“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Reveal politeness during show-and-tell.
We are a broken society.
Fly the Fiendly Skies 0
It’s all the rage these days.
Karen Karen-Like 0
A Karen phones it in.
Recommended Listening 0
King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford Warren.
Le Morte d’Arthur it’s not, but it’s a fun listen.
(Note to self: Download the Le Morte d’Arthur *.epub from Project Gutenberg and read it with FBReader.)
Vaccine Nation 0
Anti-vax college student gets his day in court and collides with the concept of the common good.
We are a society of stupid.
Plenty of Phish in the Sea 0
Above the Law explores the successful phishing attack on Robinhood (the investment outfit, not the outlaw of legend) and discusses some of the methods used by the attackers. The article is oriented towards attacks on businesses, but, as spams and scams seem to be increasing against both businesses and individuals, the article is well worth your while.
Here’s a bit (the article’s business orientation in clear in this snippet):
Successful phishing subject lines included these in the top 10 for 2021:
a. Password Check Required Immediately
b. Vacation Policy Update
c. Important: Dress Code Changes
d. ACH Payment Receipt
e. Test of the (insert law firm name) Emergency Notification System
f. Scheduled Server Maintenance – No Internet Access
g. COVID-10 Remote Work Policy Update
h. Scanned Image from (insert domain name)
i. Security Alert
j. Failed Delivery
While on the subject of spams and scams, I will mention that some of our most frequent callers in recent weeks has been auto warranty scammers. And now they are using the U. S. mail.
In the past three days, I’ve gotten three official-looking letters telling me that my warranty is about to expire (it’s not; I checked just on general principles) and directing me to call a toll-free number (I didn’t). The three letters had one feature in common.
No return address.
There was official looking verbiage where the return address was supposed be, but nowhere in any of them was a mailing address for a place of business.
(Syntax error corrected.)
Going Bananas (Republic) 0
The small city of Oroville, located in the mountainous area of California about halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon state line, has declared itself independent of its state. In a long and fascinating article at the Sacramento Bee, Josh Gohlke considers the implications. A nugget (emphasis added):
While this measure might sound like a stray trickle from the town beneath the nation’s tallest dam, it’s part of a much larger atmospheric river of misinformation. For a variety of supposed reasons and one real one — namely, that majority rule no longer seems likely to put certain politicians in power — it’s become fashionable in certain circles to point out, as if it’s a crucial distinction, that “America is a republic, not a democracy.”
It is another indication that some of our polity have abandoned the concept of the common good (or, if you prefer, Will Bunch’s phrasing, the public good).
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child is exposed to politeness at an early age.
Afterthought:
“Responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron. Q. E. D.
The Lies of the Land 0
While we’re on the topic of truth . . . .