Wednesday Morning Rant

Meaningless Punishments

There is no more sure-fire way to never face meaningful punishment than to be a major, well-connected American corporation. Even politicians sometimes go down for Party defense purposes, but the powerful corporation never does. Even "landmark" punishments are mere slaps on the wrist, and they laugh all the way to the bank. There is a prime example of this in the news now, courtesy of everyone's favorite big tech hypercorp: Alphabet.

Alphabet - which Google renamed itself when that company decided its original name wasn't quite sinister enough - has settled a class-action lawsuit for recording people's conversations and using them for advertising. The thing everyone assumed Alphabet was doing, and that Alphabet insisted up and down it was not doing, turned out to be something Alphabet was doing. Shocker of the century there. Alphabet is settling its privacy case and paying a penalty.

The issue is simple. Alphabet would - they claim by accident - record information picked up by its "assistant" system (the "Hey Google ..." thing) even when it wasn't activated or was ostensibly in standby. That was then recorded and used for advertising purposes. This is a fatal flaw in all voice-activated systems - it can't hear you if it isn't listening - but Alphabet and the rest all uniformly claim that there is no recording unless activated. That turned out, against all odds, to be untrue.

This is on the heels of a prior settlement for the same thing from Apple last year. Apple would illegitimately record information through its "Siri" assistant. Unlike Alphabet, Apple claims they never sold the data or used it for marketing, but who knows. Nothing is off limits for Big Tech. I am just waiting for Amazon's turn.

So what was the punishment? Nothing. Alphabet is settling for $68 million. Apple settled for $95 million a year ago. How much a penalty is that? Well, let's see.

In the first quarter of 2025, Alphabet racked up $66.885 billion in advertising revenue - not counting YouTube. The overall company net profit that quarter was $34.54 billion. So they spied on their customers - and lied about it - for almost a decade and the penalty amounts to 0.2% of the company's first-quarter profits last year. By comparison, Apple got positively screwed. In the quarter before its settlement, it earned a paltry $36.33 billion in net profit, so its settlement was a staggering 2.6% of the quarterly profit!

It's nothing new. Remember in 2009 when Pfizer paid record-setting penalties for lying about drugs, paying kickbacks and various other frauds for years? That one was a big penalty. It was record-setting at the time, at $2.3 billion including criminal penalties. That amounted to just over a quarter of its 2009 profits. For years and years of misbehavior. That will dent the margins, but isn't much more than a shrug in the grand scheme of things. These aren't punishments, these are merely the "cost of doing business." Do whatever you want, commit whatever crimes you please, lie about it for years, and settle it for a couple of points off one quarter's profits unless you're really unlucky. In that worst-case scenario, the penalty might be an entire quarter's profits.

Lie. Cheat. Steal. Spy. Bribe. Kill. Abuse your customers. Buy politicians. Whatever. Just be a well-connected mega-corp and you'll get the corporate equivalent of a night in the drunk tank. Must be nice.

Posted by: Joe Mannix at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:00 AM (RoI99)

2 Corgis called

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:00 AM (RoI99)

3 Have any commies threatened guglag's CEO?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:02 AM (ULPxl)

4 BOING!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:02 AM (BJnkV)

5 Say, don't we have anti-trust laws in this country?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:03 AM (ULPxl)

6 I'm still not happy Trump commuted the sentence of the CEO/owner of the largest employer of illegals in the country. I try not to mention that piece of information to often as we are in a war.

Posted by: Mel Gibson at January 28, 2026 11:04 AM (KDPiq)

7 Hiya!

Posted by: Cheese puns at January 28, 2026 11:04 AM (0yjaw)

8 Say, don't we have anti-trust laws in this country?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:03 AM (ULPxl)
-

I don't trust them. It's even in the name!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:04 AM (BJnkV)

9 I have no voice-activated devices. Well, maybe the cat. But she cannot bring me a beer, so i don't ask.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:04 AM (8zz6B)

10 Off awesome director sock

Posted by: Opinion fact at January 28, 2026 11:04 AM (KDPiq)

11 These mega corporations are essentially paying a "sin tax."

Posted by: Lizzy at January 28, 2026 11:05 AM (0yjaw)

12 There was a time before "we" wised up that "we" often found ourselves defending corporations....

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:06 AM (QQN0v)

13 This is why you need to take an armored vehicle to the market.

https://is.gd/nUEUq3

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:07 AM (L/fGl)

14 Siri, is Joe Mannix a cop?

Posted by: Suspicious Mind at January 28, 2026 11:07 AM (oftw2)

15 I should have become a Somoli bank robber when I grew up. Seems as though legitimate careers are for suckers.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at January 28, 2026 11:07 AM (g8Ew8)

16 Do you really think any politician wants to go to war with the Silicon Valley Inquisition? The church of Manhattan Media scares them, too.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 11:08 AM (Hpgos)

17 Fines like that are just a line item expense.
Like janitorial services.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:08 AM (4uLDQ)

18 I AM the voice activated device in my house.

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:08 AM (QQN0v)

19 9 I have no voice-activated devices. Well, maybe the cat. But she cannot bring me a beer, so i don't ask.

is it that she cannot or that she will not?

Posted by: anachronda at January 28, 2026 11:09 AM (sGtp+)

20 >>> 16 Do you really think any politician wants to go to war with the Silicon Valley Inquisition? The church of Manhattan Media scares them, too.
Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 11:08 AM (Hpgos)

I have a suggestion.

Posted by: Ellen Ripley at January 28, 2026 11:09 AM (ULPxl)

21 When the new notebook wanted facial recognition for my login, I pulled down my pants. Now I have to expose my penis every time I wan to sign in.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (oT7pT)

22 I’m not defending Google but everyone ought to know that if they use things like Assistant or Alexa this is the deal. You waive all privacy. Sam if you use Gmail.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (4uLDQ)

23 So, just how do they use people's conversations for advertising?

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

24 According to the settlement agreement, the class members can take their payout as $8 in cash or a next generation Google Assistant for their home.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at January 28, 2026 11:11 AM (8DR9B)

25 Do the employees of Apple, Google and Amazon allow their products in their homes or on their devices?

Posted by: Oglebay at January 28, 2026 11:11 AM (GPa4z)

26 is it that she cannot or that she will not?
Posted by: anachronda at January 28, 2026 11:09 AM (sGtp+)

Not tall enough to reach the handle on the fridge door. And then that "lack of opposable thumbs" thing. Mostly the lack of opposable thumbs.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:12 AM (8zz6B)

27 Willowed from Art Thread:

433 At 425+ comments, I'm beginning to suspect there's no correlation between the quality of the art and the number of comments on the Thread.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 28, 2026 10:55 AM (0sNs1)

To be fair, 100+ comments were lame-a** bird puns...

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:12 AM (QGaXH)

28 shit. I can avoid inviting Amazon, no echo, ring cameras etc. But my work went to google for email, and its on my phone.

