FEMA, Trump declares national emergency and Doctor Alvin Kurtzweil of The X-Files.

CBS News: FEMA Admin Brock Long resigns yesterday, Feb. 13.

NBC News: President Trump set to declare national emergency.

The exit of Mr. Long leaves Pete Gaynor as Deputy Admin, the Number Two man at FEMA.

Not connecting any dots together, but recall the words from the character Dr. Alvin Kurtzweil in the 1998 movie The X-Files: Fight the Future, from the clip:

Here's a very Dystopian Op/Ed at Philly.com, fanning fear over Trump declaring a "national emergency."

The Number One man in FEMA is gone. Within a day or two, Trump declares a national emergency. FEMA is without its primary director. Maybe that Op/Ed at Philly.com is looking good. "Trump Declares Self Emperor." The not-far future: "Trump Suspends 2020 Election." If it makes the heads of Liberals explode, I'm all for it.

Is there more to this than coincidence that the FEMA Admin resigned (due to  questions of Long's vehicle and transportation usage) and Trump isthisclose at declaring a national emergency?

Thoughts/Opinions on what's going on here? Was The X-Files right (again) with predictive programming or is this simply coincidental and creative fiction?

Schumer urges Trump to accept the emerging border security deal and "not, not, not cause another shutdown."

The Modesto Bee: White House reviewing border security deal.

10:40 a.m.

The White House says it needs more time to assess a bipartisan border security deal.
[.]
10:35 a.m.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is urging President Donald Trump to accept the emerging border security deal and "not, not, not cause another shutdown."

A triple "not"? Doesn't that mean Trump should NOT sign the budget with a hideously weakened border deal?

One "not" would mean "not". "Not not" means not to not. "Not not not" means to not not to not. So Trump should NOT sign the deal. Do I have this right?

BBC Reports U.S. Shutdown Avoided

BBC: Breaking...U.S. avoids shutdown.

4 minutes ago

Democrats and Republicans reach agreement in principle to fund the US government and avert another partial shutdown.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

I guess stay tuned to the BBC link. I didn't see any other news org reporting this; so far.

UPDATE - Global News: Border security funding reached "in principle."

February 11, 2019 8:57 pm

U.S. Republican Senator Richard Shelby, one of the congressional negotiators working on border security funding, said late on Monday that an “agreement in principle” had been reached.

U.S. Congressman Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), confronted by "conclusion-jumping" passenger.

Another BRAVE, unidentified SJW airline passenger asks a question and doesn't get a response. What does the passenger do? Because he DIDN'T receive a reply, he therefore assumes the answer to his UNANSWERED question is true. Then, the unidentified BRAVE SJW passenger makes sure that the video clip gets to the HuffPoPoo.

Story link: GOP Congressman "flies first class".

"Congressman, do you think it’s appropriate to fly first class while 57 TSA agents aren’t being paid?” the person says to Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), in an apparent reference to the Transportation Security Administration’s 57,000 employees, who are being required to work without pay.

A tipster who asked to remain anonymous shared the video with HuffPost, which hasn’t been able to identify the person who approached Davis.

Davis remained silent, prompting the person to say, “Taking that as a yes.”

“Taxpayers paid for this flight? Fair enough,” he added.
[.]

Davis did not use his taxpayer-provided budget to purchase a first-class ticket and has never done so, his spokeswoman Ashley Phelps told HuffPost in an email.

His office bought a regular coach ticket, but he was upgraded automatically because of his frequent flyer status, she added. “There was no additional cost to taxpayers.”

Unless proven differently, there is no reason to suspect Rep. Davis used taxpayer money in upgrading to first-lass. I'm sure if he did, and his office is lying, all the good little LiberTards out there will do their very best to unearth the truth. The truth? Their "truth".

Dear Unidentified BRAVE SJW passenger who can operate video on cell phone: STFU unless you have the facts.

Tech News

Beta News: Big data breach.

#1 database leak exposes 773 million email addresses and 21 million passwords[.]

Yep. Everyone should update their current password of 'password' to something like 'qwerty123' or 'aDmin_678'.

ZD Net: Oklahoma govt breached big time.

An Oklahoma Department of Securities server allowed anyone to download government files[.]

"The data was exposed via an unsecured rsync service at an IP address registered to the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), allowing any user from any IP address to download all the files stored on the server," the researchers say. 

Gizmodo: How to stop worrying about data breaches.

[A] rundown of the three most important pieces of crafting a healthy security routine and never sweating another password leak[.]

Nextgov: ID card manufacturer and service provider used by federal agencies have vulnerabilities.

...the system used by IDenticard, called PremiSys, which if exploited could allow an unauthorized person to gain access to secure buildings and disable locks, as well as exfiltrate user data or otherwise modify accounts using administrator privileges.

- - -
TechCrunch: Coming soon via the govt shutdown - Expiring HTTPS federal web sites.

Depending on the security level, most websites will kick back browser errors. Some won’t let you in at all until the expired certificate is renewed.
[.]
Eric Mill, a security expert [said] that fears over expired certificates have been overblown.

