Blame Republicans, not just Manchin, for not extending the Child Tax Credit

One US Senator “heard stories” about people allegedly using the Child Tax Credit “for drugs” without any evidence or data to back it up.

He then used that as justification to nuke the entire national program, causing millions of kids to fall into poverty in weeks. Horrifying https://t.co/kOyuFp6ig4
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 18, 2022

In January, the child poverty rate increased by 40% in just 1 month – jumping from 12.1% to 17% as 3.7 million children slipped into poverty. How did this happen? 50 Republicans and 1 corporate Democrat allowed the $300 a month Child Tax Credit to expire. That is morally obscene.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 18, 2022

I am furious!

The equal of 53 packed football stadiums of anxious, food-insecure kids – 3.7M children! – have been thrown back into poverty because of 51 feckless, amoral U.S. senators

How can a nation pick fighter jets over its children? My new column https://t.co/838ov3uwTf
— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) February 20, 2022

Child poverty in the U.S. rose by ~41 percent from December 2021 to January 2022, as Manchin and the GOP opposed extension of Biden's expanded Child Tax Credithttps://t.co/UBYQwoLJmq
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) February 21, 2022

another example:

It's utterly repugnant that Joe Manchin is going to kill Sarah Bloom Raskin's nomination to the Fed because she cares about climate change.

But don't forget that's only possible if EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN also votes against her. They're all to blame.https://t.co/XPnmjTnCf1
— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) March 14, 2022

Poll on how Black history is taught as part of US history

Republican numbers are pathetic.

Did US history you were taught in school reflect a full and accurate account of role of African Americans or fall short via new Quinnipiac poll:

All Americans:
27% full account
66% fell short

Republicans:
47% full account
46% fell short

Black:
3% full account
90% fell short
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) February 17, 2022

Great Twitter thread on how the US became car-centric

really terrific thread here for anyone interested in learning more about the specific choices and decisions that produced our car-centric built environment https://t.co/kYNJeDNK4q
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) February 18, 2022

The Velvelettes

The Velvelettes were a Motown girl group in the 1960s. They are best known for “Needle in a Haystack” and “He Was Really Sayin’ Something'”. I encourage you to follow The History of Soul Music on Instragram. They have great posts.

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Minor league baseball salaries are very low

Read the tweets below from players. Follow “Advocates for Minor Leaguers” on Twitter. See below for a picture of the wrist band you can get from them.

"If (baseball) wasn’t an old sport that puts ‘America’s Game’ next to their marketing, when in reality it’s the most un-American thing I’ve ever seen in my life when it comes to taking care of their own, people would lose their shit over this treatment."https://t.co/ZMJxoKHXCY
— Matt Kremnitzer (@mattkremnitzer) February 18, 2022

Today, The Athletic released an article detailing the reality many Minor League players face. It’s time for every Minor Leaguer to receive a livable annual salary. https://t.co/ofMPaSo0j5 pic.twitter.com/J9Gf7kDMkx
— Advocates for Minor Leaguers (@MiLBAdvocates) February 15, 2022

Alright Twitter, do your thing! @MiLBAdvocates @MiLB @milbgrinders @MLB pic.twitter.com/eovDt0M5mK
— Michael Curry (@MichaelCurry13) February 15, 2022

About to start my 7th season in the minor leagues.

My first-hand experience:
— Jack Kruger (@jack_kruger_) February 16, 2022

Career minor leaguer here.

My thoughts on minor league baseball’s problems and potential solutions:
— Mark Appel (@markappel26) February 15, 2022

Since signing to play pro ball, I have been working 1:30pm to 10pm doing customer support (where I make more than double my minor league weekly salary) just to be able to afford food, rent, and training every month https://t.co/AqfXg28u1E
— Jake Suddreth (@Jsudds44) February 16, 2022

“We were glad to learn that the MLBPA has repeatedly rejected MLB’s short-sighted proposal to cut yet more minor league jobs. The proposal itself again highlights that minor leaguers need and deserve a say over their wages and working conditions.” https://t.co/SGux0iH74t
— Advocates for Minor Leaguers (@MiLBAdvocates) February 17, 2022

Covers: Rockin’ Chair

“Rockin’ Chair” (1951) is a great lesser-known early Fats Domino song. I heard it first in a version by Professor Longhair. Some of his earlier records are tough early R&B instead of pop pleasers like “Blueberry Hill”.