Mind even AI is probably bored out of its gourd sifting through my audio but I still hate that they are snooping on me.

Posted by: PaleRider at January 28, 2026 11:12 AM (hhkIi)

29 So what was the punishment? Nothing. Alphabet is settling for $68 million. Apple settled for $95 million a year ago. How much a penalty is that? Well, let's see.

That's couch change for them. Total joke. The class action plaintiffs' lawyers and lead plaintiff are millionaires now, so that's nice. The rest of the class got probably $5 google play gift cards.

Posted by: Class actions are a scam at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (TbWk/)

30 To be fair, 100+ comments were lame-a** bird puns...
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)

Hey! My bird puns were auksome!

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (77rzZ)

31 shit. I can avoid inviting Amazon, no echo, ring cameras etc. But my work went to google for email, and its on my phone.

—

Don’t use your personal phone for work email. Solves the problem.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (4uLDQ)

32 If they had an internal struggle within the C-suite and installed Evan Campbell as new CEO would that be deemed...

...Campbell's Alphabet Coup?

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (qgHp7)

33 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.

She is the nurse who suggested injecting ICE agents with paralytic drugs.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (RoI99)

34 There are two sides to this. Fines or penalties against the company are felt mostly by shareholders, who are innocent of the punished conduct. Why should they be punished?

The punishments should be levied at the individuals at the company responsible for the misconduct. Stop laughing. No, seriously. I'm serious, you guys.

These fines and penalties are nothing more than another form of corporate tax, of course. If alfagbet wasn't guilty of this, the regulators would find something else.

This is exactly what is going on in Europe, with multi-billion (with a "b") penalties imposed against US-based companies for made-up bullshit. This is a very serious problem that is flying under the radar. Trump should add it to his list of grievances against these fuckers. If they are targeting our companies, we should target theirs.

Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM (iFTx/)

35 yum yum shit
yummy shit pebbles
in my mouth

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM (hNf/i)

36 So, just how do they use people's conversations for advertising?
Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

They listen on women's iPhones when they're talking about how much they love their Playtex Cross-Ur-Heart bra.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM (g8Ew8)

37 Me twenty-five years ago would reflexively try to defend corporate misbehavior since they were on our team in the intellectual battle against communism. Now, not only are large corporations fully aligned with the left, but their oligopolistic behavior reveals them to be enemies of free market capitalism. Screw them.

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at January 28, 2026 11:16 AM (9eixl)

38 OT but funny (CCP whining):

https://is.gd/PBpyBp

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:16 AM (ULPxl)

39 >>>Willowed from Art Thread:

433 At 425+ comments, I'm beginning to suspect there's no correlation between the quality of the art and the number of comments on the Thread.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 28, 2026 10:55 AM (0sNs1)

To be fair, 100+ comments were lame-a** bird puns...

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)

>Ace gets hits, and people have a few laughs. Lighten up, Francis.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 28, 2026 11:16 AM (oT7pT)

40 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.

She is the nurse who suggested injecting ICE agents with paralytic drugs.
Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (RoI99)

Should be relieved of her nursing license, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:17 AM (8zz6B)

41 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career
-

There’s a shortage of nurses. She’ll be fine. In a few weeks/months she’ll be hired somewhere else with no fanfare. Nursing is an ultra far left community. Her “sisters” will take care of her.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:17 AM (4uLDQ)

42 Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM

His grandfather was a "limp" in Africa. I am getting a lot of amusement from these typos. Ha!

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 28, 2026 11:17 AM (oT1li)

43 Meaningless Punishments

I accept full responsibility and am suspending myself with pay while I update our training procedures. Let this be a lesson to me!

Posted by: t-bird at January 28, 2026 11:17 AM (kG5OE)

44 >>> 33 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.

She is the nurse who suggested injecting ICE agents with paralytic drugs.
Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (RoI99)

I hope she dies in a fcking ditch. In Minneapolis.

Would anyone sane trust that psycho bint in *any* interaction now?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:18 AM (ULPxl)

45 I saw Limps in Africa open for...

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:18 AM (77rzZ)

46 Yo. Yeah you. Relax, just want to ask you something

Marxist: Huh? Are you nuts? We're shooting at you!

Uh huh. That whole death to capitalism thing, would you mind going over that again?

Marxist: This is a trap, isn't it?

Not at all - hey! you! BZO. Google it - I was just thinking you might be interested in... call it a Prisoner Exchange

Posted by: Fen at January 28, 2026 11:19 AM (ciYHQ)

47 What it a pimp with a limp?

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:19 AM (4uLDQ)

48 So, just how do they use people's conversations for advertising?

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

Carl: "Frank, my refrigerator broke."
Frank: "You need a plumber?"
Carl: "Yes. Do you know a good one?"
Frank: "I'll be right over."

Later - up pops the grindr ads

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:19 AM (QQN0v)

49 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.

-
With extreme prejudice?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (L/fGl)

50 The last corporation to ever receive a real sanction that I remember was Enron, and that was more a question of just being allowed to collapse on its own. Before that AT&T when it got broken up.

I used to dismiss this sort of thinking, but it's there in my face nowadays.

You say you don't believe in corporate dystopian scenarios, that there are no such things. Well, you better start believing in dystopias...

...because we're in one.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (OUMaO)

51 Lie. Cheat. Steal. Spy. Bribe. Kill. Abuse your customers. Buy politicians. Whatever.

That sounds pretty nice and all, but what about rape?

Posted by: Taggart at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (JCZqz)

52 So ASS is coprophilic?

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (8CIFn)

53 In other corpo news, Instapundit is reporting that Boeing is getting its act together
cnbc.com/2026/01/27/boeing-ba-4q-2025-earnings.html

Posted by: gKWVE at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (tL5sl)

54 They listen on women's iPhones when they're talking about how much they love their Playtex Cross-Ur-Heart bra.
Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM (g8Ew

(computer-generated Siri voice); "OK, Honey, turn on your selfie cam, and remove your bra to demonstrate exactly how much sagging the Cross Ur Heart bra prevents."

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (8zz6B)

55 The hell of it is, when a person logs in to a computer for the very first time in their life, they've just given up all privacy for the rest of their life.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (g8Ew8)

56 Lie. Cheat. Steal. Spy. Bribe. Kill. Abuse your customers. Buy politicians. Whatever. Just be a well-connected mega-corp and you'll get the corporate equivalent of a night in the drunk tank. Must be nice.

Posted by: Joe Mannix at 11:00 AM

And the financial penalties don't really hurt the corporations, they hurt the innocent stockholders. So yes - compensate the victims, but don't then victimize the shareholders.

Forget financial penalties - some of these people need to go to jail. Punish the perpetrators of the fraud, not the innocent share holders. Spoken as a shareholder of the named companies and others who has seen the value of his holdings decline at times because of these penalties.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:21 AM (QGaXH)

57 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.

