The ancient redwoods in Big Basin state park are not gone.

…an Associated Press reporter and photographer hiked the renowned Redwood Trail at Big Basin Redwoods State Park on Monday and confirmed most of the ancient redwoods had withstood the blaze. Among the survivors is one dubbed Mother of the Forest.

“That is such good news, I can’t tell you how much that gives me peace of mind,” said Laura McLendon, conservation director for the Sempervirens Fund, an environmental group dedicated to the protection of redwoods and their habitats.

The infrastructure is destroyed.

“But the forest is not gone,” McLendon said. “It will regrow. Every old growth redwood I’ve ever seen, in Big Basin and other parks, has fire

They have their priorities.

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has doubled down on its refusal to let schools serve free meals to all students this fall—despite rising food insecurity and pleas from anti-hunger advocates, school nutrition officials, and lawmakers.

…

The announcement was prompted by a request from Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Representative Robert Scott of Virginia. On August 14, the lawmakers asked the agency to extend crucial regulatory waivers that would allow schools nationwide to serve meals at no cost to all children, regardless of whether they were enrolled students, and regardless of whether they technically qualified for free lunch.

Before the pandemic, students had to meet specific criteria in order to qualify for USDA’s

Good to know they’re focused on the important stuff.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he is opposed to the BBC’s decision to play instrumental versions of Land of Hope and Glory and Rule, Britannia! at the Last Night of the Proms next month.

“I think it’s time we stopped our cringing embarrassment about our history,” he told reporters.

Which cringing embarrassment? About which history? Does the UK have nothing at all in its history to cringe about? Bragging about “ruling the waves” seems a tad grandiose and pushy to me, seeing as how the oceans don’t belong to any one country.

Media reports have suggested the lyrics are being dropped due to associations with colonialism and slavery.

But the

Open all the things!

Or maybe not.

Six days after classes began, the University of Alabama has experienced an “unacceptable rise” in coronavirus cases, the university’s president said.

The University of Alabama’s main campus in Tuscaloosa has recorded 531 total cases. The remaining campuses in Birmingham and Huntsville have recorded 35 cases cumulatively, according to the university’s Covid-19 dashboard.

Yes I’d say 531 is too many.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Notre Dame both halted in-person classes within days of the start of the school year. Each university has recorded over 400 Covid-19 cases since mid-August.

This week, The Ohio State University on Monday suspended over 200 students who violated

The Guardian summarizes day one of the Republicans’ Rally o’ Fear:

Republicans delivered a dark, Trumpian message centered on the alleged dangers of electing Joe Biden as president. Despite party leaders’ promises to paint an optimistic vision about the future of the country, Republicans instead attempted to scare voters into supporting Trump by pushing baseless claims that Democrats would “disarm you, empty the prisons, lock you in your home and invite MS-13 to live next door”, as the Florida congressman Matt Gaetz said.

I’d be willing to lock Matt Gaetz in his house.

The convention kept factcheckers busy as the RNC peddled falsehoods about the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans praised Trump’s response to the pandemic and accused Democrats and the

Time for the Kimberly Guilfoyle jokes.

You don’t even need to Photoshop her eyes. They are completely black. I think she is a demon. #Guilfoylechallenge pic.twitter.com/fdK3pV3UGY

— ClardicFug (@ltlwing47) August 25, 2020

… Read the rest

More on those wacky scamps who brandish guns at people who walk past their house:

When Rabbi Susan Talve heard that Patricia and Mark McCloskey would be among the speakers addressing the Republican National Convention, she decided she could no longer stay quiet.

“It’s so upsetting that they have a national audience,” Talve said. “It’s upsetting we make heroes out of people who hate.”

The McCloskeys are Talve’s neighbors. Their property’s northern wall abuts the property of St. Louis’ Jewish Central Reform Congregation, where Talve is the rabbi.

They’re not good neighbors.

