Tuesday, July 23, 2019

And another day of more power, detaining citizens, filing suits, protests, and The Great Hack comes to a close:

“Their intention is to kill and they will, they will.” -- The Pretty Reckless

ICE gets expanded power to swiftly deport more undocumented immigrants. Which means ICE can demand to see “papers” from anyone they choose. America, 2019.

A Dallas-born citizen picked up by the Border Patrol has been detained for three weeks. Yes, his skin is brown.

Trump speaks at third- to seventh-grade reading level, new analysis finds. Trump may call himself a genius on Twitter, but his spoken statements say otherwise.

Democrats and the White House strike a budget and debt ceiling deal. The Democrats once again get played. Either that or their leadership is completely stupid.

Trump made 61 false claims last week. We're going to keep count. Because they all count. Why do this? Because facts matter. Whatever voters think of the President, they should know when he is deceiving them -- and they should know the truth that is being obscured by the deception.

NAACP calls for impeaching Trump.

The Great Hack Is A Terrifying Warning & The Most Important Doc This Year.

Trump has filed suit in federal court in Washington, DC, against the House Ways and Means Committee, the New York state attorney general and the New York tax commissioner to preemptively prevent the disclosure of his tax returns. Like you do when you’re all innocent and stuff.

FBI director touts nearly 100 domestic terrorism arrests this fiscal year. The majority of the arrests were related to white supremacy.

Former Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis is running for Congress, challenging Republican Rep. Chip Roy.

Puerto Ricans gather for massive protest to expel governor.

Demonstrations against a giant telescope planned for Hawaii's tallest peak have spread to New York, Las Vegas and Waikiki as Native Hawaiians push to protect what they say is a sacred place.

Dallas Police Department officers’ racist, misogynistic social media posts are no joke. Such behavior can’t be tolerated from those empowered to protect us.

Senate passes bill making 9/11 victims compensation fund permanent by a vote of 97-2.

3 Million Could Lose Food Stamp Benefits Under Trump Administration Proposal.

Trump campaign and RNC spend more than $600,000 on law firm representing Hope Hicks.

Libra scammers are promising early access to Facebook's digital currency to steal private information.

Doctors warn that inaccurate at-home cancer screenings are causing misguided panic.

What Gets To Be A 'Burger'? States Restrict Labels On Plant-Based Meat.

U.S. Beaches Are So Full of Sewage Pollution, They Are Often Unsafe for Swimming, New Report Finds.

New York becomes first state to ban cat declawing.

Pet rabbit owners worry as deadly disease confirmed on Orcas Island.

Scientists discovered a new species of tiny sharks that glow in the dark.

The Darkest Town In America. Gerlach, Nevada.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, July 21, 2019

And another day of understanding the way the game is to be played comes to a close:

“After all, tomorrow is another day.” -- Margaret Mitchell

Trumpism and 2020. The rules are different. Will the Democrats change the way the play? This is an important read regarding Trumpism and 2020. Read it. All of it.

By Republican Standards, Almost Nothing Is Racist.

President Trump's approval ratings in the South have ticked upward, with 54% of voters giving a thumbs-up to the way he's handling his job. But of course it did.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler says Robert Mueller's report presents "very substantial evidence" that President Trump is "guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors" — an impeachable offense.

George Nader, Witness in Mueller Probe, Hit With New Charges of Sex Trafficking and Child Pornography.

Fact check: President Trump falsely accuses Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of calling Americans "garbage". In both cases, he was twisting a quote to bolster his allegation that "they hate our country."

13 Philadelphia police officers who made racist, offensive Facebook posts to be fired after internal investigation.

Americans could be a bigger fake news threat than Russians in the 2020 presidential campaign.

In some states, GOP sees the recall as its way back to power. Democrats say GOP is using recalls in certain Western states as a way to undo regular election results.

Katie Porter isn't part of 'The Squad.' But the freshman House Democrat is stirring up trouble for Trump.

