Update from the Sunland
No.1036
15.11.21 – 21.11.21
Blog version: http://heartlandupdate.blogspot.com/
To all,
A rare celestial event occurred early Friday morning, 19.November.2021—the longest lunar eclipse in 600 years (3 hours, 28 minutes, and 24 seconds). We had high, thin, cirrus clouds, so it was not the best atmospheric conditions for such observations. However, the clouds were thin enough for a good view of the phases of the eclipse. About 3% of the moon’s surface remained sunlit, so it was technically not a total eclipse, but very close and well worth the watching.
I recognize and acknowledge that space with all its wonders and marvels is not everyone’s interest, concern, or curiosity, but I write this humble Blog, and I have always been fascinated by space. This week’s illumination and recommendation is the PBS Nova series “Universe Revealed – Black Holes” S48 Ep20, broadcast on 17.November.2021. The phenomena of black holes inspire awe and respect. Our galactic black hole is known as Sagittarius A*, and we are detecting more and more associated events with and around that entity. The better our instruments of detection get, the more we will see and learn.
This seems to be happening more often than not these days, but once again, I note and recommend another exceptional science documentary program—CNN Special “The Hunt for Planet B,” broadcast Friday evening, 20.November.2021. While the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a featured element of the story, the documentary is primarily about the search for exoplanets in the habitable zone (not too cold and not too hot) around other stars and among those candidates the search for the ingredients of life and for life itself. The program provides a good summary of what we know, and what we are doing to learn more.
For those who may be interested in such things, the European Space Agency (ESA) will launch the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from their facility at Kourou, French Guiana, on 18.December.2021, at 07:20 [R] EST. The seven-ton JWST complex, 50-step, unfolding deployment sequence will begin roughly 33 minutes after launch and will take approximately two weeks to complete during transit to its final location in a small halo orbit at Lagrange Point L2 (1.5M kilometers) from earth. You know what I will be doing that morning.
The follow-up news items:
-- On Monday, with Congress back in town, President Biden signed the massive US$1.5T Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [PL 117-058; H.R. 3684; House: 228-206-0-0(1); Senate: 69-30-0-1(0); 135 Stat. xxx] to improve the physical infrastructure of this once grand republic. The president appointed former New Orleans mayor Mitchell Joseph ‘Mitch’ Landrieu to be Senior Advisor to the President of the United States for Infrastructure Coordination. Like President Franklin Roosevelt with the enactment of the Lend-Lease Program, Ed Stettinius was appointed overall administrator for the program, and Averell Harriman was appointed special envoy for Lend-Lease to Great Britain and Europe in the spring of 1941.
-- On Wednesday, Jake Angeli (born Jacob Anthony Angeli Chansley) [AKA and self-professed “QAnon Shaman”, “Q Shaman”, and “Yellowstone Wolf”] was sentenced to 41 months in prison (with credit for 10 months time served) for his part in the January 6th insurrection [991]—many more to come. Angeli will have plenty of time to contemplate the error of his ways.
-- Also on Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted on and passed H.Res.789, Censuring Representative Paul Gosar [House: 223-207-1-3(1)]. Representative Paul Anthony Gosar of Arizona was a significant congressional player in the January 6th insurrection [991]. However, the House censure was not for his part with the insurrection, but rather for participating in and publishing an anime of him (Gosar) killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and attacking President Biden. [FYI: I am surprised Gosar did not get a serious visit from the Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation for that one.] Five Republicans did not join their fBICP colleagues in the vote against censure; those Republicans were: Griffith of Virginia (not voting), Joyce of Ohio (present), Cheney of Wyoming (yea), Kinzinger of Illinois (yea), and Perry of Pennsylvania (not voting). I suspect we shall learn much more about Gosar’s contribution to the insurrection when the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol [1020] issues its final report and any derived charges. In a despicable display, a couple of dozen fBICP members stood in the well with and behind Gosar as he was censured by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Of course, Minority Leader McCarthy, on behalf of his fBICP brethren, vowed vengeance against all of those who voted for censure, including the two Republicans, Cheney and Kinzinger, and recriminations for the Democrats when they are eventually rendered to the minority (which the fBICP hopes to accomplish next year).
In the press coverage afterward, Gosar’s sister reiterated her disdain for her older brother’s conduct. All of his siblings have condemned his embrace of white supremacy, the insurrection, and [the person who shall no longer be named] and his BIG LIE.
