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[kkconstinc]

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[batboyblog]

Things the Biden-Harris Administration Did This Week #33

Sep 6-13 2024

President Biden marked the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act and highlighted efforts to stop gender based violence. the VAWA was written by then Senator Biden and he often talks about it as his proudest legislative victory. The act transformed how the federal government dealt with domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. In part because of the connection to Joe Biden, President Trump and the Republicans allowed the VAWA to expire in 2019. President Biden passed a new reauthorization, with new protections for women against cyber crime, in 2022. On the VAWA's 30th anniversary President Biden announced $690 million in grants to support survivors of gender-based violence.

President Biden and Vice-President Harris announced a new rule to force insurance companies to treat mental health care the same as medical care. The new rule takes on the use by insurance of restrictive practices like prior authorization, and out of network charges, it also closes a loophole in the law that allowed state and local government health insurance not to cover mental health.

The Biden-Harris administration announced that 50 million Americans, 1 in every 7, have gotten health insurance through Obamacare's marketplaces. Under Biden a record breaking 20.8 million enrolled this year. Since the ACA was passed by President Obama and then Vice-President Biden it has transformed American health care bring affordable coverage to millions and getting rid of "preexisting conditions". During the Presidential debate Vice-President Harris defended the ACA and the need to keep building on it. Trump after 9 years of calling for its repeal said he only had "concepts of a plan" on what to do about health care in America.

The IRS announced that it has recovered $1.3 billion in back taxes from wealthy tax dodgers. For years Republicans have tried to underfund the IRS hindering its ability to police high income tax payers. President Biden in his Inflation Reduction Act ensured that the IRS would have the money it needs to chase high income tax cheats. In February 2024 the IRS launched a program to go after over 100,000 people, making $400,000 or even over $1 million a year who have not filed taxes since 2017. The IRS also launched a program to collect from tax payers who make over $1 million a year who have uncontested debt of over $250,000. Between these two efforts the IRS has collected over a Billion Dollars in back taxes from the richest Americans, so far this year.

The Department of The Interior and White House Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi highlighted green energy efforts on public land. Highlighting two projects planned in Nevada officials talked about the 41 renewable energy projects approved on public land under the Biden-Harris Administration. These projects over 25 gigawatts of clean energy, a goal the Administration's climate plan set for the end of 2025 but met early this year. With the new projects in Nevada this is enough energy to power 12.5 million homes, and the Bureau of Land Management is another 55 utility-scale project proposals across the West.

The Department of The Interior announced $236 million to help fight forest fires and restore landscapes damaged by recent wildfires. Under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Administration has spent nearly $1.1 billion dollars to combat deadly wildfires which have over the last 10 years grown in size and intensity thanks to climate change.

The Department of The Interior announced $157 million in wetland conservation. The money is focused on protecting bird habitats. It will protect and preserve thousands of acres of wetlands across 7 states.

The US Senate approved President Biden's nominations of Adam Abelson, Jeannette Vargas, Mary Kay Lanthier, and Laura Provinzino to federal judgeships in Maryland, New York, Vermont, and Minnesota respectively. This brings the total number of federal judges appointed by President Biden to 209. When Biden entered office 318 district judges were Republican appointees and 317 Democratic, today 368 are Democratic appointments and just 267 are Republican. President Biden is the first President in history to have the majority of his appointments not be white men and he has appointed more black women to the bench than any President ever.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Vermont has become the first state to enact a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday, saying he is very concerned about the costs and outcome of the small state taking on “Big Oil” alone in what will likely be a grueling legal fight. But he acknowledged that he understands something has to be done to address the toll of climate change.

“I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways,” Scott, a moderate Republican in the largely blue state of Vermont, wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

The popular governor who recently announced that he’s running for reelection to a fifth two-year term, has been at odds with the Democrat-controlled Legislature, which he has called out of balance. He was expected by environmental advocates to veto the bill but then allowed it to be enacted. Scott wrote to lawmakers that he was comforted that the Agency of Natural Resources is required to report back to the Legislature on the feasibility of the effort.

Last July’s flooding from torrential rains inundated Vermont’s capital city of Montpelier, the nearby city Barre, some southern Vermont communities and ripped through homes and washed away roads around the rural state. Some saw it as the state’s worst natural disaster since a 1927 flood that killed dozens of people and caused widespread destruction. It took months for businesses — from restaurants to shops — to rebuild, losing out on their summer and even fall seasons. Several have just recently reopened while scores of homeowners were left with flood-ravaged homes heading into the cold season.

Under the legislation, the Vermont state treasurer, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, would provide a report by Jan. 15, 2026, on the total cost to Vermonters and the state from the emission of greenhouse gases from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2024. The assessment would look at the effects on public health, natural resources, agriculture, economic development, housing and other areas. The state would use federal data to determine the amount of covered greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a fossil fuel company.

It’s a polluter-pays model affecting companies engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil attributable to more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the time period. The funds could be used by the state for such things as upgrading stormwater drainage systems; upgrading roads, bridges and railroads; relocating, elevating or retrofitting sewage treatment plants; and making energy efficient weatherization upgrades to public and private buildings. It’s modeled after the federal Superfund pollution cleanup program.

“For too long, giant fossil fuel companies have knowingly lit the match of climate disruption without being required to do a thing to put out the fire,” Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said in a statement. “Finally, maybe for the first time anywhere, Vermont is going to hold the companies most responsible for climate-driven floods, fires and heat waves financially accountable for a fair share of the damages they’ve caused.”

Maryland, Massachusetts and New York are considering similar measures.

The American Petroleum Institute, the top lobbying group for the oil and gas industry, has said it’s extremely concerned the legislation “retroactively imposes costs and liability on prior activities that were legal, violates equal protection and due process rights by holding companies responsible for the actions of society at large; and is preempted by federal law.”

“This punitive new fee represents yet another step in a coordinated campaign to undermine America’s energy advantage and the economic and national security benefits it provides,” spokesman Scott Lauermann said in a statement Friday.

