Saturday, July 7, 2018

Notations From the Grid (W-End Edition): Out & About in Our World

As part of our commitment to present all views, please enjoy this courtesy of the team at Reason.Com & Common Dreams as we wish all a great weekend: 


Reason
 

 
 
After Months of Scandals, Scott Pruitt Resigns EPA Post
President Trump announced the EPA administrator's departure in a pair of tweets.
By Joe Setyon
 
United Gates of America: The Trump Administration's Relentless Assault on Legal Immigration
It is systematically jamming every legal channel with red tape.
By Shikha Dalmia
 
Defying Congress, Jeff Sessions Keeps Blocking Medical Marijuana Research
Two years after accepting applications, the DEA has yet to grant licenses to growers.
By Mike Riggs
 
Another Justice Like Gorsuch, Please
Contrary to what his critics say, this "narrow-minded elitist" stands up for the little guy.
By Jacob Sullum
 

 

 
The Debt Clock Keeps Spinning
Federal debt now equals 78 percent of gross domestic product.
By Steve Chapman
 
The Government's Economic Illogic Is on Display
President Trump’s tariffs are just part of the problem.
By Veronique de Rugy
 
Europe Delays Plan to Destroy the Internet With Terrible Copyright Enforcement Proposal
Lawmakers resist plan that would likely lead to widespread censorship of online media sharing.
By Scott Shackford
 
Facebook Algorithm Flags, Removes Declaration of Independence Text as Hate Speech
The social media site has a difficult time telling the difference between white nationalist ravings and the writing of Thomas Jefferson.
By Christian Britschgi
 
Trump Ignores Critics, Claims ‘Everyone Is Very Excited’ About Space Force
In President Trump’s world, “everyone” is absolutely thrilled about his widely criticized plans to establish an entirely new branch of the U.S. military.
By Joe Setyon
 
Come to FreedomFest, Featuring the Reason Media Awards, July 11-14
The nation's only magazine of "Free Minds and Free Markets" is celebrating its 50th anniversary in Las Vegas next week. Come. On. Out.
By Nick Gillespie
 
Man Faces 30 Years in Prison on Child Porn Charges for Taking Sexy Photos of 17-Year-Old Girlfriend When He was 20
Since Ohio's age of consent is 16, it was legal for Edward Marrero to have sex but not to sext.
By Robby Soave
 
He Was Assaulted by Three Teens at Work, But He’s Going to Prison for Defending Himself
Gaps in Connecticut's self-defense law lead to 18-month sentence.
By Scott Shackford
 
Man Sues Police Department After Video of His Tasing Goes Viral
Sean Williams is suing the Lancaster Police Department after he says a tasing violated the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.
By Zuri Davis
 
Al Qaeda-Linked Somali Terrorist Group Bans Plastic Bags
Al-Shabab has declared plastic bags "a serious threat to the well-being of humans and animals alike."
By Christian Britschgi

Common Dreams

Feature...


by Julia Conley, staff writer
The White House announced Thursday that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has resigned, following months of mounting scandals regarding his misuse of taxpayer funds for his lavish travel expenses, the extreme secrecy with which he ran the agency, his treatment of his...
News...


by Jake Johnson, staff writer
While the long-overdue departure of ceaselessly corrupt EPA chief Scott Pruitt on Thursday was undoubtedly a small win for the public and the planet, environmentalists were quick to note that "there's no happy ending to this story" as Pruitt is being replaced by former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler, who worked for years as an aide to fervent climate-denier Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).



by Jake Johnson, staff writer
At first glance, the prominent political action committee End Citizens United (ECU) appears to be dedicated to channeling widespread grassroots anger at corporate money in politics into promoting candidates who reject cash from big business and support bold campaign finance reform. But a closer look at the candidates ECU endorses and funds reveals that the organization frequently uses its vast resources to reinforce the poisonous status quo.



by Julia Conley, staff writer
While President Donald Trump's appointment of former Fox News executive Bill Shine to a top communications role was unsurprising to critics, many denounced the selection as the latest signal that the president holds contempt for the concerns of women.



by Jake Johnson, staff writer
Citizens of the world have shown throughout the past year and five months that there is no shortage of unique ways to peacefully register outrage against deeply unpopular U.S. President Donald Trump, and on Thursday London Mayor Sadiq Khan decided that flying a 20-foot-tall Trump baby blimp is just one of the "many different forms" dissent can take.



by Julia Conley, staff writer
Digital rights activists on Thursday applauded the European Parliament's rejection of a broad new copyright law proposal which critics warned would threaten the open internet and result in widespread censorship and control of users.



by Jake Johnson, staff writer
The world's largest economies have grown at a steady pace and unemployment has consistently fallen in the years following the greed-driven global financial crisis of 2008, but income gains during the so-called recovery have been enjoyed almost exclusively by the top one percent while most workers experience "unprecedented wage stagnation."

More News
Views...


by Kate Aronoff
If Ocasio-Cortez’s election marks a new era for the Democratic Party, what will that mean for its climate politics?



by George Goehl
What we’re witnessing at our border is one part of a war against all children — whether by cuts to schools, child nutrition, health care, safe air and water, or family-supporting jobs.



by Jesse Jackson
These are right-wing lawless judges ignoring the laws and will of our elected representatives and trampling the dictates of legal precedent.



by Leo Murray
To really get through to Trump, you have to get down on his level and talk to him in a language he understands: personal insults.



by Elizabeth Bruenig
As more left-flank challengers face off with center-left incumbents and more democratic socialists begin looking toward public office.... beware.



by Will Bunch
The populist appeal of the “Abolish ICE” movement clearly caught the Beltway pundit crowd completely flat-footed, which of course is about as surprising as Wile E. Coyote and his Acme jet pack slamming into a desert rock at 200 mph.

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Notations On Our World (Special Independence Eve Edition): On #July4 Here in the United States

Today is Independence Day here in the United States.  Communities throughout the United States will be celebrating with Community Events and Fireworks.  Our Hometown, Laguna Niguel, is no exception as the 40th Annual Run in the Park will be held with fireworks later on in the Evening.    

Our team chose this clip from Frank Sinatra originally produced in 1945 to combat racism and hatred during the Second World War On America we hope all enjoy as we will be dark in honor in Independence Day: 

On this Indepedence Day 2018 : 🎉🇺🇸😎 : #RandomThoughts







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