The Biden Presidency - 2020

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Not sure where to put this. The head of the San Jose police union was busted for being a major fentanyl distributor.

I feel like I saw this movie once.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Reed O'Connor just ruled that the preventive coverage mandate in the ACA is unconstitutional.

Can't wait for the Alito Court to tell us that because health insurance didn't exist in 1776, it has no protections in law today.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Not sure where to put this. The head of the San Jose police union was busted for being a major fentanyl distributor.

Just saw the suspects picture. Not what I would have expected.

[Edward64]

I'm still unsure of Tik Tok but below is pretty clear cut re: Pinduoduo. It was a Chinese cyber team that found it in Feb. Its just weird that such a popular app can contain malicious stuff that was clearly out of the norm, and Google didn't catch it.

I always assumed Apple and Google scan the apps for things that look unusual but know "bad" apps can still get downloaded. I wonder if Apple, Google can team up with these cyber security companies. Pay them a % of fees to provide differing levels of certification, transparency & warn on risk levels of the apps. Pass the costs to the app developers and tier it based on downloads or such.

I've heard (and believe true) Apple does a better job than Google. One reason why I stay with Apple and don't do anything sensitive with my travel Android phone.

Pinduoduo: One of China's most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users, say experts | CNN Business

It is one of China’s most popular shopping apps, selling clothing, groceries and just about everything else under the sun to more than 750 million users a month.

But according to cybersecurity researchers, it can also bypass users’ cell phone security to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages and change settings.

The researchers found code designed to achieve “privilege escalation”: a type of cyberattack that exploits a vulnerable operating system to gain a higher level of access to data than it’s supposed to have, according to experts.

“Our team has reverse engineered that code and we can confirm that it tries to escalate rights, tries to gain access to things normal apps wouldn’t be able to do on Android phones,” said Hyppönen.
:
Toshin found Pinduoduo to have exploited about 50 Android system vulnerabilities. Most of the exploits were tailor made for customized parts known as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) code, which tends to be audited less often than AOSP and is therefore more prone to vulnerabilities, he said.

[Edward64]

Looks like gas prices will be going up. I've enjoyed the < $3.10 prices.

For the sake of their citizens, I hope they invest their increased profits wisely for the day when US & Europe won't need their heavy crude anymore. I look forward to that day.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/02/saud...tput-cuts.html

Saudi Arabia and other OPEC+ oil producers on Sunday announced further oil output cuts of around 1.16 million barrels per day, in a surprise move that analysts said would cause an immediate rise in prices and the United States called inadvisable.
:
Oil prices last month fell towards $70 a barrel, the lowest in 15 months, on concern that a global banking crisis would hit demand. Still, further action by OPEC+ to support the market was not expected after sources downplayed this prospect and crude recovered towards $80.

The latest reductions could lift oil prices by $10 per barrel, the head of investment firm Pickering Energy Partners said on Sunday, while oil broker PVM said it expected an immediate jump once trading starts after the weekend.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Looks like gas prices will be going up. I've enjoyed the < $3.10 prices.

For the sake of their citizens, I hope they invest their increased profits wisely for the day when US & Europe won't need their heavy crude anymore. I look forward to that day.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/02/saud...tput-cuts.html

You understand that can only happen if we greatly reduce the amount of oil is consumed, right? The price of oil will always be set globally, and even if the US doesn't buy a single gallon of OPEC oil, the price we pay will be affected by the gobal price. OPEC will always be able to manipulate the global price. The only thing that could possibly make a real difference on that manipulation is if there was a massive reduction in demand.

[Edward64]

Sure. Transportation is the biggest use of gas. As EV share increases, our dependence on oil (and SA) will decrease. Below says 40-50% of new cars will be EV by 2030. So maybe add another +10-15 years for many of the older cars to fade away.

Assuming continued EV adoption (and ability to support those logistics & infrastructure - there was a good debate about that in a prior thread), we will hit an "inflection" point in the next 10-20-30 years where we won't be beholden to SA.

(... and hopefully access to rare earth metals will be more spread out to friendly countries).

S&P Global Mobility forecasts electric vehicle sales in the United States could reach 40 percent of total passenger car sales by 2030, and more optimistic projections foresee electric vehicle sales surpassing 50 percent by 2030.2

Use of oil - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

Gasoline is the most consumed petroleum product in the United States. In 2021, consumption of finished motor gasoline averaged about 8.8 million b/d (369 million gallons per day), which was equal to about 44% of total U.S. petroleum consumption.

