Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
October 27, 2021
(Salon) Is playing politics with a deadly pandemic a crime against humanity? The Brazilian Senate thinks so, and they have backed a report calling for charges against President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of COVID-19.
The committee that prepared the report had originally called for Bolsonaro to be charged with genocide and mass homicide against the indigenous people of Brazil as well but those charges were removed by the larger Senate before the vote. Whether the crimes against humanity charges will be sent to the International Criminal Court for investigation and adjudication is unknown. If they are, it will be a first.
The 1,300-page report also calls for eight other charges against Bolsonaro, including misuse of public funds and spreading fake news about the pandemic as well as falsification of documents and incitement to crime, which they referred to Brazil's top prosecutor, an ally of the president who is unlikely to prosecute.
....(snip)....
Here in the U.S., the task of investigating what happened with the pandemic has fallen to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which has kept a pretty low profile these last few months. But on Tuesday they took the testimony of Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump's COVID-19 coordinator. According to the New York Times, Brix reiterated her earlier shocking claim that at least 130,000 lives were unnecessarily lost because the administration refused to do everything it could to ensure the nation followed the public health recommendations to mitigate the spread of the disease.
But in her testimony this week she also said that as the pandemic wore on into the summer and fall, the administration became distracted by the presidential campaign and pretty much lost interest in the crisis. In other words, a lot of people died so that Donald Trump could get elected. ...........(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/27/a-against-humanity-dr-deborah-brix-admits-campaign-distracted-from-response/
Too little, too late from Dr. Birx?
(Salon) Is playing politics with a deadly pandemic a crime against humanity? The Brazilian Senate thinks so, and they have backed a report calling for charges against President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of COVID-19.
The committee that prepared the report had originally called for Bolsonaro to be charged with genocide and mass homicide against the indigenous people of Brazil as well but those charges were removed by the larger Senate before the vote. Whether the crimes against humanity charges will be sent to the International Criminal Court for investigation and adjudication is unknown. If they are, it will be a first.
The 1,300-page report also calls for eight other charges against Bolsonaro, including misuse of public funds and spreading fake news about the pandemic as well as falsification of documents and incitement to crime, which they referred to Brazil's top prosecutor, an ally of the president who is unlikely to prosecute.
....(snip)....
Here in the U.S., the task of investigating what happened with the pandemic has fallen to the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, which has kept a pretty low profile these last few months. But on Tuesday they took the testimony of Dr. Deborah Birx, Trump's COVID-19 coordinator. According to the New York Times, Brix reiterated her earlier shocking claim that at least 130,000 lives were unnecessarily lost because the administration refused to do everything it could to ensure the nation followed the public health recommendations to mitigate the spread of the disease.
But in her testimony this week she also said that as the pandemic wore on into the summer and fall, the administration became distracted by the presidential campaign and pretty much lost interest in the crisis. In other words, a lot of people died so that Donald Trump could get elected. ...........(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/27/a-against-humanity-dr-deborah-brix-admits-campaign-distracted-from-response/
October 27, 2021
A Florida man has been arrested for pleasuring himself with an ice pack while first responders were on-call to assist him with breathing issues.
On October 14, 30-year-old Terry Majors of Pinellas County, Florida was arrested and charged with exposure of sexual organs, a misdemeanor. He was released on October 15 on his own recognizance.
According to an arrest report, Majors called 911 because he was experiencing shortness of breath. Once the EMT crew arrived, Majors removed his clothing and began masturbating with an ice pack, "in the presence of first responders," according to police. .........(more)
https://www.newsweek.com/florida-man-arrested-pleasuring-himself-ice-pack-front-first-responders-police-1640068
Florida Man Arrested for Pleasuring Himself With Ice Pack in Front of First Responders: Police
A Florida man has been arrested for pleasuring himself with an ice pack while first responders were on-call to assist him with breathing issues.
On October 14, 30-year-old Terry Majors of Pinellas County, Florida was arrested and charged with exposure of sexual organs, a misdemeanor. He was released on October 15 on his own recognizance.
