Good morning, and a very happy National Llama Day to you! Oh, yeah, there’s totally a day for this. Here are 9 interesting facts about llamas, and here are ways to celebrate. I am thrilled that “dress like a llama” made the list, so if any of your go for it, please post proof in the comments.
It’s also Christmas Card Day! On December 9, 1843, the first Christmas card was sent. So much of the commercialization of Christmas started with the Victorians, and cards are no exception.
Let’s get on to the news.
Pat Conroy
- Texas’ attorney general, Ken Paxton, sued Georgia and a couple of other states demanding the state legislatures pick our electors due to the voters voting the wrong way. It’s not a serious lawsuit, just as Paxton is not a serious public servant.
- To wit, he was indicted on federal securities fraud charges last month.
- Both of our U.S. Senators support this “lawsuit”.
- Congressman Jody Hice was the only Georgian not to vote in support of the National Defense reauthorization yesterday because he doesn’t want Confederate generals’ names removed from Army bases.
- Austin Scott and Doug Collins missed the vote. Scott is recovering from COVID, but Collins is in state for a “personal commitment,” i.e., this farcicality on behalf of a lame duck president that he thinks is more important than what his constituents elected him to do. (Alternate link.)
- Speaking of that farcicality, last night, Jim Galloway dismantled the claim that Stacey Abrams did in 2018 after her loss in the race for governor what President Trump is doing now. (Alternate link.)
- If you feel as though you’re lacking on analysis of the Senate runoffs – how?! – here are just a few articles that came out in the last 24 hours:
- The Washington Post rehashes the “Six Georgias.”
- Side note: Quit putting Baldwin County in the Piedmont. I live here; it’s the Black Belt. (Alternate link.)
- The New York Times delves into numbers of voters and where they’re at in the state. (Alternate link.)
- FiveThirtyEight examines where all the money is coming from.
- NBC News looks into how many early voting sites are being cut back from the general election (which is normal).
- The Washington Post rehashes the “Six Georgias.”
- Some of our state senators now want to end no-excuse absentee voting during the upcoming legislative session.
- Reality Winner’s request for compassionate release from federal prison was denied. (Alternate link.)
Alice Walker
- The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s case asking to throw out Pennsylvania’s election results yesterday. The order was one sentence.
- Nevada’s Supreme Court also denied the suit to overturn its state’s results. (Alternate link.)
- CNN’s Lauren Fox is trying to keep up with all things stimulus, and more power to her. It sounds like a total mess of a negotiation.
- Speaking of CNN, their viewership is double what it was this time last year. Fox News continues to dominate nighttime viewership among the cable news networks.
- The student loan payment freeze has been extended through January.
- The U.N. Emissions Gap survey suggests we could see the planet warm 3 degrees this century.
- Venice has flooded again after a newly-installed system of mobile artificial dams failed to activate.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has gone to Brussels to try to stave off a no-deal Brexit. (Yeah, that’s still ongoing…)
- After reactions among National Health Service workers who took Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, the United Kingdom is advising that those with severe allergies not take it.
- NPR has a tool so you can see how much of your area hospital’s beds are filled by COVID patients.
- TIME has suggestions for having a safe COVID Christmas.
Flannery O’Connor
- This man bought Delta Airlines seats for his house because he misses flying so much. That’s totally normal. Totally.