Political Randomness

[Combustible Lemur]

Went to the range yesterday. I have never seen it so packed. A ton of first time buyers and shooters. I think for some people the idea of Trump martial law in isn't totally out there. A different demographic, a lot more paying for instructors. CCL classes (16 hours here) we're completely full. Lots of Polish and Russian being spoken, which I've never seen there before.

Also, paid around 27% in total taxes for ammo. Thanks Trump.

We've been thinking about buying for a long time. I gave a real hard think about pulling the trigger so to speak. If only because instability, and or mishandling of natural disasters seems much more likely now.

[Paingod]

Went to the range yesterday. I have never seen it so packed. A ton of first time buyers and shooters. I think for some people the idea of Trump martial law in isn't totally out there. A different demographic, a lot more paying for instructors. CCL classes (16 hours here) we're completely full. Lots of Polish and Russian being spoken, which I've never seen there before.

Also, paid around 27% in total taxes for ammo. Thanks Trump.

We've been thinking about buying for a long time. I gave a real hard think about pulling the trigger so to speak. If only because instability, and or mishandling of natural disasters seems much more likely now.

That's the rabbit hole you're looking at right there. It seems easy enough to step into it just to feel a little safer, but before you know it you'll be living out in the woods, off the grid, with 6 years of MRE's stashed away and enough ammo to take down a zombie apocalypse.

I jest, though. We're recent firearms owners (maybe 18 months now) and aside from feeling a level of concern over our kids finding them (we keep the ammo in a lock box, and the guns in another), we generally feel safer about life in the woods where help is (at best) 10 minutes away. I don't like to think too much about ever needing to "defend my homestead" in the event of a disaster, but I know it's a real scenario that played out in places during recent disasters.

[Smoove_B]

I'm sure that the sale of 19.5% of the Russian-held oil company Roseneft last week is just a coincidence and not something anyone should be monitoring, right?

But important facts about the deal either have not been disclosed, cannot be determined solely from public records, or appear to contradict the straightforward official account of the stake being split 50/50 by Glencore and the Qataris.

...

In addition, public records show the ownership structure of the stake ultimately includes a Cayman Islands company whose beneficial owners cannot be traced.

And while Italian bank Intesa SanPaolo leant the Singapore vehicle 5.2 billion euros to fund the deal, and Qatar put in 2.5 billion, the sources of funding for nearly a quarter of the purchase price have not been disclosed by any of the parties.

It's strange that will all the chaos occurring in the news media, no one really ran with the story.

[Paingod]

Smokebomb!

The next few years in the US are going to look like The Mist.

[malchior]

I'm sure that the sale of 19.5% of the Russian-held oil company Roseneft last week is just a coincidence and not something anyone should be monitoring, right?

But important facts about the deal either have not been disclosed, cannot be determined solely from public records, or appear to contradict the straightforward official account of the stake being split 50/50 by Glencore and the Qataris.

...

In addition, public records show the ownership structure of the stake ultimately includes a Cayman Islands company whose beneficial owners cannot be traced.

And while Italian bank Intesa SanPaolo leant the Singapore vehicle 5.2 billion euros to fund the deal, and Qatar put in 2.5 billion, the sources of funding for nearly a quarter of the purchase price have not been disclosed by any of the parties.

It's strange that will all the chaos occurring in the news media, no one really ran with the story.

No surprise - they are overwhelmed and still largely terrible. It is also a reflection of how much damage the sanctions are doing. We'll see if Trump will let them off the hook or not soon enough.

[Max Peck]

Romania has come up with a sure-fire solution to the problem of rampant criminal misconduct within the government.

Romania's government adopted an emergency ordinance late Tuesday to decriminalize official misconduct, dealing a blow to the yearslong drive to curb corruption in the eastern European country.

Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the measure will decriminalize cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is valued at than 200,000 lei ($47,800.) Tens of thousands of Romanians protested against the ordinance in recent weeks, saying it would weaken anti-graft efforts.

Oh, Deregulation, is there any problem you can't solve?

