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Wicked Blue

Wicked Blue's Journal
Wicked Blue's Journal
September 17, 2024

Harris-Trump new exclusive presidential polls: Who's winning Pennsylvania -- the most important state?

By Kevin Manahan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Given the recent polls and the collapse of the lead he once held over President Joe Biden, any path Donald Trump has to the White House must go through Pennsylvania — generally acknowledged as the most important swing state. Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes are the most among the seven top swing states.

And in a series of new polls conducted by USA TODAY and Suffolk University, the state appears to be turning hard toward Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, who leads Trump — not only in the state but in two of Pennsylvania’s key counties, according to three exclusive polls taken after last week’s debate.

With seven weeks until Election Day, Harris leads Trump, the Republican nominee, 49%-46%, in Pennsylvania, a statewide poll of 500 likely Pennsylvania voters conducted from Wednesday to Sunday found.

The results are within the poll’s margin of error of 4.4 percentage points, but represent a bigger margin than President Joe Biden enjoyed when he won the state in 2020 by 1.5 points, or Trump, who carried the state by less than 1 percentage point over Hillary Clinton in 2016.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/09/harris-trump-latest-presidential-polls-whos-winning-pennsylvania-the-single-most-important-state.html

September 17, 2024

Trump is a threat to democracy. That's not rhetoric, it's verifiable fact Editorial

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
NJ.com

The notion that Americans should dial down their incendiary rhetoric is undeniable, but that message cannot be delivered credibly by the person who literally sent a mob to the US Capitol, and then sat back and cheered the thugs who assaulted cops for three hours.

The plea to ease up on hate speech cannot be made by the guy who invented a patois of political violence, who prods supporters to assault hecklers, threatens to shoot undocumented immigrants and looters, jeers the husband of a rival who was assaulted with a hammer, and refers to opposition as “vermin.”

And the idea that the toxic talk has gone too far sounds hollow coming from a demagogue who thinks Hillary Clinton’s fate might best be settled by “Second Amendment people,” that Liz Cheney should be sent before a military tribunal, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Mark Milley, should be executed.

This is the political atmosphere that Donald Trump has nurtured, so when he whines about how “the rhetoric of Biden and Harris” has inspired two troubled people (both likely Republicans) to shoot at him with assault rifles, it can be dismissed as one of the most pitiful attempts at gaslighting from a deranged felon who has made a career of it.

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/09/stop-warnings-that-trump-is-a-threat-to-democracy-no-chance-editorial.html

September 12, 2024

Navient reaches $120 million settlement with CFPB for misleading student loan borrowers

Source: CNBC

Student loan giant Navient has reached a $120 million settlement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over its practices with student loan borrowers, the company tells CNBC.

The CFPB sued Navient in 2017 for misleading borrowers and providing them with bad information, causing many to pay more than they needed to.

The consumer watchdog agency also accused Navient of steering student loan borrowers into expensive forbearances, causing many to pay steep interest charges.

Additionally, CFPB alleged that Navient miscalculated borrowers’ payments and tarnished the credit reports of disabled borrowers, including severely injured veterans.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/09/12/navient-reaches-120-million-settlement-with-cfpb-for-misleading-student-loan-borrowers.html

September 6, 2024

Coconut flakes on Pizza? Isn't pineapple bad enough?

‘Disgusting': Bill DeBlasio draws ire of social media after putting coconut flakes on pizza

NBC New York

Reactions ranged from "criminal" to "amazing" after former New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio posted a video to social media showing the city's former chief executive putting coconut flakes on a slice.

DeBlasio, who left office in 2021, posted the video to X on Wednesday.

In the video, he doesn't say a word. He just sprinkles a bag of sweetened coconut onto a slice of cheese pizza.

...

"This is a crime against humanity," declared one user.

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/disgusting-bill-deblasio-draws-ire-of-social-media-after-putting-coconut-flakes-on-pizza/5770091/

September 6, 2024

New panic alarm system at Georgia H.S. saved lives during shooting, officials say. Advocates want it nationwide.

Sept. 5, 2024, 3:31 PM EDT
By Melissa Chan

A new panic alarm system that was triggered during Wednesday’s deadly shooting at a Georgia high school likely saved countless lives, authorities and advocates for the technology said.

Lockdown warnings flashed on classroom screens at Apalachee High School as gunshots rang out, prompting students and teachers to lock the door, turn off the lights and huddle in the farthest corner from the entrance, witnesses said.

At the same time, alerts automatically went out to law enforcement officers, who responded and ended the shooting rampage within minutes, according to Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith and Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey.

...

Apalachee High School teachers all wear ID badges with their photos and panic buttons that, if repeatedly pressed, will notify authorities about an “active situation” or emergency at the school, Smith said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-panic-alarm-system-georgia-high-school-saved-lives-shooting-offici-rcna169754

Sure, let's spend a fortune on high tech safety devices. Take away funds for textbooks, school libraries, teacher salaries.
It's so much easier and less politically complicated than trying to outlaw mass murder weapons.

