Political Randomness

[Kraken]

As someone who held a lot of retail jobs, I can echo that company policy is identify, don't engage. And because shoplifting competes with jaywalking for police concern, the identify part often doesn't lead to anything.

The nicest thing me and my fellow delinquents ever boosted was an expensive 35 mm camera (this was long before digital photography existed). One of my friends asked a salesperson to unlock the display case, then just ran out the front door with it to our waiting getaway car. We were gone while the question marks were still popping off the employees' heads...nobody knew what to do. As I type this, I'm hoping there's a statute of limitations on that.

[LawBeefaroni]

Me and the Farmer….

The entire album is frighteningly prescient these days.

[LawBeefaroni]

I guess that policy gets around in the community that likes power tools, but prefers not to pay for them.

Golden times may be winding down.

Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves.

The home improvement chain has begun stocking power tools that will not function without first being activated via Bluetooth at checkout, according to Business Insider. The tactic will allow Home Depot to continue selling the products without locking them behind cases and negatively impacting the legitimate shopping experience.

Next time your power tool locks up because it lost authentication, thank the thieves.






Combined with the official policy in many places not to prosecute shoplifting under $1000 and you basically have open season on retail. I've seen a few times someone just waking past the cashiers at Walgreens saying essentially, "Oh, I'm not paying, bye..."


SF:

After months of seeing its shelves repeatedly cleaned out by brazen shoplifters, the Walgreens at Van Ness and Eddy in San Francisco is getting ready to close.

The drugstore, which serves many older people who live in the Opera Plaza area, is the seventh Walgreens to close in the city since 2019. “The last day is November 11,” Walgreens spokesman Phil Caruso said.

“All of us knew it was coming. Whenever we go in there, they always have problems with shoplifters, ” said longtime customer Sebastian Luke, who lives a block away and is a frequent customer who has been posting photos of the thefts for months. The other day, Luke photographed a man casually clearing a couple of shelves and placing the goods into a backpack.

“I feel sorry for the clerks, they are regularly being verbally assaulted,” Luke said. “The clerks say there is nothing they can do. They say Walgreens’ policy is to not get involved. They don’t want anyone getting injured or getting sued, so the guys just keep coming in and taking whatever they want.”

The only thing keeping Walgreen's around is pharmacy. They lose by billions on regular retail.

[malchior]

I guess that policy gets around in the community that likes power tools, but prefers not to pay for them.

Golden times may be winding down.

Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves.

The home improvement chain has begun stocking power tools that will not function without first being activated via Bluetooth at checkout, according to Business Insider. The tactic will allow Home Depot to continue selling the products without locking them behind cases and negatively impacting the legitimate shopping experience.

Next time your power tool locks up because it lost authentication, thank the thieves.

They'll just move on to other expensive stuff. The video above looked like mostly electrical wire. The guy in the video muttering that is thousands of dollars was probably dead on. The one wooden spool dumped in the back looked like electrical wire and could have been hundreds of dollars on its own.

[LawBeefaroni]

I guess that policy gets around in the community that likes power tools, but prefers not to pay for them.

Golden times may be winding down.

Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves.

The home improvement chain has begun stocking power tools that will not function without first being activated via Bluetooth at checkout, according to Business Insider. The tactic will allow Home Depot to continue selling the products without locking them behind cases and negatively impacting the legitimate shopping experience.

Next time your power tool locks up because it lost authentication, thank the thieves.

They'll just move on to other expensive stuff. The video above looked like mostly electrical wire. The guy in the video muttering that is thousands of dollars was probably dead on. The one wooden spool dumped in the back looked like electrical wire and could have been hundreds of dollars on its own.

True but power tools are far easier to fence. Trying to sell spools of electrical wire is a lower return business.

Why does liquid laundry detergent have anti-theft protection at the grocery but olive oil doesn't?

[malchior]

I guess that policy gets around in the community that likes power tools, but prefers not to pay for them.

