22 days of data from the Suomi NPP satellite went into making this beautiful and eerie view of the Earth at night, spinning in a black sky. The satellite can see in the visible and near-infrared at high sensitivity, able to map city lights, fires, and even moonlit weather. This animation is made from real images, mapped onto the previously existing Blue Marble images to make the view more realistic.
Conservative cable network Newsmax on Thursday settled a defamation lawsuit brought by voting-machine company Smartmatic, narrowly avoiding a high-profile trial over the airing of 2020 election falsehoods. read more
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday, the Russian Embassy in South Africa posted a photo of a destroyed F-16 fighter jet, which appeared to have the Ukrainian coat of arms on its tail. "When you ask Ukrainian pilots where their F-16s are," the caption on the photo read, indicating that the Russians were taking credit for shooting down the jet. The claim was swiftly discredited ...
A new trend has emerged in American politics: The very youngest voters -- 18-to-24-year-olds -- say they're more conservative than the cohort that's just older, according to the latest Harvard Youth Poll.
Former President Donald Trump has finally commented on the scandal involving Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, the state's current lieutenant governor. read more
Speaking of the Space Station, there's this...
An International Space Station Leak Is Getting Worse -- and Keeping NASA Up at Night
www.wired.com
... US space officials do not like to talk about the perils of flying astronauts on the aging International Space Station, elements of which are now more than a quarter of a century old.
However, a new report confirms that NASA managers responsible for operating the space station are seriously concerned about a small Russian part of the station, essentially a tunnel that connects a larger module to a docking port, which is leaking.
Russian and US officials have known that this small PrK module, which lies between a Progress spacecraft airlock and the Zvezda module, has been leaking since September 2019.
A new report, published Thursday by NASA's inspector general, provides details not previously released by the space agency that underline the severity of the problem.
New Details About the Leak
For example, in February of this year NASA identified an increase in the leak rate from less than 1 pound of atmosphere a day to 2.4 pounds a day, and in April this rate increased to 3.7 pounds a day.
Despite years of investigation, neither Russian nor US officials have identified the underlying cause of the leak. ...
@#26 ... Don't forget he has no intention of actually doing anything he says he's going to do. ...
Oh, I disagree.
Based upon his prior term, he may try to use the DoJ against his perceived Democrat enemies.
William P. Barr to depart as attorney general, Trump announces (2020)
www.washingtonpost.com
... William P. Barr is stepping down as attorney general, ending a controversial tenure in which critics say he repeatedly used the Justice Department to aid President Trump's allies, only to have Trump turn on him when he did not announce investigations of political foes and disputed White House claims of widespread election fraud. ...
@#2 ... Meanwhile, American Bridge 21st Century, who describe themselves an a Republican accountability group ...
About Us
www.americanbridgepac.org
... American Bridge 21st Century, the largest research, tracking, and rapid response operation in the Democratic Party, is focused on holding Republicans accountable and helping deliver Democratic victories.
American Bridge 21st Century not only brings to light what Republicans are saying behind closed doors, but also runs large-scale paid media programs that center storytellers and utilize a data-driven approach to achieve the greatest impact. ...
Wow, just friggin' wow...
Not normal': Social media reacts after Trump makes bizarre comments about a fly he's bothered by on stage
www.independent.co.uk
... Former President Donald Trump expressed his frustration over a fly that approached his lecturn in a bizarre moment during a rally speech.
Trump was on stage at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, making a point about a hat, when he appeared to get distracted by the creature.
"Oh there's a fly," the former president said. "I wonder where the fly came from?"
One audience member shouted out "Kamala."
Trump continued: "See, two years ago, I wouldn't have had a fly up here. You're changing rapidly. We can't take it any longer." It wasn't clear who or what the president was referring to before he changed the subject.
The internet was quick to react to Trump's unexpected outburst, with MSNBC host and legal analyst Katie Phang saying "this is not normal."
Meanwhile, American Bridge 21st Century, who describe themselves an a Republican accountability group, said: "Trump is exhausted and struggling to stay on track. He begins a story about a hat, but gets distracted by a fly and never finishes. He starts a entirely new story and struggles with the word "unique." ...
@#7 ... Walz was a hit at the game today. They lovingly chanted 'Get out of here!' ...
Fans boo Tim Walz as he leaves Michigan-Minnesota game: 'Get out of here!'
www.foxnews.com
... A rough afternoon for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz got even tougher.
Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate attended Saturday's game between Minnesota and Michigan in Ann Arbor, taking in the action from a suite along with former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke.
The Golden Gophers trailed by as many as 17 points early, but they staged a late comeback by scoring three touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks onstage at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pa., Sept. 21, 2024. (Caroline Gutman for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
However, it was too little too late, and the 12th-ranked defending champions came away with a 27-24 victory.
When it came time for Walz to exit the Big House, fans waited outside and gave him a harsh farewell.
Several in attendance booed him, with another fan even yelling "Get out of here." ...
Before the game, Walz was tailgating with fans outside the Big House.
"A little rain can't keep us from the big Michigan-Minnesota game! And it's not gonna stop these students from making sure that everyone on their campus is registered to vote," Walz posted on X.
When asked by the Michigan College Democrats on X whether he was "excited for Michigan to beat Minnesota today," he let out a laugh, perhaps knowing it was unlikely.
"I'm excited to be at the Big House. I'm excited to watch this incredible game. I'm more excited to see young people being excited about their future," he responded. ...
Was that a political reaction, or a reaction of sports fans in a Minnesota-Michigan game?
... "But in April 2022, Trump shared a 45-minute private flight with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts, according to people familiar with the trip, plane-tracking data and a photograph from on board the plane, which has not been previously reported. They flew together to a Heritage conference where Trump delivered a keynote address that gestured to Heritage's forthcoming policy proposals."
Said Trump: "They're going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do." ...
Who is Kevin Roberts?
Project 2025 mastermind allegedly told colleagues he killed a dog with a shovel
www.theguardian.com
So, the project 2025 mastermind.
... "He makes empty promise after empty promise to American workers, but never delivers. As president, he cut taxes for corporations, encouraged outsourcing, and lost nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs, including auto jobs. He has joked about firing workers, supported state anti-union laws, and suggested companies move jobs out of Michigan." ...
Wow, that's quite a summary.
Then there's this...
Trump claims he's pro-worker. Project 2025 will gut labor rights (August 2024)
www.theguardian.com
... Donald Trump proclaimed he was for "all the forgotten men and women", in his acceptance speech at the Republican convention. His vice-presidential pick JD Vance consistently portrays himself as a pro-worker populist. But an analysis of the labor chapter of Project 2025 -- an ambitious rightwing plan to guide the next Republican presidency -- found it has little to offer them.
Project 2025's labor section proposes hardly anything to improve workers' wages and working conditions. It is, however, chock full of recommendations that would boost corporate profits, undercut labor unions and advance the rightwing culture war.
Project 2025 contains several recommendations that would, when taken together, cut the pay of millions of workers, especially by making overtime pay available to fewer workers, even though many Americans rely on overtime pay to make ends meet. This so-called "Presidential Transition Project" shows outright hostility toward government employee unions -- whether police unions, firefighters' unions or teachers' unions -- saying that Congress should consider abolishing all public sector unions.
Project 2025 would further undermine unions by recommending a ban on the use of card check, one of labor's most effective tools to organize workers. Once a union gets a majority of employees at a workplace to sign pro-union cards, unions often point to this majority support to persuade employers to grant union recognition and bargain. ...
My guess at this point is that those two astronauts will be quite willing, even eager, to leave the ISS.