Sunday Overnight Open Thread (1/26/20)

Quote I

“We have been consistently concerned about the impacts of technology and automation on the livelihoods of working people, especially when they have no voice in how technology is used in their workplaces, Graham Trainor, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO

Quote II

"Increasing housing and ensuring equity across our City is my top priority, which is why I am so proud to open San Francisco’s first Trans Home on Washington Street. This new program will provide trans people with the safety and support they as they find a permanent home in San Francisco," Mayor London Breed

Quote III

“I’ve been in a lot of dangerous situations, both in and out of the Marines and I’m confident in my ability to handle them. But it doesn’t mean I wasn’t afraid of her.”Ben Feibleman, Former Marine and Columbia University student

Quote IV

"All states have their own protections for waters within their borders, and many regulate more broadly than the federal government," "Our new rule recognizes this relationship and strikes the proper balance between Washington, D.C., and the states." Environmental Protection Agency chief Andy Wheeler

Quote V

“I don’t suffer fools gladly. I’m honest and I’m truthful and I told him straight away he couldn’t be a freeloader. Iris Jones, a British pensioner aged 80

Quote VI

“But to me, when I see the president do this, you know, as someone who’s been around awhile, I saw Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan didn’t do this. George W. Bush, his dad [George H.W. Bush], none of them did it. Why does Donald Trump think that this is good? It divides the country.” Juan Williams

I got booted off of Twitter for asking him if he was retarded. I should have told him to pull his head out of his ass at the same time.

Divisive?

“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” The life and times of H.L. Mencken.

In this age of dim digitized media in which E.J. Dionne and David Brooks are honored as distinguished columnists, the byline Henry Louis Mencken is virtually forgotten. Mencken, who died in his sleep 64 years ago this week after listening to Die Meistersinger on the Saturday afternoon broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera, is unlikely to be remembered by the mediacrats who abhor everything the man stood for.

Yet Mencken in the 1920s was one of the most celebrated figures in America, and even the western world. The erstwhile bad boy of Baltimore has been alternatively described as a ‘Jeremiah come to pass judgment’ on a decadent and mentally paralyzed America, the ‘American Nietzsche’, the heir to Voltaire and Swift, the greatest journalist of his time, a Communist agitator and the secular Antichrist.

Don't let Florida Man paint your house. And so you have been warned.

Someone turned a $500,000 home in Florida into a multicolored mess, and now the community is taking legal action.

Saturday, January 25, 2020 1:35PM
NAPLES, Fla. -- Talk about extreme makeover, home edition!

Someone turned a $500,000 home in Florida into a multicolored mess, and now the community is taking legal action.

With paint splattered and sprayed in multiple bright colors all over the house, trees, lawn and mailbox, the home in the small community of Il Regalo Circle in Naples looks like something out of a cartoon.

The man who owns the house is 40-year-old Jeffrey Leibman, according to the Collier County Property Appraiser.

Neighbor Alan Klawans told WBBH-TV this unique paint job happened over the course of a week.

"I can't tell you," he said. "Obviously has a drug issue or something going on because I have just never seen anything like this in my life."

The "artist" even spray-painted "Who is Omar?" on the side of a van parked out front.

Low Carbon Tail Lights H/T redc1c4

As we fight the global war on terror. I'm relieved that our enemy is also fighting the global war of climate change.

Terrorist group al Shabaab has banned single-use plastic bags.

The Somali militant Islamist group, which has links to al Qaeda, has long had an interest in environmental issues.

It made the official announcement on Radio Andalus, which is operated by al Shabaab.

Earlier today our very own Charlie Brown's Dildo had a great thread on "CoronaVirus: A Shep Smith Special Report —CBD WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE! RUN AWAY! However, if you remain concerned on its location, check out this link. H/T Hank Curmudgeon

When the government gets into the business of business, the government loses.

Looks like another federally backed solar energy plant has gone bust. Bloomberg News reports, “A $1 Billion Solar Plant Was Obsolete Before It Ever Went Online.”

In 2011 the $1 billion [Crescent Dunes] project was to be the biggest solar plant of its kind, and it looked like the future of renewable power. Citigroup Inc. and other financiers invested $140 million with its developer, SolarReserve Inc. Steven Chu, the U.S. Department of Energy secretary at the time, offered the company [$737 million in] government loan guarantees, and Harry Reid, then the Senate majority leader and senior senator from Nevada, cleared the way for the company to build on public land.

Life carries risk. We take risks every day. I don't need Andrew Cuomo or any other Nanny to tell me how to live.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been campaigning recently to promote new legislation that would set forth a legal framework for riders of e-scooters and e-bikes within the Empire State. In short, Cuomo looks to pass regulations that would provide clear rules for those that choose more sustainable methods of transportation than heavily polluting cars. Among these regulations is one that clearly states these riders must wear helmets when mobile, a solution that Cuomo alluded to helping everyone who frequents New York's crowded roadways. But when Streetsblog NYC asked if Cuomo might consider a seemingly outlandish safety measure—helmets for motorists and their passengers—the governor didn't shrug off the suggestion; instead, he called for data to support the claim.

Cuomo called the current state of these transportation methods a "legal vacuum" and addressed the need to officially mandate safety measures. This would ensure that casual riders and delivery drivers alike are protected from "arbitrary enforcement" as they navigate the busy streets of the five boroughs.

