Monday, April 25, 2022
How to Make Sure You Can Recover Your iCloud Data | WIRED
Put some precautions in place, just in case you need them later. These steps will make it easier to get your data back if something bad happens.
Overcoming Trumpery review: recipes for reform Republicans will never allow
The authors argue that since the crimes of Watergate pale in comparison to the corruption of Trump, this should be the greatest opportunity for profound reform since the 1970s. But of course there is no chance of any such reform getting through this Congress, because Republicans have no interest in making government honest...
Two plead guilty to pocketing funds raised for ‘We Build the Wall’ project
Co-founder of project to raise money for US-Mexico wall pleads guilty in case that once included Trump's adviser Steve Bannon
EU agrees rules to force big tech to rein in illegal content or face huge fines
Flora Rebello Arduini, a director at SumOfUs, which campaigns for corporate accountability, said: "This law is a massive victory for people across Europe who have stood up to demand an end to the era of big tech abuses. It also sends a strong signal to leaders everywhere – citizens will not sit back while unregulated and unrestrained tech corporations play havoc with their communities."
Opinion | Two state lawmakers show how to tackle MAGA hate - The Washington Post
…If the hatemongers are confronted, they will lose power…
GOP lawmakers were deeply involved in Trump plans to overturn election, new evidence suggests - POLITICO
Deposition excerpts filed by the Jan 6. select committee underscore the expansive cast of elected Republicans who had enlisted themselves in Trump's effort to cling to power...
Sunday, April 24, 2022
‘Democracy in Florida is not functioning.’ Governor’s rigged maps rob Black voters of power
…The governor's plan went out of its way to reduce from four to two the number of districts where Black candidates can elect the candidate of their choosing.
The plan significantly distorts the map in favor of Republicans, giving them a hold on 20 of 28 congressional seats in a state Donald Trump won in 2020 with 51.2% of the vote. According to FiveThirtyEight, the Florida map is nearly tied with Texas as the most biased in the US…
A Look at the Textbooks Rejected by the Florida Department of Education - The New York Times
The state rejected dozens of math textbooks. The New York Times reviewed 21 of them to figure out why...
Tucker Carlson Freaks Out Over Obama's Disinformation Speech
The former president "is a full-blown fascist who hates you," an upset Carlson insisted...
Rebels With a Cause (Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freethought Radio podcast)
Guest: Clement Hiel. After reporting on national state/church news, we hear freethinker Barbra Streisand sing the song “Smile," written by the freethinking Charlie Chaplin. Then we speak with NASA scientist Clement Hiel about his alma mater, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Free University of Brussels), which was founded as a direct challenge to the Catholic Church. The school's motto is "Science Conquers Darkness."
Interview:
A Georgia Republican's Top 3 Priorities (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #422)
— Kandiss Taylor, a wannabe governor of Georgia, has no respect for church/state separation. (3:19)
— An Arkansas official brazenly bragged about pushing Christianity at government meetings. (14:30)
— A "quieter approach" to atheism isn't necessarily a bad thing. (24:10)
— A Tennessee senator used Hitler as an example of someone overcoming homelessness. (38:40)
— A Tennessee cop baptized a woman against her will. A judge says the lawsuit can continue. (44:19) (UPDATE: The woman in question was found dead Wednesday night. The cause of death is unknown. We did not know about that when we were discussing this story on Thursday.)
— David Barton is spreading a new lie about churches and the Constitution. (53:41)
— There's a new member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and it's a non-story. (1:00:17)
Interview:
— An Arkansas official brazenly bragged about pushing Christianity at government meetings. (14:30)
— A "quieter approach" to atheism isn't necessarily a bad thing. (24:10)
— A Tennessee senator used Hitler as an example of someone overcoming homelessness. (38:40)
— A Tennessee cop baptized a woman against her will. A judge says the lawsuit can continue. (44:19) (UPDATE: The woman in question was found dead Wednesday night. The cause of death is unknown. We did not know about that when we were discussing this story on Thursday.)
— David Barton is spreading a new lie about churches and the Constitution. (53:41)
— There's a new member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and it's a non-story. (1:00:17)
Interview:
Wildly Ignorant Trump Judge Upends National Mask Policy (Opening Arguments podcast OA588)
As you’ve no doubt already heard, a totally unqualified, Trump appointed, 34 year old Florida Judge has completely destroyed the national travel mask mandate with the stroke of a pen. Andrew breaks down how dumb the opinion is, and Thomas laments that Democratic leaders are somehow still pretending we live in a society. After that, we’ve got a deep-dive into bankruptcy, inspired by both Alex Jones and the Health Care Sharing Ministry Sharity. Sharity declared bankruptcy leaving 10,000 members holding the bag for $50 million in unpaid bills. Who could have possibly predicted this except oh yeah see OA497: Christian Health Sharing Is a Scam.
Interview:
Talk Heathen 06.16 with Jmike and Kenneth Leonard
00:00:00 Intro
9:25 Dominic-CA | There Is An Underlying Higher Power!
54:08 Richard-NH | What Makes Us Who We Are, Nature Vs. Nurture
1:06:14 Kevin-NY | Jesus' Resurrection
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Kenneth Leonard. The gauntlet has been thrown folks, if you have a case that proves sin is a thing and should be a part of our morality, call the show and ask for Kenneth.
