Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Helaine Olen: Brett Kavanaugh is out of step with how most Americans believe government regulation should work (Washington Post)
When people bash regulations, they forget an important fact: Many of those regulations now taken for granted came about not because things were wonderful, but because they were not. Poverty was rampant during the first gilded age, and working conditions were frequently inhumane. Politicians didn't enact the rules and regulations that make our lives healthier, wealthier and safer because they had a feckless hatred for business. Changes came about slowly, one by one, often after hard-fought battles.
Helaine Olen: It's all a game in Trump's America (Washington Post)
A game with few winners and many losers.
Helaine Olen: "'I can't afford that': A viral tweet shows why we need Medicare for all" (Washington Post)
Doctors are increasingly likely to say they support a single-payer system. Insurance-company C-suite executives are known to claim they are open to discussing it, too. Even Trump, according to journalist Michael Wolff in his book " Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," asked after he was elected, "Why can't Medicare simply cover everybody?" Why not, indeed.
Zoe Williams: "Algorithms are taking over - and woe betide anyone they class as a 'deadbeat'" (The Guardian)
I do, however, care that a program exists that will determine my eligibility for a loan by how often I call my mother. I care if landlords are using tools to rank their tenants by compliant behaviour, to create a giant, shared platform of desirable tenants, who never complain about black mould and greet each rent increase with a basket of muffins. I care if the police in Durham are using Experian credit scores to influence their custodial decisions, an example - as you may have guessed by its specificity - that is already real.
Tim Dowling: Americans! Here's how to blend in with the Brits for Trump's visit (The Guardian)
In advance of Donald Trump's visit to the UK this weekend - and the protests scheduled to coincide - the US embassy in London has taken the unprecedented step of warning Americans to "keep a low profile"and "exercise caution in the vicinity of large gatherings that may become violent".
Daniel Dockery: 5 Hollywood 'Bombs' That Made More Than Your Favorites (Cracked)
Recently, was announced, leaving most of the internet wondering if they'd died and gone to Hell and no one had told them. How could this happen? Wasn't Suicide Squad universally decided to be the literal worst thing ever? Didn't fans storm out of theaters demanding refunds? Well, that was the narrative fans came up with when they decided they didn't like the movie. It's only when you look at the numbers that you realize that some of the films we remember as hilarious failures actually did well, sometimes outperforming ones we thought were universally loved.
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Presenting
Michael Egan
took the day off.
has returned to semi-retired status.
In memory.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
Reader Comment
Current Events
Today's Borowitz
Priceless:
Merkel Asks Mueller If There's Anything She Can Do to Help
7/12/18 BRUSSELS (The Borowitz Report)-The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, took a break from the NATO summit in Brussels on Wednesday to ask the independent counsel, Robert Mueller, if there is anything she can do to help.
According to those familiar with the phone conversation, Merkel told Mueller that she would take a leave of absence as leader of the German government and move to Washington to work full-time for Mueller "if that would be of assistance."
Touting her credentials, Merkel told Mueller that she was fluent in Russian and could be helpful in translating the thousands of Russian-language documents that the special counsel has in his collection of evidence.
"I will work for free and pay for my own food," Merkel said. "I just want to make this stop."
Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
in the mail
Another One
marty - password1
I am aware, password1, is your password. You do not know me and you are most likely
wondering why you are getting this email, correct?
actually, I actually installed a malware on the adult videos (pornography) web site
and there's more, you visited this website to experience fun (you know what I mean).
While you were watching videos, your web browser started operating as a RDP (Remote
Desktop) having a keylogger which provided me accessibility to your screen and also
web camera. Right after that, my software program collected every one of your
contacts from your Messenger, FB, and email.
What did I do?
I created a double-screen video. First part shows the video you were viewing (you
have a nice taste haha), and second part displays the recording of your webcam.
What should you do?
Well, in my opinion, $3900 is a reasonable price for our little secret. You will
make the payment via Bitcoin (if you don't know this, search "how to buy bitcoin" in
Google).
BTC Address: 19kQT8RpsNNAM5UQ6RjRxRcHbeHhYf6SES
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)
Note:
You have one day to make the payment. (I've a unique pixel in this e mail, and now I
know that you have read through this email message). If I don't get the BitCoins, I
definitely will send your video recording to all of your contacts including members
of your family, coworkers, and many others. However, if I do get paid, I will
destroy the video immidiately. If you really want proof, reply with "Yes!" and I
will send out your video to your 11 contacts. It is a non-negotiable offer, thus
please don't waste my time and yours by responding to this email.
