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pepperbear
pepperbear's Journal
pepperbear's Journal
October 11, 2019
A letter sent Thursday from the chair of the House Science Committee to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross reveals that it was the Commerce Department, not the leadership of its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that drafted a controversial NOAA statement on Sept. 6 that backed President Trump’s false statement about the path of Hurricane Dorian. That statement contradicted NOAA’s own meteorologists at a weather forecast office in Birmingham, Ala.
*SNIP*
Aside from Jacobs himself, who holds a PhD in meteorology, none of the individuals involved in its drafting is a scientist. NOAA’s scientific integrity policy prohibits political interference with the conduct and communication of the agency’s scientific findings.
Jacobs had fought issuing the statement and also tried to block the paragraph that admonished the National Weather Service office in Birmingham that tweeted that Alabama would “NOT see any impacts” from Hurricane Dorian. However, Jacobs lost both those arguments, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Post.
The Science Committee letter was a follow-up to a letter sent on Sept. 11 to Ross requesting answers to questions and documents pertaining to Trump’s tweet and the events that followed. The Sept. 11 letter requested a response from the Commerce Department by Sept. 20, but Thursday’s letter noted that the Committee “has yet to receive any responsive materials” and asked for them “as soon as possible” — no later than Oct. 18.
Commerce department wrote NOAA statement refuting Alabama Weather Service (RE: Hurricane Dorian)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2019/10/10/top-commerce-department-aides-orchestrated-noaas-hurricane-dorian-statement-house-science-committee-chair-says/A letter sent Thursday from the chair of the House Science Committee to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross reveals that it was the Commerce Department, not the leadership of its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that drafted a controversial NOAA statement on Sept. 6 that backed President Trump’s false statement about the path of Hurricane Dorian. That statement contradicted NOAA’s own meteorologists at a weather forecast office in Birmingham, Ala.
*SNIP*
Aside from Jacobs himself, who holds a PhD in meteorology, none of the individuals involved in its drafting is a scientist. NOAA’s scientific integrity policy prohibits political interference with the conduct and communication of the agency’s scientific findings.
Jacobs had fought issuing the statement and also tried to block the paragraph that admonished the National Weather Service office in Birmingham that tweeted that Alabama would “NOT see any impacts” from Hurricane Dorian. However, Jacobs lost both those arguments, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Post.
The Science Committee letter was a follow-up to a letter sent on Sept. 11 to Ross requesting answers to questions and documents pertaining to Trump’s tweet and the events that followed. The Sept. 11 letter requested a response from the Commerce Department by Sept. 20, but Thursday’s letter noted that the Committee “has yet to receive any responsive materials” and asked for them “as soon as possible” — no later than Oct. 18.
October 7, 2019
General Electric Co said on Monday it was freezing pension plans for about 20,000 U.S. employees with salaried benefits, as the industrial conglomerate makes another drastic move to cut debt and reduce its pension deficit by up to $8 billion.
*snip*
Boston-based GE said there would be no change for retirees already collecting pension benefits. "Returning GE to a position of strength has required us to make several difficult decisions, and today's decision to freeze the pension is no exception," Chief Human Resources Officer Kevin Cox said. Shares rose 2.6% to $8.79 in premarket trading. The company said it will offer a limited-time lump-sum payment option to about 100,000 former employees who have not yet started their monthly pension plan payments.
GE Slashes pensions for 20,000 employees
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/ge-to-freeze-pension-plans-for-about-20000-us-workers-to-cut-debt/ar-AAIoCgN?ocid=spartanntp_eduGeneral Electric Co said on Monday it was freezing pension plans for about 20,000 U.S. employees with salaried benefits, as the industrial conglomerate makes another drastic move to cut debt and reduce its pension deficit by up to $8 billion.
*snip*
Boston-based GE said there would be no change for retirees already collecting pension benefits. "Returning GE to a position of strength has required us to make several difficult decisions, and today's decision to freeze the pension is no exception," Chief Human Resources Officer Kevin Cox said. Shares rose 2.6% to $8.79 in premarket trading. The company said it will offer a limited-time lump-sum payment option to about 100,000 former employees who have not yet started their monthly pension plan payments.
October 7, 2019
Del Monte Foods is closing two manufacturing plants and selling two others, affecting more than 800 jobs.
Company executives (say the company) is streamlining its domestic operations amid headwinds that include U.S. tariffs on China and rising metal costs.
Food manufacturers announced nearly 16,000 layoffs in the first seven months of the year, the highest for the period since 2009.
Just sayin'.