- - -
Fanbyte: Overwatch game charcter Soldier 76 gayness causing controversy.

...with the addition of Soldier: 76, the total number of queer characters is two out of a roster of 29. Making Soldier gay, more so than even Tracer[.]
[.]
But both characters suffer from the aforementioned Blizzard ethos of “experiences” over “story.”

- - -
How to make global warming climate change Alarmist's heads explode (like in "Scanners"). Tell them that Apple may scrap plans for their self-driving cars. Ubergizmo:

Apple is working on developing technology for self-driving cars.
[.]
However it seems like those plans could be scrapped[.]

Did you hear the collective heads pop? Messy! Clean-up crews being dispatched. This may take a while, folks. Your patience is appreciated.
- - -
New Atlas: The 2019 Detroit Auto Show. Lots of images to look at. Some nice, others, well - I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder.
- - -
New Atlas: A DIY Tiny-House for around $10 Grand.
- - -
Tech Dirt: Irish Supermacs bitch-slaps "Big-Mac" in EU.

McDonald's Corp has lost its rights to the trademark "Big Mac" in a landmark European Union (EU) case ruling in favour of Ireland-based fast-food chain Supermac's, according to a decision by European regulators.

- - -
The below video at Digg, so yeah, it's Tech. Go "full screen" or watch at the link. Bet ya watch it more than once. Yep, their Best Friends! So darn cute.

Average U.S. Hourly Wages

Trading Economics: $23.05.

Wages in the United States...reach[ed] an all time high of 23.05 USD/Hour in December of 2018.

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau Statistics: Total (average) private industry: $27.48.

AP News: The typical federal employee makes $37 an hour.

The Cluck and Nancy Show

What a crock of pure manure.

More Cluck and Nancy Show Bullshittery...

...at CNN, the story being updated every few minutes.

...at BBC, a synopsis of the issue, President Trump's address and Cluck and Nancy's Bullshittery.

...at CNBC, you can view (maybe a second time, but why would you do that?) the Cluck and Nancy Show. Or not.

And a bit strange, considering how sanctimonious Cluck and Nancy sounded in tonight's rebuttal, that in such a spirit of bipartisanship, the Dems filibustered bipartisan foreign policy yesterday, instead, demanding a vote to reopen the government.

These two. Who votes for them? I don't understand it. I really don't.

Scientists Lament Unable To Contribute To Climate Change

Thousands of scientists unable to attend the "Super Bowl of Astronomy" due to government shut down. Phys.org:

The world's largest airborne observatory was supposed to be parked in Seattle this week, so thousands of scientists attending the "Super Bowl of Astronomy" could behold this marvel: a Boeing 747 outfitted with a massive telescope used to study the fundamental mysteries of the universe.

But conference-goers will not be able to see NASA's space-exploring plane. Its visit to the 233rd Meeting of the American Astronomical Society was canceled, one of a growing list of scientific casualties of the partial government shutdown now stretching into its third week.
[.]
...the shutdown's impact on science stretches well beyond the empty chairs at this week's conferences, said Keith Seitter, executive director of the American Meteorological Society. It means some of the nation's smartest scientific minds are sitting at home, not doing science, for weeks, with no clear end in sight.

"That's difficult to recover from," said Seitter. "We'll be seeing ripple effects from this for a long time."

Yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

"...sitting at home, not doing science..." and yadda, yadda, yadda. Tragic.

"...rippling effects from this for a long time." Oh! Teh Fucking Draa-mah!

They "can't see the NASA plane." Yes, the world awaits the invention of Virtual Reality or some kind of device that allows you to view places, people and things without having to be physically present.

It's a shame they have no viable methods to communicate with each other during the government shut down. Alone, sitting in silence, with Chester Cheetah Cheetos. All those equations and algorithms popping in their heads and no one to bounce it off of. Somebody should really do something about this. Clearly, the government shut down must end.

In a related issue, president of the World Bank resigns early. 9 News:

World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has unexpectedly resigned, more than three years before his term ends in 2022, amid differences with the Trump administration over climate change and the need for more development resources.

Kim, nominated by former US President Barack Obama for two five-year terms, had pushed financing for green energy projects and largely dropped support for coal power investments, but had avoided public clashes with the Trump administration, which has made reviving the US coal sector a priority.

Santa on NORAD. Government Shutdown Can't Stop Santa

The government shutdown won't affect NORAD from following Santa on his deliveries. Which begs the question, is there anyone our government doesn't track?

Check the NORAD site later tonight. It's actually kind of fun to watch. And the kids will love it.

Schumer, Patron Saint of Taxpayers

Thank you Cluck, for "saving us" that hefty $ 5 Billion. But spending over $ 1.2 Trillion? Cluck did not vote to save us from that. He favored it.

Think the shutdown will affect Trump? Think again. The Jeff Bezos Peoples' Republic:

Both history and current politics are on Trump’s side in this standoff. There’s no reason he shouldn’t dig in for the holiday season and wait for the Democrats to offer a compromise he can live with.

Dig in, President Trump. Dig in!

Some good shutdown memes making the rounds.

