work by Yuko Shimizu
Friday, May 31, 2019
The Market On Friday
At 9:25 a.m. ET DOW futures are -265 and the price of oil per barrel is way down. The market will tank at the opening bell and you can that Trump for that.
CNN: Dow set to fall 300 points on Mexican tariffs By Matt Egan
CNN: Dow set to fall 300 points on Mexican tariffs By Matt Egan
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Deer
Get Pocket: The Deer in Your Yard Are Here to Stay - The deer population of the eastern U.S. has exploded and cities are trying to keep it in check. But the options available to them are limited, and fraught. by Amanda Kolson Hurley
There are about 1.25 million collisions between cars and deer, elk, and moose annually in the United States, according to the insurer State Farm, and these cause around 150 human fatalities, and countless animal deaths, each year.
Pelosi Says No
If Trump does not deserve to be impeached, then exactly what does a president have to do to get impeached?
Guardian UK: Pelosi resists call for impeachment as more Democrats join chorus - Three 2020 candidates and more than 40 representatives call for impeachment, but Pelosi reportedly says it’s a ‘fool’s errand’
Guardian UK: Pelosi resists call for impeachment as more Democrats join chorus - Three 2020 candidates and more than 40 representatives call for impeachment, but Pelosi reportedly says it’s a ‘fool’s errand’
Decoding
NY Times: Decoding Robert Mueller - In short: No exoneration. (And please don’t make me testify!) By The Editorial Board
Mr. Mueller was careful to emphasize that if his office “had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.”
Translation: There’s a decent chance the president committed a crime.
Robery DeNiro On Mueller
NY Times: Robert De Niro: Robert Mueller, We Need to Hear More - You said that your investigation’s work “speaks for itself.” It doesn’t. By Robert De Niro - Mr. De Niro is an actor, producer and director.
While I and so many Americans have admired your quiet, confident, dignified response in ignoring that assault, it allowed the administration to use its own voice to control the narrative. And those voices are so loud and so persistent that they beat even reasonable people into submission. The loudest, most persistent voice belongs to the president himself, and under most circumstances, we want to believe our president.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. At 9:10 a.m. ET DOW futures are +51 and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open moderately higher.
CNN: Rare earths could be the next front in the US-China trade war. Here's what you should know By Sherisse Pham and Julia Horowitz
CNN: Rare earths could be the next front in the US-China trade war. Here's what you should know By Sherisse Pham and Julia Horowitz
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi: Pelosi Statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s Press Statement Reiterating the President’s Obstruction
“It is with the greatest respect for Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the deepest disappointment in the Department of Justice holding the President above the law, that I thank Special Counsel Mueller for the work he and his team did to provide a record for future action both in the Congress and in the courts regarding the Trump Administration involvement in Russian interference and obstruction of the investigation.
“Special Counsel Mueller made clear that he did not exonerate the President when he stated, ‘If we had confidence that the President clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.’ He stated that the decision not to indict stemmed directly from the Department of Justice’s policy that a sitting President cannot be indicted. Despite Department of Justice policy to the contrary, no one is above the law – not even the President.
“The Special Counsel’s report revealed that the President’s campaign welcomed Russian interference in the election, and laid out eleven instances of the President’s obstruction of the investigation. The Congress holds sacred its constitutional responsibility to investigate and hold the President accountable for his abuse of power.
“The Congress will continue to investigate and legislate to protect our elections and secure our democracy. The American people must have the truth. We call upon the Senate to pass H.R. 1, the For The People Act, to protect our election systems.
“We salute Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team for his patriotic duty to seek the truth.”
Impeach!
NY Times: Mueller, in First Comments on Russia Inquiry, Declines to Clear Trump By Sharon LaFraniere and Eileen Sullivan
Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, on Wednesday characterized for the first time his investigation of whether President Trump obstructed justice, saying “if we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.”
