The media is throwing the term about as if the process is a
criminal trial. Impeachable offenses are not necessarily
illegal. It also does not mean the accused has been found
guilty. Impeachment can be at the federal or state level. It is
only a statement of charges, such as to an indictment in
criminal law.
Impeachment is not a
criminal trial. It is a political process. In fact, impeachment
is actually two separate processes. The lower House of
Representatives investigates and chooses to indict the president
or charge him with offenses that could disqualify him from the
presidency. The charges are referred to as articles of
impeachment. The House of Representatives must pass, by a simple
majority of those present and voting, articles of impeachment,
which constitute the formal allegation or allegations. Upon
passage, the defendant has been 'impeached'.
Removal, or conviction
is the second process where the upper house Senate holds a trial
and, by a two-thirds vote (for at least one article) of those
present, can vote to remove the president from office.
Judgment in cases of
Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from
Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of
honor, Trust or Profit under the United States; but the Party
convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to
Indictment, Trial, Judgment, and Punishment, according to Law.
The process as outlined in the U.S. Constitution applies not
only to the president, but to the vice-president and other
officials, including governors and federal judges. Members of
Congress have their own process and are exempt from impeachment
and removal.
Impeachment does not mean a president has been found guilty of
the charged offense(s). The U.S. constitution states that
disqualifying offenses for impeachment are “treason, bribery, or
other high crimes and misdemeanors.” It does not define the term
‘high crimes and misdemeanors,’ which means that the House of
Representatives and the Senate get to define those terms.
To date, just two presidents have been impeached by the House of
Representatives: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in
1998. Also, during the 1990s, first the House and Senate Banking
Committees and then a Senate special committee investigated
President and Mrs. Clinton’s involvement in the Whitewater land
deal and related matters. The Senate had an enabling resolution;
the House did not.
If a president is removed from office, the party they represent
is still in power. For example, if President Trump ultimately is
removed from office, Vice President Mike Pence would become
president, and Republicans would still control the White House.
Nov 30, 2019
Open Doors In or Out
Was watching a show and all the doors on Scandinavian houses
opened out and most English doors opened in. There is no
universal code that dictates inward or outward.
Most reasoning shows that opening in allows hinges on the inside so thieves cannot simply remove a pin and gain entry. On the flip side, a high percentage of home invasions and burglaries begin with the intruder kicking in a door. That is virtually impossible when the door swings outward. Current exterior doors designed to open outward include protected hinges.
In public buildings and offices doors open in so as to not disrupt hallway traffic.
Three most popular reasons for outward doors are - There is a legend that during the 19th century some king decreed that all external doors should open outwards after many people were killed in a church fire. Another explanation is that apartments in Sweden were at one time very small. Another explanation is the cold winters opening the doors inwards would let in snow and when winds push against outward-opening doors the weather seal functions better. Florida, US communities are now accepting the concept of outward opening doors as an advantage, especially during hurricanes.
Incidentally, room design typically determines the left or right swing designation for doors. An inward opening door should swing in the direction needed to provide adequate passage. Interior pocket doors solve all these problems.
Most reasoning shows that opening in allows hinges on the inside so thieves cannot simply remove a pin and gain entry. On the flip side, a high percentage of home invasions and burglaries begin with the intruder kicking in a door. That is virtually impossible when the door swings outward. Current exterior doors designed to open outward include protected hinges.
In public buildings and offices doors open in so as to not disrupt hallway traffic.
Three most popular reasons for outward doors are - There is a legend that during the 19th century some king decreed that all external doors should open outwards after many people were killed in a church fire. Another explanation is that apartments in Sweden were at one time very small. Another explanation is the cold winters opening the doors inwards would let in snow and when winds push against outward-opening doors the weather seal functions better. Florida, US communities are now accepting the concept of outward opening doors as an advantage, especially during hurricanes.
Incidentally, room design typically determines the left or right swing designation for doors. An inward opening door should swing in the direction needed to provide adequate passage. Interior pocket doors solve all these problems.
Happy Friday
The sound of laughter is like the vaulted dome of a temple of happiness. ~ Milan Kundera,
My home has a vaulted dome of happiness, especially on a Happy Friday!
Daylight Saving
Here
we go again, when we defy Mother Nature's natural time and mess
with our clocks. Sunday Nov 3, 2am is the day and time we turn
our clocks back one hour. Mother Nature just sits back smirking
until we change our clocks back to her schedule in the spring.