[Brian Swartz]

Not to burst the hopefulness bubble, but I think our dependence on other countries will only continue to increase. Who is 'friendly' and who is not will also shift, but from how I see it at this point the situation will be worse from a dependence point of view than our current oil situation is.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

Not to burst the hopefulness bubble, but I think our dependence on other countries will only continue to increase. Who is 'friendly' and who is not will also shift, but from how I see it at this point the situation will be worse from a dependence point of view than our current oil situation is.

I assume you mean because of rare earth metals?

It seems there are significant deposits, discoveries being found. #1 China (44M metric tons) is currently the 600lb gorilla but #2 Vietnam (22M mt) is also pretty rich in it and #3 Brazil & Russia (21M mt).

So we need to develop and increase our relationships with Vietnam & Brazil.

Interestingly, I'm pretty sure I read that Africa is also rich in rare earth metals but not listed in article. Assume its because they are not proven reserves.

Rare Earths Reserves: Top 8 Countries (Updated 2023)

[Brian Swartz]

Not just rare earths, although that's part of it. It's more just the fact that the further technological advancement goes, the more resources and products become essential to modern economies. Just a general 'everyone is reliant on everyone' situation intensifies.

You're absolutely correct that new discoveries are being made and will continue to be, but given the diversity in resources we use and the fact that they aren't spread evenly over the globe, there's a near-zero chance that any nation or region will ever have independent supplies of most of them.

[Edward64]

Probably.

US is the biggest producer of natural gas. Maybe the bet should have been on that vs electric. But either way, we have a chance to develop new (and better) relationships with different countries vs the frenemies we have now.

[Atocep]

Idaho is on verge of passing a bill that would mean no child under 18 will have a library card in the state.

The bill states parents can sue if their child obtains an objectionable book from a library. Objectionable is broadly defined but the bill states that simply having a gay character in a book meets the their definition of objectionable.

Libraries have said the only way they'll be able to meet this is by pulling the library card of anyone under 18 and requiring an adult to accompany anyone under 18 in a library.

[Flasch186]

Feature not a bug

Rainbows are so upset they’re commiserating with the banned Christmas trees and merry Christmas at the local drinking hole


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Idaho is on verge of passing a bill that would mean no child under 18 will have a library card in the state.

The bill states parents can sue if their child obtains an objectionable book from a library. Objectionable is broadly defined but the bill states that simply having a gay character in a book meets the their definition of objectionable.

Libraries have said the only way they'll be able to meet this is by pulling the library card of anyone under 18 and requiring an adult to accompany anyone under 18 in a library.

Do kids still go to the library?

Do brick and mortar libraries still exist?

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Do kids still go to the library?

Do brick and mortar libraries still exist?

Yes and Yes

[albionmoonlight]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...stent-elusive/

It's an opinion piece, so it is slanted anti-GOP. But it does highlight how important framing is going to be for the debt ceiling debate.

So far, McCarthy has been able to do perfectly fine with a "no concrete proposals, just vibes" style of leadership. But President Biden has, so far, stood pretty firm on the position that he won't negotiate the debt ceiling and won't even talk about negotiating until the GOP puts forth a proposal of what they actually want.

Which, as the opinion piece explains, McCarthy can't do because he probably couldn't get 218 GOP votes for a resolution that the sky is blue, let alone for a budget proposal that requires actual trade offs.

So, after the Trump circus dies down and people start focusing more on the debt ceiling, will the primary framing be "Biden won't negotiate" or will it be "The GOP won't make a counter offer to Biden's budget proposal to continue negotiations?"

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Do kids still go to the library?

Do brick and mortar libraries still exist?

My son always loved going to the library. He even volunteered weekends at the library in high school. But to be fair. my son isn't normal.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...stent-elusive/So, after the Trump circus dies down and people start focusing more on the debt ceiling, will the dominate framing be "Biden won't negotiate" or will it be "The GOP won't make a counter offer to Biden's budget proposal to continue negotiations?"

