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Billings-puss: “By contrast, the FBI helped stage the events of January 6, 2021…”

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I should just ignore him.

I know I should. But in reaching back nearly 40 years now, to complain about something or another, he faults the FBI for not catching some radicals, in the ’60s — or the 1980s.

Then (astonishingly) he observes, in a collosal non-sequitur of a next sentence — on those long ago (and disputed) events:

“…by contrast, the FBI helped stage the events of January 6, 2021….”

Okay. That’s… just nutty.

The man is clearly a QAnon… moron. I know.

But in what way did the FBI “stage” Trump’s speech, and his “fight like hell!” exhortation… and… Trump’s failure to condemn the rioting for four hours… AND then say he “loves you all“?!?

The FBI… staged that?

Cool Lloyd — cool story, bruh.

[I’ll leave it alone now.]

Mirengoff Takes Exception, To A Narrative He Lauded — While At Powerline: The Left-Wing “Soros Conspiracy” BS Edition.

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All of these boys are… just so… precious.

Overnight, Paul complains that (somehow) the WaPo‘s entirely factual reporting, about a group of rich people — via a secret chat-group — organizing to press the City of New York to crack down on the Columbia protests… is a new rise of the Nazis.

Not the existence of this secret chat-group list and archives, per se, mind you — but the Washington Post‘s reporting of these clearly accurate facts.

Whatever else may be said — I want to know these things. That’s what the fourth estate is supposed to do.

I write though, just to chuckle, because Paul and his former brethren at Powerline used to write dozens of pieces — about some ill-defined (non-factual), but “Soros-led” far left conspiracy of some sort, that involved primarily wealthy (left wing, entertainment industry based) Jews. [See, as just one of dozens of examples… “Soros-backed VA prosecutor loses again” — as late as 2021, by Paul, while at Powerline.]

Back then, he loved that the hard right claimed it to be an “evil cabal“.

Why? Because the fictitious “cabal” espoused some climate ideas — and some equity ideas — and some “me too” ideas. So it was… evil, and organized in secret by powerful Jews. That was the Powerline boys’ mantra. [See, “Facebook Censorship Board Dominated By Soros-Funded…” — by Paul.]

Here, when an ACTUAL group of 50 or so NYC based wealthy people (most of whom also happen to be Jewish) start pressing the Mayor to crack down on Columbia and NYU… Paul sees a supposed-“Rise of the Fourth Reich“, in anyone reporting… on these FACTS.

Damn son.

Grow up.

[U: May 25] The University of Wisconsin, Partnering With NASA’s JPL — Nearing A New Zealand Launch Date, For Twin Shoebox-Sized PREFIRE Polar Cap Monitoring Satellites…

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These two cute lil’ satellites will soon be studying the most remote regions on Earth: the Arctic and Antarctic. [Updated: new launch date: May 25, 2024.] This partnership between US university science departments, and the New Zealand launch partner, along with, of course… NASA’s JPL, will measure the amount of heat the planet emits into space from these polar regions — information that’s key to understanding the balance of energy coming into and out of Earth and how that affects the planet’s climate.

Without any more ado — do go read the whole mission synopsis — here, from the Wisco Badger site, and/or the NASA Jet Propulsion Labs presser — and a bit:

…Just beyond the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum sits the infrared, a spectrum of longer-wavelength light that can be sensed as heat. Essentially all of Earth’s heat emissions happen at infrared wavelengths between 4 and 100 micrometers. At the planet’s cold polar regions, 60% of the heat emissions occur at far-infrared wavelengths (longer than 15 micrometers). Researchers have relatively little data on which parts of the Arctic and Antarctic are shedding this heat. PREFIRE will help address this lack of knowledge, giving scientists a better idea of how efficiently far-infrared heat is emitted by things like snow and sea ice, and how clouds influence the amount of far-infrared radiation that escapes to space….

The CubeSats will gather data over the poles using sensors that are sensitive to 10 times more infrared wavelengths than any similar instrument. Information gathered by the mission will advance our understanding of when and where the poles shed heat into space, as well as why the Arctic has warmed more than 2½ times faster than the rest of the planet since the 1970s….

NASA developed PREFIRE with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including team members from the universities of Michigan and Colorado. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages PREFIRE for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate and provided the spectrometers.

Blue Canyon Technologies built the CubeSats and the University of Wisconsin-Madison will process the data the instruments collect. The launch services provider, Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Long Beach, California, will launch both PREFIRE CubeSats from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand….

Onward on a perfect Spring Sunday… at mid 70s… and fluffy clouds overhead. Smile….

