SECURITY: SMS is not a good 2FA (Second Factor Authentication)

Saturday, May 10, 2025

https://www.makeuseof.com/security-apps-protect-your-data/?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=MUO-202505090800&utm_source=MUO-NL&user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

Install These 5 Security Apps Now to Protect Your Data
Jowi Morales

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-05-07>>

*** begin quote ***

Authenticator

Usernames and passwords are no longer as secure as you might think; that’s why you should switch to two-factor authentication (2FA)to help secure your online access. You can easily set this up on most accounts, including your accounts on Google, Meta, and more, ensuring that any potential hacker who has compromised your username and password combination still needs a one-time password to gain access.

However, we don’t recommend using SMS for your 2FA code because of its many disadvantages. For example, if you’ve been specifically targeted by personal identity thieves, they can trick your mobile provider into transferring your number to a SIM card that they have (called SIM swap), meaning they will receive your OTP codes on their device. Furthermore, SMS messages can be intercepted, meaning someone targeting you can easily steal your OTPs even if you did not lose access to your SIM card. And if you lose your phone signal (or your service provider runs into problems), you won’t get your codes and will be unable to access your accounts.

*** end quote ***

Personally, I use Google Authenticator. But I have AUTHY, LASTPASS, and BITWARDEN. Can’t say I prefer one over another, but given how stuff gets “deprecated” (i.e., abandoned), I’m ready to switch.

I have a running debate with my bank about their use of SMS.  So far, I’m losing but I’m still nagging.

Argh!

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ENCOURAGING: a team of ~50 make a “triple play”

Friday, May 9, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/05/07/health/10-year-old-heart-transplant-patient-saves-lives-of-two-toddlers/

Hero 10-year-old heart transplant patient pays it forward — to save the lives of two toddlers
By Diana Bruk  — Published May 7, 2025, 6:00 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

Doctors at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital performed an extremely rare series of surgeries in July that changed the lives of three children forever. 

A heart from a deceased donor was transplanted into 10-year-old Hend Almesafri, who paid it forward by then providing her pulmonary valve to John Catoliato, 2, and her aortic valve to Teddy Carter, 3. 

*** end quote ***

Again a team of ~50 make a “triple play” IMHO.  Three beautiful babies all getting a new lease on a real life without the future of more surgeries in the future.

Really amazing.

Just goes to show you what humans are capable of when someone really “makes it happen”.

I don’t care what it cost because it’s time, attention, and resources well spent.

Now let’s focus on the “lessons learned” and AAR (after action reports).  

How can we as a society of caring responsible adults make this the norm rather than the “news”?

I pray this inspires everyone to look around to make their own “miracles”.

Dona Nobis Pacem

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HEALTHCARE: Time to repeal ’86 SHIELD ACT

Thursday, May 8, 2025

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/05/04/whats-the-real-story-behind-vaccines.aspx

What’s the Real Story Behind Vaccines?
Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola  —  May 04, 2025

*** begin quote ***

The 1986 Act shields vaccine manufacturers from lawsuits, which may reduce their incentive to conduct thorough safety testing. This could influence your health decisions, encouraging you to research vaccine safety independently to protect your well-being.

*** end quote ***

“MAY”?

Are you kidding me?

It’s apparent that “ACT” alone is responsible for BIG PHARMA’s failure to do ANY safety testing.

And the number of childhood vaccinations “required” has exploded from a few to almost 100.

Sorry, but RFK jr, for all his wild ideas, is NOT automatically wrong to point out that AUTISM rates are skyrocketing and COVID vaxes are killing us.

Time to repeal ’86 SHIELD ACT.

Let the vaccine injured have their day in court.  Where’s an “Erin Brockovitch” bitching about the fate of all those harmed?

Argh!

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MEME: When “We, The Sheeple” wake up?

