I spent time in various places but I mostly grew up in the suburbs, not just of the geography but of the mind. I think things were changing even then, but at the time kids still roamed around the neighborhood unsupervised. We put hockey goals in the street and pulled them aside when cars game. Bike riding wasn't a huge thing in my neigborhood, but people did it. I don't remember what school district policies were, but I think 3rd grade and up at least kids walked to school unsupervised, though I think soon after they got rid of the crossing guards and tightened the rules about that. Now parents even walk their kids to the bus stop.
Anyway, supposedly that's why people moved to the suburbs. One reason anyway. Your kids were "safe." Whatever the reality of safety concerns, all the stories of school lockdown drills and parents unwilling to leave their kids unsupervised even for a moment... take away the supposed freedom of safety, and it's all very isolating.
Wednesday, September 04, 2019
The Art of the Hissy Fit
Republicans are great at it. Find an issue. Bombard reporters and cable news with it. Make sure it's the issue of the day. Repeat.
"Journalism" shouldn't work this way, but it does, and it's a game the Dems never even try to play.
"Journalism" shouldn't work this way, but it does, and it's a game the Dems never even try to play.
Tuesday, September 03, 2019
Vaporware
I've been wondering what the endgame for Musk's "full self driving is," given that it will never exist and that he's been advertising it and taking payment for it for years. Can I interest you in full self driving Eschaton The Blog? Pay me $3000 now because it might cost more later! Nice business model.
One of Elon's little lies is always saying that unnamed regulators might prevent speedy implementation of a feature which is going to work any day now promise. The regulators might give him an out, although I imagine people still might want their money back.
Autopilot is the precursor to "full self driving." It's basically a lane assist feature that other manufacturers have, but Musk in various ways suggests that it's much better than that and people think it drives itself.
One of Elon's little lies is always saying that unnamed regulators might prevent speedy implementation of a feature which is going to work any day now promise. The regulators might give him an out, although I imagine people still might want their money back.
WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday a Tesla Model S was in Autopilot mode when it struck a fire truck in Culver City, California -- one of a series of crashes the board is investigating involving Tesla’s driver assistance system.
Autopilot is the precursor to "full self driving." It's basically a lane assist feature that other manufacturers have, but Musk in various ways suggests that it's much better than that and people think it drives itself.
A Sad Minority
A Tory has defected to the LibDems leaving Boris without a majority.
This would be a fun TV series if it wasn't on its 22nd season. Oh and if it was fake.
This would be a fun TV series if it wasn't on its 22nd season. Oh and if it was fake.
"No Deal" Brexit Just Means There Are Lots Of Deals To Be Made
Brexiteers want people to think "no deal" is somehow an end state, except for maybe signing GLORIOUS TRADE DEALS WITH AMERICA which a) take forever to get through Congress and b) will likely be worse than our relationship with the EU, but the "emergency" state of a "no deal Brexit" will only wane once... some deals get made.
It's all so ridiculous.
It's all so ridiculous.
They Can't Be
We joke about people lacking the empathy gene, but I think the real issue is that people of a certain class lack the ability-to-feel-shame gene.
If Stephens can abuse his position by searching out and threatening anyone who makes a joke about him online, and then devote an entire column to the nonsense personal vendetta that ensues, then I have to ask… how embarrassing is too embarrassing for Times editorial page editor James Bennet and his team?
There Were Many Moments
The details differ, but in the UK, as is often the case here, there's some general belief by the journalist/pundit class (even more of the same thing there) that some Wise Old Men of Westminster (Washington) who always have to be Tories (Republicans) will somehow do the right thing and save the day.
Rarely is it acknowledged that even if they eventually do come through, there were many many missed opportunities.
Rarely is it acknowledged that even if they eventually do come through, there were many many missed opportunities.
Monday, September 02, 2019
Monday Night
Holiday weekend almost over.
And speaking of the Internet of Shit (okay, we weren't speaking of it, but I lacked a segue), the Tesla app is busted and not letting people into their cars. There's a FOB which works... if you carry it with you!
And speaking of the Internet of Shit (okay, we weren't speaking of it, but I lacked a segue), the Tesla app is busted and not letting people into their cars. There's a FOB which works... if you carry it with you!
The Noble Profession Of Journalism
Many of you are probably less interested in the subject than I am, but you're probably aware that there are a couple of important and pressing issues in the UK at the moment.
Journalist 1: Does the dog have a name?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: I would expect the dog's name to be revealed shortly. But I don't have it with me. It arrived at 11 o'clock it was brought by Friends of Animals Wales to Number 10, they are a fantastic charity run by volunteers who work around the clock to make a difference to animals. The prime minister has always been a big supporter of animal welfare, has always believed that animals should get the right start in life. That's why the government has taken such significant action in this area.
Journalist 2: Forgive me if I've missed this but has the PM been to Balmoral yet?
Prime Minister spokesperson: Ahh, he has not no. As you will have noticed.
Journalist 2: What's that due to?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: Let me check that and come back to. But certainly not. Any other questions?
Journalist 3: Just on the dog, how old is the dog?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: Ah the dog is, a few months, three or four months. I can get the exact number at the next.
Journalist 3: Boy or girl?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: It's a boy.
Journalist 3: And the naming will be announced by...
Prime Minister's spokesperson: (Laughs) Genuinely I don't know, later on. I will check to see if I can help you out a bit more later on.
Journalist 4: Is there a breed?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: (Inaudible)
Journalist 3: Is it toilet trained? Is it moving into the flat?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: No, it's a rescue puppy, as I say, it has been rescued by the charity Friends of Animals Wales and they've been caring for the puppy so far.
Journalist 3: Do we know if it's toilet trained?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: I genuinely haven't asked.
Journalist 3: Can you ask because it's a considerable amount of time and the prime minister's time can't be taken up by that.
Prime Minister's spokesperson: (Laughs) Well I'd really love to check but I'd say that the charity have been looking after it for several weeks...
Journalist 5: One final question as to the dog, can't believe I'm asking a dog question, who does the dog ultimately belong to? Because there's obviously a cat, the cat will stay where it is and it's territorial and the dog...
Prime Minister's spokesperson: The dog belongs to the PM and Carrie Symonds.
Journalist 6: Has Larry met the dog?
Prime Minister's spokesperson: Larry will have probably met the dog probably by now, but he hadn't when I left.
A source in the briefing said the remaining 20 minutes of the briefing were spent on the other pressing issues of the day, including the political crisis over Brexit.
Nobody Knows How Anything Works
The UK doesn't have a written constitution, which is a polite way of saying that though they pretend otherwise they don't really have one at all.
The norms! The norms!
The norms! The norms!
Sunday, September 01, 2019
Ridiculous
EXCL: Leaked govt docs seen by @skynews show vehicles could face a *2 day* delay at Dover.
— Lewis Goodall (@lewis_goodall) September 1, 2019
-That’s a pile up of up to 8,000 vehicles.
-Even in best case scenario lorries will be waiting for 2-3 hours, with 50% waiting for at least 8.
New analysis drawn up in last fortnight.
No sane exporters/importers will bother so the lines won't be nearly as long!
Cable News And Twitter
I don't feel sorry for My President because even at his best he was a horrible person and he hasn't exactly lacked in advantage and good luck in his life, but I really do hope that when I am rich (give me all of your money, dear readers), I will have better things to do. Even without being rich I sometimes find better things to do! Staring at literally anything on the teevee box that isn't Fox and Friends, for example.
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