So I read something...: hate crime

A ‘Blue Wave’ is building. It won’t look the same as the last one.: Donald Trump is president again, but the parties have changed since the 2018 midterm election. - "In 2024, Republicans saw the electoral college bias they had benefited from in Trump’s previous races practically disappear. If Republicans continue to gain ground with minority voters living in urban cores of solidly blue states, while losing White voters in the battleground states, they could find themselves at a systemic disadvantage in the next presidential election due to the current quirks of American politics."

I’m an oncologist. Here are 11 science-based ways to reduce your cancer risk.: About 40 percent of cancer cases are considered preventable. Try these lifestyle changes to stay healthy.

The Colorado River is running low. The picture looks even worse underground, study says.: The Colorado River Basin has lost twice as much groundwater since 2003 as water taken out of its reservoirs, according to a study based on satellite data.

Bowser bets on business-friendly D.C. budget while cutting some programs: Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) is betting on her ‘growth agenda’ to keep business in D.C., while council members are concerned about cuts to services for the needy.

Bowser to replace D.C. Streetcar with ‘next generation streetcar.’ It’s a bus.: The system, proposed in the early 2000s, never got beyond one line that opened in 2016.

GOP rejects ‘millionaire tax’ pitch, advancing breaks for rich Americans: Legislation moving through Congress includes breaks for the upper and middle classes as the House rebuffs President Donald Trump’s suggestions.

Exempting tips from taxes could hurt employees, critics say: Some worker advocates and labor law experts call it a gimmick that could incentivize employers to keep base pay low and reclassify some salaries as tips.

Terry Bradshaw calls possible Steelers signing of Aaron Rodgers ‘a joke’: The Hall of Famer says the enigmatic former Packers and Jets quarterback should go “chew on bark” and “stay in California,” not Pittsburgh.

Here’s how much international students contribute to the U.S. economy: International students contributed $44 billion to the U.S. economy in the 2023-2024 school year. Their loss could hurt more than just universities’ bottom line.

These Are the College Majors With the Lowest Unemployment Rates — and Philosophy Ranks Higher Than Computer Science: An analysis of employment data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that some humanities majors rank higher than STEM majors in employment prospects.

Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath

Paris Votes to Make 500 More Streets Car-Free: With the passage of a referendum Sunday, Mayor Anne Hidalgo will amplify her ambitious moves to challenge car dominance and expand pedestrian access.

The 21st Century Red State Murder Crisis - "The excuse that sky high red state murder rates are because of their blue cities is without merit. Even after removing the county with the largest city from red states, and not from blue states, red state murder rates were still 20% higher in 2021 and 16% higher in 2022.

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"Many of the states accused of “defunding the police,” like California, New York, and Illinois, actually spent the most on policing. California spent the most on policing at $634.53 per resident. New York spent the third most at $539.92. And Illinois came in sixth place at $471.26. Eight out of 10 states spending the most on policing are blue states, joined by red states Alaska and Florida. And those blue states aren’t just blue, they’re the bluest of states—California, New York, Maryland, Illinois, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Minnesota."

Rubio’s claim that it’s ‘a lie’ that people have died from foreign-aid cuts: The secretary of state rejected convincing evidence documented in news reports and by disease modelers. - "Nichols said the death toll would not be so high if the administration had pursued a deliberate policy to phase out funding over a 12-month period, as that would have permitted contingency planning. 'It’s true that other countries are cutting back on humanitarian spending. But what makes the U.S. approach so harmful is how the cuts were made: abruptly, without warning, and without a plan for continuity,' she said. 'It leads to interruptions in care, broken supply chains, and ultimately, preventable deaths. Also, exactly because the U.S. is the largest provider of humanitarian aid, it makes the approach catastrophic.'"

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2025 - "But prisons do rely on the labor of incarcerated people for food service, laundry, and other operations, and they pay incarcerated workers appallingly low wages: our 2017 study found that on average, incarcerated people earn between 86 cents and $3.45 per day for the most common prison jobs. In at least five states, those jobs pay nothing at all. Moreover, work in prison is compulsory, with little regulation or oversight, and incarcerated workers have few rights and protections. If they refuse to work, incarcerated people face disciplinary action. For those who do work, the paltry wages they receive often go right back to the prison, which charges them for basic necessities like medical visits and hygiene items. Forcing people to work for low or no pay and no benefits, while charging them for necessities, allows prisons to shift the costs of incarceration to incarcerated people — hiding the true cost of running prisons from most Americans."