[gilraen]

Iraq announces travel ban for U.S. citizens in a tit-for-tat move - because that's what we need in the war against ISIS, to piss off the rest of the nations in the region.

[Holman]

Iraq announces travel ban for U.S. citizens in a tit-for-tat move - because that's what we need in the war against ISIS, to piss off the rest of the nations in the region.

That's the whole point.

The ISIS interpretation of religion is that all Muslims owe allegiance to al-Baghdadi's caliphate and must wage war on the West.

Bannon's deplorable interpretation of religion is identical to this.

[Moliere]

Romania has come up with a sure-fire solution to the problem of rampant criminal misconduct within the government.

Romania's government adopted an emergency ordinance late Tuesday to decriminalize official misconduct, dealing a blow to the yearslong drive to curb corruption in the eastern European country.

Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the measure will decriminalize cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is valued at than 200,000 lei ($47,800.) Tens of thousands of Romanians protested against the ordinance in recent weeks, saying it would weaken anti-graft efforts.

Oh, Deregulation, is there any problem you can't solve?

I don't think deregulation means what you think it does.

[Max Peck]

Romania has come up with a sure-fire solution to the problem of rampant criminal misconduct within the government.

Romania's government adopted an emergency ordinance late Tuesday to decriminalize official misconduct, dealing a blow to the yearslong drive to curb corruption in the eastern European country.

Justice Minister Florin Iordache said the measure will decriminalize cases of official misconduct in which the financial damage is valued at than 200,000 lei ($47,800.) Tens of thousands of Romanians protested against the ordinance in recent weeks, saying it would weaken anti-graft efforts.

Oh, Deregulation, is there any problem you can't solve?

I don't think deregulation means what you think it does.

I was getting all up in the meta -- eliminating rules that stand in the way of profit and the accumulation of wealth is a good thing, yes? Romania is just cutting out the middlemen by letting government officials do it directly, instead of removing regulations that unfairly hobble corporations, who in turn reward the governing class with enrichment.

[El Guapo]

[Enough]

Maybe we need an EPA thread. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) sent out an email looking for co-sponsors for a bill to completely abolish the EPA. It will be introduced Friday and they want the EPA completely gone by next year, the time of death will be Dec. 31, 2018.

[Paingod]

I weep for the desolate wasteland filled with useless scraps of green paper our grandchildren's children will inherit.

[Isgrimnur]

Independent

Hundreds of advertisers are pulling away from ultra-conservative news website Breitbart, and campaigners are confident the backlash is snowballing.

According to a database from grassroots campaign group Sleeping Giants, a total of 818 companies have pledged to remove Breitbart from their media plan so far.

In the last few months, giant corporations such as Kelloggs, BMW, Visa, T-Mobile, Nordstrom and Lufthansa have all severed ties with the company.

[Enough]

So the Republicans are working on saving the buggy whip by removing all the pesky regs keeping them from being profitable. Err, I mean the Senate voted to block environmental protections for coal mining:

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) challenge passed by the Senate undoes the Interior Department’s Stream Protection Rule, a regulation requiring coal firms to clean up waste from mountaintop removal mining and prevent it from going into local waterways.

Coal may come back some day, but rooting for it right now is like rooting for flippin corn ethanol to save the family farm. Natural gas is absolutely eating coal's lunch and now wind and solar are creeping into cheaper than coal territory. Removing all the regs to protect us from the impacts of mining might help the bottom line a bit, but there is no way to overcome the inertia of the current market. Market fundamentals would need to change due to innovation or other disrupters not on any short time horizon. Besides, I'm still betting on nuclear going big by the time we might need coal again due to gas depletion. Xcel Energy originally was kicking and screaming when CO passed a law requiring renewables in their portfolio but today they have independently decided to plan to get their grid to 50% wind as it's the cheapest solution available to them in their service area (they are one of the five largest).

