GMcGath @[email protected]

The Baker criminal complaint relies on a very broadly worded, probably unconstitutional federal law making it a crime to "transmit in interstate or foreign commerce any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another." It charges him with the "crime" of "using social media to recruit and train like-minded individuals in furtherance of his ... Ideology." https://reason.com/2021/02/16/fbi-arrests-activist-daniel-baker-over-posts-about-police-abuse-and-self-defense/

The number of active cases of COVID-19 in the USA is showing a noticeable drop-off. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

The pandemic hasn't slowed down the IRS's ability to stomp on people.
https://www.unionleader.com/news/human_interest/irs-error-leads-to-two-year-nightmare-for-fremont-woman/article_676fc957-0ec1-59f5-8c85-0875572368a6.html?block_id=868819
Aritlce may not be available in some locations due to GDPR considerations.

Book discussion post; Andy Ngo's _Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy_.
https://garymcgath.com/wp/unmasked-2/

UMass Amherst places all resident students under house arrest. https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2021/02/11/umass-amherst-lockdown-outdoor-exercise

Much as I despise Trump, I hope this goes nowhere. If upheld, it would allow a simple majority of both houses of Congress to declare a person ineligible to run for public office. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/13/eleanor-holmes-norton-urges-congress-to-censure-do/

Searching for "Ponton milkshake duck" produces some amusing results.

The latest lie: "The COVID-19 vaccines haven't undergone animal testing." Fact check: https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-9792931264

Yes, both Trump and Obama were still trying to get those hostages out. There _might_ be an aged hostage that Iran never told us about, and which they're planning to reveal in 2029 as an anniversary surprise. Can't take the chance! https://iranintl.com/en/world/us-extends-national-emergency-respect-iran-one-more-year

Taking good news where we can find it: One less phony national emergency is now in effect. I believe the national emergency concerning the Ayatollah Khomeini's government taking American hostages in 1979 is still in effect, though.
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/11/biden-rescinds-national-emergency-declaration-us-m/

Less than a minute after that last toot, it crashed.

With the latest Catalina update, my Mac would lose a race with a snail carrying weights. I'm glad I have my Linux laptop.

Berkeley has turned dorm rooms into prison cells for students. https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/Police-dorms-outdoor-exercise-UC-Berkeley-lockdown-15937294.php

NH ACLU: Requiring people to pay for what they get "discriminates against low income individuals."

https://www.concordmonitor.com/abortion-public-funding-38800838

RIP free speech defender Larry Flynt. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/02/10/larry-flynt-king-smut-and-free-speech-champion-dies-78/6713392002/

There was a warning indicator in the system preferences on my Mac. I clicked it, and the warning (with yellow triangle) said "Start using iCloud." I know it's an ethnic cliche, but I can't help hearing that in my mind with a sinister Italian accent.

Black Americans are often pushed to the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccines. Black Americans historically have often been the unknowing subjects of medical experiments. Acceptance of the vaccine among them is lower than in the general population.

Could there be a causal connection among these three facts?
https://www.npr.org/2020/12/19/948316306/fighting-covid-19-vaccine-mistrust-in-the-black-community

The last tatters of Trump's election fraud claims have fallen apart. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/7/trump-stop-steal-election-claims-rebutted-point-po/