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* Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S.A for 9/24/20 are 6,968,000. The death toll is 203,000. The real number is likely much higher.

* "Trump claims White House can overrule FDA's attempt to toughen guidelines for coronavirus vaccine:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/23/politics/trump-fda-coronavirus-vaccine/index.html

* "Mehdi Hasan says ‘let’s call it the Trump virus’ because Trump is ‘objectively pro-covid’:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/mehdi-hasan-says-let-s-call-it-the-trump-virus-because-trump-is-objectively-pro-covid-92423237811

* "Bob Woodward - "Rage" and Trump's Tragic COVID-19 Inaction:"

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* "Florida coronavirus cases tick up in September, stalling progress:" https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/09/24/florida-coronavirus-cases-tick-up-in-september-stalling-progress/

* "Undocumented With COVID-19: Many Face A Long Recovery, Largely On Their Own;" https://www.npr.org/2020/09/01/905822094/undocumented-with-covid-19-many-face-a-long-recovery-largely-on-their-own

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* "U.S. no longer recognizes Lukashenko as president of Belarus after rigged election:" https://www.axios.com/us-lukashenko-president-belarus-353ed235-98f7-446f-919a-6a6cdab81975.html

* "President Trump’s niece sues him, other relatives, alleging they cheated her out of millions in inheritance:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/mary-trump-lawsuit-president-inheritance/2020/09/24/ae1c3dd0-fe32-11ea-9ceb-061d646d9c67_story.html

* "Another 870,000 workers filed for jobless benefits last week:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/24/another-870000-workers-filed-jobless-benefits-last-week/

* "Pelosi preps new coronavirus relief plan amid stalled talks:" https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/24/new-house-coronavirus-plan-421092

* "Retired top general who advised Trump is among nearly 500 national security experts endorsing Biden:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/politics/paul-selva-general-joe-biden/index.html

* "Joy Reid: Trump is not protecting pre-existing conditions, and has no real plan to replace ACA:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/joy-reid-trump-is-not-protecting-pre-existing-conditions-and-has-no-real-plan-to-replace-aca-92498501725

* "Senate candidate Mike Espy is calling for medicaid expansion in Mississippi:" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/senate-candidate-mike-espy-is-calling-for-medicaid-expansion-in-mississippi-92500037622

* "A list of the times Trump has said he won't accept the election results or leave office if he loses:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/politics/trump-election-warnings-leaving-office/index.html

* "Trump won’t commit to a ‘peaceful transfer of power’ if he loses:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-transfer-of-power/2020/09/23/be6954d0-fdf0-11ea-b555-4d71a9254f4b_story.html

* I watched his speech today. It gave me chills. It was the perfect speech at the time of greaest need. I think it's the best speech he ever gave. It reminded me of what I used to like about him. "Bernie Sanders is warning that American democracy is in danger:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/09/bernie-sanders-democracy/

* "Sanders: Take Trump threat to U.S. democracy seriously:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/sanders-take-trump-threat-to-u-s-democracy-seriously-92513861558

* Extended Elizabeth Warren Inerview:

https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/warren-trump-is-flirting-with-treason-by-not-committing-to-peaceful-transfer-of-power-92503109765

https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/warren-lindsey-graham-s-spine-is-kept-in-a-box-somewhere-else-92505669600

* "Polling poorly, Trump runs against the election itself and supporters follow suit:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/polling-poorly-trump-runs-against-the-election-itself-92513861709

* "For historical parallels to Trump, look to Mussolini: historian:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/for-historical-parallels-to-trump-look-to-mussolini-historian-92513349738

* "Get your vote in as early and as safely as you can. Overplan!:" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/maddow-get-your-vote-in-as-early-and-as-safely-as-you-can-92510789966

* "FBI director says widespread mail ballot interference would be a ‘major challenge’ for foreign agents:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/christopher-wray-fbi-election-interference/2020/09/23/e93d4230-fdea-11ea-b555-4d71a9254f4b_story.html

* "Internal USPS documents link changes behind mail slowdowns to top executives:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/09/24/usps-delays-dejoy-documents/

* "DeJoy Tells Judge Mail-Sorting Machines Can’t Be Reassembled:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-24/dejoy-tells-judge-mail-sorting-machines-can-t-be-reassembled?srnd=politics-vp&sref=MIBMEEoj

