Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Jack Shafer: Print Still Refuses to Surrender (Politico)
The readers have spoken: You can pry their newspapers from their cold, dead hands.
Paul Krugman: Donald the Menace (NY Times Column)
This isn't a strategy; it's a syndrome.
Mike Isaac: Uber C.E.O. to Leave Trump Advisory Council After Criticism (NY Times)
Outside of the internal pressure, Uber faced other fallout from Mr. Kalanick's stance. More than 200,000 [Uber] customers had deleted their accounts.
Paul Krugman: Twitter
About the Uber story: "Not trivial. Trump trying to bully business into being cheerleaders; making a Trump association poison blocks this."
Patton Oswalt: Facebook
The main thing that Trump supporters are excited about, now that he's president? Is that finally, at LOOOOOONG LAST, all of the awful things they want to say, that used to lose them friends and jobs and marriages? They're EXCITED about potentially getting to say them with ZERO repercussions. Just like Trump did. All the way into the White House. All the way into unlimited, forever power to spew any awful shit that comes to your head and no one dares correct you, rolls their eyes, or punches you in the nose. But … Trump's Teflon Umbrella covers Trump and no one else.
Zack Beauchamp: "Kellyanne Conway made up a fake terrorist attack to justify Trump's 'Muslim ban'" (Vox)
In an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews that aired on Thursday night, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway managed to get two huge things wrong in a short, 19-second answer. First, she said that the Obama administration banned Iraqi refugees from entering in the United States for six months in 2011 - which isflatly untrue. Second, and more significantly, she made up a terrorist attack committed by Iraqi refugees that never happened - the "Bowling Green Massacre"…
David Bruce: GOOD MUSLIMS (davidbruceblog)
President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order on immigration that bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries - Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, and Somalia -from entering the United States for the next 90 days. Since some people seem to have missed "Friendship is Magic" Day in pre-school, let me just point out that not all Muslims are terrorists; in fact, some of them are heroes and many or most are all-around good people.
David Bruce: Random Cute Woman (davidbruceblog)
Someone left this IMG on the computer at the library. I have no idea who this is, but she is cute.
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David Bruce has over 80 Kindle books on Amazon.com.
"Doug's Most Shared Facebook Post" Today
wrote:
took the day off.
has returned to semi-retired status.
Reader Suggestion
Michelle in AZ
Reader Comments
Current Events
People mock Kellyanne and her made up massacre, even invoking Frederick Douglass. (Cynthia shared the link)
Kellyanne Conway Cited A Nonexistent "Bowling Green Massacre" And People Freaked Out - BuzzFeed News
Welcome back! I've been in serious withdrawal--sucking my thumb, rocking catatonically. Glad you had a great time celebrating your dad. Happy too that you survived all the relatives--we all know how tough that can be.
Janet shared the attached re Lumpy's medical issues.
Here is my Valentine candy wish this year.
Linda >^..^<
We are all only temporarily able bodied.
Thanks, Linda (& Cynthia & Janet)!
Bonus Links
Jeannie the Teed-Off Temp
from Marc Perkel
Patriot Act
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
FALLING INTO THE BLACK HOLE OF STUPID!
THE REPUG "ALTERNATIVE FACTS" FACTORY IS WORKING OVERTIME!
STOP THE PIPELINE! STOP THE GUN NUTS! STOP THE SCUM OF THE EARTH!!! PART 1
STOP THE PIPELINE! STOP THE GUN NUTS! STOP THE SCUM OF THE EARTH!!! PART 2
STOP THE PIPELINE! STOP THE GUN NUTS! STOP THE SCUM OF THE EARTH!!! PART 3
TWO YEARS LATER IT'S STILL ON FIRE!
"AND THEN THEY CAME FOR ME."
"MAKE AMERICA WHITE AGAIN."
Visit JD's site - Kitty Litter Music
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Another rainy day.
New Yorker, Vanity Fair Pull Out of Weekend Events
White House Correspondents
The White House Correspondents Assn. is continuing its annual dinner this year, an event that usually draws a collection of Hollywood celebrities, news media stars and the president of the United States.
But there are signs that the red carpet glow of the Obama years will be more muted in the age of P-resident T-rump (R-Alt Reality), who, on his first day in office, said that he was at "war" with the media.
The New Yorker and Vanity Fair have each canceled their sponsorship of events surrounding the annual dinner, which is scheduled for April 29.
