Archive for 2024

UNITED WE STAND; DON’T QUIT UNTIL THE FIGHT IS OVER AND YOU’VE WON: New York Times tech workers union votes to authorize strike.

With the election less than two months away, a strike could hurt the paper. However, while there seems to be overwhelming support for a strike, Tuesday’s vote doesn’t guarantee that a strike will happen.

Take as long as you need, fellas — hopefully the journalists who depend upon you to amplify their work will join you on the picket line as well.

(ALMOST) A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE: Kerch Crumples.

One year ago, the Kerch Strait Bridge was hit for the second time, following the October 2022 attack. Russians tried to repair that damage, but the results seem to be…subpar.

I’m not an expert in bridge structural integrity, but that warping/sagging/bending doesn’t look good. In a video game, that looks like a structure you’d get one chance to jump off of before it collapses into the sea.

Taking out the Kerch Bridge — it’s remained at least in partial operation — has been a big part of Kyiv’s effort to make Russian occupation of Crimea “untenable.”

POLICE: NYPD Cop Wins Lawsuit over Police ‘Courtesy Cards.’ “This concept may be unfamiliar to some readers who don’t have relatives or close friends serving on the police force but it happens all over the United States. Police Unions, including those representing the officers in the NYP, issue what are known as ‘courtesy cards’ to officers. They are emblazoned with a police officer’s badge and display the name of the union that issued them. The officers can then distribute them to friends, family members, or even people they are seeking favors from. If the recipient gets pulled over or detained for a relatively minor infraction, they can present the card to the officer who nabbed them and typically be let off with a ‘warning’ rather than receiving a ticket or a fine. One NYPD officer found this practice to carry the stench of corruption and refused to honor the cards. He was then the subject of significant backlash and wound up suing the city. This week, he prevailed in his lawsuit and was awarded a $175,000 settlement for his trouble.”

THE COUNTRY’S IN THE VERY BEST OF HANDS: On 9/11, John Kirby Talks Botched Afghan Withdrawal: ‘No Use in Responding’ to a ‘Handful of Vets.’

Now, White House spokesdroid John Kirby, remarking on comments by American veterans of that conflict, said on the anniversary of 9/11 of all days that there was “no use in responding.”

On the anniversary of 9/11, White House National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby dismissed the concerns of military veterans critical of the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, writing in response to a Fox News Digital press inquiry that there’s “no use” weighing in on the veterans’ views.

“Obviously no use in responding. A ‘handful’ of vets indeed and all of one stripe,” Kirby said in a “reply all” email chain Wednesday afternoon that appeared to be intended for White House staffers, but which also included Fox News Digital.

What stripe would that be, Mr. Kirby? What do you mean by that? I suppose there’s “no use in responding” to those questions, either.

As the Victory Girls note, “This morning, John Kirby said one of the quiet parts very loudly. The Biden Administration has no love for our military and most definitely believes that any veteran who speaks out against the Biden Harris cabal should be disrespected and dismissed out of hand.”

Will whoever is actually running the White House penalize Kirby in any meaningful way? (Rhetorical question, I know.)

#JOURNALISM:

IT’S MOSTLY A MISGUIDED ATTEMPT TO SIGNAL INTELLIGENCE AND SOPHISTICATION:  The cruelty of modern fiction.

AN INTERESTING POINT FROM ONE OF MY COMMENTERS ON MY BLOG:  Donald Trump and Kamala Harris meet at NYC 9/11 Memorial, hours after Presidential Debate.

As soon as Kammy and DJT shake hands and move to line up the crowd starts.

There is no crowd noise, people shouting, nothing, for Kammy. No “You Go Girl!”, no “Yaz, Queen!”, no “WooHooKneepads!” Nada.

No matter where the recording mic was in the throng, if there were shouts and counter shouts from fans of both candidates something would have been picked up. Listen. It’s all for DJT. – FM