The bleeping weapons industry, the NRA and their allies should be forced to pay for these security systems for every school in the U.S.

September 5, 2024

Rob Menendez backs Andy Kim for U.S. Senate

NJ Globe

Rep. Robert J. Menendez (D-Jersey City) has endorsed fellow Democrat Andy Kim, putting his party’s bid to retain control of the U.S. Senate above a fissure created last September when Kim announced that he would challenge the freshman congressman’s father in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary.

“In Congress, Andy and I have fought to lower costs, restore freedoms, and better the lives of those we represent,” Menendez said. “As we shape the future of New Jersey together, Andy is the right candidate for the moment, and I know he will be an incredible public servant for our state.”

The two are expected to campaign together on Friday during a visit to Newark’s North Ward.

“Rob and I are both driven by wanting to build a better future for our young kids, and we know how much is at stake in this election,” stated Kim. “New Jersey is ready for a new generation of leadership, and I look forward to continuing my work with Rob to deliver a brighter future for New Jersey’s families.”

https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/rob-menendez-backs-andy-kim-for-u-s-senate/

September 3, 2024

US seizes Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's airplane in the Dominican Republic, flies it to South Florida

Source: CNN

CNN) — The United States has seized Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s airplane after determining that its acquisition was in violation of US sanctions, among other criminal issues. The US flew the aircraft to Florida on Monday, according to two US officials.

It’s the latest development in what has long been a frosty relationship between the US and Venezuela, and its seizure in the Dominican Republic marks an escalation as the US continues to investigate what it regards as corrupt practices by Venezuela’s government.

The plane has been described by officials as Venezuela’s equivalent to Air Force One and it has been pictured in previous state visits by Maduro around the world.

“This sends a message all the way up to the top,” one of the US officials told CNN. “Seizing the foreign head of state’s plane is unheard-of for criminal matters. We’re sending a clear message here that no one is above the law, no one is above the reach of US sanctions.”

Read more: https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/us-seizes-venezuela-president-nicolas-maduros-airplane-in-the-dominican-republic-flies-it-to-south-florida/

September 3, 2024

Exclusive: U.S. researchers find probable launch site of Russia's new nuclear-powered missile

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Two U.S. researchers say they have identified the probable deployment site in Russia of the 9M370 Burevestnik, a new nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile touted by President Vladimir Putin as "invincible."

Putin has said the weapon - dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO - has an almost unlimited range and can evade U.S. missile defenses. But some Western experts dispute his claims and the Burevestnik's strategic value, saying it will not add capabilities that Moscow does not already have and risks a radiation-spewing mishap.

Using images taken on July 26 by Planet Labs, a commercial satellite firm, the two researchers identified a construction project abutting a nuclear warhead storage facility known by two names - Vologda-20 and Chebsara - as the new missile's potential deployment site. The facility is 295 miles (475 km) north of Moscow.
...

Decker Eveleth, an analyst with the CNA research and analysis organization, found the satellite imagery and identified what he assessed are nine horizontal launch pads under construction. They are located in three groups inside high berms to shield them from attack or to prevent an accidental blast in one from detonating missiles in the others, he said.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-researchers-find-probable-launch-site-russias-new-nuclear-powered-missile-2024-09-02/

August 20, 2024

FAA orders inspections of Boeing 787s after midair dive injured more than 50

NBC

The Federal Aviation Administration will require inspections of hundreds of Boeing 787 Dreamliners after a LATAM Airlines plane in March took a sudden midair plunge that injured at least 50 people.

According to an FAA statement, the plane dove after a seat in the cockpit jolted forward and disconnected the autopilot system, causing a rapid descent. Since the March incident, the FAA received four additional reports of similar issues, with the latest occurring in June.

The agency identified loose rocker switch caps on the back of cockpit seats as the cause in three of these incidents. The remaining two cases remain under investigation.

s a result, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive, citing the "unsafe condition" of these seats, and required the inspection of 158 U.S.-registered airplanes and 737 airplanes worldwide. These inspections must be completed within 30 days.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/faa-orders-inspections-boeing-787s-air-dive-injured-50-rcna167317

Note: Not posted in LBN because the announcement was made Monday,

August 16, 2024

FDA authorizes first at-home syphilis test

Source: NBC

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted marketing authorization to the first at-home, over-the-counter test to detect syphilis antibodies in human blood in a move that could help boost screening rates for the sexually transmitted disease.

Developed by privately held NOWDiagnostics, the antibody test helps identify current or past infection and provides a result in about 15 minutes.

However, the regulator added that the results from the test alone are not sufficient for definitive diagnosis, and should be followed by additional testing to confirm a diagnosis.

“Access to home tests may help increase initial screening for syphilis, including in individuals who may be reluctant to see their health care provider about possible sexually transmitted infection exposure,” said Michelle Tarver, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/sexual-health/fda-authorizes-first-home-syphilis-test-rcna166963

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Gender: Female
Hometown: Maryland
Home country: United States
Member since: Tue Aug 11, 2020, 09:58 PM
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