Wednesday Overnight Open Thread (10/16/19)

Quote I

It is striking that when a company as potentially dangerous as Facebook appears to be at least publicly willing to implement technology that makes users safer by limiting its own power, it is the US government that cries foul. This is because the government would suddenly become less able to treat Facebook as a convenient trove of private lives. Edward Snowden

Quote II

“As the governor of Texas, I have the responsibility to protect the health and safety of all Texans, including Austin residents.

Further inaction by you and the Austin City Council will leave me no choice other than to use the tools available to the state of Texas to ensure that people are protected from health and safety concerns caused by the Austin homeless policies,” Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX)

Quote III

"The Court holds that the Rule, which expressly prohibits religious exemptions, substantially burdens Private Plaintiffs' religious exercise in violation of RFRA. Though the Court maintains that Plaintiffs were entitled to the preliminary injunction granted in its December 31, 2016 Order, it now concludes that the proper remedy at this stage is vacatur of the Rule." District Court Judge Reed O'Connor

Quote IV

"It could be it shows up in tummy aches. Or it's impulse control and behavior, and we offer a care plan. Instead of reacting harshly and punitively, every educator is trained in recognizing these things. Instead of suspending and expelling or saying, 'What's wrong with you?' we say, 'What happened to you?'" Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California's first Surgeon General

Quote V

"I am proud that the Scottish government has become the first UK administration to ban plastic-stemmed cotton buds. Single-use plastic products are not only wasteful but generate unnecessary litter that blights our beautiful beaches and green spaces while threatening our wildlife on land and at sea" Roseanna Cunningham, environment secretary for Scotland

Quote VI

"I don't know that Jesse Jackson and Bernie Sanders know in a very good way what is going on in Venezuela," "I suggest Bernie Sanders take a week and go to Venezuela without bodyguards and go to the street and speak with a cell phone and see what is going on with Bernie Sanders, OK?" Jose Guerra, a member of the National Assembly legislature in Venezuela

Millennials, ask why have children, when you can have pets and be enabled to do so?

As markets and employers respond to these moves with fewer family-friendly amenities, childless cities are becoming the norm. When Zappos polled its employees on the amenities that they’d like in a new headquarters, the greatest vote-getter was doggie daycare. A growing number of companies even offer “fur-turnity” leave to their employees and allow pets to visit work.

Dogs and cats should be welcome in cities, of course, but their ever-increasing popularity among young professionals—and the attendant decline in children—portends a shift in urban America that we will have to reckon with in the coming decades. More Americans live alone than at any time in the country’s history. Singles make up 28 percent of households, up from 13 percent in 1960. Household size is declining in New York City, as it is in much of the country, from around 3.5 persons at mid-century to 2.67 today. We’re living longer and marrying later.

Pushing the limits of human endurance? Or just nuts?

All I had to do was swim a single kilometre. It’s just that humans aren’t designed for immersion in -3˚C water. I was going to be the first person to swim in South Georgia (a remote island in the south Atlantic, east of South America and north of Antarctica), starting at the British scientific station and ending near the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the polar explorer who led four expeditions to this part of the world, only to die of a heart attack during his last one.

If an untrained person were to dive into freezing water, death would come quickly. Even after all my preparation, as I braced myself for the plunge I knew my body would be fighting with all its might to stay alive.

What does it feel like when you first get into the water? It burns. It feels like you’re on fire. But in temperatures like this, you don’t die of the cold. You drown. Within the first five seconds your body goes into shock; it’s very difficult to breathe. The only thing I can do is count every stroke, “One. Two. Breathe. Three. Four. Breathe...........

Sears once a dominant retailer, slowly continues to fade away.

Sears (SHLDQ) has been quietly closing stores with many more locations expected to shut their doors through early 2020. More than 100 Sears and Kmart stores will close over the next few months, many of which the location has not been revealed by the retailer.

Sears filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. In a $5.2 billion deal with Eddie Lampert and his hedge fund ESL Investments, the company emerged from Chapter 11. The new Sears, operating under the company Transform Holdco, announced in August that it would close 26 stores, as it continued to evaluate its portfolio. The company did not rule out additional closures at the time.

How many of you 29 year olds loved the old Sears & Roebuck Catalog?

Don't you despise people who don't mind their own business? A solid American citizen had his life turned upside down because of a "Gladys Kravitz" wannabe.

An 84-year old retired police officer, military veteran, and school crossing guard in Massachusetts has had his firearms seized and was fired from his job after someone overheard a conversation at a diner and reported him as a threat to the local school.

