Tuesday, December 27, 2022
Oh look the concussion protocol is whack
Tua got hit "at some point" on Sunday. No one knows when, precisely, but he was not evaluated or taken out of the game for even a single play. Somehow the spotters - whose job it is to watch the game looking for signs of a concussion, especially for who the player the nfl enhanced rules were made for - missed it entirely.
But now he's in the concussion protocol. Having suffered his 3rd (officially his second because of the "neck injury") concussion. Have there been more they've missed as well? Probably.
The nfl, the doctors, the team...they just go about their business. "Yeah he had a concussion, but we can't rule him out next week."
Right.
Which just means the rules are meaningless and the nfl has no clue what it's doing.
But now he's in the concussion protocol. Having suffered his 3rd (officially his second because of the "neck injury") concussion. Have there been more they've missed as well? Probably.
The nfl, the doctors, the team...they just go about their business. "Yeah he had a concussion, but we can't rule him out next week."
Right.
Which just means the rules are meaningless and the nfl has no clue what it's doing.
Friday, December 16, 2022
On insurance.
"We've told consumers don't expect to see release relief within two years. The legislature needed to take strong action to save the Florida property insurance market. To tell Florida your price is going to go down, is that realistic? It's not going to happen this year, next year, if ever. Rarely do we see the price of home insurance go down anywhere in the U.S. There's too many factors."
— Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute
If ever. All it does is protect "the industry" … the companies that make money. Not you or me. Good luck to us all.
Well Florida, you’re getting what you wanted
We're a month removed from the election, and things continue to go exactly as you would expect. But there are always consequences.
The governor has already taken issue with a few school boards who have (in his opinion) violated the absurdity that is "don't say gay" and because he has a political axe to grind with these counties over other things, he'll surely go hard after them. But the thing is he hasn't said HOW they violated it. It's just his opinion on a poorly written piece of legislation. And don't miss that law suits are ongoing because the law is vague… as always.
Meanwhile, his "anti woke" legislation had its day in court. At the heart of it was the judge asking lawyers to define "woke"…their answer was, essentially, "anything we don't agree with" … which isn't much of a legal argument, and again underscores these poorly written things that are all about bluster.
He continues to harass and harangue companies about their politics, including Disney in spite of the change in leadership.
And then there's this nugget. He wants to sue the manufacturers of covid drugs because…reasons! I think he said something about side effects that impact Floridians. Which is inane. And don't worry he's going to put together a grand jury to investigate … or perhaps to essentially make things up to support his position. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gents!
Let's not forget the mortgage crisis we have in the state. Insurance rates are high. Insurers leave the state regularly. It's been an ongoing problem for many years.
But the legislature "fixed it" in a one-week special session! And the governor is all in.
What does it do? It raises rates. Takes away many deductions you get for storm proofing. Limits what the public adjustors can do. Changes how the rules work for contractors and what they can bill. And eliminates our ability to sue if the insurer decides not to pay out enough, or at all.
In the end it means homeowners will find insurance unaffordable in addition to the housing already being unaffordable. It can't end well.
So we're getting exactly what you would think … and don't worry, it will get worse.
The governor has already taken issue with a few school boards who have (in his opinion) violated the absurdity that is "don't say gay" and because he has a political axe to grind with these counties over other things, he'll surely go hard after them. But the thing is he hasn't said HOW they violated it. It's just his opinion on a poorly written piece of legislation. And don't miss that law suits are ongoing because the law is vague… as always.
Meanwhile, his "anti woke" legislation had its day in court. At the heart of it was the judge asking lawyers to define "woke"…their answer was, essentially, "anything we don't agree with" … which isn't much of a legal argument, and again underscores these poorly written things that are all about bluster.
He continues to harass and harangue companies about their politics, including Disney in spite of the change in leadership.
And then there's this nugget. He wants to sue the manufacturers of covid drugs because…reasons! I think he said something about side effects that impact Floridians. Which is inane. And don't worry he's going to put together a grand jury to investigate … or perhaps to essentially make things up to support his position. Your tax dollars at work, ladies and gents!
Let's not forget the mortgage crisis we have in the state. Insurance rates are high. Insurers leave the state regularly. It's been an ongoing problem for many years.
But the legislature "fixed it" in a one-week special session! And the governor is all in.
What does it do? It raises rates. Takes away many deductions you get for storm proofing. Limits what the public adjustors can do. Changes how the rules work for contractors and what they can bill. And eliminates our ability to sue if the insurer decides not to pay out enough, or at all.
In the end it means homeowners will find insurance unaffordable in addition to the housing already being unaffordable. It can't end well.
So we're getting exactly what you would think … and don't worry, it will get worse.
And eventually impact you directly.
Florida is…screwed.
In the floridas gubernatorial race, you had a former Republican 2x governor in charlie crist running as a democrat against Desantis. What an awful thing. Republicans hated him because he was a "turncoat" (and Republican messaging was especially harsh), and dems hated him because he wasn't an effective governor and never much represented us.
desantis has his cult…so they turned out and voted for him and rubio. And they picked up votes for each other among everyone else. And here we are.
People say Florida is "getting" red. I say it's pretty much the same as it's always been. The first time governor races are typically closely contested. But the incumbents always win. And we've had a Republican in the office for 28, now going on 32, years.
So this is not new or news. Someone needs to organize in Florida and provide a candidate more people can believe in and then help them reach actual voters.
As a complete aside, I know a lot of Venezuelans. While they can't all vote (not being citizens) you hear the talk about how the dems are socialists, like they see back home. And so they supported trump because he talked tough about Venezuela, even though he was much more like the guy back home than Biden.
And then Biden turned around and gave them tps status. But they still think he's the devil.
Desantis dupes mostly Venezuelan migrants with his (illegal and immoral) migrant flights … and yet they still supported him. And got people who hate what's happening in Venezuela on their side.
Those are the kinds of issues this state has to overcome. But there are many of them. Cuban Americans will never vote dem, because they were brought up hating on kennedy. Central Americans can't see that reps want to keep them down. And so on.
No one has managed to crack that nut. And as a result, we're screwed.
BTW, in Florida the incumbent governor has to vacate the office if s/he wants to run for higher office. The reps love desantis and want him to run for prez, so they want to change the law this term to allow him to remain gov while he runs.
The reason they have the law in the first place is because you can't serve two masters, and be an effective absentee gov. Which he kind of already is. 🤷🏼♂️
desantis has his cult…so they turned out and voted for him and rubio. And they picked up votes for each other among everyone else. And here we are.
People say Florida is "getting" red. I say it's pretty much the same as it's always been. The first time governor races are typically closely contested. But the incumbents always win. And we've had a Republican in the office for 28, now going on 32, years.
So this is not new or news. Someone needs to organize in Florida and provide a candidate more people can believe in and then help them reach actual voters.
As a complete aside, I know a lot of Venezuelans. While they can't all vote (not being citizens) you hear the talk about how the dems are socialists, like they see back home. And so they supported trump because he talked tough about Venezuela, even though he was much more like the guy back home than Biden.
And then Biden turned around and gave them tps status. But they still think he's the devil.
Desantis dupes mostly Venezuelan migrants with his (illegal and immoral) migrant flights … and yet they still supported him. And got people who hate what's happening in Venezuela on their side.
Those are the kinds of issues this state has to overcome. But there are many of them. Cuban Americans will never vote dem, because they were brought up hating on kennedy. Central Americans can't see that reps want to keep them down. And so on.
No one has managed to crack that nut. And as a result, we're screwed.
BTW, in Florida the incumbent governor has to vacate the office if s/he wants to run for higher office. The reps love desantis and want him to run for prez, so they want to change the law this term to allow him to remain gov while he runs.
The reason they have the law in the first place is because you can't serve two masters, and be an effective absentee gov. Which he kind of already is. 🤷🏼♂️
Friday, November 25, 2022
This is what it’s all about
Stop making it everything a political statement.
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
On Disney.
I had said that the one single thing that would be the most likely to get Bob Chapek fired, was to screw up his relationship with the state of Florida. It was a glorious deal that was hugely advantageous to Disney - in terms of what they were doing since the 1960s, and to what they continue to do today.
And he proceeded to do just that, but survived for a few months and even got a new contract.
Now to be fair, there are certainly other factors that could have led to his demise. Massive missteps. Losses in streaming. Poor communication. Some corporate nonsense with "streamlining creative groups." Loss of focus on "guest experience" and instead focusing on that bottom line and using silly business terms to hilight what you're doing (and worse: why he was doing it). Any or all of those are certainly factors.
But then the governor of Florida gets (sadly for anyone who's paying attention) re-elected … and a week later, Chapek loses his job. Coincidence? Probably not.
But again, it may not have been the only factor.
After there was an internal revolt and some discussion by the board, there was a decision to make a change. They tried several ideas to outright replace Chapek with someone "new," but for now those are on hold.
Instead they turned to Bob Iger, the previous CEO. Iger had said recently that his biggest mistake/regret was tapping Chapek. And how that decision impacted the legacy he thought he left.
They offered Iger the job and then turned around and fired Chapek.
Look, Chapek is savvy enough to know "something" was happening. But he said afterward that the speed of the move was surprising. And that it happened shortly after signing a new contract did blindside him to a point.