"We need an alternative to automobiles driving in New York City," said Cuomo

Meditation, NSFW

Aging has-been actors don't grow old gracefully. Star Trek Actor George Takei Thinks He’s Entitled to Royalties for the Space Force Logo

George Takei has been suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome for a long time and has probably spent more time in the past few years criticizing Trump than breathing. Nothing is too petty for Takei to gripe about when it comes to Trump. When Trump announced the new logo for the U.S. Space Force, it was inevitable that the has-been actor, mostly known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Sulu on Star Trek: The Original Series, would have an opinion.

Paul Joseph Watson discusses "Bat Soup". NSFW-Language

New Zealand's attempt to be a super power has failed.

The Defence Force is battling to find a buyer for 30 unwanted armoured vehicles which cost about $186 million.

It is another chapter in the long running saga of one of the army's most expensive, and most controversial, purchases.

The Army quietly increased the number of NZ Light Armoured Vehicles (NZLAVs) for sale from 20 to 30 early in 2019.

Only a government employee could come out of the Epstein death incident smelling like a rose. Warden moving onto green pastures.

The warden in charge when Jeffrey Epstein ended his life in his jail cell is being moved to a leadership position at another federal correctional facility, putting him back in the field with inmates despite an ongoing investigation into the financier's death, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The federal Bureau of Prisons is planning to move Lamine N'Diaye to the role at FCI Fort Dix, a low-security prison in Burlington County, New Jersey, the people said. The move comes months after Attorney General William Barr ordered N'Diaye be reassigned to a desk post at the Bureau of Prisons' regional office in Pennsylvania after Epstein's death as the FBI and the Justice Department's inspector general investigated.

Bailiff whack their pee-pee. The University of Conneticut has a federal judge pissed at them.

When a judge tells you twice in one week that you are violating students’ constitutional rights, it may be time to listen.

A federal court in Connecticut handed the University of Connecticut a stinging rebuke yesterday, holding that the university likely violated an accused student’s due process rights when it ignored exculpatory evidence and prevented him from questioning witnesses in his sexual misconduct case. This is the second time in a week that U.S. District Judge Michael Shea has issued a temporary restraining order against UConn in a case involving students’ constitutional rights: Last week, Judge Shea barred UConn from proceeding with a disciplinary hearing against two students impermissibly being disciplined for their constitutionally protected speech.

The French are not known for their fighting prowess. Even President Trump is "skeptical" of their forces.

According to a new report from NBC, France is pleading with President Trump to not cut off U.S. military support to French forces fighting Islamist militants in Africa.

Trump administration officials have expressed skepticism on the effectiveness of French counterterrorism efforts.

French President Macron has repeatedly clashed with President Trump on topics including NATO spending and the U.S. decision to leave the Paris Climate Accord.

Macron has also been plagued with low favorability ratings in his country and mass protests.

Oh woe is us. We couldn't do anything. Funny how Cindy McCain can rationalize away knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's behavior.

Cindy McCain, the widow of late Sen. John McCain, blasted authorities who were "afraid" to arrest convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein even though everyone "knew" what he was doing.

"Epstein was hiding in plain sight," said Cindy McCain. "We all knew about him. We all knew what he was doing, but we had no one that was — no legal aspect that would go after him. They were afraid of him. For whatever reason, they were afraid of him."

McCain's comments came after she was questioned by an attendee during her appearance at the State of the World 2020 conference in Florida.

I'm sure her late husband and his staff could have done more. They sure knew how to get a Bull Shit dossier to Buzz Feed.

Born on this day: 26 Jan 1953
Lucinda Williams, rock, folk, blues and country music singer and songwriter who wrote 'Passionate Kisses' the Grammy winning song made famous by the 1993 single version by Mary Chapin Carpenter. via thisdayinmusic.com

Born on this day: 26 Jan 1957
Eddie Van Halen, Dutch guitarist with Van Halen who had the 1984 US No.1 & UK No. 7 single 'Jump'. His guitar solo in the track 'Eruption' was voted No.2 on Guitar World magazine's readers poll of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos. Halen also played the guitar solo on Michael Jackson's 'Beat It'. via thisdayinmusic.com

If you are going to violate the rules of the road, better planning is needed. Just ask our Genius Award Winner.

PHOENIX (AP) — A 62-year-old man was cited in Arizona this week after trying to disguise a fake skeleton as a passenger just to use the HOV lane.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a trooper pulled over the man on Thursday after noticing he had placed a fake skeleton in the passenger’s front seat.

The skeleton was sitting upright, wearing a hat and tied to the front seat.

Not only were they peaceful protesters, they were clean as well. Tonight's Feel Good Story of The Day.

Thousands of people flooded the surrounding streets of the Capitol in Richmond on Monday for a gun-rights rally, however, locals in the area say the roads are the cleanest they've seen in quite some time.

There's a reason for that, said Matthew Keisling, a protester who made sure that once he shared his message, he went above and beyond to protect it.

"I've been in the area when there have been other protests and demonstrations and people leave a lot of trash behind and it waters down the message," Keisling said.

Advocates told 8News they made sure to clean up after the rally because they felt leaving trash behind "represents the group and the movement very poorly."

Tonight's ONT has been brought to you by Secrets.

Notice: Posted with permission by the Ace Media Empire and AceCorp, LLC. Who needs TV when you got The ONT?

posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 09:44 PM

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