In 2013, the synagogue placed beehives along the wall to produce honey for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. One morning they found the hives destroyed and all

The first installment of the Republican convention seems to have been exciting. (I didn’t watch it. I don’t watch conventions. I’d rather watch paint dry.) Kimberly Tinfoil gave a psychotic all-caps fascist shouting rant, and the gun-pointing St Louis couple gave a slightly quieter fascist rant.

During their speech Monday, Mark McCloskey described Cori Bush, the activist leading protesters in St. Louis, as a “Marxist revolutionary.”

…

“That Marxist revolutionary is now going to be the congresswoman from the 1st District of Missouri,” Mark McCloskey said on Monday. “These radicals are not content with marching in the streets. They want to walk the hall of Congress, they want to take over, they want power. This is Joe Biden’s party.

Apparently the NY Times doesn’t pay much attention to the California fires.

This “historic” spate of California wildfires have so far displaced hundreds of thousands during a pandemic, killed seven, destroyed at least tens of thousands of structures, burned through the equivalent acreage of a small state and sent plumes of smoke over several regions, forcing millions indoors during a heat wave.

Yet the country’s paper of record – the New York Times – seems unwilling to feature this incredibly newsworthy disaster that has affected millions of Americans prominently on its pages.

The fires are off the @nytimes front page entirely today. https://t.co/TQlm14ySmR

— Scott Morris (@OakMorr) August 23, 2020

It is a big country, a big unwieldy country, … Read the rest

Pompeo is going to address the Republican convention later. Guess what Secretaries of State are not supposed to do.

Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, will address the Republican national convention in pre-taped remarks from Jerusalem this week, violating a longstanding tradition that the country’s top diplomat avoid partisan politics, CNN has confirmed:

.@SecPompeo will address the Republican National Convention this week, despite just a month earlier reminding employees to "not improperly engage the Department of State in the political process," according to a cable obtained by @CNN.

— Jennifer Hansler (@jmhansler) August 24, 2020

Well you see it’s not “improperly,” because he’s doing it and he decides what’s improper. MAGA!

Pompeo’s speech comes one month after

Is it men’s turn now?

Hey. Straight. Men. They. are. coming. for. you.

I think it should read because of pen*s and not hate. pic.twitter.com/cbiNnDRAIN

— Kalesi Wolf (@Kalesiwolf) August 24, 2020

Awwww look at that poor sweet sad little girl sitting holding her knees and trying not to cry because 98% of straight men are unwilling to date her. (She looks way too little to be dating anyone, at only 6 or 7, but whatever.) How could straight men be so mean that they make her mouth turn down and her eyes close – look at her sitting there all alone instead of “dating” (they really mean fucking) a nice straight man.

(Wait, if the sweet little girl wants … Read the rest

The New York Attorney General explains what they’re up to with that subpoena:

I took action to force the Trump Organization, and specifically EVP Eric Trump, to comply with my office’s ongoing investigation into its financial dealings.

For months, the Trump Organization has failed to fully comply with our subpoenas in this investigation.

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) August 24, 2020

We are seeking thousands of documents and testimony from multiple witnesses regarding several Trump Organization properties and transactions, including from Eric Trump, who was intimately involved in one or more transactions under review.

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) August 24, 2020

Nothing will stop us from following the facts and the law, wherever they may lead.

These questions will

Another one summarily fired for crimethink.

Another woman summarily dismissed by a literary agency for daring to tweet her opinions on sex and gender. pic.twitter.com/gyUgWPhxOP

— Anya Palmer (@anyabike) August 24, 2020

By “parted ways with Sasha” they mean “fired Sasha for crimethink.”

What terrible thing did she say?

pic.twitter.com/V7rvpaYe6a

— Anya Palmer (@anyabike) August 24, 2020

Does that look like a firing offence to you? To anyone? Really?

