Monday Overnight Open Thread (11/13/23)

Quote I

"My amendment to defund that unconstitutional mandate failed tonight." Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)

Quote II

“Well, first, we don’t take anything Hamas says at face value, but we have no information that can either corroborate or counteract that,” “So as I said before, we simply don’t know how many of the hostages are still alive, how many have been mistreated, how many Hamas itself has killed.” National security adviser Jake Sullivan

Quote III

My entire life has been focused on the care and treatment of critically ill and injured children wherever they are, whoever they are, whatever country they’re from, whatever their circumstances, religious affiliations. I will continue to do that amidst all of the anger and division and cleaving of our shared coexistence, our shared humanity." Jamie Lee Curtis

Quote IV

'As a climate justice movement, we have to listen to the voices of those who are being oppressed and those who are fighting for freedom and for justice. Otherwise, there can be no climate justice without international solidarity, Greta Thunberg

How important is the 1st Amendment? Pretty damn important!

A newly proposed law in Australia would make it a crime to say "unapproved" things online, effectively eliminating internet free speech.
The so-called "Communications Legislation Amendment (Combating Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023," the legislation creates a new framework for the broad-scale censorship of "misinformation" and "disinformation," at least as the Aussie government defines such things.

The law is so broad and vague in its far-reaching directives that online "harm" could include just about anything the government decides one day is "untrue" or "dangerous."

You cannot legislate human nature away.

Elections have consequences. My take on St. Paul, MN? It's going to get dicey there every 28 days.

All-female city council makes history in St. Paul, Minn.

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Five women made history in St. Paul by winning separate political races to become the first all-female city council, making it "the youngest, most progressive and most diverse in Saint Paul's history," a designation the women gave themselves in a news release.

The newly elected representatives Anika Bowie, Saura Jost, HwaJeong Kim and Cheniqua Johnson will join Councilmembers Mitra Jalali, Rebecca Noecker and Nelsie Yang in January to make decisions that will impact the city.

Some occupations have serious worries. Glad I don't have them being a Cob.

Dominatrix fears 'world's first Cybrothel' will risk 'treating sex workers like a doll'

Dominatrix Countess Diamond has hit out at the 'future of sex' as she fears a Cybrothel could see its users treat real sex workers 'like a doll' due to online experiences

A Brit dominatrix has aired their concerns regarding the 'world's first' Cybrothel as she fears it could see users begin treating sex workers "like a doll".

The Countess Diamond has spoken out on plans to open the online brothel in Berlin, which features sex dolls and live voice actors. At 120€ for 30 minutes, the "future of sex" could be online.

Once upon a time the Fabulous Mrs. Mis. Hum and I purchased a duplex. We were young and gullible. After that experience I swore I would never be a landlord again. (Excluding for our former tax-exemptions). I see some things never change.

Revenge of the Renter
Hundreds of tenants, struggling to afford skyrocketing rents, are refusing to pay their landlords at all. They call it a rent strike. The landlords say it’s illegal. An inside look at the frontier of a growing class war

Sharlene Henry moved into 33 King Street, a 27-storey apartment building in Toronto’s Weston neighborhood, 20 years ago. She was 30 years old and working as the manager of a Foot Locker. Her one-bedroom apartment, shared with her boyfriend, Peter, cost only about $700 a month, parking and cable included. Her mother, Theresa, moved into an apartment in the building a few years later.

Henry had grown up in Weston, and she loved it. Wedged between downtown Toronto and the city’s inner suburbs, the working-class neighbourhood was diverse and tight-knit. The Humber River flowed serenely along its west side. On weekends, Henry and her family would spill onto the main drag, Weston Road, to buy produce at the farmers’ market and visit the area’s Caribbean restaurants and shops. Henry calls herself a “Toronto ride-or-die girl,” but her Toronto is, first and foremost, Weston.

33 King was an inexpensive, aging highrise, but it was a bastion of affordability in a city that seemed to grow more expensive every year. In 2010, the couple moved into a two-bedroom apartment on the top floor that rented for less than $1,000. Two years later they had their first child, Xavier.

