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marmar

marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
August 23, 2021

E.T., Phone Hell? Creationist Ken Ham Says Jesus Can't Save Space Aliens


(HuffPost) Creationist Ken Ham, who built a giant Noah’s Ark-themed attraction in Kentucky, said he doesn’t think there’s life outside of Earth.

And if such life existed, they shouldn’t expect any form of salvation from Jesus Christ.

“Jesus came to save us, not to another planet to save another race of beings,” Ham wrote on Twitter, adding that it’s clear “salvation through Christ is only for the Adamic race,” aka human earthlings.

On the bright side, however, Ham said they won’t need redemption anyway ... since they don’t exist. The Bible, according to his strict interpretation, says only Earth was made to be inhabited, “and the other celestial bodies were created for signs, seasons, days, and years,” he tweeted.

Ham was responding to a recent poll that found deeply religious Americans are less likely to believe in intelligent life outside of Earth. He has made similar comments before, writing in 2014, “Jesus did not become the ‘GodKlingon’ or the ‘GodMartian’! Only descendants of Adam can be saved.” .............(more)

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ken-ham-aliens-cant-be-saved_n_612327cae4b029c152b61ea6




August 23, 2021

Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera joins 500 home run club


Miguel Cabrera is now a member of one of the most exclusive clubs in baseball.

Cabrera put an exclamation point on his career when he became the 28th member of the 500 home run club with a sixth-inning blast for the Detroit Tigers on Sunday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

The 38-year-old Cabrera connected on a 1-1 pitch from left-hander Steven Matz, sending the ball over the scoreboard in right-center field. The 400-foot homer tied the score at 1. The Tigers won the game 5-3 in 11 innings.

The 14,685 fans at Rogers Centre rose for a standing ovation as Cabrera rounded the bases. After celebrating with his teammates, the Tigers slugger came out of the dugout to accept a curtain call, taking off his helmet and bowing to the crowd behind Detroit's dugout. .......(more)

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32067352/detroit-tigers-miguel-cabrera-joins-500-home-run-club




August 22, 2021

The dark history of the "Great Replacement": Tucker Carlson's racist fantasy has deep roots


The dark history of the "Great Replacement": Tucker Carlson's racist fantasy has deep roots
A conspiracy to "replace" white people? Fox News host channels a crackpot notion that has fueled mass shooters

By PAUL ROSENBERG
PUBLISHED AUGUST 21, 2021 12:00PM


(Salon) In April of this year, Tucker Carlson got into hot water after offering an impassioned expression of the white nationalist conspiracy theory known as the "Great Replacement" during a monologue on his Fox News prime-time show. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrote to Fox News in response, citing just a small fragment of Carlson's long racist record, and noting that "Carlson has suggested that the very idea of white supremacy in the U.S. is a hoax." Greenblatt concluded, "Carlson's full-on embrace of the white supremacist replacement theory ... and his repeated allusions to racist themes in past segments are a bridge too far. Given his long record of race-baiting, we believe it is time for Carlson to go."

Predictably enough, Fox News and its ownership refused to take this seriously. Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch responded by falsely claiming that "Mr. Carlson decried and rejected replacement theory." But the only evidence he offered didn't sound like rejection, only an attempt to sanitize Carlson's remarks through denial and reframing: "As Mr. Carlson himself stated during the guest interview: 'White replacement theory? No, no, this is a voting rights question.'"

It's worth looking back at that episode now for several reasons. First, Carlson has again been pushing "Great Replacement" discourse more recently, this time by attacking the idea of bringing Afghan refugees to the U.S. in the wake of the Taliban's lightning conquest of that country. Second, because Fox News' defense of Carlson has only supported the spread of this racist conspiracy theory. Third, because that theory has a bloody record of inspiring mass murder — not incidentally, but as a logical consequence of its central argument.

....(snip)....

As Scaminaci put it: "The underlying motivation of the Great Replacement and voter suppression is the same: Nonwhite voters are inherently illegitimate because they vote for an illegitimate political party that itself poses an existential threat to Western civilization or America or White America or White Americans, because it conspires with external nonwhites to destroy the country."

So the Great Replacement that has actually taken place is the replacement of the ideas, ideals and mores of conservatism. As debased and depraved as those had already become, they have now been supplanted by much darker principles, which have deadly real-world consequences and pose an existential threat to what remains of American democracy. ............(more)

https://www.salon.com/2021/08/21/the-dark-history-of-the-great-replacement-tucker-carlsons-racist-fantasy-has-deep-roots/




August 22, 2021

Recall Ron DeSantis' Petition Doubles Support in 6 Days to 70,000


A petition to recall and remove Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has doubled its support in 6 days, amassing more than 70,000 signatures, as the sunshine state battles its highest daily COVID-19 cases on record.

