Stonepounder
Stonepounder's JournalFCC plan would give Internet providers power to choose the sites customers see and use
Source: Washington Post
Federal regulators unveiled a plan Tuesday that would give Internet providers broad powers to determine what websites and online services their customers can see and use, and at what cost.
The move sets the stage for a crucial vote next month at the Federal Communications Commission that could reshape the entire digital ecosystem. The FCC’s Republican chairman, Ajit Pai, has made undoing the government's net neutrality rules one of his top priorities, and Tuesday's move hands a win to broadband companies such as AT&T, Verizon and Comcast.
Pai is taking aim at regulations that were approved two years ago under a Democratic presidency and that sought to make sure all Internet content, whether from big or small companies, would be treated equally by Internet providers.
The decision will be put to a vote at the agency's Dec. 14 meeting in Washington. It is expected to pass, with Republicans controlling three of the commission's five seats.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/11/21/the-fcc-has-unveiled-its-plan-to-rollback-its-net-neutrality-rules/?utm_term=.24aa0a270693
Well, y'all, its been good to know ya.
Trump Warns That Dumping Roy Moore Could Start a Dangerous Trend of Believing Women (Borowitz)
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-warns-that-dumping-roy-moore-could-start-a-dangerous-trend-of-believing-women?mbid=nl_111517%20Borowitz%20Newsletter%20(1)&CNDID=27161810&spMailingID=12367657&spUserID=MTMzMTgyODIwMTg3S0&spJobID=1281432228&spReportId=MTI4MTQzMjIyOAS2Trump Warns That Dumping Roy Moore Could Start a Dangerous Trend of Believing Women
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Breaking his silence on Alabama’s embattled Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that dumping Roy Moore could start a “dangerous trend” of believing women. “I think we need to be very, very careful here,” Trump told reporters. “This is not just about Roy Moore. This is about our country deciding that we are going to start believing women, something that we have never done before.
“This is a very dangerous road we’re heading down,” he said. Trump cautioned that, if instituted, a new practice of believing women would “totally destroy” the system that the country already has in place. “For years we’ve had a system of believing men,” he said. “It’s worked very well. It’s done a great job.”
He said that he was considering a number of measures to stem the tide of women’s credibility, including an executive order banning women from giving believable accounts to the press. “That’s something we’re looking into,” he indicated.
Trump painted a doomsday scenario of what might happen if the “very bad trend” of believing women gained traction in the country. “If people believe Roy Moore’s five accusers, what happens to a man who has, say, about twenty accusers?” he asked. “I don’t like where this is going.”
Trump's winning strategy in China and the world. NOT!
From WaPo: President Trump delivered a fiery speech on trade in Danang on Friday, declaring that he would not allow the United States to be “taken advantage of anymore” and planned to place “America first.”
And then, less than 24 hours later, 11 Pacific Rim countries collectively shrugged and moved on without the U.S., signing the TPP without the US.
........
There was a very interesting interview with Evan Osnoss on Ezra Klein’s podcast about this. The Chinese government can’t believe this is really happening. This is a process they expected to take another 30-40 years.
But Trump just gave it to them. By pulling out of TPP, by pulling out of Paris, the world has turned to China. China is the economic world leader now.
And with the vanishing of the US state department on the world stage and the weak and laughable Trump president nationally, the moral leadership of the US also rapidly declined. And made it easy to secure more power at home for Xi.
The Chinese almost mistrust this situation, it goes against their ideas on how change works.
In just 10 months and the damage is probably irreparable for the greater part. If Trump would disappear, how can US traditional allies trust it will not happen again soon?
Who would have thought that one man, with the complicity of the GOP could effectively destroy the US as a world leader and reduce it to a poor cousin and that the world would simply move on without us.
Sometimes you just have to love Karma. Remember Kim Davis? See below.
http://verifiedpolitics.com/kim-davis-just-got-bad-news-gay-man-denied-marriage-license/Kim Davis Just Got Bad News From A Gay Man She Denied a Marriage License To
A gay man who was denied a marriage license by the former Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis may now be her challenger in next year’s election.
Davis is the county clerk for Rowan County, Kentucky, who gained international notoriety in August 2015 when she defied a U.S. federal court order to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to her Apostolic Pentecostal Christian faith. Her wilful defiance of the law resulted in her spending six days in jail for contempt of court.