-- On Friday, the House of Representative passed H.R. 5376 – Build Back Better Act, the US$1.9T social infrastructure bill. This is the companion bill to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [PL 117-058; 135 Stat. xxx] noted above [House: 220-213-0-1(1)], with only one Democrat (Golden of Maine) crossing party lines. The bill now goes to the Senate.
-- Also on Friday, the 19th, the jury reached its verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial [1035]. He was found not guilty on all charges. Based on the evidence I saw and heard during the trial, I would say rightly so. The verdict is significant in many ways but notably Rittenhouse agreed to accept lesser non-specified charges, and the jury chose not to do so. He was over-charged from the get-go, and the evidence substantially validated his contention of self-defense.
Of course, the politco-sphere has erupted. A friend, contributor, and brother-in-arms sent along the following article:
“The Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict Reinforces a Long American Tradition: White Animus Against Black Grievance – It’s not just the acquittal but the embrace of Rittenhouse as a hero”
Opinion by Erin Aubry Kapan
Politico
Published: 11/20/2021; 07:00 AM EST
All three of the men shot by Rittenhouse during the Kenosha riots of August 2020 were of light skin pigmentation. The article’s suggestion that the verdict was a demonstration of “white animus against black grievance” is simply a comparable over-statement to the over-charging of the prosecution. The verdict is also not some validation of vigilantism. Further, there are monumental differences between the Rittenhouse case and the McMichael trial in Georgia (Ahmaud Arbery). Rittenhouse is neither hero nor villain. He simply a young man who was trying to do the right thing and got sucked into a terrible tragedy. Let us not make more of this than already exists.
Early Monday, the 15th, Russia detonated an anti-satellite weapon that destroyed one of their satellites and created more than 1,500 pieces of trackable orbital debris (golf ball size and larger). One of many problems with such events is the potential for chain reactions—one of those bits hits other satellites causing even more potentially lethal orbiting debris. Momentum transfer is a very real physics phenomenon—a very small mass traveling at high speed can do extraordinary damage.
The event caused NASA to order the International Space Station (ISS) astronauts and cosmonauts into their reentry spacecraft for protection. The United States Government (USG) condemned the Russian escalation of the militarization of space situation. No one was injured, yet, but some of the debris will remain in orbit for quite some time presenting a persistent threat. This episode is yet one more demonstration of the dictator Putin’s hegemonic efforts in space, which by treaty is supposed to remain neutral.
Comments and contributions from Update no.1035:
Comment to the Blog:
“I can watch past episodes of NOVA on my computer, so maybe I’ll look at some of those. However, the ‘Edible Insects’ episode looks like a higher priority. That may be the future of livestock.
“While I would relish Steve Bannon’s conviction and sentencing, it’s more important to use him to get to the top. Most criminals will turn on the boss in order to get a lesser punishment.
“The ‘anti-gun crowd’ does not condemn any firearms usage by private citizens. That’s part of the misinformation you condemn. We do condemn their use by Kyle Rittenhouse who presumed that police in another state needed him to assist them by using a weapon that was illegal for him to own. If the police need public assistance, they ask for it. Knowingly placing himself in danger negates any claim to self-defense, and visible heavily armed outsiders increased the chances of violence. Kyle and his kind are a national disgrace and must be treated accordingly.
“I went ahead and got the ‘booster’ vaccination Saturday due to social pressure. I had quite a bit more side effects this time and did nothing at all on Sunday. The distortion on the booster shot is quite a bit more severe than for the first round of vaccines, but you and others seem to think Dr. Faust and his kind are 100% honorable and truthful. They’re better sources than the noise from their opposition, but there are no reliable American sources.”
My response to the Blog:
The edible insects episode was fascinating as well, but it is the majesty of space that continues to attract my attention and awe.
Re: Bannon. We are in complete agreement. He was and is just a tool . . . in more ways than one. We need the terrible swift sword to emphasize the swift adjective.
I beg to differ. Some of the anti-gun crowd do in fact condemn firearms for any reason other than the military. Some folks argue that armed police instigate fatal shootings. With respect, I have heard law enforcement ask for evidence, but I do not recall the police ever asking for armed assistance . . . well, beyond the Wild West and posses to capture criminals. The Kenosha riot of August 2020 clearly demonstrated, like so many other similar occurrences, the insufficiency of police forces to protect life and property. I understand your national disgrace label, but as I noted in my original posting, I am conflicted. When does bona fide public assistance become vigilantism or worse criminal conduct? I do not and have not seen any evidence that Rittenhouse went to Kenosha with the intent to kill or even injure anyone. I do not see any evidence that Rittenhouse was attempting to enforce laws. The evidence suggests his intent was as a deterrence.