And so Iger has to step in and help plan for what comes next. Does he help conduct a new search? Do they get bought out or merge with someone? Do they acquire some other entity to get their CEO (something apparently that was discussed to get a guy who they had wanted to be the next CEO a few years ago, but who left when Iger decided to stay on)? Or does Iger stay and groom the next person for a few years down the road?
It's a bit of a quagmire. And while it's probably good for the company to stop some of the bleeding, I don't know if things get better, worse, or stay the same for the next 6 months to a year.
But many are speculating about what Iger needs to do. What those are, I won't repeat. Because I don't think any of us know the big picture plans and what this means for the company. You may love a move he makes. You may like it. You may not like it. You may hate the move.
At this point it's an "anything is better than the last guy" kind of feeling.
In any case, I've read a few articles on the topic of "what Iger needs to do to fix Disney," because I'm curious what people think is wrong.
It's a lot of the expected nonsense. Here's what's wrong and here's how he can make it profitable. Blah. Blah. Blah.
But more interesting to me are the comments that accompany the articles... those were something.
While some are thoughtful and maybe suggested solutions, there were 80% of them (heck maybe more) that harped on the general theme that Disney needs to stop its woke-ed-ness.
- Go back to being "family friendly" (whatever that means).
- Stop with promoting an agenda and grooming and assorted other things that people say but don't understand.
- Stop disrespecting people (yeah go figure).
- Less thoughtful and more direct comments about how people should be marginalized
- And on and on and on. The vitriol doesn't stop!
The twice impeached president was mentioned. The governor was mentioned.
When you see things like that, you realize what the bigger problem is in society.
A few posters pointed out that all of the things most people mention related to "being woke" actually started under Iger. So....don't expect too much.
And gold star to those folks for understanding it.
But here we are. Good luck to us all.
Friday, October 7, 2022
Tua Tagovailoa Concussion - what happens next?
I'm no expert when it comes to concussions, but in looking at the chart the concussion doctor presents, ya gotta wonder if Tua should play again this year.
Good that the team has ruled him out this week. But he wants to play and says he feels good. The coach wants to put his best players on the field. And the doctors may clear him.
And sure, he’s an adult and being well compensated for putting himself at risk. But it still doesn’t seem right.
Maybe he gets lucky and doesn’t suffer another concussion. Then again, maybe he does and it affects the rest of his life.
Oh and just one point I wanted to make about all this conversation: I’ve heard people say that “some doctor who is watching on tv shouldn’t weigh in on it because he’s not there.”
Except that the concussion doctor who the nfl consults (you know the one the nflpa fired last week?) stays in one location and watches video to make his judgement call. The only thing he has that other observer/doctors (like in this video) don’t is the team doctor on the phone to answer a few additional questions….though these questions are often answered in other ways.
So I would say their opinion is valid.
Friday, September 30, 2022
Concussions
Thinking more about concussions, I wanted to share a little something in the hope that inspires someone…
Some years ago, my dad (the prolific inventor) was reading up on concussions. They were much more prevalent than were being reported, and the CTE effects were greatly impacting players from his generation.
The NFL and other sports wanted to try and reduce the number and severity of head trauma. Now you could argue that it wasn't so much about player safety as it was about business, but nevertheless they came up with some things they could change, and commissioned some studies.
The big change came in the idea of concussion protocol. They would have a doctor on hand who could evaluate players and decide if they needed to be held out or could go back in to games.
The inherent problems were that these doctors were paid by the teams (even when they were "independent") and so might not be as stringent as they otherwise might be.
Also, they were using a common - but flawed - method for assessments. They did (and still do!) use the sports concussion assessment test, which you can find here:
It doesn't really take much into consideration, and is just a sort of "hey he looks okay and says he is, so he can keep playing!"
And there's a third factor, that they've defined up a concussion in a legal sense to not really include all manner of neurological issues, and focus just on the head.
Being a little ahead of his time, my dad started looking at the problem and something he found was that often, the visual acuity of a person with a concussion had changed. Their eyes might not be able to focus, might be subject to quick eye movements, and the like.
So he had an idea to create an app that assessed their eyes. In theory, you could determine if there was something going on by simply assessing their eye movement, using the camera.
We talked through this a bit (and even tried writing a little code) and determined the phones at the time weren't sophisticated enough to let you do the assessment. But, we also noted that if you took a baseline before engaging in activities, you might be able to do a comparison.
And then along came Apples health kit, which started to open up the abilities further.
Unfortunately, his own state of mind declined, and he wasn't able to pursue it further.
I see the possibility in it, but while I was happy to work with him, I'm not in a position to take it on myself.
But … I am happy to share the idea with anyone, so you can pursue it. Certainly, technology should allow someone to use video, audio (maybe there's a change in respiration or the ability to answer questions?), health kit information, and more to do at least a quick field assessment that's better than the scat.
Or maybe this is something could be used in conjunction with the scat, in order to improve the early detection.
Or with more research, or engaging a neurologist in a simple design, it could be a more comprehensive solution for concussions and other neurological issues that impact athletes in any sport - at a very low cost.
I hope someone will be inspired to try and keep a guy like Tua from re-entering a game when he's actually suffering from a concussion - and so he doesn't put himself at risk a few days later.
Monday, September 5, 2022
Hurricane hunter airplanes just went where they h…
Science yo!
https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/05/weather/tropical-outlook-hurricane-hunters-cape-verde-nursery-wxn/index.html
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/05/weather/tropical-outlook-hurricane-hunters-cape-verde-nursery-wxn/index.html
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
The nfl is stupid.
Flores and the other plaintiffs lawyers take exception to the idea of arbitration - which is being requested individually rather than as a group - because the arbitrator would be Goodell.
Goodell has previously said the case was without merit, and he was tapped as a potential witness if the case went to trial.
Think there's any chance he'd be in any way impartial?
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34495178/lawyers-brian-flores-other-coaches-blast-idea-roger-goodell-leading-arbitration-racial-bias-lawsuit
Goodell has previously said the case was without merit, and he was tapped as a potential witness if the case went to trial.
Think there's any chance he'd be in any way impartial?
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34495178/lawyers-brian-flores-other-coaches-blast-idea-roger-goodell-leading-arbitration-racial-bias-lawsuit
Sunday, August 28, 2022
We need so much more of this…
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/student-sneaks-lightsabers-into-graduation-to-challenge-principal/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Scientists Grow “Synthetic” Embryo With Brain and…
This is … well, a little creepy.
And it brings up a host of ethical questions.
But I have to wonder, in todays climate where abortion debates and religion govern some of the laws, does this qualify as "human life?" Does it "have a soul?"
The world is changing (often for the better due to science) and we're still living with fairy tales and antiquated notions - mostly to control people.
It should open up a broader debate because there is no conception here. So what does human life mean?
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-grow-synthetic-embryo-with-brain-and-beating-heart-without-eggs-or-sperm/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
And it brings up a host of ethical questions.
But I have to wonder, in todays climate where abortion debates and religion govern some of the laws, does this qualify as "human life?" Does it "have a soul?"
The world is changing (often for the better due to science) and we're still living with fairy tales and antiquated notions - mostly to control people.
It should open up a broader debate because there is no conception here. So what does human life mean?
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-grow-synthetic-embryo-with-brain-and-beating-heart-without-eggs-or-sperm/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Obi yawn kenobi
I was excited for the series on Disney+. I have really enjoyed the content thus far, so I was looking forward to seeing how they treated the iconic character.
I was waiting for my son to come home so we could enjoy it together…I avoided discussions and spoilers over the month or so since it premiered.
6 episodes. Each 45 or so minutes. Can't wait.
And then…disappointment. It sucked. They really missed on the character and storyline. Sure, the concept was okay. But they spent almost the entire first episode setting the tone for the show, as we watched Ben work in a packing plant and take long rides across the desert.
Uhhhhh. Wow. What a waste of an episode. Maybe it gets better in #2? Not really. Just a snooze fest.
It's not what I expected obi wan to be doing. Or how I thought he'd be acting. Or whatever.
And on top of that, if you're a diehard Star Wars fan, maybe you know about the inquisitors. But if you're a causal fan, probably not.
They spent 5 minutes giving you their back story. And even then it was weak sauce.
I was waiting for my son to come home so we could enjoy it together…I avoided discussions and spoilers over the month or so since it premiered.
6 episodes. Each 45 or so minutes. Can't wait.
And then…disappointment. It sucked. They really missed on the character and storyline. Sure, the concept was okay. But they spent almost the entire first episode setting the tone for the show, as we watched Ben work in a packing plant and take long rides across the desert.
Uhhhhh. Wow. What a waste of an episode. Maybe it gets better in #2? Not really. Just a snooze fest.
It's not what I expected obi wan to be doing. Or how I thought he'd be acting. Or whatever.
And on top of that, if you're a diehard Star Wars fan, maybe you know about the inquisitors. But if you're a causal fan, probably not.
They spent 5 minutes giving you their back story. And even then it was weak sauce.
So that part of the story was glossed over, while they bored us with Ben telling everyone he left that life behind.
The dialog was mostly drivel. There wasn't a purpose, other than meeting Anakin, er, Vader along the way.
They could have kept the core story points and created a more interesting and richer story. But why bother? It's obi wan. People will love the fan service!