She is the nurse who suggested injecting ICE agents with paralytic drugs.
Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (RoI99)
____

Good news, but more is needed. Strip her of her nursing license. She publicly confessed to what amounts to conspiracy to commit murder. Arrest and prosecute. You can be sure that if she was MAGA and said exactly what she did about BLM, she'd be looking at prison time.

Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:21 AM (iFTx/)

58 47 What it a pimp with a limp?
Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:19 AM (4uLDQ)

Somebody beat Alex Stein 99's legs with a baseball bat?

Posted by: XTC at January 28, 2026 11:21 AM (uEmCf)

59 >>> 50 The last corporation to ever receive a real sanction that I remember was Enron, and that was more a question of just being allowed to collapse on its own. Before that AT&T when it got broken up.

I used to dismiss this sort of thinking, but it's there in my face nowadays.

You say you don't believe in corporate dystopian scenarios, that there are no such things. Well, you better start believing in dystopias...

...because we're in one.
Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (OUMaO)

I'm so old, I remember when the timwalz execs at my company introduced "Diversity, Inclusion and Equity", and yes, in that order.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (ULPxl)

60 Just saw Ilhan's performative art vid.

Somalians expertise is brazen fraud, subtle it is not.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (Dv3i1)

61 52 So ASS is coprophilic?
Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (8CIFn)

Coprophagic anyway

Posted by: Nom nom nom at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (TbWk/)

62 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.
——-

Nah. Nurses are in short supply. She’ll just get hired somewhere else. We are no longer a serious country.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (eOudo)

63 how much they love their Playtex Cross-Ur-Heart bra.

The push up peekaboo training bra.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (Kt19C)

64 Hey! My bird puns were auksome!

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (77rzZ)
-

That's ostrich.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:23 AM (BJnkV)

65 I have no voice-activated devices. Well, maybe the cat. But she cannot bring me a beer, so i don't ask.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

************

Opposable thumbs, Baybee!!!

Posted by: muldoon's beer-fetching lemur at January 28, 2026 11:23 AM (qgHp7)

66 Would it be wrong to start a gofundme to encourage Malinda (is that really how she spells it? appropriate...) to take Her Battle directly to ICE?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:24 AM (ULPxl)

67 21 When the new notebook wanted facial recognition for my login, I pulled down my pants. Now I have to expose my penis every time I wan to sign in.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (oT7pT)

Hilarious if true! Especially if you want to use it in pubic.....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:24 AM (QGaXH)

68 She is the nurse who suggested injecting ICE agents with paralytic drugs.
Posted by: rickb223
========
Worse, what she was doing was recommending killing them without appearing to do so directly. The particular drug she mentioned is paralyzes breathing for intubation and requires forced mechanical oxygen intake in order to keep the patient alive. There is no antidote. Absent intubation and forced ventilation, the person dies, quickly, and with few traces.

There have been several murder cases involving the drug being used to off spouses, etc.

I am facing intubation for upcoming spinal surgery and that exact drug is probably going to be used. That nurse cockroach should lose all certifications as no sane insurance company would cover a woman recommending murder for political reasons.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:24 AM (E4rtv)

69 Next to teachers nurses are the most loathsome group of “professionals”.

Obviously there are exceptions. But as a whole those two groups are insufferable.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:25 AM (4uLDQ)

70 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career
-

LOL she'll be Pete Booty's Surgeon General

They always fail up. That's why they do it.

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:25 AM (QQN0v)

71 >>> 65 I have no voice-activated devices. Well, maybe the cat. But she cannot bring me a beer, so i don't ask.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

************

Opposable thumbs, Baybee!!!
Posted by: muldoon's beer-fetching lemur at January 28, 2026 11:23 AM (qgHp7)

Bluebell the Hen sulks, and says the WEFtards should be glad she does not have opposable thumbs.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:25 AM (ULPxl)

72 Just saw Ilhan's performative art vid.

Somalians expertise is brazen fraud, subtle it is not.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at January 28, 2026 11:22 AM (Dv3i1)
-

Did you see this?

https://tinyurl.com/4ptajk52

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:25 AM (BJnkV)

73 Nah. Nurses are in short supply. She’ll just get hired somewhere else. We are no longer a serious country.
Posted by: Common Tater
======
I think she will be uninsurable as she is an nurse anesthetist and what she recommended would kill patients. That exposes hospitals and surgery centers using her to enormous liability if they do and she kills a patient or even if a patient dies under her watch.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:26 AM (E4rtv)

74 Hello, Horde! 😊♥️

Birdbath status: Still Frozen, but starting to thaw.

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at January 28, 2026 11:27 AM (SRRAx)

75 Did you see this?

https://tinyurl.com/4ptajk52
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey

Hah!

ABC, CBS, NBC, FoxNews, CNN and MS NOW viewers will never see it.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at January 28, 2026 11:27 AM (Dv3i1)

76 So, when a corporation is fined... who gets the money?

Politicians would be my guess.

The fines are most likely just part of the shakedown that goes on annually. I'd like to know what these corporations do (or fail to do) for the politicos that either raises, or lowers the fines.

Lizzy "Squaw 4-eye" Warren has this scheme down to a science with her CPB.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 28, 2026 11:27 AM (jtM2q)

77 There’s also an anesthesiologist in Florida who proclaimed on social media he will not work on Trump voters.

But remember they’re the party of science and tolerance.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:27 AM (4uLDQ)

78 30 To be fair, 100+ comments were lame-a** bird puns...
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)

Hey! My bird puns were auksome!
Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (77rzZ)

What. Have. I. Done.....

At least it's not boobs....

(face palm...d'oh)

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:28 AM (QGaXH)

79 Corporations are people too. I know this to be true as SCOTUS said so.

Posted by: Diabeetus at January 28, 2026 11:28 AM (fq8Zx)

80 ‘ Lie. Cheat. Steal. Spy. Bribe. Kill. Abuse your customers. Buy politicians. Whatever. Just be a well-connected mega-corp and you'll get the corporate equivalent of a night in the drunk tank. Must be nice.

Ha! Why’d you think ‘Bribe’ was on the list?

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 28, 2026 11:28 AM (jbnUc)

81 Low voltage tech, like all the IoT stuff and "Smart Access Control" is my game now. It is a den of vipers.

And the shit I could tell you about that river in the rain forest would turn you white.

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 11:28 AM (R0ru7)

82 Dystopia. Dat-topia. All da topias.

Posted by: muldoon's beer-fetching lemur at January 28, 2026 11:29 AM (qgHp7)

83 Hey! My bird puns were auksome!

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:14 AM (77rzZ)
-

That's ostrich.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:23 AM (BJnkV)

We're going to have a bird-coloring event called
Dye A Rhea.