This week Davis announced that she would run for re-election, this time as a Republican, the party she switched to after the controversy over her refusal to issue licenses for same-sex marriages erupted.
So far no Democrat has officially announced plans to run against her, but now David Ermold, an English professor who was denied a license by Davis to marry his same-sex fiance, is looking to jump into the race to prevent her re-election.
I am definitely going to keep an eye on this one. If he actually does run I will scrape together some $$ to send to his campaign!
In the midst of all the election glee, here's another good news story - from big business no less.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tj-maxx-puerto-rico-employees-paid-tjx_us_5a01dd9fe4b066c2c03a72a3?ncid=inblnkushpmg00000009Owner Of TJ Maxx Is Still Paying Its Employees In Puerto Rico, Even Those Who Can’t Work
They may not have electricity or be able to work nearly two months after the devastation brought by Hurricane Maria, but they’re still receiving regular paychecks.
“They” are the Puerto Rico-based employees of TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods Associates, three stores that share the same corporate owner, TJX.
And even though Hurricane Maria destroyed much of the island’s infrastructure in September, forcing TJX to shutter some stores there, the company has nevertheless been dutifully paying its employees ever since.
“Based on the devastating situation in Puerto Rico, we can confirm that we have continued to pay our TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods Associates on the island,” the company said in a statement to HuffPost. “We believe it is the right thing for us to do under these circumstances.”
More at link. But a pretty amazing corporate response.
Its An Honor To Continue Being Valued Over Countless Human Lives (Satire)
https://www.theonion.com/it-s-an-honor-to-continue-being-valued-over-countless-h-1819585030
Look, I’m not the type who needs constant validation, and I have never sought preferential treatment from anyone. I just try to focus on doing what I do and not get too caught up in what people think or say about me. But I have to admit, it’s been hard to ignore all the support and appreciation I’ve been receiving lately, particularly over the past several years. That’s why I want to take this opportunity to let all of you know what an absolute honor it is that you continue to value me over countless human lives. I don’t want to get too sentimental or anything, but it really means the world to me how often you as Americans, through your words and your actions, make it known that I am more important to you than the lives of your fellow citizens.
You see, I’m just a humble lightweight, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle; I never expected this kind of outpouring of affection. But time and time again, you’ve shown me how much I matter to you. To see so many people—people who could be working to protect and care for human lives—actively devoting their time and energy to making sure I’m the one who’s protected and cared for instead—it’s beyond touching.
Don’t think I haven’t noticed all this. Rarely a month goes by without all of you pausing to weigh me against a certain number of lives—often a dozen or more—and quickly deciding I’m more worthwhile. Gosh, you must really, really love me.
I mean, wow, who do I thank first? I guess I’ve got to start with lawmakers. No one so consistently speaks up on my behalf, praises what I stand for, and does everything in their power to make sure no harm ever comes to me. These are individuals who have hundreds of thousands of constituents whose lives they could so easily put ahead of my interests, yet these principled elected officials steadfastly refuse to do so. Instead, they stick to their guiding beliefs and firmly declare that I—a simple modular rifle with high-capacity-magazine compatability—have more value than any number of human beings. It’s truly humbling. What a blessing it is to reside in a society with such clear and unwavering priorities.
Absolutely hysterical ad for Cosequin. (No endorsement, just something to make you smile.
It is only 15 seconds long.
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/wj5D/cosequin-sleeping-beauties?autoplay=1#
Had a pretty amazing interaction with Best Buy today.
Back in 2011 we bought a new washing machine from Best Buy. We also bought an extended warranty for an extra $200. When that warranty expired, Best Buy offered us an extension to the extended warranty, which we decided to purchase.
Lately, our washer has gotten louder and LOUDER on its spin cycle, so I looked up our warranty number and called the famous(?) Geek Squad. A few days later a nice young man came out, listened to our washer, and told us we needed new bearings, which necessitated replacing the tub and motor. He called and ordered the parts on the spot, and set up a new appointment to do the replacement on 10/27.
On 10/26 we got a call. The parts hadn't arrived yet and they didn't even have an ETA for the parts, but the tech said he would try and get a date and call us back. Sure enough, he called back. The ETA was 11/27. Grrrrrr. Having in his shoes often enough, I couldn't be angry at him, but he could tell I was frustrated. He said he would make some calls and see if he could get a better date.