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

molṑn labé”

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.” — Robert A. Heinlein

UntitledImage

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ENCOURAGING: Bicycle Refurbishers Pedal Good to the World for 26 years

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/chicago-bicycle-refurbishers-pedal-good-to-the-world-for-26-years-with-150000-bikes-saved-from-landfills/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=29-04-2025

Chicago Bicycle Refurbishers Pedal Good to the World for 26 Years With 150,000 Bikes Saved from Landfills
By Andy Corbley – Apr 24, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

Working Bikes, located at 2434 S. Western Ave in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, has seen an awful lot of bikes pass through its doors; pulling them from landfills, picking them up off the curbside, or accepting them from community members. Over 150,000 have been repaired since the registered 501(c)3 got its wheels turning in 1999.

12% of all the bikes they restored are sold in the Working Bikes storefront. 15% meanwhile are donated right back to the people of Chicago through local program partners that will ensure they arrive in the hands of people in need of transportation.

The whole operation is volunteer-supported: anyone can come in and fix a bike or learn how. A few dedicated employees ensure that salable models are in excellent condition, or boast unique designs and features.

*** end quote ***

I love the international economic chain that they have created.  Micro-loans to buyers and training local talent  — here and overseas  — in repair and maintenance.

That’s America in action!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Once wildlife center should always be a wildlife center

Monday, May 5, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/05/02/business/six-flags-america-shutting-down-maryland-amusement-park-in-portfolio-revamp/

Six Flags America shutting down Maryland park — home of one of the oldest roller coasters in US — in ‘portfolio’ revamp: ‘Deeply disappointing’
By Nicholas McEntyre
Published May 2, 2025, 4:26 a.m. ET

*** begin quote ***

The land was originally used as a wildlife center created by former presidential candidate Ross Perot in 1974.

*** end quote ***

Why did the wildlife center get replaced?  And, why not put it back?

Not everything is about “development” and “tax revenue”!

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HEROIC: Child Born with Heart Outside Chest … …

Sunday, May 4, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/child-born-with-heart-outside-chest-becomes-solitary-survivor-thanks-to-surgical-procedure-invented-for-her/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=01-05-2025

Child Born with Heart Outside Chest Becomes Solitary Survivor Thanks to Surgical Procedure Invented for Her
By Andy Corbley – Apr 28, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Their patient was Vanellope Wilkins, the solitary survivor known to British medicine of ectopia cordis, a condition where a fetus develops with its heart outside its body.

Over a period of 9 hours, the team which included visiting surgeons from London would form a protective cage around Vanellope’s heart by reforming her ribs, and though her team included some of the best pediatric surgeons in the country, the procedure had never been done before, and was invented specifically for Vanellope’s case.

*** end quote ***

Team of 50 are all heroes in my book.  Saving a life, creating a unique approach, and following thru for 7 years is heroic in my book.

Compared to all the abortions performed for “convenience” makes this effort a statement about the value of human life.

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RECOMMENDED: MOSUL on NETFLIX

Saturday, May 3, 2025

https://www.netflix.com/search?q=mosul&jbv=81041495

# – # – # – # – #

“War movie” with violence, language, and heave forbid smoking!

Gives one a feel for the trauma of all these wars.  If you weren’t just a plain old hippie anti-war type after this, then you have no empathy for those poor unfortunates in the middle. 

Note the scene of the child just sitting along side the alley.  Or the final conclusion!

Dona Nobis Pacem

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SURVIVAL: But we’re not a “serious species”

Friday, May 2, 2025

‘Sleeping giant’ off coast of California is due to wake any moment and could sink parts of US in just MINUTES | Daily Mail Online

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14656853/Cascadia-Subduction-Zone-earthquake-california-sink.html

While “global warming” is the latest version of the “plandemic”, it is not hard to imagine the West Coast having another earthquake.  If humans were a serious people, then there would be some “incentives” to move away from the danger zone (i.e., not permitting new development or expansion in that area; tax and insurance rates to encourage movement; “buy” endangered property owners out to make parks).  But we’re not a “serious species” probably doing nothing, and then be “shocked” when a predicted disaster happens.  Argh!

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RECOMMENDED: Write In Private: Free Online Diary And Personal Journal | Penzu

Thursday, May 1, 2025

Write In Private: Free Online Diary And Personal Journal | Penzu

https://penzu.com/journals/3256620/107022325

Remember Star Trek and “Ship’s Log”?