Vermont lawmakers know the state will face legal challenges, but the governor worries about the costs and what it means for other states if Vermont fails.

State Rep. Martin LaLonde, a Democrat and an attorney, believes Vermont has a solid legal case. Legislators worked closely with many legal scholars in crafting the bill, he said in statement.

“Most importantly, the stakes are too high – and the costs too steep for Vermonters – to release corporations that caused the mess from their obligation to help clean it up,” he said.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from the Associated Press (AP):

Vermont has become the first state to enact a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of the damage caused by climate change after the state suffered catastrophic summer flooding and damage from other extreme weather.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed the bill to become law without his signature late Thursday, saying he is very concerned about the costs and outcome of the small state taking on “Big Oil” alone in what will likely be a grueling legal fight. But he acknowledged that he understands something has to be done to address the toll of climate change.

“I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways,” Scott, a moderate Republican in the largely blue state of Vermont, wrote in a letter to lawmakers.

The popular governor who recently announced that he’s running for reelection to a fifth two-year term, has been at odds with the Democrat-controlled Legislature, which he has called out of balance. He was expected by environmental advocates to veto the bill but then allowed it to be enacted. Scott wrote to lawmakers that he was comforted that the Agency of Natural Resources is required to report back to the Legislature on the feasibility of the effort.

Last July’s flooding from torrential rains inundated Vermont’s capital city of Montpelier, the nearby city Barre, some southern Vermont communities and ripped through homes and washed away roads around the rural state. Some saw it as the state’s worst natural disaster since a 1927 flood that killed dozens of people and caused widespread destruction. It took months for businesses — from restaurants to shops — to rebuild, losing out on their summer and even fall seasons. Several have just recently reopened while scores of homeowners were left with flood-ravaged homes heading into the cold season.

Under the legislation, the Vermont state treasurer, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, would provide a report by Jan. 15, 2026, on the total cost to Vermonters and the state from the emission of greenhouse gases from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2024. The assessment would look at the effects on public health, natural resources, agriculture, economic development, housing and other areas. The state would use federal data to determine the amount of covered greenhouse gas emissions attributed to a fossil fuel company.

It’s a polluter-pays model affecting companies engaged in the trade or business of extracting fossil fuel or refining crude oil attributable to more than 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during the time period. The funds could be used by the state for such things as upgrading stormwater drainage systems; upgrading roads, bridges and railroads; relocating, elevating or retrofitting sewage treatment plants; and making energy efficient weatherization upgrades to public and private buildings. It’s modeled after the federal Superfund pollution cleanup program.

Maryland, Massachusetts and New York are considering similar measures.

[deluxewhump]

The Scry: chapter II

CW: not a lot. tentative reassurance and comfort. building trust. series warnings for human trafficking, whumpee with exploited powers.

He decided he’d rather bring this Carlo boy home with him than leave him in the building overnight.

It wasn’t just that Ingrid asked to see him. It was a new and sudden sense of responsibility, even if its contours were rough and undefined. All day he felt a tug between the professional aloofness he usually liked to maintain at work and the desire to be a source of comfort for the precog boy they’d given him.

He was clearly abused before. By whom, for how long, and in what ways was not clear. The fact he was so concerned if this business was a fully legal venture or not made Max think for sure he was one of the repossessed precognitives that had been used in day trading and investments, or even the less subtle art of ripping off casinos and lotteries. Who needs risk management when you can see the future?

Which is exactly how he was supposed to use the poor thing, except with the green light from the United States government.

…At least for now. Carlo didn’t belong to him (the thought was jarring anyway, now that he saw the precogs were flesh and blood). He belonged to Spartan, and only because recent legislation had made it possible. It could always go the other way. Spartan could decide they weren’t worth it, sell them to another company. Or the winds could change in Washington (or the state of Maryland? He didn’t know. His mother would know), and the feds could demand the precogs back.

Five o’clock came. He knew it without checking the clock by the shadows on the office wall. The sun dipped behind the neighboring buildings, winter-orange rays cut by symmetrical blocks. He heard people talking in the hallway on the way to the elevators.

Carlo was curled in the armchair by the floor to ceiling window, dozing. He startled awake at the footsteps outside the door, confused for a moment as to where he was. He looked at Max and Max smiled gently to put him at ease.

“Hey.”

Carlo yawned sleepily, trying to stifle it.

“I’m gonna head out in a few minutes. You wanna come with me or stay here?”

Carlo looked at him closely, a quick up and down as if seeing him for the first time.

“My girlfriend is at home,” Max said as he began to gather his things, powering off his computer. “We can make some dinner. Probably watch some TV. She likes these really trashy shows, reality shows and competitions and whatnot. Honestly, I’m really into the one we just started. It’s like the reality show version of Clue. I’ve got a spare bedroom. We can make it up nice and warm for you.”

Carlo watched him slip his laptop into his briefcase. He felt like he was coaxing a wild animal out of a thicket.

“Or you can stay here. They have a spot for you downstairs I guess. I haven’t seen it. I imagine it’s like a dorm or a barrack situation. Who knows, maybe they went all out and it’s the Four Seasons down there.”

Does this kid know what the hell you’re talking about?

He busied himself by checking his smartwatch. It was a weird for him, saying this kind of stuff to this boy he’d just met, handed off to him so absurdly.

“The things I said to you this morning… all that still stands if you come home with me. I’m not gonna hurt you. It’s safe. I promise.”

—

Ingrid was way ahead of him. By the time they got home she’d been home for an hour and started dinner. There was a load of laundry in the wash, and she was talking to her mother on the phone. She saw them in the doorway and blurted a quick gotta go before hanging up.

She only stared for a second, to give her credit. He had too, when Cissy first dropped him off.

“I really don’t know what I was expecting,” she said when he was upstairs. “But it wasn’t that.”

She treated him like a guest, but there was a reservation behind her smile, the same as Cecelia had. It was in the eyes. Carlo held out a hand for her when they met, and she took it gently, giving it a little dip more than a shake. For some reason it made Max’s heart ache to watch.