Posted by: What can brown do for you at January 28, 2026 11:29 AM (TbWk/)

84 Did you see this?

https://tinyurl.com/4ptajk52
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey

Hah!

ABC, CBS, NBC, FoxNews, CNN and MS NOW viewers will never see it.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at January 28, 2026 11:27 AM (Dv3i1)
-

And now we know the motive. This might not have been staged at all:

https://tinyurl.com/yxu3p844

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (BJnkV)

85 At least it's not boobs....
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)

Great tits FTW!

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (77rzZ)

86 76.

That fugly witch's shakedown of RealPage for bribes was one for the history books.

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (R0ru7)

87 FBI should ask Omar if she wants to file an official report. That would be telling.

Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (V6W16)

88 I wonder if the info was collected for advertising purposes--is there any way to compute how effective all this personal ID is to a seller?

I think it's got more to do with politics. Like Eric Schmidt once said, we know everything about you. We know who you vote for.

Posted by: Random PJ at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (+jscL)

89 In other corpo news, Instapundit is reporting that Boeing is getting its act together
cnbc.com/2026/01/27/boeing-ba-4q-2025-earnings.html
Posted by: gKWVE at January 28, 2026 11:20 AM (tL5sl)

Sadly, making lots of money does not, necessarily, equate to getting their act together.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 28, 2026 11:31 AM (ExV1e)

90 We're going to have a bird-coloring event called
Dye A Rhea.
Posted by: What can brown do for you at January 28, 2026 11:29 AM (TbWk/)

Great emu-lations!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:31 AM (8zz6B)

91 50 The last corporation to ever receive a real sanction that I remember was Enron, and that was more a question of just being allowed to collapse on its own. Before that AT&T when it got broken up.

I used to dismiss this sort of thinking, but it's there in my face nowadays.

You say you don't believe in corporate dystopian scenarios, that there are no such things. Well, you better start believing in dystopias...

...because we're in one.
Posted by: Brother Tim

Corporations in our system act entailed estates filled by a new aristocracy of titled positions like CEO, CFO, etc.

Individuals holding the title of baron (CEO nowadays) came and went but the entailed estates were permanent lasting for centuries unless the current holder really pissed off the crown or the aristocrat went bankrupt and had to sell off the estate to settle debts (modern bankruptcy).

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:31 AM (E4rtv)

92 >>>Hilarious if true! Especially if you want to use it in pubic.....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)

>I made that up. Still these invasive technological advances are just a way of gathering data against you will. I will probably see my face somewhere on a site catfishing for cougars and milfs.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 28, 2026 11:31 AM (oT7pT)

93 Ilhan Oman bravely faces down The Splasher.

https://is.gd/sOVRUd

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:32 AM (L/fGl)

94 You know who else was a Party of Science?

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:32 AM (QQN0v)

95 39 >Ace gets hits, and people have a few laughs. Lighten up, Francis.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at January 28, 2026 11:16 AM (oT7pT)

Here we go with the Francis again...The other day I was Francis #2..who the h*** is Francis anyway? The Talking Mule? Possibly an apt description and wholly appropriate for a smart military blog. Good call Rev.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:32 AM (QGaXH)

96 You what will know solve this? A massive tax cut for all the job creating CEO heroes out there.
- GOP

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (4uLDQ)

97 You would think the new billionaire taxes being imposed in Cali would wake up the tech Robber Barons.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (Kxi0p)

98 Say, don't we have anti-trust laws in this country?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 28, 2026 11:03 AM (ULPxl)

-------------

More like anti-just laws, amirite?

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (NV+BS)

99 95 Here we go with the Francis again...The other day I was Francis #2..who the h*** is Francis anyway? The Talking Mule? Possibly an apt description and wholly appropriate for a smart military blog. Good call Rev.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:32 AM (QGaXH)

====

A reference to Stripes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syV2LkGpQB0

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (GBKbO)

100 We're going to have a bird-coloring event called
Dye A Rhea.
Posted by: What can brown do for you

I can't condorn such activity.

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (77rzZ)

101 So the MN Antifa plate lookup mechanism was found: there was a website called defrostmn.net that did it. It turned out to be really easy for bored hackers on X to get in and turn it into a smoking ruin. They also doxxed the person running it, one Matt Beran.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:34 AM (2ocoG)

102 Will the commies get their first scalp with Noem? I'm not a huge fan but if they force her out that will be the beginning of the isolation of Trump and the official flag of surrender from the GOP.

Stay strong my Orange skin Cheeto knight!

Posted by: GigantorX at January 28, 2026 11:34 AM (WGjoS)

103 42 Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at January 28, 2026 11:15 AM

His grandfather was a "limp" in Africa. I am getting a lot of amusement from these typos. Ha!
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 28, 2026 11:17 AM (oT1li)

I've wondered if the nic is supposed to be a reference to the TV show in the '70's Alias Smith and Jones?

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:34 AM (QGaXH)

104 "Andy Kazmierczak"

My tongue just jumped out of my mouth and hid behind a chair when I tried to pronounce that

Posted by: gKWVE at January 28, 2026 11:34 AM (tL5sl)

105 Was Challenger 40 years ago today? I remember where I was, what I was doing when I heard about it....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:35 AM (QGaXH)

106 "Andy Kazmierczak"

My tongue just jumped out of my mouth and hid behind a chair when I tried to pronounce that
Posted by: gKWVE

The only time I know how to pronounce Polish names is when they're written in Cyrillic.

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:36 AM (77rzZ)

107 "Andy Kazmierczak"

My tongue just jumped out of my mouth and hid behind a chair when I tried to pronounce that
Posted by: gKWVE at January 28, 2026 11:34 AM (tL5sl)

Good thing he answers to "Hey, Asshole!"

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:36 AM (8zz6B)

108 13 This is why you need to take an armored vehicle to the market.

https://is.gd/nUEUq3

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:07 AM (L/fGl)

Second guy was standing right behind the RPG when it was fired, an uncomfortable place to be.

Posted by: javems at January 28, 2026 11:36 AM (zFsEm)

109 Individuals holding the title of baron (CEO nowadays) came and went but the entailed estates were permanent lasting for centuries unless the current holder really pissed off the crown or the aristocrat went bankrupt and had to sell off the estate to settle debts (modern bankruptcy).

Posted by: whig

Nothing new, etc. It's things like this that put me in a quandry regarding the Mangione affair and its likes. Feels like it's damned if we do, damned if we don't. That tends not to be a good sign for things to come.

Posted by: Brother Tim (102mm/W59), Keeper of the Tim Continuum at January 28, 2026 11:36 AM (OUMaO)

110 BI should ask Omar if she wants to file an official report. That would be telling.

Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM

That whole thing was staged and both of them are crappy actors.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 28, 2026 11:37 AM (0N4FZ)

111 Good thing he answers to "Hey, Asshole!"
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

Especially where he's headed

Posted by: gKWVE at January 28, 2026 11:37 AM (tL5sl)

112 Malinda Cook, CRNA who was employed at VCU Health - has been terminated.
She just destroyed her career.

There are others. Vaccine sales rep. Hospital administrator. She'll be fine.

