APPLE: Forcing Apple to support EU Porn App is just wrong

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/03/apple-doesnt-approve-eu-porn-app/

Apple Says It Doesn’t Approve of EU Porn App

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15 pm PST by Juli Clover

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Apple does not approve of the “Hot Tub” pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem.

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I agree with Apple.  Not that they are “saints”, but forcing them to support an app (Apple’s Notarization process only checks for malware, fraud, and other egregious issues) is a violation of their independence. 

I thought, that by “alternative App Store”, Apple would have no part in the process of putting an app on their hardware.  Guess I was wrong!

I see a whole slew of issues and “finger pointing” when some app bricks the hardware.  Apple’s response should be “Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy” . . . literally, “not my circus, not my monkey;” figuratively, “not my problem.”

I guess monkeys are “problems” in Poland, and circuses are where “problems” come from. If it’s not your monkey, and it’s not even from your circus, then it’s not your problem. 

And, the User should seek help from the EU technocrats.

Tough nuggies but that’s what the EU wanted.

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MONEY: ₿itcoin as opposed to 529?

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-01/bitcoin-btc-college-savings-plan-parents-ditch-529-funds-for-crypto?leadSource=uverify%20wall

Parents Ditch 529 Plans and Embrace Bitcoin for College Savings

  • Despite the risks and volatility, some families are investing in cryptocurrency to build wealth for their children. 

By Charlie Wells and Claire Ballentine
February 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM EST

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Most parents typically worry about funding 529 college savings plans, brokerage accounts or high-yield savings vehicles for their kids. Now, a subset are eschewing the old ways, pushing instead to pile up enough Bitcoin to help their children in the years ahead.

Some say it’s because stock gains aren’t good enough. Others view it as reasonable diversification. Plenty are true believers — convinced that, despite a more than 500% gain since the depths of the last “crypto winter,” Bitcoin’s climb has only just begun. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency surpassed the $100,000 mark for the first time in December, having changed hands for less than $16,000 in November 2022.

Still, these parents argue their children have long enough time horizons to stomach Bitcoin’s intense volatility.

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Anytime I blog on financial topics, I always disclose faiwwypfi (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?) and I have no hidden interests.  I am willing to buy and sell ₿, goldbacks, and bullion.

Before jumping into this topic, you must be absolutely sure that you won’t lose the keys to the kingdom.  Your wallet should be backed up and secure.  

And, remember you may not be around to extract the value.  Everyone dies  —  sooner or later.  Remember the guy in the UK who threw away his back up hard drive with his ₿itcoin keys on it.  Millions of dollars in a landfill.

It also should NOT be an exchange wallet since “not your keys; not your coins”.

So you are going to have to have a young person to understand and hold keys.

A hardware walled that multi signature is essential.

Remember the Ukrainian tech guy who escaped Ukraine with nothing but his clothes and his twelve word pass phrase?

YMMV

That being said: (1) ₿ is an inflation proof asset; (2) it avoids the Gooferment; and (3) might be a hidden “lottery ticket”.

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GUNS: Old man kills a young robber — so sad for all involved

Monday, February 10, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/02/02/world-news/moment-78-year-old-fatally-shoots-teenager-trying-to-rob-him-in-argentina/

Shocking video shows 78-year-old fatally shoot teenager who tried to rob him in Argentina
By Ronny Reyes 
Published Feb. 2, 2025, 9:13 p.m. ET

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A 78-year-old retiree shot and killed a 15-year-old boy who tried to rob him outside his home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, shocking video shows.

*** and ***

The teenager, who was described by a friend online as a “great person,” was holding a fake gun meant to resemble a gray .22-caliber mini Bersa Thunder, Page 12 reported.

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Local prosecutor Diego Rulli, who is in charge of the case, will not seek charges against the 78-year-old man, who he said acted in clear self-defense with a weapon that he is licensed to carry and use.

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It seems like a gang related crime and a case of “kill or be killed”.

Fake gun or not, in the heat of the moment, the old man really had no choice.

I can’t imaging how he must feel especially after finding out it was a fake gun and a teenager.

FAFO is the common refrain we hear these days and this is an example of the “FO” part.

Can not fathom the depth of evil that this teenager go into.

Guess that this will put a damper on car jackings.

As I’ve blogged before:

“I particularly like unlimited concealed carry. If the criminal regards the general public as sheep to be shorn, then let’s sprinkle in a few “sheepdogs” with big teeth in the flock.

Guess which gay to bash? Buzz, wrong, you picked a Pink Pistol and you’re dead!

Guess which woman to bash? Buzz, wrong, you picked a Paxton Quigly and you’re dead!

Guess which brown person to bash? Buzz, wrong, you picked a Massad Ayoob and you’re dead!”

https://reinkefaceslife.com/2006/11/02/guns-lets-sprinkle-in-a-few-sheepdogs-with-big-teeth-in-the-flock/
GUNS: Let’s sprinkle in a few “sheepdogs” with big teeth in the flock
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006 at 20:26

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ENCOURAGING: A foreign good soul puts in a lot of effort to help someone they don’t know

Sunday, February 9, 2025

FROM 1440 https://join1440.com/

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-02-08>>

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Today, we’re sharing a story from reader Richard B. in Springfield, New Jersey.