[Pyperkub]

So the Republicans are working on saving the buggy whip by removing all the pesky regs keeping them from being profitable. Err, I mean the Senate voted to block environmental protections for coal mining:

The Congressional Review Act (CRA) challenge passed by the Senate undoes the Interior Department’s Stream Protection Rule, a regulation requiring coal firms to clean up waste from mountaintop removal mining and prevent it from going into local waterways.

Coal may come back some day, but rooting for it right now is like rooting for flippin corn ethanol to save the family farm. Natural gas is absolutely eating coal's lunch and now wind and solar are creeping into cheaper than coal territory. Removing all the regs to protect us from the impacts of mining might help the bottom line a bit, but there is no way to overcome the inertia of the current market. Market fundamentals would need to change due to innovation or other disrupters not on any short time horizon. Besides, I'm still betting on nuclear going big by the time we might need coal again due to gas depletion. Xcel Energy originally was kicking and screaming when CO passed a law requiring renewables in their portfolio but today they have independently decided to plan to get their grid to 50% wind as it's the cheapest solution available to them in their service area (they are one of the five largest).

Coal isn't coming back except maybe in Africa.

The falling cost of electric vehicle and solar technology will halt demand growth for oil and coal from 2020, according to research published on Thursday, posing a threat to fossil fuel companies unprepared for the transition.

So yeah, by the time of the next Presidential election, coal (and oil) will be more expensive than renewables, even without including the externalities associated with them. This is anti-market protectionism.

[Defiant]

Independent

Hundreds of advertisers are pulling away from ultra-conservative news website Breitbart, and campaigners are confident the backlash is snowballing.

According to a database from grassroots campaign group Sleeping Giants, a total of 818 companies have pledged to remove Breitbart from their media plan so far.

In the last few months, giant corporations such as Kelloggs, BMW, Visa, T-Mobile, Nordstrom and Lufthansa have all severed ties with the company.

Breitbart and Infowars are about as credible as The Onion? What?! The Onion is way more credible.

[Holman]

So yeah, by the time of the next Presidential election, coal (and oil) will be more expensive than renewables, even without including the externalities associated with them. This is anti-market protectionism.

And at this point it's not even about pursuing the (insignificant) votes of coal miners or currying the favor of coal companies. It's about the culture-war signal sent by championing coal against hippies, scientists, and eco-minded liberals.

[Carpet_pissr]

"House Votes To Overturn Obama Rule Restricting Gun Sales To the Severely Mentally Ill"
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513126985 ... ntally-ill

Getting Greater every day, America! MURICA!!!

Next bill up: "Guns for the Dead - At This Point, Why Not?"

[AWS260]

The Republican Party's tiny minority in Hawaii's state legislature may get even smaller, because one member won't get on the Trump train.

"I've been asked by both my party and my caucus to commit to not criticizing the President for the remainder of his term and to take a more partisan approach to working in the Legislature," said Fukumoto. "That is not a commitment I can make."

Fukumoto was elected to the House back in 2012 and is one of the youngest lawmakers to serve as House Minority Leader. But word quickly spread through the State Capitol and House Republicans made a power move by replacing Fukumoto as Minority Leader with Rep. Andria Tupola from Waianae.

"The Minority Leader is being punished for participating in the Women's March. I think that is absolutely disgraceful and appalling," said State Rep. Cynthia Thielen.

Thielen was the only Republican - besides Fukumoto - to vote against the measure stripping Fukumoto of her leadership role.

"God, I'm sorry to lose our Minority Leader, someone I so deeply deeply respect. She's the face of Republicanism as it should be, but won't be anymore," Thielen said through tears.

[Zarathud]

Loyalty oaths and NDAs. Government you can believe in...if only because no one will find out about their e-mails.

[tjg_marantz]

"House Votes To Overturn Obama Rule Restricting Gun Sales To the Severely Mentally Ill"
http://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513126985 ... ntally-ill

Getting Greater every day, America! MURICA!!!

Next bill up: "Guns for the Dead - At This Point, Why Not?"

Just to add, the ACLU was in favour of overturning this. Their stance is that it stigmatizes people with mental illness and that there is no link between mental illness and violence. Not an idiotic stance. I don't think this is a black and white issue.

