Monday, November 4, 2019

Democrat wears ‘batgirl’ costume to impeachment vote, and social media erupts with ridicule

Democratic  Rep. Katie Porter of California wore a batgirl costume to Congress on  Halloween, but many of her detractors took to social media to ridicule  her for the silly stunt. The National Republican Congressional Committee  posted pictures of Porter with the criticism that it showed how  Democrats were not taking the impeachment vote seriously. “As House  Democrats prepare to officially blow up their Majority with impeachment, @RepKatiePorter is prancing around dressed as Batman,” they tweeted. “This is how seriously these clowns are taking impeachment,” they added. When confronted with the statement from the NRCC, she responded, “Batgirl. It’s not Batman. It’s Batgirl.” She followed up with her own tweet, tying her costume to her role as a mother. “Taking  my work in Congress seriously doesn’t mean I take *myself* too  seriously. To my kids Luke, Paul, and Betsy, I’m still just Mom—seeing  the Bat Signal on Halloween & putting on a goofy costume come with  the territory,” she tweeted. All fun aside, the impeachment inquiry  vote passed 232 to 196, with not one single Republican vote in favor of  the resolution. (The Blaze)

China Is Launching Its 5G Network Ahead of Schedule and on a Spectrum the U.S. Can’t Yet Match

China  is set to make 5G networks available to the masses earlier than  expected, giving the country a significant upper hand in the “race”  against the U.S. for a 5G future. At a technology conference in  Beijing, officials announced that China’s three major telecom providers  will roll out commercial 5G services two months ahead of plan. The  initial launch will make the groundbreaking mobile Internet service  available in major cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and  Hangzhou. China’s aim is to bring 5G to over 50 cities by the end of  this year. Yet even before this, China’s 5G commercial launch will  immediately put China in contention for the world’s largest 5G network. This puts China neck and neck with South Korea, as the largest 5G  network in the world, based on the number of 5G base stations. Experts  say no-one is close to (China’s 5G footprint). Over the past few years,  5G has attracted significant attention from governments and industries  for its vast potential. China is by no means the first country to  release 5G technology to consumers. Over 40 countries around the  world—and dozens of cities in the U.S.—already have some version of the  mobile technology in use. Yet the introduction of 5G to China’s domestic  market stands apart because, unlike U.S. roll-outs, its spectrum allows  for the deployment of the technology on a massive scale. (Fortune)

Massive California wildfire sparked by stolen car fleeing cops

A  stolen car fleeing police sparked one of three new blazes that erupted  in California Thursday, bringing to 13 the number of wildfires scorching  the Golden State. The so-called 46 Fire started when the heated-up  sedan ignited dry grass in the Jurupa Valley east of Los Angeles after a  high speed chase. It went on to burn through more than 300 acres and  forced 3,600 residents to flee their homes. The two occupants of the  car, who were sought on warrants, will now also be charged with arson,  police said. (New York Post)

Bloodhound supersonic car hits 334 mph in latest tests

A  jet-powered supersonic car has hit 334 mph during testing ahead of its  attempt to shatter the land speed record. The Bloodhound LSR began speed  trials in the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. Driven by a British RAF Wing commander, the high-speed motor is attempting to hit the 1,000 mph  mark next year. The current land speed record was set by the UK pilot in  1997 when his Thrust supersonic car hit 763 mph in a Nevada desert.  Engineers for the team are gradually inching closer to the mark by  speeding up by 50 mph each day in a bid to hit 500 mph. The 334mph test  is a huge milestone for the motor, with it easily surpassing its  previous fastest speed of 200 mph. Powered by a EuroFighter jet engine  with three Nammmo rockets, the Bloodhound LSR can produce 135,000 thrust  horsepower – which is the equivalent of more than 150 Formula One Cars.  (The Drive)

Alabama County Uses Online Survey in Superintendent Search

The  Alabama Association of School Boards has launched an online survey to  assist the Limestone County, Ala., Board of Education in its search for a  new superintendent. The survey will provide a way for employees,  parents, students and local residents to share their ideas about the  skills and experience the next superintendent should have and the  challenges facing the school system. The survey will remain open until  Nov. 6. All survey input is anonymous. (GovTech)

NATO Is Preparing for War in Space

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is expected to announce it considers space a “warfighting domain” at an alliance summit on December 3-4. The landmark announcement would  cement the notion that, like the air, land, and sea domains, space is a  potential battlefield whose control is vital in a future conflict. It’s a  serious blow to advocates for the peaceful use of space and a ban on  space-based weapons. NATO will announce  it believes “battles can be waged not only on land, in the air, at sea and on computer networks, but also in space.”  The announcement is largely along the lines of current U.S. and French  government thinking. France in particular has been loud in accusing  Russia of using its satellites for space-based espionage. In July,  France announced it will develop anti-satellite lasers to protect its  satellite fleet. Last month, the head of the newly established U.S.  Space Command (a separate entity from the Space Force) warned that China  would likely attempt to blind satellites in wartime. (Popular Mechanics)

Long-awaited cystic fibrosis drug could turn deadly disease into a manageable condition

A  new cystic fibrosis therapy dramatically improved patients’ lung  function and showed clear signs of targeting the genetic root of the  disease, instead of just alleviating symptoms. It would be a  breakthrough so long-sought that many doctors and patients are moved to  tears when talking about it. The data, being unveiled recently at a  national conference in Tennessee and simultaneously published in two  leading medical journals, was so persuasive that the Food and Drug  Administration approved the three-drug combination, called Trikafta five  months ahead of the agency’s deadline. The drug could benefit 90  percent of patients with the disease, a major advance over previous  drugs that worked in a tiny fraction of the people with the disease or  had more modest effects. The drug is the product of decades of steady,  incremental scientific work that began with research in academic  laboratories and was pushed forward and funded by patient advocates  through an unusual “venture philanthropy” model now being  emulated by other patient groups. Cystic fibrosis affects an estimated  30,000 people in the United States. Thick mucus builds up in the body’s  organs, damaging people’s lungs and digestive systems. Patients wear  vibrating vests to break up the mucus and spend hours each day coughing  to keep their lungs clear. They assiduously protect themselves from  respiratory illnesses that can send them to the hospital. They often  take antibiotics, enzymes and vitamins to stay healthy. The life  expectancy of patients has been increasing, and patients born today live  on average 44 years. (Washington Post)

Get Jiggy With Monday Because It’s:

• Job Action Day (First Monday)
• National Chicken Lady Day
• National Candy Day
• National Easy-Bake Oven Day
• National Traffic Professionals Day
• Traffic Directors Day (First  Monday)
• Use Your Common Sense Day