THE MORNING RANT: Buck Shots (11/28/2025)

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Before I haul out the holly and start setting up for Christmas today, I’ll take advantage of the opportunity to clear the spindle of a few items that didn’t warrant an entire post unto themselves.

Principled Free Traders Hit Hardest

There is emerging bad news for all the America-last “free traders” who celebrated the loss of American jobs during the era of unilateral surrender to foreign mercantilism. Specifically, President Trump’s effort to re-shore American manufacturing is reducing the trade deficit and creating new manufacturing jobs here at home.

This is just one of many stories about manufacturing jobs being reshored to the US:

“GE Appliances bolsters ties with US suppliers as it moves production from China” [AP – 11/21/2025]

This article documents how GE is moving production of washers and dryers from China to Kentucky, creating 800 jobs in Louisville alone, while directly investing $490 million into the US economy with the plant’s construction and tooling. In addition, GE has announced contracts worth more than $150 million to US businesses who will be suppliers to the Kentucky operations.

Donald Trump’s policy of repatriating jobs is having its desired impact. Wealth retained in this country, which then circulates through the American economy, propels Gross Domestic Product (GDP) upward. It’s already starting to happen.

“US trade deficit narrows sharply in August in boost to third-quarter GDP” [MSN – 11/20/2025]

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed more than expected in August as businesses imported fewer goods against the backdrop of higher tariffs, a trend that if sustained could be a potential tailwind for economic growth in the third quarter.

The monthly trade deficit decreased by an impressive 24% in August, injecting about $20 billion into the US economy that otherwise would have been sent overseas.

What if ICE had Door Dash do Its Work for Them?

Last Friday I wrote about the black market of illegal, foreign labor that constitutes much of the actual workforce delivering meals for companies such as Door Dash and Uber Eats.

A few days later, Turning Point’s Savannah Hernandez offered up a humorous idea to make ICE’s job easier. Rather than chasing down people who are in the country illegally, ICE can just order Door Dash or Uber Eats and have them show up at ICE’s front door.

Sustainable, Organic Schadenfreude

Because I have always understood what a fraud the entire green energy scam is, I have never been at risk of getting suckered into any “renewable energy” investments. I also know that the “winners” in this sector have been those scamming the government for grant money, and those scamming credulous investors out of their savings. Celebrities have been especially good marks for those promoting the climate scam, because celebrities are not only wealthy, but they are often naïve and gullible.

“Drake, DiCaprio, the Clippers backed this ‘green’ L.A. firm. It crumbled amid fraud claims” [LA Times – 10/14/2025]

Aspiration Partners, a Marina del Rey green investing firm, collapsed after executives pleaded guilty to using falsified documents to defraud celebrity investors. The company attracted backers including Leonardo DiCaprio, Drake and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer before filing for bankruptcy in March.

Amidst its pure financial fraud, Aspiration was also peddling carbon credits, which people are finally starting to realize is a form of fraud too. While my moral compass would never allow me to participate in a scam against celebrities, I do feel a little schadenfreude when I read that these green crusaders got swindled by con men pushing the climate hoax.

Is Chicago in a Doom Loop or a Death Spiral?

Goldman Sachs was left holding the bag after a sale of Chicago municipal bonds was largely rejected by investors.

“Goldman Left With $75 Million in Chicago Debt After Sale” [Bloomberg – 11/20/2025]

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. took down a portion of a $454 million debt deal from Chicago on Wednesday even after boosting yields on the sales-tax bonds that hold higher ratings than the city. The bank was left with roughly $75 million of unsold bonds issued through the city’s Sales Tax Securitization Corp., according to a Chicago spokesperson.

Goldman priced the bonds too cheaply for the risk inherent in issuing bonds on behalf of a failing city, and even when the yield was increased in an attempt to draw in more buyers, Goldman still couldn’t sell all the bonds. As a result, Goldman is stuck with about $75 million dollars in bonds to be repaid by the city of Chicago…if they’re ever actually repaid. Investors seem pretty skeptical, otherwise Goldman wouldn’t have had to eat those unmarketable bonds.

Chicago’s financial default seems inevitable, as it keeps raising taxes while running off its productive, tax-paying citizens. Investors know what time it is. Goldman just figured it out.

Who Would Insure a Container Ship Carrying Lithium Batteries?

A container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles spontaneously erupted in a massive fire that was so toxic and intense that nearby communities were ordered to shelter in place.

“’One Henry Hudson’ fire spurs port emergency in Los Angeles” [Splash247 – 11/24/2025]

A fire broke out aboard the 8,212 teu ONE Henry Hudson while docked at Yusen Container Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles late Friday evening. The incident prompted a major emergency response involving nearly 200 firefighting personnel and sparked a shelter-in-place order for nearby communities.