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Reading archive 2024-11-04

Attack on gay model at U Street McDonald’s investigated as hate crime: A man alleged someone referred to him using a homophobic slur as he was attacked by a large group of people.

A murderer faced life in prison. The judge gave him 10 years.: The state’s attorney’s office and family of Antoine Dorsey condemned Prince George’s judge Darren Johnson’s sentence as too lenient for a case of first-degree murder. - "At the news conference, the state’s attorney’s office stood by the integrity of the case against him. Braveboy [prosecutor] said Blanco Diaz [convict] also has a pending attempted murder and rape case involving two victims at the Prince George’s County Detention Center, which was part of why prosecutors requested a life sentence."

Trump might target fluoride in tap water. Here’s what the science says.: Robert Kennedy Jr., poised for a health job in a potential Trump administration, said he would prioritize removing fluoride from drinking water. Here’s what to know.

Lithium-ion batteries have ruled for decades. Now they have a challenger.: Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a possible alternative.

Armed youths stole her car. Her pictures of them went viral.: The woman said in an interview that she went back to take images of the children who took her car at a Safeway in D.C.

GOP’s closing election message on health baffles strategists, worries experts: “No Obamacare.” Questioning vaccines. No fluoride in drinking water. They’re all Republican assertions in the final days of the presidential campaign.

Scientists may have figured out why a potent greenhouse gas is rising. The answer is scary.: Methane emissions spiked starting in 2020. Scientists say they have found the culprit.

Alex Clark and the rise of the conservative wellness warrior: As Trump’s campaign embraces RFK Jr.’s causes, this 31-year-old influencer stands at a key political intersection. - "As for the issue that is repelling so many women from the Republicans: Clark is firmly antiabortion and doesn’t see this view in conflict with her wellness mission. 'Abortion is never medically necessary to save the life of the mother,' she said, reciting a talking point that experts have said is wrong."

Four years after ‘Stop the Steal,’ an organized army emerges online: The fringe group that tried to subvert Donald Trump’s 2020 loss has spent years preparing to contest the 2024 vote. This time, Elon Musk is on their side

Inside the Ruthless, Restless Final Days of Trump’s Campaign: “What’s discipline got to do with winning?”

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Reading archive 2024-06-20

Why Is Everyone on TikTok Suddenly Going to the Chiropractor?

Vermont lawmaker apologizes for repeatedly drenching colleague’s bag: A Democrat said his bag had been mysteriously soaked with water over the course of five months. A Republican from his district admitted to it this week.

A new Fox poll has Biden up. Fox’s prime-time hosts didn’t mention it.: When the new numbers did merit coverage, it was often with caveats.

Despite fentanyl crackdown, Chinese sellers are open for business: A booming online marketplace in shipping small but potent packages of the chemicals used in the production of fentanyl from China to Mexico remains largely unhindered.

Bayer lobbies Congress to help fight lawsuits tying Roundup to cancer: Republicans have repeatedly pushed a provision — drafted with Bayer’s help — that critics say would undo some nationwide pesticide protections.

In 1964, the Klan killed three young activists and shocked the nation: A Mississippi town still grapples with that violent civil rights history

Family of black belts stops attempted sex assault next door, police say: A 59-year-old grandmaster intervened with his wife and children after hearing screams near their academy, Yong-in Taekwondo, pinning the suspect for police.

Convicted serial rapist linked to Shenandoah park murders, FBI says: Authorities on Thursday named a man with a long criminal history as a suspect in the killing of two women 28 years ago at a secluded campsite in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

Monday, February 26, 2024

Reading archive 2024-02-26

How the ‘Who TF Did I Marry?’ series took over TikTok: Reesa Teesa’s story of marrying and divorcing a man she called a ‘pathological liar’ has had users on the edge of their seats

With abortion rights looming, Missouri GOP advances slanted ballot rules: The change would make amendments to the state constitution much more difficult to approve — at least for the left - "The proposal, which passed along party lines, would require amendments to receive not only a majority of the vote statewide — as is currently required — but also a majority in five of eight congressional districts."