Posted by: t-bird at January 28, 2026 11:37 AM (kG5OE)

113 Damn I’m getting old as I remember very clearly where I was when something happened 40 years ago.

Posted by: Really?? at January 28, 2026 11:37 AM (4uLDQ)

114 60
‘ Just saw Ilhan's performative art vid.’

I saw her in a YouTube ad asking for (more) money.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 28, 2026 11:38 AM (jbnUc)

115 "Andy Kazmierczak"

My tongue just jumped out of my mouth and hid behind a chair when I tried to pronounce that
Posted by: gKWVE
--------

[recalls Derb's commentary re Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, then President of Turkmenistan]

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 28, 2026 11:38 AM (XeU6L)

116 Damn I’m getting old as I remember very clearly where I was when something happened 40 years ago.
Posted by: Really??
-------

It gets worse.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 28, 2026 11:39 AM (XeU6L)

117 48 So, just how do they use people's conversations for advertising?

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

Carl: "Frank, my refrigerator broke."
Frank: "You need a plumber?"
Carl: "Yes. Do you know a good one?"
Frank: "I'll be right over."

Later - up pops the grindr ads
Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:19 AM (QQN0v)

O I C - they use the eavesdropped conversations to TARGET ads to the eavesdropee.....I was unclear what they were trying to do....

Somewhere some guy is wondering why his wife's computer is getting tons of discount motel ads...

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:40 AM (QGaXH)

118 The only time I know how to pronounce Polish names is when they're written in Cyrillic.

They chose the strangest transliterations, didn't they? I'm starting to get used to some of them, though.

Posted by: t-bird at January 28, 2026 11:40 AM (kG5OE)

119 Are CEOs as a class impressive, no? I’m sure a few are… Elon Musk comes to mind. The CEO of my company is not and I think he’s typical… he’s akin to a party apparatchik always quoting the party line no original thoughts

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 28, 2026 11:41 AM (YobFY)

120 When it comes to Polish names, Turtle Wax is pretty easy.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:41 AM (8zz6B)

121 I won't allow voice activated agents in the house. Problem solved.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 28, 2026 11:41 AM (0U5gm)

122 I think she will be uninsurable as she is an nurse anesthetist and what she recommended would kill patients. That exposes hospitals and surgery centers using her to enormous liability
——-

25 years ago, maybe. She should be, or would be.

Insurance. They’ve been looking past a lot of skeevy stuff. For a long, long time. Because they are forced to. There’s more regulations on them then any other industry perhaps. This would be good, or could be, but like everything else has been twisted to leftist pressure.

For example. Any life insurance policy worth its salt would have an exclusion for biological warfare agents. WuHan Flu. Not a peep about that. Why? Because they know better.

Same with experimental medical trials. That’s what the “vaccine” is. Insurance doesn’t cover emergency experimental drugs that have not received FDA approval.

If there weren’t regulatory capture, the insurance industry could have been invaluable at blowing the entire debacle up. “We ain’t paying out for deaths caused by biological weapons tweaked for increased transmission”. Note well they didn’t say shit.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 28, 2026 11:41 AM (eOudo)

123 "Once you take a couple shots across the teeth from your brother, a little pee isn't so bad." - Brofo Omar, Wine Tycoon and Clit-free Incest Survivor, probably

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 11:42 AM (E5pD7)

124 Omar looks at the guy and flaps her arm right before he stands up. She's really bad at this stuff.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:42 AM (2ocoG)

125 My wife got a check for $10 from class action settlement with Facebook. We're rolling in the high cotton now, baby!

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at January 28, 2026 11:43 AM (+SzFD)

126 My wife got a check for $10 from class action settlement with Facebook.

Class actions are intended to make lawyers rich. That's the entire reason.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:44 AM (2ocoG)

127 Cases of "angel of mercy" killings have occurred for decades (even centuries). They typically involve an attention-seeking wannabe hero mentality. Even lower level nurses can find a way to provoke a life-threatening crisis in order to revel in the adrenaline rush of being in on the resuscitation. A Certified Nurse Anesthetist publicly musing on using curare to paralyze a patient's breathing for political differences takes it to a whole different level. Access to drugs like curare and fentanyl is quite easily managed by a CNA and repurposed for murderous uses.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:44 AM (qgHp7)

128 124 Omar looks at the guy and flaps her arm right before he stands up. She's really bad at this stuff.
Posted by: Ian S.

I know, right?

Posted by: Jussie Smollette at January 28, 2026 11:45 AM (Dv3i1)

129 125 My wife got a check for $10 from class action settlement with Facebook. We're rolling in the high cotton now, baby!

Posted by: Embarrassing Stain at January 28, 2026 11:43 AM (+SzFD)

=====

My wife got word on her bonus for the year.

Almost 50% of my annual pay from last year.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:45 AM (GBKbO)

130 68 I am facing intubation for upcoming spinal surgery and that exact drug is probably going to be used. That nurse cockroach should lose all certifications as no sane insurance company would cover a woman recommending murder for political reasons.
Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:24 AM (E4rtv)

I hope your surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery!

Others mentioned previously - to paraphrase - liability lawyers/families should be deluging these hospitals with subpoenas (?) for records of their loved one's care if there was anything less than a stellar outcome and those nurses were involved or even just on shift somewhere in the hospital.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:46 AM (QGaXH)

131 “Tolerance” was a ruse, rhetoric intended to get decent, peaceable people to put up with outrageous bullshit. That’s it.

That was always and ever a one sided deal. See also: “Free Speech”. Leftists never compromise, unless your definition of compromise is “give them everything they want” and more.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 28, 2026 11:46 AM (eOudo)

132 Nothing new, etc. It's things like this that put me in a quandry regarding the Mangione affair and its likes. Feels like it's damned if we do, damned if we don't. That tends not to be a good sign for things to come.
Posted by: Brother Tim
=======
Eyes on the Prize, while evil exists, so does goodness and it will be thus until the Lord returns. I was reading the parable of the minas in Luke last night and it gives much to ponder about.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:46 AM (E4rtv)

133 At 425+ comments, I'm beginning to suspect there's no correlation between the quality of the art and the number of comments on the Thread.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 28, 2026 10:55 AM (0sNs1)

To be fair, 100+ comments were lame-a** bird puns...

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK)
=====

I love you guys. I looked at it as an antisemitic painting, not really worth mentioning. The "Bird Men" in black with medieval hats, old-fashioned black shoes, are (it appears to me) selecting a bird for Kapparot.

Posted by: mrp at January 28, 2026 11:46 AM (rj6Yv)

134 I don't remember exactly how to spell his name, but one of the boiler maintenance guys at a job had a name that started with sound of a 'z' and ended with the sound of 'ski'. But the spelling started with an S and ended with ye.