Mueller Speaks
NY Times: Robert Mueller Says He’s Resigning and Closing Special Counsel’s Office
“The matters we investigated were of paramount importance,” Mr. Mueller said, rebutting President Trump’s claims that the investigation was a “witch hunt” motivated by politics.
Susan Moss
Susan Moss is a dear person and a vibrant singer songwriter who is making waves on the global indie music scene. Susan is based in New Jersey and her work is listened to throughout the world. Susan is a romantic whose music speaks to love and eros, and in this particular time in history, that's a welcome addition. Susan is also a generous playlist curator, meaning that she helps many musical artists including myself get heard as well. You can listen to Susan's music catalogue on Spotify - Moondreams Music. Billboard Top hits and Indie is Susan's very popular Spotify playlist. Posted here are ‘Tropical Breeze’ and ‘Diamond Dreams’.
MoonDreams Music is Singer/Songwriter Susan Moss, whose first release was Carousel Dreams - A Collection of Lullabies, a multi award-winning cd of original, ethereal, dreamy style lullabies on her independent record label, MoonDreams Music Recording Group. Susan wrote all the music on the album, and co-wrote three of the songs with former MoonDreams partner and lyricist Donna Martin. The music was recorded with various session musicians. Carousel Dreams won a Parents' Choice Award, as well as iParenting Media and NAPPA awards. It was also reviewed as a Parenting Pick in Parenting Magazine, and the School Library Journal. Diamond Dreams is MoonDreams Music's second release, a single in the style of soft rock, written by Susan Moss. It was recorded and produced by Dean Bailin, award winning guitarist and producer, who played on the Rupert Holmes 70's hit, the Pina Colada song. MoonDreams Music’s most recent release is the ambient Tropical Breeze - recorded, mixed, mastered and co-produced by Vince Carducci.
Toxic America
Guardian UK: 'I wash all my food like crazy': scientists voice concern about nanoparticles - US foods are increasingly full of nano-scale additives, even as researchers raise alarm bells about their safety
This suite of ingredients, engineered to almost atomic scale, might have unintended effects on cells and organs, particularly the digestive tract. There are also indications that nanoparticles might get into the bloodstream and accumulate elsewhere in the body. They have been linked to inflammation, liver and kidney damage and even heart and brain damage.
'Just Another Scumbag'
Guardian UK: Bannon described Trump Organization as 'criminal enterprise', Michael Wolff book claims - Former White House adviser says financial investigations will take down president in sequel to Fire and Fury
The former White House adviser Steve Bannon has described the Trump Organization as a criminal entity and predicted that investigations into the president’s finances will lead to his political downfall, when he is revealed to be “not the billionaire he said he was, just another scumbag”.
Trump Makes China Great Again
NY Times: Trump Hands China an Easy Win in the Trade War - The president’s tough rhetoric plays into Chinese economic nationalism. By Kevin Rudd - Mr. Rudd, a former prime minister of Australia, is the president of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
The Chinese media is now full of accounts of the country’s economic resilience and appeals to patriotism, even invoking the spirit of the Korean War, when, according to the official narrative, China was able to stare down the vastly superior American military.
Tornades
NY Times: Kansas City-Area Tornadoes Add to 12 Straight Days of Destruction By Kevin Williams and Alan Blinder
On Tuesday, his home was a shambles: walls bent, doors tilted, the roof gone — another house crippled amid a stretch of severe weather that has tormented communities from the Rocky Mountains to the Mid-Atlantic in recent weeks.
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning. At 9:10 a.m. ET DOW futures are -190 and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open significantly lower.
CNN: Retailers report; Stocks slide; Exxon meeting By Julia Horowitz
CNN: Retailers report; Stocks slide; Exxon meeting By Julia Horowitz
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Live Well
Guardian UK: Happy ever after: 25 ways to live well into old age - Determined to enjoy longer and healthier lives, two women researched the science to find the key. Here, they share what they discovered
(20.) Meditate
Meditation isn’t just hippie woo woo: research shows it has a powerful effect on the brain. It appears to reduce stress and promote empathy, and regular practitioners seem not to lose grey matter, or suffer reduced concentration, as they age. Just 15 minutes a day is enough to strengthen telomeres, the “caps” that protect our DNA and, according to a Harvard study, to have a positive impact on blood pressure levels.
