Octopus Overlords

https://twitter.com/TraceyDelaney/statu ... 5091418113

Oh, look, a chicken cake.

Does that mean the royals are going to give away their money now?

In supporting evidence:
Adam Schiff is complaining against gas prices on Twitter. As opposed to actually sending the justice department to look for collusion.
Elizabeth Warren is mad at Tyson foods for price gouging; at an 8% net margin... again, as opposed to actually sending the justice department to look for collusion/monopoly abuse.

How would Senators direct the Justice Department to do anything?

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:33 pm How would Senators direct the Justice Department to do anything?

"I've contacted the president and he's agreed to investigate."

noxiousdog wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:58 pm

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:33 pm How would Senators direct the Justice Department to do anything?

"I've contacted the president and he's agreed to investigate."

The president isn't supposed to direct DOJ investigations either. He can give priorities, but he isn't supposed to say "investigate this."

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:00 pm

noxiousdog wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:58 pm

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:33 pm How would Senators direct the Justice Department to do anything?

"I've contacted the president and he's agreed to investigate."

The president isn't supposed to direct DOJ investigations either. He can give priorities, but he isn't supposed to say "investigate this."

So you're saying there's nothing they could possibly do except tweet about it?

noxiousdog wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:05 pm

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:00 pm

noxiousdog wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:58 pm

stessier wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 1:33 pm How would Senators direct the Justice Department to do anything?

"I've contacted the president and he's agreed to investigate."

The president isn't supposed to direct DOJ investigations either. He can give priorities, but he isn't supposed to say "investigate this."

So you're saying there's nothing they could possibly do except tweet about it?

There's nothing involving the Justice Department, no. They could certainly do other stuff - generally around holding hearings, I suspect.

It's generally a state AG issue anyway, isn't it? Gas price gouging I mean?

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:16 pm It's generally a state AG issue anyway, isn't it? Gas price gouging I mean?

If it's at a service station level sure. If you wanted to call out Valero for price gouging that'd probably be at a Federal level. I mean good luck with that but you could stand up a hearing in Commerce I suppose. That'd have to be coupled with some sort of coherent messaging policy...but that's work/outside their range of capability so they just tweet and move on.

malchior wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:34 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed May 11, 2022 2:16 pm It's generally a state AG issue anyway, isn't it? Gas price gouging I mean?

If it's at a service station level sure. If you wanted to call out Valero for price gouging that'd probably be at a Federal level. I mean good luck with that but you could stand up a hearing in Commerce I suppose. That'd have to be coupled with some sort of coherent messaging policy...but that's work/outside their range of capability so they just tweet and move on.

If they'd move on, I probably wouldn't be so bothered by it. It surprised me with Schiff, but Warren (well, her staffers anyway) tweets about 100 times a week on student debt, and clearly corporate greed is high on her list. Tyson, though, is petty. At least pick on something making more than 10% net profit.

I disagree with the sentiment, but this was pretty witty:

Spoiler: They won't love it.

I think they meant the other kids.

If this doesn't encapsulate where we are right now...

https://twitter.com/matthewstoller/stat ... 8614487042

So let's get this straight. Beyond the insensitivity of the headline, instead of maintaining equipment and safety they instead spend $5B buying back stocks. Then they shipped contaminated product that may have been in involved in the deaths of 2 kids. The FDA shut down production at their biggest facility starting the formula supply chain dominos falling. That's possible because the United States doesn't enforce anti-trust or do any sort of critical infrastructure/food supply risk analysis and instead allows 3 companies to control 90% market share. We also heavily restrict import of formula. Trump shutdown imports from Canada for instance. And the hot take is it might be good for the stock? And regular people will blame Biden?

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1 ... 9372386305

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1 ... 2415477761

malchior wrote: Sat May 14, 2022 3:36 pm And the hot take is it might be good for the stock? And regular people will blame Biden?

Lol. Still my problem is with the folks who are supposed to know better, do know better, pretend to not know better, and pour fuel on the fire.

stessier wrote: Mon May 16, 2022 9:38 am https://twitter.com/JosephGlass/status/ ... 0044893184

Yep, whomever the OpEd guy is, he's flat out idiot by that headline.

Man, I cannot stand it when people have clothes that are the US Flag.

It's literally listed as one of the things you should not do to our flag.

take your pick...

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free.

(h) The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.

Does the flag code differentiate between an actual flag and an image of a flag? An article of clothing that is patterned after a flag is not a flag to me (as long as it's not made from an actual flag), but I'm too lazy to do the research.

That is my interpretation as well. Though I also hate the ostentatious need to advertise your star bellied patriotism.

LordMortis wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 8:34 am That is my interpretation as well. Though I also hate the ostentatious need to advertise your star bellied patriotism.

My 78 year old mom has always liked wearing shirts with American flags on them. Nothing over the top, but stuff like Old Navy puts out around 4th of July. She was very upset that she can’t wear them anymore because people might “think I’m a MAGA”.

I agree with her, and hate how they’ve completely hijacked words (anything with “freedom” or “patriot” is guaranteed to be a grifting scam) and symbols (the flag, any red hat) that used to be perfectly neutral and acceptable.

In short, fuck MAGAs.

Max Peck wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 8:28 am Does the flag code differentiate between an actual flag and an image of a flag? An article of clothing that is patterned after a flag is not a flag to me (as long as it's not made from an actual flag), but I'm too lazy to do the research.