Predictably, it turns out that the ship’s cargo included containers carrying lithium batteries.

“Ship fire contained but remains under close watch at Port of Los Angeles” [LA Daily News – 11/25/2025]

The contents were described as general cargo, but [Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr Mark] Leahey did confirm that shipments of lithium batteries were included.

The ship has been hauled out to sea where it remains under close watch “to ensure there are no re-flashes.”

For now, this incident is being referred to as an “electrical fire.” I’ve done a little digging, and as best I can tell, this “electrical fire” is only the second incident ever at the Port of LA that required neighboring residents to shelter in place. The previous occurrence was in 2018, due to a chemical spill.

Fortunately, the crew was safely evacuated because the ship was in port, but these ship-borne fires involving EVs and lithium batteries are becoming dangerously common.

[h/t to Mr. CBD for sending me this story.]

Don’t Mess with the Gulf of America

The 2025 hurricane season ends this weekend, and for the first time since 2015, there was not a single hurricane making landfall on the United States coast. Not only were there no hurricane strikes, but there were zero hurricanes at all in the Gulf of Mexico America this season.

The Gulf of Mexico had a long history of catastrophic, category 5 hurricanes, but so far there has never been a hurricane in the Gulf of America. It should have been renamed a long time ago, since hurricanes are clearly afraid of entering the Gulf of America.

Life Imitates Fiction

My pal Scott McKay at The American Spectator has a new book out, titled “Blockbusters.” It’s the third in his Mike Holman series, in which the protagonist is involved in a conservative takeover of the entertainment industry. It’s a good read, and timely too, considering all the media upheavals going on, including the imminent sale of debt-laden Warner, as well as conservative-ish media conglomerate Sinclair making a bid for Scripps.

If you have a Kindle Unlimited membership it can be downloaded for free from Amazon.

Throckmorton’s First Law of Live Music: “If there’s an upright bass in the band, it’s probably going to be good.”

At the Throckmorton household, we have a strictly-enforced house rule of “no Christmas before Thanksgiving.” Since the fridge is full of Thanksgiving leftovers, I suppose it’s safe to start gearing up for Christmas now.

Here’s Dailey and Vincent with the Bill Monroe classic, “Christmas Time’s a-Coming”

[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Cowboy Monkey, Yeehah!

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:02 AM (uWKK8)

2 Morn' all

Posted by: It's me donna at November 28, 2025 11:02 AM (VE6XX)

3 Rant on!

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 28, 2025 11:02 AM (ExV1e)

4 High yall

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at November 28, 2025 11:03 AM (y/ODK)

5 Savanah Hernandez stole that Door Dash joke from some stand up comic whose name I can't think of right now.

Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:04 AM (r+pQK)

6 Great Rant, Buck.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 28, 2025 11:06 AM (u82oZ)

7
The bank was left with roughly $75 million of unsold bonds issued through the city’s Sales Tax Securitization Corp., according to a Chicago spokesperson.

Look at the bright side boys: you've got that race-hustling dullard, Mayor Johnson, to help you work out a solution to this! Happy thoughts all around!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:06 AM (xG4kz)

8 Cockadoodledo, motherfuckers.

Posted by: Robert, The Love Walrus at November 28, 2025 11:06 AM (1Yy3c)

9 I was a True Believer in Free Trade when Reagan was Prez. Took me a while to wake up to what was wrong with it, and it was this realization - it's a great mistake to look at the health of a nation as simply an economic calculation. A country that exports all of it's manufacturing jobs in exchange for some nebulous "service economy" is going to end up with nothing, and no one young who knows how to do anything; while our rivals around the world end up with all the bits and pieces that made America an economic powerhouse.

And that doesn't even touch the social effects of doing away with most of what were traditional working class jobs, which didn't require staying in school until you're in your 20's and going into six figure debt for.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:07 AM (uWKK8)

10 The Door Dash idea reminds me of a cop trick from a few days ago.

They sent fake notices to the last known addresses of fugitives from justice, informing them they'd won a free ticket to watch a live telecast of a major sporting event at the local arena.

Worked pretty well, as I recall.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at November 28, 2025 11:08 AM (IG3/x)

11 Jordan61

When comedians have better policy solutions than politicians and office holders ...

We need to change out the politicians and office holders.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 28, 2025 11:08 AM (u82oZ)

12 "A few days ago"? Make that "a few decades ago".

Still on first cup of coffee here.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at November 28, 2025 11:09 AM (IG3/x)

13 Manufacturing is coming back. Great.

Now can we something about h1bs please?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:09 AM (uDDWT)

14 using falsified documents to defraud celebrity investors.

