Earth's land lost much of their ability to absorb the carbon dioxide humans pumped into the air last year, according to a new study that is causing concern among climate scientists that a crucial damper on climate change underwent an unprecedented deterioration. read more
The cryptocurrency community has anxiously been awaiting a speech by Donald Trump on Saturday, but his opponent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may have stolen Trump's thunder by announcing that the former president is considering the creation of a massive government reserve of Bitcoin should he return to the White House. read more
When Donald Trump took office in 2017, he immediately issued a provocative executive order banning travel from Muslim-majority countries that led to chaos, confusion and a flurry of lawsuits that ended up at the Supreme Court. If he wins the election in November, he has pledged to follow a similar course on another contentious policy proposal: ending birthright citizenship.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday Russia's leadership was "hyper rational" and that Ukraine would never be able to fulfil its hopes of becoming a member of the European Union or NATO.
Customs and Border Protection insists that it can search electronics without a warrant. A federal judge just said it can't.
@#1 ... "So we've got a Supreme Court that is actively undermining our democracy."...
'I Believe That No One Is Above the Law Under Our System' (2005)
www.nytimes.com
... Following are excerpts from the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing yesterday for Judge John G. Roberts Jr., President Bush's nominee to be the chief justice of the United States. He was questioned by, among others, Senators Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania; Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont; Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts; Russell D. Feingold, Democrat of Wisconsin; Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah; Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California; and Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona. The statements were recorded by CQ Transcriptions. A full transcript is online at nytimes.com/supremecourt.[emphasis mine]
Roe v. Wade
Senator Specter -- When you and I talked informally, I asked you if you had any thought as to how many opportunities there were in the intervening 32 years for Roe to be overruled, and you said you didn't really know. And you cited a number. I said, "Would it surprise you to know that there have been 38 occasions where Roe has been taken up, not with a specific issue raised, but all with an opportunity for Roe to be overruled?" ...
The Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel issued a secret opinion in August 2002 which argued the president enjoys, quote, "complete authority over the conduct of war," close quote. And, quote, "The Congress lacks authority to set the terms and conditions under which the president may exercise his authority as commander in chief to control the conduct of operations during war," close quote. And then it took the argument to the extreme when it concluded the president, when acting as commander in chief was not bound -- was not bound -- by the federal law banning the use of torture.
In other words, the president would be above the law in that regard. You did not write that memo -- I hasten to add -- but you've seen it.
And I asked Attorney General Gonzales for his view of this memo, in particular this sweeping assertion of executive power, which puts the president above the law. He never gave an answer on that and that's one of the reasons why many had voted against his confirmation.
So, now let me ask you this: Do you believe that the president has a commander-in-chief override to authorize or excuse the use of torture in interrogation of enemy prisoners even though there may be domestic and international laws prohibiting the specific practice?
Judge Roberts -- Senator, I believe that no one is above the law under our system, and that includes the president. The president is fully bound by the law, the Constitution and statutes. Now, there often arise issues where there's a conflict between the legislature and the executive over an exercise of executive authority -- asserted executive authority. ...
@#7 ... attended the best Ivy League schools ...
You mean like Gov DeSantis...
www.bestcolleges.com
...DeSantis earned his undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and tacked on a second Ivy League degree when he graduated from Harvard Law School. ...
Or maybe Sen Vance...
en.wikipedia.org
... After graduating from Ohio State, Vance attended Yale Law School, beginning in the fall of 2010, on a nearly full-ride scholarship for his first year.[27] He became close friends during Yale's orientation with future Canadian Conservative member of parliament Jamil Jivani.[28]
During his first year, professor Amy Chua, author of the 2011 book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, persuaded him to begin writing his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy.[29]
Vance was an editor of The Yale Law Journal, and graduated in 2013 with a Juris Doctor degree.[27] In law school, Vance wrote for David Frum's "FrumForum" website under the name J. D. Hamel, in 2010 and 2011.[30][31] Although Hillbilly Elegy implies that Vance adopted his grandparents' surname of Vance upon his marriage in 2014,[32] the name change actually occurred in April 2013, as he was about to graduate from Yale.[1] ...
@#14 ... There is less stress and anxiety in many of these European countries because they have universal health care, low citizen access to firearms, living wages, robust social security nets, as well as affordable pharmaceuticals and free college. ...
The workplace in The Netherlands was a huge change for me. My manager had told (bordering upon warned) me to be prepared, so it was not a surprise, just a change.