When dinner was done and cleaned up, they sat on the couch to watch Ingrid’s new reality show. He and Ingrid both thought the best way to go about it was just to continue their normal routine and add him in, not make a big deal out of it.

Carlo was in the wingback chair next to them, his feet tucked underneath him and a blanket tucked up close. He was always cold, Max noticed. When they’d left the office the December wind had seemed to physically pain him, and he had trouble warming up, even inside.

Ingrid lifted her head from Max’s lap, shifting upright into a cross legged position. “Carlo?” She asked. “Can you… can you see your own future?”

Max’s head snapped away from the TV. She was always telling him he was too blunt, too pragmatic and state-your-purpose. And yet he hadn’t dared ask the poor thing something like that yet.

Carlo looked at Ingrid with those big doe eyes of his, bruises like shadows on his face. “No ma’am,” he whispered. Max read his lips more than actually heard him. He cleared his throat. “Sometimes it happens, but it’s not good.”

Max could understand her curiosity. They didn’t know anything about these things. There was almost nothing on the internet. It’s like they’d been kept in Area 51.

“Why isn’t it good?” she asked cautiously. Her copper-red hair was pulled into a bun, her eyeliner smudged from laying on a pillow over Max’s lap.

“It’ll hurt me,” he shrugged, like that was something not entirely unexpected. “It’s not supposed to be used for that. It’s against the code of conduct.”

Ingrid’s eyebrows knit for a millisecond before she relaxed her face again, cool neutral. “Whose code of conduct?”

Max pinched her calf where Carlo couldn’t see. Her knee twitched towards him a centimeter, but she didn’t bat an eye in acknowledgment.

Carlo looked from Ingrid to him, unsure if he should say. A commercial for dish soap ended and their show came back on, the cliffhanger middle of a reality show challenge.

“Hey,” she said, picking the remote off Maxs thigh and turning up the volume on the tv. “Shelly’s gonna win this one again, look at her.”

—

He brought Carlo extra blankets from the linen closet. One was an old family quilt, hand sewn by his great grandmother or something, he couldn’t remember exactly, but his mother always mentioned it.

The spare room was a little dusty, and there were some cardboard boxes in one corner— things of his fathers he hadn’t gone through yet. His parents divorced when he was in college. It had been coming for a decade, the spaces between sentences and looks growing wider by the year until they were more like roommates, strangers with a grown child who shared their DNA.

His father lived out in Phoenix now. He had a girlfriend Max and Ingrid’s age. His mother lived downtown, closer to the true love of her life, the law practice she and her business partner ran. Sometimes, even now, he would feel a twinge of annoyance at his mothers seemingly bottomless devotion to her practice.

She’s like one of those German Shepherds that carries rocks around in its mouth til it bleeds, he’d said to Ingrid in a particularly ungenerous moment. She’d been too kind to point out it was maybe a twinge of jealousy, but he felt it in her sympathetic little downturned mouth.

That possibility was too immature and borderline Oedipal for him to want to contemplate. After the divorce finalized, he inherited the old family Victorian at twenty four, and had lived in it these seven years since until it felt like his house and no longer his parents’.

Carlo got gingerly into the single bed, made up with fresh sheets earlier in the afternoon by Ingrid.

Max laid the heavy extra quilt at his feet. “It's a little chilly upstairs at night,” he admitted. “Can I get you some socks or something?”

“I’m okay,” Carlo said politely. Max went to the dresser anyway, pulling out a thick pair of socks folded into a ball.

“Just in case,” he said, and set them on the bedside table.

“Max?”

He paused in the doorway.

“Are we going to start tomorrow?”

Something in the tender innocence of the question stung. He couldn’t tell if it had been asked out of fear or curiosity, though he sensed both on the boy almost constantly.

“Yeah,” he answered truthfully. “We should take a shot at it, if you’re ready.”

“Okay.”

“You think you can get some sleep?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Just let him keep doing it, if that’s what he wants to call you. Maybe it’s a way to keep it professional, keep some distance. Let him have that.

“We’re right down the hall if you need us. Ok? Anything at all.”

In the dark of his bedroom, Ingrid turned to him restlessly. He could feel her eyes on him, the blue glow of the digital clock just enough to see the outline of her shoulder.

“I’m sorry I asked him that.”

“It’s fine.”

Ingrid could be impulsive, but her regret and introspection later was always twofold. She’d drink a few glasses of wine at dinner with their friends and worry for a week she’d been too candid, laughed too loud. She thought she’d been accidentally rude to their waiter once and asked Max to turn the truck around so she could go back and explain her mistake. He didn’t turn the truck around, of course. He told her she was way in her own head, to learn to let it go.

He felt for her arm in the dark, followed it down to her hand and held it loosely. She turned her palm up to reciprocate.

“I wonder, too,” he told her. “I wanna know who hurt him like that, for one. And the elephant in the room— could he see our futures, if he tried?”

“I don’t think I wanna know my future.”

“Me either. And if you do know it, could you inadvertently change it? Is it set in stone? Does him having precognitive sight mean free will is an illusion after all?”

Ingrid groaned. Both as a lapsed Baptist and devout atheist, she didn’t like that.

“Sorry, kid,” he grinned in the dark. “We don’t need to worry about free will before bed.”

“Tell me how it goes tomorrow. I don’t wanna know my own future, but I wanna know what he can do. What it’s like.”

“I will,” he promised, squeezing her cool hand. “I’ll tell you all about it.”

Scry taglist;

@whumpsday @distinctlywhumpthing @pumpkin-spice-whump @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi

[nickgerlich]

State Of Mind

Ah, summer. When I was a kid, it was my favorite time of the year. School was out long before Alice Cooper could write a song about it. Long days, short nights, miles and miles of bike riding, and sandlot baseball games that went on all day. Life was good, and I hadn’t a care in the world.

