2019 archive
In Their Own Words 0
In the Hartford Courant, Doyle McManus looks for context for today’s news by consulting the record of what the Founders had to say about impeachment at the Constitutional Convention. Here’s a bit:
Morris said the clause was intended to cover “attempts to subvert the Constitution.” Alexander Hamilton, a delegate from New York, wrote that it meant “the abuse or violation of some public trust.”
Follow the link.
It makes for timely reading.
No Place To Hide 0
The EFF has issued a report on how Big Data is all up in your business. Here’s a bit from the press release:
If you use the inner webs, you need to follow the link.
Trapped Up the Amazon 0
A woman bought a defective product* from a third-party vendor on Amazon; the vendor has since disappeared completely.
She’s suing Amazon. Amazon is denying liability, claiming (I’m paraphrasing here) that it is but an innocent go-between, a mere pipeline, a sounding brass, a tinkling cymbal, guaranteeing nothing. Nevertheless, there seem to be cracks in its defense strategy. Here’s a bit from the news story:
The Amazon lawyer repeated his question. “I don’t know. The product was in my cart and I paid for it as usual,” said Oberdorf . . . .
I have from time to time–only when there seems no other option–purchased items from the “Amazon Marketplace.” In my own experience, whether you are purchasing from Amazon or through Amazon isn’t necessarily made obvious.
I commend the story to your attention, especially if you buy stuff from (or through?) Amazon with any frequency.
____________________
*The product was a dog collar which broke when her dog lunged, snapping back and blinding her in one eye.
Misty Water-Colored Memories 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of the Bangor Daily News reminds us that, no, the 1950s were not some sort of golden age. (It’s the first one at the link.)
Make TWUUG Your LUG 0
Learn about the wonderful world of free and open source. Use computers to do what you want, not what someone else wants you to do. Learn how to use GNU/Linux and its plethora of free and open source software to get stuff done with computers.
It’s not hard; it’s just different.
When: Monthly TWUUG meeting at 7:30 p. m. on the first Thursday of the month (December 5, 2019). Pre-meeting dinner at Chicago Uno, JANAF shopping center, 6:00 p. m. (map)
Who: Everyone in TideWater/Hampton Roads with interest in any/all flavors of Unix/Linux. There are no dues or signup requirements. All are welcome.
Where: Lake Taylor Transitional Care Hospital in Norfolk Training Room (map). (Wireless and wired internet connection available.) Turn right upon entering, then left at the last corridor and look for the open meeting room.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite to younger members of your family.
Another family member was handling the loaded gun when it accidentally discharged.
. . . and other writer who doesn’t know the difference between “accident” and “negligence.” Furrfu!
Epistemological Error 0
Professor Richard Cherwitz argues that fundamental to the political division in the U. S. is an inability to distinguish between fact and opinion. He further suggest that this inability leans heavily to the right.
Here’s a bit from his piece (emphasis added); follow the link for the rest.
QOTD 0
Kerry Greenwood, in the voice of Corinna Chapman:
I cannot be bothered with pay TV, and free-to-air is filled with depressing explosions and orange-haired clowns pretending to be world leaders.
Greenwood, Kerry, The Spotted Dog (Naperville: Poisoned Pen Press, 2019), p. 135
Have Cake, Eat It Too 0
Elie Mystal calls out Donald Trump’s hypocrisy:
Follow the link for the full analysis.
Licensed To Kill 0
David and his caller, a U. S. veteran, discuss Donald Trump’s pardoning of the Navy seals convicted of war crimes. (That part of the discussion starts just after the two minute mark.)
Misdirection Play, Climate Crisis Dept. 0
At the Bangor Daily News, Gwynne Dyer reveals industry’s latest tactic to avoid action on carbon emissions. A snippet:
Time for another change of strategy by the fossil fuel industries and their allies. If they can no longer hope to discredit the science or confuse the public about the evidence, maybe they can at least deflect and divert the pressure for effective action on climate change on to targets that do not directly threaten the sales of their products.
Follow the link for the evidence.
The Rule of Lawless . . . 0
. . . meets a notion of immigrants.
Stray Thought 0
The volume of unread email I have to delete has certainly decreased since the election.