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December 21, 2021
NEW YORK — A man who fatally shot a New York City transit police officer with her own gun in 1984 was quietly released from prison earlier this month by the New York State Board of Parole, after serving 36 years behind bars.
At 25 years old, Officer Irma Lozada was the first female cop to die in New York City in the line of duty.
On the day she was killed, Lozada was working for Transit District 33 in plainclothes, riding the L train in Brooklyn and looking for chain snatchers. Back then, the New York City Transit Police Department was a separate agency from the NYPD.
The release of the man who shot her, Darryl Jeter, 56, sparked outrage among members of the Police Benevolent Association, who noted Lozada’s murder was “a tragic piece of New York City history.”
“Jeter is at least the 23rd cop-killer released by the Parole Board in under two years,” the union wrote in a statement Sunday morning.
(excerpt)
Man who killed 1st female NYPD officer in line of duty released on parole after 36 years
https://pix11.com/news/local-news/man-who-killed-1st-female-nypd-officer-in-line-of-duty-released-on-parole-after-36-years/NEW YORK — A man who fatally shot a New York City transit police officer with her own gun in 1984 was quietly released from prison earlier this month by the New York State Board of Parole, after serving 36 years behind bars.
At 25 years old, Officer Irma Lozada was the first female cop to die in New York City in the line of duty.
On the day she was killed, Lozada was working for Transit District 33 in plainclothes, riding the L train in Brooklyn and looking for chain snatchers. Back then, the New York City Transit Police Department was a separate agency from the NYPD.
The release of the man who shot her, Darryl Jeter, 56, sparked outrage among members of the Police Benevolent Association, who noted Lozada’s murder was “a tragic piece of New York City history.”
“Jeter is at least the 23rd cop-killer released by the Parole Board in under two years,” the union wrote in a statement Sunday morning.
(excerpt)
December 21, 2021
New York (CNN Business)Spider-Man made even more money than originally projected.
"Spider-Man: No Way Home," the latest movie in the Marvel series, notched a record-breaking opening weekend at the domestic box office by bringing in $260 million, Sony said Monday.
That's up from Sunday's projections of $253 million, and it's remarkable in a pandemic. "No Way Home" has swung past "Avengers: Infinity War" — which opened to $257 million in 2018, according to Comscore (SCOR) — to become the second highest opening weekend in box office history.
Only 2019's "Avengers: Endgame," one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, opened to larger numbers.
(Excerpt)
'Spider-Man: No Way Home' was the second-biggest box office opening ever
https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/20/media/spider-man-no-way-home-box-office/index.htmlNew York (CNN Business)Spider-Man made even more money than originally projected.
"Spider-Man: No Way Home," the latest movie in the Marvel series, notched a record-breaking opening weekend at the domestic box office by bringing in $260 million, Sony said Monday.
That's up from Sunday's projections of $253 million, and it's remarkable in a pandemic. "No Way Home" has swung past "Avengers: Infinity War" — which opened to $257 million in 2018, according to Comscore (SCOR) — to become the second highest opening weekend in box office history.
Only 2019's "Avengers: Endgame," one of the biggest blockbusters of all time, opened to larger numbers.
(Excerpt)
December 17, 2021
If all goes to plan, next month SpaceX will launch the largest rocket in human history. Towering nearly 400 feet tall, the rocket – Starship – is designed to take NASA astronauts to the moon. And SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, has bigger ambitions: he wants to use it to settle humans on Mars.
Much has already been made of Starship’s human spaceflight capabilities. But the rocket could also revolutionize what we know about our neighboring planets and moons. “Starship would totally change the way that we can do solar system exploration,” says Ali Bramson, a planetary scientist from Purdue University. “Planetary science will just explode.”
If it lives up to its billing, scientists are already talking about sending missions to Neptune and its largest moon in the outer solar system, bringing back huge quantities of space rock from Earth’s moon and Mars, and even developing innovative ways to protect Earth from incoming asteroids.
Starship—which is being built at a Texas site dubbed “Starbase”—consists of a giant spaceship on top of a large booster, known as Super Heavy. Both can land back on Earth so they can be reused, reducing costs. The entire vehicle will be capable of lifting 100 metric tons (220,000 pounds) of cargo and people into space on regular low-cost missions. The volume of usable space within Starship is a whopping 1,000 cubic meters—big enough to fit the entire Eiffel Tower, disassembled. And that’s got scientists excited.