According to an arrest report, Majors called 911 because he was experiencing shortness of breath. Once the EMT crew arrived, Majors removed his clothing and began masturbating with an ice pack, "in the presence of first responders," according to police. .........(more)
https://www.newsweek.com/florida-man-arrested-pleasuring-himself-ice-pack-front-first-responders-police-1640068
October 26, 2021
Madison Cawthorn wants American women to raise more "monsters." They already are
GOP wonder boy tells on himself: Cawthorn calls on (white) women to do their duty by raising little fascists
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 26, 2021 6:00AM
(Salon) When they keep telling you who they really are, believe them. Unfortunately, too many Americans are still in a state of denial, five years or more after Donald Trump and the Republican fascists dropped the mask and revealed their true intentions.
If America's democracy crisis is a fever, it shows no sign of breaking. Indeed, the normalization of political and social deviance has taken a firm hold among tens of millions of Americans who support Trump and the Republican-fascist movement — and their numbers keep growing.
But the Trump phenomenon is not the root cause of what's wrong with America: it reflects a much deeper political and societal sickness.
Last week on Twitter, Dr. Bandy Lee, co-editor of the bestselling book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," used powerful language to describe America in this moment: "We know that, when the sewage system is not cleaned up, it becomes a breeding ground for disease. It is the same for society: when the political and economic systems are not cleaned up, it becomes an environment for mental pathology to thrive."
....(snip)....
During his speech, Cawthorn tried to cloak his call for breeding sociopathic white men with claims that his primary concern was about declining testosterone rates. In reality, he is embracing and encouraging an ideal of (white) fascist motherhood. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/26/cawthorn-raising-more-boys-to-be-monsters/
Madison Cawthorn wants American women to raise more "monsters." They already are
Madison Cawthorn wants American women to raise more "monsters." They already are
GOP wonder boy tells on himself: Cawthorn calls on (white) women to do their duty by raising little fascists
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 26, 2021 6:00AM
(Salon) When they keep telling you who they really are, believe them. Unfortunately, too many Americans are still in a state of denial, five years or more after Donald Trump and the Republican fascists dropped the mask and revealed their true intentions.
If America's democracy crisis is a fever, it shows no sign of breaking. Indeed, the normalization of political and social deviance has taken a firm hold among tens of millions of Americans who support Trump and the Republican-fascist movement — and their numbers keep growing.
But the Trump phenomenon is not the root cause of what's wrong with America: it reflects a much deeper political and societal sickness.
Last week on Twitter, Dr. Bandy Lee, co-editor of the bestselling book "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," used powerful language to describe America in this moment: "We know that, when the sewage system is not cleaned up, it becomes a breeding ground for disease. It is the same for society: when the political and economic systems are not cleaned up, it becomes an environment for mental pathology to thrive."
....(snip)....
During his speech, Cawthorn tried to cloak his call for breeding sociopathic white men with claims that his primary concern was about declining testosterone rates. In reality, he is embracing and encouraging an ideal of (white) fascist motherhood. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/26/cawthorn-raising-more-boys-to-be-monsters/
October 25, 2021
(Guardian UK) The number of new Covid cases and deaths in the United States has been in a steady decline since early September, prompting many infectious disease experts to conclude that the worst impacts of the pandemic in America are probably in the past.
But in the same breath, those experts also caution that it’s not yet safe to abandon safeguards against the virus. That’s because parts of the US population and much of the world remain unvaccinated, which could allow for outbreaks and dangerous new variants of the virus to emerge.
“My most optimistic assessment is that if we keep vaccinating, sometime during late fall, into the winter, the pandemic phase of Covid will be substantially reduced over much of the United States,” said William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
He added: “We could move from pandemic to endemic, and endemic means that the virus remains in the community, akin to influenza, smolders along, keeps being transmitted, but the rate of disease that occurs is profoundly diminished, and the impact on individuals and health systems is very much controlled.” ............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/us-covid-coronavirus-pandemic-experts
Worst of US pandemic likely behind us but we can't drop our guard, experts say
(Guardian UK) The number of new Covid cases and deaths in the United States has been in a steady decline since early September, prompting many infectious disease experts to conclude that the worst impacts of the pandemic in America are probably in the past.
But in the same breath, those experts also caution that it’s not yet safe to abandon safeguards against the virus. That’s because parts of the US population and much of the world remain unvaccinated, which could allow for outbreaks and dangerous new variants of the virus to emerge.
