Fathomless Corruption: The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock, Before That Data Was Shared With the Public

Several points:

Hedge funds and giant investment groups like Blackrock are infamously leftwing and Democratic. I guess it just worked out that way!

Occasionally people wonder how it is that Nancy Pelosi consistently out-invests the best-run investment portfolios in the world. Well, obviously, she's being tipped insider information. This might be one of the ways insider information is leaked to her -- first to her "superuser" cronies, then to her and her stockbrokers.

This country is just lie upon lie. The Regime are monsters and they need to be in prison.

This data determines inflation statistics, which are obviously very important in finance. In addition, knowing what the inflation stats will be tips off these institutions about whether the Fed will be cutting or raising interest rates. They know in advance of the ordinary investor whether the Fed is putting the economy into growth or contraction mode.

I suspect that this is just the tip of the iceberg, given how closely the minions of the administrative state work with bigwigs in the finance industry, but this is bad enough.
An administrative employee at the Bureau of Labor Statistics corresponded with a secret list of "Superusers"--hedge funds, traders, and the huge financial firms like Blackrock and Vanguard--giving them information about the BLS' data and analyses that are used to establish inflation statistics.

This is extraordinarily valuable information, especially if your business is highly sensitive to financial data. Think of the inflation numbers that came out yesterday and the massive impact they had on market movements. Tens or hundreds of billions of dollars flow based on these government statistics.

Strom quotes the NYT here:

An economist at the agency set off a firestorm in February when he sent an email to a group of data users explaining how a methodological tweak could have contributed to an unexpected jump in housing costs in the Consumer Price Index the previous month. The email, addressed to "Super Users," circulated rapidly around Wall Street, where every detail of inflation data can affect the bond market.

As far as we know the actual numbers weren't leaked, although this is a developing story, and the BLS is being very closed-lip about the extent of the collaboration with the big Wall Street firms. They had successfully downplayed what was happening until a FOIA request was fulfilled, reigniting the outrage.

At the time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said the email had been an isolated "mistake" and denied that it maintained a list of users who received special access to information.
But emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show that the agency -- or at least the economist who sent the original email, a longtime but relatively low-ranking employee -- was in regular communication with data users in the finance industry, apparently including analysts at major hedge funds. And they suggest that there was a list of super users, contrary to the agency's denials.

Wait, wait, wait -- you're saying the government acted corruptly to pour billions of dollars into the pockets of the Democrat Party's deepest-pocketed allies, and then lied about it?

You're speaking gibberish. None of this makes any sense.

There have long been questions about Cook’s academic work. Her publication history is quite thin, contains serious methodological errors, and largely focuses on race activism rather than rigorous, quantitative econ. She had trouble getting approved by the Senate. pic.twitter.com/IvAQyijf43
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 10, 2024

In "The Antebellum Roots of Distinctively Black Names," Cook copied-and-pasted verbatim language from Calomiris and Pritchett, without using quotation marks when describing their findings, as required by her own university’s written policy. pic.twitter.com/1KwWCtTntU
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 10, 2024

Click on one of the posts to see the rest of the thread.

Senator Bill Hagerty is raising new questions about Fed governor Lisa Cook, following my reporting with @lukerosiak. There must be a full Senate hearing and investigation of Cook's academic misconduct. Integrity matters—especially for those who control the US money supply. https://t.co/8WgnxLpivi
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) April 11, 2024

So she's a DEI hire who -- like many DEI hires -- doesn't really have any skill her her supposed field, but instead is just a specialist in racial grievance.

And she copied a lot of her racial grievance "scholarship" from others.

Terrific.

Peter Boghossian

@peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 02:15 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Not first again

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 11, 2024 02:16 PM (ixVYR)

2 "... The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock.."

uniparty atwerk.

Posted by: uniparty, Raping and Mutilating the Children They do not Kill at April 11, 2024 02:17 PM (gxokI)

3 Do you think this will have any impact on Trump making Dimon the Secretary of the Treasury?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 11, 2024 02:17 PM (ixVYR)

4 Top ten

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at April 11, 2024 02:17 PM (A2E7p)

5 it's insider trading and assorted grift all the way down.

