March 17, 2020

Stupid Republican tricks

Democratic Party's donkey symbol replaced by a rat in Google search
https://mashable.com/article/google-knowledge-panel-democratic-party-rats.amp

As we approach the 2020 U.S. presidential election, more and more Americans are turning to Google with important questions about politicians and policies. And, as of the time of this writing, if one of those questions involves looking up the term "Democratic Party" on the popular search engine, then those Americans would be led to believe that the party's symbol is that of a rat.

Like, literally a rat. The Democratic Party's symbol is, of course, a donkey. You would be forgiven for thinking otherwise, however, if you came across Google's so-called Knowledge Panel which, on Monday afternoon, displayed a multicolored rodent in all its red-white-and-blue glory.

For the unfamiliar, the Knowledge Panel is an information box sitting on the right side of search results and, according to Google, is "meant to help you get a quick snapshot of information on a topic based on Google's understanding of available content on the web."

...

When reached for comment, a Google spokesperson suggested that if only the Democratic Party had taken the time to claim its Knowledge Panel then we wouldn't be in this mess.

"Most images in Knowledge Panels are automatically generated from pages on the web," wrote the spokesperson over email. "When errors are reported, we fix them quickly. We encourage people and organizations to claim their Knowledge Panels, which allows them to select a representative image."

That's right, in Google's mind, the fault lies anywhere but at home. Notably, even after we heard back from Google, the incorrect image remained on the site.

...

However I just checked and it's fixed now.

March 16, 2020

Oregon police department asks public not to call 911 if they run out of toilet paper

Oregon police department asks public not to call 911 if they run out of toilet paper
https://katu.com/news/coronavirus/oregon-police-department-asks-public-to-avoid-calling-911-if-they-run-out-of-toilet-paper

NEWPORT, Ore. (KMTR) — The Newport Oregon Police Department is notifying the public that they are not to call the emergency line simply because they ran out of toilet paper. ...

March 16, 2020

Lucifer's Hammer (novel)

I read it when it came out back in the 1970s.

It's set in the future. IIRC about the year 2000 or so.
A comet is spotted heading toward Earth, panic ensues.
The comet hits Earth about halfway through the story.
The comet doesn't do anywhere near as much damage as feared, but civilization has already collapsed from the panic.
The rest of the book is about people picking up the pieces as best they can sort of along the lines of the later book The Postman.

I thought of it recently for some reason.

March 14, 2020

Everything a foreigner needs to know to become a soldier in the Russian Armed Forces

I swear I'm not shilling for them.

What is positively fascinating is how easy it has become. Almost like the French Foreign Legion.

Everything a foreigner needs to know to become a soldier in the Russian Armed Forces
https://www.rbth.com/science-and-tech/331042-how-to-join-russian-army

To put it simple: you'll need to be a good and strong person with no legal issues back home.

In 2015, Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing any foreign citizens to join the country’s Armed Forces

....

March 14, 2020

Kenneth Copeland -- Total Evil bastard (as usual)

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March 13, 2020

"Never Biden" movement needs to be denounced

Just now taking form.

Take it from this Bernie Bro. Don't fall for it.

If you really want to read about it in detail, easy to find but I won't link.

March 13, 2020

Right wing legislative contingency planning (banning abortion)

Idaho bill outlaws abortion if Roe v. Wade is reversed
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/capitol-watch/idaho-bill-outlaws-abortion-if-roe-versus-wade-reversed/277-f6d84877-a97d-470e-ada9-9a8f23008bfd

The Idaho Senate has approved legislation making abortion a crime should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling establishing abortion rights nationwide.

The Senate voted 27-7 Thursday to approve the measure that includes exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother.

Under the measure, criminal punishment would apply to the person performing the abortion, not the woman.

...

Emphasis added. That is exactly how it was in the old days.

March 12, 2020

Down syndrome abortion fight in Ohio takes legal twists (NBC)

Down syndrome abortion fight in Ohio takes legal twists
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/down-syndrome-abortion-fight-ohio-takes-legal-twists-n1155276

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal court in Cincinnati will hear complex legal arguments for and against Ohio's Down syndrome abortion ban Wednesday, in a case viewed as pivotal in the national debate over the procedure.

Attorneys for the government contend in legal filings that the sidelined 2017 law does not infringe on a woman's constitutional rights — because it “does not prohibit any abortions at all.”

That was certainly not how the measure's proponents in the Ohio Legislature saw it, said one backer.

“I'm of the mind that it certainly does prevent abortions,” said state Rep. Candice Keller, a Republican abortion opponent.

...

The state and federal government will argue Wednesday during a rare hearing before the entire U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati that, because of how it's structured, the law only impedes doctors, not pregnant women.

...

This one is bizarre on top of the usual anti-choice slippery slope. OK to abort a normal healthy one, but not with Down syndrome?

March 12, 2020

Tennessee abortion reversal bill could allow doctors to be charged

Tennessee abortion reversal bill could allow doctors to be charged
https://www.wjhl.com/news/regional/tennessee/tennessee-abortion-reversal-bill-could-allow-doctors-to-be-charged/

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Doctors who fail to inform women that drug-induced abortions may be halted halfway could face felony charges under a bill advancing in Tennessee.

Medical groups say the claim isn’t backed up by science and there is little information about the reversal procedure’s safety.

The measure advanced out of the House Health Committee on Tuesday. It now moves to the full House chamber and must also clear the Senate.

However, in the GOP-dominant Statehouse, the bill is likely to be approved by Republicans supportive of abortion restrictions. Gov. Bill Lee has also come out in support of anti-abortion measures, backing his own sweeping restrictions during this year’s legislative session.

Six states already require doctors to tell women that it may be possible reverse a medication abortion: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. In two other states, Oklahoma and North Dakota, these so-called “abortion reversal” laws are blocked or blocked by legal challenges.

...

Emphasis added.

March 12, 2020

Utah's Women Senators Walk Out As Men Pass Abortion Ultrasound Bill

Utah's Women Senators Walk Out As Men Pass Abortion Ultrasound Bill
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/utahs-women-senators-walk-out-as-men-pass-abortion-ultrasound-bill/ar-BB112BLb

Six women in Utah's Senate, from both sides of the aisle, walked out on their male peers Tuesday, as they passed a bill requiring pregnant women to sit through an ultrasound before being able to undergo an abortion.

NCAA tournament games closed to fans
'Got married!' U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar says
Six women in Utah's Senate, from both sides of the aisle, walked out on their male peers Tuesday, as they passed a bill requiring pregnant women to sit through an ultrasound before being able to undergo an abortion.

a close up of a computer: An ultrasound machine sits next to an exam table in an examination room at Whole Woman's Health of South Bend on June 19, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Men in Utah's Senate passed a bill seeking to force women undergo an ultrasound before getting an abortion.© Scott Olson/Getty An ultrasound machine sits next to an exam table in an examination room at Whole Woman's Health of South Bend on June 19, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. Men in Utah's Senate passed a bill seeking to force women undergo an ultrasound before getting an abortion.
House Bill 364 was passed entirely by male senators as their six female colleagues, Democrats Luz Escamilla, Jani Iwamoto, Karen Mayne and Kathleen Riebe and Republicans Deirdre Henderson and Ann Millner walked out on the vote.

According to Escamilla, who tweeted about the incident, the decision to walk out of the Senate was not planned.

"Love my sisters in the Senate," Escamilla said, sharing photos of the six women senators embracing each other after walking out. "A spontaneous decision not planned of sisterhood against the invasive nature of HB 364," she said.

...

Emphasis added.