“Silence Is Not an Option”

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/ben-jerrys-on-black-lives.html

“I Cannot Remain Silent,” former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen writes in an Atlantic op-ed today, “Our fellow citizens are not the enemy, and must never become so.”

Excerpt:

It sickened me yesterday to see security personnel—including members of the National Guard—forcibly and violently clear a path through Lafayette Square to accommodate the president's visit outside St. John's Church. I have to date been reticent to speak out on issues surrounding President Trump's leadership, but we are at an inflection point, and the events of the past few weeks have made it impossible to remain silent.

Whatever Trump's goal in conducting his visit, he laid bare his disdain for the rights of peaceful protest in this country, gave succor to the leaders of other countries who take comfort in our domestic strife, and risked further politicizing the men and women of our armed forces.

There was little good in the stunt.

While no one should ever condone the violence, vandalism, and looting that has exploded across our city streets, neither should anyone lose sight of the larger and deeper concerns about institutional racism that have ignited this rage.

Mike Mullen was the 17th chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Read the rest:

I Cannot Remain Silent

PHOTO: Impeached President Donald “Bunker Boy” Trump Visits St. John's Episcopal Church, after armed goons tear-gas Americans and push priests out of the way. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead, Public Domain) Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/mike-mullen-former-joint-chie.html

In this video, you can see Donald Trump appearing to ask First Lady Melania to 'smile' during today's fascist photo op.

Nah, man, you have to pay extra for that.

Hey, if ANTIFA means anti-fascists, does that make the Trumps “FA”?

Trump asks Melania to smile during today's photo op. pic.twitter.com/B59YeDHKRM

 The Recount (@therecount) June 2, 2020

Here's a close-up: pic.twitter.com/yZK46OWFOC

 The Recount (@therecount) June 2, 2020

[via The Recount]

Trump's tweets about Antifa show his ignorance of US law

When asked about Trump's desire to use military on Americans, Justin Trudeau pauses for 20 seconds

Trump threatens to use military to stop protests for #georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/video-trump-asks-melania-to.html

• 4th known Tesla worker to test positive, and the 5th at its US facilities

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/report-tesla-worker-got-covid.html

"I fucking love this country." — Rahul Dubey

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/meet-rahul-dubey-the-absolu.html

“NYC, CALL UP THE NATIONAL GUARD. The lowlifes and losers are ripping you apart. Act fast!” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/trump-vows-to-bring-u-s-milit.html

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/stop-using-the-blm-hashtag-on.html

Even though life is emerging following our COVID-19 lockdown, it’s not exactly time to celebrate defeating the insidious virus just yet. CDC officials warn that once a resurgence of the virus hits this winter, it could prove even more disastrous for the U.S. healthcare system than the opening salvo. That would follow the pattern suffered by America during the Spanish flu epidemic in 1918, which infected 500 million people worldwide; or one-third of the world’s population.

Whether it’s coronavirus or another harmful disease, germs and infection possibilities are a fact of life now. With everyone trying to take precautions to better protect themselves and their families, items like the Snapback Glove make a solid first line of defense from harmful disease.

And the concept behind the Snapback Glove is unmistakably simple. This glove easily clips to your belt or pants and, just like an oven mitt removing hot food from the stove, it’s conveniently ready whenever you need to pick up an object, press buttons, sign a receipt or open a door.

The Snapback Glove is made using proprietary WaveStopper fabric with 70 percent SilverFlex fibers to be entirely antiviral and antimicrobial. Quickly slip in on from its perch at your belt whenever you have to deal with any potentially infectious situation, then whip it off as the retractable reels automatically snap the glove back into place. Positioned correctly, you’ll never even have to touch the glove itself, even when you put it on.

While nothing can be 100 percent effective against the spread of germs, using something like the Snapback Glove can cut exposure threats exponentially during trips to the grocery store, gas station or any other public location or when you’re using public transportation.   Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/the-snapback-glove-may-look-li.html

At a news conference in Canada, a reporter asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau what he thought about Trump's proposal to use US military forces against protesters and to comment on people who were “tear-gassed yesterday to make way for a presidential photo op.”