I do the same thing, sort of in Penzu.

I find it pretty robust and useful.  Since 12/2021!

YMMV FWIW faiwwypfi (Free Advice Is Worth What You Pay For It! ?zero?)

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SECURITY: Don’t just take your power from any source?

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/ios-and-android-juice-jacking-defenses-have-been-trivial-to-bypass-for-years/

SON OF JUICE JACKING ARISES

  • iOS and Android juice jacking defenses have been trivial to bypass for years
  • New ChoiceJacking attack allows malicious chargers to steal data from phones.

Dan Goodin – Apr 28, 2025 7:00 AM 

*** begin quote ***

Word that juice-jacking-style attacks are once again possible on some Android devices and out-of-date iPhones is likely to breathe new life into the constant warnings from federal authorities, tech pundits, news outlets, and local and state government agencies that phone users should steer clear of public charging stations.

As I reported in 2023, these warnings are mostly scaremongering, and the advent of ChoiceJacking does little to change that, given that there are no documented cases of such attacks in the wild. That said, people using Android devices that don’t support Google’s new authentication requirement may want to refrain from public charging.

*** end quote ***

This reinforces my personal preference for having an external battery for recharge.  All my cars and my EDC pack have an ANKER power block, my own power plug, and 3 short USB-A cables.  My SOP is to not use “public ports” unless I have no other choice.  Suggest that anyone who values their security should do the same.

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MONEY: A surveillance masquerading as currency?

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

https://www.theadvocates.org/beware-the-ecb-digital-currency-is-coming/https://www.theadvocates.org/beware-the-ecb-digital-currency-is-coming/

Beware: The ECB Digital Currency Is Coming
By Daniel Lacalle
Published in Economics – 5 mins – Apr 25

*** begin quote ***

The digital euro, which Lagarde described in 2022 as “a digital banknote with a little less anonymity than the paper banknote because it is issued and guaranteed by the central bank,” is an unnecessary and dangerous tool.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) have been gaining attention as the technology of the future for monetary systems, but beneath their promise of efficiency and innovation lies a more pessimistic reality: they can serve as tools for surveillance, eroding personal privacy and financial freedom.

In the European Union, where limits to freedom of expression and the cancellation of elections are already a concern, a CBDC can be seen as surveillance masquerading as currency.

*** end quote ***

From the people who made the stereotype Nazi “Vere Is UR Pa-pers!”, they want to know and control the every actions of the people under their thumb.

Even the movies made a issue of it.

https://www.artofmanliness.com/odds-ends/odds-ends-april-25-2025/

*** begin quote ***

… … movies from our teenage years: Swing Kids. Set in pre-WWII Hamburg, it follows a group of German youth who rebel against Nazi conformity through their passion for forbidden American swing music.

*** end quote ***

Coming soon to a country near you?

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Fraud is baked into voting/

Monday, April 28, 2025

Florida election lawsuit exposes loophole in federal voter registration law | Just The News

https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/florida-election-lawsuit-exposes-loophole-federal-voter-registration-law

Argh. It’s like they deliberately write in loop holes?

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HARDWARE: Remembering a hardware failure; not so fondly

Sunday, April 27, 2025

https://www.makeuseof.com/thread/what-was-your-worst-data-loss-disaster/?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=MUO-202504240800&utm_source=MUO-NL&user=cmVpbmtlZmpAZ21haWwuY29t&lctg=7e6c3cd411d6a815afa18582d54bd455914c43c5f69df1448b8ec20ee4959f71

What Was Your Worst Data Loss Disaster?

Ben Stegner

1 day ago

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-04-24>>

# – # – # – # – # 

MY REPSONSE

Back in the Wild West days of corporate computing, II used to have my own back up solution. Brought and paid for myself. It was a zip drive. Remeber good old Iomega devices. It was 10 megs that I controlled. Had my own program that I wrote in COBOL (shows you how long ago that was). Worked fine thru several IBM Thinkpad hard disk failures. Sigh!