Trump says Black voters like him more because of his indictments and mug shot: The GOP candidate tells a group of Black conservatives: ‘I’m being indicted for you, the Black population’

See the dozens of new species this deep-sea robot just discovered: Alien-looking lobsters, sponges, urchins, sea stars and sea lilies are among the creatures deep-sea explorers found off the coast of Chile

How Libs of TikTok became a powerful presence in Oklahoma schools: The owner of the far-right social media account, who sits on a state advisory panel, has drawn attention since the death of a nonbinary student near Tulsa

Opinion Dim or disloyal? Republicans again ensnared in possible Russian plot.

Man found guilty of killing trans woman in historic hate crime verdict: A South Carolina man is the first person convicted by trial of a federal hate crime based on gender identity, federal authorities said

As Lebanon teeters on the edge, a war with Israel would be catastrophic

These giant, invasive spiders appear built to thrive in the U.S.: ‘I don’t know how happy people are going to be about it, but I think the spiders are here to stay,’ one researcher says

Alabama embryo ruling may have devastating effect on cancer patients - "'It’s the same stories that you’re hearing from lawmakers after Roe v. Wade, saying, ‘Oh, I didn’t think it would impact this or that’ … [but] they’re making decisions for others,' said Robin Watkins, 41, who underwent fertility treatments to have her twin boys."

Shane Gillis struggles in a 'Saturday Night Live' monologue that avoids the obvious - "Saturday Night Live made its reputation as a group of comedy rebels making fun of a stuffy political and media establishment, lampooning corrupt and inept politicians from Richard Nixon to Sarah Palin; in other words, punching up.

"But today's comedy rebels see the insistence that comics lay off insulting slurs about marginalized people as the new establishment — building successful podcasts, standup tours and more on the mistaken notion that avoiding racism, sexism and homophobia is somehow shackling their free speech. Here, punching down is fair game and fairly lucrative."

Bowen Yang Deletes Instagram Post Mocking Nikki Haley ‘SNL’ Visit: The castmember's not-entirely-subtle protests, a history.

Hungary approves Sweden’s NATO bid, unblocking historic expansion

A nurse asked a friend to help her move. He later killed her, police say.: Patrina Best was beloved by her family and friends, traveling the country as a nurse with her dog, Luke

Bowser, business leaders pitch $400M plan to fix D.C.’s ailing downtown: A rise in violent crime across the city, coupled with the possible departure of the Wizards and Capitals, have added to a sense of urgency to stabilize downtown

Ex-Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson says photo refutes Biden impeachment witness's claims

Friday, February 2, 2024

Reading archive 2024-02-02

Teen accused of making hundreds of swatting calls around the country: A 17-year-old from California is accused of targeting high schools, historically Black colleges and universities and mosques

Man charged after allegedly beheading father and posting video online

Inflation has fallen. Why are groceries still so expensive?: Ongoing supply chain disruptions, droughts, avian flu, labor shortage and more continue to keep grocery prices high - "The White House Council of Economic Advisers also found in a new report that grocery store profit margins remain higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

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"'At the moment, Trump is looking like the better guy,' she said. 'Last time, I thought he had too many scandals. But now with inflation going on, with prices the way they are, it seems like he wants to make the economy better for people like us.'

"And yet Donald Trump’s policies are poised to make grocery prices higher, not lower. The former president is campaigning on placing new tariffs on trillions of dollars of imports and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, which would likely make costs significantly higher for domestic beef, chicken and dairy products. But for now at least, the politics of high grocery prices appears much more likely to be a problem for Biden."

A Palestinian posted a message on Oct. 7. Then came the death threats.

Labor market grew 353,000 in January, soaring past expectations: The unemployment rate held at 3.7 percent.

Man charged in bias-related assault on D.C. rabbi, prosecutors say: The leader of Chabad Georgetown told police he believed he was punched in the face repeatedly because he is Jewish

The death of the girlboss: Girlbosses convinced us they would change capitalism. We weren’t wrong in hoping they would.

Monday, January 29, 2024

Reading archive 2024-01-29

Shooting hoops, changing perceptions: D.C. students face off vs. FBI: A long-time-in-the-making game was part of FBI officials’ efforts to build relationships with local communities — and recruit students to one day work at the the agency

Cross burning in South Carolina stirs debate over hate-crimes laws

Opinion Sure, Trump and Biden are old. The similarities end there. - "This above-the-battle, “woe is us” posture makes those who adopt it look tough-minded, independent and clear-eyed. It puts Biden and Trump on the same level and then compares both with someone who doesn’t yet exist. Never mind that it’s far easier to imagine the perfect candidate than to find one."

