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FakeNoose
FakeNoose's Journal
FakeNoose's Journal
July 3, 2021
The 4th of July (joke)
So, it's the 4th of July night and all the dead presidents are gathered around the heavenly campfire having a party.
They're drinking, eating and just generally having a great time when President Washington puts President Lincoln on the spot.
W: "Hey Abe, do that thing you do!"
L: "What now, George? What thing?"
W: "Lincoln, do the thing. The speech! You know, the thing!"
L: "Oh yeah, the speech. Yeah, that thing. Nah, I can't. Can't remember the words."
W: "Whadya mean you can't remember the words? It's the speech; you've said it a million times! You've got that like burned in your brain, right?"
L: "Well yeah, normally I've got it memorized, but that was four s'mores and seven beers ago!"
July 2, 2021
Preet Bharara:
I’m not optimistic that Weisselberg will flip but I am optimistic he’ll be convicted. The law is fairly clear on what is income & what is taxable. He’s a sophisticated executive; mistake is implausible. The company booked much of it as income. And juries hate rich tax cheats.
4:24 PM · Jul 1, 2021
Preet Bharara's prediction re: Weisselberg
https://twitter.com/PreetBharara/status/1410695753975189507Preet Bharara:
I’m not optimistic that Weisselberg will flip but I am optimistic he’ll be convicted. The law is fairly clear on what is income & what is taxable. He’s a sophisticated executive; mistake is implausible. The company booked much of it as income. And juries hate rich tax cheats.
4:24 PM · Jul 1, 2021
July 1, 2021
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette June 1, 2021
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2021/07/01/Pennsylvania-Game-Commission-alert-mysterious-disease-songbird-population/stories/202107010179
- more at link -
Game commission recommends removing bird feeders as disease spreads
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette June 1, 2021
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/science/2021/07/01/Pennsylvania-Game-Commission-alert-mysterious-disease-songbird-population/stories/202107010179
The Pennsylvania Game Commission released an alert Thursday morning recommending that people remove their bird feeders and baths until it can figure out the root cause of a disease discovered recently that is plaguing the songbird population in many states, including southeastern Pennsylvania.
Some of the most affected are blue jays, starlings, and common grackles, but also robins and cardinals the game commission said.
Characterized by conjunctivitis, as well as neurological signs such as erratic flight, the unidentified disease first became prevalent in Ohio and Washington D.C. Though it has not yet reached Western Pennsylvania, the public should take all the same precautions to prevent spread, experts said.
Along with removing feeders and baths, the game commission and the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania recommend continued cleaning of the feeders and baths with a 10% bleach solution, as well as keeping people and pets away from sick and dead birds.
“Last week we started getting calls coming to our office asking if people should do the same [as Ohio], and because it wasn’t seen in Western Pennsylvania at the time, we were still trying to learn about it. We’re still kind of in that place because there is no cause that’s been identified, but we understand now the importance of bringing in those feeders,” director of communications at the Audubon Society, Rachel Handel, said Thursday.
Without the presence of feeders and baths, the birds are unable to congregate, which is the main cause of spread. It does not appear to spread to humans, but there is no concrete evidence yet, according to Ms. Handel. There are speculations, though, of where the disease comes from.
Some of the most affected are blue jays, starlings, and common grackles, but also robins and cardinals the game commission said.
Characterized by conjunctivitis, as well as neurological signs such as erratic flight, the unidentified disease first became prevalent in Ohio and Washington D.C. Though it has not yet reached Western Pennsylvania, the public should take all the same precautions to prevent spread, experts said.
Along with removing feeders and baths, the game commission and the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania recommend continued cleaning of the feeders and baths with a 10% bleach solution, as well as keeping people and pets away from sick and dead birds.
“Last week we started getting calls coming to our office asking if people should do the same [as Ohio], and because it wasn’t seen in Western Pennsylvania at the time, we were still trying to learn about it. We’re still kind of in that place because there is no cause that’s been identified, but we understand now the importance of bringing in those feeders,” director of communications at the Audubon Society, Rachel Handel, said Thursday.
Without the presence of feeders and baths, the birds are unable to congregate, which is the main cause of spread. It does not appear to spread to humans, but there is no concrete evidence yet, according to Ms. Handel. There are speculations, though, of where the disease comes from.
- more at link -
June 3, 2021
'Memba them?
Here's an oldie but goody from Cliff Clavin and Norm Peterson
'Memba them?
Cliff: "Well, ya see, Normy, it's like this .. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it's the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But, naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers!”
In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But, naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers!”
May 26, 2021
Anybody have experience - good or bad - with memory foam mattress toppers?
I'm seriously considering buying a memory foam mattress topper, it's something that goes on top of your regular firm (or extra firm) mattress that gives a soft comfort layer.