It does to this unpleasant inquisitor:

I can't call myself a trans ally and withhold info that protects trans authors from transphobic agents. Do not query Sasha White (@sashasemyonovna). Her TERF account is @iamGrushenka. While she's within her right to post whatever she likes, STAY AWAY FROM HER.

Golly.

I’m still bugging over this, BTW. https://t.co/qJERcUgIXJ

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) August 24, 2020

One wonders what number would be NOT ACCEPTABLE.… Read the rest

Sir, sir, just a moment sir, not so fast sir, we have some questions for you sir, we have a subpoena for your records sir.

New York state’s attorney general has filed a new lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump’s company and several other defendants, according to court records.

The complaint against the Trump Organization and the other defendants was filed with a New York state court in Manhattan, the court records show.

Trump is at the Republican convention at this very moment, telling the assembled worshipers how awesome he is. Law-abiding no, but awesome yes.

A copy of the complaint was not immediately available, and its subject matter could not immediately be determined. A letter filed with the

Eastern Airlines 1967:

Sure, we want her to be pretty…don’t you?

Oh yes, definitely, I want her to look like a Barbie doll, thank you sir.

That’s why we look at her face, her makeup, her complexion, her figure, her weight, her legs, her grooming, her nails and her hair.

What about her breasts? What about her bum? Do you check her between the legs? Best to be safe about these things. Do you check her teeth, including the back ones? Her tongue? Her armpits?

Anyway at least they’re all very white.… Read the rest

Jeez. Be careful out there, mind how you go, soyez sage. Don’t forget (let alone refuse) to wear a mask.

The number of COVID-19 cases connected to a wedding reception in Millinocket continues to climb, with state health officials saying on Saturday that they could trace 53 confirmed cases of coronavirus to the reception. That’s up from 32 confirmed cases on Friday.

53! From one wedding! Some were secondary or tertiary.

Millinocket Regional Hospital has reported that it tested 366 people who attended the reception or came in contact with those who did. Of the 53 cases linked to the reception on Saturday, 13 were secondary and 10 were tertiary, Maine CDC spokesman Robert Long said Saturday evening.

One … Read the rest

Originally a comment by Nullius in Verba on All our fault.

Fun things here:

1) Wokeness/CRT views people as “racialized” rather than being of a particular race. This is neither typo nor poor word choice on her part. Rather, it is exactly the way the woke understand the world: as interacting systems of discourse that impose “race” (among other things) on groups of (not individual) people. It is the discursive systems that racialize. There is nothing, literally nothing, outside of the discourse.

2) White women’s fears drive policing, the economy, and politics. White women are apparently the most powerful force in the nation. Why did the DJIA jump? White women. Why did Trump win? White women. Why did … Read the rest

It’s all Karens’ white women’s fault. All of it.

Here is a little thread on white women's fear. Nothing that hasn't been said before, but COVID has really made it clear just how much of white supremacy is maintained by white women's fear.

My Facebook feed has been a non-stop parade of white women's fear.

— Nora Loreto (@NoLore) August 21, 2020

This fear drives policing. It drives the economy. It drives politics. White women's fears become society's collective fears and we divert from the real issues; the real fears that people should have.

— Nora Loreto (@NoLore) August 21, 2020

Stupid bitches. Who cares what happens to us?

White women who find this disgusting need to challenge white women's

The Guardian reports:

Police are investigating after a sign at Oradour, in the Haute-Vienne region of south-central France near Limoges, was defaced with the word mémoire (memorial) sprayed over and replaced by menteur (liar).

The desecration has caused national outrage across France, where Oradour remains a potent physical symbol of Nazi brutality.

On 10 June 1944 – four days after the Normandy landings – a 200-strong detachment of the 4th SS Panzer Grenadier Regiment, part of the notorious Das Reich division, marched into the village.

In retaliation for the reported kidnapping of a Nazi officer and attacks by the French resistance in the region, they rounded up the village’s 652 inhabitants and ordered everyone into the village square.

The