Posted by: clarence at January 28, 2026 11:47 AM (7b9Rm)

135 Norm: "I don't know where I was when JFK was shot, but if someone asks, I'm gonna pretend I do so I don't feel stupid."

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:48 AM (QQN0v)

136 Was Challenger 40 years ago today? I remember where I was, what I was doing when I heard about it....
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan

Well, I thought this was funny. When I was in law school shortly after Challenger, we were reading a case regarding a tourist stage coach that had overturned injuring passengers. The cause was a faulty singletree. (Although we didn't know it, it is a small wooden or metal bar behind a harnessed horse used to balance the pull of a driving horse.) The professor asked a student to tell what a singletree is. Without missing a beat she responded, "a low tech O ring."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:48 AM (L/fGl)

137 Omar looks at the guy and flaps her arm right before he stands up. She's really bad at this stuff.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:42 AM

He almost messed it up a bit earlier in the video. He started to get up and then sat back down and waited for her to finish her "heroic" speech. She gave the signal at the end of her speech and she got applause she wanted.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 28, 2026 11:48 AM (0N4FZ)

138 No more evil nurse stuff today please.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (viF8m)

139 Impossible names pronounced nothing like they’re spelled… Mike Krzyzewski enters the thread…

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (YobFY)

140 This is why you need to take an armored vehicle to the market.

https://is.gd/nUEUq3

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:07 AM (L/fGl)
__________

When I was a baby lawyer, I was working a case that involved Russian gas companies, and by extension certain oligarchs. These are very very very bad dudes.

The case was pending in Russia. We of course had no chance to win. But just to ensure that the case would be decided in favor of the oligarchs, they sent a message to one of the judges who was seen as potentially neutral.

The message? They blew up this judge's car with an RPG on his way to the courthouse. Right in the middle of the street. I was not there at the time, but the partner in charge was in a separate car about 100 feet away. He saw it.

Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (iFTx/)

141
POKER MONKEY

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (y9nCu)

142 My wife got word on her bonus for the year.

Almost 50% of my annual pay from last year.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

But has she liked and subscribed yet?

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (77rzZ)

143 Norm: "I don't know where I was when JFK was shot, but if someone asks, I'm gonna pretend I do so I don't feel stupid."

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:48 AM (QQN0v)
-

Bad idea. You come off sounding like a gassy know-all.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (BJnkV)

144 No more evil nurse stuff today please.

Hey, they didn't spend 6 years in evil nursing school to be called sane.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (2ocoG)

145 No more evil nurse stuff today please.
Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (viF8m)

Can we move on to evil telephone sanitizers?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (8zz6B)

146 87 FBI should ask Omar if she wants to file an official report. That would be telling.
Posted by: Bitcoin Fixes Everything at January 28, 2026 11:30 AM (V6W16)

Somebody else mentioned - it's telling if they didn't lock the room down, analyze the liquid, send everybody to the hospital for observation....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (QGaXH)

147 142 My wife got word on her bonus for the year.

Almost 50% of my annual pay from last year.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

But has she liked and subscribed yet?

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (77rzZ)

=====

I acted as her proxy.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (GBKbO)

148 Norm: "I don't know where I was when JFK was shot, but if someone asks, I'm gonna pretend I do so I don't feel stupid."
Posted by: ...
-------

Math class. It was announced over the PA.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (XeU6L)

149 129 My wife got word on her bonus for the year.

Almost 50% of my annual pay from last year.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:45 AM (GBKbO)

Her parents don't hate you for making less than she does?

Posted by: XTC at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (uEmCf)

150 POKER MONKEY

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (y9nCu)
-

Mr. Chips.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (BJnkV)

151 Anesthesiology is viewed differently in a low-trust society.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (qgHp7)

152 selecting a bird for Kapparot.

Will a bucket from KFC do?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (Kt19C)

153 I hope your surgery goes well and you have a speedy recovery!

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan
======
Insurers and lawyers are going to be poring over these records as eventually almost every medical practioner has to deal with the legal system and insurance system over time.

It would be as if I, as a driver, was posting videos of me breaking speed and traffic laws and my insurance company takes umbrage and cancels my coverage and/or law enforcement uses that to prosecute me. Hearsay exceptions always include statements against interest by a witness as to their veracity, outlook, etc.

Same reason to not post stupid vigilante fantasies on gun threads or discussion boards. Same with posting while drunk or stoned. There is no real anonymity if a law firm or prosecutor feels otherwise.

Always figure that the internet is forever and not a place to serve as an emotional venting apparatus nor idiotic social signalling purposes advocating illegal or immoral acts.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (E4rtv)

154 Something happy instead. We beat Budweiser.

Celebrate the victories.

https://tinyurl.com/hfxrubuk

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (viF8m)

155 Anesthesiology is viewed differently in a low-trust society.
Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM

A bribe works, half now, half after you wake up.

Posted by: toby928(c) at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (jc0TO)

156 149
Her parents don't hate you for making less than she does?

Posted by: XTC at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (uEmCf)

=====

Lost my job 3 months ago, but I was also making about half as much as she was.

Her mom's poor and is just happy to see her daughter thrive. Her dad struggles with emotional connection.

Just remember...like and subscribe.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (GBKbO)

157 The message? They blew up this judge's car with an RPG on his way to the courthouse. Right in the middle of the street. I was not there at the time, but the partner in charge was in a separate car about 100 feet away. He saw it.
Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (iFTx/)

There's got to be a market somewhere for that sort of expertise.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (8zz6B)

158 79 Corporations are people too. I know this to be true as SCOTUS said so.
------------------
Corporations are immortal provided they don't fuck up. No human is immortal.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 11:52 AM (Hpgos)

159 Omar looks at the guy and flaps her arm right before he stands up. She's really bad at this stuff.

Article I read said he was arrested and identified. If the charges just mysteriously go away, that is good reason to suspect it's bogus. On the other hand, it would be amusing if Omar realizes that and throws him under the bus.

Posted by: Oddbob at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (Fs0KI)

160 Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:40 AM (QGaXH)

Interesting. I will have to read up

Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (QQN0v)

161 selecting a bird for Kapparot.

Will a bucket from KFC do?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (Kt19C)
-

Remember: you can't spell kaparrot without "parrot"!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (BJnkV)

162 119 Are CEOs as a class impressive, no? I’m sure a few are… Elon Musk comes to mind. The CEO of my company is not and I think he’s typical… he’s akin to a party apparatchik always quoting the party line no original thoughts
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 28, 2026 11:41 AM (YobFY)
------
My CEO is pretty good as far as CEOs of major tech companies go. Has a good vision and leads the company with a pretty steady hand without flailing about over every new shiny thing that comes along. They're all at the mercy of their boards though, so they have to mouth the words.