The New Dinosaur
The Atlantic: The Books of College Libraries Are Turning Into Wallpaper - University libraries around the world are seeing precipitous declines in the use of the books on their shelves. by Dan Cohen - Vice Provost for Information Collaboration at Northeastern University
College students at UVA checked out 238,000 books during the school year a decade ago; last year, that number had shrunk to just 60,000.
Before you tsk-tsk today’s kids for their lack of bookishness, note that the trend lines are sliding southward for graduate students and faculty members, too
Watch The Bread
Guardian UK: Banned bread: why does the US allow additives that Europe says are unsafe? China, Brazil and members of the EU have weighed the potential risks and outlawed chemicals found in US loaves
Potassium bromate, a potent oxidizer that helps bread rise, has been linked to kidney and thyroid cancers in rodents. Azodicarbonamide (ACA), a chemical that forms bubbles in foams and plastics like vinyl, is used to bleach and leaven dough – but when baked, it, too, has been linked to cancer in lab animals.
Whoa!
Guardian UK: Mueller drew up obstruction indictment against Trump, Michael Wolff book claims
...the first count, under Title 18, United States code, Section 1505, charged the president with corruptly – or by threats of force or threatening communication – influencing, obstructing or impeding a pending proceeding before a department or agency of the United States.
The second count, under section 1512, charged the president with tampering with a witness, victim or informant.
The third count, under section 1513, charged the president with retaliating against a witness, victim or informant.
Pure Unabashed Short Sighted Stupidity
NY Times: Trump Administration Hardens Its Attack on Climate Science By Coral Davenport and Mark Landler
And, in what could be Mr. Trump’s most consequential action yet, his administration will seek to undermine the very science on which climate change policy rests.
What Black People Want
NY Times: Dear Candidates: Here Is What Black People Want - We long for the same things as everyone else, and yet few campaigns treat us as if our experiences matter. By Alicia Garza - Ms. Garza, a founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, is the head of the Black Futures Lab.
The most common response among people who were politically engaged was that no politician or pollster has ever asked them what their lives were like. Fifty-two percent of respondents said that politicians do not care about black people, and one in three said they care only a little.
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. At 9:15 a.m. ET DOW futures are +19 and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open slightly higher.
CNN: Fintech arms race heats up with $21.5 billion takeover By Matt Egan
CNN: Fintech arms race heats up with $21.5 billion takeover By Matt Egan
Monday, May 27, 2019
Allan Thomas
One of the most talented and gifted musicians I've met in recent months is vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, Allan Thomas. Allan's work is bluesy, soulful, funky, nuanced, and instantly catchy. Based in Hawaii and with an audience that extends around the globe, Allan produces both vocal music and instrumental music. I've posted two of Allan's songs. The first 'It All Comes Down To Love' is a personal favorite and features Allan on vocals, the second 'El Sueno De Repitido' is an instrumental, pure funky jazz with a deep Latin twist. You can hear more from Allan Thomas on Spotify - Allan Thomas
THE MUSICAL JOURNEY of ALLAN THOMAS
Allan Thomas’ musical adventure began in Brooklyn, NY when, at age 12, he joined a doo-wop vocal group, performing at local events. At age 18, he signed his first solo record deal with famed producer Huey P. Meaux, and released his first single on Scepter Records.
Becoming a songwriter at 19, Allan soon played the coffee house circuit in Greenwich Village backing himself on acoustic guitar. In 1971 Sire Records released his first album of original songs ‘A Picture’ produced by Richard Gottehrer. To support the album he toured the US opening for acts such as Cannonball Adderley Quintet, Weather Report, Richie Havens, and elder blues men Bukka White and Arthur Crudup.