(excerpt)
How SpaceX's massive Starship rocket might unlock the solar system--and beyond
https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/12/07/1041420/spacex-starship-rocket-solar-system-exploration/If all goes to plan, next month SpaceX will launch the largest rocket in human history. Towering nearly 400 feet tall, the rocket – Starship – is designed to take NASA astronauts to the moon. And SpaceX’s CEO, Elon Musk, has bigger ambitions: he wants to use it to settle humans on Mars.
Much has already been made of Starship’s human spaceflight capabilities. But the rocket could also revolutionize what we know about our neighboring planets and moons. “Starship would totally change the way that we can do solar system exploration,” says Ali Bramson, a planetary scientist from Purdue University. “Planetary science will just explode.”
If it lives up to its billing, scientists are already talking about sending missions to Neptune and its largest moon in the outer solar system, bringing back huge quantities of space rock from Earth’s moon and Mars, and even developing innovative ways to protect Earth from incoming asteroids.
Starship—which is being built at a Texas site dubbed “Starbase”—consists of a giant spaceship on top of a large booster, known as Super Heavy. Both can land back on Earth so they can be reused, reducing costs. The entire vehicle will be capable of lifting 100 metric tons (220,000 pounds) of cargo and people into space on regular low-cost missions. The volume of usable space within Starship is a whopping 1,000 cubic meters—big enough to fit the entire Eiffel Tower, disassembled. And that’s got scientists excited.
(excerpt)
December 17, 2021
Erin Marquis, an editor for The New York Times Wirecutter recommendation service was fired by the newspaper after she was accused of leaving profane voice messages with a Michigan-based gun rights advocacy group.
“The employee has been terminated from Wirecutter following our investigation related to inappropriate behavior,” a spokesperson for The Times said in a statement.
“We expect our employees to behave in a way that is consistent with our values and commitment to the highest ethical standards. Repeatedly invoking The New York Times’s name in an unprofessional way that imperils the reputation of Wirecutter, The Times, and all of our journalists is a clear violation of our policies,” the spokesperson added.
The voice messages were allegedly left with the Michigan affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights, called the Great Lakes Gun Rights, according to The Washington Post.
(excerpt)
NYT ousts editor accused of leaving fiery messages for gun rights group
https://thehill.com/homenews/media/586338-nyt-fires-editor-that-left-profane-messages-for-second-amendment-groupErin Marquis, an editor for The New York Times Wirecutter recommendation service was fired by the newspaper after she was accused of leaving profane voice messages with a Michigan-based gun rights advocacy group.
“The employee has been terminated from Wirecutter following our investigation related to inappropriate behavior,” a spokesperson for The Times said in a statement.
“We expect our employees to behave in a way that is consistent with our values and commitment to the highest ethical standards. Repeatedly invoking The New York Times’s name in an unprofessional way that imperils the reputation of Wirecutter, The Times, and all of our journalists is a clear violation of our policies,” the spokesperson added.
The voice messages were allegedly left with the Michigan affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights, called the Great Lakes Gun Rights, according to The Washington Post.
(excerpt)
December 17, 2021
WASHINGTON (TND) — Former actress Mia Farrow called out Disney over posters of its “Home Alone” reboot featuring a “white, male kid” holding two toy guns.
“In the age of mass shootings in schools-why two huge guns?” she tweeted on Wednesday alongside an image of the poster. “WHY???”
Farrow said “surely” Disney could have found “a more positive image” than “a white, male kid carrying 2 huge guns,” in a second follow-up tweet about the poster. “Really @Disney?” she added.
Farrow is more than just a former actress — she’s also a progressive activist with strong opinions about restricting Americans’ access to firearms, which she has shared on Twitter.
Hollywood anti-gun activist mad over movie poster featuring 'white male kid' with toy guns
https://cbs12.com/news/entertainment/hollywood-anti-gun-activist-mad-over-movie-poster-featuring-white-male-kid-with-toy-gunsWASHINGTON (TND) — Former actress Mia Farrow called out Disney over posters of its “Home Alone” reboot featuring a “white, male kid” holding two toy guns.
“In the age of mass shootings in schools-why two huge guns?” she tweeted on Wednesday alongside an image of the poster. “WHY???”
Farrow said “surely” Disney could have found “a more positive image” than “a white, male kid carrying 2 huge guns,” in a second follow-up tweet about the poster. “Really @Disney?” she added.
Farrow is more than just a former actress — she’s also a progressive activist with strong opinions about restricting Americans’ access to firearms, which she has shared on Twitter.
December 17, 2021
1) A license to own firearms. It would have multiple levels.
A) Any manually operated long gun. Said license would be no more difficult to obtain than the current ATF instant background check.
B) Handguns. License would require a similar background check, as well as a training course. Details to be hashed out. Would allow legal concealed carry nationwide.