Pre-Crime: Has Minority Report-style Policing Become a Reality? How "pre-crime" can violate privacy, enable racial profiling, and heighten surveillance in poor neighbourhoods. Police are using technology and data to predict behaviour and prevent crime - but are innocent people being targeted? Police in the United States and the United Kingdom are using mathematical algorithms, which rely on data collected from social media, surveillance cameras, and police records, to take what they say are proactive measures against crime. They use software to generate subject lists of people who are at the greatest risk of being party to violence or committing a crime.

Los Angeles police admit in court that it spied on anti-Trump protesters: “Case is one of several across the US of police targeting anti-Trump and anti-fascist groups with monitoring and criminal trials.”

American and Taliban negotiators are thought to be close to a deal that would see the 14,000 American troops remaining in Afghanistan return home. It’s America’s longest war.

A Pennsylvania school district is coming under fire for sending letters to parents threatening to put their children in foster care if lunch debts remain unpaid.

After at least 7 children diagnosed with cancer, parents eye chemical in city's water.

Trump’s EPA Just Made Its Final Decision Not to Ban a Pesticide That Hurts Kids’ Brains. Dow Chemical gave $1 million to Donald Trump's inaugural committee. Now the Trump administration says it won't ban one of the company's pesticides that is linked to brain damage in children.

Autistic children more likely to be involved in bullying – study.

Two people have died and hundreds more have become ill in an ongoing outbreak of salmonella linked to backyard chickens, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

A new law in Oregon allows students to take "mental health days" just as they would sick days.

Whether we're aware of it or not, we're closely connected to one another, and we contract the feelings and thoughts of the people around us, almost like a virus. So, even though we all walk through the world thinking of ourselves as individuals, Rapson and Hatfield think that is an illusion. "We're going to slip into being like the company we keep.”

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, July 18, 2019

And another day of implications, denials, searches, and flame-throwing drones comes to a close:

“The propagandist’s purpose is to make one set of people forget that certain other sets of people are human.” — Aldous Huxley

"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” — George Orwell, 1984

Michael Cohen Files Implicate Trump, Hope Hicks and David Pecker. They discussed via a phone call ways to keep Stormy Daniels from going public about their affair.

Michael Cohen search warrant documents released.

Child Rapist Jeffrey Epstein denied bail while awaiting sex trafficking trial. Federal judge rules financier is a ‘danger to others’ while awaiting trial for the alleged sexual abuse of underage girls from 2002 to 2005

Racism, xenophobia, bigot among Merriam-Webster's top searches on Wednesday night.

Store clerk fired after telling customers to ‘go back to their country’ in viral video.

U.S. Marines jam an Iranian drone in the Gulf, destroying it.

Here’s where the US government is using facial recognition technology to surveil Americans. A new map shows how widespread the use of facial recognition technology is. Some examples: In several states, including Texas, Florida, and Illinois, the FBI is allowed to use facial recognition technology to scan through DMV databases of drivers’ license photos. In many US airports, Customs and Border Protection now uses facial recognition to screen passengers on international flights. And in cities such as Baltimore, police have used facial recognition software to identify and arrest individuals at protests.

Flame-throwing drones are real. And they’re now for sale. Holy. Shit.

Inventions we use every day that were actually created for space exploration. We should be investing more in space exploration.

Florida will become the third state in the US to require students to learn more about mental health, behind Virginia and New York. For students in sixth grade and above.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

And another day where racism being such a good distraction from pedophilia comes to a close. Grab a drink or a bong, this shit ain’t for the weak. These are dangerous times.

"You don't choose the times you live in, but you do choose who you want to be." — Grace Lee Boggs

Trump is selling the only thing he has: hate.

With Latest Nativist Rhetoric, Trump Takes America Back To Where It Came From. That was what was always meant by “Make America Great Again.”

The American Right Defines Patriotism As Complacency About Racism.

Republican support for Trump rises after racially charged tweets. Republicans show their true colors.

Trump tweets send stinging message to countless Americans. That was the point of his tweets.

Trump said 'many people agree' with his racist tweets. These white supremacists certainly do.

Trump continued his now days-long attack on four Democratic congresswomen at his rally in North Carolina on Wednesday night, eliciting chants of "send her back" from the crowd. There are no more decent Republicans remaining.

Federal agency (EEOC): "Go back to where you came from" is discrimination.

