2015 archive
Credit Where Credit Is Don’t 0
John Gelles explains how Visa and Mastercard’s new credit card chips won’t live up to their billing as protecting against fraud. Here’s the crucial bit (emphasis added), but I recommend following the link and reading the entire article:
Why did it fail? Mark Horwedel, the group’s CEO, says a key reason is that different rules cover different kinds of fraud – and that, once again, Visa, MasterCard, and the big banks are chiefly taking care of themselves.
(snip)
Studies show that PINs cut fraud losses by as much as 85 percent or more–one reason their use is also urged by such advocates as U.S. PIRG’s Ed Mierzwinski, who says consumers ultimately pay the costs of fraud either indirectly or as its victims.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
When you hit and then run from the scene of an accident, do so with politeness.
Dis Coarse Discourse 0
Jon Perr parses Republican rhetoric. It ain’t a pretty site.
Here’s a bit:
It’s the Rovian tactic. If the facts are against you, attack.
Pond Life 0
Unfortunately, all I had was my cell phone to take these.
Young Dragonfly
Look closely and you can see the fish islightly to the left of center, plus a tutle to the right. They are feasting on Cheerios.
All the News that Fits, Spin Cycle Dept. 0
Steven M dissects the Foxification of a news story.
It’s a true tale of magickal mystickal transmogrification.
Nor Any Drop To Drink . . . . 0
Lake Mead gives up the ghost (towns).
Vestiges of St. Thomas, which was about 35 miles southeast of Las Vegas, have resurfaced over the decades with the fluctuation of the lake level, according to the park service. The town remained under water in the 1980s and 1990s, resurfacing in 2002. It’s been exposed since then due to the drought, a park service spokeswoman said.
Trumped on Their Own Petard 0
In the Las Vegas Sun, Timothy Egan notes the irony:
It was fine when all this crossing of the line was directed at President Barack Obama or other Democrats. But now that the ugliness is intramural, Trump has forced party leaders to decry something they have not only tolerated, but encouraged.
Much more at the link.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Politeness is essential when one is sojourning at the lodging house.
(snip)
Police said the three kids were playing with a cap gun when one of them picked up a real gun and accidentally shot the victim.
Flagging Interests 0
What puzzled me most about this story in my local rag is why, in the print edition (yes, we subscribe to the print edition; we believe in supporting our local rag–it’s not perfect, but, all-in-all, it’s a pretty good rag), the Sons of Confederate Veterans was referred to as a “Vets’ Group” on the overrun page.
“Vets” of what? Of the war to preserve chattel slavery, to keep persons in bondage, to steal the labor of others because of the color of their skin?
Dollars to doughnuts not a one of them lifted a weapon in that war.
Or is “Vet” newspeak for “Secesh”?
Words fail me.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Watch what they do, not what they say.
News of the Absurd 0
Hint: It’s all absurd.
Droning On, Meet the Polite Society 0
From the BBC:
Three shots from his Benelli short-barrel shotgun took the craft out of the sky.
“I went to my safe, retrieved my shotgun, went back out,” he said. “I felt that I was well within my rights as an American citizen to defend my property.”
He explained that he was concerned that the drone was invading his privacy and that of his daughters and that it was not the first time a drone had been sighted in the area.
Four men, including the owner of the downed drone, later confronted Mr Meredith outside his house.
Mr. Meredith was arrested and charged with “offences relating to the discharge of a firearm.”
As much as I disdain the reckless, feckless deployment of firearms, I must confess that, if Mr. Meredith starts a GoFundMe for his defense, I might kick in five bucks.
War and Mongers of War 0
Eric Schwartz and Brian Atwood note that those who monger war seem incapable of learning (emphasis added):
Why does it matter that the pundits who were so convinced about invading Iraq more than a decade ago now pursue with passionate certainty the defeat of the diplomatic effort involving Iran?
Follow the link for their answer.
What Goes Around . . . . 0
Heh.
A jury in September found McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, guilty of doing favors for former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans. The couple have been sentenced to prison but are currently free on appeals.
Governor McAuliffe, who has been a much better governor than most folks expected, has been putting off a decision.
More at the link.
Afterthought:
The Regent probably figured, as did Richard Nixon, that the laws were for the little people.
The Barney Fife and Dumb Corps 0
Historiann, an academician who is necessarily on campuses (campi?), recounts her experiences with campus cops. Here’s one (emphasis added); the rest aren’t pretty either.
Read the rest.