Golden times may be winding down.

Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves.

The home improvement chain has begun stocking power tools that will not function without first being activated via Bluetooth at checkout, according to Business Insider. The tactic will allow Home Depot to continue selling the products without locking them behind cases and negatively impacting the legitimate shopping experience.

Next time your power tool locks up because it lost authentication, thank the thieves.

They'll just move on to other expensive stuff. The video above looked like mostly electrical wire. The guy in the video muttering that is thousands of dollars was probably dead on. The one wooden spool dumped in the back looked like electrical wire and could have been hundreds of dollars on its own.

True but power tools are far easier to fence. Trying to sell spools of electrical wire is a lower return business.

Yeah. Maybe these guy were just shopping for their hot home makeover project.

[LawBeefaroni]

I guess that policy gets around in the community that likes power tools, but prefers not to pay for them.

Golden times may be winding down.

Home Depot has come up with a creative, tech-savvy way to thwart organized criminals from stealing tools off of their shelves.

The home improvement chain has begun stocking power tools that will not function without first being activated via Bluetooth at checkout, according to Business Insider. The tactic will allow Home Depot to continue selling the products without locking them behind cases and negatively impacting the legitimate shopping experience.

Next time your power tool locks up because it lost authentication, thank the thieves.

They'll just move on to other expensive stuff. The video above looked like mostly electrical wire. The guy in the video muttering that is thousands of dollars was probably dead on. The one wooden spool dumped in the back looked like electrical wire and could have been hundreds of dollars on its own.

True but power tools are far easier to fence. Trying to sell spools of electrical wire is a lower return business.

Yeah. Maybe these guy were just shopping for their hot home makeover project.

Or they're contractors.

[Blackhawk]

True but power tools are far easier to fence. Trying to sell spools of electrical wire is a lower return business.

I don't know how it is there, but here copper scrap is big business. People have been known to break into houses that are under construction and strip all of the wiring out, or break into construction sites, ignore all of the tools, and just steal the cable. They then turn it around and sell it by the pound to scrapyards that don't ask too many questions.

[Holman]

There's news just now that Trump crony Jason Miller has been detained by Brazilian authorities for questioning about anti-democratic activities of some sort.

He's been in the country associating with Brazil's President Bolsonaro, who is feared to be planning a coup ahead of the October election he is expected to lose.

[LawBeefaroni]

True but power tools are far easier to fence. Trying to sell spools of electrical wire is a lower return business.

I don't know how it is there, but here copper scrap is big business. People have been known to break into houses that are under construction and strip all of the wiring out, or break into construction sites, ignore all of the tools, and just steal the cable. They then turn it around and sell it by the pound to scrapyards that don't ask too many questions.

Scrap copper is what, $2-3 a pound now? I imagine it would be a a combination of ease theft, ease of fencing, and $/lb. Not that criminals are always all that smart.

[Blackhawk]

A quick look for Indiana suggest $4.20/lb.

[malchior]

Biden is touring Manville, NJ which had pretty bad flooding due to Ida remnants. It is a heavily MAGA blue collar area. Talk about your priorities, right?

https://mobile.twitter.com/Kevinliptakc ... 6301232129

[Max Peck]

It could be worse. At least they're not throwing rocks at him.

[Unagi]

A quick look for Indiana suggest $4.20/lb.

Is 420 ever a serious number any more though?

[LawBeefaroni]

It could be worse. At least they're not throwing rocks at him.

Pebbles. Canadians throw pebbles. And aren't shot at by the security detail.

[Carpet_pissr]

A quick look for Indiana suggest $4.20/lb.

Is 420 ever a serious number any more though?

Compare and contrast the seriousness (or lack of) of the numbers "69" and "420"

[Skinypupy]

My company sent an e-mail invitation to all our contacts in state, county, and city government, inviting them to a virtual event focused on building trust in government. The invite was about as generic as it gets, essentially saying "As you move into a new school year or government budget cycle, building trust is more important than ever. Join us on XXX date with XXX author to discuss how building trust can impact your organizational results."

