text:
May You Live In Interesting Times is still in its infancy, so pardon the semi-frequent changes in appearance and format. If this was the 90's, there would be some animated "Under Construction" gif hanging out in this space. But it is not the 90's. It's something much, much worse.
Follow May You Live in Interesting Times on WordPress.com
Not All News Is Bad News: Trump v. Planet Earth
Historians may one day look back upon these days of the Trump administration as an unintended stress test for the already eroded institutions of American democracy. Meanwhile, the fact that American domestic politics have grown so insular and deranged to produce an administration this incompetent and self-destructive can only serve as an endless source of schadenfreude for those who have grown weary and suspicious of Pax Americana.
Had this warming planet not already been sitting on the edge of crisis, it may have been a lot more entertaining to watch the American Empire tripping over its own two feet. Unfortunately, we are all effected by what the world's biggest per-capita carbon emitter decides to do about its own environmental laws. Their problem is, therefore, all of our own.
So, it is encouraging to see some signs of resilience in the US, that offer a hopeful possibility for our own future: though Trump may be a wrecking ball, there's no one smart enough at the switch to inflict more damage than what walls may be torn down in as many wild swings that could be made in a four-year term.
Here's a roundup of recent sources of cautious optimism.
From Wired, the suggestion that at least a few Western states are too committed to their own green policies for the President's recent pro-pollution executive order to change things:
Other Western states already have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the electric power sector by shifting from coal to renewable energy and natural gas. The three West Coast states vow to keep pushing forward, despite Trump's revanche.
"Through expanded climate policies, we have grown jobs and expanded our economies while cleaning our air," the governors of California, Washington and Oregon and mayors of their largest cities said in a statement. "Too much is at stake—from our health and safety to our jobs and livelihoods—for us to move backwards."
And from Vox, a little background and insight on what the executive order's effect on the coal industry, and by extension the atmosphere, really is:
DOI placed a moratorium on new coal leases last year because it was launching the first comprehensive review of the federal coal leasing program in three decades.
…The coal leasing program is a big deal because roughly 40 percent of coal produced in the US comes from federal land.
…By selling its coal at bargain-basement prices, the US public is effectively subsidizing coal companies — to the tune of, according to one study, $28.9 billion over the past 30 years.
…DOI was confident that the pause on new leases would have no impact on production, prices, or power reliability. "Based on current production levels," the agency wrote last year, "coal companies now have approximately 20 years of recoverable coal reserves under lease on federal lands."
And 20 years of reserves hadn't proven sufficient, the moratorium also contained provisions allowing for "emergency" exceptions for any mine that ran short.
Production won't increase after the moratorium because the moratorium wasn't reallyholding any back.
And while a notorious climate-denying advocate of the fossil fuel industry has been placed in the absurd position of running the Environmental Protection Agency, The Atlantic provides us with some reassurance on why things may not go his way so easily:
Pruitt is a savvy attorney who knows the EPA's guiding statutes well. His statements and behavior suggest that he doesn't want to temporarily injure the agency by defunding it. Instead, he wants to permanently hobble it by inscribing weak rules that will outlast his term as administrator and the Trump presidency.
But that will take a lot of employees and a lot of time.
…Every one of these revisions or revocations will set an onerous bureaucratic process in motion that will last for years. Every time an EPA policy changes, agency employees have to draft the text of a new rule, then hire outside consultants to calculate its economic effects and public-health consequences. Other employees process the tens of thousands of public and industry comments that greet the proposal or withdrawal of any rule. Each of these comments must be read, categorized, and replied to.
…That record-building requires staff. It takes people to write policy, it takes people to commission studies, and it takes people to meet with industry. It takes people to coordinate all the other people.
…Trump may be fine with superficially damaging the administrative state until fiscal year 2022. But if Pruitt wants to permanently hinder it, he needs money.
And if that's not enough, there's even been rumbles of resistance to climate-denial from within the ranks of the Republican Party.
From Vice:
In the resolution, referred to as the "Republican Climate Resolution," the congressmen argued protecting the health of our planet is a "conservative principle" and pledged to "study and address the causes and effects of measured changes to our global and regional climates." It was introduced by Elise Stefanik of New York, Carlos Curbelo of Florida, and Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania, and signed by 14 of their colleagues, according to a press release.
"This is an issue where there really is consensus within the scientific community," South Carolina representative Mark Sanford, one of the document's signees, told the Atlantic. "There's a larger debate on what to do about it, and that's a much more complex debate. But it's like with Alcoholics Anonymous, if you don't even recognize the fact that you have a problem, you're never going to address the problem."
Those 17 Republicans can't get a bill through the House alone, so the resolution pretty much amounts to a symbolic gesture—but it's still a step toward trying to tackle climate change as a bipartisan issue…
It's not much, but with optimism in such short supply in these Interesting Times, one occasionally has to adopt the Warm Beer and Cold Pizza Philosophy, That is: Sometimes You Have To Take What You Can Get.
Posted in Not All News is Bad News. Tagged Donald Trump, Environment, Trump, US Politics.
Previous: Previous post: Not All News is Bad News: Dutch Edition
Create a website or blog at WordPress.com May You Live in Interesting Times