* Can we stop reopening schools now? "‘People are just being dishonest’: Parents are sending coronavirus-infected kids to school, Wisconsin officials warn:" https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/24/covid-parents-school-wisconsin/

* "The Top 1% of Americans Have Taken $50 Trillion From the Bottom 90%—And That's Made the U.S. Less Secure:" https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/

* "A Virginia City’s Playbook for Urban Renewal: Move Out the Poor:" https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-09-22/how-norfolk-virginia-is-using-tax-breaks-to-demolish-black-neighborhoods

* Jacob Soboroff Extended interview on human rights abuses in our immigration system:

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* "Opinion: Indictment doesn't even begin to bring justice for Breonna Taylor:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/23/opinions/indictment-doesnt-bring-justice-for-breonna-taylor-coates/index.html

* Ya think? "Fired Officer Is Indicted in Breonna Taylor Case; Protesters Wanted Stronger Charges:" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/23/us/breonna-taylor-officer-indicted.html

* Benjamin Crump wants grand jury transcripts released in Breonna Taylor case":" https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/watch/benjamin-crump-wants-grand-jury-transcripts-released-in-breonna-taylor-case-92497989645

* "Outrage over lack of charges in Breonna Taylor's death turns into protests across the US:" https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/24/us/louisville-breonna-taylor-officers-indictment-protests/index.html

* "Breonna Taylor case reveals dangerous double-standard for Black gun owners like me:" https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/lack-breonna-taylor-indictments-shows-police-have-unequal-right-self-ncna1241025

* "Every major political party agrees the government is failing trans people by dropping GRA reform. Yes, even the Tories:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/09/24/lgbt-conservatives-gender-recognition-act-gra-reforms-liz-truss-trans-lives/

* "Ending the lifetime ban on queer men donating blood made ‘no significant change’ to HIV rates in US blood banks:" https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/09/24/blood-donation-hiv-positive-study-queer-men-msm-fda-ban-deferral-period/

* "15 states sue to stop drilling plan for Arctic Refuge :" https://www.alaskapublic.org/2020/09/10/15-states-sue-to-stop-drilling-plan-for-arctic-refuge/

* "The True Story of the Married Woman Who Smuggled Her Boyfriend Out of Prison in a Dog Crate:" https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/10/toby-dorrs-great-escape/615487/#main-content

* "It’s About Time We Banned Private Detention Centers:"

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* "Zombie Storms & Wells Fargo CEO's Diversity Excuse :"

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* "Foreign and Domestic Threats Loom Over the 2020 Election:"

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* "Count On It with Dulce - The Price of Police Brutality:"

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* I am craving impossible foods again:

A crepe casserole in white sauce one of my father's friends made for us exactly once in Auvergne about two moths before I turned fourteen, and a particular custard tart with fruit on top that the same friend made for dessert that night. I have searched everywhere I've ever lived since and found similar things, but never one as perfect.

The butter cake we used to get from the Jewish bakery as a treat on special occasions when I was a child, I have searched bakeries everywhere I lived after we moved again and never found anything remotely like.

The rolled wafer ginger cookies I used to get from the Asian Market in Eugene before they tore it down as part of the bus terminal expansion/downtown upgrade project.

This fried cheese with lemon thing Skye and I used to get at a Greek restaurant where we went for date night sometimes that had everything I liked about fried fish when I ate meat without the fishiness.

A very specific apricot cake that I sent moth of month trying to pin down in memory. I knew the swirls of spiced butter mixed in the cakey bit and the mouth feel of the apricot, but it took ages to place it. I realized it was one of the rotating desserts at particular restaurant downtown here. I haven't had money to go thee in a few years; the last time I went the menu was changed so I don't know if they make it any more; that section of road had been closed for months, so I can't even check if they've supived the economic crisis when I do my curbside library pick up.

Impossible foods, lost in time, but still fresh in memory.

* So I was watching an early talkie, and they did their opening credits with a shot of a principle actor on one side of the screen with the actor's name and character's name on the other side. The actor was dressed as the character and making some simple gesture with face and/or hands that conveyed character. It was so fucking useful for me, a person who is very bad at names and sometimes has trouble telling similar looking actors apart. (I am looking at you: The Terror. I am looking so hard). It was also very much a thing that made sense in the context of the transition from silent to sound. A lot of the people involved in this production, including the director, are used to conveying things visually with an understanding that not everyone can decipher the text inserts. They may not know the language or be able to read fast enough for silent film title cards. so here is a long slow shot introducing the characters in a way that would help people with limited English or slow text deciphering skills.