This is the response we received from a County employee in Florida District 3 (Key West) today:

REMOVE MY NAME AND YOUR BIDEN SUPPORTING SOCIALIST OR "AOC" COMMUNISIM (sic) SUPPORTING SHITHEADS REMOVE ME ALL TOGETHER FROM YOUR E-MAIL LIST

This response was sent from his city e-mail address with his e-mail signature identifying his role, office, and contact info. He sounds nice.

I'm so tempted to try and find a way to raise this up the chain on his end. "Just thought you might like to know that these are the sort of communications coming from the official e-mail addresses of your county employees."

[LawBeefaroni]

My company sent an e-mail invitation to all our contacts in state, county, and city government, inviting them to a virtual event focused on building trust in government. The invite was about as generic as it gets, essentially saying "As you move into a new school year or government budget cycle, building trust is more important than ever. Join us on XXX date with XXX author to discuss how building trust can impact your organizational results."

This is the response we received from a County employee in Florida District 3 (Key West) today:

REMOVE MY NAME AND YOUR BIDEN SUPPORTING SOCIALIST OR "AOC" COMMUNISIM (sic) SUPPORTING SHITHEADS REMOVE ME ALL TOGETHER FROM YOUR E-MAIL LIST

This response was sent from his city e-mail address with his e-mail signature identifying his role, office, and contact info. He sounds nice.

I'm so tempted to try and find a way to raise this up the chain on his end. "Just thought you might like to know that these are the sort of communications coming from the official e-mail addresses of your county employees."

Since it was unsolicited, I wouldn't send an official complaint but definitely flag him in your database. If you know his supervisor, maybe bring it up on next contact but if you don't, I wouldn't bother. The supervisor may share the same hysteria.


I think that's a great example of where we are though. Not only are people so angry and polarized, and often hateful, they are also compelled to let everyone know it.

[Skinypupy]

The crazy thing is that my company is about the furthest thing from "AOC supporting socialists" as you could possibly imagine. Quite the opposite, as we often get accused of being far too conservative.

I can only assume that the simple suggestion that building trust might be a helpful thing to do is what set him off. I guess that kinda goes against the whole conservative ideal of "rugged individualism", if you squint really hard.

[malchior]

Earlier in the summer I had an issue with a client that isn't the same but on the same wavelength. I was conducting a cybersecurity assessment of the company and was interviewing business and technical leads to gauge capability. One interview started right off the bat with the guy testing me about masks and it was pretty clear why he was doing it. He wanted to know what team I'm on. The only acceptable answer was going to be his team. I tried changing the subject three times and re-focus on the assessment but he wouldn't let it go so I gave him a non-answer. He ended up being belligerent and unhelpful through the whole interview.

It put me in a real awkward position to have to talk to his boss about it because it had a material impact on the project. It has been an interesting environment especially since people seem to feel like they can be a bit more abusive since people are remote. In the end I got lucky and that boss man (their CIO) was near enough that he heard the other side of the conversation, figured out what the conversation was about, and called me to help sort it out.

[LordMortis]

I think that's a great example of where we are though. Not only are people so angry and polarized, and often hateful, they are also compelled to let everyone know it.

With a sense of righteousness on a public soapbox. This is my experience so it must be true. Literally every time I have to spend any appreciable time in public there is a loud, for everyone to hear "private" conversation making these proclamations with varying degrees of spin on hatefulness/politeness.

[LawBeefaroni]

Got direction to say "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women" now.

I get it but is seems a bit much.

[Isgrimnur]

Switch to 'gravid organisms'.

[TheMix]

That does seem odd. I suppose you could have someone that is reproductively female, but identifies as something else? But it does feel a bit unnecessary. Is anyone that is pregnant really going to get offended at being called female? At least in that specific context?

[TheMix]

Switch to 'gravid organisms'.