I do not share your distrust of Dr. Fauci or the medical establishment. We have our boosters. Jeanne had more of a reaction than me, but I see that as a positive sign. Her reaction passed in a day and a half. I am happy that you are doing better.
Another contribution:
“One of your best, on all topics, although a lengthy read!
“Regarding poor young Rittenhouse, I was pleased to hear of the offer of the prosecutor to allow jury consideration of new lessor charges, rather than risk an unjust verdict based upon over or under emphasis of the fact that the kid made a brave but stupid decision to go where he was unqualified to be.
“Smile at strangers!”
My reply:
I have mixed feelings about the lesser charges decision. Yes, he was woefully unqualified beyond his concern for civil unrest. Based on the Press coverage, I understood the prosecutor’s charges against Rittenhouse. As the evidence was presented and tested in court, my understanding evaporated. I think he was seriously over-charged. And as I indicated in my original posting, I am conflicted about the line between concerned citizen and vigilantism and criminal conduct. I saw no evidence whatsoever that he went to Kenosha with the intent to kill someone or even injure anyone; thus, the charge of murder is excessive. I thought the evidence (as much as I could see) supports a not guilty finding. But, then again, I thought the evidence in the O.J. Simpson murder trial supported conviction well beyond any reasonable doubt. So, who am I to decide these things? The jury will decide.
I want citizens to help and assist law enforcement, not stand back and do nothing.
My very best wishes to all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Cheers,
Cap :-)
2 comments:
Good Monday, Cap,
I would have liked to see the eclipse this past Friday, but I don’t have what it takes to be up at the right time.
We may hope the government handles the implementation of the Infrastructure Act well. With this much money at stake, there’s potential for great national benefit, considerable corruption, or most likely, some balance of both.
It’s good to see the January 6 actors sentenced, but I want to see their seditious leaders go down.
We don’t know whether Rep. Gosar has had visits with the FBI. They don’t publicize everything they do.
Kyle Rittenhouse placed himself in perceived danger, heavily armed, and he was the only shooter in the whole incident. It’s hard to see that as legitimate self-defense. Do you really believe he was motivated to guard someone else’s business in another state? I don’t. The fact that Rittenhouse shot white people doesn’t change the ultimate target of his fear/grievance, which is anyone different from him. This verdict will give license to other vigilantes to “defend” themselves from their perceived enemies (other races, social classes, political positions, or whatever).
Enjoy your day,
Calvin
Good morning to you, Calvin,
We all have our priorities, my friend. At least you had the desire to see the eclipse, which was more than most.
Yes, agreed, the potential for abuse is enormous. I hope Mitch Landrieu is up to the task of supervising this beast. We certainly need sustaining maintenance, improvement of antiquated infrastructure, and the mounting need for new infrastructure to match our times. We shall have to watch as best we can, and this is one of those instances where we need an active, aggressive, free press.
Yes, absolutely, the pawns and minions deserve punishment under the law for succumbing to the Siren’s Song, but it is the instigators and planners that warrant the maximum penalty under the law for what they have done to besmirch the history of this once grand republic. We know who those instigators are. But they must be charged, tried, convicted and sentenced in a court of law.
Correct, we do not know, but he certainly deserves those visits. He also deserves charges IMHO.
On the Rittenhouse case, we shall respectfully disagree. I do not agree that he placed himself in a position that denies him self-defense. Again, there is not one scintilla of evidence that he went to Kenosha that day with his semi-automatic rifle with the intend to kill, injury or otherwise commit any crime. That young man did more than I would have done to fulfill what I have espoused as a citizen’s obligation. He was trying to protect property. The character of his attackers reinforced his legal defense. That said, I will add that it is tragic that he had been setup as some right-wing, militia hero. We do not need vigilantes. I do not agree with your premise that his motive was “anyone different from him” other than those committing property crime. His attackers tend to validate my hypothesis that a criminal, anarchistic element exploits legitimate protests to foment anger, disruption, and contamination of legitimate protests. Black Lives Matter deserves far better, but Rittenhouse is NOT the adversary.
“That’s just my opinion, but I could be wrong.”
Happy Thanksgiving, my friend.
Stay safe. Take care and enjoy.
Cheers,
Cap
Post a Comment