swordfish

Great point. It always reminds SF of when a professor once asked me what is the basis of our free market economy - "What is the sole purpose of a US business?" Answer - to create profit. Not "provide a service or a good", not "to employee people" create profit. One of the undeniable truths in the US free market economy. Revenue minus expenses equals profit.

There's no "price gouging" by US gas stations or oil companies. Come on - This is a prime example why the US needs out of OPEC and why we need to get to energy independence in the US so we can quit relying on other countries for our oil.

SF was otherwise occupied yesterday evening with the Nintendo Switch while there was a Live Report from the House Select Committee on the events of January 6, 2021, but is suspecting this little tid-bit of information was overlooked, especially after hearing that Speaker Pelosi was "off-limits" for a subpoena, even though SHE is responsible for the security of Congress (which was breached on that same day.........I'm also puzzled that if this was supposed to be orchestrated by the Trump administration, (as this committee appears to be selling us) why would his administration offer 20,000 National Guard troops for added security on January 2? An offer that was subsequently turned down by someone..... https://mynbc15.com/news/nation-world/trump-admin-was-ready-to-deploy-national-guard-on-jan-6-capitol-police-timeline-shows-january-donald WASHINGTON (TND) — A Capitol Police timeline of the days and weeks surrounding Jan. 6 shows former President Donald Trump’s Department of Defense (DOD) offered the National Guard’s assistance in the days leading up to the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol, validating claims from Trump administration officials that were said to be false by liberal fact-checkers. Liberal “fact-checkers” like The Washington Post and PolitiFact argued the claim about National Guard assistance coming from Meadows and other top Trump administration officials was false, but an official timeline of the events leading up to Jan. 6 apparently shows differently. According to the timeline, a DOD official reached out to Capitol Police Deputy Chief Sean Gallagher four days before the attack on the U.S. Capitol to inquire about whether Capitol Police anticipated they would request National Guard troops be deployed to prepare for Jan. 6. “Carol Corbin (DOD) texts USCP Deputy Chief Sean Gallagher, Protective Service Bureau, to determine whether USCP is considering a request for National Guard soldiers for January 6, 2021 event,” the timeline reads in an entry listed for Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021. The next morning, the timeline indicates, “Gallagher replies to DOD via text that a request for National Guard support not forthcoming at this time after consultation with COP Sund.” However, that initial rejection from Capitol Police came as they were beginning to change their assessment of the potential threats of violence. Just hours after Gallagher’s rejection of DOD’s offer for troops, Capitol Police issued a new warning to its commanders and executives, as well as to the two congressionally appointed House and Senate Sergeants at Arms responsible for congressional security, the timeline shows. Within 24-hours of the new assessment’s circulation, then-chief of the Capitol Police Steve Sund changed course and began requesting permission to deploy National Guard troops from the House and Senate Sergeant at Arms – both of whom report to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, respectively. “COP Sund asks Senate Sergeant at Arms (SSAA) Michael Stenger and House Sergeant at Arms (HSAA) Paul Irving for authority to have National Guard to assist with security for the January 6, 2021 event based on briefing with law enforcement partner and revised intelligence Assessment,” the timeline notes. “COP Sund's request is denied. SSAA and HSAA tell COP Sund to contact General Walker at DC National Guard to discuss the guard's ability to support a request if needed.” As Sund’s requests were denied, the Trump administration continued working on getting then-President Trump to formally authorize the deployment of as many as 20,000 National Guard troops to the Capitol ahead of the Jan. 6 rally, according to Just The News, which conducted interviews with then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and his Chief of Staff Kash Patel. Furthermore, as word began circulating around Washington of the Capitol Police’s changing stance on the need for National Guard troops on Jan. 6, Democratic Mayor for the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, wrote a letter to Miller and other Departments of Defense and Justice officials asking that National Guard troops not be deployed unless the local Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) approved. Bowser cited an earlier event from the summer of 2020, when National Guard troops were deployed to Lafayette Park outside the White House amid social justice protests that took place in the nation’s capital, spurred by the death of George Floyd. Bowser argued the deployment “caused confusion” and could have led to “a national security threat with no way for MPD and federal law enforcement to decipher armed groups.” “To be clear, the District of Columbia is not requesting other federal law enforcement personnel and discourages any additional deployment without immediate notification to and consultation with MPD, if such plans are underway," Bowser wrote in her letter, adding that MPD was “well trained and prepared to lead the way” on ensuring safety during the rally in the nation’s capital on Jan. 6.