The foam topper that I have now is NOT memory foam, and it was kind of cheap when I bought it 10 years ago. But it's time to replace it now, and I'd like to get something a little better.
The one I'm looking at - but I have no way to try it out - is the new "cooling" gel one that claims to have solved the problem of the foam toppers trapping body heat. These new ones are supposed to keep you cool in the warm summer months. (Not usually an issue for me, but ...)
I have questions:
1) Is it comfortable and sturdy enough to justify the $100+ price tag?
2) Is there any substantial difference between the 2", 3", or 4" thick memory foam?
3) Any sore-back or sore-neck issues from sleeping on one of these?
Thanks for helping me decide!
May 24, 2021
(link) https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/24/favourite-dylan-song-mick-jagger-marianne-faithfull-tom-jones-judy-collins-and-more
- MORE AT LINK -
Youtube recordings for each song, so take some time to enjoy these.
Happy birthday Bob Dylan and many, many more!
It's Bob Dylan's 80th birthday today, major artists tell their favorite Dylan song
(link) https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/may/24/favourite-dylan-song-mick-jagger-marianne-faithfull-tom-jones-judy-collins-and-more
Bob Dylan is 80 today. But what’s his greatest song? Stars pick their favourite – and recall their own encounters, from Marianne Faithfull turning him down to Judy Collins whacking a policeman to get backstage.
- MORE AT LINK -
Youtube recordings for each song, so take some time to enjoy these.
Happy birthday Bob Dylan and many, many more!
May 23, 2021
- more at link -
Parts of the marathon trail were on steep mountainsides, over a mile high. Many of the marathoners were unprepared for the sudden change in temperature. Some runners had fallen off the trail into deep crevices, making the rescue work difficult and dangerous.
21 die in extreme weather in China ultramarathon
BEIJING — Twenty-one people running a mountain ultramarathon have died in northwestern China after hail, freezing rain and gale-force winds hit the high-altitude race, state media reported Sunday.
After an all-night rescue operation in freezing temperatures involving more than 700 personnel, rescuers were able to confirm that 151 people were safe, out of a total of 172 participants. Twenty-one had died, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, which said the runners suffered from physical discomfort and the sudden drop in temperature.
The runners were racing on an extremely narrow mountain path at an altitude reaching 6,500-9,800 feet. The 60-mile race was held Saturday in the Yellow River Stone Forest tourist site in Baiyin city in Gansu province. The participants were not rookies. One of the deceased was a well-known runner Liang Jing, who had won a 62-mile race in Ningbo, reported the Paper, a state-backed newspaper based in Shanghai.
The race also followed a relatively established course, having been held four times, according to an account posted online by a participant in the race who quit and managed to make his way to safety. But the weather caught them off guard, and on the morning of the race Saturday, he already sensed things were not normal. The runners were not dressed for winter-like conditions, many wearing short-sleeved tops.
After an all-night rescue operation in freezing temperatures involving more than 700 personnel, rescuers were able to confirm that 151 people were safe, out of a total of 172 participants. Twenty-one had died, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, which said the runners suffered from physical discomfort and the sudden drop in temperature.
The runners were racing on an extremely narrow mountain path at an altitude reaching 6,500-9,800 feet. The 60-mile race was held Saturday in the Yellow River Stone Forest tourist site in Baiyin city in Gansu province. The participants were not rookies. One of the deceased was a well-known runner Liang Jing, who had won a 62-mile race in Ningbo, reported the Paper, a state-backed newspaper based in Shanghai.
The race also followed a relatively established course, having been held four times, according to an account posted online by a participant in the race who quit and managed to make his way to safety. But the weather caught them off guard, and on the morning of the race Saturday, he already sensed things were not normal. The runners were not dressed for winter-like conditions, many wearing short-sleeved tops.
- more at link -
Parts of the marathon trail were on steep mountainsides, over a mile high. Many of the marathoners were unprepared for the sudden change in temperature. Some runners had fallen off the trail into deep crevices, making the rescue work difficult and dangerous.
May 19, 2021
-more at link -
In my opinion the questions were intentionally worded in a way to be confusing. And don't get me started on how they snuck this in on an off-year primary ballot with typically low participation.
Pa. voters approve constitutional amendments to curb governor's power
(cross-posted from the Pennsylvania thread)
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/05/18/pennsylvania-constitutional-amendments-2021-election-results-limiting-governors-power/stories/202105180166
This story was updated at 11 a.m. on May 19, 2021.
Pennsylvania’s primary election featured nationally watched questions stemming from Republican dissatisfaction over shutdowns ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf during the pandemic and worries over whether federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump will roll back civil rights protections.
Both of the ballot questions — which sought to limit the power of the governor in declaring a disaster and put more power into the hands of the Legislature’s 253 lawmakers — have passed, The Associated Press reported, making Pennsylvania the first state to impose such restrictions on a governor.