ALL-SUITE HANSAR BANGKOK, located in the commercial heart of the city on Rajdamri Road near elegant shopping areas, is offering a special package to mark the three-day Songkran Festival, being celebrated this year from April 13-15. The national holiday is on April 12.
The Songkran Package, priced at US 480.22 for two nights based on double occupancy, is available between April 11 – 15, 2013.
Hansar's package includes: Two nights accommodation in Hansar's Studio Suite; daily complimentary breakfast; complimentary welcome drink on arrival; complimentary free flow Singha beer in the mini-bar; complimentary Songkran Survival kit which includes two water pistols, two Zip-lock bags to keep valuables dry and environmentally friendly sunblock; a complimentary 60-minute Oil Massage and a 30% discount on additional spa treatments; and two special Khao Chae desserts (a delicacy served only during the Songkran Festival).
Hansar Bangkok offers the best of both worlds – a boutique experience and extremely spacious accommodations. Hansar Bangkok has 94 suites, offering an integrated workspace, comfort dining and kitchen area flowing into an intimate relaxation and living area.


We stock a broad range of cycles, from classic town bikes to rugged mountain bikes. We try to cater for all ages, from first bikes to electrically assisted bikes for the less able. From each manufacturer we stock a carefully selected range, with the ability and knowledge to source a bike for your needs.
We hold a range of traditional cycles in stock, from hand-built Pashleys to classic Raleighs.


text:
Group D of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup was the group stage of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup for the , ,  and . Each team played each other once, for a total of three games per team, with all games played at Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center, Foshan. After all of the games were played, the top two teams with the best records qualified for the Second round and the bottom two teams played in the Classification Round.

Teams

Standings

Games
All times are local (UTC+8).

Angola vs. Serbia
This was the second game between Angola and Serbia in the World Cup. The Serbians won the first meeting in 2010. The Serbians won in the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the last competitive game between the two teams.

Philippines vs. Italy
This was the second game between the Philippines and Italy in the World Cup. The Italians won the first meeting in 1978, which was also the last competitive game between the two teams.

Italy vs. Angola
This was the second game between Angola and Italy in the World Cup. The Italians won the first meeting in 1990, which was also the last competitive game between the two teams.

Serbia vs. Philippines
This was the first competitive game between Serbia and the Philippines.

Angola vs. Philippines
This was the first competitive game between Angola and the Philippines.

Italy vs. Serbia
This was the first game between Italy and Serbia in the World Cup. Serbia won in its last competitive game against Italy, in EuroBasket 2017.

