trump wants the help from another foreign government to dig up dirt on an opponent?

Joe Biden once said a fence was needed to stop “tons” of drugs from Mexico.

Presidential hopeful Biden looking for ‘middle ground’ climate policy. There is no “middle ground,” Joe. You’re blowing it.

Michael Cohen Fixed Jerry Falwell Jr.’s Problem. Then the Evangelical Leader Went to Bat for Trump. Like Trump, Jerry Falwell Jr. is a horrible person.

Here's what "six weeks pregnant" actually means.

Bills in Georgia, Ohio, and Alabama show we’re in a watershed moment for the abortion debate.

Alabama lawmakers decided to table the vote on a proposed abortion ban after a dispute erupted in the state Senate when some Republicans removed exceptions for rape and incest from the bill. Republicans are horrible people.

Alyssa Milano calls for women to go on a sex strike to protest restrictive abortion laws.

History shows that sex strikes are a surprisingly effective strategy for political change.

Federal judge strikes down Kentucky abortion law.

Is Christian Homeschooling Breeding a New Kind of Domestic Terrorist? A look at the connection no one seems to be making between recent shootings.

A photo of 4 elementary school educators in Southern California smiling as they pose with a rope fashioned into a noose has led to their and the school principal's suspension. Fucking disgusting human beings.

Founder of Moms Demand responds to death threats from NRA: 'I'll never stop exposing your deadly agenda'. Give ‘em hell, Shannon Watts. They're afraid of you.

More than 180 countries -- not including the US -- agree to restrict global plastic waste trade.

A safe space. The nation’s first transitional housing shelter for transgender youths opens in SF, filling an urgent need.

Sick teachers in California have to pay for substitutes out of their own paychecks — even if they have cancer.

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” -- Leonardo da Vinci

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

And another day of subpoenas, moves, rapes, mushrooms and the state of Georgia going off the deep end comes to a close:

“If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” -- Florynce Kennedy

Senate Intelligence Committee subpoenas Donald Trump Jr. in Russia probe.

Trump claims executive privilege over entire Mueller report and underlying documents. The actions of a guilty man.

N.Y. state Senate passes bill allowing Congress to get Trump tax returns.

A move by House Democratic leaders to protect incumbents is reigniting anger and suspicion among the party’s progressives ahead of the 2020 election. Even Democratic leaders are afraid of progress.

Abortions after six weeks will now be illegal in Georgia as Gov. Kemp signs the "heartbeat bill". As AOC pointed out: “6 weeks pregnant = 2 weeks late on your period. This is a backdoor ban.” The pro-birthers strike again.

Ohio man raped 11-year-old who is now pregnant. State ‘heartbeat’ law requires the girl to give birth. No law provides for the child's welfare throughout his/her life. Fucking pro-birthers.

Iran’s president said for the first time that his government will stop complying with parts of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal after the White House sent a Navy carrier task force to the region.

In a poll conducted May 5-6, 44% of Americans say they approve of how Donald Trump is handling his job as president. 54% disapprove.

Denver votes to become first city to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms'.

7 Johns Hopkins protesters arrested after monthlong sit-in at Garland Hall over private police, ICE contracts.

The Trump regime's big idea to reduce drug costs: Advertisers will be required to list drug prices in their TV ads by this summer.

A new rule would allow debt collectors to DM and text you with reckless abandon.

A generic HIV prevention drug should arrive in 2021.

Couples are having less sex, study shows. The 'sheer pace of modern life' may be to blame. Declines in sex frequency were largest among those living together or married and those over 25. Get to having sex people. It’s good for you.

“Republicans are definitely pro-birth - they'll do everything they can to make sure that that baby comes out, regardless of how it got in, but are they pro-life? Can you be pro-life and vote to cut funding that supports the life of a child?” -- Jennifer Granholm

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

And another day of the biggest loser, racy pictures (not that anyone would ever want to see them, of course), another school shooting, and the terrifying future for humanity comes to a close:

“I’m really a good businessman.” -- Donald Trump (Please continue reading after you have stopped laughing.)

The New York Times obtains Trump tax information from 1985-1994. “In fact, year after year, Mr. Trump appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer... He lost so much money that he was able to avoid paying income taxes for eight of the 10 years.” He lost more than $1 billion in a decade. Yes, that’s with a B. His entire life he has been nothing but a failure and a conman. And many of you voted for him.

Mueller fought release of Comey memos to prevent Trump and others from changing stories.

White House orders McGahn not to comply with congressional subpoena.

Bill Gates Actually Made a Good Point About the Socialism Debate in America. Most left-leaning people (which is to say, most Americans) support politicians who, at the end of the day, are promising to deliver capitalism with a strong social safety net. Yep. It’s not the classic definition of “socialism.” Very few people are advocating for that. We just want fairness and basic rights.

Jerry Falwell Jr. sought Michael Cohen's help in preventing racy 'personal' photos from becoming public. Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer was recorded talking about Falwell's predicament in phone call. Jerry Falwell Jr. uses religion to manipulate and control those who support him. But never lose sight of the fact that he’s a horrible person.

One student dead in school shooting in suburban Denver, 8 others injured.

Journalists jailed in Myanmar freed after more than 500 days behind bars. The pair had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys by security forces and Buddhist civilians.

The terrifying future for humanity. According to a new report compiled by more than 450 experts over the course of three years, nature is declining at an “unprecedented” rate, with approximately one million species at risk of extinction—more than ever before in human history. And many species, according to the report, face extinction “within decades.” Humans don’t deserve this planet.