नमस्ते

Gee — Isn’t Hinderaker Lucky That White Shoe Firms Didn’t Do “Deep” Background Checks — In 1974?!

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I know this is not strictly “one-for-one”, as analogies go… but even so, it is deeply ironic that John wants people who protest the Gaza War of ‘24… blackballed, from large law firms.

That Sullivan & Cromwell (bending to billionaire hedge funded / Bill Ackman pressure) is going to try to avoid hiring any law student who made an appearance at any antiwar rally… is frankly, a sad reminder of dark days of the past.

An Un-American past. A McCarthy past.

That I might disagree with the more extreme protestors… is irrelevant. I disagreed with the more extreme anti-Vietnam War protesters, too — those who spit on our returning troops, for example.

And those who “took over” campus buildings, at Dartmouth, in 1969 — for days on end.

But that (various forms of protest) is… more than sporadically, part of college life. Of learning and growing, in the robust liberty of America.

And it was for John in 1969.

Now 55 years later, he would blackball kids who did just what he did.

He should thank his whyte privileged, mediocre stars… that no one ever did the same — to him. Damn.

What a feckless… putz.

Update, On Rosalind Franklin ESA Mars Mission, On This Fine Sunny Spring Afternoon…

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NASA will provide more support to this ESA mission — destined to drill into some ice, on Mars.

We’ve mentioned this ESA Rosalind Franklin rover before — and it is a fine example of what may be accomplished without humans being transported to the Red Planet. We are sure that there will be new learnings from the ice on Mars that is deep enough, and old enough, not to have been degraded by surface radiation blasts, over billions of years of time. Here’s the latest:

…With this memorandum of understanding, the NASA Launch Services Program will procure a U.S. commercial launch provider for the Rosalind Franklin rover. The agency will also provide heater units and elements of the propulsion system needed to land on Mars. A new instrument on the rover will be the first drill to a depth of up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) deep below the surface to collect ice samples that have been protected from surface radiation and extreme temperatures….

“The Rosalind Franklin rover’s unique drilling capabilities and onboard samples laboratory have outstanding scientific value for humanity’s search for evidence of past life on Mars,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “NASA supports the Rosalind Franklin mission to continue the strong partnership between the United States and Europe to explore the unknown in our solar system and beyond.”

Through an existing, separate partnership with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), NASA is contributing key components to the Rosalind Franklin rover’s primary science instrument, the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, that will search for the building blocks of life in the soil samples….

Here’s another reason we are all infinitely blessed — to be alive, in this time of nearly limitless discovery… about how life may arise, universe wide. Onward!

नमस्ते

Meanwhile, North Of The Border — Amazon Loses Its First Union Vote Outside Montreal — LAWU To Represent DXT4 Facility Workers…

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It is — as ever — a game of two ahead, one back. Last night we mentioned the UAW coming up just short in Alabama; and we are a little late with this, but the first ever Canadian Amazon facility has unionized, outside Montreal.

So it is that disrespecting workers’ dignity — and the struggle / inability to make a living wage… are the central workplace issues of the day. Mr. Bezos ought to take heed. Here’s the bit, from last week now:

…A group of some 200 workers are organizing as the Laval Amazon Workers Union under the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), which represents around 330,000 people across a variety of industries in Canada. A general assembly to decide on a constitution, bylaws and representatives will take place in the coming days. A consultation with union members will then take place to agree on a list of demands.

The union says Amazon is legally required to come to the negotiation table to hash out a contract. However, it expects Amazon to appeal the labor tribunal’s decision after allegedly attempting to stop the unionization efforts….

In truth, you cannot boil the ocean with a Zippo lighter, Mr. Bezos. It is time to negotiate, and do so fairly — for all Amazonians, some 1.5 million of them (including contractors) now. Onward.

नमस्ते

[U] Hinderaker Writes This Nonsense, To Avoid Mentioning That Giuliani Is… On The Lam.

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Tonight, Hinderaker would have us believe that the NYT simply reporting on very widely verified facts, ones that bear on the judgment of, if not the outright conflicts of interest displayed by Alito and Thomas… is an attempt to delegitimize the Supreme Court.

No, John — their own overt actions (and lawless refusals to accurately report financial influences) delegitimize them alone — not the other seven. And not the Chief.

I regularly disagree with Roberts, but in the main, he decides cases on the actual law. I am not sure that’s true of Thomas and to a lesser extent… Alito.

But of course, it is likely Hinderaker wrote tonight, to try to “turn the page”, on the fact that Trump’s former No. 1 NY lawyer and pal, Rudy… is a missing person now. He’s disbarred and broke — and owes millions in back taxes — and has filed bankruptcy. [Updated: the AZ AG says he’s now been served, as of Saturday morning — he must appear in court in Phoenix on the 21st. End update.]