Posted by: henry at April 11, 2024 02:18 PM (JMDly)

6 I'm starting to suspect that there was only one Ur-racial grievance paper published long ago, and DEI people have been using it with synonyms ever since. That's one paper too many given the academic rigor these papers all have.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:18 PM (CsUN+)

7 Peter Boghossian

@peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.

========

Racism?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:19 PM (GBKbO)

8 In "The Antebellum Roots of Distinctively Black Names," Cook copied-and-pasted verbatim language from Calomiris and Pritchett, without using quotation marks when describing their findings, as required by her own university’s written policy.

Pretty sure it's racist to point this out.

Posted by: Jordan61 at April 11, 2024 02:19 PM (DRSnL)

9 Country's over.

Sorry, moose out front shoulda told ya.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 11, 2024 02:19 PM (fKIdX)

10 Wow.

Shocked.

Not. Still enraging, tho…

Posted by: Lizzy at April 11, 2024 02:20 PM (Hkcdp)

11 . The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock.."

And they lie about the jobs numbers every month

Posted by: It's me donna at April 11, 2024 02:20 PM (Akjoo)

12 It is much easier to make money in the stock and bond markets if you can use insider information to front run trades.

It is just too bad we plebs don't get to do the same without getting jail time.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 11, 2024 02:20 PM (MGnUt)

13 It’s not insider trading… if it’s the government doing it.

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:21 PM (YwyqV)

14 The federal reserve bank presidents were infamously betting millions on stocks BEFORE announcing 5t bazooka of your taxbux to reinflate equities,
Congress is infamously ALLOWED to insider trade (bet on Intel right before you make a bill giving them 10b of your taxbux),

Why would this surprise anyone?
Next thing you're going to tell me pro sports are fair

Posted by: Chuck Hemangioma at April 11, 2024 02:21 PM (X3M8m)

15 we are way past prison time for these miscreants

Posted by: wildman at April 11, 2024 02:21 PM (wgy2W)

16 ?

Posted by: TeeJ at April 11, 2024 02:21 PM (dWUm0)

17 I wonder in which direction the data shared. "Here, use these numbers and 'revise' them later."

Posted by: t-bird at April 11, 2024 02:21 PM (4uAcR)

18 The problem, say experts, is that an increasing number of USHCN’s stations don’t exist anymore.

“They are physically gone—but still report data—like magic,” said Lt. Col. John Shewchuk, a certified consulting meteorologist.

“NOAA fabricates temperature data for more than 30 percent of the 1,218 USHCN reporting stations that no longer exist.”

He calls them “ghost” stations.

Mr. Shewchuck said USHCN stations reached a maximum of 1,218 stations in 1957, but after 1990 the number of active stations began declining due to aging equipment and personnel retirements.

NOAA still records data from these ghost stations by taking the temperature readings from surrounding stations, and recording their average for the ghost station, followed by an “E,” for estimate.

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (RHGPo)

19 This country is just lie upon lie. The Regime are monsters and they need to be in prison.
++++
Scamerica.

If I hear a rumor at work that sales are down - no data, just rumor - and decide to cash out some shares just in case it's true, I'm an insider trader and if the SEC finds out, I'll be fined or even go to jail.

Blackrock gets official government statistics days in advance of wide release so it can position itself to rake off big money, and that's just business as usual.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (HnUIn)

20 example # 143,897 of RICO violations.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (R4t5M)

21 I just hope this doesn't result in a backlash against Muslims.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (LkLld)

22 BLS: Cincinnati

Posted by: Grudge Harbor at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (hCzfy)

23 Having all of your brokerage accounts sequestered or divested should be a prerequisite to being sworn in to any elected office, and most appointed ones. Come to think of it, wasn't that the law at some point?

Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (wzAuc)

24 >I understand OJ requested to be buried with his favorite steak knives, or as he refers to them: "My wife-slashing tools." Posted by: Infidel de Manahatta at April 11, 2024 02:19 PM (hUaEC)

Norm is with us in spirit.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (cf/0E)

25 NOAA still records data from these ghost stations by taking the temperature readings from surrounding stations, and recording their average for the ghost station, followed by an “E,” for estimate.