[Carpet_pissr]

Good point, thanks for the balance.

[Defiant]

Teacher Suspended After Rescinding College Letter For Student Who Made Swastika

[Isgrimnur]

Teacher Suspended After Rescinding College Letter For Student Who Made Swastika

The teacher will serve the suspension by not teaching on Thursdays or Fridays until April. School officials have declined to identify the teachers.

How do I get that punishment?

[Andrew Wonser]

You could always become a dentist and never have to work on fridays.

[Isgrimnur]

Unfortunately, my only option seems to be to stay with the company another 12 years to get to the accrual rate where it's feasible for every other week.

[Max Peck]

Teacher Suspended After Rescinding College Letter For Student Who Made Swastika

The teacher will serve the suspension by not teaching on Thursdays or Fridays until April. School officials have declined to identify the teachers.

How do I get that punishment?

For starters, stop coddling Nazis.

[Defiant]

Teacher Suspended After Rescinding College Letter For Student Who Made Swastika

The teacher will serve the suspension by not teaching on Thursdays or Fridays until April. School officials have declined to identify the teachers.

How do I get that punishment?

Work part time. For less money. Or work Sundays and Saturdays.

[raydude]

Teacher Suspended After Rescinding College Letter For Student Who Made Swastika

The teacher will serve the suspension by not teaching on Thursdays or Fridays until April. School officials have declined to identify the teachers.

How do I get that punishment?

Given that the teacher was suspended without pay you could always simulate it by telling your employer you will be taking non-paid days off on Thursdays and Fridays until April.

[LordMortis]

Loyalty oaths and NDAs. Government you can believe in...if only because no one will find out about their e-mails.

Run the country like a business?

[Smoove_B]

"The Senate is Coming Apart":

How ugly has it gotten? Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voted against the nomination of Elaine Chao for secretary of transportation. Chao happens to be the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Chao was approved easily — the vote was 93-6 — but Schumer's “no” vote infuriated many Republicans. Yet it was also the embattled Schumer's way of sending a message to both his base and GOP counterparts — I will do whatever it takes. He joined the likes of Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker in voting against Chao.

And just because I like to show off how much of a scumbag Mitch McConnell is:

McConnell has responded to the delay tactics by exploiting his majority status to grind down the Democrats. He scheduled a rare 6:30 a.m. Senate vote on Friday to move forward Betsy DeVos for education secretary. He has delayed the opening times for the Senate each day to evade Schumer’s objections.

Yes, this is exactly how government is supposed to work. A vote a 6:30am? DIAF. Some great quotes from other Senators intermixed throughout the article.

[dbt1949]

I don't understand what the anti Trump protesters expect to achieve. Trump is not going to go "Oops! My bad. I change to your way of thinking now."

[Holman]

I don't understand what the anti Trump protesters expect to achieve. Trump is not going to go "Oops! My bad. I change to your way of thinking now."

It's about galvanizing Democrats and non-Trump Republicans.

Tea Party protests in 2009-2010 were much smaller but changed the political landscape. We can do better than that.

[Isgrimnur]

Vizio fined

Back in 2015, we covered how Vizio was using its new smart TVs to gather data on the viewing habits of all US customers, then sending that data back to itself to sell to third party advertising companies. What made the breach of customer trust particularly egregious was the fact that Vizio was doing this whether the end-user agreed to it or not. While the company patched that specific problem after it was publicly disclosed by third parties, the FTC opened an investigation into the company’s behavior more generally.

The findings of that investigation have since been announced. Since February 2014, Vizio has sold TVs with Inscape’s ACR content recognition software pre-installed. This software has been retrofitted into previously sold devices that lacked it — unless you’ve got a TV from prior to 2014 that you’ve never connected to the Internet, chances are that you’ve got ACR software sitting on your TV. The FTC notes that this software allows Vizio to collect information on what a consumer is watching on a second-by-second basis:
...
First, Vizio provides aggregate viewing information to third parties for the purposes of measuring audience engagement (what did people watch and how did they watch it). Defendants are given a unique identifier for each television and metrics identifying what people watch, when it was watched, how long it was watched for, and what channels were watched.