The Little Richard cover was recorded in 1966 but not released until 2004.

This has “Goin’ Home/Rocking Chair/Going to the River”. The version I know is on Mardi Gras in Baton Rouge.

Film: Dead & Buried

Dead & Buried (1981) is an entertaining film about dead people who come back to life and the small town where their deaths occur. Jack Albertson, in his final role, is outstanding as the undertaker at the center of the story. Sure, there are a few plot holes if you think about it too much but it’s enjoyable while it’s unwrapping the mystery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u90aQ_v3Vk

I watched two films directed by George Franju

I recently watched two films directed by George Franju: Eyes Without a Face (1960) and Spotlight on a Murderer (1961). Both are in French (with subtitles on the Blu-ray discs) and black and white.

These are both excellent films.

Eyes Without a Face is about a woman whose face (except her eyes) was damaged in an accident caused by her father, a doctor. He tries to replace her face with skin from people he murders.

Spotlight on a Murderer is about a count who dies but whose body is missing. His heirs can’t get his money for five years since there is no corpse. The film turns into a clever and fascinating murder mystery as heirs turn up dead.

The Blu-ray discs from Criterion (Eyes) and Arrow (Spotlight) are excellent with fine video transfers. Franju has been forgotten compared to his peers but he made several fine films.

I appreciate the fact that director Georges Franju decided that 1960 was the year the public was ready to see a five minute+ face removal scene. pic.twitter.com/OpgcNOyCL7
— Movies from Hell (@26MFHPOD) January 14, 2023

I remember the milkman

Old folks remember the milkman delivering milk to your home in glass bottles. I was talking about this yesterday and wondered why and when this stopped.

A History of The American Milkman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLvnZIIb8jk

Remember the Milkman? In Some Places, He’s Back

Polls show support for masks

Yet again, the basic thing driving changes in US society that are so often lamented in the op-ed pages – everything from "public masking" to "social disruption" – is clearly fear of pandemic disease, not fear of oppressive government mandates. https://t.co/Huxgi4J0st
— Will Stancil (@whstancil) February 21, 2022

Just how popular are indoor mask mandates? A recent poll from the COVID States Project (conducted end of December-end of January with 22,000+ respondents) found that 69% of Americans approve of indoor mask mandates, with majorities in all 50 states.https://t.co/CfMV6J5uKq pic.twitter.com/whGGnkNUdl
— Benjy Renton (@bhrenton) February 16, 2022

CBS News poll: By 56-44 margin, Americans want statewide mask mandates, while 57 percent of parents want masks required in schools, compared to 36 percent who want them optional https://t.co/a0aR2JhOyD
— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) February 14, 2022

.@mehdirhasan: "The numbers don't lie, the majority of Americans wear masks and want mandates." https://t.co/DAQPxRDwnE
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 15, 2022

The move by several states to lift restrictions comes as a new CBS poll found that a majority of Americans still support mask mandates, including in schools, but that many are exhausted and frustrated by a pandemic that is grinding into its third year. https://t.co/kmKGeiukVT
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 13, 2022

This is another "Twitter is not real life" moment, where 56% of the country supports mask mandates.

It's also quite jarring to see the people most vulnerable to COVID not want them while those who have been taking the responsible precautions (getting vaccinated) want masks. pic.twitter.com/4Qg9iWX3Mv
— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 13, 2022

Policymakers frequently cite lack of public support for public health measures as a reason for inaction. New polling data from @MorningConsult shows that 72% of Americans support mask policies to combat Omicron. https://t.co/CPR5KVCQOb pic.twitter.com/Y9ZdCBvx35
— Anne Sosin (@asosin) December 5, 2021

TEXAS
In general, do you consider the issue of wearing masks to be primarily about personal freedom or primarily about public health?

Personal freedom 33%
Public health 60%

(Quinnipiac U. Poll, 9/24-27/21)
— PollingReport.com (@pollreport) September 29, 2021

Axios-Ipsos poll:

57% of Republicans support state bans against local mask mandates, like those in Florida and Texas. Just 16% of Democrats support those bans.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 17, 2021