And I learned a new word. Thanks.

Edit: And for the smartasses in the room, that word is "gravid", not "organisms".

[Isgrimnur]

Glad to help.

[raydude]

The crazy thing is that my company is about the furthest thing from "AOC supporting socialists" as you could possibly imagine. Quite the opposite, as we often get accused of being far too conservative.

I can only assume that the simple suggestion that building trust might be a helpful thing to do is what set him off. I guess that kinda goes against the whole conservative ideal of "rugged individualism", if you squint really hard.

Maybe he was triggered on "building trust in government". If you had said "building trust in soul-sucking corporations, btw, which are also people my friend" you would have gotten a happier response.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Is anyone that is pregnant really going to get offended at being called female? At least in that specific context?

If Twitter has taught me anything, the answer to this question is a definite "Yes".

[Max Peck]

The crazy thing is that my company is about the furthest thing from "AOC supporting socialists" as you could possibly imagine. Quite the opposite, as we often get accused of being far too conservative.

I can only assume that the simple suggestion that building trust might be a helpful thing to do is what set him off. I guess that kinda goes against the whole conservative ideal of "rugged individualism", if you squint really hard.

Maybe he was triggered on "building trust in government". If you had said "building trust in soul-sucking corporations, btw, which are also people my friend" you would have gotten a happier response.

A government employee that is enraged by the idea of trusting the government is... actually pretty on point for Trumpism.

[TheMix]

Is anyone that is pregnant really going to get offended at being called female? At least in that specific context?

If Twitter has taught me anything, the answer to this question is a definite "Yes".

Yeah. Probably true.

[Alefroth]

Is anyone that is pregnant really going to get offended at being called female? At least in that specific context?

If Twitter has taught me anything, the answer to this question is a definite "Yes".

Yeah. Probably true.

And why shouldn't they be, if they don't identify as a female?

[gilraen]

Is anyone that is pregnant really going to get offended at being called female? At least in that specific context?

If Twitter has taught me anything, the answer to this question is a definite "Yes".

Yeah. Probably true.

And why shouldn't they be, if they don't identify as a female?

Because unless you know someone personally (or responding to a tweet, email, etc., where they specifically said that they identify as something else) - the default is "pregnant women". And if Twitter has taught me anything else, it's that usually the people offended are not the actual person involved but the "woke" crowd around them - again, in the context of a generalized message, like one from a company, not a direct conversation with someone who knows their preference.

[Alefroth]

I guess I misunderstood the answer. I'm referring to a pregnant person being offended if called a pregnant woman when they don't identify as a woman. There's nothing wrong with that, right?

[Jaymann]

Pregnant men may be offended.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Because unless you know someone personally (or responding to a tweet, email, etc., where they specifically said that they identify as something else) - the default is "pregnant women".

But what's the harm in changing the default term to "pregnant person"?

[Max Peck]

The concept of "pregnant person" (or even "pregnant man") has become pretty mainstream.

“Melting face,” “pregnant person,” and 35 other emoji approved for Unicode 14.0

The Unicode Consortium has finalized Unicode 14.0, adding a total of 838 new characters to the standard, which dictates how text and other written characters are handled in most of the world's software. Most notably for everyday users, Unicode 14.0 includes 37 new emoji characters, including multiple hand gestures and additions like "melting face," "biting lip," "troll," "beans," "pouring liquid," "pregnant man," and "pregnant person."

The "pregnant man" and "pregnant person" emoji are important for inclusivity and representation, since some transgender and non-binary people can be pregnant. The "other keywords" for both emoji suggest possible alternate uses like "bloated" and "full." But the emoji names for both characters were specifically changed from "man/person with swollen belly" to "pregnant man/person" back in February in order to be consistent with the name and intended usage of the extant "pregnant woman" emoji.

[Holman]

France has recalled(!) its ambassadors to the US and Australia in anger over a US-Australian submarine deal that France considers a betrayal of an earlier French-Australian submarine deal.

