From the Washington Post: The Supreme Court unanimously decided that the Constitution’s prohibition on excessive fines applies to states as well as the federal government.
The Eighth Amendment states: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Two of those commands — regarding bail and cruel and unusual punishments — have been deemed to apply to state and local governments. But until now, the ban on excessive fines had not.
Having your car seized and sold just because you ran a stop sign is egregious and immoral. Now it’s illegal too.
The Atlantic did a great pictorial of the 116th Congressional swearing-in. The difference between the Democratic side and the Republican side is stark and staggering.
Dear Mr. President:
Former CIA director John Brennan, whose security clearance you revoked on Wednesday, is one of the finest public servants I have ever known. Few Americans have done more to protect this country than John. He is a man of unparalleled integrity, whose honesty and character have never been in question, except by those who don’t know him.
Therefore, I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well, so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency.
– William McRaven, former commander of the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command, in today’s Washington Post. Damn. (thx to Jen for sending this to me)
Mother Jones has a great article debunking 10 of the most commonly parroted pro-gun myths.
Fact-check: Mass shootings stopped by armed civilians in the past 33 years: 0
Fact-check: Weak laws and loopholes backed by the gun lobby have made it easier for people to get guns illegally. And existing gun laws aren’t preventing guns from getting into the wrong hands: More than 75 percent of the weapons used in mass shootings between 1982 and 2012 were obtained legally.
Currently burning up my iPhone: Slate’s Slow Burn podcast, a series investigating the Watergate break in and its aftermath, focusing mainly on the details people have forgotten or never knew about. I’m three episodes in and it’s riveting, maddening, angry-making stuff. And so, so relevant in today’s jaded, diluted media cycle. To wit: The break-in happened in June of 1972. Nixon was re-elected in a landslide victory in November, after months of nightly news reporting, congressional hearings, and FBI investigations. The American public didn’t care until the beginning of the following year, when the burglars were sentenced to long stays in prison and one of them ratted out the White House in a letter to the judge.
Our bathroom project is currently stalled. I bought a huge roll of underlayment for the floor heat system three weeks ago, but it isn’t enough to cover the whole thing, so I’ve got to go back and get more. I was across the bay last Saturday and they’re closed on Sundays. The tile is sitting in a warehouse waiting for me, but I can’t lift anything over 10 lbs and they’re understaffed on weekends, so I can’t ask the showroom women to help me. GAAAAAHHH.
The blood thinners I’ve been on for weeks appear to be working. my brachial artery is still numb above my wrist up to my elbow but there’s little to no pain on a daily basis. I’ve got a numb spot on my right wrist, but the rest of that side is fine. When I go in for the next CAT scan, however, I’m going to ask them to take a look at my right knee, which is still numb since before chemo started.
File this under idiocy: A local group put up a bunch of decorated wooden snowmen out in front of the local K of C down the street from our house. Some asshat complained about one of the snowmen, which had the words “No Hate in 21228” written on it. This suddenly became a “political” message, and they decided to take all of the snowmen down. What the fuck? It’s a SNOWMAN, you idiots. I don’t know who I’m more disappointed in, the asshats that complained or the committee that bent to pressure and took them down.
Update: The church across the street asked if they could put it out on their lawn directly in front of our house. AWESOME.
Gary Younge, a writer and reporter based in the UK, interviews Richard Spencer about racism and slavery, and totally skewers him and all of his asinine beliefs. This is a teaching moment about how to deal with trolls, racists, and bigots. This is better than the video of him getting punched.
Lathering up shampoo in the shower this evening, I brought my hands down to find them covered in hair.
On the plus side of things, it looks like the Democrats won both New Jersey and Virginia. Get out the gerry and start mandering, guys.