-
Should that even be a crime?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:09 AM (L/fGl)

15 Chicago’s financial default seems inevitable, as it keeps raising taxes while running off its productive, tax-paying citizens.

And something like seven of the ten worst funded government pension plans in the country are Chicago pension plans.

The teacher's union runs Chicago. Students are fleeing Chicago public schools, but the teacher's union refuses to allow any schools to be closed, so there are an increasing number of schools where the school has a small fraction of the number of students that it is equipped to handle.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 28, 2025 11:10 AM (xTIDn)

16
It should have been renamed a long time ago, since hurricanes are clearly afraid of entering the Gulf of America.

Stockpiling ammo for inducing apoplexy in lefty dullards for Christmas gatherings, are we? I approve!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:10 AM (xG4kz)

17 Door Dash idea reminds me of a cop trick from a few days ago.

They sent fake notices to the last known addresses of fugitives from justice, informing them they'd won a free ticket to watch a live telecast of a major sporting event at the local arena.

Worked pretty well, as I recall.


Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia

That was the opening scene in Sea of Love. With one Ellen Barkin.

Bringing it all back full circle. 😆

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:10 AM (uDDWT)

18 celebrities are not only wealthy, but they are often naïve and gullible.
_______
They're also not very smart. There is a belief that actors must be intelligent. Not so. Note that Hedy LaMarr was miles from being a good actress. She had a career because she was gorgeous. But she was VERY smart. OTOH, DeNiro certainly didn't have a career because of his brain.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 28, 2025 11:11 AM (s0JqF)

19 Its Go Time Donald

One step at a time.

We need to fix education next. But it is happening.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 28, 2025 11:11 AM (u82oZ)

20 Your damn fault!

Researchers: Americans Holding on to Old Tech Devices Is Hurting the Economy

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:12 AM (L/fGl)

21
Using falsified documents to defraud celebrity investors.

-
Should that even be a crime?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land

That's definitely not a crime. It's like having your pets' nails trimmed -- a tedious, but necessary task.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:12 AM (xG4kz)

22 And something like seven of the ten worst funded government pension plans in the country are Chicago pension plans.

Although Portland is in much better financial shape than Chicago, Portland has an old police and fire pension plan that isn't funded at all - every year they just jack up property taxes to pay for the current pension payments.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 28, 2025 11:13 AM (xTIDn)

23 When comedians have better policy solutions than politicians and office holders ...

We need to change out the politicians and office holders.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at November 28, 2025 11:08 AM (u82oZ)

=====

Hey, Salty!

I just remembered who it was. Jimmy Carr, who isn't even American.

Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:14 AM (r+pQK)

24
Americans Holding on to Fatuous and Ill-Informed Researchers
is doing far more harm to the economy.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:14 AM (xG4kz)

25
Remember that in the 50's nuking a hurricane to slow it down was discussed.

Posted by: Auspex at November 28, 2025 11:14 AM (Y8DZL)

26 Nothing says "Lazy Fat Ass" more than Door Dash.

Posted by: The Rizzler at November 28, 2025 11:14 AM (s0upz)

27 Chicago’s financial default seems inevitable, as it keeps raising taxes while running off its productive, tax-paying citizens.

And yet the Chicago Bears owners and leadership really think they are going to get Chicago taxpayers to pay for a massively expensive new stadium in downtown Chicago.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:15 AM (P5BPp)

28 Aspiration Partners,
A subsidiary of Smug Brothers, Inc.
A subsidiary of Rent Gatherers International
A subsidiary of Badische Analin und Soda Fabrik
An affiliate of Nestle S.A.

Posted by: Ellen at November 28, 2025 11:15 AM (9ipOP)

29 Is Chicago in a Doom Loop or a Death Spiral?
______
Let's hope they collapse before a Democrat administration gets back in. Or we'll be paying for it.

Posted by: Eeyore at November 28, 2025 11:15 AM (s0JqF)

30 In my lily white small city DD and Uber are pretty much all white Americans as well. I’ve talked to many uber drivers and a lot of them are retired peeps who do it more as something to do than a job. Last guy I had was retired Navy, just got out and was trying to figure out what his next phase of life was. Also lots of college kids do it during the summer when they’re back home.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:15 AM (uDDWT)

31 They're also not very smart. There is a belief that actors must be intelligent. Not so. Note that Hedy LaMarr was miles from being a good actress. She had a career because she was gorgeous. But she was VERY smart. OTOH, DeNiro certainly didn't have a career because of his brain.
Posted by: Eeyore at November 28, 2025 11:11 AM (s0JqF)

=====

Is that why Dolph Lundgren is a terrible actor?

Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM (r+pQK)

32 Researchers: Americans Holding on to Old Tech Devices Is Hurting the Economy
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:12 AM (L/fGl

lol. I saw that as well a couple of days ago and was like you gotta be shitting me man.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM (uDDWT)

33 Well, hell, this'll straighten it all out.

Cook County in Illinois Approves Guaranteed Income Program

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM (L/fGl)

34 I am hopeful that the return of the manufacturing sector is not something that is going to be undone by a federal judge or a Democrat administration. But it is good news.

Posted by: NR Pax at November 28, 2025 11:17 AM (7xrfc)

35 Manufacturing is coming back. Great.

Now can we something about h1bs please?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:09 AM

Yes, and the outsourcing of engineering jobs to cheap labor retards in India and Mexico.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:17 AM (P5BPp)

36 >>That was the opening scene in Sea of Love. With one Ellen Barkin.

Operation Flagship, 1985

Posted by: one hour sober at November 28, 2025 11:17 AM (Y1sOo)

37 Cook County in Illinois Approves Guaranteed Income Program
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM (L/fGl)

=====

Apparently they've had it for a few years on a trial basis. They just made it permanent.

Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:18 AM (r+pQK)

38 Regarding the Mike Holman novels: Do you need to buy all three or are they standalone stories?

Posted by: NR Pax at November 28, 2025 11:19 AM (7xrfc)

39 Defrauded celebrity investors? Couldn't happen to a more evil, more sexual perverts, or stupid group of people. Hope they lost a lot of money.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at November 28, 2025 11:19 AM (xvV+O)

40
The one time a decade back that I watched "Mean Streets", in which DeNiro played a dimwit moke I thought, "Jeebus, he hadn't moved the acting skill needle even one lick in fifty years scamming in the craft."

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:19 AM (xG4kz)

41 And yet the Chicago Bears owners and leadership really think they are going to get Chicago taxpayers to pay for a massively expensive new stadium in downtown Chicago.

Nah, da Bears are moving to Arlington Heights.

They're not stupid enough to stay in the city.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 28, 2025 11:19 AM (xTIDn)

42 And yet the Chicago Bears owners and leadership really think they are going to get Chicago taxpayers to pay for a massively expensive new stadium in downtown Chicago.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:15 AM (P5BPp)

Da Bears! Ditka Ditka Ditka! How about pass me some brats over dere! Da Bears! Ditka Ditka Ditka! Sid Luckman still alive?

Posted by: 8 Year Old Adult Bears Fan at November 28, 2025 11:21 AM (s0upz)

43 Lots of cities have UBI programs. And I love how when they evaluate the buses or failure, they’re all “it makes recipients happy” so it is successful.
Well yeah no shit it makes them happy. So does giving a kid chocolate for dinner every night.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:21 AM (uDDWT)

44 You know how much smarts someone needs to be an actor when you realize just how good the average 6 year old girl can be at acting.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:22 AM (uWKK8)

45 Uber and Lyft seem like they would not have many scraping by illegal aliens, since they require a decent car.
but Uber eats and Door-dash only need a way to haul food, and in crowded cities with bad traffic, mopeds are probably better than cars for speed of delivery.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 28, 2025 11:22 AM (hhkIi)

46 >>> Well, hell, this'll straighten it all out.

Cook County in Illinois Approves Guaranteed Income Program
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM (L/fGl)


And they'll be using remaining federal covid money to fund it until that's all out. We're fleeced and dems use that to buy votes. Every time. That's the whole damned plan.

Posted by: banana Dream at November 28, 2025 11:22 AM (3uBP9)

47 Savanah Hernandez stole that Door Dash joke from some stand up comic whose name I can't think of right now.
Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:04 AM (r+pQK)

That was me!

Posted by: Amy Schumer at November 28, 2025 11:22 AM (IEmXv)

48 Doesn't every pro sportsball team go get a new stadium every dozen years or so? Like, it's contractual or something? Especially the payoffs.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at November 28, 2025 11:23 AM (NwnyJ)

49 ” …. creating 800 jobs in Louisville alone

Something that should he taught in schools, or maybe on the news, or press conferences, whatever, the economic follow on effects are WAY more than 800 jobs. It’s practically unbelievable.

Why? Because every business like this uses raw materials. Construction and remodeling of factories, the roads, the trucks that haul materials, the people who build the tires that go on the trucks that haul materials. Bearings to go on those wheels, that spin the tires on the trucks, that haul those supplies. Mechanics to maintain those trucks. Drivers to operate them. Dispatchers. Hell, things start looking up for janitors. Can go all day with this. Iron ore from the Mesabi range, pulpwood from Georgia. Crazy cat ladies from Massachusetts for HR.

