Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
February 21, 2022
(Guardian UK) Last September, Donald Trump released a statement through his Save America website. “It is my great honor to endorse a true warrior,” he proclaimed, “a patriot who has fought for our country, who was willing to say what few others had the courage to say, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Former US presidents usually reserve their most gushing praise – replete with Capital Letters – for global allies or people they are promoting for high office. A candidate for the US Senate, perhaps, or someone vying to become governor of one of the biggest states.
Trump by contrast was heaping plaudits on an individual running for an elected post that a year ago most people had never heard of, let alone cared about. He was endorsing Mark Finchem, a Republican lawmaker from Tucson, in his bid to become Arizona’s secretary of state.
Until Trump’s endorsement, Finchem, like the relatively obscure position for which he is now standing, was scarcely known outside politically informed Arizona circles. Today he is a celebrity on the “Save America” circuit, one of a coterie of local politicians who have been thrown into the national spotlight by Trump as he lays the foundations for a possible ground attack on democracy in the 2024 presidential election. ...............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/21/mark-finchem-trump-arizona-elections-secretary-of-state
'This should terrify the nation': the Trump ally seeking to run Arizona's elections
(Guardian UK) Last September, Donald Trump released a statement through his Save America website. “It is my great honor to endorse a true warrior,” he proclaimed, “a patriot who has fought for our country, who was willing to say what few others had the courage to say, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Former US presidents usually reserve their most gushing praise – replete with Capital Letters – for global allies or people they are promoting for high office. A candidate for the US Senate, perhaps, or someone vying to become governor of one of the biggest states.
Trump by contrast was heaping plaudits on an individual running for an elected post that a year ago most people had never heard of, let alone cared about. He was endorsing Mark Finchem, a Republican lawmaker from Tucson, in his bid to become Arizona’s secretary of state.
Until Trump’s endorsement, Finchem, like the relatively obscure position for which he is now standing, was scarcely known outside politically informed Arizona circles. Today he is a celebrity on the “Save America” circuit, one of a coterie of local politicians who have been thrown into the national spotlight by Trump as he lays the foundations for a possible ground attack on democracy in the 2024 presidential election. ...............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/21/mark-finchem-trump-arizona-elections-secretary-of-state
February 18, 2022
Pinellas sheriff’s detectives have arrested a Tarpon Springs man who they say coaxed minors into committing sexual acts by offering them vaping devices and marijuana.
Brandon Michael White, 22, is facing 11 charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation, battery and conduct; and unlawful use of a communications device, Pinellas sheriff’s officials reported Thursday.
Officials said the victims are under age 16.
Sheriff’s officials said the crimes are believed to have begun in April. Detectives learned White had been contacting minors through Snapchat and Instagram.
“White asked to smell and touch the victims’ feet in exchange for nicotine and marijuana products,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “Detectives say White also received various sexual acts from the victims.” ..................(more)
https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2022/02/17/pinellas-man-offered-vaping-devices-to-minors-for-sex-acts-and-to-smell-their-feet-deputies-say/
Man offered vaping devices to minors for sex acts and to smell their feet, deputies say
Pinellas sheriff’s detectives have arrested a Tarpon Springs man who they say coaxed minors into committing sexual acts by offering them vaping devices and marijuana.
Brandon Michael White, 22, is facing 11 charges, including lewd and lascivious molestation, battery and conduct; and unlawful use of a communications device, Pinellas sheriff’s officials reported Thursday.
Officials said the victims are under age 16.
Sheriff’s officials said the crimes are believed to have begun in April. Detectives learned White had been contacting minors through Snapchat and Instagram.
“White asked to smell and touch the victims’ feet in exchange for nicotine and marijuana products,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. “Detectives say White also received various sexual acts from the victims.” ..................(more)
https://www.tampabay.com/news/crime/2022/02/17/pinellas-man-offered-vaping-devices-to-minors-for-sex-acts-and-to-smell-their-feet-deputies-say/
February 18, 2022
Trump threatens Hillary Clinton with death all over again — and nobody seems to care
Media shrugs off Trump's latest calls for violence because his claims are preposterous — but his fans are listening
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 18, 2022 6:30AM
(Salon) Dear America: None of this is normal. Don't listen to the people who try to convince you that it is. They don't have your best interests at heart. In fact, you stand on the precipice of disaster — and you're running out of time.
Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and political crime boss of the Republican Party, continues to threaten his "enemies" with lethal violence — and at this point his enemies include anyone who opposes him, or stands in his way.
Trump is an entrepreneur of both political and interpersonal violence, although far too cowardly to engage in it himself. His threats should be taken seriously.
Yet the mainstream news media as a whole, along with most of the country's political class have decided to stand mute in response to Donald Trump's threats of mayhem. They have "moved on," which in this case makes them like the three proverbial monkeys who hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil.
....(snip)....
Last Saturday, Donald Trump issued yet another proclamation from his palace at Mar-a-Lago:
Donald Trump is literally threatening Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff with death. Trump's followers are listening closely. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/02/18/threatens-hillary-clinton-with-all-over-again--and-nobody-seems-to-care/
Trump threatens Hillary Clinton with death all over again -- and nobody seems to care
Trump threatens Hillary Clinton with death all over again — and nobody seems to care
Media shrugs off Trump's latest calls for violence because his claims are preposterous — but his fans are listening
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 18, 2022 6:30AM
(Salon) Dear America: None of this is normal. Don't listen to the people who try to convince you that it is. They don't have your best interests at heart. In fact, you stand on the precipice of disaster — and you're running out of time.
Donald Trump, the former president of the United States and political crime boss of the Republican Party, continues to threaten his "enemies" with lethal violence — and at this point his enemies include anyone who opposes him, or stands in his way.
Trump is an entrepreneur of both political and interpersonal violence, although far too cowardly to engage in it himself. His threats should be taken seriously.
Yet the mainstream news media as a whole, along with most of the country's political class have decided to stand mute in response to Donald Trump's threats of mayhem. They have "moved on," which in this case makes them like the three proverbial monkeys who hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil.
....(snip)....
Last Saturday, Donald Trump issued yet another proclamation from his palace at Mar-a-Lago:
The latest pleading from Special Counsel Robert Durham provides indisputable evidence that my campaign and presidency were spied on by operatives paid by the Hillary Clinton Campaign in an effort to develop a completely fabricated connection to Russia
This is a scandal far greater in scope and magnitude than Watergate and those who were involved in and knew about this spying operation should be subject to criminal prosecution. In a stronger period of time in our country, this crime would have been punishable by death. In addition, reparations should be paid to those in our country who have been damaged by this.
Donald Trump is literally threatening Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff with death. Trump's followers are listening closely. ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/02/18/threatens-hillary-clinton-with-all-over-again--and-nobody-seems-to-care/
February 18, 2022
Great Lakes Coffee workers in Detroit go on strike, demand better pay and working conditions
(Detroit Metro Times) More than 100 people gathered outside Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co.’s flagship store in Midtown Detroit on Wednesday to support baristas and cooks who went on strike and are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and union representation.
The employees are asking for a fair contract that includes a starting wage of at least $15 per hour; COVID-19 protocols; anti-harassment and anti-discrimination protections; affordable health, dental, and vision insurance; and paid time off, including sick days and parental leave.
Baristas tell Metro Times they are overworked, understaffed, underpaid, and mistreated by management.
Max Capasso, 24, who uses they/them pronouns, has worked at the Great Lakes shop at the Rivertown Market on East Jefferson for six months at $11 an hour and says they have never received a break. Capasso says they’ve worked from open to close without any help. ....................(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/great-lakes-coffee-workers-in-detroit-go-on-strike-demand-better-pay-and-working-conditions/Content?oid=29358248#.Yg7i3QPtAIM.link
OK, Great Lakes Roasting is my favorite coffee house, but I'm going to give it a miss for now......
Great Lakes Coffee workers in Detroit go on strike, demand better pay and working conditions
(Detroit Metro Times) More than 100 people gathered outside Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co.’s flagship store in Midtown Detroit on Wednesday to support baristas and cooks who went on strike and are demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and union representation.
The employees are asking for a fair contract that includes a starting wage of at least $15 per hour; COVID-19 protocols; anti-harassment and anti-discrimination protections; affordable health, dental, and vision insurance; and paid time off, including sick days and parental leave.
Baristas tell Metro Times they are overworked, understaffed, underpaid, and mistreated by management.
