Archive for 2019

SO I ORDERED THIS SOG TRIDENT POCKETKNIFE and got it the other day, and I’m pretty happy with it. I hope I never need the belt cutter or glass breaker but they’re nice to have, the grip feels really good and secure, and the assisted opening works really well, though it was a bit stiff at first. I just put a drop of oil on the hinge and opened and closed it a few dozen times and it smoothed out nicely. The pocket clip is nicely located, too, at least for the kind of pants I generally wear.

PARTY OF OLD WHITE MEN: Surging Biden ‘in the driver’s seat,’ 14-point 2020 lead over Sanders.

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s recent hints about entering the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries have helped to rocket him into the lead, further breaking away from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and former first lady Michelle Obama in a big way, according to a new poll.

The latest Zogby Analytics Poll shows the former Delaware senator doing 50 percent better than Sanders, the 2016 Democratic runner-up to Hillary Clinton, who lost to President Trump.

“Biden’s in the driver’s seat! Biden is the favorite, even with Michelle Obama in the race; Sanders in second place,” said the poll analysis provided to Secrets.

Among Democrats, Biden has 31 percent to 17 percent lead in the 2020 horse race poll. Among all Democratic primary voters, including independents, his lead is 27 percent to 18 percent for Sanders.

When Obama was added into the poll of all Democratic primary voters, Biden maintained his lead at 25 percent to 17 percent for Obama. With her in the survey, Sanders sunk to 12 percent.

No other Democrat registered double digits, even those who’ve announced such as California Sen. Kamala Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, or New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

Of the 410 likely Democratic voters surveyed, only one chose Clinton ally and former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

Ouch.

THAT’S DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHUT UP:

Remember, when the press goes on about decency, it’s really about narrative control.

NARCISSI CRAIG: Red Caps and Yellow Journalism.

What does journalism school teach these people?

According to their own standards of practice, “Reporters are expected to be as accurate as possible given the time allotted to story preparation and the space available and to seek reliable sources.”

Twitter is a reliable source? Seriously? What about Instagram or Facebook? Hey, how about the bathroom wall of the local gas station? The only difference between platforms is the method of delivery, and rate of infection spread.

Next they’d like to have the story to include, “Independent fact-checking by another employee of the publisher is desirable.”

For the record, your fellow journalist re-Tweeting the same information is not a method of independent fact checking.

Seriously, guys, these are YOUR guidelines.

Read the whole thing.

FROM LAURA MONTGOMERY: Fractional Ownership.

Perpetual plaintiff Lewis Ostrow needs a ticket to Mars. His litigation profile renders him ineligible. Lewis, however, always stands ready to fight the system.

A legal fantasy.

A short story.

A bit of science fiction.

I COULD HAVE WRITTEN THIS:  The 48 Hour Rule.