RANT: Maher getting “better and better” from a libertarian perspective

Monday, February 21, 2022

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10530431/Bill-Maher-lashes-born-Olympic-gold-medal-skier-Eileen-Gus-decision-compete-China.html

‘Is that cool now? To choose a totalitarian police state over America?’ Bill Maher slams US-born Olympic gold medal skier Eileen Gu for choosing to compete for China

  • ‘Real Time’ host Bill Maher criticized Olympic gold medal skier Eileen Gu, 18, for defecting to China’s team amid rampant human rights violations in the country
  • He also criticized the NBA, basketballer LeBron James and action star John Cena for ‘kowtowing’ to China’s regime
  • ‘Is that cool now, to choose to represent a totalitarian police state over America?’
  • ‘Because the “woke” now see race first and everything else never, fear of being accused of racism has given a free pass on human rights abuses to China’

By CHRISTINA COULTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:28 EST, 19 February 2022 | UPDATED: 10:32 EST, 19 February 2022

*** begin quote ***

‘Real Time’ host Bill Maher struck out at American celebrities who he said ‘kowtow’ to China on Friday night, including California-born Olympic skier Eileen Gu who is competing for China, her mother’s homeland, in this year’s Beijing Olympics. 

‘Is that cool now, to choose to represent a totalitarian police state over America,’ he asked, kicking off his monologue. 

‘The Olympics pretends to only be about sports but of course, the games have always been a bit of a proxy war for which country has the best system. 

‘And by choosing Team China, Eileen Gu became a living symbol of China’s triumph over the west, which wouldn’t bother me so much if I thought China had triumphed over us in the ways that really matter. But they haven’t.’

*** end quote ***

More and more, either I’m changing or Bill Maher is becoming more “libertarian”.

I was stunned that anyone would go over to China for the “genocide olympics”.

Give Bill Maher credit for calling out a “turncoat”.  Maybe that’s harsh.  But, I don’t understand the decision, unless it came with a big cash stipend.

Sigh!

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POLITICAL: A political prosecutor should not get two bites at the same “apple”!

Sunday, February 20, 2022

https://nypost.com/2022/02/17/donald-trump-ivanka-and-don-jr-must-testify-in-ny-ag-probe-judge/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20220217&lctg=6080ba40747925275a09dcd3&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts

Donald Trump, Ivanka and Don Jr. must testify in Letitia James’ probe: judge
By Priscilla DeGregory
February 17, 2022 3:08pm

*** begin quote ***

Donald Trump and his kids Ivanka and Donald Jr. must testify in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation into the Trump Organization’s business dealings, a Manhattan judge ruled Thursday.

The Trump family trio has been fighting to quash the subpoenas for their sworn testimony, arguing that James’ office is targeting the former president for “selective prosecution” for political reasons and to bolster her career.

Trump’s camp says the AG’s office will use the depositions from the family members to aid a parallel criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the AG’s Office, rather than calling the family members before a grand jury — which would give them immunity from civil claims involving the same facts.

But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron denied the motions to quash the subpoenas in a decision Thursday afternoon and said the three Trump family members must appear for depositions within 21 days.

*** and ***

“Let’s say your clients are compelled … to appear for a deposition,”  Engoron asked the lawyers for the Trumps. “Can’t they refuse to answer?”

“Isn’t that what Eric Trump did 500 times? Why can’t your clients protect themselves by refusing to answer questions?” Engoron said, referring to Eric Trump having already been deposed in the case.

But lawyers for the Trumps responded that a judge or jury could then draw an “adverse inference” at trial against them for choosing not to answer questions.

Ronald Fischetti, a criminal defense lawyer for Donald Trump, responded, “If he takes the Fifth, how am I going to pick a jury if it’s all over town?”

“You can’t put your civil hat on and then put your criminal district attorney hat on when it suits you,” Trump’s civil lawyer Alina Habba said.

“The civil and criminal actions involve the same subject material,” Habba said. “You’re putting my client in a position where they disclose evidence in a civil investigation or they have to invoke their rights and have an adverse inference. How is that fair, your honor?”

*** end quote ***

I’m not a fan of any politician or bureaucrat.  But this is obviously unfair.

The prosecutor should be forced to adjudicate the personal criminal case BEFORE getting to try the civil case. 

Anything less is unfair to ANY defendant.

Argh!

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INSPIRATIONAL: His fate was seal-ed.

Saturday, February 19, 2022

https://nypost.com/2022/02/17/california-man-who-fell-off-his-boat-thought-hed-die-until-seal-helped-him-swim-to-safety/

California man survives frigid five-hour night swim with a friendly seal as his guide
By Yaron Steinbuch
February 17, 2022 12:35pm  Updated

*** begin quote ***

His fate was seal-ed.