Max Capasso, 24, who uses they/them pronouns, has worked at the Great Lakes shop at the Rivertown Market on East Jefferson for six months at $11 an hour and says they have never received a break. Capasso says they’ve worked from open to close without any help. ....................(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/great-lakes-coffee-workers-in-detroit-go-on-strike-demand-better-pay-and-working-conditions/Content?oid=29358248#.Yg7i3QPtAIM.link
February 18, 2022
(Detroit News) The wife of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield came to his defense Thursday with a lengthy statement denying her sister-in-law's allegations of sexual abuse and accusing her of financial motivations.
Stephanie Chatfield said "there is no question" that her husband had multiple affairs, but she maintained in a statement through her attorney that each of the relationships was consensual.
The statement came more than a month after police confirmed they were investigating a complaint against the former House speaker from his sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield, who alleged she was sexual abused by Lee Chatfield starting at age 15 before and after she married his brother.
Lee Chatfield, through an attorney, has maintained Rebekah Chatfield was 18 when the affair started. ...............(more)
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/02/17/chatfields-wife-comes-his-defense-over-allegations-sexual-abuse/6834727001/
Chatfield's wife comes to ex-speaker's defense over allegations of sexual abuse
(Detroit News) The wife of former House Speaker Lee Chatfield came to his defense Thursday with a lengthy statement denying her sister-in-law's allegations of sexual abuse and accusing her of financial motivations.
Stephanie Chatfield said "there is no question" that her husband had multiple affairs, but she maintained in a statement through her attorney that each of the relationships was consensual.
The statement came more than a month after police confirmed they were investigating a complaint against the former House speaker from his sister-in-law, Rebekah Chatfield, who alleged she was sexual abused by Lee Chatfield starting at age 15 before and after she married his brother.
Lee Chatfield, through an attorney, has maintained Rebekah Chatfield was 18 when the affair started. ...............(more)
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/02/17/chatfields-wife-comes-his-defense-over-allegations-sexual-abuse/6834727001/
February 17, 2022
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is accepting deliveries of its Fleet of the Future rail cars after pausing deliveries in January 2021 due to reliability issues.
When BART temporarily halted the new car deliveries in January 2021, it said the move would allow Bombardier “time to take steps to improve the cars’ reliability and availability, and to alleviate rail car storage constraints at BART’s maintenance yards.”
BART explains one of the issues with the new fleet involved software in the on-board automatic train control system that would cause the cars to stop while in service. This would require the train operator to reboot the system resulting in a five-to-10-minute delay. Additionally, BART noted that stopping trains under wet or rainy conditions could cause the development of flat spot in the wheels of the cars. While neither issue was a safety concern, BART says the impacts to service reliability and car availability were of concern.
BART worked with the rail cars’ manufacturer to make the necessary upgrades and modifications during the pause in deliveries. The transit agency says those modifications coupled with software improvements have improved the overall performance of the new cars. ................(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/article/21257110/bart-restarts-delivery-of-its-fleet-of-the-future-rail-cars
San Francisco Bay Area: BART restarts delivery of its Fleet of the Future rail cars
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is accepting deliveries of its Fleet of the Future rail cars after pausing deliveries in January 2021 due to reliability issues.
When BART temporarily halted the new car deliveries in January 2021, it said the move would allow Bombardier “time to take steps to improve the cars’ reliability and availability, and to alleviate rail car storage constraints at BART’s maintenance yards.”
BART explains one of the issues with the new fleet involved software in the on-board automatic train control system that would cause the cars to stop while in service. This would require the train operator to reboot the system resulting in a five-to-10-minute delay. Additionally, BART noted that stopping trains under wet or rainy conditions could cause the development of flat spot in the wheels of the cars. While neither issue was a safety concern, BART says the impacts to service reliability and car availability were of concern.
BART worked with the rail cars’ manufacturer to make the necessary upgrades and modifications during the pause in deliveries. The transit agency says those modifications coupled with software improvements have improved the overall performance of the new cars. ................(more)
https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/vehicles/article/21257110/bart-restarts-delivery-of-its-fleet-of-the-future-rail-cars
February 17, 2022
America’s national bird is more beleaguered than previously believed, with nearly half of bald eagles tested across the US showing signs of chronic lead exposure, according to a study published Thursday.