Dammit, if only I'd known you could do that, it would have saved me endless work in the lab.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (CsUN+)

26 how it is that Nancy Pelosi consistently out-invests the best-run investment portfolios in the world
_______
Maybe she gets advice from Hillary, who also was a fantastic judge of investments.

I guess we deplorables just don't have what it takes.

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (1bNHn)

27 Yeah, it's been noted many times, many ways, politicians often "beat the street" quite easily, not just Nazi Pelousy.

She's the convenient face of this type of corruption, but there are dirty pols, playing games with money, on both dirty sides of the dirty aisle.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (dGCAG)

28 21 I just hope this doesn't result in a backlash against Muslims.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 11, 2024 02:22 PM (LkLld)

Or the trans hookers in Indonesia.

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (YwyqV)

29 Once Trump goes away this stuff will stop and everything will go back to normal.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (OJEE4)

30 DEI = Didn't Earn It

Posted by: BJ Starr at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (WYePJ)

31 My kid will be one of the solutions this summer. For her paid summer research position, she's going to be retesting a scientific study's results (this was all her idea). Not sexy, but probably the most needed thing in the scientific world right now. Someone to retest others' work without needing to have "their" star paper.

Posted by: Nova Local at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (exHjb)

32 "An oligarchy, if you can keep it."

Posted by: ShainS -- Blood-Bath-and-Beyond angel investor at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (W5GTy)

33 This data determines inflation statistics, which are obviously very important in finance. In addition, knowing what the inflation stats will be tips off these institutions about whether the Fed will be cutting or raising interest rates. They know in advance of the ordinary investor whether the Fed is putting the economy into growth or contraction mode.
++++
Far more important than that is that they have quant models they can use to forecast fairly well. The Fed aside - it is a wildcard and always has been when things are bad or getting weird - they can just front-run the market and make damn near guaranteed money.

They get the print ahead of time, punch it into their model, and trade against the prediction. If the model says that there will be a general decline, they can stop-loss, short, buy the dip, etc. with reasonably good accuracy.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (HnUIn)

34 >>Or the trans hookers in Indonesia.

Haven't they suffered enough?

Posted by: JackStraw at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (LkLld)

35 So the Feds are stealing corruption tips from movies like "Trading Places?"

Posted by: JM in illinois, behold the Manchurian President at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (Q7cQT)

36 I can't imagine why the Left, supposed Right and entire Administrative State would work so hard to stop Trump. It must be because they care so much about women and black people.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (OJEE4)

37 It's holy, pure, and just that a few companies be allowed to have advance reports, you stupid rubes!~~~!!!!!!

Posted by: David Fwench at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (IG4Id)

38 I think Karlstack stated that Cook was denied tenure at MSU by her peers in the economics department, but that she was installed as a tenured professor when the department was overruled by an administrator.

Posted by: mr tmz at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (rJ48h)

39 Bureau of Labor Shitistics

.. that's better

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (RHGPo)

40 My kid will be one of the solutions this summer. For her paid summer research position, she's going to be retesting a scientific study's results (this was all her idea). Not sexy, but probably the most needed thing in the scientific world right now.

That is an awesome idea. Good luck to her!

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (CsUN+)

41 In a sense, though, is not Blackrock and a few others bigger than our government - maybe even calling the shots in pertinent areas?

IIRC, the same three entities, one being Blackrock, are the largest shareholders of most (all?) of our biggest global companies like Disney, Annheiser-Bush, etc.

Think it’s gotten so incestuous between WH and global businesses that there’s really no line anymore.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (Hkcdp)

42 "An oligarchy, if you can keep it."
Posted by: ShainS -- Blood-Bath-and-Beyond angel investor at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (W5GTy)

I always know your comments without even checking the handle.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (OJEE4)

43 As far as we know the actual numbers weren't leaked, although this is a developing story, and the BLS is being very closed-lip about the extent of the collaboration with the big Wall Street firms.
++++
Maybe because this is blatantly corrupt and criminal.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (HnUIn)

44 "... The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock.."

is it sad that i'm not even shocked by this revelation? i *might* be shocked by the NUMBER of users on the list, but i'm not surprised that the govt has a list they share the data with. I assume that every democrat who hasn't upset the plantation is getting the data as well.