"Luelle Wrangham"
Hey Louelle - have you met Josephus?
Josephus asked for $1900 in Bitcoin, and you want 2000 more than that.
You did a pretty crappy cut & paste of your extortion note, and I have the same message for you that I had for Josephus.
Password1 has never been my password, my rig is so old it has a floppy drive and NO web cam, so, go ahead, post away.
Then kindly go fuck yourself.
XOXOXO,
marty
from Marc Perkel
Marc's Guide to Curing Cancer
So far so good on beating cancer for now. I'm doing fine. At the end of the month I'll be 16 months into an 8 month mean lifespan. And yesterday I went on a 7 mile hike and managed to keep up with the hiking group I was with. So, doing something right.
Still waiting for future test results and should see things headed in the right direction. I can say that it's not likely that anything dire happens in the short term so that means that I should have time to make several more attempts at this. So even if it doesn't work the first time there are a lot of variations to try. So if there's bad news it will help me pick the next radiation target.
I have written a "how to" guide for oncologists to perform the treatment that I got. I'm convinced that I'm definitely onto something and whether it works for me or not isn't the definitive test. I know if other people tried this that it would work for some of them, and if they improve it that it will work for a lot of them.
The guide is quite detailed and any doctor reading this can understand the procedure at every level. I also go into detail as to how it works, how I figured it out, and variations and improvements that could be tried to enhance it. I also introduce new ways to look at the problem. There is a lot of room for improvement and I think that doctors reading it will see what I'm talking about and want to build on it. And it's written so that if you're not a doctor you can still follow it. It also has a personal story revealing that I'm the class clown of cancer support group. I give great interviews and I look pretty hot in a lab coat.
So, feel free to read this and see what I'm talking about. But if any of you want to help then pass this around to both doctors and cancer patients. I need some media coverage. I'm looking for as many eyeballs as possible to read these ideas. Even if this isn't the solution, it's definitely on the right track. After all, I did hike 7 miles yesterday. And this hiking group wasn't moving slow. So if this isn't working then, why am I still here?
I also see curing cancer as more of an engineering problem that a medical problem. So if you are good at solving problems and most of what you know about medicine was watching the Dr. House MD TV show, then you're at the level I was at when I started. So anyone can jump in and be part of the solution.
Here is a link to my guide: Oncologists Guide to Curing Cancer using Abscopal Effect
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
'NO PROBLEM' WOO! WOO!
DON'T PLAY THE "TRUMP CARD".
'CONSERVATIVES LOVE ORIGINALISM'.
BILLY WAYNE MEETS ROY AND SARAH.
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
The skunks have returned.
Twitter Feud
Stephen King
Horror novelist Stephen King and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Smarmy) are trading barbs on Twitter after the author called on Texas to vote its junior senator out of office in November.
The battle began on Tuesday, when King offered a hearty endorsement to Cruz's rival, Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas).
Cruz responded on Wednesday with a post referencing several King characters.
Limousine liberal @StephenKing preaching socialism (but not his millions!) to Texas is pretty scary, kinda like Carrie riding Cujo, chopping through a door with an ax and saying "heeeeeeeeere's........Johnny!"
The "here's Johnny" line Cruz referred to isn't actually from King. It doesn't appear in The Shining novel, but rather the Stanley Kubrick film, which the author famously hated.
King let that one slide - but the motorcycle enthusiast wasn't going to let the limo dig cruise by.
Come on up to Maine, Ted, I'll give you a ride on my Harley. It was made in America before your boy Trump fucked up the company.
Stephen King
Mocks Palin
Sacha Baron Cohen
Sacha Baron Cohen, under the guise of a character from his upcoming series Who Is America? - set to premiere on Showtime on Sunday - penned a letter to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin a day after she derided him on Facebook for fooling her.
In a bit for the series, Cohen posed as a disabled military vet and interviewed her. In a lengthy Facebook post yesterday, Palin wrote, "We were duped. Ya got me, Sacha." She also called him evil, exploitative and sick. "Out of respect for what I was led to believe would be a thoughtful discussion with someone who had served in uniform, I sat through a long 'interview' full of Hollywoodism's [sic], disrespect and sarcasm - but finally had enough and literally, physically removed my mic and walked out, much to Cohen's chagrin," she wrote. "The disrespect of our U.S. military and middle-class Americans via Cohen's foreign commentaries under the guise of interview questions was perverse."
