Monday Ides

3/15/21 - Beware Sleep’s Lost Hour -

Dying Americans:
U.S. pandemic relief program mistakenly paid $692 million in duplicate loans. {Reuters}

U.S. Lawyer Steven Donziger Speaks from House Arrest in NYC After Suing Chevron for Amazon Oil Spills. {Democracy Now}

Florida woman pretending to be plastic surgeon arrested after botched nose surgery. {KIRO 7}

Florida school principal hacked into student accounts to cast homecoming votes, FDLE says. {Click Orlando}

1/6 Capital Riot & White Terrorists: Two arrested for attacking Capitol officer Brian Sicknick with bear spray hours before his death. {Independent}

U.S. Capitol police suspend officer over anti-Semitic tract. {Reuters}

Navy probe finds contractor charged in Capitol insurrection was well-known Nazi sympathizer. {CNN}

Nashville bomber acted alone, was driven by 'paranoia,' FBI says. {Tennessean}

Killer Cops & Courts:
With two officer-involved shootings in one day, Nashville police chief vows transparency (always good to transparently know why cops are shooting you). {Tennessean}

Fresno Police Department looking into possible Proud Boys connection to city officer. {NBC}

Dallas PD officer arrested for assault, tampering with a witness in Aubrey. {FOX 4 News}

US prison guards refusing vaccine despite COVID-19 outbreaks. {AP}

Defund Police:
Magic Mushrooms and Ayahuasca Are Decriminalized in DC as of Today. {Washingtonian}

State to pay $475K to family of pot suspect killed by dozer. {AP}

Barriers return around federal courthouse in Portland. {AP}

COVID-19
States Open Up Vaccine Eligibility as Fauci Warns Flouting Health Measures Could Lead to New Surge. {Democracy Now}

U.S. COVID-19 deaths fall 22% last week, daily vaccinations set record. {Reuters}

HAHA! Judge authorizes city to shut off electricity to Burbank restaurant, Tin Horn Flats, that defied health order (local idiot Trumper restaurant!) {FOX LA}

Italy Back in Lockdown, Germany Declares Third Wave, as Brazil Deaths and Cases Surge. {Democracy Now}

More Countries Suspend Use of AstraZeneca Vaccine After Reports of Blood Clots. {Democracy Now}

International Affairs & Boarders:
US remains top arms exporter and grows market share. {BBC}

Who Is Lev Parnas? Army now reviewing Pentagon investigation into Michael Flynn's dealings with Russia and other foreign entities. {CNN}

Beijing choked by worst dust storm in decade. {ABC Net AU}

“Hell on Earth”: Yemeni Children Starve to Death as U.S.-Backed Saudi Blockade Devastates Nation. {Democracy Now}

Cleared of Corruption Charges, Will Lula Challenge Bolsonaro in Brazil’s 2022 Presidential Race? {Democracy Now}

Markets:
The End of Trickle-Down Economics? Joe Stiglitz on the “Transformational” $1.9T American Rescue Plan. (Many skeptical!) {Democracy Now}

Breakthrough in electronic display fabrics could help pave the way for smart clothing. {ABC}

Toys R Us has a new owner that’s planning to open stores again in the U.S. {CNBC}

Spain to launch trial of four-day working week. {BBC}

Celebrities:
Ronald DeFeo Jr., killer who inspired 'Amityville Horror' movie, dies in prison. {ABC 7}

Inside Woody Allen’s Close Friendship With Jeffrey Epstein. {Daily Beast}

Wikipedia: Here's 2020's Academy Award Best Picture Nominations,

  • The Father – David Parfitt, Jean-Louis Livi, and Philippe Carcassonne
  • Judas and the Black Messiah – Shaka King, Charles D. King, and Ryan Coogler
  • Mank – Ceán Chaffin, Eric Roth, and Douglas Urbanski
  • Minari – Christina Oh
  • Nomadland – Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Mollye Asher, Dan Janvey, and Chloé Zhao
  • Promising Young Woman – Ben Browning, Ashley Fox, Emerald Fennell, and Josey McNamara
  • Sound of Metal – Bert Hamelinick and Sacha Ben Harroche
  • The Trial of the Chicago 7 – Marc Platt and Stuart Besser

Space:
NASA has begun a study of the SLS rocket’s affordability (one launch per year = $2bil). {ArsTechnica}

Starship SN11 prepares to fly as SpaceX pushes for Orbital flight this summer. {NASA Spaceflight}

12-year-old prodigy set to attend college, says she plans to land job at NASA. {ABC}

China Plans to Have Astronauts Deployed at Lunar Research Station for 'Long-Term Stays' {Sputnik News}

Scientists want to store DNA of 6.7 million species on the moon, just in case. {Live Science}