Oranges are going to be great this year!!! Turn those machines back on...

Posted by: SturmToddler at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (nXhwP)

45 Haven't they suffered enough?
Posted by: JackStraw at April 11, 2024 02:24 PM (LkLld)

That’s what I’m saying!

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (YwyqV)

46 Why do those stories leave the "r" out of Lisa Crook's name?

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (1bNHn)

47 BS!!! The Democrat Party is the party of the working man!

Posted by: JROD at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (IlL6s)

48 Another DEI hire

Posted by: steevy at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (FQmDC)

49 Maybe because this is blatantly corrupt and criminal.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (HnUIn)

Not when it’s the GOVERNMENT.

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (YwyqV)

50 At least our Congresscritters aren't profiting from stock trades based on insider information.

Wait, wut?

Posted by: ShainS -- Blood-Bath-and-Beyond angel investor at April 11, 2024 02:26 PM (W5GTy)

51 I think Karlstack stated that Cook was denied tenure at MSU by her peers in the economics department, but that she was installed as a tenured professor when the department was overruled by an administrator.

I read that that's sort of what happened with Claudine Gay. She was in no way qualified for a professorship at Stanford, much less the presidency of Harvard, but they installed her anyway.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (CsUN+)

52 Even putting aside her plagiarism, what qualifications does this Cook clown have that could possibly support her being governor of the Fed?? "The Antebellum Roots of Distinctively Black Names" is utter drivel with nothing to do with finance or the economy. She's just another race pimp.

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (iFTx/)

53 Maybe she gets advice from Hillary, who also was a fantastic judge of investments.

I guess we deplorables just don't have what it takes.
Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:23 PM (1bNHn)

Seems so quaint now, to look back to the days when people were getting the vapors over Hillory picking up thousands by investing in cattle futures.

Oh, and remember when everyone got worked up about pols using the House bank scandal? Congresscritters, floating tens, sometimes hundreds of dollars are the bank, without penalties!

Heaven forfend...

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (dGCAG)

54 Why do those stories leave the "r" out of Lisa Crook's name?
Posted by: Eeyore

For the same reason it's called Cook County.

Posted by: David Fwench at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (IG4Id)

55 I'll take some of that insider trading please

Posted by: It's me donna at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (Akjoo)

56 Well, kudos to Sen. Bill Hagerty for taking on Lisa Cook, a member of the privileged class.

Posted by: JM in illinois, behold the Manchurian President at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (Q7cQT)

57 A man goes to Washington to do good. A gender-studies major goes to Washington to do well.

Posted by: Flyguy at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (OYxA4)

58 Trump said doody though.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (OJEE4)

59 Maria Bartiromo @MariaBartiromo 2h
The FBI has made 278,000 violations against American citizens: Rep. Keith Self ow.ly/VZF750Re2pn @MorningsMaria @FoxBusiness

alexandriabrown @alexthechick 2h
You mean so far this month, yes? I am not joking even a little bit.

John Daniel Davidson @johnddavidson 1h
The reason the Intel committees wouldn’t agree to reasonable section 702 reforms to prevent the govt from spying on Americans is bc for the Intel community the ENTIRE PURPOSE of sec 702 is to spy on Americans. That’s the main reason our intelligence community exists now.

alexandriabrown @alexthechick 50m
Now?

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (vtyCZ)

60 She's just another race pimp.

Harsh, and accurate. We've got to start calling this stuff what it is.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (CsUN+)

61 This is why I gave up on all the free-market talk. It's just a lie, sold to rightwingers by thinktankers who are owned lock stock and barrel by the liars. We've never had free markets in my lifetime. I'm all for letting Too Big To Fail types fail, and I'm through giving a shit about corporate regulation and taxes. The idea that my interests can or will be protected by siding with the regime's favored fatcats is risible.

