Category Archives: Politics

2025.02.18

A quarter of US shoppers have dumped favorite stores over political stances A new poll also found that four in 10 Americans have shifted spending to align with moral views in recent months Lauren Aratani in New York https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/shoppers-political-boycotts-spending-patterns-poll

No evidence of hate crime in killing of US transgender man, authorities say Five people charged with murder in Sam Nordquist’s death in upstate New York also identified as LGBTQ+, say officials “A felony complaint obtained by 13WHAM provides gut-wrenching details of Nordquist’s brutal killing. Authorities say he was tortured and sexually assaulted using a table leg and broomsticks.

He was also reportedly subjected to repeated, prolonged beatings which included being punched, kicked and struck with various objects such as sticks, belts, ropes, dog toys and canes, ultimately leading to his death.'” Anna Betts https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/sam-nordquist-killing-hate-crime

‘He targeted me’: Guy Pearce says he ‘sobbed’ over Kevin Spacey encounters The Oscar-nominated actor has said he is attempting to be more candid about his former co-star’s alleged behaviour Catherine Shoard https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/feb/18/guy-pearce-kevin-spacey

Republican proposes making Trump’s birthday a public holiday Claudia Tenney’s bill combining Flag Day with Trump’s birthday could face steep odds of success in Congress Ramon Antonio Vargas https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/trump-birthday-holiday-republican-bill

Acting social security head who denied access to Musk team leaves agency Michelle King opts to retire after 30 years rather than grant request by ‘department of government efficiency’ Jessica Glenza https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/18/musk-social-security-administration-michelle-king

Why did a plane crash in Toronto, and how did everyone survive? James FitzGerald https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2dnnvvjkeo

Passenger films his escape from upside down crashed plane
A passenger has filmed his escape from an upside down plane after it skidded along a runway during a failed landing.
Video from inside the crashed plane at Toronto airport shows passengers clambering over belongings and seats to exit the aircraft. Crew on board the flight can be heard telling people to leave everything behind as they are helped through a plane door. All passengers survived when the plane skidded and overturned when it came into land. Footage on social media shows the aircraft in flames as it careered along the runway. https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c0lzl2ekrk5o

Authorities to give update after plane crashes and flips in Toronto https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c0q080y02xgt

New footage of Delta plane flip at Toronto airport

2025.02.15

Explainer
‘Thought crime’ and cancelled elections: how do JD Vance’s claims about Europe stand up?
US vice-president told litany of tales of Europe’s rights infringements in speech to leaders at defence gathering
Daniel Boffey and Alexandra Topping https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/14/thought-and-cancelled-elections-how-do-jd-vances-europe-claims-stand-up

Previous victim of woman linked to death of journalist says he tried to warn public David Butler survived being drugged and robbed in 2021 by Danette Colbert, now tied to death of Adan Manzano Ramon Antonio Vargas in Kenner, Louisiana https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/15/adan-manzano-super-bowl-journalist

British professor makes ‘thrilling’ breakthrough for cancer that killed his mother
Paul Workman has researched untreatable chordoma for years. Now new technology points towards to a potential drug to beat it
Robin McKie Science editor https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/feb/15/british-professor-paul-workman-cancer-breakthrough-chordoma

Extreme weather expected to cause food price volatility in 2025 after cost of cocoa and coffee doubles
Trend towards more extreme-weather events will continue to hit crop yields and create price spikes, Inverto says
Damien Gayle https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/15/extreme-weather-likely-to-cause-further-food-price-volatility-analysts-say

Pathfinder 1: The airship that could usher in a new age
QOTD: “Helium is less flammable than hydrogen, but there is a trade-off for this increased safety. ”
Mark Piesing
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250214-pathfinder-1-the-airship-that-could-usher-in-a-new-age

2024.09.07

Of local interest: HUGE Theater closing in October
After moving into a larger venue, financial barriers are keeping the improv theater from continuing operations.
Melody Hoffmann
https://www.southwestvoices.news/posts/huge-theater-closing-in-october