There’s a short story called “I, Pencil” about this phenomenon that should be required reading for everyone.

Posted by: Common Tater at November 28, 2025 11:23 AM (BORTq)

50 Cook County in Illinois Approves Guaranteed Income Program

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:16 AM

Apparently they've had it for a few years on a trial basis. They just made it permanent.

Posted by: Jordan61 at November 28, 2025 11:18 AM

Yep:

Pilot Origins: Launched in 2022 as the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, it was the largest publicly funded effort of its kind in the U.S. at the time. Funded by $42 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), it provided no-strings-attached monthly payments of $500 to 3,250 low-income households (selected via lottery) from December 2022 through December 2024, with final payments in January 2025.

Grok summary: https://bit.ly/4ioaCWa

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:24 AM (P5BPp)

51 AOC, straight man.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@RepAOC
Absolutely devastating news. My heart is broken for her family. Let us keep her loved ones in our thoughts and continue to pray for Staff Sgt. Wolfe.

- 7th
And now for the punchline.

Nick Freitas
@NickJFreitas
She is absolutely devastated that the people she calls fascists are killed by people who agree with her.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:24 AM (L/fGl)

52 Early Results: Preliminary findings released in April 2025 showed positive impacts, including improved financial stability, reduced food insecurity, and better mental health for recipients. An advisory committee was formed to shape the permanent phase.

Permanent Version: The new funding will support ongoing payments targeted at working families facing affordability challenges, though specifics on eligibility, payment amounts, and scale (e.g., number of recipients) are still being finalized by the advisory committee. It's positioned as a response to federal pullbacks on social supports, emphasizing local leadership in addressing basic needs like housing and food.

Grok summary: https://bit.ly/4ioaCWa

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:25 AM (P5BPp)

53 Lots of cities have UBI programs. And I love how when they evaluate the buses or failure, they’re all “it makes recipients happy” so it is successful.

There is a widespread belief in blue cities that if you give criminals free money, the criminals will stop committing crimes.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at November 28, 2025 11:25 AM (xTIDn)

54
That was me!
Posted by: Amy Schumer

Are you dumping your ample stockpile of homely fat girl jokes now that you've purged your social feeds of pictures of yourself as a homely fat girl?

Are you going to make even a token effort to restore the innumerable stolen jokes to the rightful owners of them?

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:26 AM (xG4kz)

55 Well, hell, this'll straighten it all out.

Cook County in Illinois Approves Guaranteed Income Program

Dear Chicago Dems,
approving it is the easy part. Paying for it is the hard part. Please elaborate on your plan. Crayon drawings will help.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:26 AM (Riz8t)

56 Silver is at $55.50 right now, an all-time high.

Posted by: Bulg at November 28, 2025 11:26 AM (77rzZ)

57 45 Uber and Lyft seem like they would not have many scraping by illegal aliens, since they require a decent car.

—

It’s market dependent. But generally they just need to be a certain age. Like 15 years or newer. It can be a piece of shit rust bucked with 300k miles on it. But if it’s a 2011 model? Good to go.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:28 AM (uDDWT)

58 I like that Door Dash idea, bring the illegals to your door

Posted by: Skip at November 28, 2025 11:28 AM (+qU29)

59 During the late lamented shutdown, it was pointed out that Obamacare subsidies started at $13B, and are now something like $138B; an order of magnitude increase. I did NOT see that coming.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:29 AM (Riz8t)

60 Door-dash only need a way to haul food, and in crowded cities with bad traffic, mopeds are probably better than cars for speed of delivery.
Posted by: PaleRider at November 28, 2025 11:22 AM (hhkIi)

Most DD cars are nasty places full of bugs and vermin and passengers. Less chance of cockroaches and other bugs getting at your food with a moped or electric bike.

Wash your hands.

Posted by: Health Department Advisory at November 28, 2025 11:29 AM (s0upz)

61
Thanks for posting the Rhesus Rodeo picture with today's rant, Buck!

It's always been one of my favorites, what with the crazed eyes on that doggo.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:29 AM (xG4kz)

62 And that doesn't even touch the social effects of doing away with most of what were traditional working class jobs, which didn't require staying in school until you're in your 20's and going into six figure debt for.
Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:07 AM (uWKK

This x1000. To put it bluntly, we no longer had jobs for ordinary people.