Posted by: Let It Burn? No, Set It On Fire at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (FOweH)

62 If you don't like Claudine Gay, it's because you are a homophobe.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (OJEE4)

63 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (Zz0t1)

64 The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock, Before That Data Was Shared With the Public

"Where the hell is Beeks!!!"

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (Zz0t1)

65 Wait, wait, wait -- you're saying the government acted corruptly to pour billions of dollars into the pockets of the Democrat Party's deepest-pocketed allies, and then lied about it?
++++
That's one interpretation and, if I may be so bold, it's the wrong one.

The money "pouring" into their pockets has to come from somewhere, and it comes neither from the Party nor the state. This is far worse than simple payoffs and money laundering into their allies' balance sheets. This is setting up their allies - allies large enough to be market makers and some of whom are also US Treasury primary dealers - to *extract* billions from the capital markets.

This scheme is "free" insofar as it lets the allies casually hoover up cash while their competitors have to snatch pennies from in front a steamroller, but that has consequences in the form of allowing those allies to reduce market liquidity - not much, but non-zero - by effectively stealing it.

That's catastrophically corrosive and will not be consequence-free in the capital markets if it continue, because capital markets run on a combination of data and faith. If faith is broken, that's a serious problem.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (HnUIn)

66 I don't believe the regime fears prison in the current "system". Other measures will be required. What measures?

Posted by: Ganowicz Commie Exterminators, LTD. at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (A2E7p)

67 As far as we know the actual numbers weren't leaked, although this is a developing story, and the BLS is being very closed-lip about the extent of the collaboration with the big Wall Street firms.
____

Oh sure, they can be 'closed-lip' about some things.

Reminds me of one of my favorite NFL fan signs on TV broadcast "Louis Lipps sinks ships". He played for the Steelers. Oh boy, he's 61 years old now.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 11, 2024 02:30 PM (KSkEK)

68 "This country is just lie upon lie."

24 Hour Bullshit
youtube.com/watch?v=L6u8ei-zENE

Posted by: Peel gp A Jackfruit at April 11, 2024 02:30 PM (MvF+J)

69 As others here have pointed out in the past, we're in the Late Looting Stage of Economic, Societal, & Civilizational Collapse.

Posted by: ShainS -- Blood-Bath-and-Beyond angel investor at April 11, 2024 02:30 PM (W5GTy)

70 It’s fascism when the government runs businesses without owning them — what is is when businesses run government?

Feels like we’re there, America is no longer a sovereign nation, but an economic zone and tax farm.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 11, 2024 02:30 PM (Hkcdp)

71 NOAA still records data from these ghost stations

If you have a 'model', you don't need a single, real thermometer to accurately measure, predict, and confirm the weather.

Posted by: t-bird at April 11, 2024 02:31 PM (Rd2/L)

72 BLS is being very closed-lip about the extent of the collaboration with the big Wall Street firms
_______
It is contrary to BLS policy to comment on an ongoing graft.

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:31 PM (1bNHn)

73 Can this be both fathomless and fathomable?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:31 PM (GBKbO)

74 doesn't matter, the head of black rock never said pussy

Posted by: gnats local 678 at April 11, 2024 02:31 PM (B1FKF)

75 @peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.
++++
Institutional corruption is sort of by definition endemic. That's why it becomes *institutional* corruption. A few bad apples do not result in full-scale institutional corruption, they result in a rotten borough - a department, a company, etc.

Once the bad apples get in charge and self-select for the same, it becomes institutional.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (HnUIn)

76 "Where the hell is Beeks!!!"
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM (Zz0t1)

=====

Getting buttf*cked by a gorilla.

Posted by: Jordan61 at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (DRSnL)

77 BLS <<< BLM

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (iFTx/)

78 @peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Posted by: Elizabeth Warren at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (Zz0t1)

79 55 I'll take some of that insider trading please
Posted by: It's me donna at April 11, 2024 02:27 PM (Akjoo)
________
It's illegal for YOU to engage in insider trading.