Trump Wants to End Asylum at the Border—and Quickly Deport Migrants to the Countries They’re Fleeing. “If the administration successfully implements this, I think we’ll see a decrease in how many people are applying for asylum.” Remember, the cruelty is the point.

"While Republicans fear Trump’s base, the truth is “deeper and darker”, Bardella said. “It’s not that they’re at Trump’s mercy; they agree with him. The Republican party practices racism and white nationalism. It’s not fear; they approve of it.” They just haven’t had a leader bold enough to let them show their full colors until now.

93 percent of Democrats found the president’s racist tweets to be offensive, while only 37 percent of Republicans felt the same way. Because 63 percent of Republicans are racists.

White GOP congressman says he isn't offended by racist Trump tweets because "I'm a person of color. I’m white.”

“If you are offended by Rashida Tlaib's colorful language but not Trump's, your problem might not be the language.” — Holly Figueroa O’Reilly

Has the media 'sanitized' the accusations against Jeffrey Epstein? “The media has been blasted for using terms such as "underage women" instead of "children," for saying "sex with minors" instead of "rape," for using the phrase "paid for sex," which they say erases coercion.”

Tape shows Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein discussing women at 1992 party. But Trump says he never liked Epstein? Please.

Threats against members of Congress are increasing, Capitol Police chief says. Color me surprised.

Lindsey Graham Under Investigation For Campaign Finance Violations And Ties To Russia.

House of Representatives votes to kill effort to impeach President Donald Trump.

The House just voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt of Congress. It’s the first time the full House has voted to hold members of the administration in contempt.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has blocked an attempt to pass an extension of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, pointing to the country's growing debt and arguing that any new spending should be offset by cuts to other spending.

South Bend's police department was a mess. Mayor Pete didn't notice until he ran for president.

Climate change is leaving the farmers of Central America with a choice: Wait for rain or migrate.

California's Wildfires Are 500 Percent Larger Due to Climate Change.

Americans will need to cut their beef consumption by about 40% and Europeans by 22% for the world to continue to feed everyone in the next 30 years.

White House projects $1 trillion deficit for 2019.

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill says World Cup coverage shows media preoccupation with "homosexual activities."

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared Congo's Ebola outbreak an international health emergency, sounding a rarely used global alarm after the virus threatened to spread to a major city and into neighbouring countries.

Parents in Germany who fail to vaccinate their children could face hefty fines after the German government backed a bill requiring all children to receive a measles jab before entering school or kindergarten.

Trump administration to ban abortion referrals at taxpayer-funded clinics.

On July 11, the House of Representatives stealthily voted to support a measure ordering the Department of Justice to look into whether the DoD released weaponized ticks in the US.

FaceApp has everyone doing a double-take over how they might look 50 years in the future—but users might want to take a closer look at the privacy policy first. FaceApp goes viral with old-age filter, but spurs privacy concerns with Russian roots. But America has embraced Russian ideology.

Futurist entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed that his secretive Neuralink startup is making progress on an interface linking brains with computers, and said they hope to begin testing on people next year.

This Map Paints a Grim Picture of America’s Economic Divides. Colleges Shouldn’t Run From Them. Automation could displace nearly 15 million jobs now held by people ages 18 to 34, and 11.5 million more held by workers over age 50.

Three Republicans stand in the way of federal weed legalization. Senators Mike Crapo (ID), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY). Of course.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Sunday, July 14, 2019

And another day of unabashed, even celebratory, racism, misogyny, and xenophobia comes to a close:

“I hate a bully, and I hate racists.” -- Roddy Piper

I thought it was a bit extreme for her to say at the time, but Hillary Clinton was not wrong except for one thing: it’s not half his supporters, it’s all of them that are all “deplorables.” You’ve had your chance to prove that you’re not. If you still support this man, then you have failed.

Trump says progressive congresswomen should 'go back' where 'they came' from. What a racist, misogynistic, disgusting waste of flesh.

AOC responds to Trump's racist attacks: 'You cannot accept that we don't fear you'.

Not one Republican called Trump out on his racists tweets today. Not one. Fuck Republicans. They’re horrible people.

House report: At least 18 migrant children under the age of 2 were separated from parents for 20 days to 6 months. Shit being done in our name.