So, We're Closed?

At least partially.

Denver Post: Limited Federal Services.

AP: Shutdown to drag into Christmas.

SMH: Shutdown could last until Thursday.

Border Wall Battle in the Senate

Cluck Schumer is giving his sanctimonious best. Watch him live before he STFU.

Shut it down. Fuck Cluck.

World News

Sky News: Partial U.S. Government shutdown looms.

BBC: Government shutdown looms.
- - -
Brexit could impact Britons dietary expectations. AFP:

Perishable goods, such as vegetables from the Netherlands or fruit from Spain, could be held up at the border, if tough checks are imposed or the EU limits trade, said the report.

- - -
AFP: Canada and US call for release of two Canadians detained in China.
- - -
FOX News: Parents of Otto Warmbier seek $1 Billion from North Korea.
- - -
The Guardian: Two suspects held in Gatwick airport drone incident.

ITV News: Two arrested in Gatwick airport drone incident.
- - -
CBC: British Columbia cities shakedown oil companies for climate change costs.

Wall, Shutdown or...Dental Plan?

Newser: Shutdown; Where we're at.

WTVR CBS: When shutdowns start.

The Nuclear Option? Neither Repubhohoholicans Jeff Flake or Lamaaaaaaaaaaaar Alexaaaaander want to "break the (Oh, so holy and sanctimonious) rules" of the Senate. NY Post:

Alexander: "I will not vote to turn the Senate into a rule-breaking institution."

Flake: "The Senate filibuster is about the only mechanism left in Washington that brings the parties together. Deploying the nuclear option would blow that up."

Wall or Shutdown?

CNN: McConnell watching House.

“The action is over on the House side. We are waiting to see what they do,” [said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell], referring to the upcoming vote on the new continuing resolution.

Market Watch: Federal services affected by a shutdown.

CNN: UPDATE - Amendment includes $ 5 Billion for wall.

The House's continuing resolution is the same Senate spending bill that passed last night, but it includes a new amendment, according to multiple GOP aides.

The amendment includes:

    $5 billion in new money for the border wall for the rest of the fiscal year but to remain available until Sept. 30, 2023.
    $7.81 billion in disaster funds through Sept. 30, 2019 in the aftermath of widespread wildfires and hurricanes Michael and Florence.

The clock ticks...

World News

Former Apprentice staffer claims Trump "abused Adderall." NZ Herald:

Noel Casler allegedly worked in talent logistics [and claims], [President Trump], "... gets nervous and he crushes up these pills. That's why he's sniffing when you see him in debates, and when you see him reading."

- - -
The Guardian - U.S. Gov Shutdown Looms:

Monday brought few signs of progress in solving a dispute between Republicans and Democrats over keeping the government open. A partial shutdown that could occur at midnight Friday[.]

- - -

SMH - Twitter hacked by 'state sponsored actors'?:

Twitter observed a large amount of traffic to the customer support site coming from individual internet IP addresses in China and Saudi Arabia.

"While we cannot confirm intent or attribution for certain, it is possible that some of these IP addresses may have ties to state-sponsored actors," the blog said.

- - -
TRT World - Russia meddled in social media in U.S. politics:

Russia’s sweeping political disinformation campaign on US social media was more far-reaching than originally thought, with troll farms working to discourage black voters and “blur the lines between reality and fiction”[.]

This story will never make sense to me. How is the above any different from me (or any other blogger or writer, or group of,) writing a factual, fictional, or embellished blog entry on Hillary Clinton, or Theresa May or any other public figure seeking office? Unless people have more faith in social media than I ever thought possible and they really believe that "it must be true, I read it on the internets."
- - -
Daily Mail - Goldman Sachs hit by Malaysia fraud scandal:

Goldman Sachs has been hit with fraud charges in Malaysia after allegedly helping to pillage £2.1 billion from a sovereign wealth fund.
[.]
It is the latest twist in a saga which has been catastrophic for Goldman's reputation, with shares down over a third this year. The stock was hit again yesterday, dropping nearly 3 per cent in New York.

- - -

CSM: No-deal Brexit brings risk of traffic gridlock:

In the event of a major backlog at the Port of Dover, 50 miles away, this stretch of highway would become a temporary truck park.

What kind of calamity might cause such a monstrous snarl-up?

In a word, Brexit.

The Herald-Scotland - Corbyn increases pressure on Theresa May with no-confidence vote:

Jeremy Corbyn has sought to pile the pressure on Theresa May by tabling a no-confidence vote in her[.]

The Scotsman - May dares Labour to topple government:

Theresa May has dared Labour to try and topple her government after she announced the Commons would not vote on her proposed Brexit deal until the middle of January[.]

- - -
Protesters converge on Hungary public broadcaster. AFP:

Anti-government protests in Hungary hit the country's public broadcaster on Monday, with the opposition galvanised by the furious reaction to a controversial new labour law.
[.]
MPs had demanded access to the studios to read out a petition against the government and what they call its "slave" labour law.

MTVA security guards forcibly ejected independent MPs Akos Hadhazy and Bernadett Szel, sparking criticism online.