The two questions led with almost 54% of the vote with 73% of precincts reporting.
The first proposed constitutional amendment will make it so that the state’s General Assembly could terminate or extend a disaster declaration at any time without approval from the governor. The Pennsylvania Constitution will have to be amended so that the disaster declaration power will be shared by the governor and the General Assembly.
- snip -
The second question proposed that the time limit on a disaster declaration be shortened from 90 days to 21 days unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Mr. Wolf openly advocated against these ballot questions in a visit to Pittsburgh last week, calling them “bad news” and saying that they would politicize the government’s response to disasters and emergencies.
Pennsylvania’s primary election featured nationally watched questions stemming from Republican dissatisfaction over shutdowns ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf during the pandemic and worries over whether federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump will roll back civil rights protections.
Both of the ballot questions — which sought to limit the power of the governor in declaring a disaster and put more power into the hands of the Legislature’s 253 lawmakers — have passed, The Associated Press reported, making Pennsylvania the first state to impose such restrictions on a governor.
The two questions led with almost 54% of the vote with 73% of precincts reporting.
The first proposed constitutional amendment will make it so that the state’s General Assembly could terminate or extend a disaster declaration at any time without approval from the governor. The Pennsylvania Constitution will have to be amended so that the disaster declaration power will be shared by the governor and the General Assembly.
- snip -
The second question proposed that the time limit on a disaster declaration be shortened from 90 days to 21 days unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Mr. Wolf openly advocated against these ballot questions in a visit to Pittsburgh last week, calling them “bad news” and saying that they would politicize the government’s response to disasters and emergencies.
-more at link -
In my opinion the questions were intentionally worded in a way to be confusing. And don't get me started on how they snuck this in on an off-year primary ballot with typically low participation.
May 19, 2021
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/05/18/pennsylvania-constitutional-amendments-2021-election-results-limiting-governors-power/stories/202105180166
- more at link -
Not enough voters followed the instructions to vote NO-NO-YES, and the wording on the questions was deliberately confusing, IMHO.
Pa. voters approve constitutional amendments to curb governor's power
(link) https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2021/05/18/pennsylvania-constitutional-amendments-2021-election-results-limiting-governors-power/stories/202105180166
This story was updated at 11 a.m. on May 19, 2021.
Pennsylvania’s primary election featured nationally watched questions stemming from Republican dissatisfaction over shutdowns ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf during the pandemic and worries over whether federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump will roll back civil rights protections.
Both of the ballot questions — which sought to limit the power of the governor in declaring a disaster and put more power into the hands of the Legislature’s 253 lawmakers — have passed, The Associated Press reported, making Pennsylvania the first state to impose such restrictions on a governor.
The two questions led with almost 54% of the vote with 73% of precincts reporting.
The first proposed constitutional amendment will make it so that the state’s General Assembly could terminate or extend a disaster declaration at any time without approval from the governor. The Pennsylvania Constitution will have to be amended so that the disaster declaration power will be shared by the governor and the General Assembly.
- snip -
The second question proposed that the time limit on a disaster declaration be shortened from 90 days to 21 days unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Mr. Wolf openly advocated against these ballot questions in a visit to Pittsburgh last week, calling them “bad news” and saying that they would politicize the government’s response to disasters and emergencies.
Pennsylvania’s primary election featured nationally watched questions stemming from Republican dissatisfaction over shutdowns ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf during the pandemic and worries over whether federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump will roll back civil rights protections.
Both of the ballot questions — which sought to limit the power of the governor in declaring a disaster and put more power into the hands of the Legislature’s 253 lawmakers — have passed, The Associated Press reported, making Pennsylvania the first state to impose such restrictions on a governor.
The two questions led with almost 54% of the vote with 73% of precincts reporting.
The first proposed constitutional amendment will make it so that the state’s General Assembly could terminate or extend a disaster declaration at any time without approval from the governor. The Pennsylvania Constitution will have to be amended so that the disaster declaration power will be shared by the governor and the General Assembly.
- snip -
The second question proposed that the time limit on a disaster declaration be shortened from 90 days to 21 days unless the General Assembly votes to extend it. Mr. Wolf openly advocated against these ballot questions in a visit to Pittsburgh last week, calling them “bad news” and saying that they would politicize the government’s response to disasters and emergencies.
- more at link -
Not enough voters followed the instructions to vote NO-NO-YES, and the wording on the questions was deliberately confusing, IMHO.
May 15, 2021
Today's joke :-)
Q: How do you tell the difference between a fully vaccinated person and an unvaccinated person if they aren't wearing a mask?
A: Ask them who won the election.
Profile Information
Name: Kathy HinsmanGender: Female
Hometown: Pittsburgh PA
Home country: USA
Current location: Pittsburgh
Member since: Sat Feb 18, 2017, 02:16 PM
Number of posts: 32,897
