BILLINGS, Mont. — The U.S. Forest Service is closing 23 research stations in more than a dozen states as part of an organizational overhaul under President Donald Trump that is intended to trim costs and concentrate the agency’s resources in Western states, officials said Thursday. – Well, hell, we don’t need so damn much science in our way, do we?
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The past, present, and future walk into a bar. It was tense.
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Some comments about the Lindsay Clancey mistrial:
It seems that many people are supportive of her and want her acquittal. Not me. I think the juror holdout was correct. She murdered three children, planned it, and knew that was wrong. Guilty as charged. Unfortunately, we only have a “innocent by reason of insanity” instead of the more logical, “Guilty by reason of insanity.” Find her guilty then argue about treatment. If she is found innocent, she will be totally free. Could have more children. Move, change her name and be, say, a pre-school teacher. How would that be? And who speaks for the dead children? Or the father?
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Trump’s approval rating is negative in 47 states. But in Idaho, Wyoming and West Virginia — Trump garnered a positive approval rating, according to August projections by the Economist. Well, if you still like Trump you can move to one of those states.
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Since 2000, the value of the S&P 500 has gained about 600% while inflation-adjusted worker earnings have climbed just 12.5%. – Still think workers are getting a fair deal? Yeah, that $7.25 minimum wage is plenty . . . like to see Mitch McConnell live on that, though.
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Since the shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti: There are few signs that ICE agents have faced thorough investigations. But the Justice Department has charged protesters.
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From CNN: Trump to restore Confederate memorial. Administration plans to reinstall monument at Arlington National Cemetery while removing language explaining how it romanticizes the Confederacy and sanitizes history of slavery.
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NOTE ON BLOWNG UP DEFENLESS SHIPS IN HORMUZ
So, in Trump’s war on Iran we have blown up a few defenseless tankers. As a former officer in the merchant marine, I cringe a bit at that. Are they a military target, or just an easy one? And all the small boats we have bombed and killed those aboard, were any of them just hired to navigate the boat (kinda like me)? OK to kill them on the high seas? So, if say, Venezuela were to blow up an American merchant ship in retaliation, that would be OK then?
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The US just had its hottest summer on record, beating the Dust Bowl era
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Trump now claims he was there on 9-11 and had to be rescued, that he was there the next day with hundreds of workers and helped clean up, AND that he could see people leaping from the buildings from his apartment, four miles away, AND he could see thousands of Muslims lined up on the New Jersey shore, cheering when the buildings collapsed. Amazing, but remember, he does have powers like x-ray vision!
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From Robert Reicht: Jeff Bezos says raising his taxes is pointless. “You could double the taxes I pay and it’s not going to help that teacher in Queens,” he says.
Well, he’s partly right. Bezos has gotten away with paying no income tax in some years, so technically doubling that wouldn’t help. That’s why we need a wealth tax that even the slipperiest of billionaires can’t wriggle their way out of. America’s oligarchs — the richest 0.00001% —together they hold the equivalent of 14% of U.S. GDP in wealth: roughly $4 trillion. At the peak of the first Gilded Age at the beginning of the 20th century, that same group of the population owned just 4% of the U.S. GDP in wealth.
–Me: And don’t forget that our billionaire president has also paid nothing some years . . . and the only year his taxes became public info (2010?) he paid $700. Did you pay only $700?
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• Unscheduled appearance: Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a surprise video tonight at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas. The Pennsylvania lawmaker made clear that he is still a Democrat. – Really? Can’t the Dems kick him out?
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Not much to add to everyone else about 9-11. I once stood atop one of the towers, on the roof, which was part of a tour. And for a few years, WTC was my subway stop coming into Manhattan from New Jersey when I went there in the summers.
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Update: Trump promised the convention crowd that he’ll issue a $5,000 “dividend” to all adult Americans if Republicans keep control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections. Do you still have the $2,000. check he promised as a “tariff refund?” Wait, all the companies that increased their prices because of Trump’s tariffs have refunded your money with lower prices, right? Right? Oh, and Musk’s Dept. of Gov. Efficiency was supposed to get you $5,000. As well. Got all that?
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Boy: Dad, have you seen the dog bowl?
Dad: No. Is he any good?
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The heat in SoCal finally cooled down. More normal temps here.
Hope it’s not too hot where you are.
Take care,
Kevin
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