https://nypost.com/2022/06/09/geico-ordered-to-pay-woman-5-2m-who-claims-she-caught-std-in-car/ A Missouri woman who claimed she caught a sexually transmitted disease when she had sex with her boyfriend in his vehicle has been awarded a $5.2 million settlement from her now-ex-partner’s car insurance company. The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday affirmed the multimillion-dollar payout against Geico that had been entered through arbitration after the company claimed errors were made in Jackson County Circuit Court, the Kansas City Star reported. In February 2021, the woman — identified in court papers as M.O. — informed Geico of her intention to seek damages after she allegedly contracted HPV, the human papillomavirus, from her then-beau in his car. She claimed he caused her to catch the STD when he knew of his condition and the risks of unprotected sex. An arbitrator later found that the couple’s sex in the vehicle “directly caused, or directly contributed to cause” the HPV infection. The woman was awarded the $5.2 million from Geico after the man was found liable for not disclosing his infection, according to the news outlet. The insurer asked for the award to be tossed out, claiming the judgment violated its rights to due process, but its request was denied and it appealed. On Tuesday, the three-judge panel found that the lower court did not err by denying Geico’s motions, saying the company did not have a right to “relitigate those issues.” One of the judges concurred but said the company was offered “no meaningful opportunity to participate” in the lawsuit and existing law “relegat(es) the insurer to the status of a bystander.” Wow - Just wow....... SF is guessing this guy's insurance rates just shot up......Faster than his pe......Nevermind.....

SF spent the weekend and early this week in DC at our industry's annual committee week. As I was commuting around I noticed the vast amount of parking garages and parking lots where I also noticed the EV charging stations that (as expected) are more prevalent than here in Indiana. Research shows there are currently 3.8 million vehicles registered in the DC area - which also raised the question - What is this city going to do when that number grows to numbers after the auto manufacturers are tooling towards, and the Federal Government is eying mandates to make this happen sooner than later in their efforts to break away from fossil fuels? In a single multi-level park garage (where a lot of people park near where they live and work - there are a lot of these garages in DC) it would require hundreds of chargers to be installed in each one AND an energy infrastructure to support them. How's that gonna work, or is it even possible??

Why this and why NOT any investigation on the Minneapolis/Portland/Kenosha/Baltimore/Atlanta/ETC. riots that actually destroyed REAL property, and killed a whole lot more people than the January 6 protest?? And WHY is something like this going on to the big 3 networks IN PRIMETIME nonetheless? Oh yeah, it's an election year.....and they would like for everyone to focus on "Orange Man Bad" instead of (IDK) RECORD INFLATION/CRIME maybe. https://nypost.com/2022/06/07/nancy-pelosi-and-the-dems-jan-6-dog-baloney-show/ With inflation at gas pumps and supermarkets forcing Americans to pinch pennies, rising violent crime spreading fear and public schools pushing racial and sexual indoctrination, most voters say it’s time for a change in Washington. The Democrats holding power have run out of excuses and even stopped making promises of quick progress. But they do have plans to entertain you in hopes you’ll forget your worries — and stick with the party that’s bringing you all those problems. Lights, camera, propaganda! That’s what they are offering, starting Thursday with a prime-time House hearing on the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. It’s been more than 500 days since that awful event and while most people have moved on, Democrats refuse to. And they’re going to make it hard for you to refuse to watch their performance because all their media handmaidens have signed on to provide live coverage. Wall-to-wall means ABC, CBS, NBC and the cable friendlies will be showing the same thing at the same time. Given how openly the party is talking about the event as a key part of its survival strategy in the November elections, the TV coverage ought to be considered a campaign donation.

A Clinton advisor found hanging from a tree with a shotgun blast to the chest. "I don't hang myself often, but when I do, I shoot myself in the chest first." https://www.analyzingamerica.org/2022/06/658721/?fbclid=IwAR2UQybMOGxDVNVxR2CETeoWnr9I0TgEqreV8FS5UhtdTD82lQ3ibTysxnM It’s rumored that Middleton played a key role in strengthening the friendship between Clinton and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, Middleton was found dead about 30 miles away from his home. In the 1990s, he served as a special assistant to former President Bill Clinton. Middleton reportedly helped admit Epstein into the White House on at least seven of the 17 occasions Epstein visited during Clinton’s tenure.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/02/us/tulsa-hospital-shooting-thursday/index.html SF noticed how the MSM hasn't been focusing on this latest shooting. Turns out it was just a guy with back pain blaming his surgeon for either giving him the pain or not helping him get rid of it (IDK). Or maybe this just falls under "black on black" crime, which is largely ignored by the MSM......(again, IDK)

