4.07.2023

Everywhere

Bottle battle: Boston talks of banning tiny bottles of booze

The discarded bottles, found clustered by the side of the road, in parks, and in waterways, are not biodegradable or recyclable.

 We are infinitely far from Boston in reality if not in miles, but I've been noticing that around here too now that the snow has melted off.

Last year it was masks.

Never mind TikTok and Big Balloons

 OK, maybe the TikTok Crisis is past us by now — so many newer things to freak out about* — but I'm pretty sure I did see a mention of the balloon a few days ago — and why worry about Chinese hackers running rampant through U.S, networks? If China has designs on U.S. politics all they have to do is buy a few U.S. politicians, like everybody else seems to do.

Group steers Swiss billionaire’s money to liberal causes

Newly available tax documents show that his giving through the Berger Action Fund, which describes itself as advocating for “solutions to some of our world’s biggest problems,” swelled in 2021 to $72 million, cementing Wyss’ status as a Democratic-aligned megadonor.…

After criticizing Republicans for using dark money,Democratic-aligned groups spent more of it in 2020.
* I've been watching cable TV news for the last few days. I subscribed for a month to keep tabs on the Manhattan Indictment, but that turned out to be kind of a bust. Now I'm stuck with it until May. The angst!

4.03.2023

Eggsasperating

 


Large-ish eggs: $6.00

Cheapest eggs on the rack (the ones I bought): $5.00

Today.

Wait a minute!

French feminist politician under fire for Playboy front cover

PARIS, April 3 (Reuters) - French junior social affairs minister Marlene Schiappa is facing criticism from her own party for posing in a white dress for the cover of Playboy, with French media reporting Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called Schiappa to express her displeasure.

 I thought the French were…like…you know…French.

Non?

Big Mac gets smaller

WSJ: McDonald’s to close offices briefly ahead of layoffs

The Wall Street Journal cited an internal email from the Chicago-based fast-food giant saying U.S. corporate staff and some employees overseas should work from home while the company notifies people of their job status.

Ouch.

Buckle up

Trump Case May Not Go to Trial Until After 2024 Election, Experts Say

The unprecedented nature of a former President facing criminal charges carries a wide net of unknowns, but if one thing is clear from Trump’s extensive court record, it’s that he will likely seek to delay and prolong the proceedings as long as possible. In dozens of legal matters going back decades, Trump’s legal team has filed an exhaustive list of motions and appeals designed to stretch the clock.

–TIME

 If the New York case simmers through an election year (and with Georgia still to be heard from) it means at best a political environment even more volatile than it is today, and at worst Trump 2.0. 

I don't know if anybody's old enough to remember this any more but I keep thinking about the story where Bre'r Rabbit says to Bre'r Fox, please don't throw me into that briar patch!

4.02.2023

File under: Stuff You Didn't Know Until You Did

New Jersey factory imports cocaine plant that flavors Coca-Cola thanks to DEA arrangement

“Less publicity of articles about coca leaves and narcotic drugs will be better for the public,” the memo from July 1950 reads, going on to call past coverage of the issue unsatisfactory.