That's not to say there weren't a couple of bright spots. I liked young Leia. She was much as I might expect. And a few of the background characters held a little interest. The battle between obi wan and Darth Vader was good, but very dark. And intermixed with Luke running away (almost completely in the dark) it lost some of the magic.
…overall, it was not worth the 6 hours I spent watching it. It just didn't work.
There was one additional point I wanted to make: I enjoyed the book of boba fett, in spite of it being similar in terms of how they spent a lot of time "doing nothing" in the desert.
So what's the difference? It's all about perspective. Boba fett takes place *after* episode vi. We don't know what happens to the character, so it was interesting to see where they took the character. He took over Jaba's territory and there could be a richness to the storyline - because it was essentially unknown to the viewer.
Obi wan takes place between episodes 3&4, and we know what happens in both. So there's no real mystery there. This one has to rely on a good story to make it come together. Having him help Leia was clever, but not enough. All he does is live a solitary life and then get chased across the Galaxy by Vader as he helps her.
Why not have him "pretending" to live a solitary life while actually out doing something? He could have had a series of adventures that culminated in a battle.
Anyway, that's my take.
So I guess the robot chicken joke applies. From a certain point of view this all made sense.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Gov. DeSantis admonishes drag show
Proving that he's the dictator of Florida, he decided to call out a drag show. And this is how censorship gets rolling.
And it fits into his own, personal, twisted narrative that there's some sort of indoctrination with children somehow deciding to be gay because they see others doing it…
Aside: has he ever been to one? I have - they're fun.
They're performances by men dressed as women. That's it.
Where do you draw the line? By his "standard" comic cons should no longer allow people to dress up because kids might think they could be superhero's, and women dress in ways that may offend someone; kids might see something that will indoctrinate them.
Disney world shouldn't have costumed characters, because kids might think giant dogs and mice are real. And those princesses? They lead to moral decay… their stories are complicated and messy (they are teenagers after all) - just glossed over with a touch of Disney magic.
Circuses shouldn't have people dressed as clowns, because everyone knows from tv and movies that clowns are evil. Can't scare kids like that!
And children shouldn't be allowed at any political events or church functions, because there are grown men pretending to be adults. We can't have children seeing that.
The governor needs to be removed. And our opportunity to do that comes in a couple of months.
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/07/27/florida-gov-ron-desantis-takes-aim-at-wynwood-restaurant-r-house-for-popular-drag-show/
And it fits into his own, personal, twisted narrative that there's some sort of indoctrination with children somehow deciding to be gay because they see others doing it…
Aside: has he ever been to one? I have - they're fun.
They're performances by men dressed as women. That's it.
Where do you draw the line? By his "standard" comic cons should no longer allow people to dress up because kids might think they could be superhero's, and women dress in ways that may offend someone; kids might see something that will indoctrinate them.
Disney world shouldn't have costumed characters, because kids might think giant dogs and mice are real. And those princesses? They lead to moral decay… their stories are complicated and messy (they are teenagers after all) - just glossed over with a touch of Disney magic.
Circuses shouldn't have people dressed as clowns, because everyone knows from tv and movies that clowns are evil. Can't scare kids like that!
And children shouldn't be allowed at any political events or church functions, because there are grown men pretending to be adults. We can't have children seeing that.
The governor needs to be removed. And our opportunity to do that comes in a couple of months.
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2022/07/27/florida-gov-ron-desantis-takes-aim-at-wynwood-restaurant-r-house-for-popular-drag-show/
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Love this guy
So. So. Funny.
The world is round…
If Bugs Bunny got it in 1951, how are there still so many people who haven’t gotten the memo?!
Monday, July 18, 2022
Do your own research?
As we wove our way through the covid responses, we heard a lot of voices saying that we were being misled and that we should worry about ourselves and "do our own research"
It's right there in the preamble. So rather than being selfish and saying it's your body and you'll make decisions about it, and calling attention to your unique individuality, saying things like "this is America I have freedom," perhaps we should have thought about how this was (and is) a deadly virus which propagates through people. And we should have provided for the common good.
https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-panel-trump-campaign-used-election-lie-to-raise-millions-from-supporters-163747101.html
They took in somewhere around $250 million dollars from suckers, er supporters, who had bought into the notion that he couldn't have lost. I know some of these people, and probably you do too. They're everyday people with not huge amounts of money laying around. They lost it. Because they wanted it to be true. That they knew more than we did.
First off, I was (and still am) amused by the notion that you shouldn't trust scientifically valid research, and instead should trust your crazy uncle who read these fringey articles about some topic that may (or may not) be relevant. You don't trust scientific research but will do your own…research? Huh.
Second, it's the point about it being selfish. If there's one thing social media (and vapid tv shows) have taught us: selfishness is rewarded. Be that individual and you'll get clicks and make money. And be famous!
What we forget is that we live in a society, and the constitution - which "we" claim to love when it comes to things "we" like and forget about when it comes to things "we" don't - calls for the common good:
We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Didn't want a vaccine? That's your right. But why did you have to be so vocal about it?
In any event, the problem of people being in it for themselves, and claiming to know secrets that some bigger entity (like scientists or the government) doesn't want to tell you is prevalent.
It happens in other scientific beliefs (flat earth? Fake moon landing?) and other types of beliefs, like religion.
But it also happens in other places. What of Bernie Madoff who was essentially stealing money? He told people he had a super secret formula for getting rich in investments and would share it, if the investments were large enough (and what he was doing was taking money from person B and giving it person A, then taking money from person C and giving it to person B; all while taking a commission)
But people believed it because they wanted to. He was wealthy and had a plan to help you get there. (How did you really think he got wealthy? Surely it had something to with taking from others).
And then there was the big election lie. People believed it because they wanted to. They were so deceived by the cult of personality that they accepted it on face value.
And while the sedition that happened was probably the worst of it, there were some financial shenanigans happening (and which continue to happen. See my post about the Google ads).
The Jan 6th committee has stated:
"that the … campaign used these false claims of election fraud to raise hundreds of millions of dollars from supporters who were told their donations were for the legal fight in the courts. But the … campaign didn't use the money for that. The 'big lie' was also a big rip-off."
https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-panel-trump-campaign-used-election-lie-to-raise-millions-from-supporters-163747101.html
And where did this money go? Something like 5% of it was paid to various "legal expenses" … while the remainder essentially went to the guy and his close associates.
Not for nothing, but that quite clearly violates the law. There are specific laws about "wire transfers" and how they may be collected and disbursed. And how the language has to be clear on how money will be used.
So my general advice is that you look up from your phone and think about things a little.
Sunday, July 17, 2022
Saturday, July 16, 2022
ICON Park target blast game
Who in their right mind thinks this is a good idea?!
https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/icon-parks-new-target-blasting-game-draws-criticism-online/
https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/icon-parks-new-target-blasting-game-draws-criticism-online/
And a note about the commentor who thinks that it’s “over the top” to have a controversy and equates this to laser tag and other things….
Things like laser tag are simulated shooting environments where everyone is agreeing to play the game of chasing each other around.
This rather dumb idea is shooting at targets around the area from a high distance, in a fantasy with no one else consenting. It is much more like the gun-related violence we see every day.
Friday, July 15, 2022
That pisses me off
Google is selling adspace to a group that's fundraising for the treasonous, seditious, piece of shit twatwaffle who used to inhabit the Oval Office.
I find it unacceptable and am looking to change my relationship with Google in ad space.
Because fuck him and those that still support him.
I find it unacceptable and am looking to change my relationship with Google in ad space.
Because fuck him and those that still support him.
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Fear and control
It seems to me that this is what it's all about. The "ruling class" (or the aristocracy if you will) present you with views of their terrific world, and tell you can live like them and fulfill on the American dream by working hard.
And yet there's this oddity to it: in order to achieve it, you have to live by a set of rules. It's a false promise of course. It takes more than hard work to get there.
And by the way, these rules greatly benefit them, and which, in reality, are against your own interests.
Let's dive in to that a bit. We had the pandemic and everything about the way we worked changed for a time. Corporate profits (at least for the large companies that could allow for remote work) were through the roof. Higher than anyone expected, and in some cases record profits.
But as soon as they saw the opportunity, companies started trying to bring people back into the office. Where they can control them. You have heard phrases like "it's the only way we can mentor future leaders" which is utter nonsense. You had some suit types telling their staff they never actually "left" but rather this was a speed bump. And then you had the ones who told their employees to come back or simply find another job.
Several companies said they would manage to get everyone back through slowly changing policies until they got what they wanted.
There was one company that let the cat out of the bag, and said "when the recession happens, people will fear losing their jobs, and so they'll do what we tell them without argument."
Which is exactly what I said. Fear and control.
Look, I have no way of knowing where this goes. But here's a nugget for you: a fair number of people saw through the charade and quit their jobs as part of "the great resignation." Suddenly it wasn't about money, but rather quality of life. Some people might wind up back working for a company. But then again some millennials who went back to traditional jobs in "corporate America" realized that this was horseshit and I heard a comment that summed it up well: "I'd rather sell my toenails than go back and do this again."
But it goes further. Healthcare in this country is designed in a way that favors the wealthy. And everyone else should feel lucky to have anything. And in that same vain, the fact that insurance is tied to a job is relatively crazy. So you have to work in order to stay healthy? That's controlling you too. (Aside: a friend in Canada really couldn't believe how silly our healthcare system is. To be sure theirs is silly in other ways, but ours forces you to work in order to have good insurance).