A California man thought he would die when he fell off his fishing boat and into the frigid Pacific Ocean — but a friendly harbor seal showed up in the nick of time and helped get him to safety.

Scott Thompson, a sea urchin diver, blamed a lapse in judgment for the mishap that sent him falling off his boat into the Santa Barbara Channel in the middle of the night last month.

“I thought to myself, ‘Great, this is how I’m going to die. Today is the day I’m going to die,’” Thompson, who was wearing nothing but his shorts and T-shirt at the time, told KABC-TV.

*** and ***

“Even putting on a wet suit, being prepared, getting in that water, and swimming to the platform was horrendous,” Paul Amaral, president of towing company Channel Watch Marine told KABC.

“I can’t imagine being in the water with shorts and a T-shirt at night. There was no moon, I mean it was pitch black,” he said.

In his post, Thompson wrote: “I’m a believer that there is a higher power now. I don’t know what it is, but there is a power greater than me. That was shown to me and I will never doubt that for the rest of my life.”

*** end quote ***

Guess someone can enumerate for all us land lubbers what this fellow did wrong.  I’ve read about dolphins and porpoises rescuing sailors adrift and downed military pilots.  It was always chalked up to the animals being “playful”.  But, maybe it’s just “Guardian Angels” is wet form.

In any event, an inspirational story.

—30—

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INSPIRATIONAL: Maybe there is an “oriental” way of raising children?

Friday, February 18, 2022

For no apparent reason, other than spending a lot of time with a four year old boy, I began to think of the children of a family who ran a Chinese takeout restaurant back in the 70’s.  Since I ate a lot of “Chinese food” (and not what was Goood for me), I watched their three children grow up.  While Mom and Dad were sweating their asses off, hustling food, the three children sat very quietly and did what looked to be schoolwork. As they got older, the started to work the business.  I remember watching an about ten year old girl stop doing schoolwork and help her overwhelmed Mom answer the phones to take orders.  I was amused to listen to one side of the conversation and then see her turn to the kitchen and yell the order just like her Mom.  She’d put the orders on the carousel and, when the phone volume died off, return to her studies. 

It was a model of decorum and hard work.

Last night, when I was drifting off to sleep, I wondered if the Chinese have a secret to raising children?  

Certainly seems like that to me.

Hmmmm?

—30— 

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TECHNOLOGY: Old hardware gets a new life?

Friday, February 18, 2022

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/02/google-turns-old-macs-pcs-into-chromebooks-with-chrome-os-flex/

CLOUDREADY BECOMES CHROME OS FLEX —
Google turns old Macs, PCs into Chromebooks with Chrome OS Flex
Google acquisition results in free, downloadable Chrome OS.
SCHARON HARDING – 2/15/2022, 12:00 PM

*** begin quote ***

Google is positioning Chrome OS Flex as an answer to old Mac and Windows PCs that might not be able to handle the latest version of their native OS and/or that might not be owned by folks with budgets to replace the devices. Rather than buying new hardware, consumers or IT departments could install the latest version of Chrome OS Flex.

*** end quote ***

Sounds like something I want to try and maybe better than trying to run some version of Linux on old junk?

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SURVIVAL: Society is falling apart; “juveniles” they ain’t!

Thursday, February 17, 2022

https://nypost.com/2022/02/14/texas-coach-has-broken-arm-after-hes-chased-beaten-by-middle-schoolers/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20220214&lctg=6080ba40747925275a09dcd3&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts

Texas coach has broken arm after he’s chased, beaten by middle schoolers
By Patrick Reilly — February 14, 2022 12:13am 

*** begin quote ***

“Our campuses must be the safest places in our community for students, staff and visitors,” school officials said in a statement Friday. “We will not tolerate anyone compromising the safe environment of our campuses, and will address violations to the greatest extent possible.”

Four students involved in the attack were taken into custody and will be disciplined according to the code of conduct, district officials said in a letter to parents.

It’s unclear if the juveniles will face charges for the beatdown.

*** end quote ***

“juveniles” my tush.  They are “adults” and should be charged as such.

I thought Texas was Red State tough on crime jurisdiction.

This is an example of society on the road to perdition.  There should be public outrage.

And, I notice that no one is mentioning the race of all involved.  Could it be a “hate crime” too?

Also, teachers SHOULD be armed!

—30—

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POLITICAL: Release ALL the past “visitor logs” for EVERY past President?