“My most optimistic assessment is that if we keep vaccinating, sometime during late fall, into the winter, the pandemic phase of Covid will be substantially reduced over much of the United States,” said William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
He added: “We could move from pandemic to endemic, and endemic means that the virus remains in the community, akin to influenza, smolders along, keeps being transmitted, but the rate of disease that occurs is profoundly diminished, and the impact on individuals and health systems is very much controlled.” ............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/25/us-covid-coronavirus-pandemic-experts
October 25, 2021
Is there an "energy crisis"? Not really — fossil fuels are collapsing, and it's high time
Why are energy prices spiking? Mostly because we're not making the transition to wind and solar fast enough
By CARL POPE
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2021 5:45AM
(Salon) The Economist calls it "The Energy Shock." Forbes and the Wall Street Journal go further, resurrecting a term from the 1970s: "Energy Crisis." The media is hyperventilating.
But what is going on, really? I'd describe it as the first fossil fuel collapse of the clean energy transition, or even as proof that cleaner and faster means cheaper and stable energy." That's quite different from the Economist subhead, which pushes the idea there are "grave problems with the transition to clean energy."
What does the evidence show? First, renewable wind and solar increased their contribution to global energy supply by a record 8% in 2021, providing 8,300 TeraWatt hours (TWH) of clean, cheap power. Wind generation globally grew by 17%, in spite of poor winds in parts of Europe. Overall, renewable power delivered 30% of the world's electrons in the first year of pandemic recovery.
This clean energy growth occurred despite the fact that governments provide $600 billion per year to subsidize the use of fossil fuels. This new wind and solar power was cheaper than coal and gas in virtually every case. Indeed, the only major exceptions — meaning economies where fossil fuel generation is still cheaper than renewables — are Russia and Mexico (cheap gas), along with Japan and Indonesia (cheap coal). ............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/25/is-there-an-energy-crisis-not-really--fossil-fuels-are-collapsing-and-its-high-time/
Is there an "energy crisis"? Not really -- fossil fuels are collapsing, and it's high time
Is there an "energy crisis"? Not really — fossil fuels are collapsing, and it's high time
Why are energy prices spiking? Mostly because we're not making the transition to wind and solar fast enough
By CARL POPE
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 25, 2021 5:45AM
(Salon) The Economist calls it "The Energy Shock." Forbes and the Wall Street Journal go further, resurrecting a term from the 1970s: "Energy Crisis." The media is hyperventilating.
But what is going on, really? I'd describe it as the first fossil fuel collapse of the clean energy transition, or even as proof that cleaner and faster means cheaper and stable energy." That's quite different from the Economist subhead, which pushes the idea there are "grave problems with the transition to clean energy."
What does the evidence show? First, renewable wind and solar increased their contribution to global energy supply by a record 8% in 2021, providing 8,300 TeraWatt hours (TWH) of clean, cheap power. Wind generation globally grew by 17%, in spite of poor winds in parts of Europe. Overall, renewable power delivered 30% of the world's electrons in the first year of pandemic recovery.
This clean energy growth occurred despite the fact that governments provide $600 billion per year to subsidize the use of fossil fuels. This new wind and solar power was cheaper than coal and gas in virtually every case. Indeed, the only major exceptions — meaning economies where fossil fuel generation is still cheaper than renewables — are Russia and Mexico (cheap gas), along with Japan and Indonesia (cheap coal). ............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/10/25/is-there-an-energy-crisis-not-really--fossil-fuels-are-collapsing-and-its-high-time/
October 23, 2021
(Detroit Metro Times) Former President Donald Trump’s pick for Michigan secretary of state, Kristina Karamo, plans to deliver a speech at a major QAnon conference in Las Vegas this weekend called “For God & Country: Patriot Double Down.”
The Oak Park Republican with no political experience received Trump’s endorsement after she falsely claimed Michigan officials rigged the election. She continues to trumpet lies about the election and is still calling for an Arizona-style audit, even after that state’s examination reaffirmed Biden's victory and contradicted claims about fraud last month.
Karamo announced her participation in the conference on Facebook on Oct. 2.
“Come to the Patriot Double Down Where I will be speaking!!!” she wrote.