He’s ALSO likely at least evading being served with an Arizona state felony indictment, for election fraud crimes.

And he may actually be… fleeing the country, with Arizona court dates up, next week.

These are your heroes, John?

Cool cool.

[U] Hilarious! Is Rudy Giuliani… A Fugitive From Justice, Tonight?!

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The Arizona Attorney General is apparently seeking the public’s help in locating Mr. Giuliani — to serve him with papers — ordering him to appear on his indictment on election fraud crimes in Arizona. [Updated: the AZ AG says he’s now been served, as of Saturday morning — he must appear in court in Phoenix on the 21st. End update.]

But he cannot be found in Palm Beach, Florida — at the moment.

So, a helpful local paper has put out a story, asking the public to keep an eye out for him. Of course, if he’s a no show in court next week, an arrest warrant will be issued for him.

…If you see Rudy Giuliani, the Arizona Attorney General’s office can be reached at 602-542-5025. There’s also a tip submission area on their website which is AZAG.gov….

Personally, it wouldn’t shock me to learn that he’s left the country — headed for a non-extradition geography.

But I suppose it is possible that he’s driving toward Arizona quietly, tonight, as well — aware that he must appear.

The only place I can be certain he is not… is Havana. He’d be a marked man, there. [But he would be in a non-extradition location then.]

So could he be headed toward… Vlad’s Moscow, Russia, or even Viktor’s Budapest, Hungary?

What a wild wild time this is — the former mayor of the Big Apple (and GOP royalty)… on the lam?

Onward.

Minor Friday Update: East Bay IV Will Remain Mothballed Until After 2024 Presidential Elections, In the USDC, ND CA…

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While the Biden Administration has reworked almost all the rules that were in issue under the prior administration’s lawless detention of minors in isolation from their families (and refusals to provide soap, toothbrushes and bedding, of all things), DHS has still never formally rescinded the rules which have been found by multiple courts to violate both international treaties, and US federal law.

So the East Bay plaintiffs want to just place the litigation called East Bay IV on hold, rather than dismiss it entirely — should the unthinkable happen. And the court has agreed — entering the below order, overnight:

…Defendants’ position is that, because the 2024 Final Rule has gone into effect and entirely replaced the 2020 Final Rule, this case is now moot, notwithstanding the ongoing litigation in Moody and Civitas. . . .

Among other things, Plaintiffs have not received the full relief available, such as a permanent injunction of the 2020 Final Rule, which DHS has not yet rescinded. See 89 Fed. Reg. 6194, 6248 (Jan. 31, 2024) (DHS citing existence of preliminary injunctions as grounds for not rescinding the rule as part of its 2024 rulemaking).

Nevertheless, the parties have conferred and agree that, to conserve the parties’ and the Court’s resources, this case should continue to be held in abeyance until November 15, 2024. This period of time will allow for further discussions between the parties on how to resolve this case and potentially for further developments in Moody and Civitas.

The parties jointly request that the Court continue to hold this case and all proceedings in abeyance, and that the parties be permitted to file a joint status report by November 15, 2024….

Now you know. Onward.

नमस्ते

[U: Now May 25.] Additional Delay: The ULA/Boeing/NASA Crewed Starliner Launch Will Now Be No Earlier Than Next Tuesday…

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As I’ve repeatedly opined, this should not be a rush job. Crew safety is Job One. Always.

In addition, as I repeatedly said — this mission ultimately builds to boots on the Moon — and then around 2035… on Mars. I see lots of higher value, deep space automated spacecraft / science missions ahead of this “feel good” — and largely PR-driven mission set of stepping stones. That’s just my take. Here’s the latest, from NASA’s blog on it:

…NASA, Boeing, and ULA (United Launch Alliance) teams continue working remaining open tasks in preparation for the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. The teams now are targeting a launch no earlier than 3:09 p.m. EDT Saturday, May 25, for the flight test carrying NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station.

On May 11, the ULA team successfully replaced a pressure regulation valve on the liquid oxygen tank on the Atlas V rocket’s Centaur upper stage. The team also performed re-pressurization and system purges, and tested the new valve, which performed normally.

Starliner teams are working to resolve a small helium leak detected in the spacecraft’s service module traced to a flange on a single reaction control system thruster. Helium is used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire and is not combustible or toxic….

Now you know. Onward, smiling… on a perfectly sunny Spring Friday — for a bike ride by the lake.

नमस्ते