Opinion Want safer streets? Paint them.

Opinion Gen Z might be the MAGA movement’s undoing - "A warning for those courting these voters: 'Gen Z adults (58%) and Millennials (60%) are significantly less likely than Gen Xers (70%), Boomers (80%), and members of the Silent Generation (85%) to agree that voting is the most effective way to create change in America.'

"Nevertheless, these younger Americans are hardly agnostic about politics. To the contrary, 'Gen Z adults are notably more likely than older generations to have signed an online petition (36% vs. 30% or less of older generations) or to have followed the social media profile of someone with different views (21% vs. 16% or less),' the PRRI poll found. 'Gen Z adults are also more likely than older generations (with the exception of millennials) to have posted on social media about an issue that matters to them (32% vs. 25% or less of Gen Xers and older generations) or encouraged others to be politically active on social media (18% vs. 12% or less of Gen Xers and older generations).'"

Lankford defends bipartisan border security bill after attacks by Trump, GOP: ‘We all have an oath to the Constitution and we have a commitment to say we’re going to do whatever we can to be able to secure the border,’ the senator from Oklahoma says. - "'So we actually locked arms together and said we’re not going to give you money for this. We want a change in law,' Lankford said. 'When we’re finally going to the end, they’re like, ‘Oh, just kidding. I actually don’t want a change in law because it’s a presidential election year.’ We all have an oath to the Constitution and we have a commitment to say we’re going to do whatever we can to be able to secure the border.'"

Trump brags about efforts to stymie border talks: ‘Please blame it on me’: The Republican front-runner slams bipartisan talks in the Senate for a deal as Biden calls for emergency authority to address surging crossings

Should I be taking collagen supplements? Here’s what the science says.: Brands claim collagen products can boost skin, nail and hair health. But there isn’t strong evidence behind these claims.

These GOP lawmakers hate federal spending, except for their own districts: Far-right Republicans who have pushed the government to the verge of shutdowns in recent months are set to win hundreds of millions of dollars for their districts in earmarks. - "Now a bloc of conservatives in the House — who have loudly opposed several measures to fund the government since the fall — are on track to direct a total of $371.8 million back to their home districts through individual requests. They stand to take credit for federal funding for projects important to their constituents even if they vote against the legislation that includes the money.

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"'These projects are born of the most pure interests of the American people and I make no apologies for my success in the arena of [community project funding],' Higgins said in a statement. 'However, I will always oppose massive overspending in the federal budget that overwhelmingly does not meet those same standards, and for that principled opposition, I also make no apology.'" [ed. note: lol]

Russia projects confidence as it pursues alliances to undermine West - "'In terms of latent military power and economic strength, it is absolutely ridiculous that the West is being held hostage by something as relatively puny as Russia,' he said. 'Putin believes that if he is stubborn enough for long enough, we, the feeble West, will walk away — and he could be right. … That won’t just be shameful. That will be an act of strategic self-harm.'"

Falling inflation, rising growth give U.S. the world’s best recovery

Bayer ordered to pay $2.25 billion after jury links herbicide Roundup to cancer

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Reading archive 2024-01-27

Frustrated by Biden, Black men ponder their options: Outside Detroit, some see little change from four years ago and have not decided how to vote in November

Ripples of hate: A chance encounter at N.Y. playground leaves a father asking, ‘What is justice now?’

Donald Trump is preparing for a massive new trade war with China: The former president has talked to advisers about imposing a 60 percent tariff sure to enrage Beijing

U.S. war plans for Ukraine don’t foresee retaking lost territory: The Biden administration is working on a long-term strategy for supporting Kyiv — despite the funding impasse in Congress. But those plans do not anticipate significant gains by Ukraine against Russia in 2024, officials say.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Reading archive 2022-05-17

Buffalo shooting suspect wrote of plans 5 months ago, messages show

Sweden joins Finland in seeking NATO membership: President Vladimir Putin’s response is muted compared to previous statements by Russian officials

Christian nationalism is shaping a Pa. primary — and a GOP shift: Doug Mastriano, a retired Army colonel and Jan. 6 marcher who is running for governor of Pennsylvania, represents a more explicit push for Christian dominance - "There were lots of references to the Constitution and liberty and freedom, but when asked for specifics, people cited things like a child’s professor teaching them about Black Lives Matter or someone they knew who ran a day care and came into contact with LGBT parents or a child who was nonbinary."