Trudeau was silent for over 20 seconds before answering, “We all watch in horror and consternation what’s going on in the United States.”

Image: Reuters Video Screengrab Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/when-asked-about-trumps-desi.html

“I feel a little safer now that these monsters are off of the street and no longer able to terrorize anyone else,” said 22-year-old Messiah Young, who was dragged out of his car by police and shot multiple times with a taser gun. His girlfriend, 20-year-old Taniyah Pilgrim, was also pulled out of the car and tased.

The video above is horrific.

From AP News:

Young’s arm was fractured and he suffered a gash requiring 24 stitches when he was pulled from the car, Howard said. Young told Howard’s investigators that an officer who escorted him from the scene after his arrest punched him in the back more than 10 times as they walked.

“I’m so happy that they’re being held accountable for their actions,” Pilgrim said at the news conference.

Both Young and Pilgrim are rising seniors at historically black colleges near downtown Atlanta. Young, from Chicago, is studying business management at Morehouse College. Pilgrim, who’s from San Antonio, Texas, is studying psychology at Spelman College.

The two officers whose firings were announced Sunday — Investigator Ivory Streeter and Investigator Mark Gardner — were charged along with four other officers.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/six-atlanta-cops-charged-after.html

To celebrate Pride, Levis decided to make and sell denim chaps. They cost $98 and come in small, medium or large in stonewashed blue.

No ordinary Pride collection. This year, we've banded together with artists and activists around the world to create space for one single message to prevail: USE YOUR VOICE!

100% of net proceeds from Levi’s® Pride 2020 collection go to OutRight Action International A classic Levi’s® silhouette, reimagined as a pair of unapologetically bold chaps Made with Water

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/denim-chaps.html

A comprehensive list of at least one hundred separate incidents in the past week where law enforcement was violent with press at protests over the police killing of George Floyd.

Over the past few days, Nick Waters / @n_waters89 of Bellingcat has collected over 100 photos and videos showing American police violently attacking credentialed reporters.

We've hit 100 incidents where journalists experienced violence from the police during the #GeorgeFloyd protests.

When I started this thread, I thought there would maybe be 7 or 8 examples. Instead what I have seen is a serious disregard for the free press by law enforcement. https://t.co/wBgYhVHmad

 Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) June 1, 2020

More at Mediagazer. Here are excerpts from the thread.

The third clear example of a news crew being deliberately targeted by law enforcement in the US I’ve seen.

Anybody else seen similar incidents? https://t.co/pzOWjQZru6

 Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) May 30, 2020

Incident 124: Journalists detained and prevented from filming and eventually released (I think in Richmond, Virginia) https://t.co/FWgC0XzKsW

 Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) June 2, 2020

A note on methodology: in this thread I have chosen to focus specifically on violence by law enforcement against journalists.

I've seen many of examples of egregious behaviour by police against demonstrators, by protesters against journalists, vigilantes against looters etc.

 Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) June 2, 2020

COMMENT: if this stuff is happening to credentialed journalists, imagine what is happening to protesters.

 Nick Waters (@N_Waters89) June 2, 2020

Going into tonight, here's our updated count on press freedom violations during the #GeorgeFloyd protests

Arrests: 20Assaults (physical or getting shot w/ pellets): 60Equipment Damage: 13Assault + Damage: 9Other (tear gassing, building damage, etc): 26

Total incidents: 128

 U.S.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/list-100-times-law-enforceme.html

This is one of the most absolutely insane moments I've ever seen on live television. pic.twitter.com/Uvzig8YGSa

 Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) June 2, 2020

In Van Nuys, California, black store owners, trying to protect their store from looters, called the police. When the police arrived, they promptly handcuffed the store owners and let the looters run away. Meanwhile a TV news reporter on the scene was yelling at the cops, “They're the owners!”