The Cruelty Is the Point. Trump and his supporters find community by rejoicing in the suffering of those they hate and fear. “It is not just that the perpetrators of this cruelty enjoy it; it is that they enjoy it with one another. Their shared laughter at the suffering of others is an adhesive that binds them to one another, and to Trump.”...”This isn’t incoherent. It reflects a clear principle: Only the president and his allies, his supporters, and their anointed are entitled to the rights and protections of the law, and if necessary, immunity from it. The rest of us are entitled only to cruelty, by their whim. This is how the powerful have ever kept the powerless divided and in their place, and enriched themselves in the process.”...”Trump’s only true skill is the con; his only fundamental belief is that the United States is the birthright of straight, white, Christian men, and his only real, authentic pleasure is in cruelty. It is that cruelty, and the delight it brings them, that binds his most ardent supporters to him, in shared scorn for those they hate and fear: immigrants, black voters, feminists, and treasonous white men who empathize with any of those who would steal their birthright. The president’s ability to execute that cruelty through word and deed makes them euphoric. It makes them feel good, it makes them feel proud, it makes them feel happy, it makes them feel united. And as long as he makes them feel that way, they will let him get away with anything, no matter what it costs them.”

The Handmaid's Tale 'could be instruction manual', says Atwood. Atwood was asked by an audience member if she feared the book could be used as an instruction manual and said: "Yes, there is that problem...if Mike Pence gets his hands on the controls, just you wait."

Tennessee governor signs proclamation honoring early KKK leader, sparking backlash.

Contrary to industry claims, the $15 minimum wage in New York City has not brought a pox upon the booming restaurant sector.

Amazon and Facebook listed among the dozen most dangerous workplaces.

The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in Goma, now the biggest city to have been affected by the disease since its outbreak in eastern DR Congo last August.

How beneficial are vitamins? Not very, according to a new study.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Saturday, July 13, 2019

And another day of delays, going broke, preparing for raids, failing the mentally disabled, making a draconian copyright law, losing your job to robots, and storming Area 51 comes to a close:

“We must free ourselves of the hope that the sea will ever rest. We must learn to sail in high winds.” -- Aristotle Onassis

Immigration raids scheduled to take place in at least 9 US cities Sunday could be mass, indiscriminate roundups that target entire families rather than those who pose a threat, says a former acting director of ICE.

US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta resigns amid pressure over his brokering of plea deal for pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Congress Delays Robert Mueller Hearings Amid Dispute Over Time For Questions.

Steven Mnuchin warns Congress the government is running out of money faster than expected.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders are two of the most ideologically aligned candidates in the Democratic primary — both left-wing populists who rail against a “rigged” economic system. In poll after poll, Sanders appeals to: lower-income and less-educated people, men and younger people who vote less frequently. While Warren's camp consists of: people with postgraduate degrees, women, and seniors who follow politics closely.

Tennessee Lawmakers Aim To Ban Weddings By Internet-Ordained Ministers.

Many US jails fail to stop inmate suicides. It’s a problem commonly blamed on the mere fact that more mentally ill people are landing behind bars, a trend that started after state psychiatric hospitals began closing in the 1970s and promised alternatives failed to emerge.

Seattle Faces Backlash After Easing Up On Punishing Crimes Involving Mental Illness. “Seattle is grappling with a crisis of what is sometimes called "visible homelessness" — people who live in the street and struggle with mental illness or drug addiction. It's a population that often commits small crimes, such as disorderly conduct or shoplifting to pay for drugs. And public frustration is growing. Some accuse a reform-oriented local criminal justice system of becoming too tolerant.”

Survivors of gun violence in US face lifetime of pain and expense.

EPA expands use of pesticide that can be toxic to bees.

A new copyright bill would mean anyone who's ever shared a meme, shared a photo that isn't theirs, or downloaded a photo they didn't take could find themselves owing $5,000. “Every single person who uses the Internet and regularly interacts with copyrighted works (that’s everyone) should contact their Senators to oppose this bill.”

Facebook Will Now Show You How To Opt Out Of Targeted Ads.

Robots could take over 20 million jobs by 2030, experts say. The trend could boost productivity and economic growth but also bring greater income inequality.