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (1bNHn)

80 @peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.

========

Racism?

========

Climate Change?

Posted by: Kitchener Lesley at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (CgQvH)

81 Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg

JUST IN: Reporter Catherine Herridge testifies that CBS News locked her out of the building and seized all her files, says she was working with sources to "expose government corruption."

Nothing at all going on here, folks.

"CBS News’ decision to seize my reporting records crossed a red line that I believe should never be crossed by any media organization."

"Multiple sources said they were concerned that by working with me to expose government corruption and misconduct they would be identified and exposed."

"CBS News locked me out of the building and seized hundreds of pages of my reporting files, including confidential source information."

https://tinyurl.com/3sh97nvz

Posted by: redridinghood at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (NpAcC)

82 77 BLS
Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (iFTx/)

=======

For all you know, the Bureau of Land Management is even MORE corrupt!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (GBKbO)

83 I think it's worse than just giving them a tip as to the numbers.

I think they are also giving them the actual numbers, not the "unexpected" number revised up later.

1st) they get to to manipulate the market to their favor, having advanced notice.
2nd) they get the real numbers for accurate plans and forecasts, while their competitors are given fake numbers.

This is picking winners and making sure the losers lose.

In China, they would execute the bureaucrats who did this.
In America, they are protected.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 11, 2024 02:34 PM (yikga)

84 74 doesn't matter, the head of black rock never said pussy
Posted by: gnats local 678 at April 11, 2024 02:31 PM (B1FKF)

Homo?

Posted by: Our Country is Screwed at April 11, 2024 02:34 PM (N39Ws)

85 Has anyone else read this article about how you really don’t own the securities in your 401k?

https://tinyurl.com/2j5kmmcn

Apparently Congress passed a law years ago that changed how 401k’s work and the investment houses actually own the mutual funds or stocks in your name. That allowed them to hedge the investments into other investments.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 02:34 PM (2fIO4)

86 Behind every great fortune lies a great crime.

Posted by: Ball Sack at April 11, 2024 02:34 PM (ogTiX)

87 Shine on, crazy Dimon.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (63Dwl)

88 Prominent Democrats stopped wailing about Wall Street roughly 10 years ago. Did you notice?

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (OJEE4)

89 Head of.Blackrock: Larry Fink

Posted by: Lizzy at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (Hkcdp)

90 Far more important than that is that they have quant models they can use to forecast fairly well.

Which is why they need EVERY. SINGLE. forecast to come out wrong and "against expectations".

Posted by: t-bird at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (Rd2/L)

91 The people who run this country must wake up every day in complete disbelief of their luck.

Imagine getting to effectively rule over a land of 330+ million people with zero pushback all because you can elevate certain folks who are both untouchable and lack the intelligence to gum up your works.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (KbCG3)

92 Government economic statistics have been utterly corrupted and have been since the Obama Administration.

If a Democrat is President, favorable economic statistics will be released to much fanfare, and will almost always be revised downwards a month or two later.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (YAtuc)

93 JUST IN: Reporter Catherine Herridge testifies that CBS News locked her out of the building and seized all her files, says she was working with sources to "expose government corruption."

"CBS News’ decision to seize my reporting records crossed a red line that I believe should never be crossed by any media organization."

"Multiple sources said they were concerned that by working with me to expose government corruption and misconduct they would be identified and exposed."

"CBS News locked me out of the building and seized hundreds of pages of my reporting files, including confidential source information."

When CH was at Fox, I thought very highly of her, but I have to wonder what she was thinking when she moved to CBS? What else did you expect from the home of Dan Rather?

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (CsUN+)

94 It is my noble right.

Posted by: Dan Crenshaw explaining why he just has to be allowed to make money or prima nocta, one of those at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (FOweH)

95 I don't see any problem with any of this.

Posted by: Dan Crenshaw at April 11, 2024 02:35 PM (2UnvF)

96 82 77 BLS
Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:32 PM (iFTx/)

=======

For all you know, the Bureau of Land Management is even MORE corrupt!
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (GBKbO)
______

That's basically what I meant! As bad and corrupt and incompetent and scumbaggery as BLM is, BLS is probably worse on all counts.