Useful thread:

https://twitter.com/thomaswright08/stat ... 64228?s=20

[Daehawk]

https://twitter.com/ememess/status/1437956632370028546

[malchior]

France has recalled(!) its ambassadors to the US and Australia in anger over a US-Australian submarine deal that France considers a betrayal of an earlier French-Australian submarine deal.

There are lots of possibilities here. This might be a lot of noise by the French as they are pushed back and lost a big contract that threatens their vision of EU independence. It could be Biden sleepwalking into another foreign policy disaster entirely of his own making that reflects his lack of credibility with our partners. It also could be a good long term move. We seem to be slowly backing away from the old NATO alliance and possibly cozying up with the Japanese, India, Australia, and UK to confront China. It is hard to say how it'll pan out yet but personally I have very little faith in Biden's foreign policy judgement so I'm going with option 2 for now.

[Kraken]

France has recalled(!) its ambassadors to the US and Australia in anger over a US-Australian submarine deal that France considers a betrayal of an earlier French-Australian submarine deal.

There are lots of possibilities here. This might be a lot of noise by the French as they are pushed back and lost a big contract that threatens their vision of EU independence. It could be Biden sleepwalking into another foreign policy disaster entirely of his own making that reflects his lack of credibility with our partners. It also could be a good long term move. We seem to be slowly backing away from the old NATO alliance and possibly cozying up with the Japanese, India, Australia, and UK to confront China. It is hard to say how it'll pan out yet but personally I have very little faith in Biden's foreign policy judgement so I'm going with option 2 for now.

Here's the best analysis I've read so far:

In the end, Mr. Biden’s decision was the result of a brutal calculus that nations sometimes make in which one ally is determined to be more strategically vital than another — something national leaders and diplomats never like to admit to in public. And it was a sign that as Mr. Biden begins to execute what the Obama administration, 12 years ago, called the “pivot to Asia,” there is the risk of stepping on political land mines as old, traditional allies in Europe feel left behind.

“As much as the pivot has been described as pivoting to Asia without pivoting away from someplace else, that is just not possible,” Richard Fontaine, the chief executive of the Center for a New American Security, who has long ties to both the Australian and American players in the deal, announced on Wednesday. “Military resources are finite. Doing more in one area means doing less in others.”

It also apparently means hiding negotiations from some of your closest allies.

By the time the Biden administration began engaging Australia and Britain seriously about its emerging strategy to counter China, a three-year-old contract worth $60 billion or more for a dozen submarines, to be constructed largely by the French, was already teetering, American officials said. The submarines were based on a propulsion technology that was so limited in range, and so easy for the Chinese to detect, that it would be obsolete by the time the first submarines were put in the water, perhaps as long as 15 years from now.

There was an obvious alternative: the kind of nuclear-powered submarines deployed by the Americans and the British. But American and Australian officials agreed that if the French caught wind of the fact that the plug was going to be pulled on one of the biggest defense contracts in their history, they almost certainly would try to sabotage the alternative plan, according to officials who were familiar with the discussions between Washington and Canberra.
...
Even before Mr. Macron recalled the ambassadors, Mr. Biden’s aides seemed taken aback by the ferocity of the French response, especially Mr. Le Drian’s characterization that it was a “knife in the back.” They have suggested the French were being overly dramatic and believe the two countries will gradually return to normal relations. History suggests they may be right: A huge breach prompted by the British and French invasion of the Suez Canal in 1956 was eventually papered over, as was the “Nixon Shock” with the Japanese in 1971, when the United States gave no notice about its decision to come off the gold standard.

In this case, American officials said the decision to toss over the existing French-Australian contract, and replace it with one that would bind Australia technologically and strategically to the nuclear submarine program, generated virtually no internal debate, participants said. The reason was straightforward: In the Biden White House, the imperative to challenge China’s growing footprint, and its efforts to push the U.S. Navy east, to the next island chain in the Pacific, reigns supreme.