On August 16, Florida recorded 56,036 new cases of COVID-19 as the Delta variant surged across the state.

According to CDC data, there were 13,703 people hospitalized in the state on average daily between August 8 and August 14, a 13 percent increase from the previous seven days. .........(more)

https://www.newsweek.com/recall-ron-desantis-petition-doubles-support-6-days-70000-1620120





August 22, 2021

FAA to fine a passenger $45k for throwing luggage and putting his head up a flight attendant's skirt


Sounds like assault to me.....


Shortly after departure from New York on May 24, a JetBlue passenger was accused of throwing his carry-on luggage, lying down in the aisle and refusing to get up, and grabbing a flight attendant by the ankles and sticking his head up her skirt.

After the crew restrained him with zip-ties, the plane diverted to Richmond, Virginia, where he was removed.

He may be fined $45,000, according to the latest announcement of proposed civil penalties released today from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The JetBlue passenger was just one of 34 against whom the FAA proposed fines against on Thursday for a total of $531,545, bringing the total for 2021 to more than $1 million. ......................(more)

https://www.businessinsider.com/faa-fines-for-unruly-passengers-top-1m-this-year-2021-8




August 22, 2021

Attack of the giant rodents or class war? Argentina's rich riled by new neighbors




Attack of the giant rodents or class war? Argentina’s rich riled by new neighbors
Hordes of capybaras have taken up residence at a gated community, sparking a debate on the environment and inequality

Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires
Sun 22 Aug 2021 05.00 EDT


(Guardian UK) Nordelta is Argentina’s most well-known gated community: an enclave of spacious homes for the rich amid a dreamy landscape of lakes and streams north of Buenos Aires.

But environmentalists question its very existence because it is built on the wetlands of the Paraná, the second most important river in South America after the Amazon.

Now, however, nature is fighting back against Nordelta’s well-heeled residents.

In recent weeks, the community has been invaded by capybaras, who have destroyed manicured lawns, bitten dogs and caused traffic accidents.

“They not only destroy gardens but their excrement has also become a problem,” one local man told the daily La Nación, complaining that local wildlife officials had prohibited residents from touching the large rodents. ............(more)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/22/argentina-capybaras-giant-rodents-gated-community




August 21, 2021

Nazi salute, insults hurled at chaotic Birmingham schools meeting over mask mandate


The scent of astroturf is getting stronger


(Detroit Metro Times) Police are investigating a man who flashed a Nazi salute and chanted “Heil Hitler” during a raucous Birmingham Board of Education meeting over a mask mandate for students.

Unruly anti-maskers booed and hurled insults at board members and speakers, including a high school student, who spoke in favor of face coverings during the meeting Wednesday evening.

The anti-maskers spewed falsehoods about COVID-19, telling board members that masks are dangerous and that children aren't at risk of spreading the virus, despite a plethora of evidence to the contrary. Several parents said they're removing their children from school because of the mandate.

The remarks came after the board and superintendent announced that students, staff, and teachers will be required to wear masks indoors for the start of the school year. ........(more)

https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/08/19/nazi-salute-insults-hurled-at-ruckus-birmingham-schools-meeting-over-mask-mandate#.YSEQHI3P9A4.link




August 21, 2021

Toronto announces mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for its employees



Toronto Mayor John Tory announced that all city of Toronto employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

With the health and safety of residents, staff and the community key priorities for the city, this new policy demonstrates a commitment to taking every precaution to protect staff and visitors in city workplaces from COVID-19. The full policy is being finalized now and will be made public in the coming days.

The city announced that all members of the Toronto Public Service will be required to disclose and provide proof of vaccination status by Sept. 13. Staff who have not been vaccinated or who do not disclose their vaccination status by Sept. 13 will be required to attend mandatory education on the benefits of vaccination. These unvaccinated individuals will then need to provide proof of first dose no later than Sept. 30.

"This is about ensuring the city of Toronto – your municipal government funded with your tax dollars – is doing everything it can to encourage vaccination and protect our workers," said Mayor Tory. "Our end goal is to encourage and persuade people to get vaccinated, if they haven’t already, so our city workplaces – which includes many public places – are as safe as possible for them and for the people we serve. I encourage all of our employees who aren’t vaccinated and who are eligible to be vaccinated, not to wait. Please do the right thing now and get vaccinated. It will help better protect you, your coworkers and your loved ones.” .............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/safety-security/press-release/21235244/city-of-toronto-announces-mandatory-covid19-vaccination-for-its-employees




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Hometown: Detroit, MI
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