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (iFTx/)

97 Apparently Congress passed a law years ago that changed how 401k’s work and the investment houses actually own the mutual funds or stocks in your name. That allowed them to hedge the investments into other investments.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 02:34 PM (2fIO4)
++++
The horses already left the barn. Major investment houses rehypothecate their customer funds all the time. My guess is that the government just gave it a patina of legitimacy to avoid liquidity problems after people noticed. I'd have to read the article to be sure.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (HnUIn)

98 Apparently Congress passed a law years ago that changed how 401k’s work and the investment houses actually own the mutual funds or stocks in your name. That allowed them to hedge the investments into other investments.

Do you perchance have a link? I'm not doubting you, but this is very important to me.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (CsUN+)

99 "Well, obviously, she's being tipped insider information."

It is much worse than that. One thing I've read about is a Congress critter actively manipulating the stock prices by introducing legislation that will affect the stock price and then quietly withdrawing said legislation 6 months later. At the same time they are given options etc.

Obviously that's just one of the scams.

Posted by: You Really Don't Want to Know at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (+xYe0)

100 Why is Catherine Herridge trying to mess up Our Democracy?

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (OJEE4)

101 …rehypothecate…
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (HnUIn)

Ok, now you’re just making up words.

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (YwyqV)

102 "Where the hell is Beeks!!!"
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at April 11, 2024 02:29 PM

*cues Love Boat theme*

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (Wnv9h)

103 23 Having all of your brokerage accounts sequestered or divested should be a prerequisite to being sworn in to any elected office, and most appointed ones. Come to think of it, wasn't that the law at some point?
Posted by: SloPitch Whiffer

-----------------
NO. every fucking penny of wealth (including home) should be put into cash. Make them sell and rent back every possession while in federal office. The budget would be balanced in a week.

Posted by: The astonishing Gentlemen TIJM at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (FnaTf)

104 Doesn't the BLS have a First Amendment right to jawbone with Blackrock? What are you guys, Stalinists?

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (1bNHn)

105 …rehypothecate…
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (HnUIn)

Ok, now you’re just making up words.

Undistably.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (CsUN+)

106 101 …rehypothecate…
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (HnUIn)

Ok, now you’re just making up words.
Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (YwyqV)
_______

Nah. Rehypothecation was one of Kamala's signature sex moves . . . .

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (iFTx/)

107 China has increased its reliance on food imports over the past two decades, prompting concerns among officials who worry that disruptions to food supply chains could trigger domestic unrest. In particular, this reliance has heightened China’s sensitivity to food supply disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM (RHGPo)

108 This is why I gave up on all the free-market talk. It's just a lie, sold to rightwingers by thinktankers who are owned lock stock and barrel by the liars. We've never had free markets in my lifetime. I'm all for letting Too Big To Fail types fail, and I'm through giving a shit about corporate regulation and taxes. The idea that my interests can or will be protected by siding with the regime's favored fatcats is risible.
Posted by: Let It Burn? No, Set It On Fire at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (FOweH)

And yet the Republican Party will have people believe their foreign policy objectives and goals are entirely in line with what's good for the American people.

That there are those on the so-called right who believe this is almost unfathomable to me.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM (dGCAG)

109 If you need to rehypothecate your patina to improve liquidity try baking soda and vinegar with a dash of cardemon.

Posted by: Grandma cures at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM (q4HH9)

110 Owen Gregorian @OwenGregorian 33m
Sen. Rand Paul: 15 Federal Agencies Knew in 2018 that Wuhan Lab Was Trying to Create COVID 19 – NOT ONE PERSON Came Forward and Spoke the Truth to the American Public

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a US Senator and Doctor of Ophthalmology, released a stunning report on Tuesday where he discovered that 15 different federal agencies knew that the Wuhan laboratory in China was trying to create a COVID-19 virus and they knew this since 2018.

Not one single official or employee in these 15 agencies revealed the truth to the American public during the pandemic. They should all be fired.