Del Monte foods closing 2 more plants, laying off hundreds
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/del-monte-foods-closing-two-more-us-plants-laying-off-hundreds/Del Monte Foods is closing two manufacturing plants and selling two others, affecting more than 800 jobs.
Company executives (say the company) is streamlining its domestic operations amid headwinds that include U.S. tariffs on China and rising metal costs.
Food manufacturers announced nearly 16,000 layoffs in the first seven months of the year, the highest for the period since 2009.
Just sayin'.
October 3, 2019
A GIF for your viewing pleasure
https://giphy.com/gifs/trump-donald-poor-PZENiXhEbXzAA?ref=fbt
September 27, 2019
Just a reminder....
trump still has his own private unsecured cell phone.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/us/politics/trump-phone-security.html
August 12, 2019
As seen on facebook
"Illegal Immigrants are freeloaders, but ICE isn't raiding welfare offices, food pantries, or free clinics.
They're raiding workplaces."
August 8, 2019
(CNN) — The El Paso shooting suspect's mother called the Allen, Texas, Police Department weeks before the shooting because she was concerned about her son owning an "AK" type firearm, lawyers for the family confirmed to CNN.
The mother contacted police because she was worried about her son owning the weapon given his age, maturity level and lack of experience handling such a firearm, attorneys Chris Ayres and R. Jack Ayres said.
During the call, the mother was transferred to a public safety officer who told her that -- based on her description of the situation -- her son, 21, was legally allowed to purchase the weapon, the attorneys said. The mother did not provide her name or her son's name, and police did not seek any additional information from her before the call concluded, they added.
*SNIP*
El Paso shooter's Mother called police about gun weeks before shooting
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/07/us/el-paso-crusius-gun-warning/index.html(CNN) — The El Paso shooting suspect's mother called the Allen, Texas, Police Department weeks before the shooting because she was concerned about her son owning an "AK" type firearm, lawyers for the family confirmed to CNN.
The mother contacted police because she was worried about her son owning the weapon given his age, maturity level and lack of experience handling such a firearm, attorneys Chris Ayres and R. Jack Ayres said.
During the call, the mother was transferred to a public safety officer who told her that -- based on her description of the situation -- her son, 21, was legally allowed to purchase the weapon, the attorneys said. The mother did not provide her name or her son's name, and police did not seek any additional information from her before the call concluded, they added.
*SNIP*
July 10, 2019
*SNIP*
During an interview with a detective, Adams said that he stabbed Al-Amin in the back and slit his throat, according to the statement.
Adams told police that Al-Amin didn't do anything threatening but that the youth had been listening to rap music in his car in the parking lot, according to the statement.
"Adams stated rap music makes him feel unsafe, because in the past he has been attacked by people (Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American) who listen to rap music. Adams further stated, people who listen to rap music are a threat to him and the community," the document said.
*SNIP*
Black teenager killed because rap music made white killer feel "unsafe"
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/07/09/us/arizona-rap-teen-killed-hate-crime-trnd/index.html*SNIP*
During an interview with a detective, Adams said that he stabbed Al-Amin in the back and slit his throat, according to the statement.
Adams told police that Al-Amin didn't do anything threatening but that the youth had been listening to rap music in his car in the parking lot, according to the statement.
"Adams stated rap music makes him feel unsafe, because in the past he has been attacked by people (Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American) who listen to rap music. Adams further stated, people who listen to rap music are a threat to him and the community," the document said.
*SNIP*
July 3, 2019
*SNIP*
“After viewing the facts of this case and the applicable state law I have determined that it is not in the best interest of justice to pursue prosecution of Ms. Jones on the manslaughter charge for which she was indicted by the grand jury,” Jefferson County District Attorney Lynneice Washington said at a press conference. “Therefore, I am dismissing this case and no further legal action will be taken against Ms. Jones in this matter.”
In recent days, Washington’s office faced heavy criticism for Jones’s indictment, and Jones’s lawyers had filed a motion to have the case dismissed.
*SNIP*
Alabama miscarriage shooting charges dismissed
https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/7/3/20681511/marshae-jones-alabama-miscarriage-shooting-charges-dismissed*SNIP*
“After viewing the facts of this case and the applicable state law I have determined that it is not in the best interest of justice to pursue prosecution of Ms. Jones on the manslaughter charge for which she was indicted by the grand jury,” Jefferson County District Attorney Lynneice Washington said at a press conference. “Therefore, I am dismissing this case and no further legal action will be taken against Ms. Jones in this matter.”
In recent days, Washington’s office faced heavy criticism for Jones’s indictment, and Jones’s lawyers had filed a motion to have the case dismissed.
*SNIP*
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