I rather wish this were more common, but the only modern example of helpful labeling at the beginning of a film coming immediately to mind is the clever and charming Love and Friendship.

- 7.15 Lower Decks.
Beverly is in command of the enterprise on the Night shift because Data is away trying to solve an accidental radiation leak from a federation probe on a pre-contact planet. Deanna turns up and they chat about Beverly's aspirations and why she decided to become a commander. A bit later she turns up at Riker's to talk about her thinking of studying to become a commander. He's supportive but makes clear he won't go easy on her.

Data is dazed and clearly damaged, so shows himself to the locals. He is amnesiac and struggling with language at first, but improves. He doesn't remember anything before the mountains. A local official with a young daughter tries to help him. The man opens the box and picks up the radioactive fragment with bare hands. *wince*

The local Doctor examines him, which is amusing. She's scientifically minded rather than superstitious and decides he must be from the Northern Mountains which explains the weirdness. The child decides "radioactive" is not a good name and suggest Jayden. The father takes the radioactive metal to the blacksmith, who also handles it bare handed. *wince* The sell him half to make jewelry with. *wince* There's a Valjean moment where an anvil falls on a guy's leg and he picks it up, freaking the locals. The doctor rationalizes it as part of him being an Iceman. The father starts showing signs of radiation sickness at dinner. The Mother is dead. The girl describes the local idea of Heaven, which sounds like the Federation; Data thinks a place like that exists.

Meanwhile Deanna is having trouble with a stressful bridge officer's emergency procedures test.

The doctor is trying to teach four elements theory to children. Data points out logical flaws and starts talking about chemicals. The Blacksmith is trying to cheat the father, who collapses from radiation sickness, but they don't know about radiation, so they treat it like fever. data suggests an upgrade to the doctor's instrument. Data begins his own investigation. The Blacksmith accuses data of bringing the sickness, which is spreading.

Data upgrades the instrument so they can see the cellular damage. He's looking for a common thread between the three sick people. He thinks he isn't the carrier as the doctor isn't sick, despite close contact. the father is getting sicker; the girl comes down with it two days after she started wearing a radioactive necklace. Data suspects the weird metal is the cause.

Riker cancels the Engineering test on the grounds she keeps failing and isn't getting any better. She keeps pushing; he tells her she's not suited using the phrase "My first duty is to the ship." Which is a clue, of course. She tries again on her own and orders holo Geordi to sacrifice himself to save the ship. Riker says she passed.

Data works out the necklace is an energy source and the box prevents particles from escaping. The Doctor agrees to collect all the metal in the containment box if he'll show her the data later. The Blacksmith turns up and attacks him knocking some of his face off to expose the positronics. "What are you?" "I don't know." He gets a mob going; data hides, but comes out to talk to the girl once they leave. Data keeps looking for a cure. Later, he doses the Father and the girl. He goes to dose the well, is caught, and attacked. Stabbing him in the back electrocutes the Blacksmith; data is deactivated.

Beverly and Riker come in costume looking for Data, after everyone's recovered. The girl explains Jayden was lynched and that she buried the metal in the forest. Beverly can't tell how damaged data is while he's buried, but he's there. They revive him and last he remembers was a power surge while downloading the probe's log.

This one was memorable enough that I recognized it the moment I saw Data decades later. It’s still a really good one, though really I only cared abut the data part. I just adored his interaction with the doctor/scientist/Teacher. she was a really fun one off character.

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom.

* Want to Help bail out Louisvile Protesters? https://bailproject.org/louisville/?form=donate

* "2020 wildfires in California and the west: Everything we know and how you can help:" https://www.cnet.com/how-to/2020-wildfires-in-california-and-the-west-everything-we-know-and-how-to-help/

* Want a quick way to donate money to close senate races in hopes of flipping the senate? https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ky_mcconnell_vid

* "Effective Political Giving:" https://idlewords.com/2020/09/effective_political_giving.htm

* "Campaigns:" https://postcardstovoters.org/campaigns/

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