Incidentally, this year, 2019, Finland called for daylight saving to be abolished across the EU after a petition gathered more than 70,000 signatures from citizens asking the state to give up the practice.
European Union is allowing 28 member countries to choose for themselves once mandated daylight saving time ends after 2021. Currently, some 30 bills are being considered in US States. In Canada, some 93% of British Columbia residents said they want year-round daylight saving time. Japan currently observes Japan Standard Time (JST) all year. DST is no longer in use in China, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Incidentally, this year, 2019, Finland called for daylight saving to be abolished across the EU after a petition gathered more than 70,000 signatures from citizens asking the state to give up the practice.
European Union is allowing 28 member countries to choose for themselves once mandated daylight saving time ends after 2021. Currently, some 30 bills are being considered in US States. In Canada, some 93% of British Columbia residents said they want year-round daylight saving time. Japan currently observes Japan Standard Time (JST) all year. DST is no longer in use in China, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Bonfire Night
On the Fifth of November, British people celebrate Bonfire Night
on the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot. A scarecrow in the
likeness of Guy Fawkes is put in the center of a large pile of
wood, before lighting it on fire. There is also a huge fireworks
display, eating, drinking, and partying.
The reason why the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot were trying to blow up Parliament was in an attempt to end the persecution of Recusant Catholics. Before the scarecrow was made in the likeness of Guy Fawkes, they were burning an effigy of the Pope. In the town of Lewes in Sussex, they will have a parade where they burn crosses on the Fifth of November.
The reason why the conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot were trying to blow up Parliament was in an attempt to end the persecution of Recusant Catholics. Before the scarecrow was made in the likeness of Guy Fawkes, they were burning an effigy of the Pope. In the town of Lewes in Sussex, they will have a parade where they burn crosses on the Fifth of November.
Wordology, NMLS
So many commercials end with some fast talking announcer and
one of the things the announcer says is NMLS Number 12345, or
whatever the number is. NMLS stands for the Nationwide Mortgage
Licensing System and Registry. NMLS is a web based platform for
regulatory agencies to administer initial license applications
and ongoing compliance requirements.
NMLS itself does not grant or deny license authority. It is the system of record for all federal registrations required of federally regulated mortgage loan originators. License cost for an individual is usually less than $100. Individuals usually need 20 hours training and take a test to pass the National Mortgage Licensing System pre-licensing exam. It includes 100 computer-generated, multiple-choice questions that must be answered within three hours. Ten of the 100 questions are "test" questions that do not affect the grade. Passing score is 75%. The test can be taken online.
NMLS itself does not grant or deny license authority. It is the system of record for all federal registrations required of federally regulated mortgage loan originators. License cost for an individual is usually less than $100. Individuals usually need 20 hours training and take a test to pass the National Mortgage Licensing System pre-licensing exam. It includes 100 computer-generated, multiple-choice questions that must be answered within three hours. Ten of the 100 questions are "test" questions that do not affect the grade. Passing score is 75%. The test can be taken online.
Winter and Phone Batteries
Very low temperatures can reduce your battery
to ½ or less of your normal use time. Keep your phone warm to
keep your battery level up. If it gets cold and battery charge
goes down, making the phone warm again will not bring up the
charge level.
Doctor Drug Payments
There is a website that you can look up your doctor or
hospital to see what payments they have received from drug and
medical device companies. I looked my primary care doc and found
he received $892 last year. Not sure of the value of the info,
but it is interesting to know. LINK
Roger Whittaker
Came across this video "Last Farewell" the other day while
perusing YouTube. It has over nine million views. Almost forgot
how smooth Whittaker's voice is. He is 88. LINK
Netflix Plans
Netflix offers three streaming video plans, plus you can still
order DVD and Blu-ray discs in the mail.
The most basic plan allows one user at a time and is shown in standard definition, which is equivalent to the old, pre-HD (720) televisions. The standard streaming plan allows you to watch on two screens at a time in high definition (1080) (HD), like newer, but non-4K TVs. The premium plan allows you to watch on four screens at once and you can watch programs in HD or 4K Ultra HD.
What amazed me is that it is still offering the old 720 standard television, until I realized how much of its business is overseas and how millions of users around the world use PCs, pads, and phones to watch and which require 720 or less for adequate pictures.
