jmbar2
jmbar2's JournalInfestation of 'drug-addicted rats eating crime evidence in Houston
Around 400,000 pounds of marijuana sits in the department’s property room — and only the rats are enjoying it, according to Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
“The problem has been so much evidence is kept and stored that is no longer needed that has no impact on the resolution of that charge, that conviction or even that innocence,” Whitmire said Friday.
The police department first learned of the rat infestation in October of last year.
“They have had professional exterminators involved, but this is difficult getting these rodents out of there,” Stout said. “I mean, think about it, they are drug-addicted rats. They’re tough to deal with.”
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/houston/2025/01/13/510637/infestation-of-drug-addicted-rats-prompting-purge-of-backlogged-houston-evidence-room/
Frugal tip - what to do with the coins in your coinjar
I saw this on YouTube and thought it was brilliant.
Skip CoinStar and save the money they scalp. Just go through self-checkout at Walmart, buy something, and pour your change into the coin slot. Genius!
Trump's threats about Greenland, Panama and Canada follow 3-step Russian negotiating tactic
https://x.com/MunSecConf/status/1512451999622643714Jimmy Carter's memorial service was one of the most uplifting things I've seen in years.
It was a celebration of goodness --a reminder that true goodness does, and can exist. All we have to do it to live it daily in our lives and dealings with others. Joe Biden will be remembered similarly.
We haven't heard much about the goodness in people lately. I hope that this will rekindle a commitment to kindness and caring in those who were touched by this truly enlightened man.
Trump had an opportunity to see how a truly great President is honored, and to contemplate on his own remembrance in the not-too-distant future.
He has little ability to be self-reflective, and slept through a lot of the most profound eulogies. But maybe, just maybe, a small spark of desire to remembered as a good man penetrated his empty soul today.
Prima(te) ballerina: errant monkey in a tutu leads Missouri police a merry dance
Because sometimes we need a light story to retain our sanity...
The Jefferson county sheriff’s office described the apprehension of the primate in a Facebook post as “Bananas”.
The spider monkey was spotted on Friday afternoon at the intersection of two highways near the town of Otto, just to the south of the St Louis area. The monkey had been staying at a nearby home when it managed to open a door and get outside.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/06/monkey-tutu-missouri#img-2
Assad allegedly poisoned in Russia
Would you like a nice cup of tea?
I know, it's the Sun, but interesting if true...
https://x.com/P_Kallioniemi/status/1874800904479920407
NOLA news paywall lifted for latest on New Orleans terror attack - best source
The terrorist may have set AirBnB on fire as well.
https://www.nola.com/news/bourbon-street-killing-new-orleans/article_cd5f70ec-c84d-11ef-bdf1-6bf3f3356356.html
Jimmy Carter's mother delivered Rosalynn. So Jimmy knew her from the day she was born.
Shortly after Rosalynn was born, Miss Lillian brought her 3-year-old son, Jimmy, into the hospital to make a new friend. (There have been conflicting reports on the exact timing that Jimmy was introduced to Rosalynn, though biographer Jonathan Alter previously told PEOPLE it happened three days after her birth.)
https://people.com/rosalynn-carter-never-knew-life-without-jimmy-7152295
President Carter remembered in Hungary for returning the royal crown after safekeeping during WWII
Great story...
https://x.com/panyiszabolcs
The great STEM worker shortage - a zombie lie that never dies
I started researching this supposed shortage over 20 years ago when I was doing labor market research for a university. Ron Hira has been writing about it for longer than that.
Labor market "shortages" are not shortages, anymore than expensive oranges are orange "shortages". These insidious lies can cause people to misinvest in education and training, and to take on student debt that cannot be repaid.
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Is There Really a STEM Workforce Shortage?
By Ron Hira
Frequently, the main stakeholder groups steering these conversations—businesses, universities, and government research agencies—benefit from the push to train and import more STEM workers. Others, including students and workers, rarely have their interests formally represented in these discussions. So even though numerous reports, analyses, books, and news articles have carefully examined demand and supply in the STEM workforce and labor markets over the decades and found no widespread or lasting shortages, perceptions of such shortages endure.”
https://issues.org/stem-workforce-shortage-data-hira/
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