020 Epiphany 4: Not Greatly Moved
Don Lemon arrested, US leaves the WHO, and an edible form of protest
“He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue…He who does these things shall never be moved.” ~ Psalm 15
Minneapolis
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was one of several people arrested after entering a Minneapolis church service and disrupting worship while blocking parents trying to reach their children in Sunday school. Lemon defended his actions saying he was doing journalism. Tensions in Minnesota remain high amid ongoing protests over federal immigration enforcement. A coalition of retail CEOs has urged local and federal law enforcement to work together to calm unrest. Border czar Tom Homan says he would draw down federal troops in Minnesota if state leaders cooperate in handing over convicted violent illegal aliens, although wrangling over who would be detaining suspected illegal alien criminals, and for how long, is just beginning. The FBI confirmed they are investigating messaging groups that may be organizing targeted harassment of deportation operations in Minneapolis.
A recommendation: A Brief History of Power discussed the Minneapolis church invasion and it’s worth a listen. Dr Koontz and Col Grills talk about immigration and those who see the invasion of a church service as a form of protest. “The meme of the church is just the people, which is true to a degree, has completely sullied the understanding of sacred space.”
On the Radar
Life
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked a federal court to pause a lawsuit over the abortion drug mifepristone while it conducts its own safety review. Pro-life groups expressed frustration, noting that the Biden administration reinstated mail-order dispensing and removed in-person requirements, leaving vulnerable women unaware of serious side effects. (The Federalist)
Harrowing tales from a counsellor at an abortion drug helpline. (The Federalist)
Child-rights advocate Katy Faust has launched a new campaign aimed at overturning same-sex marriage. After ten years, she argues, it is clear that, “The law cannot simultaneously uphold a child’s right to their mother and father and affirm same-sex marriage.” (The Federalist)
Politics
The U.S. government has partially shut down, as Democrats dig in over funding for Homeland Security. Funding for a number of departments including Defense, Health and Human Services, Transportation and State was separately approved, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he wants more accountability for operations conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (The Hill, BBC, The Hill)
Projections run by online analysts predict that Democrats stand to lose a number of electoral votes if President Trump’s deportation agenda is completed. (Not the Bee)
Money
Daniel Greenfield writes that while many are now aware of Somali fraud in Minnesota, Pakistani muslim networks tied to New York City Democrats have stolen $68 million through fake adult care centers. (Front Page)
Tesla seems to be less interested in making cars now. One critic said the claim by Tesla execs that they were moving to “transport as a service” is another example of an elite who “don’t want people to own anything and instead have them ‘subscribe’ to as many things as possible.” (Electrek)
Yale University says it will offer free tuition to students from families earning under $200,000 a year. (CBS)
The Church
A lone pastor loudly objected during the Church of England’s installation of its first female Archbishop of Canterbury. (Not the Bee) | Church of England ministers are being encouraged to preach anti-racism, with a huge grant given to educate about “church buildings’ links to transatlantic slavery”, promote diversity in leadership and support refugees and asylum seekers. One commentator snarked that it makes some sense that the “state church would promote the state religion”. (The Telegraph)
LCMS Central Illinois District President Rev. Michael Mohr has been arrested for alleged production of child pornography. (LCMS Missouri)
Crime and Policing
The Department of Justice has released more than 3 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. (AP)
Culture
An artist has had his AI-generated works protested in an unusual way. A fellow student took umbrage at his exhibition and “promptly ate it in protest”, later saying that AI “chews up and spits out art by other people.” (Art News)
Sydney’s opera house has undergone an acoustic upgrade to be adaptable for all sorts of genre performances but the massive organ is still the star. (Dallas Taylor via YouTube)
Health
The required year’s notice is up and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says it is no longer a member of the World Health Organization. In a statement, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio say the WHO had done nothing to help the U.S. despite its being the largest contributor since 1948. (BBC)
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warns drivers to check airbags after substandard Chinese inflators were linked to fatal explosions in otherwise survivable crashes. (NHTSA)
Scientists are puzzled by Asian mushrooms that cause vivid hallucinations of tiny humanoid figures. (BBC)
A study suggests babysitting grandchildren may help keep the brain sharp.(Nice News)
Last week’s Watches:
Science and Tech
Researchers say a massive freshwater reservoir lies beneath the seabed from New Jersey to Maine. (Live Science)
A European tech company wants to build a space-based laboratory to run cancer tests “not possible” on Earth. (Interesting Engineering)
Scientists say earthquake sensors could help pinpoint where space debris lands. (JHU Hub)
Doctors at Northwestern kept a patient alive for two days using an artificial lung while awaiting a double-lung transplant. (Ars Technica)
Ice XXI: Scientists have identified a new phase of ice by squeezing water between two diamonds. (Smithsonian)
Researchers say polar bears are fattening up, despite retreating ice, as they are learning to eat land animals. (CBS)
Mind and Body
Daydreaming beats scrolling, give it a go. (MSN)
War
President Trump warned Iran’s leadership that U.S. warships sent to the Middle East are prepared to strike to protect protesters. Human-rights groups report Iran’s regime is arresting doctors and medics who treat injured demonstrators. (WNG, The Guardian)
Taiwan says it is “closely watching” changes in China’s military leadership after President Xi Jinping removed two senior generals, both reportedly under investigation. (NBC)
World News
🇨🇦 A Canadian woman was euthanized despite reportedly changing her mind about assisted suicide. Two assessors agreed that her husband was burned out from caring for her, overriding the recommendations of an original assessor who recorded that the woman had withdrawn her request to be killed. (Daily Mail, ZeroHedge)
🇪🇸 Spain’s prime minister wants to give 500,000 illegal immigrants present in the country legal status if they have clean criminal records. The conservative opposition warns the move will overwhelm public services. (Euro News)
🇵🇦 Panama’s Supreme Court has annulled a contract allowing a Hong Kong–based company to operate the Panama Canal. A Danish company will step in to run the waterway while a new owner is chosen. (Wall Street Journal)
Quickhits
👨🚀 College students find genuine NASA spacesuits at a thrift store
🎯 Different kinds of regional UK dartboards
📏 Kitchen work needs a slide rule
🇬🇧 British couple work for 30 years to restore an abandoned train station
💡 A super cool functioning Lego typewriter
🤷 Spurious correlations, definitely not causation!
⛄ Pictures from snow sculpture championships
Let us pray. Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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Maybe the Little People in Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 are real?!
r.e. "Scientists are puzzled by Asian mushrooms that cause vivid hallucinations of tiny humanoid figures. (BBC)"