And what of this decision about abortion? And states making it a criminal act? This is also about control. Tell people what they must do, and then blame other people for their woes. It's a huge shell game. It's not about life. It's about keeping us poor and in fear.
There's also this gun nuttiness that's rampant. It causes people to take out these frustrations and the rest of us can live in fear. And right on cue, some dumbass connects guns and abortions and says some nonsense about wanting to arm babies in the womb to prevent abortion.
So it's not about life?
And on and on. The military industrial complex is huge and is about acting tough on a global stage. And fearing some boogeyman … gotta stay big. How about if we spend less on that and more on, say, social programs to close some of this gap? No. If they did that, it would be harder to control people.
And yet there's this oddity to it: in order to achieve it, you have to live by a set of rules. It's a false promise of course. It takes more than hard work to get there.
And by the way, these rules greatly benefit them, and which, in reality, are against your own interests.
Let's dive in to that a bit. We had the pandemic and everything about the way we worked changed for a time. Corporate profits (at least for the large companies that could allow for remote work) were through the roof. Higher than anyone expected, and in some cases record profits.
But as soon as they saw the opportunity, companies started trying to bring people back into the office. Where they can control them. You have heard phrases like "it's the only way we can mentor future leaders" which is utter nonsense. You had some suit types telling their staff they never actually "left" but rather this was a speed bump. And then you had the ones who told their employees to come back or simply find another job.
Several companies said they would manage to get everyone back through slowly changing policies until they got what they wanted.
There was one company that let the cat out of the bag, and said "when the recession happens, people will fear losing their jobs, and so they'll do what we tell them without argument."
Which is exactly what I said. Fear and control.
Look, I have no way of knowing where this goes. But here's a nugget for you: a fair number of people saw through the charade and quit their jobs as part of "the great resignation." Suddenly it wasn't about money, but rather quality of life. Some people might wind up back working for a company. But then again some millennials who went back to traditional jobs in "corporate America" realized that this was horseshit and I heard a comment that summed it up well: "I'd rather sell my toenails than go back and do this again."
But it goes further. Healthcare in this country is designed in a way that favors the wealthy. And everyone else should feel lucky to have anything. And in that same vain, the fact that insurance is tied to a job is relatively crazy. So you have to work in order to stay healthy? That's controlling you too. (Aside: a friend in Canada really couldn't believe how silly our healthcare system is. To be sure theirs is silly in other ways, but ours forces you to work in order to have good insurance).
And what of this decision about abortion? And states making it a criminal act? This is also about control. Tell people what they must do, and then blame other people for their woes. It's a huge shell game. It's not about life. It's about keeping us poor and in fear.
There's also this gun nuttiness that's rampant. It causes people to take out these frustrations and the rest of us can live in fear. And right on cue, some dumbass connects guns and abortions and says some nonsense about wanting to arm babies in the womb to prevent abortion.
So it's not about life?
And on and on. The military industrial complex is huge and is about acting tough on a global stage. And fearing some boogeyman … gotta stay big. How about if we spend less on that and more on, say, social programs to close some of this gap? No. If they did that, it would be harder to control people.
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
People are stupid and selfish
Couple is sick. Decides to go to Disneyland anyway. They do test positive for covid. But what's the big deal?
Uhhhhh. This is what's wrong with us as a society.
https://www.disneydining.com/disney-vloggers-accused-of-going-to-disney-knowing-they-had-covid-ks1/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Uhhhhh. This is what's wrong with us as a society.
https://www.disneydining.com/disney-vloggers-accused-of-going-to-disney-knowing-they-had-covid-ks1/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Saturday, July 2, 2022
Such an imbecile
The governor of Florida (as the supreme authority on everything) has decided that we need to teach civics / social studies in a way that doesn't offend white people and allows for the spillover of religion into the classroom.
He doesn't read the constitution as having a separation of church and state. Because of course he doesn't. You know, because he's a wannabe dictator. He'll tell you what to think and do!
Anyway, on the establishment of religion by the founding fathers, I humbly re-present something I wrote in 2017 on this topic.
In short, he can get bent.
Tuesday, June 28, 2022
People am stupid
Saw this on the interwebs about some self entitled douche explaining why he isn't going to Disney world.
Canceled my five day $9000 total cost for package and incidentals (rental car, meals, parking at WL, airport flight and parking, kennel for dog, souvenirs, and tips).Was not so much for the cost of the CL room at WL, but the loss of things such as everyday housekeeping, transportation to MCO, less magic hours, paring down entertainment, price of reduced meal sizes, long waits for rides, and woke culture for indoctrinating kids. Will see how spring trip might improve. My wife and I can afford to go, but don't want to throw money at Chapek just for the privilege of being able to go to a park that has to be reserved months in advance.
What the frick does the hilighted text mean, and/or have to do with anything? Especially since you say you'll be going back.
People are basically clueless…
Todays testimony
….Was astonishing.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/06/cassidy-hutchinson-testimony-the-most-explosive-revelations.html
Anyone who sees this as any sort of "minor dustup" or can't see the criminal activity can go fuck themselves.
Anyone who sees this as any sort of "minor dustup" or can't see the criminal activity can go fuck themselves.
Wow. Just wow.
Sunday, June 26, 2022
Vote him out: desantis
While I have a lot to say about Desantis, I want to start by talking about Disney.
Florida spent time to craft legislation to try and keep talk of homosexuality out of the grade school classroom. The story goes that the original legislation was specifically about anything other than a “traditional” heterosexual relationship. But it evolved so that it could be disguised to a point. Many people saw it for what it was. Some people defended it because it’s “not that bad” or “aligns with their personal views”…
But that’s the point. It aligns with one point of view. And the problem with hastily crafted legislation is that it always has unintended consequences. In the legislation itself, there are penalties to teachers and school boards for engaging on the topic. That can’t be good.
And there’s the outside consequences. Make no mistake: Bob Chapek bumbled his response to the bill. This could have gone a lot of ways and unfortunately for him (and the company) he picked the wrong way, annoying everyone.
The governor responded stupidly with a comment about producing a movie (Mulan) in China, telling Disney to mind their own business. And of course mentioned something he signed into law regarding corporate training; Disney can’t teach about diversity and inclusion, based on the law. More on that below.
Florida has (well had) a very incestuous relationship with Disney, dating back to 1967. Disney and the state generally played nice, though they sometimes exchange barbs. But until governor Ron and ceo Bob got tangled, it was typically ironed out quickly. Disney is the largest tourism business in the country and provides more in revenue to the state than any single business, and more than most combined.
…but now comes the consequence: governor Ron made good on the threat to undo Disneys special improvement district in retaliation for the hubbub about the so called “don’t say gay” bill.
Look, I’m not a fan of how the original legislation went down and how Disney has the power to operate as a self governing entity. But surely the answer is NOT to cobble together something quickly just to undo it. The (unintended) consequences to the state, to tourism, and to the theme parks we love would be monumental. And not in a good way.
The governor acts like a tyrant and has now shown that no one, no company, is above his wrath. He will go after anyone.
And for those reasons, it is time to vote him out. I’m sure he will continue to attack Disney and other large employers in the state. In fact he’s already stated his intention to continue attacking Disney
There’s too much at stake. We can’t let him remain in office.
Want more? Read on….
His history started before his election to governor. Everyone who was familiar with desantis knew he never finished things. He quit previous jobs and even quit Congress to run for governor.
He runs on 45s coattails and winds up winning in Florida by a slim margin of a couple of thousand votes. (And by the way, quit on 45 a while after winning)
One thing that helped him was this: a few years before, we the people of Florida, voted to restore voting rights to felons who served their time. The GOP and former gov Scott didn’t like that much, and dragged their feet to not allow it. Then, when desantis won, he told us he was basically going to spend every cent it took (our tax dollars at work) to ensure that they couldn’t just vote again.
And so began the assault on democracy, which culminated with a court throwing out most of the voting restrictions he helped create.
For some reason, the legislature decided he could draw new voting maps. Typically this is done by committees who review the population and ideally should just draw boundaries to represent that population. One person creating maps for political (and if we’re honest, racist) reasons can’t be good for democracy.
One of his platform items was not to allow fracking. Which he immediately reneged on, though there still hasn’t been any movement on that front specifically. Still, environmental protections appear to be no more than an inconvenience to him.
We had the surfside tragedy and he promised change. But over the course of two legislative sessions - and two special sessions - that was never discussed. Nor was the “insurance crisis” we have going on in the state.
Context: The state of Florida, after hurricane Andrew (in 1992!) saw many insurers leave the state and the state setup something called the joint underwriters (or colloquially "citizens insurance") as a stop gap. And it has grown every year. You have to have insurance to have a mortgage. No one writes policies. So...
Now our only choice is to ostensibly buy homeowners insurance from the state. Which is decidedly not a principle of small government.
The list goes on of course. The legislature also found time to pass a bill proposed by energy companies in the state, and the governor was all in on it. The summary: we voted to make it constitutionally allowable for homeowners to go off the grid and install solar. This new legislation undoes that; you have to remain hooked up to the energy company AND pay them a monthly fee of the revenue they “lost” on you as a customer. And there are other punitive things included. So much for freedom.