See also
 2019 Italy FIBA Basketball World Cup team
 2019 Philippines FIBA Basketball World Cup team
 2019 Serbia FIBA Basketball World Cup team

References

External links

2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Serbia at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Philippines at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup
Italy at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
USAT: After a summer of racial reckoning, is America ready to learn the truth about Thanksgiving?
By China,
November 24, 2020 in The Tailgate
tshile
5 hours ago, Springfield said:
Thanksgiving, like Christmas, Halloween and any national holiday is not about history to me. It's about what it is now and the traditions that I've established. So Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have in your life, and food, and football.
This is where I am.
I mean I understand the history.
and by all means if for some reason you insist on making sure I understand the history, then fine. I can humor that even if it's the same person every time pulling the same shtick with the same people, every time pretending they're just on a mission of enlightening everyone (which are the same people every year and so everyone's already aware.) that's fine I can humor it.
but if we're gonna start demanding people give up thanksgiving (or any holiday) traditions on those grounds then kindly go kick rocks somewhere else.
This thanksgiving is already ruined for me. So I don't really have a lot of room for entertaining someone trying to ruin it further at the moment.
Xameil
Just now, thelongestbreath said:
I've learned it's just easier to leave with my wife and child quickly when the message becomes too godly. It's just easier and helps keep the peace. People are entitled to their opinion, and my family at least follows the views vs just cherry picking what they want to so there's that **shrugs shoulders**.
See...my sister is a born again...when she started going off on other religions I just pointed out that all religions are worshiping the same God...even in a polytheistic religion I could prove it...
She hated that...lol
1 hour ago, Cooked Crack said:
I hope not. Hate seeing the draft position go up and up. At this rate we might **** around and make the playoffs.
As if drafting position matters for us
we **** up across the board bro let us draft wherever it'll be a disaster
TD_washingtonredskins
Anything done by humans throughout history is going to have elements which are out of touch with the times, imperfect, politically incorrect, racist, sexist, or something. It's inevitable. So, we can either choose to accept things in the context of the era they existed or we can try to re-start and redefine everything every 3 years.
Five years ago, most of this board thought the idea of the Redskins name being racist was outlandish and just "hate" against the organization. Now, the name change is accepted by many of those same people as reasonable and appropriate. Times change. Attitudes evolve.
If we discover that Vince Lombardi once said something racist or called one of his players a Negro, are we going to rename the NFL's Super Bowl trophy?
Cooked Crack
4 minutes ago, tshile said:
True but I'd rather the Football Team waste a pick than trade up to waste more picks.
TheGreatBuzz
This will probably be my best Thanksgiving yet. The reason I gave for not visiting family is actually true this year.
13 minutes ago, tshile said:
Nah...we just don't know how to draft QBs....
Also I've never celebrated thanksgiving as being about the creation of America. Never.
it's always been what Springfield said. Family, food, and football (both watching and playing in the annual neighborhood game which seems to occur every year regardless of where I move to. In fact I just busted out last years jersies for this year the other day)
if I'm going to celebrate the creation of this place I do it on July 4th. And that's by far my favorite holiday. It's not even close. You get to blow **** up, drink all day, grill out all day, and I'm always on the water (mostly at a lake)
and it has none of the baggage of gift giving, family relationship issues, nor spending five hours cooking and stressing out about food.
Also Fourth of July is the only holiday where all the chicks are in bathing suites so it's got that going for it too
Corcaigh
The Field Goal Team
1 minute ago, TheGreatBuzz said:
People ask me if I miss having my family (who all still live in various parts of Europe) around at Thanksgiving.
I'm not shy to tell anyone who asks that we literally moved across an ocean to avoid social contact with some of them.
6 minutes ago, Xameil said:
Or wide receivers.
or tight ends
or defensive backs
we do well on punters. Although it's hard to tell if that's because we draft excellent punters, or if the punters we draft just get a lot of experience to hone their craft once here.
4 minutes ago, Corcaigh said:
I'm trying to figure out what my excuse will be once I retire from the military here soon. I don't think "uhh....I have duty that day" will still fly.
Just now, tshile said:
See..I would normally agree...but..we drafted some very good WRs, DBs, and TEs in the past
Side Piece
36 minutes ago, Corcaigh said:
Keeping with the menu at the first Thanksgiving Dinner, Chief Massasoit always made the sweet potato casserole with jumbo campfire marshmallows.
HISTORICAL FACT!
Whereas the Pilgrims used **** willow buds in their s'mores,
This thread is why I love the tailgate. But we need more GIFs.
Omphaloskeptic
4 hours ago, Xameil said:
Oh and edit: you're not being a hypocrite because you know there's another side of the story. Anyone who's seen Addams Family Values knows...Wednesday Addams did a great soliloquy on it...lol
2 minutes ago, China said:
Lol eat me
In the 1620s, Plymouth Plantation had its own #MeToo moment
In the many celebrations, reflections and histories of Plymouth colony, the settlement's gender dynamics often get short shrift.
But not unlike today, men possessed power and privilege, women feared voicing their views and experiences, and the authorities debated how to respond to accusations of impropriety.
Original writings about the first New England settlement that I researched while writing my new book, "The World of Plymouth Plantation," reveal that Plymouth dealt with sexual assault allegations in the early days of the colony.
In this one incident, a man named John Lyford was found guilty of rape in Ireland and driven out of his community. This left him free to take his predatory ways to another place: Plymouth Plantation.
Click on the link for the full story
Edited November 24, 2020 by China
CousinsCowgirl84
Columbus Day shouldn't be celebrated because Europeans treated Indians horribly. We should feel guilty about thanksgiving for the same reason. And the 4th of of July for the same reason.
live in guilt if you'd like, I'll take the turkey
2 hours ago, CousinsCowgirl84 said:
Columbus Day isn't really celebrated as it is, and the guy was absolute scum. The deeper you dive the more horrors you find. We should cancel that and make Election Day a federal holiday. Otherwise I agree that guilt can be sort of silly. Unless someone comes up with a time machine, no one alive today should feel guilt for actions that preceded their birth, often by hundreds of years.
Feeling strongly about stuff, and telling everyone about it, can sometimes be just like everyones favorite "thoughts and prayers." If feelings don't turn to actions, what good are they?
That said an accurate version of history is important. If we're to grow as a people we can't hide from the bad stuff. The villains of history need to be recognized as such, even if people prefer they'd be heroes. We should also teach some Native American history, including the bad stuff.
Stuffing or dressing?
d0ublestr0ker0ll
1 minute ago, Mr. Sinister said:
I swear until last year I never heard it called dressing.
Person was like "my favorite on TG is dressing!"
I said "what like 1,000 Island???"
6 minutes ago, d0ublestr0ker0ll said:
Wait what? Some people call stuffing "dressing"?
skinsmarydu
14 minutes ago, Mr. Sinister said:
I thought you were tryin' to start a fight...glad we all agree it's stuffing, dammit.
When you make it into a "cake" and bake the eff out of it, it's dressing. And it's terrible.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Paul George believes he has identified the reason for his shooting slump
Clippers forward Paul George says he's spotted a trend when closely analyzing game film during his shooting slump.
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
By Andrew GreifStaff Writer
After sitting down for his postgame interview Saturday night at Staples Center, Paul George mentioned he'd just gone through "a lot of clips" of his recent play. It could not have been an easy watch.
Against San Antonio on Dec. 21, he made four of his 11 shots, including none of his four three-pointers. The next day he made six of his 17 shots in Oklahoma City. On Christmas, he made five of his 18 shots, including one of his six three-pointers. And the day of his viewing session, he went six for 20 against Utah.
The analysis was helpful, if hard. Because when it was over, George said he'd spotted a trend.
"A lot of the plays I had last year before the injury started, was through contact and finishing through defenders," said George, an MVP candidate a year ago in Oklahoma City before suffering injuries to both shoulders that required offseason surgery. "This year I've been shying away from the contact. So it's just getting it through my head that I'm fine with the physicality."
By that measure, he took his performance during Tuesday's 105-87 win in Sacramento as progress even as he missed his first six shots, rebounded by scoring nine points in a flurry during his first six minutes of the second quarter, and finished with 21 points on six-of-25 shooting, including three of 14 on three-pointers.
David Stern, NBA commissioner who oversaw global growth, dies at 77