Of course, things are different as adults. There are lawns to mow (I came home to a 10-acre jungle from my early-summer travels this year, thanks to record rains while I was gone). Bugs to repel. Skin cancer to worry about. Air conditioning units to fret over (said the man who just shelled out $500 yesterday for a repair call). Yeah, it’s not as much fun as it once was. Responsibilities, yo. I’m not a grumpy old man, though. Promise.

But summer has been, is, and will continue to be the time when marketers have fun releasing all manner of seasonal promotions. From blockbuster movies to new soda flavors, collectible Dr. Pepper cans featuring the latest Spiderman movie, tasty menu variants, and more, marketers pull out the stops and have fun.

Like Heinz and their new 50-state series of collectible condiment packages. Say whaaaat?

Now before I continue, please know that I am a lifelong collector. I got that gene from my father, who saved coins and stamps for years, sold them, and then started collecting a wide variety of ephemera. I started with beer cans in the 70s, branched out to include soda cans, then took on signs and bottles, followed by Pez, old coffee cans, and more recently, Starbucks mugs. My kids are going to hate me when I die.

For the life of me, though, I cannot imagine why someone would want to save condiment packages, because…well..what are you going to do with them? Build a special display case? And then worry that rodents might find them worthy of a nibble?

That hasn’t stopped Heinz, though, from creating a unique package for each of the 50 states. While Heinz is wise to position themselves as a condiment company rather than just the ketchup people, these 50 packages will only feature seven different condiments. It is the little foil pouch that will differ. Oh, and they will be available everywhere, so you don’t have to fly to Anchorage to get the Alaska one.

This is an interesting development given the saber rattling of Heinz last spring when the company announced it wanted restaurant patrons to rat out any diner or cafe in which they saw workers filling Heinz bottles with cheaper store-brand alternatives. I wrote about it for my students then, and while we all felt it was important for Heinz to protect its brand, it was a little over the top to consider taking people to task.

The current promo, though, is good clean fun, as it should be for a company that has a 60% share of the ketchup market, and a strong market position in mustard, mayo, relish, BBQ sauce, and others. There’s little point in being the aggressor when you’ve got it good already. Protect your brand, but don’t be a bully about it.

I suspect that if I wind up with any of these, the unused ones will wind up in the center console of my van. You know. In case I need some ketchup or mustard far down the road. And I promise I won’t fret about getting all 50, or yelling, “STOP! That’s my only Maryland!”

It’s all good fun, and I give an A+ to Heinz for stepping down from its bully pulpit and enjoying the warm, long, sunny, days of summer. Gimme a handful of those packets, and I’m calling it good.

Dr “In The Summertime, When The Weather Is High” Gerlich

Audio Blog

[msclaritea]

The Incredible Shrinking World of Scientology

December 5, 2022 

Quite a number of people have asked me in recent interviews whether scientology is growing. Of course, it is not. Information is deadly poison to cults and in this age of the internet, scientology is doomed.

But, scientology puts out an endless stream of propaganda to make it seem like they are expanding. They claim “massive growth” and “unprecedented demand” and various other catchphrases, statements unsupported by specifics or statistics.

Naturally, scientology doesn’t want to make information available that would disprove their claims of constant and unparalleled expansion, so it takes a bit of digging to disprove their lies. There are independent sources of information from which extrapolations can give an accurate picture.

First, all one need do is visit ANY scientology organization and the truth becomes clear — they are EMPTY and desperate to try to get anyone to come in. Sadly, each individual organization has been convinced it is ONLY their particular location that is struggling (because they are failing to apply Hubbard’s tech correctly) — everywhere else on earth is doing GREAT!

So it’s necessary to take a bigger view of the state of scientology orgs and missions. And in this instance, scientology’s own information is helpful.

Jefferson Hawkins recently posted a comment on this blog (emphasis added by me):

They claim “thousands” of Organizations (I think the latest claim was “8000 Organizations), yet if you check their own address lists, they tell a different story. They used to publish full lists of Org and Mission addresses in their books. A 1992 edition of their book “What is Scientology?” listed 148 Orgs and 343 Missions. If you go to their own website, they have a list of their Org and Mission addresses, and [today] they list 132 Orgs and 189 Missions. So in the last 30 years, they’ve lost a third of their centers!

Scientology claims their “massive growth” is proven by the “new churches that have opened” — this is a deception. They have purchased a lot of real estate. They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars renovating these buildings. They have held “ribbon cuttings” with great fanfare for their “new churches” and they have then resumed their status as empty morgues, just in larger premises. You would imagine that if scientology in fact HAD opened all these “new churches” there would be scientology organizations all over the world by now.

Yet many of the most populous nations on earth do not have a single scientology organization: China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and the list could go on. Or even in the US (the home of scientology) the following states do not have a single scientology org: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Scientology has transitioned into a real estate holding company.

Unsurprisingly, scientology holds information about their membership very close to the vest — the one true count would be the number of active IAS Members. This was never greater than 50,000. But they have refused to make this information publicly available. Instead, they make grandiose (and false) claims about 10 million scientologists, or 14 million or 8 million or just “many millions” or these days, “millions.” The truth is that active scientologists number in the tens of thousands worldwide. Most these days put it between 20 and 30,000.

In some countries, they have censuses that record religious affiliation. Information that is NOT colored by scientology propaganda (even the number of orgs and missions scientology claims is suspect, many of the missions open just a few hours a week in a room in someone’s home).

Tony Ortega recently reported:

In 2011, the census of England and Wales counted only 2,418 people who identified themselves as Scientologists.

In the 2021 count, and the number of Scientologists in the same area is down to 1,854.

That’s a 23-percent drop in ten years.

In that same time, England and Wales grew by 3.5 million people in overall population to 59.6 million people.

So that makes Scientology’s share .003 percent.

And remember, during these years Scientology has been unashamedly calling itself the “world’s fastest growing religion.”

Once again, real government data shows that our estimates of about 20,000 active Scientologists around the world as much closer to the truth than the “millions” that Scientology claims.