https://nypost.com/2022/05/31/jurors-ignored-evidence-to-acquit-ex-clinton-lawyer-of-lying-to-the-shameful-fbi/?dicbo=v2-124c7eca689465bbc4dd2ed5f0642bcc The media will treat this as vindication for treating special counsel John Durham’s probe as a nothingburger. But Sussmann’s defense — and the fact that the jury bought it — makes this scandal even worse. Sussmann argued that no matter what he actually said, the FBI knew he was a partisan actor. Everyone was aware he was working for the Clintons, and that this wasn’t an unbiased tip-off. And indeed his legal team introduced evidence that showed the FBI obscuring Sussmann’s involvement. Higher-ups told agents that the tip had come from an anonymous informant, or even the Department of Justice, giving it far more credence than it deserved. Why? Because they were frantic to tar Trump. FBI Director James Comey and others “cheered” on the investigation, the trial revealed. So by professing his innocence, Sussmann proved the FBI’s guilt. The nation’s highest investigative agency acted as a partisan weapon during the 2016 campaign, using the flimsiest of dirty tricks from the Clinton campaign — the Steele dossier and the server story — to conduct wiretaps, interview Trump campaign staff and, most importantly, leak it all to the press. So the defense says "Yeah he lied, but it doesn't matter what he said, because the FBI already knew it".......Amazing.......Did we just witness the death of Justice? SF Did not see this one coming. I mean, I thought the evidence was pretty clear......But....Oh well...... SF is not sure which is worse the indictment of the FBI or the jury buying the "the FBI already knew it" defense to acquit Sussmann ..... Or maybe that was the point that Durham wanted to make? The FBI is culpable in this one as well? If so, what's next?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/05/27/uvalde-shooting-police-gunman-shot-olivarez/ Hearing the LEO spokesman last week utter "They could've been shot" as a justification for not entering the classroom as soon as they arrived and engaging the idiot perp really struck SF as dead wrong. THAT'S WHAT WE THE CITIZENS PAY YOU TO DO!!!! Speaking with our local Police Chief, the policy in Elkhart County is "get in there and engage" which means if your the only cop on scene (after you get over the "sucks to be you right now" attitude), use your training and try to end the situation as quickly as possible, and history shows that to be the case. https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/3-dead-including-gunman-indiana-supermarket-shooting-article-1.1581555 Officials praised the officers for acting quickly and preventing more deaths.

Covid patients have slightly higher RISK of developing the acute pulmonary embolism than Influenza A or B.......Neither virus "causes" blood clots, the conditions resulting from your bodies resistance to a virus (such as pneumonia) are what causes them. (Calling Covid the Flu on steroids does not mean SF doesn't take it seriously) https://www.medicinenet.com/covid-19_vs_flu_blood_clots_in_lungs-news.htm Left wing or Right wing, either way, POTUS donning a mask while descending the steps (alone) from AF1 only to pop it off while in the immediate vicinity of the dignitaries he was meeting with was pretty silly whether you want to admit it or not.......

Isn't a law breaker.......that? .......a law breaker? Look at the City of Chicago and the States of California and New York.......Strictest gun LAWS in the country - highest gun criminal activity. BR is right - Good people with guns are not the problem, bad people with guns are. You have to keep guns from the hands of bad people. So what is the right answer? BOTH sides WILL have to compromise. YOU can't take my guns or keep me from getting more if I want to, but I (and my side) have to be willing to let the government (shudder, shudder) control a little more.......

Too sad....

Improvements are looking good for the school system - SF is wishing they would have had the new gym when my kids graduated......That gym was a furnace during the ceremony.....

SF isn't advocating arming all teachers, especially if there is no desire on a teacher's part, or if they are opposed to firearms, but allowing staff to be armed if they so desired and went through specialized training if it were available. More palatable perhaps would be to allow schools to have retired LEO's or military volunteers to be present and armed. New York is floating a law to make long guns illegal to own until 21 yo. I can buy into that, but I think the problem isn't guns - it's people. Guns have always been around. I wonder where that kid, a senior in HS, working at a fast-food restaurant living on his grandmother's floor got the money to purchase the weapons he had. One he used was identified as a DDM4 (about $1,800 https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/daniel-defense-ddm4-v7-semi-auto-rifle ) with a $700 sight on it. The other one that hasn't been identified I would assume would be about the same cost. Combined with 375 rounds of ammunition ( https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/federal-american-eagle-military-grade-brass-centerfire-rifle-cartridges ) and this kid would have needed about $5,000 to get his guns and ammo. I guess it's not impossible, but wouldn't someone in his immediate family throw up a red flag? Probably not - because Grandpa had a criminal background and "would have reported it" had he known his Grandson bought those weapons since he is not allowed to have guns in the house. ( https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-school-shooting-suspects-grandfather-speaks/story?id=84966002 ) Young Sal was living with his grandparents since he had a falling out with his mother. His argument that morning with his Grandma was over an unpaid phone bill. Again - guns have always been around, and they don't fire by themselves......