Posted by: ballistic at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (5aZAZ)

163 No more evil nurse stuff today please.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (viF8m)

------------

Not even if they're bravely & stunningly dancing with masks on?

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (shv/h)

164 sounding like a gassy know-all.

Y'know who else was gassy?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:53 AM (Kt19C)

165 "Andy Kazmierczak"

My tongue just jumped out of my mouth and hid behind a chair when I tried to pronounce that
Posted by: gKWVE

I'm going to guess "Kammer-shak".

But it's probably "luxury-yacht"

Posted by: FeatherBlade at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (a+4eV)

166 151 Anesthesiology is viewed differently in a low-trust society.
Posted by: muldoon
=======
Same goes for a lot of medical care.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (E4rtv)

167 selecting a bird for Kapparot.

Will a bucket from KFC do?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (Kt19C)
-

It should. It has wings and fries.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (BJnkV)

168 Article I read said he was arrested and identified. If the charges just mysteriously go away, that is good reason to suspect it's bogus. On the other hand, it would be amusing if Omar realizes that and throws him under the bus.
Posted by: Oddbob

If she does, he'll be squealing.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (RoI99)

169 Omar looks at the guy and flaps her arm right before he stands up. She's really bad at this stuff.

Back and to the left ... back ... and to the left ... back .. and to the left

Posted by: toby928(c) at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (jc0TO)

170 99 A reference to Stripes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syV2LkGpQB0
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (GBKbO)

Just to be clear - I meant my 'Good call Rev' comment to be taken as appreciation, not sarcasm.

Francis the Talking Mule goes all the way back to the 1940's and WWII

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:54 AM (QGaXH)

171 Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (iFTx/)

There is a phrase in Russian, "telefonnoye pravosudiye," or "telephone jurisprudence," referring to when somebody in power calls up a judge and tells him how to rule in a particular case.

Sounds like the message your judge got was a lot stronger than a phone call. Maybe he did get one but was inclined to ignore it, so somebody had to send a stronger message.

Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:55 AM (77rzZ)

172 I remember where I was, what I was doing when I heard about it....

Yep. In Fry's, near the TV section, looking for EPROMs, I believe. (ask your grandparents, kids!)

Posted by: t-bird at January 28, 2026 11:55 AM (kG5OE)

173
When I was a baby lawyer, I was working a case that involved Russian gas companies, and by extension certain oligarchs. These are very very very bad dudes.
------

Recommended read:

'Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice' by Bill Browder

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 28, 2026 11:55 AM (XeU6L)

174 Will a bucket from KFC do?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (Kt19C)

Jobu will not be pleased.

Posted by: Pedro Cerrano at January 28, 2026 11:55 AM (PSEDc)

175 Article I read said he was arrested and identified. If the charges just mysteriously go away, that is good reason to suspect it's bogus. On the other hand, it would be amusing if Omar realizes that and throws him under the bus.
----

But, then, he has a reason to confess her involvement in the cunning stunt.

Posted by: clarence at January 28, 2026 11:56 AM (7b9Rm)

176 It is doubly against society's interest to be lenient with corporations, first because of failing to disincentivize the actions against interest, and perhaps even more importantly, said antisocial behavior and its permittedness is then used by socialist conmen in their scam patter. Even if there is some weirdo out there who actually loves corporations, he must then loathe socialists at least as much as normal people do; and so corporations need to be held to account in a meaningful way, so that their misbehavior can't be used by truly evil men to agitate for something even worse.

If you need an analogy, it's like the anecdote told by a union organizer of how he was on a flight next to an executive, and freely told him the secret of how to prevent union organizing: fire the bad managers. He knew they wouldn't use the secret, and they didn't. Well, firing the bad corporations to prevent socialist organizing is our macro equivalent.

Posted by: SciVo at January 28, 2026 11:56 AM (Sy6m/)

177 174 Will a bucket from KFC do?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM (Kt19C)

Jobu will not be pleased.
------------
Would a fifth of Rum and some cigars make Jobu happy?

Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 11:56 AM (Hpgos)

178 99 A reference to Stripes.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, searching for twisted thrills with Park Chan-wook at January 28, 2026 11:33 AM (GBKbO)

Thank you - I'll have to re-watch Stripes as I don't remember the context.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 28, 2026 11:57 AM (QGaXH)

179 154.

I have the most appropriate boner in weeks after seeing that.

*Still hope the foreign conglomerate that owns them have to spin off Budweiser and sell it to an American company that becomes the most based beer company on the planet.

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 11:57 AM (KAXh/)

180 I don't know why WaPo is failing.

Washington Post reports study claiming black people have shorter lifespans because of racism

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 11:57 AM (L/fGl)

181 Are CEOs as a class impressive, no? I’m sure a few are… Elon Musk comes to mind. The CEO of my company is not and I think he’s typical… he’s akin to a party apparatchik always quoting the party line no original thoughts
Posted by: LinusVanPelt
======
Musk is an entrepreneur which is a horse of a different color compared to CEOs. Same relationship as owning a store as a partner versus having a manager run it.

CEO does not equate to entrepreneur no matter how much many of these dotards think it does. An entrepreneur risks his own fortune as an owner-partial or not, a CEO risks the money of shareholders. An entrepreneur may be a CEO in title because they own a big proportion of the company but few CEOs are entrepreneurs under that metric.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 11:57 AM (E4rtv)

182 In Fry's, near the TV section, looking for EPROMs, I believe.

Let's see, 1985... 2764s? Or not that pricey?

Posted by: Ian S. at January 28, 2026 11:58 AM (2ocoG)

183 There's a quote I've enjoyed for many years that fits: "how bowel-liquefyingly scared I was by such a horrific wrist-slapping." Sounds quite a bit more evil and dismissive than "please don't throw me in the briar patch!"

Posted by: Octochicken at January 28, 2026 11:58 AM (oCS0o)

184 143 Norm: "I don't know where I was when JFK was shot, but if someone asks, I'm gonna pretend I do so I don't feel stupid."
Posted by: ... at January 28, 2026 11:48 AM (QQN0v)
-
Bad idea. You come off sounding like a gassy know-all.
Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 28, 2026 11:50 AM (BJnkV)
--

The lone pun-man

Posted by: Jay Jones at January 28, 2026 11:59 AM (0bjKf)

185 If you're lucky though, you won't get fucked in the ass in the drunk tank. Big Tech and Big Business? Yeah, invest in lubricant.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at January 28, 2026 11:59 AM (MZ+PY)

186 Washington Post reports study claiming black people have shorter lifespans because of racism
----------------
Simple maff, live fast die young is not conducive to living long.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 12:00 PM (Hpgos)

187 The message? They blew up this judge's car with an RPG on his way to the courthouse. Right in the middle of the street. I was not there at the time, but the partner in charge was in a separate car about 100 feet away. He saw it.
Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade at January 28, 2026 11:49 AM (iFTx/)
=====

I watched a YT Short last night that showed an RPG team in a minivan suddenly pull to the curb. The sliding door opened and out tumbled the assassin with the RPG ready to go. He launched and was back inside. All in about 20 seconds.