2021 England and Wales: 1,854

2021 Canada: 1,380

2018 New Zealand: 321

2016 Australia: 1,684

2016 Ireland: 87

The organization that proclaims itself to be spectacularly successful and in demand is in reality today a high-pressure fundraising machine sucking money out of a shriveling number of whales for fake “campaigns” that are all PR and no substance. They are investing their billions in properties which sit empty or are at best grossly underutilized.

There you have it; the incredible shrinking world of scientology.

[lavelled]

homage to the mates.

Quick news: The Princess Kate cancer video, twirly amongst nature, is false, fake, and a lie. Musk wrote the impregnation tweet to deflect from September 11 because it was Harry. We don’t know why Muzzled Meg is with microphones galore—both consensually horrible?

Harry’s eponymous Catturd Twitter account represents family pedophilia. Google the identity, king-wise. Harry posts unwitty far-right extremism like curricula for monsters. Harry Windsor—cause of school shootings, school fires, stabbings, and suicides—is a fanboy right-winger with zero political views writing slop on the Internet to lighten the mood from kidnapping that upsets your teenagers. Kids know how he’s a swaddled coward in the UK, getting paid to theorize about my rape.

He has fun outside of wedlock. Dril or wint or cunty, the online account with a Jack Nicholson picture from the film, Something’s Gotta Give. This is Harry. In 2014, he wrote: i am selling six beautfiul, extremely ill, white horses. they no longer recognize me as their father, and are the Burden of my life.

google iitz.

In non-eloquent terms, a literary pedometer about his papa enslaving little girls and threatening the actor who was their actual pen pal. In case South Sudan needs a civil rights guest speaker.

A Netflix deal for a hired ventriloquist who, for six years, has deliberately helped a California-enemy sex trafficking violator. To dire results. Could nothing be worse?

As a briefcase model, in brassy copper orange, she opened suitcase Number 11 to reveal 5 dollars inside which the video titled, Meghan Markle Has the Case Deal or No Deal Game Show Network on YouTube details, years before she accompanied her playbook bunkmate to the ESPYs as he accepted an award honoring a fallen 9/11 hero.

She was cast in a wedding day prank, procreated with the contract holder, and deceived youths with the intentional spread of inaccurate information about race, gender inequality, and cyber bullying that she’s never been subjected to. H & Birthmark: You’re a psycho and she’s nowhere near a Cleopatra Malala Yousafzai.

Meanwhile, my female rights are gone and her captor husband says he wants to live in my attic. A reference I’ve learned is not about a cathedral roof hideaway, but the anatomy of a persecuted 15-year-old girl.

Grieving parents deserve more than implementing Flip and Frogmore Cottage as Mad Hatter tea techniques to denote that she’s the wrong milady.

Kids feel bad for someone. Guess who?

In Harry code, Rachel means: Rape-U-1st.

Divorce.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols, at 9:02 am, in a Ryder rental truck, bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people because of Royal Pedophilia, Incorporated.

Tyler Hilinski—Quarterback at Washington State University was found with a gunshot wound to the head and a suicide note. 21-years-old. Four months before their wedding.

Jason Hairston—NFL player; founder and CEO of Kuiu, a hunting gear company. He was Department of the Interior liaison for hunting groups during the Trump administration. He killed himself at his home in Dixon, California. Four months after their wedding.

Jonathan Cantwell—Australian professional road bicycle racer; won a stage of the Herald Sun Tour and two stages of the Tour de Taiwan. He killed himself six months after their wedding.

Morgan Rodgers—lacrosse player at Duke University. Her mom, Dona, said she suffered a dream-shattering knee injury and on July 11, 2019, Morgan died by suicide. At 22.

Pavle Jovanovic—Olympian on the USA Bobsled team. He became a welder and hung himself in his metal shop on May 3, 2020.

Dieter Brummer—Australian actor on the soap operas, Home and Away and Neighbours. He killed himself in Glenhaven, New South Wales. July 24, 2021.

Terrence Butler—basketball star at Drexel University, studying Engineering. The 6-foot-7 forward from Prince George’s County, Maryland died by suicide on August 2, 2023.

Alec Musser—model and actor; played the role of Del Henry on All My Children. He died by self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Del Mar, California home on January 12, 2024.

K

[kelbiehomeimprovement]

Kelbie Home Improvement 215 Ritchie Ln Glen Burnie MD 21061

(410) 766-3377

Glen Burnie Kelbie Home Improvement a five-generation family-owned Home Improvement Company! Flat roof repair experts! Residential and commercial nearby roof repair. Prompt and professional service that achieves the very best possible quality within any project's budget. Licensed in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.

[fieldsofdrams]

Exploring Unique Backyard Swimming Pool Designs in Maryland

When discussing improving our outdoor spaces, very few things can achieve the same appeal as a well-designed backyard swimming pool design in Maryland because it is beautiful and useful. Whether you live in a city such as Baltimore with lots of noise or remote fields in Chester County, there are many pool companies in Maryland that can provide various alternatives to convert your compound into a secluded haven.

Swimming Pool And Backyard Designs In Maryland:

Maryland offers different landscapes and unusual architectural designs, which can be useful for creatively creating unique swimming pool and backyard designs. Variations are as numerous as the state itself, ranging from modern pools designed for contemporary structures within Bethesda to those suitable for ageless houses in Annapolis.

Chester County Pool Companies In Maryland:

When it comes to creating a Chester County pool, companies in Maryland adhere to environmental management and customer attraction. They know how important it is to have pools that are both operational and beautiful. This will enable you to enjoy them at any time during the day and make your garden more attractive than it is now.

Backyard Swimming Pool Design In Maryland:

In Maryland, working with pool companies is characterized by this important advantage, which helps a person who wishes to completely personalize his/her backyard swimming pool design in Maryland. If you're thinking about having an elegant infinity pool in the Chesapeake Bay area or even a home-based type with waterfalls around it, look no further than Field Of Dreams, where professionals can help you.

Maryland's patterns for residential backyard swimming pool design encompass many characteristics and styles. This makes the US state one of the many interesting options for people who want to turn their backyards into green spaces. People can consider using natural stone coping, LED light systems, or energy-efficient heating solutions.