For years, the New Yorker hosted cocktail reception on the night before the dinner at the W Hotel in Washington, but the outlet has decided to cancel those plans this year, a New Yorker spokeswoman confirmed.
No reason was given, but it comes amid heightened scrutiny over the press coverage of the Trump administration, which has almost daily attacked the media for what it considers unfair coverage.
White House Correspondents
'Trash Radio' Under Fire
Canada
After a shooting rampage at a Quebec City mosque, the Canadian province's popular conservative talk radio hosts have come under fire for allegedly spreading intolerance and hate.
Critics say the talk shows fuel a divisive climate that allows extreme ideologies to take root and flourish -- a charge that has taken on heightened relevance after a gunman with far-right sympathies opened fire on Muslim worshippers, killing six and wounding eight more.
While not pointing a finger at any specific person or organization, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard emphasized Tuesday that "words do matter."
Some say that radio stations like local FM93 and Radio X -- which are respectively the region's second and third-most listened to, with a combined 30 percent market share -- simply reflect their audience's views.
But others say the shows stoke dangerous beliefs.
Canada
White House Thinks It's High-Tech
Skype
The daily White House press briefing went high-tech Wednesday. Press secretary Sean Spicer fielded questions from journalists around the country who participated via Skype, alongside their Washington-based colleagues in the room.
Spicer said at his first briefing last month that he planned to open the daily Q-and-A session to journalists who live more than 50 miles away from Washington as well as to news organizations whose reporters lack passes that grant daily access to the building.
"I think this can benefit us all by giving a platform to voices that are not necessarily based here in the Beltway," Spicer said at the time, using the nickname for I-495, the interstate highway that encircles Washington.
The White House hasn't said how regularly Spicer will take questions over Skype.
Skype
Flying Past Earth More Often
Asteroids
Space rocks appear to be taking aim at Earth. The fourth asteroid this year buzzed the Earth about midday Thursday, passing between the Earth and moon.
It wasn't quite as close as the one in September that missed us by just 24,000 miles, nearly as close as some geosynchronous satellites, or Sunday's visitor, which passed within 32,200 miles. The latter, which was just 19 feet wide, wasn't spotted until a few hours before it flew past.
Asteroid 2017 BS32, which was first spotted Monday by astronomers from the Panoramic Survey Telescope & Rapid Response System, was about 100,000 miles out when it made its pass. It measures 36-by-82 feet - about the size of a bus - and when it made its flyby at 3:23 p.m. EST, it was traveling more than 25,000 mph. The asteroid was 60 percent closer to Earth than the moon, which, on average, is 239,000 miles away.
Paul Cox of the Slooh observatory said the recent blitz of tiny planetoids could indicate they're pieces of a bigger planet that has broken up.
Asteroids
Defends T-rump
White House
President Trump (R-Pendejo) faced criticism for using his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday to mock the ratings on his old reality show, "The Apprentice," but White House press secretary Sean Spicer says it's wrong for people to "hone in" on those comments. Spicer discussed the speech in his daily briefing on Thursday when Yahoo News asked him why the president felt the prayer breakfast was an appropriate venue to discuss television ratings. The press secretary noted that Trump was introduced by the show's producer, Mark Burnett, at the breakfast.
"Look, Mark Burnett, the creator of 'The Apprentice,' who is a longtime supporter of the prayer breakfast but also has a personal relationship, was there. He meant it as a lighthearted moment, and I think if you look at the totality of his remarks, they were absolutely beautiful. And I think to hone in on that - it was a lighthearted moment he was trying to have with a big supporter of the national prayer breakfast and a personal friend," Spicer said.
Trump hosted "The Apprentice" in both its original and "Celebrity" versions for its first 14 seasons, from 2004 until early 2015. He retired from the show to run for president but remains an executive producer. Actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger replaced Trump as the host this year. Trump brought up the show early in his remarks at the prayer breakfast as he thanked Burnett for the introduction.
"We had tremendous success on 'The Apprentice.' And when I ran for president I had to leave the show. That's when I knew for sure I was doing it, and they hired a big, big movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to take my place. And we know how that turned out. The ratings went right down the tubes. It's been a total disaster. And Mark will never, ever bet against Trump again. And I want to just pray for Arnold if we can, for those ratings, OK?" Trump said.