So Thursday I get a call, would we be willing to do an exchange instead of a repair. The possible fly in the ointment was that our model is no longer made, so instead Best Buy would offer us a credit toward a new washer, but he couldn't tell us how much the credit would be. That made me a little nervous, but he thought we could back out and wait for the repair if necessary. Soooo..... a couple of hours later he called back with an Authorization number. (Still no $$ value). Today we went to our local Best Buy with the Auth # clutched firmly in our sweaty little hands.
It took a few minutes for Best Buy to dig out the original order, but the finally found it. And gave us a credit in the full amount we had paid for the the old washer in 2011! The full amount. The only cost to us was the new 5-year Extended Warranty on the brand new washer which had dropped from $200 in 2011 to $125 today, and new hoses (which are required). So, for $150 we got a brand new Washer and Best Buy will be out with the washer to install it Monday afternoon.
Folks, this is how you run a business to build customer loyalty! (Oh, and our Electric Co. offers a $75 rebate whenever you buy an Energy Star certified washer, so my full out of pocket for a brand new washer, delivered, installed, new hoses, and haul away of the old one will end up costing me about $75.00. Not a bad outcome.)
P.S. Since Sears is dropping Whirlpool, Best Buy is one of the places that you can still get Whirlpool appliances - one of the few appliance makers still in the US.
P.P.S. I don't think I am breaking the 'No commercial spam' rule. I have no connection with Best Buy other than as a satisfied customer and do not consider this as anything other than an anecdote from a satisfied customer.
The scariest thing about Halloween (Margaret & Helen)
https://margaretandhelen.com/The scariest thing about Halloween was the Jack O’ Lantern in the Oval Office or maybe it was the White Sheets. #DumpTrump
Margaret, what the hell is happening? Nazi’s are fine people. Russia poked me on Facebook. The Real Housewives of Trump Tower are fighting over who’s the real First Lady. And now the Civil War wasn’t about slavery. Has everyone gone insane?
We had an opportunity to have an honest conversation about racism and once again Trump screwed it up. Those football players are kneeling for a reason and it has nothing to do with the flag. And then we had an opportunity to have an honest conversation about gun violence and once again the Republican Party made it about… turned it into… changed the topic to… wait a minute. They didn’t do anything. They just left it hanging out there. It’s just bat shit crazy if you ask me.
And now we are debating the civil war? Again? I know for damn sure we had that conversation a long time ago and it ended with freeing the slaves and a dead president. Compromise? John Kelly says it was about lack of compromise? General Kelly, with all due respect, what was the acceptable compromise? The South could keep the slaves, but they had to give them weekends off? My God is anyone in the Trump White House not a racist? They’ve got more white sheets than a Motel 6 in Pulaski, Tennessee.
The other day I saw John Kasich on TV talking about his dissatisfaction with the Republican Party and I thought maybe we could find something to agree upon. But then he said that he had no idea what Democrats stood for and I was reminded that Kasich is still an asshat.
Mr. Kasich here is what Democrats stand for. It’s not a secret.
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Read it all at link above. Particularly the part about 'What Democrats stand for'
Trump Accuses Clinton of Deliberately Losing Election So He Could Be Impeached (Borowitz)
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/trump-accuses-clinton-of-deliberately-losing-election?mbid=nl_110117%20Borowitz%20Newsletter%20(1)&CNDID=27161810&spMailingID=12266700&spUserID=MTMzMTgyODIwMTg3S0&spJobID=1280064286&spReportId=MTI4MDA2NDI4NgS2WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In what might be his most startling allegation against his former election opponent, Donald Trump on Wednesday accused Hillary Clinton of deliberately losing the 2016 election just so that he could be impeached. “How could one of the most experienced politicians in history lose to the most unfit candidate ever?” Trump asked reporters. “Crooked Hillary lost on purpose because she wanted me to be impeached.”
Explaining Clinton’s motives for intentionally sabotaging her quest for an office she had coveted for decades, Trump said, “Hillary Clinton is more than a nasty woman. She is an evil woman, and her sick mind is capable of anything.”
Trump said that instead of reporting the “fake story” of his campaign’s collusion with the Russians, the media should focus on Clinton’s “diabolical scheme to lose the election.”
“I don’t know if Hillary Clinton lost the election on her own,” Trump said. “Maybe she asked the Russians to help her lose. But the fact is, Hillary Clinton deliberately plotted to put me in the White House, and the American people should be very angry about that.”
