June, 2015 archive
The Privatization Scam 0
It just keeps getting scammier and scammier.
Droning On 0
In addition to raining robotic death from the sky, drones–the little ones, at least–are becoming the new selfies: obnoxious, intrusive instruments of self-gratification wielded by narcissistic nobodies.
(snip)
Drone sightings have become increasingly common and worrisome over stadiums, especially during college and NFL games.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite to squirrels.
Deputies were called to the home by Wanda May Bible, who told authorities her husband, who used a walker for enhanced mobility, asked for her help exiting their home. As she approached to help her husband, the gun in his right hand discharged with the bullet fatally striking the man.
White on White Violence 0
Chauncey Devega comments on the recent events in Waco and what the media’s reaction to them says about the media and about us.
(Note: this is a rather long clip, about half an hour. If you don’t have time to listen now, bookmark it and listen when you have time. It’s worth your while.)
Bang for the Buck 0
These folks, in contrast, do get what they pay for.
Banged for the Buck 0
Wendell Potter explains that, when it comes to American health care, no, you are not getting what you pay for. Here’s a bit:
A big reason for that is our collective gullibility. We continue to believe what many politicians tell us, despite evidence to the contrary: that we have the best health care system in the world.
Similarly, we continue to be persuaded by insurance companies that they’re essential to the system and better than any government program could possibly be at controlling health care costs.
And we are still buying the pharmaceutical industry’s argument that if Americans don’t keep paying more for prescriptions than anyone else on the planet, drug companies—which have gargantuan profit margins—won’t be able to keep developing the drugs we need.
Granting Banket Immunity 0
The Charlotte Observer’s Eric Frazier has a question for you:
Defendant A – A young con artist who cooks up a luxury home-buying scheme that helps him steal more than $75 million from investors and banks over seven years. It prompts one of the largest mortgage fraud investigations in U.S. history.
Defendant B – The CEO of what was once the nation’s fourth-largest bank. His aggressive pursuit of subprime mortgage assets helps precipitate the 2008 banking meltdown and the Great Recession. During the crisis, he conveys ownership of a $13.75 million Florida mansion to his wife and the firm manipulates its balance sheet to hide $50 billion worth of risky assets.
Follow the link for the answer.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Let the politeness proliferate.
The second shooting happened a few hours later outside the rear entrance of Grand Strand Medical Center. Late Saturday, police were still piecing together how the situation unfolded, but they said family members began arguing and one person was shot. The victim wasn’t identified.
And, in more news of the polite.
Just another happy home in NRA Eden.