Important Stuff - ICYMI

[Atypical]

Myth and perception viewed as factual are what guides most people's understanding of the world. Quick and superficial analyses rarely dissuade acceptance of a conclusion: instead simplistic reasoning attracts followers because it provides immediate satisfaction without the time and effort of careful research.

This essay uses the current ugly Kavanaugh mess to illustrate how we are conditioned to accept what should be rejected for lack of evidence.

https://jacobinmag.com/2019/09/brett...es-meritocracy

[Rewind]

Let's see what's new with that guy who calls himself "smart" and a "shrewd businessman" and co-wrote The Art Of The Deal:

Trump's Scotland golf course lost millions last year
CBS News, Oct 5 2018 9:39 AM

President Donald Trump's flagship golf resort in Scotland has lost millions of dollars for a fourth consecutive year. His Turnberry resort on the Irish Sea lost 3.4 million pounds ($4.4 million dollars at current exchange rates) in 2017, despite opening a new course and refurbished hotel, according to a report from Britain's Companies House. The losses add to the woes of a Scottish golf business that has faced a backlash from anti-Trump protesters and has tussled for years with regulators and environmentalists.

The losses at Turnberry come after setbacks at other Trump golf clubs, including declining figures at his courses in New York City and Los Angeles. Since his business is private, it's not clear how his other resorts, and his golf business overall, are doing,

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-...ons-last-year/

[Rewind]

Today by a vote of 50 to 48, the Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court. His drunkenness and abuse of women during his college years, his lying under oath about those indiscretions to a Senate committee, his angry outbursts and his attacks on Democrats and Hillary Clinton did not matter to the Republicans. After all, these are the same Republicans who support a President who lies, cheats, swindles, attacks Democrats, vilifies immigrants, offends world leaders, pays hush money to silence women with whom he had affairs, gives huge tax cuts to the wealthy and condemns the free press as "fake news" and "the enemy of the people."

Deborah Ramirez, one of three women who have accused Kavanaugh of sexual improprieties, today released this statement:

"Thirty-five years ago, the other students in the room chose to laugh and look the other way as sexual violence was perpetrated on me by Brett Kavanaugh. As I watch many of the Senators speak and vote on the floor of the Senate I feel like I'm right back at Yale where half the room is laughing and looking the other way. Only this time, instead of drunk college kids, it is U.S. Senators who are deliberately ignoring his behavior.

This is how victims are isolated and silenced. But I do have corroborating witnesses speaking for me, although they were not allowed to speak to the FBI, and I feel extremely grateful for them and for the overwhelming amount of support that I have received and continue to receive during this extremely difficult and painful time. There may be people with power who are looking the other way but there are millions more who are standing together, speaking up about personal experiences of sexual violence and taking action to support survivors. This is truly a collective moment of survivors and allies standing together."

[Atypical]

We’re just beginning to understand the toll climate change takes on mental health

By Greta Moran on Oct 15, 2018

https://grist.org/article/were-just-...mental-health/

_______________________________

The effects of climate change are more numerous, varied and significant than we think.

[Atypical]

I have always been interested in Japanese culture. Like all countries theirs is a mix of the good, the bad and the ugly. This is an interesting look at the racism in Japan from an American who relates his experience with one aspect. In its own way it expresses some hope. How nice it would be if dislike and hatred of the "other" didn't exist anywhere, but that is unlikely as it is one of the hardwired tendencies in most humans.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/communi.../#.W8gvdzXPw6i

Note:

An earlier post on this same day is above.

[Rewind]

Today is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. Combat deaths of Americans in World War I totaled 53,402. There were also 63,114 non-combat deaths, the majority from disease. The United States of America has since been involved in several more wars but our nation remains free in 2018. Thank you, veterans and members of the military!

Trump, speaking at Armistice Day event outside Paris, honors fallen soldiers
FOX News, Nov 11 2018

Today, at a rain-soaked and chilly observance of Armistice Day at the Suresnes American Cemetery outside Paris, President Trump praised the "American and French patriots" of World War I. Joined by senior military officials, members of Congress and dozens of other world leaders, Trump began by introducing several veterans and noting that it was Veterans Day in America.

"Exactly 100 years ago today, on November 11, 1918, World War I came to an end," Trump said. "Thank God." He urged Americans to remember the tens of thousands of Americans killed and wounded in the "grizzly horrors" of the war, including the "legendary Marines" known as the "Devil Dogs" buried in the graves surrounding him. "Devil Dogs. John Kelly knows that name very well, right, John?" Trump said, looking toward his chief of staff, who served as a general in the Marine Corps.

Trump also presented a flag to American Battle Monuments Commission head Major General William M. Matz, Jr., "as a symbol of our nation's gratitude" to the agency for "memorializing our fallen heroes."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...zLrX?ocid=AMZN

[Atypical]

This is a much more comprehensive report of Trump's visit than the laundered and incomplete report above which sanitizes his visit and comments.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...mistice-parade

As to our being free; our military has done things that have made others unfree. Review our role in Central and South America for starters.

Edit:

And this.

https://truthout.org/articles/one-hu...armistice-day/

[Rewind]

Our University system has embarked on a new downward spiral into insanity. "Latino" and "Latina" are "gender-specific" words and are no longer politically correct. Therefore.......

UC San Diego starts referring to Latinos as 'Latinx' and Chicanos as 'Chicanx'

https://pittnews.com/article/138448/...w-descriptors/

[Atypical]

The human brain has many tendencies that are being discovered through rigorous research. Many make it difficult to think clearly. These susceptibilities can have effects far beyond ourselves because they impact how we decide many important decisions we make.

The current political situation is dire - and that may be an understatement. Here are some of the ways the workings of our brains can create big problems for all of us.

https://www.alternet.org/2018/12/thi...rd-supporters/

[Atypical]

Most Americans have a high regard for our country's status. They think we are the best, or near it, in most everything. That isn't true as any objective review of numerous studies show - it is essentially myth.

But, there may be one area that we really do excel in; in ways that rival any despotic regime in the world.

Yes, there is malfeasance among all but that does not mean it is necessarily equally distributed. This is an example of how completely corrupt members of our current ruling party are.

https://www.alternet.org/2019/01/how...and-influence/