Think Biden has the upper hand here for the independents. Continue to remind everyone that he's come up with a proposed budget, GOP hasn't countered, debt ceiling is for debt already approved & incurred by Congress, challenge on how fractionalized GOP House is, how this threatens US debt ratings, and show up on Sun morning shows (and others) to continually message this.

Ultimately, this will come down to the final days & weeks before default (sometime in Jun?) before it gets approved.

[miked]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Do kids still go to the library?

Do brick and mortar libraries still exist?

We go all the time. It's free and we don't have tons of space for bookshelves in the house to buy books every time the kids want to try a new series.

[Edward64]

Nice, very nice. Looks like Bong Bong has pivoted from Duterte (who is his VP's father) and gone all in with the US. Great work Biden & Blinken.

IMO US should focus more (including militarily) on Asia and less in Europe. Need to get started on a new SEATO alliance to counter China.

FWIW, I've been to Palawan. I'd call it a sleepy island with some great beaches. I can see the US messing that up for regular tourism.

The Philippines on Monday identified the locations of four new military bases the US will gain access to, as part of an expanded defense agreement analysts say is aimed at combating China.

The four bases include three on the main island of Luzon, close to Taiwan, and one in Palawan province in the South China Sea (SCS).

The US has stepped up efforts to expand its Indo-Pacific security options in recent months, amid mounting concerns over China’s aggressive territorial posturing throughout the region.

The new locations, opened up under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Arrangement (EDCA), will allow the US to rotate troops to a total of nine bases throughout the Philippines, including on the strategically important Balabac Island close to Chinese installations in the South China Sea.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Think Biden has the upper hand here for the independents. Continue to remind everyone that he's come up with a proposed budget, GOP hasn't countered, debt ceiling is for debt already approved & incurred by Congress, challenge on how fractionalized GOP House is, how this threatens US debt ratings, and show up on Sun morning shows (and others) to continually message this.

Ultimately, this will come down to the final days & weeks before default (sometime in Jun?) before it gets approved.

I think this what McCarthy will lose his Speakership over. Wonder what the odds are? It might be worth putting $10 in.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I think this what McCarthy will lose his Speakership over. Wonder what the odds are? It might be worth putting $10 in.

Their behind the scenes dirty laundry will get aired if the dems play it right and that definitely could end I'm him losing the speakership. I'm not sure anyone else really wants it though.

There's a reason they haven't proposed a budget. Anything they release is going to be unpopular and it's going to divide their own caucus. They're better at fighting imaginary enemies and culture wars than actually legislating.

[Lathum]

You have to think there are enough republicans in the house that won't allow us to tank the world economy. Right? RIGHT?

[Butter]

Their entire platform has been "anything to own the libs"

If you think "tank the world economy to own the libs" is a bridge too far, you either haven't been paying attention or you are incredibly naive

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

Do kids still go to the library?

Do brick and mortar libraries still exist?

A lot of kids still go to do their studying. I know it's also popular with older folks here since you can rent movies and such.

People might know this already, but if not, check out your local library's digital offerings. Mine has an app that I can download like 5 e-books a month for free. There are even some documentaries and other old movies that can be watched through an app on Roku.

The audiobook selection is also pretty good on the app. Nothing brand new but I find a lot of good non-fiction stuff from a few years ago on it.

[cuervo72]

Libraries kick ass. (My son was going to one of his on campus last night to work and get away from possible distractions. He's bummed that it no longer has a cafe though.) As for digital, ours has Hoopla at ten checkouts a month, Libby/Overdrive (unlimited I think), and Kanopy. Plus, you know, whatever other books it has physically or direct eBook download and statewide ILL.

I don't stop in the kids section much anymore, but liked it as a parent.

[RainMaker]

Yes, Hoopla is the app I have too!

[sterlingice]

We get 8 digitals per month on Hoopla. I've used it to read comic-- err... graphic novels... mainly

SI

[cuervo72]

Not a bad thing to do.

My problem -- if you can call it a problem -- is that I have so many physical books to get through that I don't really take advantage of the online services. I mean, if there's a specific book that I want to read that I don't have, then it's great. But finding something to read is not an issue. (For instance, our local Unitarian church had it's bookselling fundraiser a couple of weekends ago. I bought thirty-one books. That'll last me a little while, ON TOP OF the scores of unread books I already have.)