Craftsmanship:

Selecting a good pool Company in Maryland enables the best balance between use abilities, aesthetics, and strength. Highly skilled experts not only have the technical knowledge to implement complex designs but also know the local laws and environmental concerns.

Field of Dreams Inc. excels at creating individual swimming pools that add value and beauty to your household, specifically in Maryland. Each pool is designed by a professional who converses deeply with customers so that the final image is like their own piece of art that fits in perfect harmony with the surroundings.

Apart from bringing immediate enjoyment, properly made pools contribute to the increased value of properties on sale in Maryland. Despite home buyers' growing preference for outdoor areas, spending money on contracting expertise in pool making makes the home you intend to sell distinct in a market full of stiff competition.

Good at making outdoor spaces usable and attractive, such that Chester County pool companies in Maryland are. Your home's outdoor experience can be reshaped by a carefully planned pool, be it a suburban retreat in Columbia or a historical estate in Frederick.

Conclusion: For instance, homeowners may want to consider building a swimming pool for their Maryland backyard because doing so has numerous advantages, like adding value to their real estate and preserving calm places to relax. With companies like Field of Dreams Inc., Maryland residents can have exclusive swimming pools that integrate with their neighborhoods and comport well with their daily habits.

[wentworthmd]

Website: https://www.wentworthstudio.com/

Address: 8401 Connecticut Avenue Suite 310, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Phone: +1 240-395-0705

Remodeling your home is a major process, and choosing the right design-build company is one of the most important steps.

Throughout the entire remodel, from the initial design meeting to the final construction, Wentworth is there to guide you. One of the best parts about working with our team is the simplicity of the process. Under one roof, we offer architecture, design, and construction services to create award-winning homes. We are your single source for any home remodeling needs you have in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area!

One of the best parts about working with Wentworth is the simplicity of the home architecture process. Under one roof, we offer architecture, design, and construction services. In short, we are your single source for any home building needs you have in the Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia area!

When you work with Wentworth, we present you with different options. Many homeowners want to remodel but are interested in preserving the historic style of their home.

Wentworth home interiors begin with a meeting in your home to preview the house and discuss your interior design goals for the project. This includes assessing your personal style and preferences, as well as how you use your current space.

The Wentworth team provides cost-effective, comprehensive design-build services.

It’s all about seeing the bigger picture in interior design – and this is what Wentworth does! Our team has the experience and expertise to pay attention to the details and see the overall picture to create a space you’ll love for years to come.

Business mail: cbrownell@wentworthstudio.com

[kkconstinc]

Electrical Companies In Maryland | kkconstinc.com

Looking for the best electrical companies in Maryland? Look no further! Our list of top-rated companies guarantees reliable and efficient services for all your electrical needs.

Electrical Companies In Maryland

[rockvillemoverspro]

A Comprehensive Guide to Preparing Your Family for a Move to Rockville, MD

Moving to a new city can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when you're relocating with your family. Rockville, Maryland, is a vibrant city with a rich history, excellent schools, and a diverse community. To make your move smoother and ensure a successful transition for your family, here's a comprehensive guide from reputable Rockville local moving company to help you prepare for your move to Rockville.

Researching Rockville

Before diving into the logistics of moving, it's essential to research Rockville to understand the community, amenities, housing options, schools, and recreational activities available. Some key points to consider during your research include:

Housing Market: Explore the housing market in Rockville to understand the types of properties available, average rent or home prices, and popular neighborhoods.

School Districts: Research the local school districts, both public and private, to determine the best educational options for your children.

Community and Amenities: Look into the community vibe, nearby amenities such as parks, shopping centers, healthcare facilities, and public transportation options.

Employment Opportunities: If you or your spouse are seeking employment, research job opportunities and industries in Rockville and the surrounding areas.

Planning Your Move

Once you've decided to move to Rockville, it's time to start planning the logistics of your move. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you stay organized:

Create a Moving Timeline: Develop a moving timeline that includes important dates such as lease or home sale closing, moving company booking, school registration deadlines, and utility setup dates.

Declutter and Pack: Start decluttering your home by sorting items into categories: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Begin packing non-essential items early to reduce stress closer to the moving date.

Hire a Moving Company: Research and hire a reputable Rockville local moving company well in advance. Obtain quotes, check reviews, and ensure they have experience with long-distance moves if applicable.

Notify Important Parties: Inform utility companies, schools, healthcare providers, banks, and relevant institutions about your upcoming move. Forward your mail to your new address.

Transfer Records: Request to transfer medical, dental, and school records to providers in Rockville. This ensures continuity of care and seamless transitions for your family.

Prepare Your New Home: If possible, visit Rockville before the move to familiarize yourself with the area. Plan any renovations or repairs needed in your new home before moving in.

Settling In

Once you've arrived in Rockville, focus on settling in and integrating into your new community. Here are some tips for a smooth transition:

Unpack Strategically: Start by unpacking essential items such as bedding, kitchen essentials, and toiletries. Gradually unpack other items based on priority and necessity.

Explore the Neighborhood: Take time to explore your new neighborhood. Visit local parks, shops, restaurants, and community centers to familiarize yourself with the area.

Meet Your Neighbors: Building connections with neighbors can create a sense of belonging. Introduce yourself, attend community events, and join local groups or clubs.

Register Your Vehicles: If you have vehicles, register them in Maryland and obtain updated driver's licenses as per state regulations.

Update Legal Documents: Update your legal documents such as wills, trusts, and insurance policies to reflect your new address and state regulations.

Get in touch with the best Rockville Moving Company today! Call Rockville Movers at 9124 419 800!

