Come for the politics, stay for the snark.
(No wonder everybody’s been so flaky for the last few days!)
In the year of our lord 2022, the National Statuary Hall collection in the U.S. Capitol is getting its first statue depicting a Black American, Mary McLeod Bethune.
There are still nine Confederates. https://t.co/UWOibUjWOe
— Gillian Brockell (@gbrockell) July 13, 2022
Wednesday Morning Open Thread: SupermoonPost + Comments (302)
“America is defined by one single word — possibilities.”
President Joe Biden reveals the first image from NASA’s new $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope — the deepest view of the cosmos ever captured. pic.twitter.com/CqgieFc5Lz
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 11, 2022
And there’s more due out today!
Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Proud to Be A DemocratPost + Comments
NASA to showcase Webb space telescope's first full-color images https://t.co/JE5kUF9AIw pic.twitter.com/tIjOfFfPLM
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 11, 2022
It’s on the official calendar for this afternoon:
It’s not us reproductive-rights supporters who are out of step…
Monday Morning Open Thread: Big PicturesPost + Comments (78)
Perhaps the most-terrifying space photograph to date. Astronaut Bruce McCandless II floats completely untethered, away from the safety of the space shuttle, with nothing but his Manned Maneuvering Unit keeping him alive. The first person in history to do so.
Credit: NASA pic.twitter.com/uapVOFwS2u— Curiosity (@Sciencenature14) June 20, 2022
Monday Evening Open Thread: A Final FrontierPost + Comments (32)
Members of the House committee investigating the Capitol riot may not be done seeking testimony. They say they may subpoena former VP Mike Pence and are waiting to hear from Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. https://t.co/nf8fN6FjsL
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 20, 2022
Tuesday:
… The committee chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., recently said the committee was still “engaging” with Pence’s lawyers, while also suggesting it may not be necessary for him to appear because of testimony from many of Pence’s closest aides.
Committee members also hope to learn more about Ginni Thomas’ own effort to keep Trump in office and the potential conflicts of interest posed on her husband as a result on Jan. 6 cases that come before the Supreme Court.
Republican state Rep. Rusty Bowers, the Arizona House speaker, is scheduled to testify at the committee’s hearing Tuesday focusing on state officials who were contacted by Trump and the White House as Trump tried to overturn the results. Bowers is likely to be asked about emails he received from Thomas urging him and other state officials to set aside Biden’s 2020 win and choose their own set of electors.
“We have questions for her and we may have questions for him as well,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.
Thomas has publicly indicated that she “can’t wait” to appear before the committee after receiving their request by letter last week…
Monday Morning Open Thread: Prepping for Another Hectic WeekPost + Comments (136)
Scientists unveil image of 'gentle giant' black hole at Milky Way's center. The black hole, called Sagittarius A*, or Sgr A*, is the second one ever to be imaged https://t.co/acH0eKN7Mb pic.twitter.com/8hXLANacDB
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 13, 2022
(Don’t be silly, the Eye of Sauron had a much more vertical orientation… )
Calendar note:
The National Park Service approved a permit for pro-choice activists to gather Saturday in D.C. to march from the Washington Monument to the Supreme Court. The application currently predicts 17,000 participants.
— Zachary Petrizzo (@ZTPetrizzo) May 13, 2022
Friday Morning Open Thread: When Friday the Thirteenth Falls On A Friday…Post + Comments (221)
Aliens: Klaatu barada nikto
Earth: [dick pic]Aliens: Why…why would you think that’s ok? [turning on disruptors] https://t.co/1ICxCSYtPW— FindACrimeHat (@Popehat) May 4, 2022
Yep, it’s variants on the same ol’ 1972 My wife & I saw you from across the room… Pioneer 10 pics:
… The pictures aren’t graphic photographs of naked humans but a drawing of a naked man and a woman next to a depiction of DNA.
The man and woman are waving in an attempt to look more inviting.
NASA scientists revealed the image in a study that’s part of a project called the “Beacon in the Galaxy” (BITG).
The main aim of the BITG project is to send a message to any alien civilizations that could be out there.
Scientists think the pixelated illustration of a naked man and woman waving hello could help us finally make contact with extraterrestrials…
At least in this version, *both* humans get to wave. Which is nice, because the original always made me think of a line from a Joanna Russ short story, “Useful Phrases for the Tourist“: That is my companion; it is not a tip.
ETA: I do believe this is the NSFW version…
Late Night Open Thread: <em>‘More Nudies From the Ape Colony, X’Tprll’…</em>Post + Comments (35)