Posted by: mrp at January 28, 2026 12:00 PM (rj6Yv)

188 If you need an analogy, it's like the anecdote told by a union organizer of how he was on a flight next to an executive, and freely told him the secret of how to prevent union organizing: fire the bad managers. He knew they wouldn't use the secret, and they didn't. Well, firing the bad corporations to prevent socialist organizing is our macro equivalent.
Posted by: SciVo
=====
No less than Calvin Coolidge said as much. Too many people of a certain age though got entranced by the Chicago School of economics and turned into viewing regulating corporations as akin to violating human property rights.

Most such movements are better recognized as critiques, not something a realist would ever use as holy writ for concrete policy decisions.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 12:01 PM (E4rtv)

189 In the 1980s under Reagan business taxes were reduced. Before st the end of the year after looking at their profits corporations had a choice declare high profits and Psy taxes on them. Or reinvest back inuo the company with both infrastructure and human resources
Or
Pay those profits out in races.

After businesses didn't have to pay high taxes they stopped growing the business
Then the Chinese ate your lunch

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at January 28, 2026 12:01 PM (D+y54)

190 >>I have the most appropriate boner in weeks after seeing that.

Play it pretty for Atlanta.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 28, 2026 12:01 PM (viF8m)

191 165 It's Kaz-mer-zhack.in most polack neighborhoods. Would be complimented with the first name of Jan or Kaszmir.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 28, 2026 12:01 PM (gm9Sb)

192 Let's see, 1985... 2764s? Or not that pricey?

Yep. Used a lot in the Mac world to modify things.

Posted by: t-bird at January 28, 2026 12:02 PM (kG5OE)

193 WaPo?

More like LOLPo, amiright?

The type of group that you see drowning and want to helpfully throw them an anvil.

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 12:02 PM (KAXh/)

194 It's just like a journalist to try to swim a river with all that stolen chain.

Posted by: Just the Punchline at January 28, 2026 12:03 PM (jc0TO)

195 157 The message? They blew up this judge's car with an RPG on his way to the courthouse. Right in the middle of the street. I was not there at the time, but the partner in charge was in a separate car about 100 feet away. He saw it.
Posted by: Judge Elric The Blade
====
Oh, you mean like what happened to Gov. Kemp's potential future son in law's car which exploded on the interstate to the degree that the engine was thrown a far piece from the wreckage.

That kind of message.

Posted by: whig at January 28, 2026 12:03 PM (E4rtv)

196 sounding like a gassy know-all.

********

The shots that killed JKF came from a gassy know-all.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 12:04 PM (qgHp7)

197 Oh, you mean like what happened to Gov. Kemp's potential future son in law's car which exploded on the interstate to the degree that the engine was thrown a far piece from the wreckage.

That kind of message.
----------------
Do you think Hunter worries about this?

Posted by: pudinhead at January 28, 2026 12:04 PM (Hpgos)

198 Nood syringe

Posted by: Part-time Thinker at January 28, 2026 12:04 PM (aVO1v)

199 194.

Someone should teach these journalists not to fall in old mine shafts in the woods.

Posted by: sifty boones at January 28, 2026 12:04 PM (KAXh/)

200
Cases of "angel of mercy" killings have occurred for decades (even centuries).

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:44 AM (qgHp7)

Long ago, I read an essay from a nursing home RN in an undergrad critical thinking class where she wrote almost poetically about the suffering of a patient who had dementia and cripplingly painful physical ailments. She caressed his head and injected him with an OD of morphine. She wrote of her gratification as she watched his pained expression turn to peaceful eternal sleep.

The class began discussing the essay, with all these kids barely out of high school expressing admiration for the RN's courage in bringing him peace. When the professor asked me about it, I simply stated "She wasn't courageous, she was pathological. She's a fucking serial killer." Which was exactly the point that the prof was making.

I have no doubt that those clueless college brats learned that admiration for pure evil in their high school classrooms.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 28, 2026 12:04 PM (y9nCu)

201 Anesthesiology is viewed differently in a low-trust society.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 11:51 AM

----------

MAID in Canada.

Medical Anesthesia In Dying?

Posted by: ShainS -- Who's Gonna Be Today's FAFO Darwin Award Winner? at January 28, 2026 12:06 PM (rAKH6)

202 Oh, you mean like what happened to Gov. Kemp's potential future son in law's car which exploded on the interstate to the degree that the engine was thrown a far piece from the wreckage.

That kind of message.
Posted by: whig

Well, that does put an exclamation point on the message.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Like Shakespeare Except More Betterer at January 28, 2026 12:07 PM (L/fGl)

203 Oops. I missed the original set-up for the gassy know-all comment. My apologies.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 12:10 PM (qgHp7)

204 Should be one person of authority in the organization who goes to jail for x years.

Posted by: thug dolphin at January 28, 2026 12:13 PM (EyfuW)

205 I suspect that the well-seasoned renowned orthopedic foot specialist who was the surgeon oof record for my foot surgery actually dozed in a comfy chair in the corner of the OR while his junior fellow-in-training did the actual surgery. I'll never know.

Posted by: muldoon at January 28, 2026 12:15 PM (qgHp7)

206 The only time I know how to pronounce Polish names is when they're written in Cyrillic.
Posted by: Bulg at January 28, 2026 11:36 AM (77rzZ)

Growing up in the 50's in a neighborhood of Eastern European people and, being the offspring of Hungarian/Slovak parents, I became pretty adept at pronouncing those names.

Posted by: the next democrat president at January 28, 2026 12:23 PM (5xuJ/)

207 The problem is that "The Corporation" takes "The Punishment".
Hah! That's like talking about punishing a glass of water.
No, these decisions that result in illegal activity are made by real flesh and blood humans. "The algorithm did it!" No, whoever wrote that code did it, or whoever entered the data to cause the algorithm to produce that result did it.
Yes, it can get damned complicated, but that's the reason we have courts and trials. We split criminal cases into guilt and punishment sections. There's no reason we can't add another phase: who? Guilt - was the a violation of the law by "The Corporation"? Who - which individual(s) made the decision. Punishment - $ for the company and time for the people.
Until we start applying "The Punishment" to the real.people making the decisions - and profiting by them - it'll remain "a cost of doing business" and the behavior will continue.
Luigi Mangione tried to apply vigilante "justice" in the only way he could. Maybe he's just a psychopath, but if not, I'd bet that he would have been satisfied by bankrupting the United board, but neither he nor we have that power now. Until we do, bad things will continue to.happen, in both directions.

Posted by: buddhaha at January 28, 2026 12:44 PM (hKN+e)

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