Cabbage News Network Week #39

Status of Puerto Rico infrastructure - it's been over a month and the island is still 80% without power.

Sunday 10/15

• Interior considering a road through Alaska wilderness (source) - this one trickier than it seems at 1st glance, more in comments.

Monday 10/16

• Media reveal that Tom Marino, DJT's Drug Czar nominee, was behind legislation protecting drug companies. Nomination now in doubt. (source).
  
• DJT comments on special forces soldiers killed 12 days ago in Niger, might call the families eventually. Also lies about previous presidents not calling families of the fallen (they did), but he still totally supports the troops (source).
  
• DJT subpoenaed in sexual harassment case (source, reminder of the 15 separate sexual harassment accusations against DJT).
  
• District Court judge hearing arguments on DJT's new travel ban (source).
  
• EPA says it won't settle with environmental groups in lawsuits (source).

Tuesday 10/17

• Marino withdraws nomination (source).
  
• U.S. backed Kurdish forces take ISIL capital (source).
  
• Sean Spicer interviewed by Mueller's team (source).

Wednesday 10/18

• New travel ban blocked by courts (source).
  
• Most states to use work-around to avoid DJT's health care subsidy cut-off (source).

Thursday 10/19

• Budget resolution includes language potentially opening Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, Senate defeats amendment that would've protected the Refuge (source).
  

Friday 10/20

• Senate passes House's budget resolution - not this is not a budget per se, but allows future budget related bills to immune to filibuster rules (source).
  
• Senate to hold hearing on a new Authorization of Use of Military Force (source).

In news elsewhere

• China has taken over building the world's infrastructure (source).

Legislative action this week

• Legislation signed into law
  
  
  
• Legislation awaiting DJT's signature
  
  • A bill regarding FEMA reporting requirements https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1117
    
  • Bill expanding whistleblower protections https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s585
    
  • and 8 other minor bills
  
  
• Resolutions passing Congress
  
  • 2018 budget resolution - this is a resolution and not a bill, it does not carry the weight of law and does not require DJT's signature, but does change Congress' rules for itself https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hconres71
  
  
• Legislation passed in the House, awaiting Senate
  
  • Disaster relief for Puerto Rico https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2266
    
  • Bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr36
    
  • Bill reauthorizing the National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/s782
    
  • Renewal of law promoting democracy in North Korea and helping North Korean refugees https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2061
    
  • Bill giving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration authority over self driving cars https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3388
    
  • Bill restricting IRS use of civil asset forfeiture https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr1843
    
  • Bill to allow publicly traded companies to use SEC crowdfunding rule https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2864
    
  • Authorization bill for CIA and other intelligence activities https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3180
    
  • DoD appropriations bill https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3219
    
  • Dept. of Interior appropriations https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr3354
    
  • 296 other minor bills
  
  
• Legislation passed in the Senate, awaiting House
  
  • DoD Authorization bill for FY 2018 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/115/hr2810
    
  • 64 other minor bills
  
  
  Map of the week
  
  • 
    Map showing the difference between opoiod need vs abuse, places where use = amount needed for pain relief would be 100%, so there is an epidemic of abuse in the "West" while there is an extreme need in the rest of the world. Full journal article from The Lancet.

Ireland day 13

Lots of stuff today, first up is the Brú na Bóinne site, mostly known for Newgrange - we aim to get there when it opens to minimize crowds, which is partially successful. The site is home to 3 huge neolithic tombs, two of which can be visited, and those via tour only. They date from 3200 BCE, making them one of the oldest monuments known, predating Stonehenge or the Pyramids. For most of that history these tombs were buried and just looked like hills and their status as "fairy mounds" prevented them from being disturbed. We visit the tomb of Knowth first, and our tour group has just a couple other people, so we get to see it without a crowd. This tomb was excavated relatively recently, beginning in the sixties, and care has been taken to preserve what they've uncovered. The primary mound is ringed with large stones, each with unique artwork carved on to it and they are beautiful - seeing 5,000+ year old artwork is just mind boggling. We can't go in the tomb itself, but we do get a peek along the chambers, Knowth has two - aligned with the equinoxes, and they are lined with more carved stones. Newgrange presents a bit of a contrast, it was uncovered in 1699 and so has suffered a couple hundred years of weathering and vandalism - also all the rest of the tourists have caught up to us so we see it with a huge crowd. It has the same ring of stones, but most of the artwork has weathered away - the striking white retaining wall is a modern reconstruction, the white stone was found on site, but probably wasn't in a giant wall (the same stone was found at Knowth, but there they've just left it on the ground where they found it). Newgrange does have the advantage though that we can actually go inside the tomb which is very cool, and they also do a little light demonstration of the effect of the alignment with the winter solstice when the sun would naturally illuminate the inner chambers. Seeing Knowth first definitely helped in imagining what Newgrange would've looked like with all its artwork intact. The third tomb is Dowth and visitors aren't allowed, but we can see it in the distance, its alignment is to the summer solstice. We do lunch in the visitor center.

From there it is on the Hill of Tara, the traditional seat of the High King of Ireland. The site today is a couple of hills surrounded by the grass covered remains of various earthworks. The little visitor center in a former church is closed but the site is open and crowded, mostly with students, while a bit chilly the place has a summer park feel with lots of folks just hanging out. Also check out a pair of entwined trees that are covered with offerings, not sure what the story there is, but was not to see, the whole site does have a very nice feel to it.

We leave here and have a little more time left than we were expecting, we head towards Kells. On the way we stop briefly to wander the Bective abbey ruins, heading out when a wedding party arrives in their classic cars. Another stop at the Hill of Ward, a lesser known site associated with Samhain, now in a farm field and not marked other than a tiny plaque saying its a protected site (not even saying what it is). On into the town of Kells and take a look at the abbey grounds there which has a couple of high crosses and then just wander the town. A very tasty dinner at the pub of a MasterChef contestant, but otherwise a quiet night as we pack up getting ready to make our departure.

Photos: https://www.facebook.com/karl.musser/media_set?set=a.10155514586557247.534887246&type=3