Tag archive: Nemesis

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Asteroid Anatomy: The Kavanaugh-Ford Hearing

As I write this Judge Brett Kavanaugh is giving testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the allegations of sexual misconduct made against him by Professor Christine Blasey Ford and others, ranging from indecent exposure to sexual assault and attempted rape. It’s too early to know the outcome of this proceeding, but we can anatomize the hearing itself based on the time it convened and significant moments throughout. I’m going to break it down into several sections based on the planetary patterns present in the sky on the day.

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Kavanaugh’s Meteor

When I wrote the initial profile of Judge Brett Kavanaugh at the time of his nomination in July, I suggested that nothing short of a meteor colliding with Capitol Hill during his confirmation hearings could prevent his becoming the next Justice of the US Supreme Court.

 

Well, I was a few days off in the timing, but enter the meteor: Christine Blasey Ford, who on Sunday September 16th revealed herself to be the woman accusing Kavanaugh of what amounts to attempted rape, 35 years ago at a High School party, when both were in their teens.

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Hurricane Florence

In mid-September, Hurricane Florence became the first major storm to strongly impact the US in the 2018 season. A Category 4 hurricane just days before crashing into the Carolinas, Florence was downgraded to a Category 1 before making landfall, and quickly diminished to tropical storm strength, likely sparing billions in property damage and additional lives.

 

But Florence will still wreak havoc with its storm surge, up to 11 feet in some areas, and its accompanying deluge; with as much as two feet of rain expected generally, some areas could see almost 40 inches in a matter of hours. Billions of dollars’ worth of damage will likely ensue, with affected areas taking years to recover.

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Ted Cruz: Texas Toast?

Texas Senator Ted Cruz may be in the fight of his life for re-election this November. The one-term Republican Senator who famously shut down the government in 2013 with a filibuster comprised partly of a reading of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham”, has made few friends and allies on Capitol Hill, having a reputation as uncompromising, caustic, and generally charm-free. Former House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) once described him as “Lucifer in the flesh.”

 

Polls show he is now neck-and-neck with Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke, a former punk rock band member who is currently US Representative for Texas’ 16th District. Cruz is so desperate, he has asked former 2016 GOP presidential nomination rival Donald Trump to stump for him. Trump, who during that campaign tagged him with the moniker “Lyin’ Ted”, insulted his wife as ugly, and accused his father of participating in the JFK assassination, is Cruz’ last best hope of retaining his seat. With friends like these…

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Asteroid Sleuth: The Case of the Tennis Tantrum

On September 8th the final round of the Women’s Singles match at the 2018 US Open tennis tournament was disrupted in more ways than one. Naomi Osaka, a 20-year-old player of Haitian and Japanese descent, became the first Asian to win the title. Not only that, but she defeated Serena Williams, one of the sport’s all-time best players, with 23 Grand Slam championship titles already under her belt.

 

And not only that, but Ms. Williams had displayed an astonishing amount of unsportsmanlike behaviors in the match, from yelling at the chair umpire to smashing her racket.

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Donald Trump’s Very Public Private Hell

I seem to recall some perspicacious astrologer recently writing that this would be the year when the shit hit the fan for Donald Trump. Oh, wait … that was me. Well, we’re only a quarter of the way into Trump’s Solar Return year, and things do seem to be shaping up that way, don’t they? I know we keep having to say “Worst. Week. Ever.” when it comes to this White House, but truly, could things get worse than the week of September 2nd, 2018?

 

Actually, yes. They can. And will.

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