The world is whacked.

This story about dominion voting lawsuit is enlightening.

A quick reminder that "the big lie" posited that vote totals were changed intentionally on machines provided by dominion voting systems.

The lie persisted as the basis for overturning the election. Good old Rudy and the crazy lady were the primary actors. But Fox News did most of the supposed reporting.

It was very flawed, and totally played into a gop-led conspiracy about the deep state or whatever.

Dominion sued, since they were singled out. Fox News was the big name in the suit.

The lawsuit moved forward. Discovery happened.

And what did we learn?

Everyone. Every. One. At faux news knew it to be one big lie ... and that the "experts" were crazy. We know it from discovery of internal communications and from depositions.

And yet they ran with it because they knew they would lose viewers - and money - if they deviated from the company line.

Uhhhhh. Fair and balanced they were not.

Unbelievable.

And meanwhile the GOP is grilling the candidate to head the FCC because he made a statement about Fox News being state sponsored propaganda. Which is now demonstrably true. But don't bother these knuckleheads with facts.

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White Sox prospect Anderson Comas comes out as gay, says he wants to be an 'inspiration for those like me'

We need more of this. More compassion. More understanding. In everything

Respect for you, Anderson.

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What’s that poll telling me?

Read "Deal Breakers That Make People Avoid A Restaurant" and at the bottom was this poll. Wow! I agree with the top group.

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That stupid balloon

Someone sees a balloon in the sky and wonders what it is. They go on social media, pick up some followers. And then start tracking it through various sites and software.

People start to get a little rambunctious and suggest that maybe it's some sort of spy thing! The horror!

The media picks up on it a bit, but they do very little in the way of fact checking, or, I dunno, actual reporting.

Instead they pick up on the social media posts, and talk to some people who are in no way experts on anything for an opinion.

The principle of blowback starts. Other news outlets pick up on the already written story. It becomes a thing, without really being a thing.

And then the real stupidity starts. Someone suggests its the Chinese spying on us. The orange menace tells us it's true. The crazy wing of the political party confirms that this must be true!

Then the Chinese government plays right into it and says it's theirs alright!

Predictably, the media, and conservatives, go nuts. And no one lives up to the principle of "do your own research"…

Then there are oddly conflicting reports about where this balloon is, exactly. Was there more than one?

But here's something for you: there's a company that claims it was theirs, and it was a weather balloon. But that gets drowned out by the breathless conspiracy-related coverage.

And the balloon had a transponder signal. That's partially how it was being tracked. If the Chinese intended to spy on us, why would they tag it with a transponder? A US one at that.

And in a more subtle thought, why would the Chinese - or any major player - use a balloon when satellites are in place and infinitely more effective?

So yeah, it just must be a Chinese spy balloon thingee. Straight out of a maxwell smart episode.

It was already out of hand. But then, our government decided to shoot it down. And China got all outraged, just to make a point.

And the Secretary of State cancelled a visit to China in order to send a message. What message? That we’re easily duped?

And now the discussion will go on for many months. The debris from the balloon is at sea, and the navy intends to recover it. Will they find anything? Will anyone believe whatever they find?

This is not where we should be, as supposedly a first world, developed nation with a high gdp, is it?

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Stupid is as stupid does

Flori-duhs governor is opposed to anything transgender related (truth be told he's opposed to many things, and he governs on personal philosophy. Dictator much?)

He has proposed that to participate in girls/women's sports at public schools and colleges, women should submit a history of their menstrual cycle to "someone" with a goal of ensuring fairness in women's sports.

Look, I'll grant you that a person born as a man may have certain physical attributes that are different, and perhaps they may be better at some things because of it. But not always, and the international federations have found that testosterone levels play a role, and testing for that may be sufficient.

And what of women who, for reasons out of their control, have irregular cycles, or none at all?

Perhaps we could have a rational debate on the topic?

But no. He'd rather violate a woman's privacy and make them either not want to participate or let them be self conscious about their own bodies - all the while instructing all of us that we can't teach about such things or talk about such things. But he can because it serves his purpose.

What a … douche.

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Gun nuttiness

Florida is introducing a permitless gun carry bill. Because the legislators are idiots. 

They decide to spit on the graves and the memories of the kids and teachers who were massacred in parkland. To disrespect the people who were mowed down at the pulse nightclub. 

Most police forces think it's stupid. Heck, even sensible gun owners think this is a bad idea. I would argue that most Floridians are opposed to this. 

But the gun lobby wants it, and in the culture of fear, this somehow fits in. 

They're calling it "constitutional carry" which is absurd. They seem to disregard the part I hilight here to focus on the other words: 

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

This is not about the right to own guns, it's about letting everyone just have one. No questions asked. Responsibility anyone? 

It's likely to pass...but if you could take a moment to consider signing against it, at least we made the effort. 

Tell Florida Lawmakers: Do Not Pass Permitless Carry act.everytown.org

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