Then, in 2013, the landlord, a company called Realstar, informed Henry that her rent was going up that year by 5.5 per cent. She was confused. 33 King was rent-controlled—increases were capped in 2013 at 2.5 per cent. But there was a loophole: in Ontario, landlords can apply for what’s called an above guideline increase, or AGI, to make major repairs. Realstar fixed the roof and elevators that year, so Henry thought it might be a one-off. When it happened again the next year, with an increase of 3.8 per cent, well above that year’s 0.8 per cent guideline, she and her neighbours were incensed. They’d long talked about deteriorating conditions in the building and regular maintenance that seemed to go undone. Some felt the AGIs were simply a way for Realstar to boost the value of its asset by squeezing extra money out of its tenants.

The Michigan Deer season starts on November 15th. Hunters will be setting up on campuses soon.

Oh, deer! Buck breaks into University of Michigan Law library

ANN ARBOR, MI - A deer breaks into a library. Seems like the set-up to a joke.

University of Michigan Law student Emma Duggan experienced it for real in late October, as she captured photos of a buck breaking into the law library.

It was like a bit by comedian John Mulaney about a horse let loose in hospital, she said.

I remember when SE Wisconsin suburbs were Republican strong holds. Not any more. What the hell happened to you Wauwatosa?

Snowflakes in Wisconsin Town Banish Christmas Colors, Decorations at City Hall

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin is a town of about 48,000 people. City officials are telling city employees at municipal offices and who decorate public spaces to skip using red and green decorations. Employees are urged to choose more ‘neutral and inclusive’ decorations.

It begins. Every year we read reports about city officials who received one too many participation trophies as a child who want no one ever to be offended about anything. In this case, some Wauwatosa officials have decided to throw their small town into the spotlight with its war on Christmas decorations. You can’t make this stuff up.

Nikki Haley has no opinion about this until she checks in with her daughter.

Nepal decides to ban TikTok
A Cabinet meeting on Monday took the decision to ban the social media app.

The government has decided to impose a ban on TikTok.

A Cabinet meeting on Monday took the decision to ban the Chinese-owned app, citing its negative effects on social harmony. However, when the decision will be brought into force is yet to be ascertained.

On this day: 13 Nov 2015
The blues-rock band Eagles of Death Metal were in the midst of performing a sold-out show at Le Bataclan in Paris, France, when the venue was attacked by terrorists armed with automatic rifles, grenades and explosive suicide vests. The band escaped unharmed through a backstage door, but 89 audience members were killed, including the band's merchandise manager, Nick Alexander. via thisdayinmusic.com

On this day: 13 Nov 1990
Patricia Boughton filed a lawsuit against Rod Stewart claiming that a football he kicked into the crowd during a concert at Pine Knob Music Theatre had ruptured a tendon in her middle finger. And as a result the injury had made sex between her and her husband difficult. via thisdayinmusic.com

So which orifice of Mr. Boughton's was upset with lack of finger? Inquiring minds and all............

Starting a business requires "Red Tape". And if you are going to be selling marijuana you probably need more than the average store owner. Genius Award Winner.

A 36-year-old man was running an illegal marijuana dispensary in a town in Middlesex County, authorities said.

Police in Middlesex Borough said Friday they seized more than 23 pounds of suspected raw marijuana, suspected marijuana-infused food products and more than $17,000 in cash from Queen City Petro on the 500 block of Bound Brook Road.

He would give you the shirt off his back kidney he can spare. Tonight's Feel Good Story of The Day.

Veteran receives kidney from fellow veteran thanks to Collegeville Bakery sign

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - Retired from the Air Force and fresh off the COVID pandemic, Craig Harris received horrible news two years ago.

"They saw creatinine levels were elevated and they said you have to see a nephrologist," Harris stated.

Tonight's ONT has been brought to you by the Snow Belt Residents of the Great Lake States.

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posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 10:03 PM

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