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steve2470
steve2470's Journal
steve2470's Journal
September 22, 2018
Cat Video Fest 2018 😹🐱👤🐱👓🐱🏍🐱👓🐱🚀🐱🐉🐱
https://www.siff.net/year-round-cinema/cat-video-fest-2018
September 21, 2018
The New York Times has sued the Federal Communications Commission over the agency's refusal to release records that the Times believes might shed light on Russian interference in the net neutrality repeal proceeding.
The Times made a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) request in June 2017 for FCC server logs related to the system for accepting public comments on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's repeal of net neutrality rules. The FCC refused to provide the records, telling the Times that doing so would jeopardize the privacy of commenters and the effectiveness of the agency's IT security practices and that fulfilling the records request would be overly burdensome.
This led to a months-long process in which the Times repeatedly narrowed its public records request in order to overcome the FCC's various objections. But the FCC still refuses to release any of the records requested by the Times, so the newspaper sued the commission yesterday in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Times' complaint said:
NYT sues FCC, says it hid evidence of Russia meddling in net neutrality repeal
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/09/did-russia-meddle-with-net-neutrality-comments-nyt-sues-fcc-to-find-out/The New York Times has sued the Federal Communications Commission over the agency's refusal to release records that the Times believes might shed light on Russian interference in the net neutrality repeal proceeding.
The Times made a Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) request in June 2017 for FCC server logs related to the system for accepting public comments on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's repeal of net neutrality rules. The FCC refused to provide the records, telling the Times that doing so would jeopardize the privacy of commenters and the effectiveness of the agency's IT security practices and that fulfilling the records request would be overly burdensome.
This led to a months-long process in which the Times repeatedly narrowed its public records request in order to overcome the FCC's various objections. But the FCC still refuses to release any of the records requested by the Times, so the newspaper sued the commission yesterday in US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Times' complaint said:
The request at issue in this litigation involves records that will shed light on the extent to which Russian nationals and agents of the Russian government have interfered with the agency notice-and-comment process about a topic of extensive public interest: the government's decision to abandon "net neutrality." Release of these records will help broaden the public's understanding of the scope of Russian interference in the American democratic system.
........
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September 21, 2018
Russian officials reportedly discussed plans with an Ecuadorian minister to smuggle Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from the country's embassy in London to safe haven in Russia, according to a new report.
The Guardian reports that Ecuador's former London consul, Fidel Narváez, served as Assange's top ally in the ground-floor London facility where Assange has been staying for months as he faces what he calls politically-motivated charges of sexual assault and rape in Sweden.
According to The Guardian, Narváez and Russian officials discussed a plan to move Assange out of the embassy via diplomatic vehicle before eventually facilitating his travel to Russia or possibly another country.
The plan, originally set for Christmas Eve 2017, was abandoned due to thoughts it was "too risky," according to the report. Assange's possibility of travel to Ecuador by boat was also discussed.
Russians considered plan to smuggle Julian Assange out of embassy in UK: report
https://thehill.com/policy/international/407739-russians-considered-plan-to-smuggle-julian-assange-out-of-embassy-in-ukRussian officials reportedly discussed plans with an Ecuadorian minister to smuggle Wikileaks founder Julian Assange from the country's embassy in London to safe haven in Russia, according to a new report.
The Guardian reports that Ecuador's former London consul, Fidel Narváez, served as Assange's top ally in the ground-floor London facility where Assange has been staying for months as he faces what he calls politically-motivated charges of sexual assault and rape in Sweden.
According to The Guardian, Narváez and Russian officials discussed a plan to move Assange out of the embassy via diplomatic vehicle before eventually facilitating his travel to Russia or possibly another country.
The plan, originally set for Christmas Eve 2017, was abandoned due to thoughts it was "too risky," according to the report. Assange's possibility of travel to Ecuador by boat was also discussed.
September 21, 2018
A 22-year-old Florida college student is in custody after a security breach at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Nishal Sankat was charged with "criminal attempt to steal a plane" Thursday.
"There obviously seemed to be some planning involved," said Lori Booker, spokesperson for the airport.
Florida police are trying to determine what Sankat was planning to do after he boarded a commercial airliner undergoing maintenance early Thursday morning, reports CBS News correspondent Tony Dokoupil.