Anyway some genious decided that there should be no foreign devices on the corporate network, All USB ports would be locked, All computers in the Window NT domain would be backed up by the domain admin team. Even floppy disks were prohibited and locked.  

Having no choice, I did a lot of printing of stuff fo take home and emailing copies of working documents to a coworker and visa verse.

For about six months everything was fine. Then predictably my “workstation” that Thinkpad disk drive failed. Support dutifully replaced it and reinstalled the Operating System and started a restore from “Headquarters”.

Guess they never met Murphy.

Of course, I was idled for the better part of two days with about 50 meg of data “sped” down the undersized corporate network. Due dates be dammed. My status reports were on sentence. “Computer failed; Restore in progress; ETTR unknown.”

So it finally finished up after three DAYS, And NIGHTS! I sit down an logon. Guess what happens next? “File not found”, “File corrupt”. Another two days of “techincal magic” and everything now appears to work.

Go to open my latest — now behind schedule — “urgent” report. “File not found”.

I do a quick look and the back up data is SIX MONTHS old.

Apparent after great “STURM UND DRANG” we find out that the corporate backup system had never worked.  

I do a not so quick inventory of my paper files that I had at home. And there is SOME stuff but not everything. (I was a very inefficient clerk. Especially when I am very annoyed.)

Leadership told me to “Stop Bitching” and “deal with it”. 

Apparently, the various executives were going thru

# – # – # – # – # 

Webform has — I guess  —  a size limit 

# – # – # – # – # 

Apparently, the various executives were going thru a similar “experience”.  

I presume that they were not diligent about the corporate diktat that there was to be no “personal” data kept on “corporate computers”.

Never found out the full impact of the disaster.

But soon after IT leadership left for “other opportunities” and who bunch of “IT diktats” changed.

Laugh!

I too left soon after for a better opportunity and more money. Laugh!

About a year later the company was acquired and their IT was “absorbed” with a huge layoff.

I don’t know if the two are related.

Never looked back.

# – # – # – # – # 

Thought this was a interesting memory.

Argh! Argh! Sigh!

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SECURITY: may verify “authentic” accounts

Friday, April 25, 2025

https://bsky.social/about/blog/04-21-2025-verification

A New Form of Verification on Bluesky
April 21, 2025 by The Bluesky Team

*** begin quote ***

In 2023, we launched our first layer of verification: letting individuals and organizations set their domain as their username. Since then, over 270,000 accounts have linked their Bluesky username to their website. Domain handles continue to be an important part of verification on Bluesky. At the same time, we’ve heard from users that a larger visual signal would be useful in knowing which accounts are authentic.

*** and ***

During this initial phase, Bluesky is not accepting direct applications for verification. As this feature stabilizes, we’ll launch a request form for notable and authentic accounts interested in becoming verified or becoming trusted verifiers.

*** end quote ***

Interesting that they MAY verify real people. 

With or without a “subscription”?

Often thought that ISPs if they wanted could tie a User’s identity to the credit card they pay with.  Also, they COULD, but don’t allow such an identity to create sub accounts for children and young adults.  

Wouldn’t this cut down on the number and kind of bots that spam the inet with trash?

Seems so simple to me.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Politics trumps justice?

Thursday, April 24, 2025

https://nypost.com/2025/04/22/us-news/tim-walz-employee-who-allegedly-caused-over-20k-in-damages-to-teslas-let-off-by-woke-minnesota-da/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20250422?&utm_source=sailthru&lctg=6080ba40747925275a09dcd3&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts

Minnesota state employee who allegedly caused over $20K in damages to Teslas is let off by woke DA — as cops slam deal
By Patrick Reilly

*** begin quote ***

A progressive district attorney has declined to charge a Tim Walz state employee allegedly caught causing $20,000 damage by vandalizing half a dozen Teslas — a decision ripped by the “frustrated” local police chief.

The suspected vandal, 33-year-old Minnesota government employee Dylan Bryan Adams, was allegedly spotted keying the vehicles and stripping their paint off while out walking his dog around the city.

Despite what police believe to be evidence of Adams committing felonies, Hennepin County District Attorney Mary Moriarty will seek diversion rather than criminal charges.

