Hi everyone,

Welcome back!  How are you?  I definitely don't need to water the garden this week, because everything got a good soaking yesterday.  However, I still managed to sneak in a bike ride and also hang out with the plants in the afternoon/evening, so it was a win-win.  The birds are chirping up a storm here at the moment, and our guess is they're arguing about whether or not it's really going to rain again this afternoon.  While they sort that out, let's see what's going on in the world.  BDH and Little Buddha made some coffee, so help yourself to a nice medium DD, because it's time to clear out some Tuesday Clutter.

After trying to distract everyone with his all-caps Twitter threat against Iran, Donald  Trump is now threatening to revoke the security clearances of six former national security officials because he doesn't like them criticizing him.  Who knows if he'll actually do it, or if this is just the latest ranting from the Great Pumpkin, but if he follows through on his threat, it would be an act of retribution against political opponents that would even make Richard Nixon blush.  One other thing - take a look at the list of former officials being threatened: 

"(F)ormer CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former FBI Director James Comey, former national security adviser Susan Rice, former deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and former National Security Agency Director Michael Hayden."

Notice that Michael Flynn isn't on the list.  Call out Trump for treason?  Be subjected to punishment.  Help him commit said treason?  You're fine.

The government says 463 migrant parents may have been deported without their children.

The New Hampshire woman found guilty of abusing 75 Great Danes is appealing her conviction. In an ideal world, they'd find a way to throw her in jail after all. 

In another bad development for the newspaper industry, the New York Daily News is cutting half of its editorial staff, effective immediately.

This looked like a click-bait headline at first, but scientists have apparently established a link between climate change and increased suicide rates.  It makes sense, since the connection between violent crimes and warmer temperatures was discovered years ago. 

CVS had to apologize after a pharmacist refused to fill a prescription for a transgender woman.  We've said it before, and we'll say it again, if your religious objections/prejudices prevent you from doing your job, find another job.

Krispy Kreme is running a number of specials this week in honor of their 81st birthday on Friday, so you might want to stop by if you're fortunate enough to have a store near you.

Pretty sure we don't have a disproportionately-cheerful view of marijuana's properties, but whether they're exaggerated or not, there's no reason pot should be treated any differently than alcohol and tobacco.  Regulate it, tax it, take it out of the black market, and stop feeding into the hysteria that was started by the booze and cigarette companies who didn't want the competition.  

This is a terrific article about veterans opposing the militarization of professional sports, which is one of the more disturbing trends in recent memory.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 last night to improve to 71-31 on the season.  Rick Porcello threw six innings of shutout baseball, which is a nice way to start the second half of his season.  We're thrown by the development that Mitch Moreland shaved his beard, but the first baseman still hit a solo home run in the 2nd inning, so we'll overlook that for now.  The Sox tacked on another four runs in fifth inning, and that was enough for the win.  The New York Yankees also lost, so the Sox now have a six game lead in the AL East.  Drew Pomeranz takes the mound for Boston tonight for the first time since May 31, and we'll see what kind of shape the big left-hander is in after battling biceps tendinitis. 

We thought Malcolm Mitchell's comeback was supposed to be one of the more interesting stories for the New England Patriots this year, but apparently the Pats are trying to trade the wide receiver.

A lot will be made of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo saying he thinks he's better than Tom Brady, but we say good for him.  You've got to have that kind of ego and competitiveness to be a successful NFL quarterback, and Jimmy G. shouldn't concede an inch to any other player.  Of course, now he's got to back it up.

Swimmer Ryan Lochte has been suspended until July 2019 after posting a picture on Instagram of himself receiving an IV drip that violated swimming's anti-doping procedures.  That sounds about right. 

Congratulations to Nicole Maines on becoming TV's first transgender superhero.  Maines will play "Dreamer" on the upcoming season of Supergirl.  Not knowing Supergirl's fan base that well, we're hoping they'll embrace this news and not have tantrums like certain whiny Doctor Who fans who are having meltdowns about a woman playing the Doctor.

Welcome, and good luck, Nicole Maines.  (pic via bangordailynews.com)

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Let's have Chris Isaak close things out with, "Somebody's Cryin'," for today's, "Song of the Day."

Thanks for stopping by, everyone.  It was great to see you, as always.  Enjoy the rest of your day, be good, and we'll meet up again for more fun soon.  Until next time, that's today's Clearing out the Clutter, and we are outta here.