Zorral

Heading out for the day, to Acadiana, where it is in the 30's. This is in the US Deep South, which is why the temp is considered remarkable for February. Evidently NYC is having one of the coldest weekends on record.

Well, just for starters with what's going on in education at all levels, and not only the college/university in Florida, literally forbidding the teaching of history that includes the foundations of US history, which is everything around slavery, the prohibition against even speaking of contraception and reproduction and spying on women who might possibly be trying to not be pregnant -- even down to them traveling -- what do you call that, that doesn't include censorship and repression of free speech -- just for starters? that even includes the introduction to passing laws that outline what women are supposed to wear -- and others' hair styles and clothing too.

Dan Jones's first volume of an historical fiction trilogy set during the 100 Years War is Essex Dogs; evidently following that go-to device of historical fictions of every time and place -- following a buncha mercenaries. Well, there were a lot of those during the 100 Years War, not least a buncha who, like pirates vs privateers of later years, went back-and-forth between being legit soldiers and mercs, even back at home in England. I've read his histories. I'll read this one too. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dan-jones/essex-dogs/

Dave Mustaine, "Killing is my business and business is good," whom I knew personally in my youth, hasn't a shred of irony in his entire system.

Jonathan Chait https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/01/why-desantis-is-on-track-to-beat-trump.html and Josh Marshall https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/numbers-4 see the same thing differently, for different reasons. Hmmmm.

You are right! Those hairless pinkies are very funny!

U.S. Plans to End Public Health Emergency for Covid in May The end of the emergency will bring about a complex set of policy changes, and it signals a new chapter in the government’s pandemic response. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/us/politics/biden-covid-public-health-emergency.html WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to let the coronavirus public health emergency expire in May, the White House said on Monday, a sign that federal officials believe the pandemic has moved into a new, less dire phase. The White House wants to keep the emergency in place for several more months so hospitals, health providers and health officials can prepare for a host of changes that will come when it ends, officials said. Millions of Americans have received free Covid tests, treatments and vaccines during the pandemic, and not all of that will continue to be free once the emergency is declared over. An average of more than 500 Americans are still dying daily from Covid. But at the three-year mark, the coronavirus is no longer upending everyday life to the extent it once did, partly because much of the population has at least some protection against the virus from vaccinations and prior infections. Still, the White House said on Monday that the nation needed an orderly transition out of the public health emergency. The administration said it also intended to allow a separate declaration of a national emergency to expire in May. ....

Very very nice down here in New Orleans. That ought to change by Friday if not sooner. Friends in Austin are very unhappy with their 33 degree temperatures. Those up north as in IL and ND are even more unhappy. - 2 in Fargo. 10 inches of snow fell on my brother's driveway, which is very long and very curvy. Also dropping to 20 below he says They tell him.

Southwest does it again -- https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/flight-cancellations-delays-monday-winter-weather/index.html

RNC Passes Resolution Urging Party To ‘Go On Offense’ With Anti-Abortion Bills In 2024 Run-Up The document lists abortion alongside slavery, segregation https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ronna-mcdaniel-abortion-rnc .

Sunny, 74 degrees, sweet, sweet breeze, it's still January, but it's also still New Orleans as New Orleans is. What a change!

However, at this time at least, it appears it is aligned with Saudi, with Jared Kushner mediating.

"And still not done." Wooo. I'm very sorry to hear that. Very sorry indeed.

How to watch the unwatchable. https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2023/01/28/kennicott-memphis-videos-tyre-nichols/