News & Links: Wednesday, July 19, 2023

CRANKY OLD FART'S
NEWS & LINKS
#344  [archive]

• The Supreme Court uses a made-up doctrine to put itself in charge of the executive branch
    This is seriously worrisome stuff.

• NHTSA investigating Tesla Autopilot after yet another fatal crash
    Is there no regulation of the auto industry? Seriously, WTF, when a company can introduce and advertise a "self-driving option" that's killed dozens of people already, without any required testing or approval in advance.

• From laws targeting fossil fuel protests to the crackdown on Stop Cop City activists, corporations are calling in militarized law enforcement to crush dissent 

• Abortion pills are now *free* in states with abortion bans, through community support networks 

• Despite policies against it, Google is sending users straight to non-consensual deep-fake porn 

• Base air show featuring scantily clad models raises questions about justification for drag show ban
    This is better than the coverage I would've expected at military.com.

• Ta-Nehisi Coates crashes school board meeting over banning his book
    The school board didn't even have the balls to vote on banning the book, while he was there.

• Protesters prepare to end Winnipeg landfill blockade, will instead camp at human rights museum
    Seems somehow fitting. More and more, and certainly in this matter, human rights belong in a museum.

• "It can be done safely":
Experts say method for landfill search has been successful in the past
    If someone kidnapped and killed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and his body was believed to be at the Winnipeg city dump, would they search?
    The answer is yes for Justin, so the answer damned well ought to be yes for 'ordinary' native rape and murder victims.

• A sexy outfit can get you arrested in Phoenix — especially if you're Black or trans 

• Post-COVID downtown recovery rankings
    My former home town, San Francisco, is in last place for downtown recovery, and Seattle is close to the bottom.

• Spanish activists vandalize super-yacht believed to belong to billionaire Walmart heiress
    More of this, please.

• A fish with teeth that can breathe air, live up to three days outside of water, move short distances on land and grow 3 feet long has been found in Louisiana
    And less of this.

• Satellite image shows Hudson Bay sea ice breaking up earlier than usual 

• Gymnosperms critical for coniferous forest health may be steadily declining in response to climate change 

• Research links climate change to "lazier" jet stream, leading to extreme weather 

• Sinkholes near old Texas oil wells may signal issues in climate change fight 

• Climate change threatens supercomputers 

• Warming planet may have overwhelming impact on infectious diseases 

• Already baking in record heat, China braces for more hot air 

• LAPD is furious about newspaper reporting names of negligent bomb squad officers who blew up neighborhood
    They wanted to keep the incompetent cops' names secret forever.

• Chicago cops sidelined for allegedly seizing guns without making arrests, then lying about it 

• Texas troopers told to push children into Rio Grande, deny water to migrants, records say 

• He was making a documentary about police brutality. Then the LAPD tased him in his home. 

• County jail chief quits after drawing fire over warning her daughter about cops
    Apparently, she said said "cracker cops," and that's why she was forced to quit.
    Are there actual white people somewhere who're actually offended by the term 'cracker'? No, only these snowflake cops, who are no doubt chuckling about costing that African-American woman her job.

• Cop is suspended for racist "challenge coin" 

• Fired police officer connected to two rapes is freed after taking plea deal

• For four years of bizarre targeted littering, NYPD sergeant is docked a day's vacation pay 

• Albuquerque police officer charged for arresting disabled man for the hell of it 

• It's trans adults, too: Republican candidates now back trans medical restrictions for all ages 

• Right-wing disinformation on Plan B vending machines at colleges "harmful to young lives" 

• Ohio Republicans introduce bill to ban drag performances in locations other than "adult cabaret" 

• Missouri Republicans are going to absurd lengths to stop voters from having their say on abortion 

• Michigan Republicans are finally hit with felony charges for fake elector scheme 

• North Carolina housing development is for "patriots" only; flying the American flag required 

• Billionaire slashed his tax bill by taking Clarence Thomas on super-yacht cruises 

• Trump has a detailed plan for fascism if he retakes the White House 

• Trump wanted cows to climb ladders over border wall, ex-staffer says 

• Author of spoof story shared by Texas Governor calls him one of the "dumbest people in the country" 

🖯  MY BROWSER HISTORY  🖯

• At Charlottesville in 2017, student activists stood up to neo-nazis 

• Scenes from humanity:
A cake on the 22-Fillmore 

• Republicans beware, Donald Trump will turn his Big Lie against his party
    Of course he will.
    Just ask Trump and he'll tell you, he's never made a mistake in his life, never broken a law, never lost money unless someone else was a crook, never been outsmarted because he's a very stable genius, never touched a woman who didn't want his touch because he's the sexiest man alive, and never lost an election unless it was stolen from him.

• Is it time for the San Francisco Chronicle's "Little Man" to retire?
    I'm not sure "that guy has a jockey on his lawn," but I agree with most of the criticisms of Little Man, and always found him obnoxious when I lived in SF and read the Chronicle.

• Total recall: A brilliant memory helps chickadees survive 

• Six Flags Great Adventure's legacy of death 

♫♬  AUDIO  ♫

• Bad Blood — Neil Sedaka & Elton John 

• Burnt Weeny Sandwich — Frank Zappa 

• I Walk the Line — Johnny Cash 

• Meaningless Songs in Very High Voices — The Hee Bee Gee Bees 

• New York Mining Disaster, 1941 — The Bee Gees 

📸  IMAGES  📸

• Supertrain returns 

• True love ends with a double casket 

• Some of San Francisco's murals

👁  VIDEO  👁

• Dudley High School's marching band wants YOU to join!
    They had me at about 2:30, when a couple of kids want to high-five a third kid, but he reaches for a bottle of hand sanitized instead. Where can I sign up?

• Joy Ride, a cautionary tale aimed at young, thrill-seeking teens 

• When are you going to stop partying?
When I'm dead. 

• Japanese trains go choo-choo in a hurry 

❔  MYSTERY LINKS  ❔

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⚰️  OBITUARIES  ⚰️ 

• Jerry Bradley 

• João Donato 

• Harry G. Frankfurt 

• Fred Hoffman 

• Mary Ann Hoberman

7/19/2023   

Cranky Old Fart is annoyed and complains and very occasionally offers a kindness, along with anything off the internet that's made me smile or snarl. All opinions fresh from my ass. Top illustration by Jeff Meyer. Click any image to enlarge. Comments & conversations invited. 

Tip 'o the hat to ye olde AVA, BoingBoing, Breakfast at Ralf's, CaptCreate's Log, Kottke,org, Looking for My Perfect Sandwich, One Finger Medical, Two Finger Magical, Miss Miriam's Mirror, Nebulously Burnished, RanPrieur.com, Spock Variety Hour, Voenix Rising, and anywhere else I've stolen links, illustrations, or inspiration.

Special thanks to Linden Arden, Becky Jo, Wynn Bruce, Joey Jo Jo, John the Basket, Dave S, Name Withheld, and always extra special thanks to my lovely late Stephanie, who gave me 21 years and proved that the world isn't always shitty.

Cranky Old Fart
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