David Stern, the longtime NBA commissioner who shepherded the NBA from the edges of disaster to unimaginable success, has died at 77.
NBA legends and luminaries react to the death of David Stern
"I had the mind-set of just go and attack and be aggressive, be physical," George said. "I got to the spots I wanted to, I got to the shots I wanted to, but it's just that stretch for me right now where the ball's not going down.
"But tonight I felt good, I felt comfortable. I was getting to good spots within the game and that's all I can be happy about."
Losing offensive efficiency from a scorer of George's caliber might suggest that a loss would follow for his team, too, and yet the Clippers are 8-3 when he shoots 40% or worse, a sign of the depth around him. Tuesday's win was another example.
Kawhi Leonard made eight of his 21 shots, including one of his seven three-pointers, and reserve center Montrezl Harrell, one of the NBA's most efficient scorers, made two of his nine shots. Though Leonard, George and Harrell combined to shoot 29%, the rest of the roster shot 60%, making 20 of their 33 combined shots.
"I thought they stepped up when we needed them the most," George said.
Said Leonard: "That's what championship teams are about. Going through playoff runs, best player isn't going to play great some nights. It might be somebody off the bench or somebody starting that has a big game and propels us to win the game.
"We just have to keep learning from these experiences and keep getting better and know that in the back of our minds we all can win a basketball game."
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, is congratulated by teammate Paul George during a game against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 22.
(Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
George and Leonard were critical to the victory in other ways. Their defense helped limit the Kings to 17 or fewer points in both the second and fourth quarters. George guarded Sacramento's Buddy Hield, Trevor Ariza, Nemanja Bjelica and De'Aaron Fox most often, and allowed them to make one of their combined eight shots over 39 combined possessions, according to the NBA player tracking data.
The Leonard-George duo also combined for 16 of their team's 21 assists, with George's nine a season-high.
"They were putting an extra body in front of us and when that happens we've got to pass the ball, trust teammates and create a chain reaction from there," Leonard said.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers has long maintained that he does not worry when players with long track records of making shots are in a slump. With George, specifically, Rivers called plays to "get him going" early in the game but was pleased when the forward did not force his shots within the offense.
"We just run our stuff and when [George] is open, he's open," coach Doc Rivers said. When he's not, he moves the ball. Paul, he's a big focal point for the other team's defense. You can see that. Shooting scares teams. There's no doubt about that. Where PG has been able to get is when he doesn't have it, he moves it and gets somebody else a shot. And we'll take that."
Up next for the Clippers: Thursday vs. Detroit Pistons
When: 7:30 p.m. PT
On the air: TV: Prime Ticket, NBATV; Radio: 570
Update: The Clippers begin a four-game homestand by facing the Pistons and Blake Griffin, the former All-Star forward with the Clippers. Griffin missed the Pistons' 23-point loss to Utah on Monday with left knee soreness. For the season he is averaging 15.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 35%, with every mark a career low. Detroit (12-22) has lost seven of its last eight games. … Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard said it was a "great honor" to be named the AP's male athlete of the year for 2019. "Growing up you don't know too much about it but as I got older, college, high school, being a rookie in the NBA, you see how significant the honor is," he said Tuesday. "It just shows me that hard work paid off."
Andrew Greif
Andrew Greif is the Clippers beat writer for the Los Angeles Times. He joined The Times after covering college football and sports enterprise at the Oregonian. A University of Oregon graduate, he grew up on the Oregon coast.
Third quarter a charm: 5 takeaways from the Clippers' win Sunday
Five takeaways from the Clippers' victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night at Staples Center.
Kawhi Leonard reminds former coach what he's all about in Clippers win
Indiana Pacers coach Nate Bjorkgren, who worked with Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, got another reminder of Leonard's abilities in the Clippers' 129-96 win.
Clippers' Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris rise to Tyronn Lue's challenge
Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris are making the most out of their opportunities off the bench, as witnessed in the Clippers' win over the Kings on Friday.


