CRANKY OLD FART’S BROWSER HISTORY #415  [archive] APR. 12, 2024

The non-profit States Newsroom now has a full-time presence in all fifty states
    States Newsroom first impressed me when I lived in Wisconsin, and read the Wisconsin Examiner daily. Since moving to Seattle, I’ve been reading the Washington State Standard, too. These are strong, solid journalistic efforts, and there’s one near you.  NYPD officials orchestrated smear campaign of police critic using confidential details of her rape, lawsuit alleges  Police Chief hailed as hero for running red light, causing wreck

US will require background checks for gun shows and online firearm sales
    That headline is far too optimistic. Much more likely, by next week there’ll be a 2nd-Amendment lawsuit from Republicans, a judge owned by the Heritage Foundation will block the rule change, and there’ll be years of legal action that finally goes before the Supreme Court. Where we know the verdict already. 

Vatican blasts gender-affirming surgery, surrogacy and gender theory as violations of human dignity
    This is barely news, and the headline might as well be ‘Hate group hates’, blah blah blah.
    But jeez, I giggled at the start of the fourth paragraph: “In its most eagerly anticipated section…” Even among Christians, and even among very-very-Christian fanatics, is there anyone who “eagerly anticipates” the Vatican’s declarations of church doctrine? 

Florida’s anti-trans bathroom law spurs harrowing vigilante attacks
    In other words, the law is working exactly as Republicans intended. 
Tenth consecutive monthly heat record signals looming doom
    We need one of our leading scientists to put his newborn baby in a rocket and launch it toward another world.
    (Too obscure? It’s a Superman reference.) 

The wealthy are building “passport portfolios” — collections of second, and even third or fourth, citizenships — in case they need to flee their home country Why are so many young people getting cancer?

The Washington press corps doesn’t have a freaking clue US government needs to be prepared for Trump’s post-election violence 

Republican National Committee courts election conspiracy theorists to help watch polls  Anti-vax wingnuts are trying to take over a Florida hospital 

Ohio to purchase mobile homes to train public school staff in firearms Saying prosecutors should focus on Antifa, judge frees white supremacist in beating 

Trump’s discounted $175-million bond is, apparently, not a bond at all • Amusing, Interesting, Outrageous, or Profound
    AIOP is my Lemmy page, for anything that’s (in my opinion) amusing, interesting, outrageous, or profound. It’s mostly a rough draft of this page, but you’re invited to stop by.

♫♬  MUSIC  ♫ A Few Words in Defense of Our Country — Randy Newman Failed State — David Rovics Illegal Smile — John Prine On a Mission — Squid Physics This Land Is Not Our Land — Utah Phillips 

⚰️  OBITUARIES  ⚰️

Akebono
American sumo Patti Astor
actress, Wild Style Lyn Hejinian
poet and professor Clarence “Frogman” Henry
rock’n’roller, “Ain’t Got No Home” 

Peter Higgs
structure of atoms and matter  Robert MacNeil
PBS News Hour Trina Robbins
artist, It Ain’t Me, Babe OJ Simpson
footballer, longtime grieving widow 

Sara Tafuri
actress, City of Women Arthur Taylor
activist for forgotten people Dan Wallin
sound engineer, Spartacus

4/12/2024      
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 the AVA, BoingBoing, Breakfast at Ralf’s, Chuff, Dirty Blonde Mind, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, Lemmy.world, Looking for My Perfect Sandwich, Miss Miriam’s Mirror, Voenix Rising, and anywhere else I’ve stolen links, illustrations, or inspiration.Special thanks to Linden Arden, Becky Jo, Wynn Bruce,
Joey Jo Jo emeritus, Jeff Meyer, 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.