He also was a big proponent of the anti-riot bill, which essentially would give police broad authority (mostly under his discretion) to call whatever they want a riot. This one is tied up in court, but two things happened after. First, he proposed authorizing a private military under his direction (a militia if you will) to handle situations. And second, he was encouraging the trucking convoy to disrupt commerce because it suited his purpose. And by the law he signed, technically they could be considered rioters. And then there were the protestors at Disney of course. They were rioters under the law, but nothing happened. So tell me what this is really about?
And we have to talk about covid. Florida has the third largest number of cases and deaths (perhaps it’s even higher, there were shenanigans going on with the counting) so it’s relevant.
The governor decided that he, as an authoritarian ruler, knew all there was to know about the virus. That everyone was lying about it. And the state of Florida needed to remain open for business. He dictated everything the counties, the school boards, and even businesses could do in the state regarding covid. Small government? Hardly.
Look I’m not saying that anyone had this figured out. We had a giant social/science experiment ongoing. The problems I had were that this seemed (as I noted) very authoritarian disguised as “freedom” and that he was doing a victory dance on everyone. It’s one thing to be assertive and say “let’s try this” … it’s quite another to say “we’re doing this and anyone who disagrees can F off.”
There was also a story (which I can not locate) about his investments in companies that provided “alternative treatments” which would suggest he increased his personal financial portfolio along the way.
He fined people and organizations. He sued. He fired and then personally attacked a data scientist who was simply providing information. None of this is right.
And then, almost to underscore the point, he signs legislation that essentially bans abortion. During his assault on covid rules, he used the always-associated-with abortion statement “my body, my choice” but then signed abortion restrictions. Is it about freedom?
He also made clear that people can and should have guns, because you know, human life is precious. Contrary to his stance on abortion. He wants to add open firearm carry - without permits - in the state. This is something even guns rights groups oppose, so you have to wonder if this is really about racism and intimidation.
He continues the assault on our freedoms by imposing rules on schools and businesses related to what they can teach, or otherwise provide as training. And yes, I said on private companies.
He made a comment to the effect of you can’t make white people feel uncomfortable about things. Whatever that means.
He’s a tyrant and he’s dangerous. We must vote him out.
[editors note: the Florida legislature did hold another special session to “fix” the insurance problem and the condo issues. Again these were hastily crafted (over mere hours) pieces of rubbish that the governor can claim help - but which will need time to figure out. And the law of unintended consequences surely will be an issue down the road. So don’t believe any bluster that this will help. 30 years of mismanagement and poor legislation can’t be fixed in a couple of hours, sorry. And by the way more insurers pulled out of the state after the legislation passed, so you can see it had the opposite effect on the state]
Vote him out: Marco Rubio
My problems with Marco are centered around him being a blowhard politician. He says and does things that sound like they have meaning but they are nothing more than words.
He is a Republican mainly because he is Cuban. JFK was a democrat, and failed the Cuban population at the bay of pigs, and so most Cubans made a connection that kennedy failed them, and therefore all democrats support the Castro regime and communism. It’s weird, especially in light of the rise of the last person in the Oval Office, one #45 who was a wanna be tyrant, pulling pages from castros playbook.
And yet rubio blindly supported the guy. It makes no sense.
And of course he says he supports Latinos. But really only opposes communist regimes in Spanish speaking countries.
By the way, in case you didn’t get the memo, most of the old white guys in the party…don’t like Hispanics.
Marco hasn’t held a single in-person town hall during his current term. Nor has he hosted a virtual one for his constituents (but I understand he’s happy to meet with his donors!). Though he has bowed to pressure slightly and does have his staff hold them from time to time. They read from scripts and take some notes. But it is not the same thing.
He always has a big security detail around him in public and will not talk to anyone - reporters included - when he’s out. He always says he’s too busy.
I have written to him on a variety of topics over the years. Many months later, I have gotten back a form letter that (a) is almost always vague about which topic it was about and (b) is so non-committal about anything.
Impeachment answers were “yes he committed a crime, but I didn’t vote for it because…” on the second impeachment the reason was because there was an election and we could vote him out.
We did and there was a coup attempt that he refused to comment on, or otherwise address. Can you see why I have issues?
And then there was this: a few days after the parkland shooting, he sat on a stage and tried his best to give nothing more than non-committal answers and offer his condolences. But then one of the kids asked him a question about whether he would stop taking money from the nra. The answer was predictable along the lines of “of course not, I’ll take money from any big donors and represent their interests.”
He has repeated the same time and again when it comes to taking money in the face of adversity - he always will take it and do what they want.
A government by the people, for the people, and of the people.
Tell me again what he has done for any of us? Or why he won’t even bother to talk to us - the wretched individuals who don’t support him.
By the way, when it comes to Disney, he was incensed that they took a stand on the “don’t say gay” legislation. His approach was to remind Disney that they filmed the live action Mulan in a region where human rights abuses are ongoing - so they should “stay in their lane” and focus on something else. (Editors note: Disney was wrong, but why can’t it be both?)
After the Texas massacre, I contacted Rubio and suggested it was time to have an honest discussion about gun control, and that the logical first step was to ban assault rifles.
The response I received was a bunch of nonsensical BS that reminds us he is committed to helping… anyone who gives him large sums of money (see the comment above). What do the words in this message even mean?
And when a bipartisan bill on gun safety (that amounts to “baby steps” on the road to gun safety, but it’s heartening to think there was *some* movement by both parties) came to a vote, he voted against it. Spitting on the memories of those killed at the pulse nightclub and parkland - in his home state.
He needs to be voted out!
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell schools Jim Jordan on first amendment
The nfl is a mess, and a stupid joke.
They have so many things going on that are negative and idiotic, and are run by a bunch of rich old white guys.
They can stuff most of what happens, but this was gold.
https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/23/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-schools-jim-jordan-first-amendment/
They have so many things going on that are negative and idiotic, and are run by a bunch of rich old white guys.
They can stuff most of what happens, but this was gold.
https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2022/06/23/nfl-commissioner-roger-goodell-schools-jim-jordan-first-amendment/
Disney worker rips company over vow to pay aborti…
the article should read "guy running for office uses abortion ruling to promote his stance, calls out the company he works for, and will be reprimanded or fired"
Just to be clear: most companies have policies where you are welcome to run for political office, but you can't campaign at work, and you can't use the company in any way in your campaign.
https://nypost.com/2022/06/25/disney-worker-rips-company-over-vow-to-pay-abortion-costs/
Just to be clear: most companies have policies where you are welcome to run for political office, but you can't campaign at work, and you can't use the company in any way in your campaign.
https://nypost.com/2022/06/25/disney-worker-rips-company-over-vow-to-pay-abortion-costs/
Single issue voters
First off, people who tell me they are single issue voters tally irk me. The world is a complicated place, and you saying that it's just about one specific thing is just stupid.
I've known many people over the years who have told me that they vote based on where candidates stand on that one topic.
So I've naturally known a few folks who believe abortion is the single issue that motivates them. They would vote for any candidate who opposes abortion because life is precious, blah, blah, blah. Didn't matter what else that person stood for, they were all in on that topic.
So my question to them is: now that abortion has no protections, what will you do? Find another stupid reason to vote? Not vote at all? Actually listen to where candidates stand on issues that affect you personally?
I've known many people over the years who have told me that they vote based on where candidates stand on that one topic.
So I've naturally known a few folks who believe abortion is the single issue that motivates them. They would vote for any candidate who opposes abortion because life is precious, blah, blah, blah. Didn't matter what else that person stood for, they were all in on that topic.
So my question to them is: now that abortion has no protections, what will you do? Find another stupid reason to vote? Not vote at all? Actually listen to where candidates stand on issues that affect you personally?
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Judicial activism
It's funny how when the supreme court was more balanced, the gop was big on trying to help it lean more conservative in every way possible.
They warned against "judicial activism" creeping in and more progressive policies taking hold.
Then the balance shifted more conservative and douchey. Two very questionably filled seats later… and here we are.
They went after gun control in a broader way than the legal question.
They set their sights on Roe v Wade in a case that perhaps should have diminished abortion rights and instead abolished the previous ruling.
In his majority opinion alito called the original ruling "deeply flawed" and needed to be rectified.
In his dissent, Chief Justice Robert's effectively said that the majority opinions were flawed and the court went too far in its ruling.
Are you seeing it yet? That is judicial activism. They ruled on something that wasn't really part of the case.
And then, for good measure, Thomas decided to tell us they wanted to come after more previous rulings….without a case before them related to the matter.
Judicial. Activism.
…and by the way, I should also call out Susan Collins for her insistence that abortion rights were safe. The people she voted to confirm would never overturn Roe….how's that working out for you, dumbass?
They warned against "judicial activism" creeping in and more progressive policies taking hold.
Then the balance shifted more conservative and douchey. Two very questionably filled seats later… and here we are.
They went after gun control in a broader way than the legal question.
They set their sights on Roe v Wade in a case that perhaps should have diminished abortion rights and instead abolished the previous ruling.
In his majority opinion alito called the original ruling "deeply flawed" and needed to be rectified.
In his dissent, Chief Justice Robert's effectively said that the majority opinions were flawed and the court went too far in its ruling.
Are you seeing it yet? That is judicial activism. They ruled on something that wasn't really part of the case.