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Reading archive 2021-05-19

I watched the GOP’s Arizona election audit. It was worse than you think.: Cyber Ninjas is hunting for bamboo fibers and cheese dust. - "What I saw in Arizona shook me. If the process wraps up and Cyber Ninjas puts together some kind of report, that report will almost certainly claim that there were issues with Maricopa County’s ballots. After all, Cyber Ninjas chief executive Doug Logan has publicly voiced his wild conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. But the real problem is the so-called audit itself."

Cryptocurrencies crash in brutal sell-off, with bitcoin down nearly 10 percent: The digital currencies have fallen sharply in recent days, and it’s unclear when it will end. - "'But at the end of the day, it drops like this for the same reason it previously skyrocketed the way it did — it is primarily held by rank speculators who lack a thesis for ownership rooted in fundamentals or reality or some definition of value. Speculation cuts both ways and reflects weak hands when things turn south.'"

House Democrats’ 2020 election autopsy: Bad polling hurt and GOP attacks worked

One of the last survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — 107 years old — wants justice: Viola Fletcher, who lived through the Tulsa Race Massacre a century ago, testified before Congress Wednesday on the push for reparations

Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Reading archive 2021-05-05

Four years after a man’s execution, lawyers say DNA from the murder weapon points to someone else

‘Disgusting and horrific’ stabbing at San Francisco bus stop seriously injures two Asian women

Police ID man accused of stabbing 2 older Asian women waiting at SF bus stop

Video shows stranger attacking Asian woman with hammer in NYC: The woman was hit in the head by someone who demanded that she remove her mask, police said. A woman with the victim was not injured.

Retinoids remain the gold standard for fighting acne and wrinkles. Here’s what you should know.

‘Uncertainty is not our friend’: Scientists are still struggling to understand the sea level risks posed by Antarctica: Two scientific studies find the Paris climate goals could significantly reduce sea level rise by 2100 -- but also show scientists still grappling with how climate change will alter the world’s largest ice sheet.

Facebook’s Oversight Board upholds ban on Trump. At least for now.: The panel faulted the social network for making a hasty decision without clear criteria and told the company to reevaluate the decision within six months.

Japan should cut its losses and tell the IOC to take its Olympic pillage somewhere else - "The answer is that the IOC derives its power strictly from the Olympic 'host contract.' It’s a highly illuminating document that reveals much about the highhanded organization and how it leaves host nations with crippling debts. Seven pages are devoted to 'medical services' the host must provide — free of charge — to anyone with an Olympic credential, including rooms at local hospitals expressly reserved for them and only them. Tokyo organizers have estimated they will need to divert about 10,000 medical workers to service the IOC’s demands.

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"The predicament in Tokyo is symptomatic of a deeper, longer-lasting illness in the Olympics. The Games have become a to-the-very-brink exercise in pain and exhaustion for everyone involved, and fewer countries are willing to accept these terms. Greed and blowout costs have rendered it an event that courts extreme disaster. In September, a report out of Oxford University’s business school found that the IOC has consistently “misled” countries about the risks and costs of hosting. Example: The IOC pretends that a contingency of about 9.1 percent is adequate to cover unforeseen expenses.

"The true average cost overrun on a Summer Games? It’s 213 percent.

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"This is why virtually the only government leaders that will have anything to do with the IOC anymore are thugocrats such as Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, who can coerce labor and spend limitlessly for prestige. Over the past 20 years, other potential hosts have dried up. Among those who have wisely said no to the IOC: Barcelona, Boston, Budapest, Davos, Hamburg, Krakow, Munich, Oslo, Rome, Stockholm and Toronto."

Opinion: Five former IRS commissioners: Biden’s proposal would create a fairer tax system

Strongmen who got cozy with Trump get the cold shoulder from Biden

Observers report ballots and laptop computers have been left unattended in Arizona recount, according to secretary of state