Let’s get to calls! Dominic from California would like to prove there is a higher power through a series of convoluted premises. Can science prove intrinsic purpose, JMike asks him. How is this different from debunkable pseudoscience? Dominic goes on to claim that he knows God exists 100%! JMike responds, can you give justification for this God you think is true.
Richard in New Hampshire is up next, he is wondering about the age old question of what makes someone who they are, nature vs. nurture? If only Shannon Q was here to chat about this, but Kenneth does his very best to talk about his perspective on it.
Returning caller Kevin in New York, (Yes THAT Kevin!) would like to talk about Jesus’ resurrection. Oooooh, the topic of the day! Definitely seems like the same old Kevin though, and definitely was hoping he’d be further along with deconstructing his faith, but alas, he returns with the same questions about faith and the Bible. He does believe that the resurrection of Jesus did in fact happen. But why Kevin? Waiting for the Apocrypha to be mentioned… and he does imply it (and Kenneth mentions it) at 1:32:58. BINGO!
Interview:
9:25 Dominic-CA | There Is An Underlying Higher Power!
54:08 Richard-NH | What Makes Us Who We Are, Nature Vs. Nurture
1:06:14 Kevin-NY | Jesus' Resurrection
Greetings Heathens! We hope to be a sanctuary for you in this chaotic world. In today’s episode of Talk Heathen, JMike is joined by Kenneth Leonard. The gauntlet has been thrown folks, if you have a case that proves sin is a thing and should be a part of our morality, call the show and ask for Kenneth.
Let’s get to calls! Dominic from California would like to prove there is a higher power through a series of convoluted premises. Can science prove intrinsic purpose, JMike asks him. How is this different from debunkable pseudoscience? Dominic goes on to claim that he knows God exists 100%! JMike responds, can you give justification for this God you think is true.
Richard in New Hampshire is up next, he is wondering about the age old question of what makes someone who they are, nature vs. nurture? If only Shannon Q was here to chat about this, but Kenneth does his very best to talk about his perspective on it.
Returning caller Kevin in New York, (Yes THAT Kevin!) would like to talk about Jesus’ resurrection. Oooooh, the topic of the day! Definitely seems like the same old Kevin though, and definitely was hoping he’d be further along with deconstructing his faith, but alas, he returns with the same questions about faith and the Bible. He does believe that the resurrection of Jesus did in fact happen. But why Kevin? Waiting for the Apocrypha to be mentioned… and he does imply it (and Kenneth mentions it) at 1:32:58. BINGO!
Interview:
Saturday, April 23, 2022
The News Roundup — Domestic and International (The 1A) 2022-04-22
Domestic
The federal government’s mandate concerning masks on transportation was dropped this week after a judge in Florida overturned it. Airlines announced the change abruptly on social media, in terminals, and in some cases mid-flight. The Justice Department has announced it will appeal the decision.Vermont Sen. and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is reportedly keeping his options open, mulling over a potential 2024 run for the White House.
Netflix announced a loss in subscribers for the first time since 2011. The company’s share price has dropped significantly.
Interview:
International
Bloomberg is reporting Kremlin insiders are quietly labeling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a colossal mistake given the toll the conflict and resulting sanctions are taking on the country. They also say that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no danger of losing power.
Germany has announced it will end imports of Russian oil by the end of the year. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said the country will aim to reduce imports by half by the summer.
Interview:
'Everywhere Babies,' a picture book celebrating infants, just got banned - The Washington Post
…"I think there's one illustration they don't like, where it's two men. But how do they see this, that any time a man puts his arm on another man's shoulder, it means they're gay? It doesn't seem obvious to me. I don't know who they are! It seems odd to me that this is banned, because it's a preschool book, a family book. You read it to kids when they're 2. But maybe they think we're trying to indoctrinate kids from the cradle on. I don't know. I mean, you can't figure out this mind-set…"
Five charts that show why our food is not ready for the climate crisis
Crops are already seeing losses from heat and drought. Can genetic diversity – a return to foods' origins – help combat the climate challenges ahead?
Opinion | Silence in the face of injustice is a sin, too - The Washington Post
…We can't help but notice the absence of moral sensibilities in many of today's Christian churches, as right-wing Christian nationalists, in the name of Christ, try to overturn elections, attack voting rights and convert this country into a living hell for all unlike themselves, especially people of color and members of the LGBTQ communities...
J.D. Vance’s Former Roommate Say He’s ‘the Most Dangerous Candidate’
…McLaurin painted Vance as ambitious and talented, but also a transactional and deeply numbed cynic who shows little to no shame about the things he will say, do, and forfeit in order to achieve power...
Jeff Bezos is worth $160bn – yet Congress might bail out his space company
…The time is now to have a serious debate in Congress and throughout our country as to how to develop a rational space policy that does not simply socialize all of the risks and privatize all of the profits. Whether it is expanding affordable high-speed internet and cellphone service in remote areas, tracking natural disasters and climate change, establishing colonies on the moon and Mars or mining asteroids, the scientific achievements we make should be shared by all of us, not just the wealthy few…
Fauci's comment about lockdowns, vaccination twisted out of context - PolitiFact
…Fauci did not indicate at any point that lockdowns should be used as a tool of coercion, as the post implies…
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