Some observers, including Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume, thought Trump's boasting about his ratings was inappropriate for the religious event.
White House
OK With Corruption
U.S. House
Two major U.S. rules aimed at curbing corruption and pollution in the energy sector may be entirely wiped from the books by next week, after the Republican-led House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to repeal them.
The Senate is expected to take up repealing the rules, both of which were years in the making, as soon as Thursday.
Under the virtually untested Congressional Review Act, the Republican-led Congress can vote to permanently undo newly minted regulations. Agencies cannot revisit overturned regulations and timing in the law means any regulation enacted in the Obama administration's final months are eligible for axing.
Required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, the Securities and Exchange Commission's "extraction rule" was approved this summer to require companies such as Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp to publicly state the taxes and other fees they pay to governments.
Exxon, and other major energy corporations, fought for years to keep the rule from seeing the light of day. After a series of legal battles the SEC in June 2016 finally completed the rule, which supporters say can help expose questionable financial ties U.S. companies may have with foreign governments.
U.S. House
Held In US Over Iran Visa
Former Norwegian PM
A former Norwegian prime minister said he was held at a Washington airport for one hour because of an Iranian visa in his passport, an incident he described as "provocative".
"There is no reason to be afraid of a former head of government who has been on official visits several times to this country, including in the White House," Kjell Magne Bondevik, 69, told Norwegian broadcaster TV2 on Thursday.
Bondevik, who served as prime minister twice between 1997 and 2005, said immigration authorities held him on Tuesday for an hour and questioned him over an Iranian visa in his diplomatic passport.
The head of human rights organisation Oslo Centre, Bondevik flew to the US on Tuesday to attend a yearly event in Washington DC called the "National Prayer Breakfast". US President Donald Trump (R-Grifter) also attended the event.
Former Norwegian PM
Merging, Creating Industry Giant
CBS Radio, Entercom
CBS Corp. and radio station owner Entercom Communications said Thursday that they have entered an agreement, by which Entercom will combine with CBS Radio in a tax-free merger.
The transaction will create a sector giant with a nationwide footprint of 244 stations, broadcasting in 23 of the top 25 U.S. markets, as well as digital capabilities and a growing events platform.
CBS Radio owns 117 radio stations in 26 markets, including all of the top 10 radio markets as ranked by Nielsen Audio. Philadelphia-based Entercom is the fourth-largest radio company in the U.S. with 127 stations in 27 top markets. The combined company's pro forma revenue on a 12-months basis is approximately $1.7 billion, which would make it the second-largest radio station owner in the U.S., the firms said.
The companies said the deal will create a company with a market capitalization of over $2 billion, "a strong balance sheet, significant free cash flow generation and an attractive dividend, positioned to drive shareholder value."
CBS Radio was previously scheduled to be spun off in an IPO. CBS shareholders will own 72 percent of the new combined company, with Entercom shareholders owning the rest after the transaction, which will be tax-free for CBS and its shareholders.
CBS Radio, Entercom
Top 20
Global Concert Tours
The Top 20 Global Concert Tours ranks artists by average box office gross per city and includes the average ticket price for shows Worldwide. The list is based on data provided to the trade publication Pollstar by concert promoters and venue managers.
1. Guns N' Roses; $5,043,476; $101.18.
2. Adele; $3,399,416; $108.24.
3. Justin Bieber; $2,327,795; $77.90.
4. Kanye West; $2,059,813; $84.41.
5. Red Hot Chili Peppers; $1,516,916; $83.51.
6. Marc Anthony; $1,506,465; $123.41.
7. Elton John; $1,436,022; $116.43.
8. "The Illusionists"; $977,263; $68.79.
9. The Cure; $910,724; $62.10.
10. Stevie Nicks; $885,769; $98.05.
11. Sia; $821,290; $78.98.
12. Trans-Siberian Orchestra; $817,060; $59.44.
13. Andre Rieu; $806,999; $104.38.
14. Dolly Parton; $725,294; $92.34.
15. Carrie Underwood; $707,091; $71.02.
16. Keith Urban; $662,422; $70.27.
17. Maxwell / Mary J. Blige; $585,729; $85.90.
18. Florida Georgia Line; $561,449; $47.49.
19. Simply Red; $469,238; $60.14.
20. Jerry Seinfeld; $431,725; $92.83.
Global Concert Tours
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