Second, Vizio has provided IP addresses of all devices associated with the IP address of the television so that advertisers could determine whether consumers visit a web address shown on TV after seeing an ad for a product or service. This data is also used to determine if someone views a TV program after seeing an online ad. The idea that this data is anonymous in any meaningful way is, of course, hilarious.

Third, consumer data is sold to third parties for the purpose of targeting advertising at them on other devices they may own, based on their television viewing data. This last program got started in March 2016, which means this is what Vizio did as a “Sorry,” after getting caught running data collection on all customers, whether they opted in or not.
...
In 2016, Vizio did notify end users that it was now collecting data from their televisions to sell to third parties. This notification was provided in the form of a one-time popup lasting thirty seconds that did not need to be dismissed or acknowledged, vanished afterwards, never appeared again, and contained no links to the Settings menu or provide any additional information on how customers might opt out of this feature.
...
The company will pay $1.5 million to the FTC and $700,000 to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. It must also delete all data collected before March 1, 2016 (but not since) and has agreed to prominently advertise and obtain consent before collecting information.

[Pyperkub]

Vizio fined

Back in 2015, we covered how Vizio was using its new smart TVs to gather data on the viewing habits of all US customers, then sending that data back to itself to sell to third party advertising companies. What made the breach of customer trust particularly egregious was the fact that Vizio was doing this whether the end-user agreed to it or not. While the company patched that specific problem after it was publicly disclosed by third parties, the FTC opened an investigation into the company’s behavior more generally.

The findings of that investigation have since been announced. Since February 2014, Vizio has sold TVs with Inscape’s ACR content recognition software pre-installed. This software has been retrofitted into previously sold devices that lacked it — unless you’ve got a TV from prior to 2014 that you’ve never connected to the Internet, chances are that you’ve got ACR software sitting on your TV. The FTC notes that this software allows Vizio to collect information on what a consumer is watching on a second-by-second basis:
...
First, Vizio provides aggregate viewing information to third parties for the purposes of measuring audience engagement (what did people watch and how did they watch it). Defendants are given a unique identifier for each television and metrics identifying what people watch, when it was watched, how long it was watched for, and what channels were watched.

Second, Vizio has provided IP addresses of all devices associated with the IP address of the television so that advertisers could determine whether consumers visit a web address shown on TV after seeing an ad for a product or service. This data is also used to determine if someone views a TV program after seeing an online ad. The idea that this data is anonymous in any meaningful way is, of course, hilarious.

Third, consumer data is sold to third parties for the purpose of targeting advertising at them on other devices they may own, based on their television viewing data. This last program got started in March 2016, which means this is what Vizio did as a “Sorry,” after getting caught running data collection on all customers, whether they opted in or not.
...
In 2016, Vizio did notify end users that it was now collecting data from their televisions to sell to third parties. This notification was provided in the form of a one-time popup lasting thirty seconds that did not need to be dismissed or acknowledged, vanished afterwards, never appeared again, and contained no links to the Settings menu or provide any additional information on how customers might opt out of this feature.
...
The company will pay $1.5 million to the FTC and $700,000 to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. It must also delete all data collected before March 1, 2016 (but not since) and has agreed to prominently advertise and obtain consent before collecting information.

Less than a slap on the wrist.

[TheMix]

Wow. I was never particularly interested in their products, but I can guarantee now that I will never purchase one of their TVs. That is some seriously shady crap there.

[stessier]

LG got nailed for the same thing.

I bought a Vizio in November - it's a great set. I just made sure to say no to all interactive features and it never asked for anything demographically.

[Pyperkub]

LG got nailed for the same thing.

I bought a Vizio in November - it's a great set. I just made sure to say no to all interactive features and it never asked for anything demographically.

If you hooked it up to the Internet, it most likely did this to you.

[stessier]

how? It didn't know anything about me. Feel free to take what I watch - you still can't match it to a user.