Posted by: sal at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (f+FmA)

63 There’s a short story called “I, Pencil” about this phenomenon that should be required reading for everyone.

Posted by: Common Tater at November 28, 2025 11:23 AM

Grok summary:

The pencil’s humble but powerful point is this: No one person directs or even fully understands this entire process. Yet, through millions of people acting in their own self-interest, guided by prices and voluntary cooperation in a free market (what Adam Smith called the "invisible hand"), a pencil is produced cheaply and reliably — and delivered to a child’s hand for pennies.

It’s one of the most elegant and widely read arguments for economic freedom, spontaneous order, and the marvel of the price system. Even today, economists like Milton Friedman frequently referenced it.

If you haven’t read the full thing, it’s only a few pages long and absolutely worth it. You can find the original text for free on FEE.org or in their pamphlet version.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (P5BPp)

64 It’s market dependent. But generally they just need to be a certain age. Like 15 years or newer. It can be a piece of shit rust bucked with 300k miles on it. But if it’s a 2011 model? Good to go.


It's probably like the airlines strategy to get people to buy up in class. If you make the baseline experience miserable enough, people will eventually pay more.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

65 “ He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”

Genesis 28:17

Posted by: Marcus T at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM (JW6Az)

66 63 It’s one of the most elegant and widely read arguments for economic freedom, spontaneous order, and the marvel of the price system. Even today, economists like Milton Friedman frequently referenced it.

If you haven’t read the full thing, it’s only a few pages long and absolutely worth it. You can find the original text for free on FEE.org or in their pamphlet version.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (P5BPp)

=======

Even today, Friedman references it?

Even...today?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM (GBKbO)

67 Aspiration Partners?

This country has gone downhill since corporate names went all wimpy, like Ascend, Stellantis, Humana, etc., and quit using spaces between words, like BankFirst, etc.

We need more corporations with names like Union Carbide, Morton Thiokol, International Harvester. You know--names that should be said with a deep voice.

Posted by: Kam Fong as Chin Ho at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM (gf7Ez)

68 Why? Because every business like this uses raw materials. Construction and remodeling of factories, the roads, the trucks that haul materials, the people who build the tires that go on the trucks that haul materials. Bearings to go on those wheels, that spin the tires on the trucks, that haul those supplies. Mechanics to maintain those trucks. Drivers to operate them. Dispatchers. Hell, things start looking up for janitors. Can go all day with this. Iron ore from the Mesabi range, pulpwood from Georgia. Crazy cat ladies from Massachusetts for HR.


Posted by: Common Tater at November 28, 2025 11:23 AM (BORT

And then once it’s up and running the jobs created by those 800 employees spending money in town. businesses open up which hire people. Who then spend money and new businesses open up for them and so on. Which leads to population growth. Then you need more doctors and more dentists. And they move in and open up shop. It’s a never ending economic circle.

That’s why it’s so devastating when a plant shuts down. All that ancillary economic activity also dies.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM (uDDWT)

69 They're also not very smart. There is a belief that actors must be intelligent. Not so.
——-

I would most definitely include Musicians in this delusion. I was under this fairy tale in my younger years. Music and s very, very powerful, and it has an effect on almost everyone.

Intelligence, athletic ability, attractiveness, etc., is certainly not distributed equally or evenly. But is too easy somehow, to think someone who can craft beautiful melodies and lyrics and has a great voice and plays her instrument well is an authority or expert on politics or “social issues”.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but someone can be a virtuoso, and yet still dumb as a post. Of course this misconception is still pushed to the hilt, because role model. Monkey see, monkey do.

Posted by: Common Tater at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (zh/Tt)

70 Even today, Friedman references it?

Even...today?

"Death is but a door. Time is but a window. I'll be back".

Posted by: Vigo the Carpathian at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (Riz8t)

71 Revenge of the Monty!

INTEREST payment on national debt hits record $104.4 BILLION for one MONTH. Come see how cooked we are, chat.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (L/fGl)

72 good post nice to get some positive news

Posted by: doug at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (Hy+R4)

73 We need more corporations with names like Union Carbide, Morton Thiokol, International Harvester. You know--names that should be said with a deep voice.
Posted by: Kam Fong as Chin Ho at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM (gf7Ez)

ARBY'S!!!

Posted by: We Have The MEATS!! at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (LxER7)

74 >> All ICE has to do to get illegals out of NYC is order Uber eats and DoorDash all day.

NY is one state that is part of the lawsuits preventing FedGov from eliminating illegals from all public benefits. That’s because they have fraudulently allowed illegal immigrants to collect from every welfare system available, then send the bill to the federal taxpayers. We are talking about billions of dollars, and when that music stops, and it will because that’s a condition of these programs, NY will either have a big budget hole or will have to kick out the illegal.