Autistic Londoners issued with 'autism alert' cards by police.

States Are Ratcheting Up Reading Expectations For 3rd-Graders. Nineteen states have passed laws requiring third-graders who aren't proficient in reading to repeat the grade. The policy started in Florida 17 years ago.

Thousands of people have taken a Facebook pledge to storm Area 51 to 'see them aliens'.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

And another day of victims, power, subpoenas, silence, bees, and eavesdropping comes to a close:

“We’re going off the rails on a crazy train.” -- Ozzy Osbourne

It Sure Looks Like Jeffrey Epstein Was a Spy—But Whose? “He’d [Acosta] cut the non-prosecution deal with one of Epstein’s attorneys because he had “been told” to back off, that Epstein was above his pay grade. “I was told Epstein ‘belonged to intelligence’ and to leave it alone,” he told his interviewers in the Trump transition, who evidently thought that was a sufficient answer and went ahead and hired Acosta. (The Labor Department had no comment when asked about this.)” Wait, what? Holy shit.

3 alleged victims are mentioned in the indictment against Jeffrey Epstein. There are dozens more.

Jeffrey Epstein's attorneys propose home detention at his $77 million mansion ahead of bail hearing.

Trump’s latest morning of tweets was off the rails, even by his standards. Insults, lies, gaslighting, authoritarian threats — all before the coffee even hit.

Trump issued an executive order directing the Commerce Department to obtain citizenship data through means other than the US census, dropping a controversial plan to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census after the Supreme Court blocked it.

Nationwide immigration raids to arrest and deport families with court-ordered removals will begin on Sunday.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi reads from a "Know Your Rights" sheet during a press conference as major cities across the U.S. brace for sweeping deportation raids this weekend.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York suggested that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been "singling out" freshman congresswomen of color.

House Judiciary Committee votes to authorize subpoenas targeting current and former Trump administration officials. They’re approving subpoenas for 12 Mueller witnesses.

The Obamas' silence on Joe Biden is deafening. Yes. Yes it is.

Warren's new U.S. immigration policy would end border crossing as a crime.

The world's population is nearing 8 billion. That's not great news. It took thousands of years for the global population to hit 5 billion, which happened in 1987. Some 32 years later, we're closing in on 8 billion. And by 2050, the world is projected to add another 2 billion people.

World Population Day: These are the countries where women outnumber men the most.

Conspiracy theorists, far-right agitators head to White House with social media in their sights.

White House hosts social media summit without social media companies. The summit is basically a way for the Trump administration, yet again, to seize on the uncorroborated narrative that big tech and social media companies are engaged in some coordinated conspiracy against them. It lets conservatives fire up supporters, but in terms of accomplishing much, well, it probably won’t.

Trump rips tech firms at 'free speech' summit.

Increasing Support for Religiously Based Service Refusals. Holy cow these numbers are disgusting. Religion is often used as nothing more than a cover to express one’s hatred of others while simultaneously stroking the feeling of superiority among the oppressor.

“Allowing yourself to feel your righteous anger about the state of the country your kids are growing up in — no matter what cause may be fueling your passion — makes you more powerful, not less.”

Numerous charities say they never received donations touted by financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

School by day, assembly line by night: How teachers in South Carolina make ends meet.

Honeybees are getting hit by the Trump administration, as the US Department of Agriculture suspended data collection for its annual Honey Bee Colonies report, a critical tool for understanding the plummeting honeybee population. Um, no bees will leave us in trouble.

New Orleans faces a never-before-seen problem with Tropical Storm Barry.

The climate change policy with the most potential is the most neglected. Public clean energy R&D is overlooked and underfunded.

If you like women's soccer, you should know about Title IX.

How seizures can kill people with epilepsy in their sleep.

Google admits workers listen to recordings from some smart device.

Amazon wants to retrain a third of its US workforce to adapt to an economy increasingly disrupted by automation and new technology.

Toxic plant that causes blindness, 3rd degree burns spotted in Clark County (WA).

NFL player asks 'If the sun is hot how is outer space cold?' OMG this Twitter exchange.

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

Until next time, my friends. Good night.