Short Takes – 12-26-24

Editorial: Raw milk for thought. CEN.ACS.org article. Pull quote: “Even though there is no scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of raw milk, some who advocate consuming it believe that it has nutritional benefits. They staunchly believe this erroneous claim perhaps because they generally mistrust big businesses and what they perceive as the submission of doctors, researchers, and governments to the agenda of those businesses.”

Drone detection systems: Addressing a threat to CBRN facilities. ORFOnline.org article. Pull quote: “As mentioned, traditional radar systems struggle to detect drones due to their size and speed, and many CBRN facilities lack advanced surveillance technologies. Therefore, it is imperative to include drone detection systems in the individual security guidelines of these facilities to protect them from attacks by malicious and non-state actors. Including such systems at a granular level will help address the need for regular updates and remove the bureaucracy that may slow the process down.”

House approves security screening legislation. BulkTransporter.com article. Pull quote: ““For far too long, the truck drivers who keep our country running have been subjected to an outdated, inefficient credentialing system that does not respect their time and money,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “That begins to change [now]. By taking the final step needed to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, Congress will provide essential supply chain workers with overdue relief from redundant background checks and fees.”

‘Need to do some norm changing’: Granger’s case spurs renewed debate over ailing lawmakers. Politico.com article. Pull quote: “Reporting by a conservative activist on Friday about the 81-year-old Texas Republican — who until last April chaired the powerful Appropriations Committee — prompted her family to reveal that she has been struggling with dementia and residing in an assisted-living facility, despite continuing to hold office. Granger hasn’t cast a vote in Congress since July.”

Unpacking Claims Texas US Rep. Kay Granger Is in Memory Care. Snopes.com article. Pull quote: “The rumor originated with The Dallas Express, a conservative website that was launched in 2021 using the name of an historically Black-run newspaper and that publishes "pink slime" news — news of poor quality. In 2020, the newspaper's CEO, Chris Putnam, unsuccessfully tried to unseat Granger in the Republican primary election.”

Double moon mission! SpaceX to launch 2 private lunar landers in January. Space.com article. Pull quote: “The Japanese company ispace announced on Tuesday night (Dec. 17) that its second-ever moon mission will launch on the same Falcon 9 rocket that will loft Blue Ghost, a lunar lander built by Texas-based Firefly Aerospace.”

GOP facing 'doomsday scenario' of inability to certify Trump win on Jan 6: report. NewsBreak.com article. Not a great news source, but an interesting take. Pull quote: “After sharing a clip of Johnson claiming he has been in constant contact with the president-elect, Pergram pointed out, "But Mr. Trump is said to be frustrated with Johnson. Here is the doomsday scenario: Say the House takes as long as it did two years ago to elect the speaker. That means it cannot certify the Electoral College on Jan 6. That House can't do anything including swearing in the members until it picks a new speaker." The irony of it all….

A Russian Assault Group Riding In Pickup Trucks And Flying The Soviet Flag Got ‘Special Attention’ From Ukrainian Forces. Forbes.com article. Pull quote: “That the pickup-and-sedan assault failed doesn’t mean the overall Russian offensive will fail. The Russians are racing against the coming depletion of their vehicle reserves to capture as much of Ukraine as they can. Time and attrition may save most of Ukraine, but possibly not Pokrovsk.”