For good measure, the police also pulled an innocenet woman from her car, for the simple reason that she was black and within grabbing distance. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/watch-cops-handcuff-black-stor.html

Ottawa resident Paul Koch was "shocked" to find a moose in his backyard swimming pool Friday morning.

CTV News:

"It's still a mystery to me how she got in the backyard," Koch said. "She'd have to jump a minimum of a five to five-and-a-half-foot fence to do it."

The moose spent several hours swimming around in the pool at the home near Hunt Club Road and Uplands Drive, later moving to the shallow end to stand up...

Police later said the moose had "rejoined its buddies" in the forest.

The moose punched a serious hole in the Kochs' pool lining. But despite the repairs they'll have to make, the Kochs say this was a highlight of their 40 years as homeowners.

screengrab via Ottawa Sun/YouTube

Thanks, Meaghan! Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/canada-man-surprised-to-find-m.html

As a YouTube commenter said, "David doesn't even need to be in his own video for me to enjoy it." Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/02/something-is-different-about-d.html

When you were 10 and your mom demanded you finish your vegetables or go to your room, you were mad. Even as kids, we hated it when we were ordered to do something. Car insurance is a federal mandate, yet that’s only one of the reasons why most Americans would rather do just about anything than deal with car insurance.

Over a quarter (28%) of Americans — 28 percent — think they pay too much for car insurance, yet almost 40 percent say they haven’t checked their current rates against competitors in at least three years. 17 percent have never checked at all. Ever.

The Zebra wants to change that car insurance aversion mindset. The nation’s leading car insurance comparison site, they’ve developed a free, safe, simple way to make sure users are getting the absolute best price on car insurance. And if they’re not, The Zebra paves the way for any driver to get the lowest rate available anywhere.

Through The Zebra website, users identify their vehicle make and model as well as where they live. With that handful of data, The Zebra stretches its legs, tapping their relationships with over 200 different national and regional insurance providers to find out which will offer gives that user the best possible coverage plan.

The Zebra checks in with providers like Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Allstate, and GEICO, crunching the numbers and offering all the best coverage offers in a matter of seconds.

For users who find an option they like, The Zebra will facilitate the switch, working with the new provider to hammer out the policy details while all the user has to do is sign on the dotted line to make it official. Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/01/too-few-are-checking-their-car-2.html

Mayweather is committed to handling all costs for the funeral on June 9 in Floyd’s hometown of Houston, as well as other expenses.

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/01/boxing-champ-floyd-mayweather.html

“There is a new movement being born right now.

A movement against hatred. And the elements of that movement includes racism, which traces its origin back 400 years, antisemitism, sexism, and xenophobia.”

Watch this incredible comment by longtime CNN anchor and news presenter Bernard Shaw.

Watch this incredible comment by CNN legend Bernard Shaw:

"There is a new movement being born right now." pic.twitter.com/XLNenCGlul

 Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 2, 2020

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/01/bernard-shaw-there-is-a-new.html

“I am outraged.”

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/01/episcopal-bishop-denounces-tru.html

• June 1, Monday night: Tear gas fired on peaceful protesters in Washington D.C.

• Trump: “If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them”

Earlier today, impeached president Donald Trump told “weak” U.S. governors to use more force against protesters. Tonight, Trump has threatened to direct military to attack protesters in the streets of the nation's capital and elsewhere, with lethal force, as the agents carrying out those attacks deem appropriate.

As a massive crowd of protesters crowded the streets near the White House, met with escalating force by police and other law enforcement, Trump spoke in the Rose Garden, and threatened to use military force against Americans in the streets:

At nearly the same moment, Trump spoke in the Rose Garden and vowed to end unrest in major cities across the nation “now,” saying that he would deploy the military if state governors refused to call out the National Guard. “Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law enforcement presence until the violence has been quelled,” Trump said. “If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their residents, then I will deploy the United States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”

More at Reuters: Police fire rubber bullets, tear gas to disperse peaceful protest near White House

A demonstrator raises their hands next to U.S.

Read the rest

https://boingboing.net/2020/06/01/trump-threatens-to-use-militar.html