Weird News Stories of the Day.....

[Octavia]

And do we know why DJT didn't put his hand on the bible(s!) the Lady of Doom, aka Carmen San Diego, was holding during his swearing-in --
as EVERY president in history has?

I think he had his

I liked George Takei’s quip the best:

Edit: looks like it embed might not be working how I want, but the quote is: “In fairness the resulting fire and explosion might have set off the sprinklers.”

George Takei (@georgetakei.bsky.social)

In fairness the resulting fire and explosion might have set off the sprinklers.

bsky.app

 

[macbill]

Trump rolls back bedrock civil rights measure in sweeping anti-DEI push​

President Trump issued a sweeping executive order revoking decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in federal government.

Why it matters: This takes the current pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion into the next stratosphere — abolishing decades of government standards on diversity and equal opportunity, and seeking to crack down on the same in the private sector.

Zoom out: Trump's order revokes one that President Johnson signed on September 24, 1965, more than two years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial.

 

[coolbreeze]

Trump rolls back bedrock civil rights measure in sweeping anti-DEI push​

President Trump issued a sweeping executive order revoking decades of diversity and affirmative action practices in federal government.

Why it matters: This takes the current pushback on diversity, equity and inclusion into the next stratosphere — abolishing decades of government standards on diversity and equal opportunity, and seeking to crack down on the same in the private sector.

Zoom out: Trump's order revokes one that President Johnson signed on September 24, 1965, more than two years after the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial.

And frankly it's what the civil service was designed to do: find the most qualified persons to work these positions on behalf of the people free of unnecessary interference by the politicos, ie, the White House. It replaces the dysfunctional 'spoils system' by which each president filled offices and jobs with often unqualified political loyalists. This is of course what conservatives are claiming has been done, but the simple truth is that the "dei" hires pass all the conditions for hiring where these political job-seekers may not. They are not chosen to meet the demanding standards of the federal hiring process, they are chosen in this case to undermine that system and weaken the government's ability to provide services.

 

[florduh]

Protestors projected a "controversial gesture" on to the Tesla factory in Berlin.

The entire German press bent over backwards to say the Nazi salute wasn't a Nazi salute. Now German police are charging the protestors with displaying Nazi imagery.

Police investigate Musk salute projected on Tesla factory – DW – 01/24/2025

The British campaign group "Led By Donkeys" has claimed responsibility for the stunt that authorities say may have breached German laws on the use of symbols linked to illegal organizations.

www.dw.com

 

[macbill]

DeSantis proposals would derail Florida citizen initiatives. What will lawmakers do?

Voters' ability to advance future changes opposed or disregarded by state lawmakers could soon be eliminated — if Gov. Ron DeSantis gets his way.

www.tallahassee.com

 

[florduh]

Jesus Christ what a stupid fucking world we live in

Dr. Phil Says He’s Embedded With ICE For Immigration Operation In Chicago

Dr. Phil McGraw said on Sunday that he’s embedding with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials as they conduct what federal officials are calling “targeted operations” to enforce immigration law in Chicago. In a post on X, McGraw said that “it’s a pretty high risk mission we’re going on...

deadline.com

 

[Flotsam]

And frankly it's what the civil service was designed to do: find the most qualified persons to work these positions on behalf of the people free of unnecessary interference by the politicos, ie, the White House. It replaces the dysfunctional 'spoils system' by which each president filled offices and jobs with often unqualified political loyalists. This is of course what conservatives are claiming has been done, but the simple truth is that the "dei" hires pass all the conditions for hiring where these political job-seekers may not. They are not chosen to meet the demanding standards of the federal hiring process, they are chosen in this case to undermine that system and weaken the government's ability to provide services.

I couldn't agree with you more and your description of these appointments is spot on. There is scant evidence that the majority of cabinet candidates had any of the necessary experience or temperament to run any of these agencies. Instead it was more about the individuals loyalty to Trump himself. In addition there is ample evidence that the people that really know how things are supposed to work are being pushed out if they are deemed to not be sufficiently loyal to Trump once again. This will not be good.

 

[florduh]

Texas teacher invites ICE to raid his school: ‘I have many students who don’t even speak English’

Two-thirds of Fort Worth public school students are Hispanic and more than one in three students is learning English as a second language.

nypost.com

 

[Flotsam]

Texas teacher invites ICE to raid his school: ‘I have many students who don’t even speak English’

Two-thirds of Fort Worth public school students are Hispanic and more than one in three students is learning English as a second language.

nypost.com

Why would you choose to be a teacher in Texas of all places and not expect students to not be proficient in English? I come from a family of teachers. This person is a complete Azzzhole.

Ironically it is Texas that has the most lax employment verification laws in the country. the reality is they WANT cheap labor they can exploit but then complain about it.

 

[florduh]

Ironically it is Texas that has the most lax employment verification laws in the country. the reality is they WANT cheap labor they can exploit but then complain about it.

Yeah, that's why this whole immigration thing has always been a farce. You could practically eliminate illegal immigration with E-Verify. But employers (and campaign donors) like having a class of workers they can underpay, abuse, and threaten with deportation.