Posted by: Marcus T at November 28, 2025 11:34 AM (JW6Az)

75 I don’t know how it’s possible, but someone can be a virtuoso, and yet still dumb as a post.

Right?

Posted by: Salieri at November 28, 2025 11:34 AM (Riz8t)

76 It's probably like the airlines strategy to get people to buy up in class. If you make the baseline experience miserable enough, people will eventually pay more.
Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

The great flaw in that plan is that they end up with millions of people like my wife and I who would do anything possible to avoid getting on an airplane ever again.

Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:34 AM (uWKK8)

77 Aspiration Partners?

This country has gone downhill since corporate names went all wimpy, like Ascend, Stellantis, Humana, etc., and quit using spaces between words, like BankFirst, etc.

We need more corporations with names like Union Carbide, Morton Thiokol, International Harvester. You know -- names that should be said with a deep voice.

Posted by: Kam Fong as Chin Ho at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM

How about Moland Springs?

Posted by: Mr. Pitt at November 28, 2025 11:35 AM (P5BPp)

78
70 Even today, Friedman references it?

Even...today?

"Death is but a door. Time is but a window. I'll be back".


Posted by: Vigo the Carpathian at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (Riz8t)

==

"Death is only the beginning."
-Imhotep

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at November 28, 2025 11:35 AM (GBKbO)

79 It's probably like the airlines strategy to get people to buy up in class. If you make the baseline experience miserable enough, people will eventually pay more.
Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:30 AM (Riz8t)

The great flaw in that plan is that they end up with millions of people like my wife and I who would do anything possible to avoid getting on an airplane ever again.

I didn't say it was a GOOD strategy.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:35 AM (Riz8t)

80
Henry Petroski, now deceased, used to write the Engineering column for American Scientist, the bimonthly magazine of Sigma Xi.

He published "The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance" in 1992. It is in my stack of books that I intend to read.


Henry Petroski traces the origins of the pencil back to ancient Greece and Rome, writes factually and charmingly about its development over the centuries and around the world, and shows what the pencil can teach us about engineering and technology today.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:36 AM (xG4kz)

81 Attn NR Pax: The Mike Holman series is sequential but the books can be read standing alone.

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at November 28, 2025 11:36 AM (d9Cw3)

82 Pilot Origins: Launched in 2022 as the Cook County Promise Guaranteed Income Pilot, it was the largest publicly funded effort of its kind in the U.S. at the time. Funded by $42 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), it provided no-strings-attached monthly payments of $500 to 3,250 low-income households (selected via lottery) from December 2022 through December 2024, with final payments in January 2025.

So all it requires is stealing money from the rest of the country.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 28, 2025 11:37 AM (ExV1e)

83 The great flaw in that plan is that they end up with millions of people like my wife and I who would do anything possible to avoid getting on an airplane ever again.
Posted by: Tom Servo at November 28, 2025 11:34 AM (uWKK

This!

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at November 28, 2025 11:37 AM (g8Ew8)

84
Aspiration Partners?

That would be the name of a firm that specializes in cleaning up vomit.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:38 AM (xG4kz)

85 290 ‘Good morning m’lady. I’ve brought your laxative.’
Posted by: Eromero at November 28, 2025 11:36 AM (i+bC1)
Willowed from art thread.

Posted by: Eromero at November 28, 2025 11:38 AM (i+bC1)

86 Good morning!

Heard yesterday, after a guest was late thanks to the Uber driver no-show, that a new scam is Uber drivers accepting the ride request, not showing, then getting the cancellation fee when the rider has to cancel/order another ride.

Of course.

Posted by: Lizzy at November 28, 2025 11:39 AM (GbwPZ)

87 INTEREST payment on national debt hits record $104.4 BILLION for one MONTH. Come see how cooked we are, chat.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:33 AM (L/fGl)


I’m Not saying debt is t a problem. It certainly is.

But headlines like this taken out of context are meaningless. Is this the highest ever in nominal or real dollars? What about as a percent of gdp? Was there some quirk in this month that caused it? Lots of factors go into it. And usually for economic data monthly can have short term noise that is smoothed out over the long term.

It’s like saying such and such movie broke a box office record this year. OK but it’s still 30% lower than some movie from the 1980s if adjusted for inflation.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:39 AM (uDDWT)

88 It's probably like the airlines strategy to get people to buy up in class. If you make the baseline experience miserable enough, people will eventually pay more.

On my recently completed Viking cruise to Turkey and Greece, Viking, unbidden, bumped us up from a penthouse suite to an explorer's suite, which is a yuuuuge increase in space, luxury, and view. We wondered why they did it.