The conference is organized by John Sabal, a Trump loyalist and prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist known as “QAnon John.” Also set to attend are Jim and Ron Watkins, a father-and-son duo that some experts believe invented “Q,” and three Arizona lawmakers who were involved in the state’s deeply flawed election audit. ..............(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/10/21/trump-endorsed-gop-candidate-for-michigan-secretary-of-state-to-speak-at-qanon-conference#.YXQhCqLP0LQ.link
Trump-endorsed GOP candidate for Michigan Secretary of State to speak at QAnon conference
(Detroit Metro Times) Former President Donald Trump’s pick for Michigan secretary of state, Kristina Karamo, plans to deliver a speech at a major QAnon conference in Las Vegas this weekend called “For God & Country: Patriot Double Down.”
The Oak Park Republican with no political experience received Trump’s endorsement after she falsely claimed Michigan officials rigged the election. She continues to trumpet lies about the election and is still calling for an Arizona-style audit, even after that state’s examination reaffirmed Biden's victory and contradicted claims about fraud last month.
Karamo announced her participation in the conference on Facebook on Oct. 2.
“Come to the Patriot Double Down Where I will be speaking!!!” she wrote.
The conference is organized by John Sabal, a Trump loyalist and prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist known as “QAnon John.” Also set to attend are Jim and Ron Watkins, a father-and-son duo that some experts believe invented “Q,” and three Arizona lawmakers who were involved in the state’s deeply flawed election audit. ..............(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/10/21/trump-endorsed-gop-candidate-for-michigan-secretary-of-state-to-speak-at-qanon-conference#.YXQhCqLP0LQ.link
October 23, 2021
A Florida man appearing for arraignment ended up behind bars again Tuesday (October 19) after "violating the letter of law," as the Smoking Gun puts it.
Authorities in Indian River County arrested 26-year-old Jordan Thomas for allegedly battering a woman at a courthouse, but what he used was the bizarre part. An arrest report claims Thomas took "a signage letter from the blackboard in front of Court Room 3" and threw it at Shanterria Rolle, a 23-year-old Vero Beach resident. The letter "G" ended up hitting the victim, cops say.
Thomas, an Amazon driver, was being arraigned for a misdemeanor charge of battery, reporters say. He was accused of attacking Rolle in September, authorities confirmed. Officials say they caught the chaos on video while they were in recess. .............(more)
https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-10-22-florida-man-arrested-after-throwing-a-g-at-woman/
Florida Man Arrested After Throwing A 'G' At Woman
A Florida man appearing for arraignment ended up behind bars again Tuesday (October 19) after "violating the letter of law," as the Smoking Gun puts it.
Authorities in Indian River County arrested 26-year-old Jordan Thomas for allegedly battering a woman at a courthouse, but what he used was the bizarre part. An arrest report claims Thomas took "a signage letter from the blackboard in front of Court Room 3" and threw it at Shanterria Rolle, a 23-year-old Vero Beach resident. The letter "G" ended up hitting the victim, cops say.
Thomas, an Amazon driver, was being arraigned for a misdemeanor charge of battery, reporters say. He was accused of attacking Rolle in September, authorities confirmed. Officials say they caught the chaos on video while they were in recess. .............(more)
https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-10-22-florida-man-arrested-after-throwing-a-g-at-woman/
October 22, 2021
Oct. 18—Train service will resume on Monday between Sacramento and Bakersfield after a 19-month COVID-related suspension.
The 6:26 a.m. San Joaquins Amtrak train leaving from Sacramento will be the first since March 2020 after ridership collapsed following the pandemic, said David Lipari, marketing manager for the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.
"We are really excited about it," said Lipari. "Before the pandemic it was a very popular train since it was the first train down The Valley."
A second train will depart Bakersfield on Monday at 6:12 p.m arriving in Sacramento at 11:35 p.m. ...............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21243041/ca-amtrak-train-service-from-sacramento-to-bakersfield-back-on-track-after-covid-hiatus
CA: Amtrak train service from Sacramento to Bakersfield back on track after COVID hiatus
Oct. 18—Train service will resume on Monday between Sacramento and Bakersfield after a 19-month COVID-related suspension.
The 6:26 a.m. San Joaquins Amtrak train leaving from Sacramento will be the first since March 2020 after ridership collapsed following the pandemic, said David Lipari, marketing manager for the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority.