The people who worked for me were great. So focused upon accomplishing their goals. To the point that they asked me rather direct questions. OK, stunningly direct questions. Once I got over the initial surprise, I found the subsequent conversations to be knowledgeable and very informative. I learned a lot by listening instead of managerial commanding. (to which I say "thank-you" to the Effecting Listening course that was a part of the General Electric Management Training Program I was in back in the day).
Another aspect of the workplace in The Netherlands, stated simply, the employees of a company get to elect members of the ~board~ of that company.
Works council or staff representation
business.gov.nl
... Does your company employ 10 people or more? You need to set up a works council (ondernemingsraad, OR), staff representation (personeelsvertegenwoordiging, PVT), or hold staff meetings (personeelsvergadering, PV). It depends on the number of employees which type of representation of you need to set up. ...
When I talked with the people on that works council, I found them to be quite focused upon the good and benefit of the company. To them, it did not seem to me to be, ~what can I get~ but more of ~how can we make this company better.~
So, another reason for the happiness.
Here's an interesting twist presentation at the Bitcoin conference...
Edward Snowden criticizes political system at Nashville's Bitcoin conference
www.msn.com
... Republican Sens. Cynthia Lummis and Tim Scott pledged their resolute support for the cryptocurrency industry at Nashville's Bitcoin2024 conference Friday -- moments before whistleblower and political dissident Edward Snowden warned attendees to be wary of politicians trying to win them over.[emphasis mine]
"Cast a vote, but don't join a cult," Snowden said. "They are not our tribe. They are not your personality. They have their own interests, their own values, their own things that they're chasing. Try to get what you need from them, but don't give yourself to them."
Snowden didn't call out any politicians specifically, but the conference has drawn national attention for its robust lineup of legislators including former President Donald Trump, independent presidential nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and a number of other senators. ...
FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Kicks Off Infrastructure Week by Highlighting Historic Results Spurred by President Biden's Investing in America Agenda
www.whitehouse.gov
... Administration releases updated map showcasing 56,000 infrastructure projects and unveils new Investing in America state-by-state fact sheets
When President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021, he committed to delivering once-in-a-generation investments to rebuild America's infrastructure and competitiveness. Today, his Administration is cutting ribbons and breaking ground on projects across the country to rebuild our roads and bridges, deliver clean and safe water, tackle legacy pollution, expand access to high-speed internet, and build a clean energy economy for all Americans. While "Infrastructure Week" became an empty punchline during the prior Administration, President Biden is delivering an "Infrastructure Decade" that will benefit communities for generations to come. As this year's Infrastructure Week kicks off, the Administration celebrates the historic progress of President Biden's Investing in America agenda, which continues to unlock economic opportunity, create good-paying jobs, boost domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up.
To date, the Administration has announced nearly $454 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding, including over 56,000 specific projects and awards, across over 4,500 communities in all 50 states, D.C., the territories, and for Tribes. To highlight the wide-ranging impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the White House has released an updated map showcasing the more than 56,000 projects and awards that are identified or now underway. ...
The problem with Infrastructure Projects from a political viewpoint is that they do not happen quickly. Infrastructure investments take time to show a benefit, which is one reason why so many politicians avoid them.
Cutting ribbons today, this year. The results of those ribbon cuttings won't be seen until after Pres Biden leaves the Oval Office.
A statesman cares about the next generation. A politician cares about the next election.
With the investment in infrastructure, Pres Biden is showing himself as a statesman.
Infrastructure projects do not go from start to finish quickly, especially those that are aimed at the decades of infrastrucutre neglect related to giving the wealthy tax decreases.
As the OpEd I quoted notes... ...In fact, the defining fiscal policies of our times have been tax cuts. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and Donald Trump all enacted large tax cuts that broadly benefited the rich. The result has been an America that can be characterized by private opulence and public decay -- $100 million homes in a country where the roads are scarred by potholes ...
&nbs
... What work is like in the world's happiest country ...
While I never worked in Finland, I did have responsibilities for a company in The Netherlands at one point in my career. The Netherlands is ranked as the 6th happiest country ( www.afar.com ).
One of the things I notices a I visited a couple cities and went out into the countryside during my many business visit to the country.
The people there were a happy folk. Everyone I met and everyone I talked with, smiles everywhere. It was even before I had known about these "happiest country" ratings. My impression whenever I visited was, wow, these people are so happy.
It was an odd experience.
@#20 ... I thought everyone hates the police. All normal people anyway. ...
Interesting for two reasons.
First the apparent understating that everyone hates the police.
Second, the assertion of "normal" people, without any definition of "normal."