Obsidian Wings

Third of July Open Thread

by JanieM

Apparently we could use a new/open thread. Not that any thread might not in theory be open...at least mine, and especially after the most recent one is several days old.

But let's make it official.

And speaking of official, it's the unofficial beginning of summer here in the north country, or perhaps I should say the unofficial beginning of the true core tourist season. Traffic in Augusta on Thursday was indicative. I'm not sure what it would take to get me out on the streets, much less into the grocery store or onto the interstate, on the Friday of Fourth of July weekend.

When I moved here, someone local warned me that Maine has two seasons: winter and the Fourth of July. Someone else said we have five (including the normal four and Mud). It's not really true, of course, but I'm glad to say that the kind of summertime where it's possible to get a string of 90-degree days that make it impossible to cool the house off overnight (I don't have AC) usually only happens between now and about mid-August, and then only for brief strings of days.

I have no plans this weekend, by design. We have some old friends visiting, very low-key. Locally we do fireworks at the annual "heritage days" in August, and not this weekend.

July 3 is the anniversary of a memorable event in my life, but not one that's publishable in a family magazine, so we'll leave it at that. Let's just say time does fly.

What's everyone up to? If you're having fun offline, more power to you.

Open thread.

Another hearing

by JanieM

Pulling hsh's question to the front page, if for no other reason than that we're going to have to be able to walk and chew gum (and a few other things) at the same time if we're not going down in flames:

Anyone want to guess what sort of newly discovered evidence prompted the select committee to schedule a surprise hearing tomorrow?

Posted by: hairshirthedonist | June 27, 2022 at 04:21 PM

Too Late, Alas

by wj

Overturning Roe v Wade has gotten lots of play here this week. But it wasn't the only decision with an impact on our lives.

Today, the US Senate managed, for the first time in 30 years, to pass a gun control bill. A bipartisan gun control bill. The bill itself is a far cry from what is needed. But still, it’s far better than the nothing that has been the rule for decades. Having cleared the hurdle that is the Senate, it seems certain that it will pass the House and get signed. So, progress.

However, I see the Supreme Court’s decision in NEW YORK STATE RIFLE & PISTOL ASSOCIATION, INC., ET AL. v. BRUEN, SUPERINTENDENT OF NEW YORK STATE POLICE, ET AL.. A decision which, pretty clearly, means that this Court will never allow any restrictions on guns. So why would anyone think that this bill will stand up to the first challenge to it? Being a Federal law, rather a state law, doesn't seem likely to persuade the Court.

It will be wonderful if this bill convinces even a few Republicans that gun control isn’t a total loser for them. More gun control might get thru Congress in the future. But will it actually matter at this date? Not the way the smart money bets.

Weekend Open Thread

All ur Uteri Are Belong To Us

by Ugh

Well here it is.  Roberts concurs in judgement.

Thomas is explicitly coming for Obergefell, Lawrence, and Griswold.

I blame the butterfly ballot.

What a sh1t country.

The Devil, You Know

by JanieM

Michael Cain posed a question about a Geico ad in the previous thread, and that set me to thinking about that simplest of topics: money.

One of the notes I jotted down was “Sponsored,” referring to Amazon’s Sponsored product ads, which are:

1. annoying as hell; and

2. a brilliant, diabolical way to pit sellers against each other in the competition to give Jeff Bezos money.

My relationship with Amazon is best described as vexed. I might say more about that in the comments, but suffice to say for present purposes that I never click on a search result item marked Sponsored. I may end up buying an item that has a Sponsored ad, but I only get to it by clicking on a listing that is not marked Sponsored (which can be found somewhere below the obstructing jungle of Sponsored listings).

Clicks on items marked Sponsored take money from sellers and give it to you know who. He doesn’t actually need it, right?

But an entire cottage industry has grown up around advising people how to make the most of the ad system. (Ask Google.)

Because as a seller, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

Open thread.

ETA a couple of days later: corrected the post title. So much for late-night blogging. Where's my copy editor?