October 2018 Blog Topics
Take A Number and Wait Outside. We'll Call You
Perhaps the U.S. should provide air fare for prospective refugees seeking asylum to come in for court hearings. First, those prospective refugees would have to have arrived on their own and have been given a court date. Then they would have to seek shelter outside the U.S., perhaps back in their home country. Shortly before the court date the U.S. would pay for the plane ticket(s) and lodging and adjust the court hearing dates at the last minute to match flight availability or in the event of flight irregularities.
Recent Errors In the News
1. "The Democrats had just one hour to look at the FBI investigation reports of Ms. Blasey-Ford and others prior to the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh."
The correct story: The Republicans and the Democrats had several alternating one hour sessions to look at the FBI investigation reports. I forget who went first but after the Democrats had an hour they left the room and the Republicans got an hour. After the Republicans had an hour, they left the room and the Democrats got an hour. There wasn't that much to look at so when a party was finished (or everyone was bored or everyone wanted to do other things) they did not come back for another hour.
2. News reports continue to say that "the people spoke and elected Donald Trump."
The correct story: The states elect the president. Each state has a weighted vote mostly based on its population and formally defined by the Electoral College. Currently all states use a popular vote of their respective citizens as the primary input to determine the respective "state's vote." In most cases the candidate who gets the highest popular vote within the state gets all of that state's weighted vote.
Originally the state legislators chose the electors whose number made up that state's weighted vote for the president and who might or might not have all voted for the same presidential candidate. The presidential candidate who got the second highest electoral vote became the vice president. Currently only the president is elected and the vice president was chosen in advance by the presidential candidate to be a running mate.
Wichita lineman's lament: Poison ivy curled around the utility pole almost to the top.
Brett Kavanaugh
This was not a second (or third or fourth) job interview. This was not a trial.
There was just one issue. Mr. Kavanaugh did not have enough Senate votes to confirm him
There were three undecided Republican senators and perhaps two undecided Democrat senators. All of the maneuvers and delays were done in an effort to encourage any undecided senators to vote in favor of confirming Mr. Kavanough.
A private citizen asked for (demanded) a hearing. That wish was granted.
A senator asked for an FBI investigation. That wish was granted.
The terms "preponderance of evidence" and "beyond a reasonable doubt" do not apply. All that counts is in the minds of the undecided senators leading to their ultimate votes. We would hope that the senators will think of the impact that Mr. Kavanough would have on the legal climate of the U.S. as shaped by Supreme Court decisions and not be swayed by lobbyists in elevators and lobbyists attending public speeches and protests.
See "Dumprep"? Kill It
This one is a bit technical but since so many of you use Windows computers, this one is worth learning.
Computer sluggish or even stalled or hung up after you tried to close down a task or app? Do one Control-Alt-Del and select the Task Manager.
In the Task Manager select Processes. If you see the name "dumprep" in the left column, click on it. Then click "End Process" down at the bottom and confirm that when asked.
The purpose of "dumprep" is to send a port mortem of a malfunctioning app to Microsoft. By the time you complete the instructions above, "dumprep" had enough time to do its job. If it has not finished, then there is no harm done by aborting it.
Another"Don't Send Money" Reminder
The tax man (IRS) calls you and says you owe back tax and would you please send it in or we will arrest you. Don't send the money yet.. Don't give them your bank account number or debit card number Check your tax returns or call the IRS directly to inquire.
The electric company calls you and says your bill is unpaid and would you please send it in or your power will be turned off. Don't send the money yet. Don't give them your bank account number or debit card number. Call the electric company to verify your last bill and your last payment, letting them tell you the amounts without reading any dollar amounts off of yoru bill.
The police call you saying you stole (shoplifted) from the store and would you please pay it back over the phone or we will arrest you. Don't send the money yet even if they give the name of your favorite grocery store. Don't give them your bank account number of debit card number. You could call the police department yourself to see if the department has you down as a person of interest.
You do not have to finish your inquiries today or even within three days. Take your time. Nobody should come to your door this afternoon or tonight. If someone does come to your door, you call the police.
Last updated Nov.14, 2018
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All parts (c) copyright 2018, Allan W. Jayne, Jr. unless otherwise noted or other origin stated.
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