I've dug into it in the past, and yes, it's a distinction. Think of it like intent - was the object in question designed to be flown from a flag pole? If not, it isn't a flag, even if it looks like one.

There is a difference between wearing an American flag as a cape and having an American flag themed cape. Red and white stripes plus white stars on blue are not "the flag.". Likewise there is a difference between showing an American flag (flag patch, shirt with a flag) and wearing an American flag (cutting a hole in a flag and wearing it for a poncho, cutting it up and sewing it into a shirt.)

Skinypupy wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 9:05 am

LordMortis wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 8:34 am That is my interpretation as well. Though I also hate the ostentatious need to advertise your star bellied patriotism.

My 78 year old mom has always liked wearing shirts with American flags on them. Nothing over the top, but stuff like Old Navy puts out around 4th of July. She was very upset that she can’t wear them anymore because people might “think I’m a MAGA”.

I agree with her, and hate how they’ve completely hijacked words (anything with “freedom” or “patriot” is guaranteed to be a grifting scam) and symbols (the flag, any red hat) that used to be perfectly neutral and acceptable.

In short, fuck MAGAs.

I'm also very upset that MAGA have completely co-opted the flag and patriotism but that stereotyping now exists within me. A sure way to get me not to give a business a chance is to have the business name prefixed with the words patriot or freedom. I want the days back where those concepts put a lump in my throat rather than bile.

Skinypupy wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 9:05 am

LordMortis wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 8:34 am That is my interpretation as well. Though I also hate the ostentatious need to advertise your star bellied patriotism.

My 78 year old mom has always liked wearing shirts with American flags on them. Nothing over the top, but stuff like Old Navy puts out around 4th of July. She was very upset that she can’t wear them anymore because people might “think I’m a MAGA”.

I agree with her, and hate how they’ve completely hijacked words (anything with “freedom” or “patriot” is guaranteed to be a grifting scam) and symbols (the flag, any red hat) that used to be perfectly neutral and acceptable.

In short, fuck MAGAs.

Our new-ish neighbors took down a sycamore tree that had seen better days and erected a flagpole in its place. I was relieved that they're flying the stars and stripes rather than one of those fascist flags, and a little less relieved when they put a spotlight on it. Yesterday there was a car with a TRMP license plate parked out front. I'm still not sure just how MAGA the neighbors themselves are, but they clearly lean that way. And it's sad that our flag was what first tipped me off.

Kraken wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 11:08 am I was relieved that they're flying the stars and stripes rather than one of those fascist flags, and a little less relieved when they put a spotlight on it.

The guy in the next cul-de-sac over has a huge flagpole in his front yard. He flies a giant US flag on top, then has a rotation of slightly smaller ones flying below it. One is a skull and crossbones (with the crossbones being guns) with "Come and Take It", one is a "Let's Go Brandon" flag, and the third says "Fuck Biden" (the last two seem redundant). He has apparently been asked by multiple neighbors to take down the "Fuck Biden" flag (since we're in a majority Mormon neighborhood with lots of kids), but gets very belligerent about his "free speech" when it happens. Shocking, I know.

I'm always reminded of the Gary Larson "How nature says Do Not Touch" cartoon whenever I drive by.

Kraken wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 11:08 am I was relieved that they're flying the stars and stripes rather than one of those fascist flags, and a little less relieved when they put a spotlight on it.

I would actually feel better about the spotlight. I'm certainly no expert on how flags are supposed to be displayed, but I've always thought you were supposed to light the flag if you kept it out at night. The spotlight would make me think they have at least some level of respect for the flag and what's (supposed to be) behind it vs. just throwing it out there.

ImLawBoy wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 11:26 am

Kraken wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 11:08 am I was relieved that they're flying the stars and stripes rather than one of those fascist flags, and a little less relieved when they put a spotlight on it.

I would actually feel better about the spotlight. I'm certainly no expert on how flags are supposed to be displayed, but I've always thought you were supposed to light the flag if you kept it out at night. The spotlight would make me think they have at least some level of respect for the flag and what's (supposed to be) behind it vs. just throwing it out there.

The young man is a firefighter and the son of a policeman. He has a Dalmatian and drives a fire-engine red bigass pickup. So he's deep into that culture, which unfortunately leans MAGA. I don't know him well enough to generalize about his personal beliefs and am trying not to be too judgy in advance of learning them. It might turn into an opportunity to dialog respectfully with "the other side" if that is indeed how he rolls.

If he displays any blatant MAGA symbols, though, we're going to counter with some BLM and rainbow signifiers. Just for balance, y'know.

Skinypupy wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 9:05 am I agree with her, and hate how they’ve completely hijacked words (anything with “freedom” or “patriot” is guaranteed to be a grifting scam) and symbols (the flag, any red hat) that used to be perfectly neutral and acceptable.

re: hats

In Philadelphia I've learned to spot the subtle difference in tone between "MAGA Red" and "Phillies Red."

Holman wrote: Tue May 17, 2022 4:59 pm
re: hats

In Philadelphia I've learned to spot the subtle difference in tone between "MAGA Red" and "Phillies Red."

Yeah, we have to do that for University of Utah hats as well.

I still don’t wear my red Utah hats outside of the state though.

I would NOT want to be that goalie.