And then, for good measure, Thomas decided to tell us they wanted to come after more previous rulings….without a case before them related to the matter.
Judicial. Activism.
…and by the way, I should also call out Susan Collins for her insistence that abortion rights were safe. The people she voted to confirm would never overturn Roe….how's that working out for you, dumbass?
Thursday, June 16, 2022
The January 6th hearings
With each day that passes, it becomes clearer and clearer that what happened at the capitol was no random act. This was a coordinated attack on our democracy from outside - and shockingly from inside as well.
As Abraham Lincoln once cautioned us, in a wide-ranging speech leading up to the civil war, the only way we can be destroyed is from within. We must always be cautious, and guard against this to not let that happen.
As I've said many times, every person. Every. Single. One. Needs to be held accountable for what they did before, on that day, and even after, to commit an assault on democracy. And we need to exercise the laws for sedition and seditious conspiracy (or more) as needed - no matter that persons position, role, or relative power. Charge them with crimes, and let it play out in a court of law.
This isn't a joke, and without punishment, they will try and again and again, and may have success in eliminating our democracy in the future...
Now as for 45, there is even more coming out about him and the things he did. And one thing that struck me was how he was grifting as he mounted his "legal defense"...he didn't do the typical things a politician does to retain power - instead he attacked democracy head on, AND cashed in on people's willingness to believe the big lie, in their thoughts, and with their wallets. So he made money and got a mob to attack the capitol on his behalf.
That's a spectacular thing to do. And he deserves to be publicly humiliated, have all of his assets seized, and go to jail.
While he's no "mastermind," he certainly did take advantage of the opportunity to make this happen.
As Abraham Lincoln once cautioned us, in a wide-ranging speech leading up to the civil war, the only way we can be destroyed is from within. We must always be cautious, and guard against this to not let that happen.
As I've said many times, every person. Every. Single. One. Needs to be held accountable for what they did before, on that day, and even after, to commit an assault on democracy. And we need to exercise the laws for sedition and seditious conspiracy (or more) as needed - no matter that persons position, role, or relative power. Charge them with crimes, and let it play out in a court of law.
This isn't a joke, and without punishment, they will try and again and again, and may have success in eliminating our democracy in the future...
Now as for 45, there is even more coming out about him and the things he did. And one thing that struck me was how he was grifting as he mounted his "legal defense"...he didn't do the typical things a politician does to retain power - instead he attacked democracy head on, AND cashed in on people's willingness to believe the big lie, in their thoughts, and with their wallets. So he made money and got a mob to attack the capitol on his behalf.
That's a spectacular thing to do. And he deserves to be publicly humiliated, have all of his assets seized, and go to jail.
While he's no "mastermind," he certainly did take advantage of the opportunity to make this happen.
Oh Elon...
Elon Musk is a bit of a lightning rod. He says and does things that are polarizing, grab headlines, and sometimes are just stupid.
But he's fairly smart, or at least savvy, and he has this Thomas Edison quality about him; he surrounds himself with sharp people and knows how to engage in serious self-promotion.
Recently, he made a comment that he thinks Florida's (douchebag, wanna be dictator) governor would get his endorsement for president.
I was taken aback. It seemingly came "out of nowhere" and is kind of, well, ill conceived and stupid.
Then, I thought about it. Governor dimwitty has made it his made it his current priority to antagonize any and everyone who disagrees with him. And he is especially harsh on companies that say or do anything contrary to his will (see "dictator")...
One of Musks companies sells cars in Florida. One of Musks companies is trying to build tunnels in Florida. One of Musks likely-soon-to-be-acquired companies (twitter) has been in the governors crosshairs for a while. And probably most importantly, one of Musks companies launches spacecraft in Florida and is trying to expand that footprint.
If your goal is to make money, and expand, and you see the governor of the state GIVES YOU shit if you kiss the ring, and gives you SHIT if you are opposed in any way, then this might be an option.
Not one I'd take, but certainly an option.
So like most things musk says that aren't specifically about his companies, I see it is crazy and perhaps a little calculated.
Even if it's about his bottom line, he can stick this comment up his ass.
But he's fairly smart, or at least savvy, and he has this Thomas Edison quality about him; he surrounds himself with sharp people and knows how to engage in serious self-promotion.
Recently, he made a comment that he thinks Florida's (douchebag, wanna be dictator) governor would get his endorsement for president.
I was taken aback. It seemingly came "out of nowhere" and is kind of, well, ill conceived and stupid.
Then, I thought about it. Governor dimwitty has made it his made it his current priority to antagonize any and everyone who disagrees with him. And he is especially harsh on companies that say or do anything contrary to his will (see "dictator")...
One of Musks companies sells cars in Florida. One of Musks companies is trying to build tunnels in Florida. One of Musks likely-soon-to-be-acquired companies (twitter) has been in the governors crosshairs for a while. And probably most importantly, one of Musks companies launches spacecraft in Florida and is trying to expand that footprint.
If your goal is to make money, and expand, and you see the governor of the state GIVES YOU shit if you kiss the ring, and gives you SHIT if you are opposed in any way, then this might be an option.
Not one I'd take, but certainly an option.
So like most things musk says that aren't specifically about his companies, I see it is crazy and perhaps a little calculated.
Even if it's about his bottom line, he can stick this comment up his ass.
Saturday, June 11, 2022
Ginni Thomas pressed 29 lawmakers in bid to overturn Trump loss, emails show | US elections 2020 | The Guardian
What the actual fuck?
That's breaking several federal laws. Why is she not in custody?!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/11/ginni-thomas-wife-supreme-court-justice-clarence-arizona-republicans-undermining-democracy
That's breaking several federal laws. Why is she not in custody?!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/11/ginni-thomas-wife-supreme-court-justice-clarence-arizona-republicans-undermining-democracy
As America watched Capitol attack testimony, Fox News gave an alternate reality | Fox News | The Guardian
A. What a pathetic attempt to hide from the truth
B. From what has been shared, text messages between staff & hosts and insurrectionists would implicate fox "news" in all of this.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/09/us-capitol-attack-hearings-fox-news
B. From what has been shared, text messages between staff & hosts and insurrectionists would implicate fox "news" in all of this.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/jun/09/us-capitol-attack-hearings-fox-news
Thursday, June 9, 2022
Rubios comments on the Jan 6th public hearings.
He said a lot of "blah blah blah" about the events, the police, and the hearings.
But I did catch a rare moment of perhaps unintentional honesty and wanted to give him credit.
He said "This is a two-hour free documentary sponsored by virtually every major network in America — except for [Fox News] — that's willing to give it airtime,"
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record".
So he was correct! It is a documentary that recounts the historical record of an insurrection that was underway.
I appreciate that he acknowledged that!
But I did catch a rare moment of perhaps unintentional honesty and wanted to give him credit.
He said "This is a two-hour free documentary sponsored by virtually every major network in America — except for [Fox News] — that's willing to give it airtime,"
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record".
So he was correct! It is a documentary that recounts the historical record of an insurrection that was underway.
I appreciate that he acknowledged that!
Tuesday, June 7, 2022
An open letter to my GOP senators about guns and terrorism
Back on 9/11 (2001), nearly 3,000 people were killed in the largest terrorist attack on American soil. We were justifiably outraged. And so our legislature set about finding ways to make sure "this couldn't happen again."
The TSA was established. And though no one batted an eye because of our safety, this bumped right against the 4th amendment and illegal search. Yes, one could argue that you are choosing to fly, but in to do so, we are openly willing to give up a right.
And of course with the domestic surveillance program that was opened, and the ability to monitor free speech, the first amendment was severely curtailed. (And for the record, there was some discussion among those in power that we needed to somehow eliminate the Islamic faith. Although, this didn't happen, it was a broad discussion that further undermined the first amendment; such a discussion should never happen)
The clear implication in all of this is that the foreign "evil doers" must be stopped and we can certainly openly discuss how to curtail our constitutional rights to accomplish it.
Meanwhile, according to the FBI statistics, nearly 2,500 people have died in mass shootings in the time since 9/11. And we can't be bothered to lift a finger.
Some in the GOP will outright tell you that they "don't want to weaken the 2nd amendment."
But many of them, in power then as now, were nonchalant about weakening the 1st and 4th to keep us safe.
Safe from…foreign terrorists. I mean, after all, the department of homeland security was established. It's name makes clear this is about foreign threats.
And meanwhile, crazy (typically white) people who are American citizens with weapons of war are committing acts of domestic terrorism and politicians sit idly by and do nothing.
At what point do you decide that American lives have more value than a simple interpretation of the second amendment? How about if we actually discuss it and what it means? And put some definitions around it? And take the weapons of war out of peoples hands.
Or am I asking too much of you as my elected representative?
The TSA was established. And though no one batted an eye because of our safety, this bumped right against the 4th amendment and illegal search. Yes, one could argue that you are choosing to fly, but in to do so, we are openly willing to give up a right.
And of course with the domestic surveillance program that was opened, and the ability to monitor free speech, the first amendment was severely curtailed. (And for the record, there was some discussion among those in power that we needed to somehow eliminate the Islamic faith. Although, this didn't happen, it was a broad discussion that further undermined the first amendment; such a discussion should never happen)
The clear implication in all of this is that the foreign "evil doers" must be stopped and we can certainly openly discuss how to curtail our constitutional rights to accomplish it.
