July 31, 2020

Ferguson MO situation still relevant.

https://twitter.com/NBCBLK/status/1288975251385323521

July 31, 2020

EU funding withheld from six Polish towns over 'LGBT-free' zones

EU funding withheld from six Polish towns over 'LGBT-free' zones
https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/29/eu-funding-withheld-from-six-polish-towns-over-lgbtq-free-zones

he European Union has rejected grants under a twinning programme to six Polish cities because of their attitude to the LGBTQ community.

The announcement was confirmed on Twitter by the EU's Equality Commissioner, Helena Dalli.

"EU values and fundamental rights must be respected by member states and public authorities," Helena Dalli said on Tuesday.

“This is why six town twinning applications involving Polish authorities that adopted ‘LGBTI free zones’ or ‘family rights’ resolutions were rejected.”

It is unclear which towns have not been selected for grants.

The cities and municipalities had applied for a grant between €5,000 and €25,000 under the twinning programme of the Europe for Citizens project, which aims to stimulate debate and civic participation on EU policies.

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This has Roman Catholic Church written all over it.

July 29, 2020

Intelligent design.

July 29, 2020

WTF happened in 1971?

Interesting site featuring a bunch of economic graphs.

https://wtfhappenedin1971.com/

I have some ideas about this, but would like to see what others say first.

The site does not answer the question at least not directly.

July 28, 2020

Look who needs to shut up.

https://twitter.com/TheRealOJ32/status/1286428203683176448

July 27, 2020

De Blasio rips Yankees for allowing Trump to throw first pitch at Yankee Stadium

De Blasio rips Yankees for allowing Trump to throw first pitch at Yankee Stadium
https://nypost.com/2020/07/25/de-blasio-rips-yankees-for-inviting-trump-to-throw-first-pitch/

President Trump’s not fit for pinstripes, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The mayor slammed the New York Yankees for inviting “hatred to your pitcher’s mound” by allowing President Trump to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium next month.

“After CONDEMNING racism, the next step isn’t inviting it to your pitcher’s mound,” de Blasio tweeted Saturday.

“To the execs that have aligned with hatred, you are on the wrong side of history and morality,” he added.

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Let's go Mets!

July 27, 2020

Ukraine proposes to introduce fine for promoting homosexuality

Ukraine proposes to introduce fine for promoting homosexuality
http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=15782

Kiev, July 24, Interfax - MPs from the Servant of the People faction George Mazurashu and Elena Lis propose to introduce administrative responsibility for promoting homosexuality and transgenderism in Ukraine.

The authors of the document suggest to fine for promotion of homosexuality and transgenderism, which can negatively affect physical or mental health, moral or spiritual condition and development of a person.

The explanatory note to the bill explains that its purpose is to strengthen protection of family, childhood, motherhood and fatherhood at a legislative level.

That is the whole article not an excerpt.

Note: "Servant of the People" is one of the large political parties, not some fringe outfit. They are by their own account "centrist".

This is not a good sign. That whole region, even when they are fighting each other, have anti-gay as a sort of "backlash".
Of course religion is to blame.

July 20, 2020

'Staggering' number of Minneapolis cops seeking disability benefits (Star Tribune)

'Staggering' number of Minneapolis cops seeking disability benefits
https://www.startribune.com/staggering-number-of-mpls-cops-are-filing-disability-claims/571809512/

The total now is closer to 200, out of a sworn force of about 850 and amid a wave of violent crime in the city.

The continued surge of Minneapolis police officers seeking disability benefits after the George Floyd unrest is heightening concerns of a police staffing shortage amid a wave of violent crime.

Ron Meuser Jr., the lawyer handling the claims, said his office met with an additional 43 Minneapolis cops this week who have retained him. That’s in addition to the estimated 150 officers who Meuser said at a July 10 news conference had retained him. And it brings the total closer to 200 now, out of a sworn force of about 850.

Meuser said most of the officers starting the disability paperwork leave their jobs fairly quickly on a medical leave. The disability claims process can take up to six months.

He said his office has “dozens and dozens” of more appointments with officers scheduled for next week. “The curve has not flattened,” Meuser said. “We are signing up a staggering number of officers every day right now.”

The increase in officers seeking to file disability claims comes as the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) faces unprecedented public criticism following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in May. The City Council has advanced a plan that could end the police department and replace it with a broader community safety department that may or may not have licensed peace officers. Voters would have to approve the change.

Meanwhile, the city has been rocked by an explosion of gun violence.

...

July 20, 2020

Trump says Gov. Cuomo must end NYC 'crime wave' -- or he will step in

Trump says Gov. Cuomo must end NYC ‘crime wave’ — or he will step in
https://nypost.com/2020/07/20/trump-says-cuomo-must-end-nyc-crime-wave-or-he-will-step-in/

...

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he was particularly upset by reports that Brooklyn woman Shatavia Walls, 33, was shot to death after complaining about illegal fireworks. He said the NYPD is “afraid to do anything.”

“We can’t let this happen to the cities. New York was up 348 percent, the crime wave. So the governor has to do something about it. And if the governor is not going to do something about it, we’ll do something about it.

“But what’s happening in New York, a place I love — I love New York. Look at what’s going on over there. The woman who was shot because she said, ‘Could you please not light off firecrackers?’ And they turned around and shot her eight times and she died. That’s not our civilization, that’s not about us,” the commander-in-chief told reporters.

“And then the police are afraid to do anything. I know New York very well, I know the police very well, New York’s Finest, and the fact is, they’re restricted from doing anything, they can’t do anything.”

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July 20, 2020

Homeland Security making plans to deploy some 150 agents in Chicago this week ...

Homeland Security making plans to deploy some 150 agents in Chicago this week, with scope of duty unknown
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-chicago-police-dhs-deployment-20200720-dftu5ychwbcxtg4ltarh5qnwma-story.html

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is crafting plans to deploy about 150 federal agents to Chicago this week, the Chicago Tribune has learned, a move that would come amid growing controversy nationally about federal force being used in American cities.

The Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, agents are set to assist other federal law enforcement and Chicago police in crime-fighting efforts, according to sources familiar with the matter, though a specific plan on what the agents will be doing had not been made public.

One city official said the city was aware of the plan but not any specifics. The Chicago Police Department had no immediate comment.

One Immigration and Customs Enforcement official in Chicago, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak on the matter, confirmed the deployment was expected to take place. The official noted that the HSI agents, who are part of ICE, would not be involved in immigration or deportation matters.

It was unclear where all the agents would be coming from, though many were expected to be from agencies operating in the Chicago area. Questions remained about the chain of command they would fall under.

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