Sankat was a part-time student at the Florida Institute of Technology studying aviation management. According to the FAA, he had received a commercial pilot's license in January, but he was not qualified to fly this type of plane.
1- Florida man, jokes write themselves; 2- Possible suicide attempt like the Seattle guy ?; 3- this young man has ruined his life
Florida student accused of trying to steal airliner dragged off plane
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-student-nishal-sankat-charged-criminal-attempt-steal-plane-orlando-melbourne-international-airport/A 22-year-old Florida college student is in custody after a security breach at the Orlando Melbourne International Airport. Nishal Sankat was charged with "criminal attempt to steal a plane" Thursday.
"There obviously seemed to be some planning involved," said Lori Booker, spokesperson for the airport.
Florida police are trying to determine what Sankat was planning to do after he boarded a commercial airliner undergoing maintenance early Thursday morning, reports CBS News correspondent Tony Dokoupil.
Sankat was a part-time student at the Florida Institute of Technology studying aviation management. According to the FAA, he had received a commercial pilot's license in January, but he was not qualified to fly this type of plane.
1- Florida man, jokes write themselves; 2- Possible suicide attempt like the Seattle guy ?; 3- this young man has ruined his life
September 21, 2018
The Cook Political Report on Friday updated its rating for Texas's heated Senate race, moving it from "leans Republican" to "toss-up" amid new polls showing Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) in a tightening race with Sen. Ted Cruz (R).
The change in rating Friday came amid two other Senate race changes, with the prediction website changing the race for Sen. Jon Tester's (D-Mont.) seat from "likely" to "leans" Democratic, while the West Virginia Senate race moved from "toss-up" to leaning in favor of incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D).
Cook's authors did not immediately give any explanation for the ratings change, but the move follows a series of polls showing Cruz with a small single-digit lead over his insurgent opponent, who has outraised Cruz by millions since the campaign began.
A survey by left-leaning pollster Public Policy Polling found Cruz with just a 3-point lead over his opponent on Thursday among registered Texas voters. A Reuters–Ipsos poll the day before found O'Rourke with a 2-point lead.
Cook Political Report moves Texas Senate race to 'toss-up'
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/407735-cook-political-report-moves-texas-senate-race-to-toss-upThe Cook Political Report on Friday updated its rating for Texas's heated Senate race, moving it from "leans Republican" to "toss-up" amid new polls showing Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) in a tightening race with Sen. Ted Cruz (R).
The change in rating Friday came amid two other Senate race changes, with the prediction website changing the race for Sen. Jon Tester's (D-Mont.) seat from "likely" to "leans" Democratic, while the West Virginia Senate race moved from "toss-up" to leaning in favor of incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin (D).
Cook's authors did not immediately give any explanation for the ratings change, but the move follows a series of polls showing Cruz with a small single-digit lead over his insurgent opponent, who has outraised Cruz by millions since the campaign began.
A survey by left-leaning pollster Public Policy Polling found Cruz with just a 3-point lead over his opponent on Thursday among registered Texas voters. A Reuters–Ipsos poll the day before found O'Rourke with a 2-point lead.
September 21, 2018
I know people hate Bill Kristol but this was funny....
https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/1043149463194411009
September 21, 2018
So you really expect a traumatized 15 year old girl to call the FBI ????? Stupid and callous.
Trump wonders why Kavanaugh accuser didn't 'call the FBI 36 years ago'
Source: New York Post
In an interview before a Las Vegas rally Thursday night, President Trump wondered why Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser Christine Blasey Ford didn’t “call the FBI 36 years ago” to report his sexual misdeed.
“To take a man like this and besmirch,” Trump said to Fox News personality Sean Hannity of the allegations that have rocked his second Supreme Court pick. “That being said, let her have her say, and let’s see how it all works out.”
Trump spoke to Hannity directly before the Nevada campaign rally, where he continued to hold his tongue when speaking about Ford – who accused Kavanaugh of a high school-era sexual assault – while still firmly taking the judge’s side.
Read more: https://nypost.com/2018/09/20/trump-wonders-why-kavanaugh-accuser-didnt-call-the-fbi-36-years-ago/
So you really expect a traumatized 15 year old girl to call the FBI ????? Stupid and callous.
September 21, 2018
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning to divert millions of dollars in funding originally allocated for programs like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to pay for the growing number of detained immigrant children, according to an HHS letter obtained by Yahoo! News.