While the bald eagle population has rebounded from the brink of extinction since the US banned the pesticide DDT in 1972, harmful levels of toxic lead were found in the bones of 46% of bald eagles sampled in 38 states from California to Florida, researchers reported in the journal Science.
Similar rates of lead exposure were found in golden eagles, which scientists say means the raptors probably consumed carrion or prey contaminated by lead from ammunition or fishing tackle.
The blood, bones, feathers and liver tissue of 1,210 eagles sampled from 2010 to 2018 were examined to assess chronic and acute lead exposure. ............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/17/us-bald-eagles-chronic-lead-exposure
Nearly half of bald eagles tested across US show signs of chronic lead exposure
America’s national bird is more beleaguered than previously believed, with nearly half of bald eagles tested across the US showing signs of chronic lead exposure, according to a study published Thursday.
While the bald eagle population has rebounded from the brink of extinction since the US banned the pesticide DDT in 1972, harmful levels of toxic lead were found in the bones of 46% of bald eagles sampled in 38 states from California to Florida, researchers reported in the journal Science.
Similar rates of lead exposure were found in golden eagles, which scientists say means the raptors probably consumed carrion or prey contaminated by lead from ammunition or fishing tackle.
The blood, bones, feathers and liver tissue of 1,210 eagles sampled from 2010 to 2018 were examined to assess chronic and acute lead exposure. ............(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/17/us-bald-eagles-chronic-lead-exposure
February 17, 2022
Meet James Lindsay, the far right's "world-level expert" on CRT and "Race Marxism"
Once a "New Atheist" and Obama Democrat, Lindsay rebooted himself as the brains behind the far right's moral panic
By KATHRYN JOYCE
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 17, 2022 6:30AM
(Salon) In a Feb. 5 appearance on Glenn Beck's talk show — which Beck called "probably the most important podcast perhaps that we've ever done" — self-proclaimed critical race theory expert James Lindsay issued a dire warning. While discussing dark right-wing theories about "The Great Reset" and Democratic-run reeducation camps for the unvaccinated, Lindsay warned that a severe reckoning was at hand for the world's elites: "It's coming for them. They're going to lose all of their power. They're going to be exposed for crimes the likes of which we've never seen in human history."
Beck, perhaps a close second to Alex Jones as the reigning conspiracy theorist of the right, seemed to glow with enthusiasm as the two agreed that a revolution was coming and "if they don't have us all in cages, they're in a lot of trouble."
The appearance was one of many Lindsay has conducted in recent days, as he promotes his new book, "Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Practice," published on Tuesday and, as of Wednesday, the top title in Amazon's "philosophy criticism" section. If his digression into fantasies of bloody revolt against a cadre of bankers, media and George Soros — what one Lindsay-watcher called "straight-up Hitler talk" — seems like an odd detour, it's one of many he's made over the years: an academic turned intentional academic fraud, a "new atheist" who now counsels Christians on heresy, a blue-no-matter-who Obama volunteer turned intellectual leader of the far right. So meet the man behind the man behind the right's most consuming contemporary moral panic.
....(snip)....
And despite his long association with militant movement atheism — including co-writing three books about it — in the spring of 2021 Lindsay also waded into Christian communities' internal debates around CRT, warning that the best way to "end Christianity" is to "make [it] woke." As Bob Smietana reported in Religion News Service, Lindsay interjected himself into the Southern Baptist Convention's bitter 2021 feud over CRT, appearing in a documentary and a promotional video created by Founders Ministry, a conservative faction within the denomination that seeks to "return Southern Baptists to their roots." Lindsay also appeared on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler's YouTube show, where Mohler praised "Cynical Theories" as an "intellectual tour de force."