In 1972, Mr Thomas was invited to improvise vocals on the Cannonball Adderley Quintet song ‘Behold’ under the nom de plume Arthur Charma, which appeared on the groups ‘Soul of the Bible’ concept album, featuring Cannonball and Nat Adderley, and George Duke. Subsequently he sang improvisational vocals with the quintet at the Troubadour and Lighthouse clubs in Southern California.
In the late seventies Allan lived in Malibu, CA was staff songwriter for ABC Music. Seeking fresh inspiration he moved to Kauai, Hawaii in 1983 and never looked back. He released his second album ‘The Island’ on his Black Bamboo Recordings label in 1989. The CD was produced and mixed by Stephen Barncard (Grateful Dead-Crosby and Nash) and featured Russell Ferrante of The Yellowjackets, Michael Ruff on piano and keyboards and his life-long sidekick in music, Bryan Kessler on Guitar.
‘Coconut Culture’ Allan’s 3rd album released in 1997 was produced, recorded and mixed by another industry heavy the much respected Mike Shipley. The record featured a duet with Graham Nash of Crosby Stills and Nash on the song ‘The Navigator’. On this record Allan begins utilizing several alternate guitar tunings that were gifts from David Crosby.
From 1998 to 2004 Allan moonlighted as a DJ at KKCR Kauai Community Radio.
Allan Thomas was assistant engineer on Donald Fagen’s (Steely Dan) third solo CD ‘Morph The Cat’ He also had the great fortune to play rhythm guitar and sing backing vocals for both Fagen and Todd Rundgren in a benefit concert in March of 2005.
Allan’s fourth album ‘Making Up For Lost Time’, was released in 2007. Once again joined by Graham Nash on backing vocals, it featured James Taylor’s bassist Jimmy Johnson, and Tris Imboden of Chicago on drums. The self-produced record also features Kauai musicians extraordinaire Ken Emerson on slide guitar and lap-steel, and Michael Ruff on keyboards and backing vocals.
In 2009 Stephen Barncard released Allan’s Brooklyn Boy In Paradise – The Unreleased Collection – 14 songs from 1980 – 1994.
2011 saw the release of Allan’s fifth studio album ‘Deep Water’. Produced and recorded by AT and Mixed by 2012 Grammy award winner Mike Shipley. The CD features David Crosby, Graham Nash, and members of the Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Neil Young, CSN, Van Morrison and Yellowjackets bands.
In 2012 ‘Deep Water’ was nominated for Rock Album of the Year in the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards.
In August of 2018 Black Bamboo Recordings released Mr Thomas’ 6th studio album ‘Two Sides To Every Story’. Culminating 50 years in the art of making records and written and recorded over the previous six years, this collection of songs aims to be his most far-reaching and diversified album yet.
Blending elements of rock, blues, jazz, singer/songwriter and soulful vocals the album contains 8 songs with voice and 7 instrumentals. Ranging from a solo acoustic guitar slack-key instrumental to full-blown ensemble tracks featuring Keith Carlock of Steely Dan (drums) Jimmy Johnson (bass) of the Steve Gadd and James Taylor bands. Plus Grammy award winning jazz men Russell Ferrante (Piano) and Will Kennedy (drums) of the Yellowjackets.
‘Two Sides To Every Story’ was produced and recorded By Allan Thomas and mixed in Montreal by multi-platinum engineer Paul Northfield. At present the album is gaining radio momentum both in the US and Europe, and Allan’s songs are being added daily to Spotify playlists in a variety of genres. 'Two Sides To Every Story’ won best engineered album in the 2019 Nā Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaiian Grammy’s).
Food, Greed, Sex, Revenge
NY Times: Crazy Is as Crazy Does By Maureen Dowd
“One of the biggest motivating factors in Trump’s life — other than food, greed, sex and revenge — is mythmaking. Deep down, he knows he’s a pathological liar and he’s not the person he says he is. But any time anyone pierces that veil, it sends him into a rage.”