Today, Cohen's character, Billy Wayne Ruddick, Jr. PhD, tweeted his own lengthy letter at Palin. In the missive, he identified himself as the founder, CEO and accountant of Truthbrary.org. "I did NOT say I was a War Vet," he wrote. "I was in the service - not military, but United Parcel, and I only fought for my country once - when I shot a Mexican who came onto my property. (Coincidentaly [sic], just like our Great President, I was sadly prevented from joining the regular army on account of bone spurs bein [sic] discovered in my testies [sic])."
He also kept the ruse going. "I do believe you have been hit by a bullshit grenade and are now bleedin' FAKE NEWS," he wrote. "You used to hunt the most dangerous animals in the country, like wolves and people on welfare. So why hunt a fine citizen journalist like myself? I DEMAND an APOLOGY."
The post came with #MAGA, #buildthewall and #boycottsashacohen hash tags. Previous tweets from the account, which go back to May 15th, include many retweets of President Trump and links to his Truthbrary website.
Sacha Baron Cohen
Closes In On EGOT
John Legend
EGOTs are the stuff of Legend(s), it seems!
John Legend could be the next EGOT winner after he was nominated for an Emmy on Thursday morning - you might even want to call him a Superstar. The singer-come-actor scored a nomination in the category of Lead Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie for his role of Jesus in NBC's Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert.
Since Legend has already won a Grammy, Oscar, and Tony over the course of his career, if he nabs the Emmy award on Sept. 17, he will join the coveted group of, ahem, legends (there are only 12 in total!) who have already scored wins at all four of the award ceremonies including the likes of Rita Moreno, Whoopi Goldberg, Audrey Hepburn, and Mel Brooks.
Legend kicked off his award-winning streak back in 2006 when he landed his first Grammy for Best New Artist, as well as Best R&B Album for Get Lifted. He has since won eight more Grammy Awards. Then, in 2015, he scored an Oscar for his song "Glory" from the movie Selma and in 2017 he won a Tony for Best Revival of a Play as a co-producer of Jitney.
NBC's live telling of Andrew Lloyd Webber's stage musical Jesus Christ Superstar was nominated in 12 other categories - brining its total to 13 nominations - including Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series for Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, Outstanding Production Design, and Outstanding Casting for a special.
John Legend
Charges Dropped
Stormy Daniels
Authorities dropped the charges against adult film star Stormy Daniels Thursday after she was taken into custody during a performance at a strip club in Ohio, which her lawyer called a "politically motivated" setup.
Daniels, who made headlines earlier this year over her claims of an alleged affair with President-for-now Donald Trump (R-Flaccid), was arrested Wednesday night while performing at the Sirens Gentlemen's Club in Columbus after she allegedly allowed "a customer to touch her while on stage," her attorney, Michael Avenatti, said via Twitter early Thursday morning.
Daniels was charged with three violations of illegal sexual orientation activity in a sexually oriented business. Those charges were dropped Thursday afternoon, according to court documents.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, had allegedly touched some of the patrons' breasts and allowed them to touch her, according to court documents obtained by ABC Columbus affiliate WSYX-TV. She had allegedly performed the same act with several officers who approached the stage and forced one officer's head into her bare chest.
The documents did not indicate whether the officers were in plain clothes or in uniform at the time.
Stormy Daniels
Ruled Against Workers When No One Else Did
Kavanaugh
In 2005, a group of workers at a meatpacking plant in Brooklyn voted to join a union. Their employer, a kosher meat wholesaler called Agri Processor, fought the organizing effort as best it could. Once the workers were unionized, the company refused to bargain, arguing that most of them weren't covered by collective bargaining law because they were undocumented immigrants.
Ultimately, neither the National Labor Relations Board nor the majority of judges on a panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed with Agri Processor. The only one who did was Brett Kavanaugh, the circuit judge who wrote a dissent in the case and is now President Donald Trump's nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
The Agri Processor case provides a window into Kavanaugh's thinking when it comes to workers' rights. Like the conservative justices he would join at the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh has tended to side with employers in workplace disputes. If confirmed, he would almost certainly continue the Supreme Court's run of business-friendly rulings in contentious, precedent-setting cases that have weakened labor unions and class-action lawsuits in recent years.