[newstfionline]

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Severe storms kill at least 4 in Houston, knock out power to 900,000 homes and businesses (AP) Fast-moving thunderstorms pummeled southeastern Texas on Thursday for the second time this month, killing at least four people, blowing out windows in high-rise buildings, downing trees and knocking out power to more than 900,000 homes and businesses in the Houston area. Streets were flooded, and trees and power lines were down across the region. Mayor John Whitmire said wind speeds reached 100 mph (160 kph), “with some twisters.” He said the powerful gusts were reminiscent of 2008’s Hurricane Ike, which pounded the city. Hundreds of windows were shattered at downtown hotels and office buildings, with glass littering the streets below, and the state was sending Department of Public Safety officers to secure the area.

Crew trapped on Baltimore ship, seven weeks after bridge collapse (BBC) As a controlled explosion rocked the Dali on Monday, nearly two dozen sailors remained on board, below deck in the massive ship’s hull. The simultaneous blasts sent pieces of Baltimore’s once iconic Francis Scott Key Bridge into the dark waters of Maryland’s Patapsco River, seven weeks after its collapse left six people on the bridge dead and the Dali marooned. Authorities—and the crew—hope that the demolition will mark the beginning of the end of a long process that has left the 21 men on board trapped and cut off from the world, thousands of miles from their homes. The crew, made up of 20 Indians and a Sri Lankan national, has been unable to disembark because of visa restrictions, a lack of required shore passes and parallel ongoing investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FBI. According to Joshua Messick, executive director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Center, the crew has been left largely without communication with the outside world for “a couple of weeks” after their mobile phones were confiscated by the FBI as part of the investigation. “They can’t do any online banking. They can’t pay their bills at home. They don’t have any of their data or anyone’s contact information, so they’re really isolated right now,” Mr Messick said. “They just can’t reach out to the folks they need to, or even look at pictures of their children before they go to sleep. It’s really a sad situation.”

The first Mexican taco stand to get a Michelin star (AP) Newly minted Michelin-starred chef Arturo Rivera Martínez stood over an insanely hot grill Wednesday at the first Mexican taco stand ever to get a coveted star from the French dining guide, and did exactly the same thing he’s been doing for 20 years: searing meat. Though Michelin representatives came by Wednesday to present him with one of the company’s heavy, full-sleeved, pristine white chef’s jackets, he didn’t put it on: In this tiny, 10-foot by 10-foot (3-meter by 3-meter) business, the heat makes the meat. And the heat is intense. At Mexico City’s Tacos El Califa de León, in the scruffy-bohemian San Rafael neighborhood, there are only four things on the menu, all tacos. Rivera Martínez is probably the only Michelin-starred chef who, when asked what beverage should accompany his food, answers “I like a Coke.” The prices are quite high by Mexican standards. A single, generous but not huge taco costs nearly $5. But many customers are convinced it’s the best, if not the cheapest, in the city.

Religious diversity blooms in once-atheist Cuba (AP) The 1959 Castro-led revolution installed an atheist, Communist government that sought to replace the Catholic Church as the guiding force in the lives of Cubans. But 65 years later, religion seems omnipresent in Cuba, in dazzling diversity. The bells toll on Catholic churches and the call to prayer summons Muslims in downtown Havana. Buddhists chant mantras as they gather at the home of a jazz musician. Jews savor rice, beans and other Cuban staples for Sabbath dinner. Santeria devotees immerse the senses as they dance and slap drums. It’s also visible in the growing ranks of evangelicals who worship across the island, or in the pilgrims who travel to the remote shrine of Cuba’s patron saint in the shadow of the Sierra Maestra mountains to ask for health and prosperity during a wrenching economic crisis. Critics say Cuba is still falling short on religious tolerance. But significant progress has been achieved; some call it a time of a Cuban religious revival.

Haiti gears up for battle (Foreign Policy) In the last two weeks, a string of military planes have arrived in Port-au-Prince with equipment to build facilities that will soon house an international stabilization force. The United Nations-authorized mission will be led by some 1,000 police officers from Kenya and supporting personnel from Chile, Jamaica, Grenada, Paraguay, Burundi, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritius. Kenyan officers are due to arrive in Haiti around the time of Kenyan President William Ruto’s state visit to Washington later this month, the Miami Herald reported. A towering challenge awaits the force. Haiti’s weeks-old transitional government, which will coordinate with the officers, is already plagued by infighting. The gangs wreaking havoc in Haiti, meanwhile, have often cooperated. Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier, known Barbecue, told NPR in an interview on Saturday that the foreign forces should prepare themselves for a long battle.

Massive Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea (AP) A massive Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea early Friday caused power cutoffs in the city of Sevastopol and set a refinery ablaze in southern Russia, Russian authorities said. The Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 51 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, another 44 over the Krasnodar region and six over the Belgorod region. It said Russian warplanes and patrol boats also destroyed six sea drones in the Black Sea. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor of Sevastopol, which is the main base for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, said the drone attack damaged the city’s power plant. He said it could take a day to fully restore energy supplies.

China unveils 'historic' steps to stabilise crisis-hit property sector (Reuters) China announced "historic" steps on Friday to stabilise its crisis-hit property sector, with the central bank facilitating 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) in extra funding and easing mortgage rules, and local governments set to buy "some" apartments. Investors hoped the measures marked the beginning of more decisive government intervention to compensate for waning demand for new and old apartments, to slow down falling prices and to reduce a growing stock of unsold homes. Analysts have long called for the government to step in with its own purchases to prop up a sector which at its peak accounted for a fifth of GDP and remains a major drag on the world's second-biggest economy.

Taiwan is selling more to the US than China in major shift away from Beijing (AP) Whether it’s tapioca balls or computer chips, Taiwan is stretching toward the United States and away from China—the world’s No. 2 economy that threatens to take the democratically ruled island by force if necessary. These changes at a time of an intensifying China-U.S. rivalry reflect Taiwan’s efforts to reduce its reliance on Beijing and insulate itself from Chinese pressure while forging closer economic and trade ties with the United States, its strongest ally. The shift also is taking place as China’s economic growth has been weak and global businesses are looking to diversify following supply chain disruptions during the pandemic.