Friday, May 24, 2019
The Failure
The Atlantic: A Single Scandal Sums Up All of Trump’s Failures - The president has been intervening in the process of producing a border wall, on behalf of a favored firm. by David A. Graham
...Trump has repeatedly pressured the Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Homeland Security to award a contract for building a wall at the southern U.S. border to a North Dakota company headed by a leading Republican donor.
Impeach
NY Times: Impeaching Trump Is Risky. So Is Refusing To. - Nancy Pelosi’s case against impeachment is growing incoherent. By Michelle Goldberg
If Trump’s outrageous misdeeds are visible for all to see — and they are — you don’t need further investigation to justify beginning an inquiry into whether impeachment is justified.
Theresa May Resigns!
NY Times: Theresa May Resigns: Live Updates
Mrs. May said on Friday that she would step down as leader of the Conservative Party and then as Britain’s prime minister, after repeatedly failing to get her Brexit plan through Parliament.
The Market On Friday
Good morning. At 9:10 a.m. ET DOW futures are +126 and the price of oil per barrel is up. The market is poised to open significantly higher.
CNN: Brexit fears have already trashed the pound. May's exit offers little relief By Julia Horowitz
CNN: Brexit fears have already trashed the pound. May's exit offers little relief By Julia Horowitz
Thursday, May 23, 2019
T-Rex
December 13th 2016 - "Through hard work, dedication, and smart deal making, Rex rose through the ranks to become CEO of ExxonMobil, one of the world's largest and most respected companies." "His tenacity, broad experience, and deep understanding of geopolitics make him an excellent choice for secretary of State…” "He will promote regional stability and focus on the core national security interests of the United States." “I have chosen one of the truly great business leaders of the world, Rex Tillerson.”
May 23, 2019 - “Rex Tillerson, a man who is “dumb as a rock” and totally ill prepared and ill equipped to be Secretary of State, made up a story (he got fired) that I was out-prepared by Vladimir Putin at a meeting in Hamburg, Germany. I don’t think Putin would agree. Look how the U.S. is doing!”
Solitary Confinement
CNN: A federal prisoner believed to have spent the longest time in solitary confinement has died By Steve Almasy and Madeline Holcombe
He had lived in solitary confinement since killing a prison guard in 1983, a span of more than 35 years. Much of that time he was subject to an unusual no-contact order in which he had little interaction with other people.
Have An Intervention
Pelosi is sticking it to Trump and it's great, it's a beautiful thing. I hope she continues and digs even deeper to get under Trump's spineless skin.
Salon: Nancy Pelosi urges Trump's family to have an intervention with him "for the good of the country" - "Maybe he wants to take a leave of absence," the speaker of the House adds during her weekly news conference by Shira Tarlo
Salon: Nancy Pelosi urges Trump's family to have an intervention with him "for the good of the country" - "Maybe he wants to take a leave of absence," the speaker of the House adds during her weekly news conference by Shira Tarlo
Collapse
The Intellectualist: GOP Senator Asks Trump To End Trade War, Says U.S. Farming Is About To Collapse
Nowhere Man
NY Times: Trump’s Bridges to Nowhere - Just don’t mention the “I-word” around the White House. By Gail Collins
Farewell, poor bill. And if you’re driving anywhere this weekend, remember the P-word is pothole.
The Market On Thursday
Good morning. At 9:15 a.m. ET DOW futures are -268 and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to tank at the opening bell. When you have an inept president who has virtually no idea about economics, this is the result.
CNN: Indian stock market party for Modi is brief as big challenges remain By Rishi Iyengar
CNN: Indian stock market party for Modi is brief as big challenges remain By Rishi Iyengar
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Ha!
CNN: NY state passes bill allowing Congress to request Trump's tax returns By Evan Simko-Bednarski and Sonia Moghe
...would require the state's tax commissioner to provide New York state tax returns to Congress upon request from the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, or the Joint Committee on Taxation.