"We are really excited about it," said Lipari. "Before the pandemic it was a very popular train since it was the first train down The Valley."
A second train will depart Bakersfield on Monday at 6:12 p.m arriving in Sacramento at 11:35 p.m. ...............(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21243041/ca-amtrak-train-service-from-sacramento-to-bakersfield-back-on-track-after-covid-hiatus
October 22, 2021
(Guardian UK) African American candidates running for the US Senate smashed campaign fundraising records over the past three months, raising hopes of transforming a body that remains overwhelmingly white.
There have only been 11 Black senators since the chamber first convened in 1789 and only two were women. Senator Kamala Harris’s ascent to the vice-presidency means there are currently no female members who are Black.
But in the most recent Federal Election Commission reporting period, African Americans posted huge sums from donors, especially in the south, suggesting the potential to build a pipeline of Black politicians who can excite the grassroots and reshape the government.
Democrat Raphael Warnock, a pastor who won a crucial runoff in January to become Georgia’s first Black senator, took in a staggering $9.5m over three months for his re-election bid. Val Demings, a congresswoman and former police chief challenging the Republican senator Marco Rubio in Florida, was close behind with $8.5m. .............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/22/black-candidates-us-senate-fundraising-records-2022-midterms
Black candidates for US Senate smash fundraising records for 2022 midterms
(Guardian UK) African American candidates running for the US Senate smashed campaign fundraising records over the past three months, raising hopes of transforming a body that remains overwhelmingly white.
There have only been 11 Black senators since the chamber first convened in 1789 and only two were women. Senator Kamala Harris’s ascent to the vice-presidency means there are currently no female members who are Black.
But in the most recent Federal Election Commission reporting period, African Americans posted huge sums from donors, especially in the south, suggesting the potential to build a pipeline of Black politicians who can excite the grassroots and reshape the government.
Democrat Raphael Warnock, a pastor who won a crucial runoff in January to become Georgia’s first Black senator, took in a staggering $9.5m over three months for his re-election bid. Val Demings, a congresswoman and former police chief challenging the Republican senator Marco Rubio in Florida, was close behind with $8.5m. .............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/oct/22/black-candidates-us-senate-fundraising-records-2022-midterms
October 21, 2021
A Tufts University lacrosse player choked to death in a charity hot dog-eating contest over the weekend, according to reports.
Madie Nicpon, a 20-year-old junior described by friends as a generous teammate who planned a career in medicine, was competing with other students in the “Play for Pink” breast cancer awareness fundraiser at an off-campus home in Somerville, Massachusetts, Saturday when the accident happened, a friend told NewsCenter 5.
First responders performed “extensive lifesaving procedures,” Tufts said in a statement. Nicpon was pronounced dead a day later at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Emails from school administrators confirmed her death, the Tufts Daily school newspaper reported. Around 3,000 gathered Sunday for a memorial at the Gantcher Center and mourners made their way to the lacrosse field, where candles were placed around Nicpon’s lacrosse jerseys, the school paper noted. ...........(more)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tufts-lacrosse-hot-dog-eating-contest_n_61713333e4b010d9330cd00c?
Tufts Lacrosse Player Madie Nicpon Dies After Choking In Charity Hot Dog-Eating Contest
A Tufts University lacrosse player choked to death in a charity hot dog-eating contest over the weekend, according to reports.
Madie Nicpon, a 20-year-old junior described by friends as a generous teammate who planned a career in medicine, was competing with other students in the “Play for Pink” breast cancer awareness fundraiser at an off-campus home in Somerville, Massachusetts, Saturday when the accident happened, a friend told NewsCenter 5.
First responders performed “extensive lifesaving procedures,” Tufts said in a statement. Nicpon was pronounced dead a day later at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Emails from school administrators confirmed her death, the Tufts Daily school newspaper reported. Around 3,000 gathered Sunday for a memorial at the Gantcher Center and mourners made their way to the lacrosse field, where candles were placed around Nicpon’s lacrosse jerseys, the school paper noted. ...........(more)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tufts-lacrosse-hot-dog-eating-contest_n_61713333e4b010d9330cd00c?
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit, MI
Member since: Fri Oct 29, 2004, 12:18 AM
Number of posts: 77,091