If Trump pardons the Jan. 6 rioters, outraging law enforcers and liberals, there’s a big historical precedent for it: Lincoln pardoned the millions of southerners who rioted against his 1860 election win for four long, bloody years. In the spring of 1865, as that violent demonstration was wrap[...]
Archive for December, 2024
December 14th, 2024 - 7:53 pm § in Misc.
What’s the fine on a library book 105 years overdue?
The book title is “Famous Composers,” by Nathan Haskell Dole (1852-1935; read his bio here). It was acquired by the library in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1914, and was last checked out in 1919. The book just recently was returned; the Guardian’s article here doesn’t say by whom,[...]
This is why we need federal consumer protection
Elon Musk, who’s worth $400 billion, making him the world’s richest man, wants to “delete” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) (see story here). The federal agency may not survive the Trump administration. Here’s what it does, and why ordinary Americans ne[...]
Biden caps bank overdraft fees at $5.00
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a new banking rule on Thursday, December 12, 2024, that caps bank overdraft fees at $5.00 beginning October 1, 2025. It may not last long. Huffington Post says (here) the new regulation “faces an uncertain future under President-elect Dona[...]
December 12th, 2024 - 5:07 pm § in Business, Law and Courts
Is this a threat or not?
A Florida woman whose insurance claim was denied called the company and said, ““Delay, deny, depose. You people are next.” The company called the FBI, who referred the case to local police, who went to her home and arrested her. She’s charged with threatening a mass shooting. Will cr[...]
December 12th, 2024 - 4:30 pm § in Misc.
Why you shouldn’t shoot at mysterious drones
“The White House said Thursday that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully.” (Read story here.) Also because it’s illegal to shoot down drones (see story here). Photo below: You don’t want to be responsible[...]
December 12th, 2024 - 4:04 am § in Misc.
UFO sightings, Oregon, 12/7/2024
Several pilots reported “round, circular red lights” flying at hypersonic speeds, in a corkscrew pattern, and moving up and down between 14,000 and 55,000 feet. The objects were invisible to air traffic control radar. Read story here, see videos here, and listen to ATC conversations with[...]
Mitch McConnell’s final hypocrisy
Hardly anyone is more responsible for Trump returning to power — and potentially abusing power — than Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). McConnell excoriated Trump’s role in instigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. As the Republican Senate leader, he could have rallied GOP senators behind th[...]
December 12th, 2024 - 12:02 am § in Misc.
GOPer blames mystery drones on non-existent Iranian “mothership”
For several nights, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey have baffled local authorities and residents. On Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) declared on Fox News the objects “are coming from an Iranian vessel off the East Coast,” which the Defense Department R[...]