Meanwhile, according to the FBI statistics, nearly 2,500 people have died in mass shootings in the time since 9/11. And we can't be bothered to lift a finger.
Some in the GOP will outright tell you that they "don't want to weaken the 2nd amendment."
But many of them, in power then as now, were nonchalant about weakening the 1st and 4th to keep us safe.
Safe from…foreign terrorists. I mean, after all, the department of homeland security was established. It's name makes clear this is about foreign threats.
And meanwhile, crazy (typically white) people who are American citizens with weapons of war are committing acts of domestic terrorism and politicians sit idly by and do nothing.
At what point do you decide that American lives have more value than a simple interpretation of the second amendment? How about if we actually discuss it and what it means? And put some definitions around it? And take the weapons of war out of peoples hands.
Or am I asking too much of you as my elected representative?
Saturday, June 4, 2022
North Carolina Bill Targeting Free Charging Could…
Remind me again about capitalism, free enterprise, and small government?
Look. "Free" EV charging is typically level 2, which would mean that in order to get a meaningful charge, you have to remain plugged in for several hours.
So typically, businesses offer this service as a courtesy to customers.
What if businesses, savvy enough to offer charging through one of the services and require you to signup via an app, charge you via the app …. but the charge costs, say, a penny, for however long you stay, but that penny is offered as a promotion? Then it wouldn't be free, right?
And what of private individuals who offer you to charge at their house?
Would that be illegal?
https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/north-carolina-bill-targeting-free-charging-could-kneecap-evs/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Look. "Free" EV charging is typically level 2, which would mean that in order to get a meaningful charge, you have to remain plugged in for several hours.
So typically, businesses offer this service as a courtesy to customers.
What if businesses, savvy enough to offer charging through one of the services and require you to signup via an app, charge you via the app …. but the charge costs, say, a penny, for however long you stay, but that penny is offered as a promotion? Then it wouldn't be free, right?
And what of private individuals who offer you to charge at their house?
Would that be illegal?
https://www.carscoops.com/2022/06/north-carolina-bill-targeting-free-charging-could-kneecap-evs/
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Florida art dealer arrested after allegedly selli…
Good luck finding an NFT fake…
Friday, June 3, 2022
Don’t worry. He’ll tell you how to think.
So the dipshits definition of "small government" is him telling everyone what to do. Like a dictator?
I guess that's a form of small government.
Anyone want to buy my NFT?
The notion of NFTs makes me chuckle
It's maybe a little like painted art works in that the one-of-a-kind masterpiece has value because someone (or many someone's) like it and say it has value.
But it's not at all like painted art in that you can't hang it in a wall, you can't see the brush strokes, you can't interpret the artists mood, and so on. It's clip art. 2 dimensional media that exists only on a computer. And that is just pixels with no true creativity. These aren't "artists" making them in a traditional sense.
Both are subject to copies being made of course. But honestly with digital media it's nearly impossible to spot a forgery. With physical art there are ways for a forgery to be spotted.
So an NFT may be have copies that look the same. The only difference is in the digital footprint. But those can be faked too. Still…That original is worth a lot…because someone said it was.
And that brings me around to thinking about photography. Old school photography used film. That was exposed to light and then could be developed to get a negative image and then that was printed onto paper.
There was this thing that was popularized in movies: someone would get blackmailed and would insist on payment to get the negatives and all prints. The meaning was that the person with the film had "the originals" and that way no one else could ever see them.
It's laughable because it wasn't that hard to duplicate the negatives and the person may have printed 100 photos, but said they only printed 50 and gives you those.
That's exactly the same problem as the NFTs. You are getting "the original" and if you believe it then you're the sucker. Someone essentially blackmailed you for the negatives.
Saturday, May 28, 2022
Ban assault weapons!
Uvalde. Sandy Hook. Las Vegas. Sutherland Springs. Pulse Nightclub. San Bernardino.
Every single one of those massacres was done with an AR-15: an assault rifle that the NRA called "America's Rifle."
Meanwhile, the NRA and gun manufacturers are partying at a lavish NRA conference in Houston. Yes, in Texas where this shooting just happened. It's always too soon to talk about gun deaths, but never too soon to bring people together to celebrate gun culture - and make money.
For the good of our republic, and to save our lives, those that profit off mass murder need to be stopped.
Congress has a choice: cowardice or courage. They must hear from us NOW in this critical moment that assault weapons MUST BE BANNED.
It's time to call your congressman and senators to tell them what you think! Just Google their names (and if you're not sure who they are just Google who your representative is) and you'll find a contact page.
According to a recent poll, an overwhelming majority of Americans – 63% – want assault weapons banned.
No civilian should ever own one. They are so lethal, even police are afraid to stop mass shooters wielding them.
A tiny minority of armed lunatics and an evil gun industry protecting their profits spend millions buying off politicians who throw their hands up and blame anything but the guns for mass shootings.
Congress needs to hear from thousands of of Americans like us. We have had ENOUGH of massacres, death, and grief.
Thursday, May 19, 2022
Sunday, May 8, 2022
Floriduh
The governor wanted to undo the legislation that essentially created Disney world.
I have studied this thoroughly, and I generally agree that the legislation was suspect, and the fact that there was some grifting that happened, and the fact that this was written by a CIA operative is peculiar.
But it's worked for 50 years and Disney has mostly been a good citizen.
If you are going to undo it…maybe have a plan(?)
…so the authoritarian douche says he wants it undone, and with mere moments of discussion, it came to pass. Without considering the possible (and surely unintended!) consequences. Plus the supplementary legislation that came about in those 50 years - what happens there?
…but my basic question is quite simply why? What's his rationale? It appeared to come in response to Disney taking an awkward stand on the "don't say gay bill," but that's a response that's not really commensurate with the statement. And, in calling for the special session, the governor insisted it had something to do with his personal beef with Twitter.
You have to figure this has a deeper significance and surely is related to money and power.
I might suggest this has to do with Floridas natural resources. Until he became governor, there was an independent body called the south Florida water management district, which basically controlled water flows and monitored quality around lake okeechobee and south into the Everglades.
He folded it under him in some way, and made it a political game. They are no longer independent and have to abide by his rules.
Disney had broad authority over all of their waterways (in addition to power, sewer, and related utilities). They controlled water flow, water levels, and monitored quality. Disney had a decent environmental record on that front. But now…I'm assuming this would revert to the state. Meaning he controls all those waterways … and really all waterways in Florida.
That can't be good for us from an environmental perspective.
I have studied this thoroughly, and I generally agree that the legislation was suspect, and the fact that there was some grifting that happened, and the fact that this was written by a CIA operative is peculiar.
But it's worked for 50 years and Disney has mostly been a good citizen.
If you are going to undo it…maybe have a plan(?)
…so the authoritarian douche says he wants it undone, and with mere moments of discussion, it came to pass. Without considering the possible (and surely unintended!) consequences. Plus the supplementary legislation that came about in those 50 years - what happens there?
…but my basic question is quite simply why? What's his rationale? It appeared to come in response to Disney taking an awkward stand on the "don't say gay bill," but that's a response that's not really commensurate with the statement. And, in calling for the special session, the governor insisted it had something to do with his personal beef with Twitter.
You have to figure this has a deeper significance and surely is related to money and power.
I might suggest this has to do with Floridas natural resources. Until he became governor, there was an independent body called the south Florida water management district, which basically controlled water flows and monitored quality around lake okeechobee and south into the Everglades.
He folded it under him in some way, and made it a political game. They are no longer independent and have to abide by his rules.
Disney had broad authority over all of their waterways (in addition to power, sewer, and related utilities). They controlled water flow, water levels, and monitored quality. Disney had a decent environmental record on that front. But now…I'm assuming this would revert to the state. Meaning he controls all those waterways … and really all waterways in Florida.
That can't be good for us from an environmental perspective.
Fake marina with fake water steals show at Miami Grand Prix AP News
Freaking hilarious.
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Friday, May 6, 2022
Plant based diets and economics
A couple of years ago, there were some new players in the plant based category. They had VC funding and had products who more closely resemble meat in texture and flavor.
The other players in the "vegetarian" category up their game to do similar products and go further.
Some of these players got involved with the fast food companies. Tests are run, and success is there, though not overwhelming so. A few fast food places drop items, some add more.
It was unclear how this might play out. Would this amount to anything?
And then McDonald's tries out a product … it looks like a failure. Until McDonalds discusses their product at an investor forum.
In short: The cost of doing business is high. Rising wages. Demand for quality ingredients. Other factors. They had to discard the dollar menu because the economics dictated it.
And then there's the cost of meat and getting it to stores. The financial part of it suggests it's not a good long-term strategy. Meat is expensive and getting more so. The supply chain costs are going way up. And it's extremely perishable being fresh (or quick frozen). And there's the cost from an environmental standpoint. More land is needed. Destroying more of the environment.
McDonald's realizes that this isn't sustainable and they have to move to something other than traditional meat.
They'll be expanding their offerings to include more plant-based options. Then the cost shift will happen, where meat based products will cost more than plant based. And it will evolve to make items that you might not be able to tell the difference between…
Burger King also started talking about making their products more accessible, so they might use machines just for plant-based rather than sharing.
So the success of plant based will be driven by economics.
And ultimately we all may win. And have better products available. Sure the plant based ingredients are processed. And may not be "health foods" but it is progress toward a better future and sustainability.