Have An Excellent Wednesday
Diana Keys, aged 70, who has spent the last 40 years painting her own version of the Sistine Chapel in her council flat, Hemel Hempstead, UK
What Is Important
Guardian UK: Climate crisis more politically polarizing than abortion for US voters, study finds - Democrats ranked global heating as the third most important issue on their list, while Republican voters ranked it last in a Yale poll
When voters were asked to rank topics important to them for the 2020 presidential election, conservative Republicans put global warming last out of 29 issues. Liberal Democrats placed the issue third, behind only environmental protection and healthcare.
Pills
Guardian UK: Revealed: 21,000 US women order abortion pills online in past six months - Three-quarters of mail order requests came from states with strict anti-abortion laws
Data shared with the Guardian reveals that 21,000 women requested abortion medication between October 2018 and March this year from the charity Aid Access. Between a third and a half of the women who made the requests were then sent abortion pills in the mail. The majority of the recipients live in states with hostile abortion policies.
I.R.S.
NY Times: I.R.S. Memo Undercuts Mnuchin on Withholding Trump’s Tax Returns By Alan Rappeport
The Internal Revenue Service has no choice but to honor congressional requests for President Trump’s tax returns unless he invokes executive privilege to protect them, according to a draft legal memo written by agency staff members.
The Market On Wednesday
Good morning. At 9:10 a.m. ET DOW futures are -84 and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open significantly lower. Bad things happen when an ignorant blowhard is the president.
CNN: More China friction; Amazon meeting; Fed minutes By Julia Horowitz
CNN: More China friction; Amazon meeting; Fed minutes By Julia Horowitz
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Insults
May you melt off the earth like snow off the ditch.
May your pipe never smoke, may your teapot be broke.
President Bolton
This is a subscription only article. I do not have a subscription to The Daily Beast, but I did like the title of the article.
The Daily Beast: President John Bolton Tries to Start a War. Can Little Donald Trump Stop Him? Without a real chief of staff in Trump’s White House, his national security adviser is trying to do double duty as commander in chief. by Margaret Carlson
The Daily Beast: President John Bolton Tries to Start a War. Can Little Donald Trump Stop Him? Without a real chief of staff in Trump’s White House, his national security adviser is trying to do double duty as commander in chief. by Margaret Carlson
Kilo
Vox: The new kilogram just debuted. It’s a massive achievement. The new definition represents a victory of humankind over chaos in the universe. Really. By Brian Resnick
The new definition anchors the value of the kilogram to a constant in nature, which can never, ever change
Subpoena Upheld
NY Times: Trump’s Secrecy Fight Escalates as Judge Rules for Congress in Early Test By Charlie Savage and Nicholas Fandos
The fight over President Trump’s systematic stonewalling of Congress escalated on two fronts on Monday, as a federal judge upheld a subpoena for his financial records even as the White House instructed its former top lawyer to defy a subpoena to testify before lawmakers.
The Market On Tuesday
Good morning. At 9:25 a.m. ET DOW futures are +147 and the price of oil per barrel is down. The market is poised to open significantly higher.
CNN: Why American steel stocks plummeted in the past year, despite tariffs By Chris Isidore
CNN: Why American steel stocks plummeted in the past year, despite tariffs By Chris Isidore
Monday, May 20, 2019
Catastrophic Tornado
Notice that the religious right is not mentioning these catastrophic tornadoes, ripping through red states, as god inspired revenge for gay marriage or some other such nonsense. God only enacts revenge when something disastrous hits a blue state apparently.
CNN: 2 million people are at 'high' risk for catastrophic tornadoes in parts of Oklahoma and Texas By Holly Yan and Christina Maxouris
CNN: 2 million people are at 'high' risk for catastrophic tornadoes in parts of Oklahoma and Texas By Holly Yan and Christina Maxouris
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