‘“Well, I would do that, and we’re sitting down — you know, I was, uh, somebody, we had Sen. Marco Rubio [(R-Fla.)] and my daughter, Ivanka, was so, uh, impactful on that issue. It’s a very important issue.
But I think when you talk about the kind of numbers that I’m talking about, that — because child care is child care. It’s, couldn’t — you know, it’s something, you have to have it. In this country, you have to have it.
But when you talk about those numbers compared to the kind of numbers that I’m talking about by taxing foreign nations at levels that they’re not used to but they’ll get used to it very quickly. And it’s not going to stop them from doing business with us, but they’ll have a very substantial tax when they send product into our country.
Those numbers are so much bigger than any numbers that we’re talking about, including child care, that it’s gonna take care. We’re gonna have — I, I look forward to having no deficits within a fairly short period of time. Coupled with, uh, the reductions that I told you about on waste and fraud and all of the other things that are going on in our country — because I have to say with child care, I want to stay with child care, but those numbers are small relative to the kind of economic numbers that I’m talking about, including growth.
But growth also headed up by what the plan is that I just, uh, that I just told you about. We’re gonna be taking in trillions of dollars, and as much as child care is talked about as being expensive, it’s, relatively speaking, not very expensive compared to the kind of numbers we’ll be taking in.
We’re going to make this into an incredible country that can afford to take care of its people and then we’ll worry about the rest of the world. Let’s help other people. But we’re gonna take care of our country first. This is about America first. It’s about: Make America great again. We have to do it, because right now we’re a failing nation. So we’ll take care of it. Thank you. Very good question.”’
Following Trump’s train of thought as it derails on a child care question
Trump sought out an applause line as if it were the sole exit in a flame-filled room.
Asked about paying for child care, Trump pivots to tariffs
Column by Philip Bump (DePayWalled)
https://wapo.st/3Xoz1B8

‘I’m a new racist’: Michigan judge suspended after insulting gay, Black people on recordings
Court worker secretly recorded calls in which Kathleen Ryan made homophobic slur and called Black people lazy
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/07/michigan-judge-kathleen-ryan-suspended

Missouri sees first positive bird flu case without known animal contact Also first time for someone with H5 virus to be hospitalized, and CDC says it is studying patient specimen more https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/sep/06/missouri-bird-flu-positive-hospitalized

Interview Pedro Almodóvar: ‘Life needs fiction to make it bearable’ Sam Jones The Spanish film-maker on the raw, real life experiences behind his first collection of short stories – and why his mother is his inspiration https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/sep/07/pedro-almodovar-life-needs-fiction-to-make-it-bearable

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for white cabbage, peanut butter and gochujang noodles You don’t need to be a straight A student to cook these easy instant noodles https://www.theguardian.com/food/article/2024/sep/07/student-recipe-vegan-cabbage-peanut-butter-noodles

Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes dies aged 83
Mendes, who popularised bossa nova among global audiences in the 1960s, had been suffering from the effects of long-term Covid, his family said
https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/sep/06/brazilian-musician-sergio-mendes-dies-aged-83

Well! Delta! Delta! Delta!

I now personally know two people, both younger than I am, one by a whole lot and the other much closer with post-vaccinated (breakthrough) COVID-19. The oldest one contracted it at a family reunion they held where at least one person (who worked in healthcare — irony much, had not been vaccinated), the second possibly a memorial service — I really don’t know. Several vaccinated people at the family reunion went on to test positive to COVID-19, but at least they are all having extremely mild cases (so far).

While I do not consider myself a nutter (who does, anyway?), this seems too high for the blather that’s getting kicked around in the press.

I suspect Herr Trump has done more damage to the government’s initialism health departments, or that we’re being lied to again for our own ‘protection.’ I know that too many people are watching Faux Newz, but I cannot change that.

Be careful out there and think about masking up, especially indoors. Oh, and tell all your non-vaccinated friends to go get vaccinated or to go to hell — their choice.

How can I get an appointment in Minnesota to get the vaccine? — Shamelessly Stolen from MinnPost

How can I get an appointment to get the vaccine?

There are several ways: You can sign up with the state’s Vaccine Connector website. After filling out some information about yourself, the state can send you information about potential vaccine appointments. The state also runs its own vaccine clinics and selects people through the vaccine connector to get inoculated. If chosen, you will be contacted via text, email or phone.

You can also sign up for a vaccine appointment online at the pharmacy chains Walgreens, Hy-Vee, Thrifty White, Walmart and Sam’s Club. You can check websites of those pharmacies directly, or you can scour several vaccine locator sites, run by the state, federal government or third parties.

The Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Spotter collects open appointments with frequent updates and includes links to sign up for shots. The Twitter account Minnesota Vaccine alerts (@mnvaccinealerts) automatically tweets when new openings are available in the state.

Your health care provider may also contact you to schedule an appointment as they move through patients based on COVID-19 risk and vaccination guidelines. And if you’re an essential worker, your employer may also reach out to you with a vaccine opportunity.

Link

Texas

Well! Of course, a progressive socialist state like Texas would be getting all of its power from renewable sources like wind turbines and rooftop solar panels! I’m sure every Republican in Texas can testify to that! They just love green and socialism down there!

Goodbye Herr Trump!

At last! At long last! Goodbye, Herr Trump. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass when you leave.

Your title is safe. History will remember you and your followers like they remember Mussolini and Hitler. Most of the rest of us are going to try and rinse the sour and bitter taste of the last four years away.