“My daughter left her handbag with her phone and passport in the back of a taxi in Paris on the eve of a Sunday. Flight with her family was scheduled for 1 pm the next day. At 2:30 am, our phone rings in New Jersey with a 510 area code. When it rings a second time, my wife answered. A voice says, ‘Please don’t hang up as I have been trying to call someone for the last 6 hours. I work for Boeing in Seattle and my sister lives on the outskirts of Paris and has Felice U.’s pocket book. She doesn’t speak English but would like to return it. Her husband found it in the back of his cab.’”

“Our daughter contacted her concierge and arrangements were made for the brother-in-law to come to the hotel. This was accomplished by 10 am and they made the plane home in time. We still are not sure how the man in Seattle was able to trace us to NJ but his detective work and persistence in attempting to find someone is amazing. Upon their return, my daughter and her family found multiple calls from him on the home phone and my son-in-law’s cell phone documenting his persistent efforts. There are, indeed, good people in this world.” 

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I’d call what these folks did a “mitzvah”!

https://www.solonchabad.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/294114/jewish/A-mitzvah-is-not-just-a-good-deed.htm

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… … a mitzvah, even one he didn’t understand, is a connection n a way to get closer to G‑d that transcends logic. We affix a mezuzah to our doorposts, not just because it makes sense to us, but because this is G‑d’s wish. When we fulfill the request of G‑d, we are strengthening our bond with Him. Next time a mitzvah comes your way, make the connection! 

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More than just a “good deed”, these folks really made a “connection” with more people than they know or imagine.

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ECONOMICS: First time in decades that there is a glimmer of hope.

Sunday, February 9, 2025

FROM A EMAIL THREAD:

LUDDITE:

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Wow this is beyond mind blowing! The list of blatant wastes of billions of U.S. tax dollars is really hard to comprehend. It will probably reach trillions very soon, there are no words to describe what the scabs have been doing to us!

Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) / X

x.com

https://x.com › doge

Through 1/29/2025, 85 DEIA related contracts totaling ~$1B have been terminated within the Dept. of Ed, GSA, OPM, EPA, DoL, Treasury, DoD, USDA, Commerce,

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REINKEFJ:

Very sad indeed. And, a lot of “little people” are going to be displaced. It’s not just the “leadership” that gets fired. Argh!

Last tin foil hat estimate I read was that 3T$ could be freed up if 12 Departments, about 15 “agencies”, and a bushel basket full of other types of activities were eliminated.

Sigh!

A YOUNGER RELATIVE:

I don’t think anyone disagrees with cutting poor employees. But, as the reaction to grant programs being cut showed, red states are disproportionately impacted by government program cuts and those senators and congressman got an earful hence that idea was quashed. Today offices across the Midwest and south got hammered by calls regarding the tariffs. Farmers want their government handouts to continue. Biggest welfare group in the country and they have some power in the republican caucus so it’ll be interesting to see. President Musk is certainly leaving his mark but you’d think his lackey will want to regain some control soon. 

REINKEFJ:

Well, it’s about time that EVERYONE got off the dole.  The fiscal ship is sinking and if we don’t want a complete financial meltdown, everyone has to take their cuts.

Farmers, especially the corporate farmers like ADM, have been “milking” the system.  Parity payments for sugar are a classic example.  Paying farmers not to grow crops is another.  America could feed the world if the Gooferment would just get out of the way and allow the really free market to explode our productivity.

Sorry but EVERYONE is not entitled to a handout. Ponzi scheme of Social Security needs to be unwound. 

The Federal Reserve is a huge stumbling block to a healthy economy.  But probably too big for DJT47 to tackle.  Although I did read that his advisors were floating a trial balloon of 50 year bonds pegged to the price of gold as a way to retire the national debt.  If so, then the FED would be unnecessary.  Shade of Andrew Jackson, imaging no Federal debt to service.

I have high hopes that the DJT47 team can turn the Titanic away from the icebergs.

First time in decades that there is a glimmer of hope.

# – # – # – # – # 

I think this dialogue is instructive in that everyone sees the problem but no one wants their “Sacred Cow” to get killed.

Hopefully, if everyone is upset, then the country is getting back on track.  

The good ideas seem to keep flowing in. From “Kill the Department of Education” to defund NPR, nothing is too big or too small to get the AXE.

One thing I learned and was astonished to find out was that “USAID” was not “USA foreign aid” but “USA International Development” and was a CIA front for “foreign adventures”.  Surely that should be axed.

Another surprising revelation, was that all the Ukrainian cash aid didn’t get to Ukraine.  

Finally, the NGO’s like Red Cross and Catholic Charities were getting gazillions for “illegals” “resettlement”.  

No wonder the USA is going broke, too many grifters robbing us blind.

Argh!