Stephen Nichols says he was talking with a friend at a local restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard when the subject of the local school resource officer came up. Nichols was upset that the officer, in his opinion, was “leaving his post” by going to get coffee at a nearby convenience shop instead of remaining on campus to protect students, and said that somebody could “shoot up the school” in the officer’s absence. Based on nothing more than that simple remark, Nichols’ life was turned upside down and the Tisbury police have a lot of questions to answer.

Red Flag Laws are run around the Second Amendment.

We can only wish. Bobbi won't run for office after he goes down in flames.

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) revealed in a report published on Tuesday that if he fails to become the Democratic nominee for the presidency in 2020 that he will refrain from seeking public office again.

“I cannot fathom a scenario where I would run for public office again if I’m not the nominee,” O’Rourke said during an interview with Politico. The former politician served in Congress for three terms before his failed Senate bid to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) during the 2018 midterm election cycle.

He's a nut and a liar. And I don't believe him.

President Trump has been accused of many atrocities, from allowing the Kurds to be slaughtered to causing global warming. Now he is accused of causing black women to be obese.

ey professor suggested on a TV program that racism and President Donald Trump’s policies are responsible for black female obesity.

Rutgers University women’s and gender studies professor Brittney Cooper made the argument during an appearance on “Black Women OWN the Conversation” on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Is that virtual signaling I see on your roof or a fire?

Briana Greer was out of town when the fire started in her Tesla solar roof panels. Luckily, her neighbors in Louisville, Colorado — a town outside Boulder — were vigilant, and they were able to put out the fire before the fire department arrived.

That was on August 1. The day before, Greer said, Tesla had contacted her to let her know its system had been detecting voltage fluctuations for a couple of days. The company said it would send a crew to check it out on August 8. That was too late.

Once again "Educators" allow a teachable momement to slip through their lazy fingers. No Halloween for you!

Some schools in northern Chicago suburbs have decided to “move away” from Halloween celebrations as part of an effort aimed at being more inclusive.

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 wrote in a message to parents:

“While we recognize that Halloween is a fun tradition for many, it is not a holiday that is celebrated by everyone for various reasons and we want to honor that,” the message reads. “We are also aware of the range of inequities that are embedded in Halloween celebrations that take place as part of the school day and the unintended negative impact that it can have on students, families, and staff. As a result, we support our schools that are moving away from Halloween celebrations that include costumes and similar traditions.”

No tears little 2nd graders, you are now part of the serfdom.

Professor Walter E. Williams takes a look at 'objectivity' in white supremacy.

If you need an accurate update on some of the madness at the nation's institutions of higher learning, check out Minding the Campus, a nonprofit independent organization. John Leo, its editor in chief, says that the organization's prime mission is dedicated to the revival of intellectual pluralism and the best traditions of liberal education at America's colleges and universities. Leo's most recent compilation of campus madness leaves one nearly breathless.

In a USA Today op-ed, Emily Walton, a sociology professor at Dartmouth University, said that all college students should take a mandatory course on black history and white privilege............

The Theme Song for Minneapolis' Mayor Jacob Frey?

On this day: 16 Oct 2006
CBGB, the legendary New York punk club credited with discovering Patti Smith and Ramones, closed after a final gig by Smith herself. Blondie and Talking Heads also found fame after performing at the club, which helped launch US punk music. The venue first opened in December 1973, its full name CBGB OMFUG standing for "country, bluegrass, blues and other music for uplifting gormandizers" via thisdayinmusic.com

Born on this day: 16 Oct 1959
British musician, songwriter and actor Gary Kemp from Spandau Ballet. They became one of the most successful groups to emerge during the New Romantic era and produced a number of international hits during the 80s including 'True', 'Gold' and 'Through the Barricades.' He starred with his brother Martin in the 1990 British drama film The Krays. Kemp also plays as part of Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets, who perform a selection of early Pink Floyd material.

Alligators, beer and Florida. Genius Award Winners.

Even though alligators are listed among the most dangerous species in the world, a man from Hobe Sound and his friend were arrested for trying to get one of them drunk. As police reports say, after his friend caught the animal, he poured beer inside the reptile's mouth. Both Timothy Kepke, 27, and Noah Osbourne, 22, were taken behind bars on October 3 and charged with kidnapping an alligator.

Being part of the team is Tonight's Feel Good Story of The Day.

A youth football team in Illinois made a 7-year-old fan with cerebral palsy an honorary captain for a day and even gave him the chance to score a touchdown.

Bryson Jenkins is now an official member of the Grant Jr. Bulldogs youth football team in Fox Lake.

"They [the coaches] said, 'Bryson is now permanently on our roster'," Brittany Jenkins, Bryson's mother, said.

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Notice: The ONT is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ace Media Empire & AceCorp, LLC. Of course it was posted with permission.

posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 09:40 PM

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