Incidentally, Netflix still makes 30 million US dollars a month on DVD and Blu-ray rentals.
The most basic plan allows one user at a time and is shown in standard definition, which is equivalent to the old, pre-HD (720) televisions. The standard streaming plan allows you to watch on two screens at a time in high definition (1080) (HD), like newer, but non-4K TVs. The premium plan allows you to watch on four screens at once and you can watch programs in HD or 4K Ultra HD.
What amazed me is that it is still offering the old 720 standard television, until I realized how much of its business is overseas and how millions of users around the world use PCs, pads, and phones to watch and which require 720 or less for adequate pictures.
Incidentally, Netflix still makes 30 million US dollars a month on DVD and Blu-ray rentals.
Wordology, Whistleblower
Back in Elizabethan times “to whistle” or
“to blow” was to reveal secret information. During the twentieth
century, “to blow the whistle” and “whistleblower” referred to
people blowing whistles, or people attempting to stop illegal or
immoral activity by causing a disturbance. Law enforcement
officials, such as police in the United Kingdom used whistles to
alert the public or fellow police of a crime.
A whistleblower is someone who exposes information about wrongdoings that companies or organizations do not want to share, usually about illegal or unethical actions or wrongdoings within a public or private organization. Whistleblowers disclose the wrongdoing without approval, to the public, a higher authority, or law enforcement. They could expose illegal actions affecting public safety, violations of company rules or policies, or fraud, among others.
Incidentally, the main difference between leakers and whistleblowers is that whistleblowers release information that shows wrongdoing. They have a right and responsibility to report this information. Leakers release sensitive or classified information unlawfully and possibly for their own personal or political agenda, not necessarily for public good or policy.
A whistleblower is someone who exposes information about wrongdoings that companies or organizations do not want to share, usually about illegal or unethical actions or wrongdoings within a public or private organization. Whistleblowers disclose the wrongdoing without approval, to the public, a higher authority, or law enforcement. They could expose illegal actions affecting public safety, violations of company rules or policies, or fraud, among others.
Incidentally, the main difference between leakers and whistleblowers is that whistleblowers release information that shows wrongdoing. They have a right and responsibility to report this information. Leakers release sensitive or classified information unlawfully and possibly for their own personal or political agenda, not necessarily for public good or policy.
Oct 26, 2019
Happy Friday
Laughter
is the sharpest weapon in the arsenal.
It
is the swiftest tool to open a closed mind, especially on a
Happy Friday!
Yuca vs. Yucca
Yuca – pronounced yoo-cuh – is the root portion of a cassava
plant. It is often prepared and eaten like sweet potatoes.
Yucca - pronounced
yuhk-a - is an ornamental plant. Yuccas are spiky flowered
plants common in Southern and Western parts of the US,
including Florida, New Mexico, and California. The stems,
leaf bases, flowers, emerging stalks as well as the fruit of
most types of yucca are edible.
Wordology, Mukbang
South Korea video trend is known as “mukbang,” and it
has spread to the US and around the globe on YouTube,
Facebook, and Instagram.
Japanese mukbang
entertainer Yuka Kinoshita has 5.34 million subscribers on
YouTube. She is shown in different videos eating various
foods, such as one hundred Chicken McNuggets, 62 hamburgers, 3
large pizzas, 10 pounds of cereal, 6.6 pounds of noodles. She
is thin, 5' 2" tall, and weighs 95 pounds.
The trend has grown into a worldwide sensation and often involves massive consumption of foods in nauseating quantities. Hosts will often prepare or buy a meal, sit down and eat it as part of a live stream, watched by hundreds of thousands of fans. Many times, the whole purpose is to see the mukbang host take in multiple servings.
The trend is social and interactive. According to some, watching a person eat while possibly having a meal at the same time and perhaps the same meal that they are watching a mukbang entertainer consume on the screen fills certain longings in a modern society with less personal interaction. Social media gets scarier every day.
The trend has grown into a worldwide sensation and often involves massive consumption of foods in nauseating quantities. Hosts will often prepare or buy a meal, sit down and eat it as part of a live stream, watched by hundreds of thousands of fans. Many times, the whole purpose is to see the mukbang host take in multiple servings.
The trend is social and interactive. According to some, watching a person eat while possibly having a meal at the same time and perhaps the same meal that they are watching a mukbang entertainer consume on the screen fills certain longings in a modern society with less personal interaction. Social media gets scarier every day.
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