[sterlingice]

Also, our library system has a bunch of movies. So if there's some movie out that's like a year or more old that you haven't seen, it's almost certainly around to reserve from the library and get it in less than a week

SI

[Thomkal]

The Democrat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race has won pretty convincingly, shattering the previous vote count for any Supreme Court election by 300,000. Turns the Court liberal, keeps abortion from being outlawed and likely leads to new non-gerrymandered maps

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

The Democrat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race has won pretty convincingly, shattering the previous vote count by 300,000. Turns the Court liberal, keeps abortion from being outlawed and likely leads to new non-gerrymandered maps

This is great because it was widely viewed as a tone setter.

I think the take away is young people re paying attention and they are pissed.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I think the take away is young people re paying attention and they are pissed.

Which is why Texas and other red states are creating laws and removing polling places to keep them from voting.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Lathum

This is great because it was widely viewed as a tone setter.

I think the take away is young people re paying attention and they are pissed.

Yeah and they have a head of steam up in Tenn now after the antics Republicans pulled there

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

The Democrat in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race has won pretty convincingly, shattering the previous vote count for any Supreme Court election by 300,000. Turns the Court liberal, keeps abortion from being outlawed and likely leads to new non-gerrymandered maps

Wisconsin is the most gerrymandered state in the country. Will he interesting to see what happens now.

[Flasch186]

he'll have to Gerrymander it back to normal gerrymandering.

[Atocep]

Most surprising to me was the number of conservatives posting on reddit after this Wisconsin loss acknowledging that winning close elections is going to be difficult for them post Roe. Some of them seem to be coming to the understanding that having a platform that basically says you're either 100% with us on all issues or you're a dem is probably hurting them as well.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Most surprising to me was the number of conservatives posting on reddit after this Wisconsin loss acknowledging that winning close elections is going to be difficult for them post Roe. Some of them seem to be coming to the understanding that having a platform that basically says you're either 100% with us on all issues or you're a dem is probably hurting them as well.

I am definitely not one of those Dems who wants the GOP to keep going MAGA so that we can win more elections. MAGA is way too dangerous to play with.

If the GOP starts to moderate and goes back to being the pro-Democracy, anti-Russia, pro-rule-of-law, pro-individual-freedom, and fiscally conservative party that it has previously been I will welcome it.

It will start winning more elections, but that is a small price for me (as a Dem) to pay for having a real conservative party back in this country.

[JPhillips]

One of the lessons of last night is that Dan Kelly is just a shitty candidate. He's gotten his ass handed to him twice now.

[flere-imsaho]

In local election news, I am now a member-elect of our town's school board.

[albionmoonlight]

Cool!

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

In local election news, I am now a member-elect of our town's school board.

congrats!

[cuervo72]

Have we covered this yet anywhere?

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/po...273956915.html

[flere-imsaho]

People asked why I'd want to volunteer for a role where I get yelled at a lot and I mentioned that I'm already a youth soccer referee.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

One of the lessons of last night is that Dan Kelly is just a shitty candidate. He's gotten his ass handed to him twice now.

His concession speech shows perfectly that the voters made the right choice

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by flere-imsaho

In local election news, I am now a member-elect of our town's school board.

enjoy the death threats!

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I am definitely not one of those Dems who wants the GOP to keep going MAGA so that we can win more elections. MAGA is way too dangerous to play with.

If the GOP starts to moderate and goes back to being the pro-Democracy, anti-Russia, pro-rule-of-law, pro-individual-freedom, and fiscally conservative party that it has previously been I will welcome it.

It will start winning more elections, but that is a small price for me (as a Dem) to pay for having a real conservative party back in this country.

I don't think this happens in our lifetime. MAGA has totally changed our political landscape. Even after Trump is gone there are so many clones out there, one will inevitably take his place and win primaries. Every cycle that goes past where traditional republicans lose primaries make it less likely they run in the next one. Losing generals doesn't bother them because they will just act like Kari Lake. The traditional republican party is dead and likely never coming back.

[bronconick]

Of course, the Wisconsin State Senator Knodl who gave the GOP a supermajority says he'd be open to impeaching and removing Protasiewicz, because that's what Republicans do. (See: Tennessee)

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

Have we covered this yet anywhere?

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/po...273956915.html

I hope that every person who voted for shows up at her office and lets her know, peacefully, that they are not happy with her.


Is there a recall process in NC?

[cuervo72]

Apparently there is not, no.