*** begin quote ***

Sorry, but this is an example of selective justice.

Hopefully, a civil suit will find for punitive damages.

Maybe “We, The Sheeple” in Minnesota may have something to say about this travesty.

The DA should be fired and possibly disbarred for this miscarriage.  And, as a State employee, the citizens have a right to expect better conduct from their “employee”. 

Argh!

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HEROIC: Philly cop saves child from a potentially deadly fall while he’s acrophobic

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/philadelphia-police-officer-sets-aside-fear-of-heights-to-rescue-child-from-a-roof/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_medium=weekly_mailout&utm_source=20-04-2025

Philadelphia Police Officer Sets Aside Fear of Heights to Rescue Child from a Roof
By Andy Corbley – Apr 16, 2025

*** begin quote ***

It takes bravery to be a police officer, but for someone with a fear of heights, it’s probably safe to assume most of the work will be done with feet on solid ground.

For one acrophobic Philadelphia officer however, preventing disaster meant going above and beyond the call of duty, literally.

Officer Eric Robbins was on patrol December 10th, among the two-storey houses on N. 64th Street, when he got a call from neighbors saying someone’s child was out and walking on the pitched-roof of a nearby house.

*** end quote ***

That takes courage.  Any adult can quickly realize what a fall from such a height can mean.  For someone already afraid of heights to push thru and save a baby is imho heroic.

I know how quickly babies can get into trouble even when you’re sitting watching them.  Never mind doing a chore or cooking at your phone.  The baby was probably down for a nap, woke up, and silently decide to explore out an open window with no child guard.

Well all’s well that ends well.

Thanks to a fast cop with no fear.  

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GUNS: Defend yourself and others and get evicted — just wrong

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/04/18/florida-woman-evicted-from-apartment-after-shooting-would-be-intruder-n1228364

Florida Woman Evicted From Apartment After Shooting Would-Be Intruder

By Cam Edwards | 4:01 PM | April 18, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Even if Diego had no ill intent when he tried to enter the apartment, the women inside had no idea what his intentions were. As far as they’re concerned, a stranger (who turned out to be armed himself) was trying to break into their home. Under Florida’s Castle Doctrine, there’s a strong case to be made that the armed citizen acted in lawful defense of herself and her roommates, and the fact that police haven’t filed any charges more than a week after the incident at least suggests that law enforcement is leading to that conclusion. 

The management of the complex, however, isn’t waiting for police to officially determine whether any charges should be filed. It sounds like as far as they’re concerned, the tenants are already guilty of violating the terms of their lease. 

*** and ***

So if you discharge a gun, even in self-defense, you’re violating the terms of your lease? What about telling a would-be intruder “leave or I’ll shoot you”? Would that be considered threatening violence by the apartment complex’s management?

I’d love to see these tenants fight the eviction notice, but Lurie says his daughter and her friends plan on leaving the Carlton Apartments in the next few days. Still, he’s speaking out about the letter they received because he’s “shocked” at the policy and the disregard for the particular circumstances involved here, telling Fox 4. “If the intruder had gotten in and harmed the occupants, including my daughter, then they’d be allowed to stay? It just doesn’t make any sense to me.

*** end quote ***

Sorry, but I think “Carlton Apartments” is guilty of making the victims defenseless against a criminal.  As such, isn’t that some type of “unreasonable restriction”?

I hope the various “Justice” organizations take this to court.

If I was a judge, (I’m not!) then I’d declare that the lease is defective and unenforceable as a against public policy!

Argh!

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MEME: Happy with are;; happy with have

Monday, April 21, 2025

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SURVIVAL: Swift rescue due to precise location id

Monday, April 21, 2025

https://www.mytexasdaily.com/upper-gulf-coast/drone-technology-aids-in-swift-rescue-of-lost-hikers-in-sugar-land/article_6be1e49b-2992-524e-9181-d94f07a57e81.html?utm_campaign=6757289-USA%20B2C%20Newsletter%202025&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–6-0YPXZUeNVJWZmcGw3rUEhWwhuy5QKiNQmApKyaxgCwkgbTBKjPkNKeQo19VymN2krxjzFTAao8tEBeKpKhaQFn7kw&_hsmi=356333343&utm_content=356333343&utm_source=hs_automation#google_vignette

Drone technology aids in swift rescue of lost hikers in Sugar Land
Mathew Richards Feb 2, 2025 

*** begin quote ***

SUGAR LAND, Texas — Three hikers lost in Cullinan Park were swiftly located and rescued thanks to the quick response and advanced technology of the Sugar Land Police Department.