C) Semiautomatic long guns. Background check, separate training course.
D) Full auto. More extensive background check and training course.
2) Note that the above includes universal background checks.
3) Also registration.
In return:
1) All licenses would have explicit guarantees as to reasonable cost and not having unreasonable training requirements. Licenses can be combined, each renewable every 5 years.
2) Repeal of the NFA, with SBRs and full autos treated as above. No background check for suppressors other than requiring license A or higher.
3) All magazine and "assault weapons" restrictions repealed.
l would point out that I can currently obtain everything listed (with the exception of NFA items) in most states with far less paperwork under current law than I could under this proposal. For that matter, I can still (and have) obtained NFA items should I be willing to put up with the red tape.
Any takers?
Speaking of compromises...here's my thought experiment on firearms.
1) A license to own firearms. It would have multiple levels.
A) Any manually operated long gun. Said license would be no more difficult to obtain than the current ATF instant background check.
B) Handguns. License would require a similar background check, as well as a training course. Details to be hashed out. Would allow legal concealed carry nationwide.
C) Semiautomatic long guns. Background check, separate training course.
D) Full auto. More extensive background check and training course.
2) Note that the above includes universal background checks.
3) Also registration.
In return:
1) All licenses would have explicit guarantees as to reasonable cost and not having unreasonable training requirements. Licenses can be combined, each renewable every 5 years.
2) Repeal of the NFA, with SBRs and full autos treated as above. No background check for suppressors other than requiring license A or higher.
3) All magazine and "assault weapons" restrictions repealed.
l would point out that I can currently obtain everything listed (with the exception of NFA items) in most states with far less paperwork under current law than I could under this proposal. For that matter, I can still (and have) obtained NFA items should I be willing to put up with the red tape.
Any takers?
December 17, 2021
Does anyone here have experience with injectable ED drugs?
My urologist has recommended them at this point. I've already tried oral medication with much sucess.
I have little doubt it will be effective, but the thought of inserting the needle, well, there...
I shouldn't be squeamish, as I already inject myself daily with insulin, and he told me there little to no pain. Anyone able to speak first or second hand?
December 17, 2021
Two women were trying to stop bear hunters before one unleashed a German shepherd – and an attack ensued, according to Vermont wildlife officials.
The loose dog attacked one of the hunters’ leashed hounds, causing injuries that needed veterinary care, officials said.
After an investigation of “hunter harassment,” Donna Babic and Betty Eastman “were found guilty of interfering” with the three hunters on Nov. 22, the state’s Fish & Wildlife Department announced in a Dec. 14 news release.
“I would ask that Vermonters respect one another’s constitutional right to hunt,” Col. Jason Batchelder, Fish and Wildlife’s chief game warden, said in a statement.
(Excerpt)
Woman trying to stop bear hunters unleashes dog, and an attack ensued, VT officials say
https://www.yahoo.com/news/woman-trying-stop-bear-hunters-234912687.htmlTwo women were trying to stop bear hunters before one unleashed a German shepherd – and an attack ensued, according to Vermont wildlife officials.
The loose dog attacked one of the hunters’ leashed hounds, causing injuries that needed veterinary care, officials said.
After an investigation of “hunter harassment,” Donna Babic and Betty Eastman “were found guilty of interfering” with the three hunters on Nov. 22, the state’s Fish & Wildlife Department announced in a Dec. 14 news release.
“I would ask that Vermonters respect one another’s constitutional right to hunt,” Col. Jason Batchelder, Fish and Wildlife’s chief game warden, said in a statement.
(Excerpt)
December 15, 2021
PHOENIX - The city's last eviction moratorium of the pandemic had expired and the rent forgiveness program was running out of money, so Lennie McCloskey changed into his bulletproof vest and headed out to work. He climbed into his truck and counted through his daily stack of eviction orders. "Fifteen, sixteen - jeez Louise," he said as he stacked them on the passenger seat. He strapped an extra magazine of ammunition to his belt and picked up his radio to call dispatch.
"Constable 33, heading out," he said. "Looks like a busy day."
Nobody in Phoenix was better or more practiced at the business of eviction than Lennie, who had personally removed more than 20,000 Arizonans from their homes during the past two decades as the area's longest-serving elected constable. "Lock-'em-out Lennie," colleagues occasionally called him, because the 65-year-old former judo champion was capable of coaxing tenants out of their homes with subtle intimidation or with grandfatherly kindness. He arrived at each apartment with treats to pacify dogs and stickers to give children. The tenants he ushered outside each day into their first moments of homelessness were often inconsolable, or defiant, or suicidal, or mentally ill, or violent and aggressive, but Lennie was calm. "You have to take your own emotions out of it," he'd told colleagues during one national training. "It's our job to carry out the court order."