Smietana's investigation also revealed that Lindsay's website, New Discourses, is owned by right-wing activist Michael O'Fallon, president of the Christian nationalist group Sovereign Nations, who believes that George Soros has bought off most Christian leaders and who seeks "to start a new reformation to counter the social justice movement in the church." .......................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/02/17/meet-james-lindsay-the-far-rights-world-level-expert-on-crt-and-race-marxism/
Meet James Lindsay, the far right's "world-level expert" on CRT and "Race Marxism"
Meet James Lindsay, the far right's "world-level expert" on CRT and "Race Marxism"
Once a "New Atheist" and Obama Democrat, Lindsay rebooted himself as the brains behind the far right's moral panic
By KATHRYN JOYCE
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 17, 2022 6:30AM
(Salon) In a Feb. 5 appearance on Glenn Beck's talk show — which Beck called "probably the most important podcast perhaps that we've ever done" — self-proclaimed critical race theory expert James Lindsay issued a dire warning. While discussing dark right-wing theories about "The Great Reset" and Democratic-run reeducation camps for the unvaccinated, Lindsay warned that a severe reckoning was at hand for the world's elites: "It's coming for them. They're going to lose all of their power. They're going to be exposed for crimes the likes of which we've never seen in human history."
Beck, perhaps a close second to Alex Jones as the reigning conspiracy theorist of the right, seemed to glow with enthusiasm as the two agreed that a revolution was coming and "if they don't have us all in cages, they're in a lot of trouble."
The appearance was one of many Lindsay has conducted in recent days, as he promotes his new book, "Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Practice," published on Tuesday and, as of Wednesday, the top title in Amazon's "philosophy criticism" section. If his digression into fantasies of bloody revolt against a cadre of bankers, media and George Soros — what one Lindsay-watcher called "straight-up Hitler talk" — seems like an odd detour, it's one of many he's made over the years: an academic turned intentional academic fraud, a "new atheist" who now counsels Christians on heresy, a blue-no-matter-who Obama volunteer turned intellectual leader of the far right. So meet the man behind the man behind the right's most consuming contemporary moral panic.
....(snip)....
And despite his long association with militant movement atheism — including co-writing three books about it — in the spring of 2021 Lindsay also waded into Christian communities' internal debates around CRT, warning that the best way to "end Christianity" is to "make [it] woke." As Bob Smietana reported in Religion News Service, Lindsay interjected himself into the Southern Baptist Convention's bitter 2021 feud over CRT, appearing in a documentary and a promotional video created by Founders Ministry, a conservative faction within the denomination that seeks to "return Southern Baptists to their roots." Lindsay also appeared on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president Albert Mohler's YouTube show, where Mohler praised "Cynical Theories" as an "intellectual tour de force."
Smietana's investigation also revealed that Lindsay's website, New Discourses, is owned by right-wing activist Michael O'Fallon, president of the Christian nationalist group Sovereign Nations, who believes that George Soros has bought off most Christian leaders and who seeks "to start a new reformation to counter the social justice movement in the church." .......................(more)
https://www.salon.com/2022/02/17/meet-james-lindsay-the-far-rights-world-level-expert-on-crt-and-race-marxism/
February 17, 2022
( Detroit Free Press). Here's an APB you don't hear that often: Michigan State Police are looking for a small, Up North cabin that vanished, possibly on the back of a trailer under the cover of darkness.
"It's kind of a weird situation," Trooper Matthew Scott, who is investigating the case, said Wednesday. "At this point, the cabin is definitely not where it's supposed to be. There are different motives, but that's a detail we are trying to uncover." ..............................(more)
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/02/16/up-north-cabin-stolen-michigan/6816597001/
Man says his entire Up North cabin was stolen, prompting police investigation
( Detroit Free Press). Here's an APB you don't hear that often: Michigan State Police are looking for a small, Up North cabin that vanished, possibly on the back of a trailer under the cover of darkness.
"It's kind of a weird situation," Trooper Matthew Scott, who is investigating the case, said Wednesday. "At this point, the cabin is definitely not where it's supposed to be. There are different motives, but that's a detail we are trying to uncover." ..............................(more)
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/02/16/up-north-cabin-stolen-michigan/6816597001/
February 17, 2022
...... and ran across a bunch I got from Columbia House and BMG when I was in college. .... Fess up, DU. Who never fulfilled their obligation to buy the 10 (or whatever the requirement was) regular-priced CDs after getting the free ones?
I'm guilty as sin.
I was looking through boxes of CDs today that I had in my storage room......
...... and ran across a bunch I got from Columbia House and BMG when I was in college. .... Fess up, DU. Who never fulfilled their obligation to buy the 10 (or whatever the requirement was) regular-priced CDs after getting the free ones?
I'm guilty as sin.
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: Detroit, MI
Member since: Fri Oct 29, 2004, 12:18 AM
Number of posts: 77,080