Now we're discussing further trips, and the start of every conversation is whether we can get an explorer's suite. I think they knew exactly what they were doing.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:39 AM (Riz8t)

89
Every time I see a video of ill behavior on an airplane or wilding gangs in an airport, it strengthens my resolve to travel by any means other than flying.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:40 AM (xG4kz)

90 Good news, everyone!

JEN PSAKI IN 2021: “I can absolutely ASSURE you that no one is coming into the United States of America who has not been through a THOROUGH screening and background check process.”

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Stranger In a Strange Land at November 28, 2025 11:41 AM (L/fGl)

91 Heard yesterday, after a guest was late thanks to the Uber driver no-show, that a new scam is Uber drivers accepting the ride request, not showing, then getting the cancellation fee when the rider has to cancel/order another ride.

Of course.
Posted by: Lizzy

Don’t play that game. You have 2 minutes to cancel penalty free. If you don’t see the car moving within 2 mins cancel.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:41 AM (uDDWT)

92 >>We need more corporations with names like Union Carbide, Morton Thiokol, International Harvester. You know--names that should be said with a deep voice.


Don't get me started on the intentionally goofy, cutesy, "fun" tech company and product names. We are not children.

Posted by: Lizzy at November 28, 2025 11:42 AM (GbwPZ)

93 Every time I see a video of ill behavior on an airplane or wilding gangs in an airport, it strengthens my resolve to travel by any means other than flying.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM} at November 28, 2025 11:40 AM (xG4kz)

I'm not certain that I can go the remainder of my life never travelling anywhere other than via my own car but I'm willing to run the experiment.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 28, 2025 11:42 AM (ExV1e)

94 Don't get me started on the intentionally goofy, cutesy, "fun" tech company and product names. We are not children.

I dunno. Blue Koala Penis has a certain memorability to it.

Posted by: Archimedes at November 28, 2025 11:43 AM (Riz8t)

95 >>Don’t play that game. You have 2 minutes to cancel penalty free. If you don’t see the car moving within 2 mins cancel.


Good to know. I will continue to not use Uber, though.

Posted by: Lizzy at November 28, 2025 11:43 AM (GbwPZ)

96 And then once it’s up and running the jobs created by those 800 employees spending money in town. businesses open up which hire people. Who then spend money and new businesses open up for them and so on. Which leads to population growth. Then you need more doctors and more dentists. And they move in and open up shop. It’s a never ending economic circle.

That’s why it’s so devastating when a plant shuts down. All that ancillary economic activity also dies.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:31 AM

Similar situation with the auto industry. Big3 employees have had benefits of getting special discounts on vehicles not only for themselves, but for friends and family each year.

Now, what happens when you push out thousands of those employees and replace them with outsourced cheap labor retards in India and Mexico...

Those thousands of former employees, their family and their friends are no longer buying your vehicles. Those former employees are also no longer promoting your company and vehicles to anyone and everyone they see, spreading good word of mouth. In fact, they are probably doing the opposite.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at November 28, 2025 11:43 AM (P5BPp)

97 Giving the bums an allowance so they can buy their dope.
Sounds like California. We want everyone should be happy.
How stupid can a government be? If you work and pay taxes why would you vote for these idiot politicians?

Posted by: Case at November 28, 2025 11:44 AM (5Je/N)

98 Don’t play that game. You have 2 minutes to cancel penalty free. If you don’t see the car moving within 2 mins cancel.

OTOH, if Uber can see their location then Uber can see that they're not moving in your direction and Uber should not charge you a cancellation fee. Seems a bit like fraud, although the company is only facilitating it rather than directly committing it.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 28, 2025 11:44 AM (ExV1e)

99 I loathe companies that have “Lu” at the end of their name. Like Grammarly or Gamify. They take the noun of what the company offers and then add ly or ify at the end.

Please stop.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:45 AM (uDDWT)

100 The Mike Holman series is sequential but the books can be read standing alone.

Thanks! I will take a look at them.

Posted by: NR Pax at November 28, 2025 11:45 AM (7xrfc)

101 OTOH, if Uber can see their location then Uber can see that they're not moving in your direction and Uber should not charge you a cancellation fee. Seems a bit like fraud, although the company is only facilitating it rather than directly committing it.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at November 28, 2025 11:44 AM (ExV1e)

It’s in their interest to commit the fraud. You get charged $10 cancellation fee, driver gets $4, Uber gets $6.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at November 28, 2025 11:46 AM (uDDWT)

102 “Ship fire contained but remains under close watch at Port of Los Angeles”

We had to use the Pacific Ocean to contain the fire, but trust us- lithium batteries are safe and effective!

Posted by: t-bird at November 28, 2025 11:46 AM (7kply)

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