The other players in the "vegetarian" category up their game to do similar products and go further.
Some of these players got involved with the fast food companies. Tests are run, and success is there, though not overwhelming so. A few fast food places drop items, some add more.
It was unclear how this might play out. Would this amount to anything?
And then McDonald's tries out a product … it looks like a failure. Until McDonalds discusses their product at an investor forum.
In short: The cost of doing business is high. Rising wages. Demand for quality ingredients. Other factors. They had to discard the dollar menu because the economics dictated it.
And then there's the cost of meat and getting it to stores. The financial part of it suggests it's not a good long-term strategy. Meat is expensive and getting more so. The supply chain costs are going way up. And it's extremely perishable being fresh (or quick frozen). And there's the cost from an environmental standpoint. More land is needed. Destroying more of the environment.
McDonald's realizes that this isn't sustainable and they have to move to something other than traditional meat.
They'll be expanding their offerings to include more plant-based options. Then the cost shift will happen, where meat based products will cost more than plant based. And it will evolve to make items that you might not be able to tell the difference between…
Burger King also started talking about making their products more accessible, so they might use machines just for plant-based rather than sharing.
So the success of plant based will be driven by economics.
And ultimately we all may win. And have better products available. Sure the plant based ingredients are processed. And may not be "health foods" but it is progress toward a better future and sustainability.
Judicial activism
A few years ago, the GOP decried the notion of "judicial activism."
It just wouldn't be right to legislate from the bench!
A couple of stolen Supreme Court seats, and another a couple that went to unqualified individuals, later… and the this court is now deciding on what's right and essentially legislating where Congress has faltered.
The reasoning behind the repeal of Roe v Wade is flawed and nonsensical. Make no mistake this is judicial activism.
It's amazing, though, that the response from the GOP is crickets. Well, maybe it’s crickets on the outrage, but the response is more like cheering.
And now they'll go after a host of other items. The assault on us and our rights will be led by this small group of idiots.
Congress could codify (and arguably already should have codified) some of these things into law. But they're too busy fighting about nonsense (as always).
It just wouldn't be right to legislate from the bench!
A couple of stolen Supreme Court seats, and another a couple that went to unqualified individuals, later… and the this court is now deciding on what's right and essentially legislating where Congress has faltered.
The reasoning behind the repeal of Roe v Wade is flawed and nonsensical. Make no mistake this is judicial activism.
It's amazing, though, that the response from the GOP is crickets. Well, maybe it’s crickets on the outrage, but the response is more like cheering.
And now they'll go after a host of other items. The assault on us and our rights will be led by this small group of idiots.
Congress could codify (and arguably already should have codified) some of these things into law. But they're too busy fighting about nonsense (as always).
Thursday, May 5, 2022
The USFL
I watched a little from a couple of games…and yeah there are a few clever innovations. But the football itself is just bad. I mean worse than lower tier college football.
But as they say "it's still football," so I was still watching a little.
And then came the ad featuring the douche bag pillow salesman. Why does anyone allow him airtime? He's a traitor.
And that's when I decided that the football isn't good enough to simply ignore him and his asinine self.
So thanks usfl for trying. But I'm out.
But as they say "it's still football," so I was still watching a little.
And then came the ad featuring the douche bag pillow salesman. Why does anyone allow him airtime? He's a traitor.
And that's when I decided that the football isn't good enough to simply ignore him and his asinine self.
So thanks usfl for trying. But I'm out.
Monday, April 18, 2022
Even Dumber Convoy Commits Felony Blocking Entran…
Stupid is, as stupid does
https://jalopnik.com/new-somehow-even-dumber-convoy-commits-felony-by-block-1848805316
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
https://jalopnik.com/new-somehow-even-dumber-convoy-commits-felony-by-block-1848805316
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
NFL warned to improve treatment of women by six AGs: 'Pink jerseys are not a replacement'
(A) there's this story … and notice the AG from Florida didn't sign on to this. Of course he didn't.
And (B) there was another story about how the dolphins were trying to swing a deal to get Tom Brady to come to Miami…but then the dolphins got sued by Brian Flores, and there went that idea. Funny how these two stories are connected…
https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2022/04/07/nfl-treatment-of-women-attorneys-general-six-states/
And (B) there was another story about how the dolphins were trying to swing a deal to get Tom Brady to come to Miami…but then the dolphins got sued by Brian Flores, and there went that idea. Funny how these two stories are connected…
https://onherturf.nbcsports.com/2022/04/07/nfl-treatment-of-women-attorneys-general-six-states/
NFL: Roger Goodell blew moment to expose Daniel S…
This is what is wrong with sports…
https://sports.yahoo.com/the-nf-ls-daniel-snyder-wont-stop-ballooning-to-the-chagrin-of-roger-goodell-and-the-league-195247772.html
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
https://sports.yahoo.com/the-nf-ls-daniel-snyder-wont-stop-ballooning-to-the-chagrin-of-roger-goodell-and-the-league-195247772.html
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Monday, April 4, 2022
Never forget, it’s always about the money. College edition.
A few years ago, the FBI brought forth evidence that several coaches in the college sports landscape were acting inappropriately…re-directing scholarships, paying players, recruiting high schoolers with lucrative offers.
Last I heard, the cases stalled, so there's not much happening in the legal sense.
One of the coaches implicated was Bill Self, the Kansas coach. At the time he was labeled a cheater. The NCAA pushed hard for him to be dismissed from his job.
But Kansas saw him as a great hero. He was winning games and making money for the school. They wouldn't budge.
In fact, Kansas "doubled down" and signed him to a lifetime contract. Thumbing their nose at the ncaa and the fbi.
And here is Kansas basketball playing for a national championship. With a cheating coach.
No punishment. And I have little doubt he's still doing whatever it was he was doing.
It's so absurd.
Money rules all.
Last I heard, the cases stalled, so there's not much happening in the legal sense.
One of the coaches implicated was Bill Self, the Kansas coach. At the time he was labeled a cheater. The NCAA pushed hard for him to be dismissed from his job.
But Kansas saw him as a great hero. He was winning games and making money for the school. They wouldn't budge.
In fact, Kansas "doubled down" and signed him to a lifetime contract. Thumbing their nose at the ncaa and the fbi.
And here is Kansas basketball playing for a national championship. With a cheating coach.
No punishment. And I have little doubt he's still doing whatever it was he was doing.
It's so absurd.
Money rules all.
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Stupid thing for the day
Costco has self checkout. For 1+ years, they've had a person at each register scanning items. They beep beep beep and you're out.
Today, they had one person per aisle (covering 3 stations). Rather than the remote, you have to take each item out, scan it on the machine and place them in the area to the right.
If you miss placing one item it stops and tells you to place it in the area.
If you have a problem it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person. If you buy alcohol it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person.
If you try to put stuff back in the cart before it finishes paying it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person.
It took us 2x as long as using a cashier. And 4x as long as when they had people scanning.
I think I shan't be using self checkout at Costco. It's dumb.
Today, they had one person per aisle (covering 3 stations). Rather than the remote, you have to take each item out, scan it on the machine and place them in the area to the right.
If you miss placing one item it stops and tells you to place it in the area.
If you have a problem it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person. If you buy alcohol it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person.
If you try to put stuff back in the cart before it finishes paying it stops completely. And you have to wait for the person.
It took us 2x as long as using a cashier. And 4x as long as when they had people scanning.
I think I shan't be using self checkout at Costco. It's dumb.
Sunday, March 27, 2022
Elon Musk Says the US Has 'Very, Very Ancient Lea…
Musk is weird and yet sage at times.
When Musk was asked about humans having "a significantly increased lifespan," he offered a straightforward view about human life.
"I don't think we should try to have people live for a really long time," he told Döpfner. "That it would cause asphyxiation of society because the truth is, most people don't change their mind. They just die."
He continued: "So if they don't die, we will be stuck with old ideas and society wouldn't advance."
Musk then said that a "gerontocracy" — where a government is essentially controlled by citizens significantly older than the bulk of the population — is not healthy.
"I think we already have quite a serious issue with gerontocracy, where the leaders of so many countries are extremely old," he revealed. "In the US, it's a very, very ancient leadership. And it is just impossible to stay in touch with the people if you are many generations older than them."
He added: "The founders of the USA put minimum ages for a local office. But they did not put maximum ages because they did not expect that people will be living so long. They should have. Because for a democracy to function, the leaders must be reasonably in touch with the bulk of the population. And if you're too young or too old, you can't say that you will be attached."
Musk said that he'd like to see political leaders "be ideally within 10 or at least, 20 years of the average age of the population."
Friday, March 25, 2022
I’ll let that sink in.
"I'm saying that Judge Jackson is on the board of a school that aggressively teaches critical race theory, and that is an extreme and divisive theory that pits children against other children, divides us based on race, and teaches a false and revisionist history of our nation."
—Ted Cruz
—Ted Cruz
Short. Sweet. To the point. That's the beauty Dave's iPhone.
Monday, March 14, 2022
Geez. That’s crazy
You can watch video of the pass here.
https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
But what gets me is that this very well could have been a cataclysmic event - Perhaps not extinction level - but certainly a threat to the future of humanity.
And here we are debating about whether we can say the word gay.
What is wrong with us?!
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