text:
Post-Brexit transition could be extended
8:15pm Oct 18, 2018
British PM Theresa May met with European Union officials in Belgium to discuss post-Brexit movements between the two parties.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is considering a European Union proposal that would keep Britain bound to the bloc's rules for more than two years after Brexit.
At present, the two sides say Britain will remain subject to the bloc's rules from Brexit day on March 29 until December 2020, to give time for new trade relations to be set up.
With divorce talks stuck, the bloc has suggested extending that period, to give more time to strike a trade deal that ensures a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
British PM Theresa May has said post-Brexit separation may take months to finalise. (AAP)
However, Ms May said the UK is considering extending the transition period by "a matter of months."
The idea has angered pro-Brexit UK politicians, who see it as an attempt to bind Britain to the bloc indefinitely.
With AP.
Auto News: Kia's Australian Open Fleet hits the road - caradvice.com.au


After winning the bronze medal at the 2017 Montpellier Open, France's Quincy Aye (right) and Youssef Krou hope to reach the top spot on the 2018 podium.
Lausanne, Switzerland, August 27, 2018 - The dreams of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games start this week in France as Montpellier hosts the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour for the second-straight season with the 2019 event featuring both men's and women's competition.
To be eligible to represent a country at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, all athletes must participate as an individual in a minimum of 12 events, including the FIVB Beach Volleyball Olympic Qualification Tournaments, the 2019 World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, World Tour 1-5 star events and recognized Continental Tour Finals scheduled from September 1, 2018 through June 14, 2020.
The €10,000 Montpellier Open is the second event on the 2018-2019 FIVB World Tour calendar with play starting on Tuesday with qualification followed by pool play Wednesday that leads to the weekend's elimination matches where the men's and women's semifinal and medal matches will be played on Saturday.
The 2018-2019 FIVB World Tour schedule was launched last week in Hungary with teams from Slovenia and France topping the women's and men's podiums in Siofok. It was Hungary's first-ever World Tour event and was part of the CEV-FIVB collaboration that started last June.
In the women's Siofok Open competition, Slovenia's Tjasa Jancar/Tjasa Kotnik each won her first FIVB World Tour title by defeating Sara Cavretti/Sofia Wahlen of Sweden. It was Slovenia's first-ever women's World Tour gold medal while Cavretti/Wahlen became the first-ever Swedish women's or men's team to play in a FIVB gold medal match.
The Siofok Open men's and women's podium placers.
For the men, France's Romain Di Giantommaso/Jeremy Silvestre each captured their first FIVB World Tour gold medal by defeating Matas Navickas/Patrikas Stankevicius of Lithuania. It was France's fourth FIVB gold medal while Navickas and Stankevicius became the first-ever Lithuanian men's team to place on a World Tour podium.
Following the Montpellier Open, the FIVB World Tour takes a two-week break before resuming international beach volleyball competition in China for the women's-only Zhongwei Open from September 13-16 before finishing the month with a double-gender tournament in Qinzhou from September 30-October 4.


The Mauricio Aquino Foundation (MAF) is designated by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c) 3 as a tax-exempt entity and incorporated in the State of California.
MAF's mission is the resolution of forced disappearances, the eradication of institutional impunity and the building of democratic institutions based on truth and reconciliation in El Salvador. Our Parents' Bones Campaign is the sole project of the foundation.
The Foundation's name is to honor Mauricio Aquino Chacón, the father of our Board Chair and co-founder Alexandra Aquino-Fike. Mauricio was a victim of forced disappearance by the Salvadoran military during the civil war. By honoring his life and martyrdom, the foundation wants to pay tribute to all men and women victims of forced disappearances in El Salvador and the rest of the world.
For more information or volunteer opportunities please contact us. We also invite you to donate to this extraordinary work for human rights and justice.
You can donate to the Mauricio Aquino Foundation here.
Lariza Dugan-Cuadra Charles Currie, S.J.