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ENCOURAGING: Kate Middleton looks like she’s enjoying just doing something normal

Saturday, February 8, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/02/06/entertainment/royal-family-live-updates-news-photos-feb-6/

Royal family live updates: Kate Middleton pairs up with girl, 5, on field trip who has no idea she’s a princess
By Sarah Ng, Kaydi Pelletier and Nika Shakhnazarova 
Updated Feb. 7, 2025, 6:28 a.m. ET

# – # – # – # – # 

Maybe I’m a sucker for a photo op, but the lady looks like she was just having bit of fun doing something “normal”.  I’m sure that the security was really tight wvwn though it was “invisible”.  And the children had no idea something special was happening.  

And, Kate Middleton has a beautiful smile and an air of Noblesse oblige.

Again, she makes you forget just how evil and expensive “monarchy” is.

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ENCOURAGING: Baltimore Ravens fans make a positive gesture in a sport plagued by poor sportsmenship

Saturday, February 8, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/classy-ravens-fans-return-the-favor-for-foes-after-bills-player-drops-ball-in-heartbreaking-playoff-loss/

Classy Ravens Fans Return the Favor for Foes–After Bills Player Drops Ball in Heartbreaking Playoff Loss

By Andy Corbley – Jan 29, 2025 

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The quality among Baltimore Ravens fans have donated to a GoFundMe to raise money for an autism charity supported by Buffalo Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid, who just dropped a key pass that could have taken the franchise to the Super Bowl.

In a bizarre reversal of circumstances, the fundraiser mirrors what happened last week: when Bills fans set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a diabetes charity supported by Ravens tight end, Mark Andrews, who also dropped a key pass that may have taken his franchise to the Super Bowl.

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This is a tremendous counterweight to all the bad stories we read about out-of-control fans and players.

I’m proud to put my money where my mouth is and donate to Dalton Kincaid’s gofundme.

https://gofund.me/84651e43

While good works should be done in secret, this needs to be encouraged.

(Ever heard that old Irish adage about “good works only count if done in secret”. Funny, I learned that from my maternal English Protestant grandmother who wanted to teach me about my maternal grandfather’s “heathen Irish culture that has a few good points”. ROFL!)

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POLICY: End the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs”

Friday, February 7, 2025

https://www.breitbart.com/health/2025/02/06/bill-proposed-in-illinois-could-allow-18-year-olds-to-drink-alcohol/

Bill Proposed in Illinois Could Allow 18-Year-Olds to Drink Alcohol

Amy Furr6 Feb 202577

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A bill up for consideration in the Illinois General Assembly would change the state’s legal drinking age.

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Sorry but did we learn NOTHING from Prohibition?

Is it because DRUG PROHIBITION has worked so well?

Can’t we see what Portugal has done?

Argh!

No one can stop someone from putting in their body what they want.  It’s call free will.  Human beings are as resourceful as any rat or roach.

Argh!

Could we try abandoning an approach that is an OBVIOUS failure and try a true free market approach?

Imagine how many drug addicts would survive if they could walk in any pharmacy and buy their drug of choice in a sterile accurately measured does of a know potency?  Like going into a Marijuana Dispensary today.  I’m sure that if Walmart, Walgreens, or CVS was in charge, the whole process would be safe and that they would offer information about rehab with every “prescription”,  Maybe even require a buyer to acknowledge that they were given the information.  And, I bet prices would be cheaper than aspirin!  

Of course, we would have the problem of out-of-work drug gangs and what does a Drug Kingpin do when he has to compete with Walmart?

If short, I think we should admit defeat in the “(pseudo) War on (some) Drugs” and seek a different strategy.

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INSPIRATIONAL: “Archimedes” is a metaphor for the unsolvable problem of how to avoid an unavoidable war

Friday, February 7, 2025

https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B09742MWY9/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

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The Great War of Archimedes

Pre-WWII, the Japanese Navy commissioned the creation of impressive “supership” Yamato, strongly opposed by a top official insisting on more strategic and battle-ready warships. After being ignored without cause, Admiral Yamamoto recruits a math genius to help uncover what he soon suspects is a massive 

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Customer Review

    B.A. Bengard

    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie of the Philosophy of Japan & Humanity

    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2024

    Verified Purchase

    Not usually a fan of historical fiction, but this Japanese made movie incorporates mixtures of reality, ideology and humanity. Knowing the history of the Pacific war, the culture mindset of imperial Japan and the more ancient ideas behind bushido and the engineering genius of the Yamato, is mixed with fictional characters who have a deeper realization of the effect of war of humanity, especially as it pertains to Japanese cultural mindset. It’s NOT a war movie, but “Archimedes” is a metaphor for the unsolvable problem of how to avoid an unavoidable war. 

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It is really captivating in the story.  Not sure how real it is but Pearl Harbor was a fact.  And regardless of what the beliefs of the key players really were, they were powerless to stop it.

Kind of like the vets today with the USA involving us in all sorts of “foreign adventures”, when in every vet’s heart, mind, and soul, we know how wrong this is.

Dona Nobis Pacem

And aren’t today’s carriers like the WWII battleships, obsolete. Vulnerable to cheap drones and hypersonic missles Yet the USA keeps building them.

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QUOTE: Reach out in freindship to all

Thursday, February 6, 2025

“We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.” — Arthur Ashe

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Sounds like a foreign policy that the Dead Old White Guys would approve of!

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