Now he looked at the first address in his pile and navigated by memory toward a low-income apartment complex on the outskirts of Phoenix. There were 25 other constables across Maricopa County who spent their days carrying out evictions, but few areas were as busy as Lennie's district, a six-by-six-mile grid of discount shopping centers and faded stucco apartments that catered to working-class families. The average rent had gone up by 40% since the beginning of the pandemic, and now some of the apartment complexes had wait lists and new names like Canyon Oasis, Chateau Gardens, Desert Lakes and Paradise Palms. Lennie pulled up to the leasing office of a 300-unit building and carried his stack of eviction orders inside to the property manager.
(excerpt)
End of moratoriums means the return of the 10-minute eviction
https://news.yahoo.com/end-moratoriums-means-return-10-011053357.htmlPHOENIX - The city's last eviction moratorium of the pandemic had expired and the rent forgiveness program was running out of money, so Lennie McCloskey changed into his bulletproof vest and headed out to work. He climbed into his truck and counted through his daily stack of eviction orders. "Fifteen, sixteen - jeez Louise," he said as he stacked them on the passenger seat. He strapped an extra magazine of ammunition to his belt and picked up his radio to call dispatch.
"Constable 33, heading out," he said. "Looks like a busy day."
Nobody in Phoenix was better or more practiced at the business of eviction than Lennie, who had personally removed more than 20,000 Arizonans from their homes during the past two decades as the area's longest-serving elected constable. "Lock-'em-out Lennie," colleagues occasionally called him, because the 65-year-old former judo champion was capable of coaxing tenants out of their homes with subtle intimidation or with grandfatherly kindness. He arrived at each apartment with treats to pacify dogs and stickers to give children. The tenants he ushered outside each day into their first moments of homelessness were often inconsolable, or defiant, or suicidal, or mentally ill, or violent and aggressive, but Lennie was calm. "You have to take your own emotions out of it," he'd told colleagues during one national training. "It's our job to carry out the court order."
Now he looked at the first address in his pile and navigated by memory toward a low-income apartment complex on the outskirts of Phoenix. There were 25 other constables across Maricopa County who spent their days carrying out evictions, but few areas were as busy as Lennie's district, a six-by-six-mile grid of discount shopping centers and faded stucco apartments that catered to working-class families. The average rent had gone up by 40% since the beginning of the pandemic, and now some of the apartment complexes had wait lists and new names like Canyon Oasis, Chateau Gardens, Desert Lakes and Paradise Palms. Lennie pulled up to the leasing office of a 300-unit building and carried his stack of eviction orders inside to the property manager.
(excerpt)
December 14, 2021
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — An Instacart delivery driver allegedly ran over an elderly couple’s groceries due to a pro-police sign in their yard, according to police.
Blaine police say they responded on Dec. 6 to a call from the couple who reported that they had placed a grocery order from a local Cub Foods and requested delivery via the Instacart delivery service.
The couple said once they received notification that the driver was outside the house, they decided to meet the driver there due to the amount of snow in their driveway.
According to the police, when the couple opened the front door, the driver yelled back at them to check the inside of their Christmas wreath hanging from the door.
The couple said they watched as the delivery person drove back and forth in the driveway. After the delivery driver left, the couple said they found that their groceries had been run over. The couple also found the receipt from the grocery order with a message saying “Instacart doesn’t pay employees, sry find another slave. F— the racist police pigs.”
(Excerpt)
Police: Delivery Driver Runs Over Groceries Of Elderly Couple Who Had Pro-Police Sign In Their Yard
https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2021/12/14/instacart-driver-runs-over-groceries-blaine-pro-police-sign/MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — An Instacart delivery driver allegedly ran over an elderly couple’s groceries due to a pro-police sign in their yard, according to police.
Blaine police say they responded on Dec. 6 to a call from the couple who reported that they had placed a grocery order from a local Cub Foods and requested delivery via the Instacart delivery service.
The couple said once they received notification that the driver was outside the house, they decided to meet the driver there due to the amount of snow in their driveway.
According to the police, when the couple opened the front door, the driver yelled back at them to check the inside of their Christmas wreath hanging from the door.
The couple said they watched as the delivery person drove back and forth in the driveway. After the delivery driver left, the couple said they found that their groceries had been run over. The couple also found the receipt from the grocery order with a message saying “Instacart doesn’t pay employees, sry find another slave. F— the racist police pigs.”
(Excerpt)
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