Violence and impunity (NYT) Last October, an Israeli settler in the West Bank set a Palestinian home on fire. In January, a mob of settlers chased a truck driver and two of his workers, sending all three to the hospital. And last fall, a settler shot a Palestinian in the stomach in front of an Israeli soldier. Yet the authorities have not charged any of these settlers—or others who have attacked West Bank residents—with crimes. These stories come from a multiyear investigation that my colleagues Ronen Bergman and Mark Mazzetti have just published in The Times Magazine. In it, they document how violent factions within the settler movement have repeatedly received protection from the Israeli government despite attacks against Palestinians—and even against Israeli officials who tried to challenge the settlers. “A long history of crime without punishment,” Ronen and Mark write, “threatens not only Palestinians living in the occupied territories but also the State of Israel itself.” Their story, they explain, “is an account of a sometimes criminal nationalistic movement that has been allowed to operate with impunity and gradually move from the fringes to the mainstream of Israeli society.”

Israel Sending More Troops to Rafah Amid Warnings of Famine in Gaza (NYT) Israel said on Thursday that it would send more troops to Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, which has become the focal point in the war between Israel and Hamas. The announcement signaled that Israel intends to press deeper into Rafah despite international concerns about the threat to civilians from a full-scale invasion of the city, where more than a million displaced people had been sheltering. Rafah is the most important logistics hub in the Gaza Strip, the crucial gateway for most of the food, medicine and other aid that has entered the enclave of 2.2 million people. The fighting has led to the closure of a border crossing between Rafah and Egypt. “The threat of famine in Gaza never loomed larger,” the United Nations’ World Food Program warned this week.

South Africa asks U.N. court to order Israel to halt Rafah assault (Washington Post) South Africa made a searing and impassioned plea for the International Court of Justice to order Israel to cease all military operations in the Gaza Strip, arguing that its assault on Rafah and closure of key crossings are aimed at destroying “the essential foundations of Palestinian life” there. South Africa brought a case against Israel late last year, accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention in its prosecution of the war.

Scientists find buried branch of the Nile that may have carried pyramids’ stones (Guardian) Scientists have discovered a long-buried branch of the Nile River that once flowed alongside more than 30 pyramids in Egypt, potentially solving the mystery of how ancient Egyptians transported the massive stone blocks to build the monuments. The 40-mile-long (64km) river branch, which ran by the Giza pyramid complex among other wonders, was hidden under desert and farmland for millennia, according to a study revealing the find on Thursday. The existence of the river would explain why the 31 pyramids were built in a chain along a now inhospitable desert strip in the Nile valley between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago. The once mighty river was increasingly covered in sand, potentially starting during a major drought about 4,200 years ago, the scientists suggested. The Giza pyramids stood on a plateau roughly a kilometre from the banks of the river.

[internationaldayoflight]

From Roads to Rooftops: AI and Transformative Urban Innovation (In Person event).

Join us May 23rd, 2024, at 4PM (5PM program) for an exciting exploration of Smart Cities and the intersection of technology and livability.

We look forward to showcasing our Spring Cohort with our Demo Day event on Thursday, May 23rd. We hope you can join us in person for investors and interested parties in the metro DC / Northern Virginia / Maryland ("DMV") region. For those beyond the DMV, please register with this separate Eventbrite for our live-stream of the program.

This is an exciting group of founders and associated solutions! One of our companies focuses on bio-based road protection & servicing and is on its way towards revolutionizing the servicing of our roads to save states (or countries and associated taxpayers) literally billions of dollars while keeping road maintenance-based inconvenience to a minimum compared to traditional approaches, all in a manner that dramatically reduces the carbon footprint. For DOTs and urban infrastructure investors, this is a must-see!

But that's just the beginning. We'll feature a solution in urban agriculture, turning rooftops into indoor farms, making fresh, nutritious produce available to apartment dwellers, universities, and food banks in underserved urban populations. We will showcase an application with a “telehealth” approach for DIY home improvement and construction projects that provides one-on-one professional contractor support to your average person engaging in a DIY home project–without having to wait and for a tiny fraction of the cost. We will also feature an EV charging solution focused on fleet charging, circumventing the need to build a large infrastructure (and associated investment) and providing a more efficient and cost-effective approach to meeting the demand for operating EV-based fleets of cars and light trucks.

Last, no demo day 2024 would be complete without AI solutions, and we will feature two. One is aimed at social services and regulated industries, where AI-enabled chatbots for organizations must have 100% confidence in any information provided, so the notion of "Trusted AI" becomes table stakes. And last, as medium and larger organizations, from government to banks to technology firms and more, are challenged to adapt to an increasingly changing world, the change agents and leaders in these organizations can leverage AI to assist in performance management and leading change with cultural alignment, and we have an AI-solution you'll see for this as well.

We welcome you to join us at 4 PM for a reception ahead of the program. This will be a great opportunity to network with other attendees and the founders. For those in person, we'll also host a "meet the founders" reception afterward. This will be a chance to ask questions and learn more about the showcased solutions. This event is made possible thanks to our sponsor ClearBlade, who is driving enterprise digital transformation with IoT and Edge technologies. Whether in person or virtual, we hope you can join us!

[timbervalleyfarmbarnrental]

Outdoor Living Smithsburg Maryland Landscape Company

The Best Landscape Contractor Smithsburg, Maryland

Imagine stepping outside your door into a beautiful outdoor living space designed just for you. With Grosh's Lawn Service, you can make this dream a reality. As experts in landscaping in Smithsburg, Maryland, we can help you create a perfect outdoor living area that will transform your home.

Don't wait to start enjoying life with your loved ones! Contact Karen and Tom Grosh at https://www.groshslawnservice.com/ to schedule a consultation for your ideal outdoor living space.

Grosh's Lawn Service has the knowledge and expertise to bring your vision to life, and help you make the most of your backyard. Take the first step toward your dream outdoor living space today.

Contact Grosh's Lawn Service at https://www.groshslawnservice.com/contact-us/ to schedule your consultation.

https://www.groshslawnservice.com/landscape-design-build/

#groshslawnservice