The hikers, who called 911 after becoming disoriented, were found within 15 minutes of the department deploying a drone.

The incident began just after 6:30 p.m. when a distressed female, accompanied by two others, contacted the police after they were unable to find their way back to the park entrance in the dark. Dispatchers used the What3Words application to pinpoint the hikers’ exact location, according to a press release from the Sugar Land Police Department.

*** end quote ***

I’ve cited what3words here in this blog many many times.  For all the junk that people put on their phones, this one should coexist with the rest of the bloatware that phone makers and networks provide “free”.

Now getting lost on a hike is inexcusable; some would say unavoidable.  Not being able to communicate your precise location can be fatal.

The use of the drone was very cost effective rather than rounding up a posse and searching even a small area.

So put the app on your phone and, if you never use it, you can say “told ya so”.  

Minimize confusion, promote efficiency, and possibly save a life.  

Talk to your family, friends, and enemies. 

The life you save may be your own or a loved one.

Argh!

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GOVEROTRAGEOUS: The Taxpayer shouldn’t fund stadiums PERIOD

Sunday, April 20, 2025

https://sharylattkisson.com/2025/04/watch-sports-stadiums/

Sports Stadiums
By Sharyl Attkisson | April 16, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Taxpayers are funding more than half the cost ($1.26 billion) of the Tennessee Titans’ new $2.1 billion stadiumthe biggest public contribution toward a stadium in US history. It’s supposed to be finished in 2027. But not without controversy over whether public money should be paying to lure rich sports teams to town. Lisa Fletcher investigates big costs and questionable returns.

*** end quote ***

Whatelse needs to be said?  The NFL can afford to pay for its own infrastructure.  We can’t!

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RANT: When do “We, The Sheeple” wake up to the world around us?

Saturday, April 19, 2025

https://www.commanderzero.com/?p=12029

“The price of freedom is the willingness to do sudden battle anywhere, any time and with utter recklessness.” ― Robert A. Heinlein

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GUNS: Does the Bill of Rights apply to the States?

Saturday, April 19, 2025

https://bearingarms.com/camedwards/2025/04/11/2a-advocates-notch-a-win-in-fight-against-maines-waiting-period-for-gun-sales-n1228286

2A Advocates Notch a Win in Fight Against Maine’s Waiting Period for Gun Sales
By Cam Edwards | 1:01 PM | April 11, 2025

*** begin quote ***

The attorney general also cited the Supreme Court’s language in Heller that “imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms” are “presumptively lawful regulatory measures,” but there’s a big difference between presuming something is lawful and actually looking at the historical record (or lack thereof) when it comes to delaying the lawful transfer of a firearm just because the state believes buyers need a cooling off period. There is nothing in the text of the Second Amendment or the national tradition of gun ownership that suggests arbitrary waiting periods preventing people from exercising their right to possess a firearm were the norm or even the exception in 1791 or 1868. Waiting periods are a modern invention, and a fair hearing under the Bruen test should lead the federal courts to establish that these artificial delays are a violation of our fundamental right to keep and bear arms. 

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All this “Sturm und Drang” relies on “incorporation” that the Bill OF Rights (BoR) applies to the States as well as the Federal Gooferment.

In the modern age of Linconialism, after the “War of Northern Aggression” aka the “the (un) Civil War, everything became “national”.  

In the world of originalism, before the Fourteenth Amendment, the States created the Federal union; not the other way around.  The Dead Old White Guys would have never approved the Constitution  —  and some historians call it a coop  —  if the States were subservient to the Federal Gooferment.

