“The House returns Monday from its five-week recess, with approving a short-term funding bill to head off a government shutdown topping its to-do list. Funding is set to lapse Sept. 30 without a deal, and lawmakers are planning to take another weeklong break for Labor Day. In July, the House passed a GOP-led bill to punt government funding past the November midterm elections. But the House measure, which would have extended funding at current levels until Dec. 4, met resistance in the Senate.” (08/31/26)
“The Privacy Act of 1974 is the most important bulwark against federal government misuse of the enormous amount of personal data it collects. This applies to information that can be used to confirm an individual’s identity, either alone or when combined with other information linkable to a specific individual. The Privacy Act limits access to and disclosure of such information to those with a need to know regarding the performance of their duties. Individuals harmed by unlawful disclosure may sue the agency in federal court, but only for actual damages. … When officials override agency safeguards, Privacy Act remedies have been insufficient to stop ongoing harms or provide complete relief to a harmed individual. Recent events involving investigation of the President’s political enemies demonstrate the holes in the remedial framework.” (08/30/26)
“Truth, the old saying goes, is stranger than fiction. Which may be why I like biographies. They’re the stories of real people. They tell us about real heroes. Role models. Inspirations. But the most interesting and inspiring of such stories are often autobiographies. Autobiographies go a step beyond the biography. They give us a glimpse into a person’s soul. They reveal personal struggles in a visceral way.” (08/30/26)
“Niger’s army, backed by Russian paramilitary forces, regained control of a key military airbase on Sunday after it was attacked by mutinous soldiers a day earlier, the latest challenge to military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani as his government struggles to contain a jihadist insurgency. The attack highlighted tensions within Niger’s armed forces, which have suffered repeated battlefield losses while fighting West Africa’s al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. Tiani took power in a coup in 2023 vowing to turn the tide against the jihadists, but both affiliates have staged high-profile attacks in the capital earlier this year. … Residents said the capital appeared calm on Sunday and Monday, while aircraft circled overhead on Sunday and authorities dismantled roadblocks erected during the unrest.” (08/31/26)
“Boomer potheads causing a stink for their neighbors :: Smoking in public talk :: Ricky has a problem with non-smokers :: Is it racist to say black people smoke menthols? :: Big Beautiful Bill regulated THC drinks :: Penguin says curry stinks… racist?? :: NO CREAMY GARLIC NOODLES FOR PENGUIN! :: Which states have fewer women? :: Nihilism, taking your dog for a walk and what to do with your life :: Meta paying $18 billion to these 48 states :: Lazy parents say ‘paren my kid for me’ :: David crashes out :: 2026-08-30 :: Hosts: Bonnie, Kahuna, Penguin, Mark Edge.” (08/30/26)
“Public health discussions often emphasize vaccination because it can increase immunity without requiring large numbers of people to become ill at the same time. Proponents of vaccines believe that without vaccination, immunity would build more gradually through infection, which can allow ongoing transmission and lead to higher levels of illness and complications. For this reason, the concept of herd immunity is more complex than simple visual models suggest and depends on timing, population dynamics, and the characteristics of the disease itself. It’s also important to recognize that herd immunity is not permanent.” (08/30/26)
“Iran and the United States traded attacks for the first time in over a month overnight into Monday, in an exchange that risks reigniting the damaging conflict after weeks of relative military calm. Iran fired missiles toward US military targets in Jordan in retaliation for a strike on Iranian rocket launchers that the US said were trying to launch sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz –– the key shipping route that’s become the center of regional tensions and diplomatic efforts. Later Monday morning, the United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted a drone approaching from Iran over its territorial waters.” (08/31/26)
“Machiavelli advised princes that it is better to be feared than to be loved (though better still to be both loved and feared), but also warned them that they should avoid coming to be hated, as hatred inspires rebellion and a willingness to suffer for the sake of removing the object of hate. Trump plainly wants to believe he is loved despite all evidence to the contrary, which is why he demands such humiliating sycophancy from everyone in his orbit, and while in the immediate aftermath of his election he inspired quite a bit of fear, as time has worn on he has inspired far more hate. But a prince can inspire something worse than hate, and that is contempt. … there’s something particularly pathetic about this ‘Lake America’ gesture. It smacks too obviously of Caligula marching his legions to the English Channel to collect seashells as evidence that they had conquered the ocean.” (08/28/26)