The letter was addressed to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and outlined HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s plan to reallocate up to $266 million in funding for the current fiscal year, which ends in less than two weeks. The funding would go to the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) program housed inside the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
Of the $266 million, $80 million will come from other refugee programs within HHS that have faced serious budget cuts as the Trump administration continuously reduces the number of refugees admitted to the U.S.
The remainder will come from programs like Head Start, an HHS-funded initiative that provides early-childhood education to low-income pre-kindergartners. Nearly $6 million will be pulled from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, and $13.3 million from the National Cancer Institute. According to the letter, funding for programs dedicated to mental and maternal health is also being reallocated, as is money for women’s shelters and substance abuse programs.
HHS to cut funds from Head Start, cancer research to pay for the detention of immigrant children
https://thinkprogress.org/hhs-cuts-cancer-research-child-detention-210dbb16cc32/The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is planning to divert millions of dollars in funding originally allocated for programs like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to pay for the growing number of detained immigrant children, according to an HHS letter obtained by Yahoo! News.
The letter was addressed to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member on the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and outlined HHS Secretary Alex Azar’s plan to reallocate up to $266 million in funding for the current fiscal year, which ends in less than two weeks. The funding would go to the Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) program housed inside the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
Of the $266 million, $80 million will come from other refugee programs within HHS that have faced serious budget cuts as the Trump administration continuously reduces the number of refugees admitted to the U.S.
The remainder will come from programs like Head Start, an HHS-funded initiative that provides early-childhood education to low-income pre-kindergartners. Nearly $6 million will be pulled from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, and $13.3 million from the National Cancer Institute. According to the letter, funding for programs dedicated to mental and maternal health is also being reallocated, as is money for women’s shelters and substance abuse programs.
September 21, 2018
BERLIN — For nearly two weeks Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to find a way to fire her own domestic intelligence chief, a man who had publicly contradicted her and become the darling of the far right for questioning the authenticity of a video showing angry white men chasing an immigrant.
But she couldn’t — not without risking the collapse of her fragile government.
Hans-Georg Maassen, the rebellious spy, has powerful friends, among them his immediate boss, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Bavarian conservatives and one of Ms. Merkel’s pricklier coalition partners.
Instead of firing Mr. Maassen, Ms. Merkel had to allow Mr. Seehofer to promote him. Mr. Maassen will get a pay raise of about 2,500 euros a month.
As the Far Right Gains in Germany, Merkel Weakens
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/world/europe/merkel-germany-far-right.htmlBERLIN — For nearly two weeks Chancellor Angela Merkel tried to find a way to fire her own domestic intelligence chief, a man who had publicly contradicted her and become the darling of the far right for questioning the authenticity of a video showing angry white men chasing an immigrant.
But she couldn’t — not without risking the collapse of her fragile government.
Hans-Georg Maassen, the rebellious spy, has powerful friends, among them his immediate boss, Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, the leader of the Bavarian conservatives and one of Ms. Merkel’s pricklier coalition partners.
Instead of firing Mr. Maassen, Ms. Merkel had to allow Mr. Seehofer to promote him. Mr. Maassen will get a pay raise of about 2,500 euros a month.
September 20, 2018
changed title to reflect article title
Kavanaugh accuser willing to testify next week under certain conditions, lawyer says
Source: MSNBC
no link yet, per MSNBC. Her lawyer responded to the committee.
eta: WASHINGTON -- Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were in high school, "wishes to testify" before the Senate Judiciary Committee next week "provided that we can agree on terms that are fair and which ensure her safety," her lawyer said Thursday.
In an email to the committee, Ford's lawyer, Debra Katz said that she would like to set up a call later in the day Thursday in which they can "discuss the conditions under which Dr. Christine Blasey Ford would be prepared to testify next week."
"A hearing on Monday is not possible and the Committee's insistence that it occur then is arbitrary in any event. Dr. Ford has asked me to let you know that she appreciates the various options you have suggested. Her strong preference continues to be for the Senate Judiciary Committee to allow for a full investigation prior to her testimony."
Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had scheduled a hearing for Monday in which his committee would hear from both Ford and Kavanaugh.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/kavanaugh-preps-senate-testimony-assault-allegations-n911441
changed title to reflect article title
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