Yet despite his conservative track record, it's unlikely that the seating of Kavanaugh would create a dramatic rightward shift in the court when it comes to labor law. That's because the justice he would be replacing was already a reliable vote for management in major decisions.
Though often a swing vote on social issues, Kennedy tended to side with the conservative wing in blockbuster employment cases, including two from this term: Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis, which made it legal for employers to require workers to sign class-action waivers, and Janus v. AFSCME, which will likely decrease union membership by making the entire public sector right-to-work.
Kavanaugh
Malls Sharing License Plate Data
California
California shopping centers are sending data from license plate readers to a private surveillance technology company that partners with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), according to a new report.
The revelation comes at a time of increasing scrutiny of tech firms and private companies that build tools and provide services for the Trump administration's increasingly aggressive immigration policy. A new research paper this week has also exposed the ways in which prison companies appear to be influencing immigration policy and profiting from expanding partnerships with Ice.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation found that Irvine Company, a real estate developer that operates dozens of malls throughout California, has been conducting vehicle license plate reader surveillance for Vigilant Solutions, a firm that maintains databases and works with law enforcement. The automated license plate recognition technology allows cameras to capture images of plates and link them to GPS locations.
Earlier this year, US officials confirmed that Ice had developed a contract with Vigilant that would give immigration authorities access to the company's vast database during investigations, sparking privacy concerns and protests. Vigilant has refused to comment on its relationship with Ice.
After the EFF published its report on Tuesday, Irvine Company officials said the firm's contract with Vigilant specified that the data was "only shared with local police departments". A spokesman told the Guardian that the technology was in use at three southern California shopping malls - Irvine Spectrum Center in the city of Irvine, Fashion Island in Newport Beach, and the Market Place in Tustin.
California
Life On Mars
NASA
Finding proof that life once existed on Mars would be one of the biggest scientific breakthroughs in the history of mankind, which is why NASA has spent decades trying to make it happen. One of the earliest attempts to find the leftovers of life on the Red Planet came in the 1970s, but a new research paper suggests that the instrument NASA used to study samples of Mars soil may have actually destroyed the very evidence that it was hoping to discover.
The paper, which was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, focuses on the Viking Program which successfully landed a pair of spacecraft on the Martian surface. Once there, the landers were designed to analyze the planet's soil and, ideally, discover organic remains that pointed to the presence of life long ago. Things may have gone very wrong from there.
The paper's lead author proposes that, when the Viking landers heated the soil samples in order to analyze the vapors they produced, they actually caused an ignition. A type of combustible salt called perchlorate was found in the Martian soil back in 2008, but that was decades after the Viking landers had performed their sample readings. The paper suggests that it's possible the Viking landers accidentally burned up the samples they were trying to test. Whoops!
As Tech Times points out, when the landers relayed their readings back to Earth they were devoid of evidence of organic life. Later missions to the Red Planet did indeed reveal the presence of organic molecules, but those obviously wouldn't have been present in the Viking data if it had accidentally roasted the samples it was supposed to be analyzing.
Scientists still can't say with utter certainty whether life ever existed on Mars. The presence of organic molecules is a big hint, but there are other natural processes that could have produced them without actually resulting in life, and that's preventing anyone from declaring that life has been proven. Still, we're getting close, and even if Viking could have delivered the evidence decades ago, we may not have to wait much longer to find it again.
NASA
A Discovery
China
Stone tools recovered from an excavation in China suggest that our evolutionary forerunners trekked out of Africa earlier than we thought.
Until now, the oldest evidence of human-like creatures outside Africa came from 1.8 million-year-old artifacts and skulls found in the Georgian town of Dmanisi. But the new find pushes that back by at least 250,000 years.
"It's absolutely a new story," said archaeologist Michael Petraglia of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Jena, Germany, who did not participate in the study. "It means that early humans were getting out of Africa way earlier than we ever realized."
That exit came long before our own species, Homo sapiens, even appeared. The researchers believe the tools were made by another member of the Homo evolutionary group.
The items included several chipped rocks, fragments and hammer stones. The 96 artifacts were dug up in an area known as the Loess Plateau, north of the Qinling mountains, which divide the north and south of China. Some of them were as old as 2.1 million years, according to the study in Wednesday's journal Nature.
China
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