Thursday, February 17, 2022

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10519203/Biden-rejects-Trumps-executive-privilege-claim-orders-release-WH-visitor-logs-1-6-panel.html

Biden rejects Trump’s executive privilege claim and orders the release of ALL White House visitor logs to the January 6 committee

  • Joe Biden rejected Trump’s executive privilege claim to stop the National Archives from releasing White House visitor logs to the January 6 panel
  • Is the former president’s second attempt to block the release of documents from the Archives to the panel
  • Unclear if Trump will take this case the federal court like he did the last
  • Court ordered the Archives last month to hand over to the panel a batch of documents and materials from Trump’s administration

By KATELYN CARALLE, U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM 

PUBLISHED: 07:50 EST, 16 February 2022 | UPDATED: 09:15 EST, 16 February 2022

*** begin quote ***

Joe Biden is rejecting another executive privilege claim by Donald Trump as he tries to invoke the right in order to withhold the White House visitor logs from the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

In a letter sent to the National Archives on Tuesday, Biden’s White House Counsel Dana Remus told the archivist of the U.S. David Ferriero the agency should provide the material to the panel within 15 days. 

Former President Trump is attempting to invoke executive privilege to keep the panel form obtaining the logs, just as he did with other White House documents that were turned over to the committee earlier this month.

The White House plans to inform Trump Wednesday morning of the rejection for his executive privilege claim. 

Trump could try to block or slow the release of the logs like he did with other White House documents and materials.

*** end quote ***

NOW, I want EVERY past President’s visitor logs published.

I think the Bush’s, Clinton’s, and Obama’s would be very enlightening.

—30—

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Bob Saget’s family sues to block release of death records

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Saget suffered “blunt head trauma,” likely during an “unwitnessed fall” in his room at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, according to the results of an autopsy released last week. The medical examiner said the actor suffered severe skull fractures, but his death was ruled accidental.

Bob Saget’s family sues to block release of death records

# – # – # – #

Yes, but was a crime committed? Then all privacy concerns take a back seat to the investigation. How many “accidental deaths” weren’t?

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: The cost of EVs are much higher than our current gas vehicles.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

EMAIL FROM LUDDITE

*** begin quote ***

I have been talking a lot with friends about the push for EVs, and am hoping that you would consider doing a segment that investigates the practicality of electric vehicles.  Here are the questions I have that I believe have not been addressed:

1.  The cost of EVs are much higher than our current gas vehicles, that will exclude many from being able to afford one. 

2.  I have also heard that the cost of replacing the batteries in 4-5 years is in the thousands of dollars.  Add that to the high cost of a new vehicle, and it makes it even more prohibitive.

3.  Each home or business that needs to charge their vehicles will require a new electrical circuit installed.

4.  Charging an EV requires anywhere from 25 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on whether the charging station has a fast super-charger or not.  What will the impact be on people waiting to get their EV charged?  First, assume that every current gas station will have to convert to have both gas and electric fill pumps, making them available for older gas vehicles and new EVs, more additional costs and additional space required.  With an EV the average time to “charge up” will be at least 4 times longer (5 minutes for gas versus 20 min for EVs).  Without the “fast” chargers, it could be 12 times longer (5 min vs 60 min) or even longer to charge up.  Think of the impacts, time itself on the traveler, at “least” twice as many charging stations as current gas pumps, waiting locations for travelers while they charge up?

5.  What about apartment/condo dwellers that park outside, or city street dwellers that have to park in the street?  Will chargers be installed in all apartment parking lot locations or street parking spaces? At whose cost?

6.  Where is all the additional electrical power to come from?  Can you imagine the peaks during nighttime charging?

7.  Hazard/space component to storing so many dead batteries after they are no longer useful?

I’m sure there are several more questions that I have not thought of, and many more issues that would need to be addressed.  But it does seem as if the government has “environmental blinders” on, and are not able to foresee the damage that moving to EVs will cause. If they are concerned about “climate change” they shouldn’t be, that’s what our climate does, change.  It’s been very cold and very hot off and on since it’s creation, it’s what the earth does, and we are just along for the ride!

*** end quote ***

EV’s seem to be a dead end technology.

—30—

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VOCABULARY: “The Overton window”

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

https://www.zerohedge.com/crypto/overton-window-bitcoin

The Overton Window & Bitcoin
BY TYLER DURDEN
SATURDAY, FEB 12, 2022 – 09:00 PM
Authored by ‘DON’ via BitcoinMagazine.com,

As Bitcoin enters the mainstream conversation, it is becoming increasingly common for politicians to embrace or disparage the technology…

*** begin quote ***

“The Overton window is the range of policies politically acceptable to the mainstream population at a given time. It is also known as the window of discourse.

“The term is named after American policy analyst Joseph P. Overton, who stated that an idea’s political viability depends mainly on whether it falls within this range, rather than on politicians’ individual preferences. According to Overton, the window frames the range of policies that a politician can recommend without appearing too extreme to gain or keep public office given the climate of public opinion at that time.”

*** end quote ***

Can’t stop BITCOIN because it fulfills a basic human need — the ability to save financial wealth from the rapacious of seizure by central Gooferments!

—30—

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