The proper question is the RKBA enshrined in the various State Constitutions?  And, if not, why not?

—30—

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Posted by reinkefj

TECHNOLOGY: Uncrewed aircraft delivery seems to be working

Friday, April 18, 2025

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/04/dont-call-it-a-drone-ziplines-uncrewed-aircraft-wants-to-reinvent-retail/

Don’t call it a drone: Zipline’s uncrewed aircraft wants to reinvent retail

  • Ars visits a zipline delivery service that’s deploying in more locations soon.

Tim Stevens – Apr 8, 2025 9:00 AM

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The inner portion of the Zipline P2 is lowered to the ground on a tether, facing into the wind, with a small propeller at the back. Doors on the bottom open when it touches the ground, depositing the cargo. Credit: Tim Stevens

The skies around Dallas are about to get a lot more interesting. No, DFW airport isn’t planning any more expansions, nor does American Airlines have any more retro liveries to debut. This will be something different, something liable to make all the excitement around the supposed New Jersey drones look a bit quaint.

Zipline is launching its airborne delivery service for real, rolling it out in the Dallas-Fort Worth suburb of Mesquite ahead of a gradual spread that, if all goes according to plan, will also see its craft landing in Seattle before the end of the year. These automated drones can be loaded in seconds, carry small packages for miles, and deposit them with pinpoint accuracy at the end of a retractable tether.

It looks and sounds like the future, but this launch has been a decade in the making. Zipline has already flown more than 1.4 million deliveries and covered over 100 million miles, yet it feels like things are just getting started.

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I was especially interest in their description of delivering blood in remote places in Africa.  That could be used to deliver organs with less risk and fewer delays.  A lot can be improved if their service is as promised.  I imagine that some day, I would be able to ship stuff from my doorstep.  Instacart, DoorDash, and UberEats may be in trouble.

—30—

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TECHNOLOGY: eSims introduce a single point of failure

Thursday, April 17, 2025

https://www.androidauthority.com/esim-vs-physical-sim-experience-3539851/

I was ready to ditch physical SIMs forever — then my toddler threw my phone off a balcony

  • I was ready to declare physical SIM cards obsolete until disaster struck!

By Adamya Sharma

April 5, 2025

*** begin quote ***

Just before writing that wholly different article, my iPhone 15 Pro, on which my primary number was registered as an eSIM, met a dramatic end. While on holiday, my toddler decided my phone would look cool skydiving from a ninth-floor balcony. Spoiler Alert: It didn’t stick the landing. Not only did the iPhone’s screen shatter to pieces from one corner, but the grade 5 titanium frame literally tore from the antenna band. Not to mention the internal damage to other crucial components.

After mourning the loss and explaining to my child that phones aren’t actually meant to fly, I faced a new problem. I needed a new phone. And fast. Apple told me the phone can’t be fixed and will need to be replaced. Shedding tears of desperation, I swallowed the bitter pill and coughed up to buy the iPhone 16 Pro.

But here’s the catch. You can’t just pop into a store, grab a phone, and swap out the SIM anymore when you’re only using an eSIM. Sure, transferring an eSIM is usually as easy as scanning a QR code, but what happens when your old phone’s display is completely dead?

*** end quote ***

Never thought about this.  Clearly, there needs to be a backup solution for an eSim.

I’m waiting.

—30—

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RANT: Let’s record everything

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

FROM TWITTER.

https://x.com/amuse/status/1906860386508230897?s=46&t=fNifJ9M-EU2FgGneNcz51w

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DOGE: Once the DOGE team breached the fortress of taxpayer-funded tranquility known as the U.S. Institute of Peace, the accounting firm overseeing its books promptly deleted over a terabyte of financial data—an act as subtle as a burglar torching the crime scene. Fortunately, Big Balls intervened, recovering the lost data and exposing a veritable orgy of fraud, waste, and abuse, including the agency’s peculiar addiction to private jet travel, all in the noble name of “peace.”

*** end quote ***

Why aren’t ALL Gooferment financial records, messages, and memos recorded to a blockchain? What are the bureaucrats afraid of?

—30—

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Posted by reinkefj

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