See how the Amazon has gone from dense forest to bare earth in just four decades.

Arctic permafrost is melting so fast it's damaging the equipment scientists use to measure it.

Trump administration opens the door to pushing more poor people off benefits

Trump has pardoned a former U.S. soldier convicted in 2009 of killing an Iraqi prisoner.

Students at an Arizona school walk out after a classmate was turned over to border agents. The student has lived here since he was a toddler, is now two weeks away from graduation, and is now being deported to Mexico--a country he’s never known.

For cancer patients, fear of measles has upended daily routines. Get vaccinated people. There’s more involved here than just your irrational fear.

“We accept the love we think we deserve.” -- Stephen Chbosky

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, May 5, 2019

And another day of reversals, sexism, tariffs, diseases, and horse racing comes to a close:

"The only reason left to support this President is that he reflects your hateful heart, shares your contempt of people of color, your hostility toward outsiders, your toxic misogyny, your ignorant bigotry, your feeling of supremacy." — John Pavlovitz

In a reversal, Trump says Special Counsel Mueller should not testify on Russia probe.

Trump announces that he is increasing tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese goods and says trade talks between the two countries are not progressing as fast as he'd like. Him being removed from the presidency is not happening as fast as I’d like.

Trump sends markets tumbling with renewed call for additional China tariffs.

Jerry Falwell is a horrible person.

Republican Senator Mike Enzi will not seek re-election in 2020. Even rats leave a sinking a ship.

Allegations remain in forefront for Kavanaugh, 7 months after his confirmation.

90 Percent of Republicans Still Think Trump Is Doing a Great Job. 90 percent of Republicans still show they are horrible people.

North Carolina steps toward changing sexual assault laws. Things apparently move slow in North Carolina. Those “loopholes” were bullshit.

Boeing knew about problems with the 737 Max the year before Lion Air crash and did nothing about them.

Trump blames 'political correctness' for Kentucky Derby overturn. Of course he does.

A woman who wanted to break the Guinness World Record for running a marathon dressed as a nurse has been told her successful attempt does not count — because she was wearing scrubs and pants, rather than a skirt.

Rice University scientists find way to 3-D print living tissue.

FDA says it won't ban textured breast implants linked to rare form of cancer.

A disease you may have never heard of is the most common form of dementia for Americans under the age of 60: Frontotemporal Dementia. This shit is nasty.

“Many Americans, we know, are horrified by the posture of their government but seem to be helpless.” -- Harold Pinter

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Friday, May 3, 2019

And another day of discussions, threats, bans, and extinctions comes to a close:

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.” -- Mahatma Gandhi

Trump, Putin discussed Mueller report and agreed no collusion, White House says. Well, glad that’s all cleared up. Whew.

Nadler threatens Barr with contempt over Mueller report.

After the 2018 Blue Wave, Republicans Are Making It Harder to Vote. “We are creating a two-tiered system and saying how much money you have can determine whether you can vote.” This is complete bullhshit.

A federal court said Friday that Ohio's congressional district map — drawn by the Republican-controlled state legislature — unconstitutionally discriminates against Democrats, and ordered the state to come up with a new plan for the 2020 election.

John Kelly joins board of company operating largest shelter for unaccompanied migrant children. You’ll recall Kelly was behind the take-away-the-children policy.

In Brazil, a call for students to film 'biased' teachers brings Brazil's culture wars to classroom. President Bolsonaro has accused schoolteachers of indoctrination but educators say his aim is to stifle critical thinking. The goal of every authoritarian.

Salt-Water Fish Extinction Seen By 2048.

The last of the Arctic's oldest sea ice is on the verge of vanishing.

A Boy Had To Undergo Surgery To Extract A Tick Hooked To His Eardrum.

A cruise ship reportedly owned by the Church of Scientology has been ordered under quarantine after a confirmed case of measles onboard, according to health authorities in St. Lucia. Should have been quarantined just for being owned by the Church of Scientology.

Breast cancer ad campaign banned from Facebook for violating nudity guidelines. Nudity is not the problem. Spouting hatred towards others is.

A California high school newspaper will be able to run a story on a student who works in porn after all. "I'm 18, what I'm doing is legal, and I don't see why everyone is making such a big deal out of it." She couldn’t have said it more perfectly. Read the article here. It was good.

Every day, this elderly woman says "hello" to school kids as they pass by her house. When they found out their beloved neighbor was moving, hundreds of kids left school to give her one last "goodbye." Because there is still lots of good in this world.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

aaaaahnr uughguughhhghghghhhgh aarrragghuuhw uuh aguhwwgggghhh huurh. (Wookie Translator, if needed.)

“After awhile, the character sort of took over.” -- Peter Mayhew

Facebook bans Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, InfoWars' Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos and other high-profile people from its platforms. It’s simple: don’t be a dick.

Six people who prove capitalism is broken in America. In 2018, the world’s richest 2,200 billionaires saw a 12% increase in wealth, according to a report by the development charity Oxfam, while the world’s poorest half saw an 11% drop in wealth. And in the United States today, the richest three Americans hold more wealth than the bottom 50% of the country. Read that paragraph again.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday released a final rule allowing doctors, nurses and other health workers to opt out of procedures such as abortions and sterilizations which violate their personal or religious beliefs.

Tons of trash removed from Everest as cleanup unearths bodies.

RIP Peter Mayhew. He was 74.

“They asked if I was interested in a role as a large alien in a movie.” -- Peter Mayhew

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.