In 2019 the virus escaped from the Wuhan laboratory at the same time US President Donald Trump had crippled the Chinese economy with his economic policies. The rest is history.

Dr. Tony Fauci, who funded the Wuhan laboratory for some reason, repeatedly lied to the American public about the origins of the virus.
[The Gateway Pundit]

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM (vtyCZ)

111 Ok, now you’re just making up words.
Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (YwyqV)

You have to get a new scrip from your astrologer before renewing at the hypothecary.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 11, 2024 02:40 PM (tkR6S)

112 Back in the Cattle Futures scandal of Hillary's in the 1990s a dude came on Talk Radio how it usually worked from his knowledge.

If you want to gift a politician using an investment, what you do is you buy both an option that the position goes UP and that it goes DOWN. You invest enough to cover the bribe each way.

Then when it matures, you send the winning position to the politician, and you eat the losing one and pay fewer taxes. Everyone wins except the public.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 02:40 PM (eoQWY)

113 In China, they would execute the bureaucrats who did this.
In America, they are protected.
----------
"Vietnam real estate tycoon sentenced to death for fraud amounting to $12.5 billion, nearly 3% of country's GDP."

Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:41 PM (vtyCZ)

114 Sen. Rand Paul: 15 Federal Agencies Knew in 2018 that Wuhan Lab Was Trying to Create COVID 19 – NOT ONE PERSON Came Forward and Spoke the Truth to the American Public
----------

But remember one of the main arguments against any conspiracy theory is that things can't be kept from public knowledge by "so many" people. Sleep well.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (OJEE4)

115 During the rehypothecation of the Vuldronaii, the Traveller came as a large and moving Torb! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the Meketrex Supplicants they chose a new form for him: that of a Giant Sloar! Many Shubs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Sloar that day I can tell you.

Posted by: Almost Louis Tully at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (FOweH)

116 If you need to rehypothecate your patina to improve liquidity try baking soda and vinegar with a dash of cardemon.
Posted by: Grandma cures at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM

If that doesn't work, try Bon Ami.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (Wnv9h)

117 David Roberts, an journalist who normally prattles on about "global warming", is denouncing the targeting of Strong Black Women for minor citation issues, and is demanding that all the conservatives in academia be subjected to similar treatment.

Stop laughing! Stop laughing!

After all, we all know that an engineering, physics, or economics professor is just as likely to plagiarize as a diversity hire in a Grievance Studies departments.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (YAtuc)

118 I saw Patina Rehypothecation open up For Men Without Hats back in 1988.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:43 PM (OJEE4)

119 "Vietnam real estate tycoon sentenced to death for fraud amounting to $12.5 billion, nearly 3% of country's GDP."
Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:41 PM (vtyCZ)

Pho-king nuts, man.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 11, 2024 02:43 PM (R4t5M)

120 Do you perchance have a link? I'm not doubting you, but this is very important to me.
Posted by: Archimedes at April 11, 2024 02:37 PM (CsUN+)

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

https://tinyurl.com/2j5kmmcn

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (2fIO4)

121 117 David Roberts, an journalist who normally prattles on about "global warming", is denouncing the targeting of Strong Black Women for minor citation issues, and is demanding that all the conservatives in academia be subjected to similar treatment.

Stop laughing! Stop laughing!

After all, we all know that an engineering, physics, or economics professor is just as likely to plagiarize as a diversity hire in a Grievance Studies departments.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (YAtuc)

========

Fine. Do it.

Expunge everyone with even a patina of plagiarism.

We can probably do without 96% of our academics for a generation or two.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (GBKbO)

122 @peterboghossian
If you do not believe that institutional corruption is endemic and intractable, then explain why those at the highest echelons of society retain their positions after it has been discovered that they obtained their credentials through fraud.

========

Racism?

========

Climate Change?
Posted by: Kitchener Lesley at April 11, 2024 02:33 PM (CgQvH)

Look, Adam Schiff is going to be "elected" Senator from Californica, not by fraud, but by doing the dirty work for the Deep State.

And by dirty work, for once I'm not talking about him and Ed Buck killing young black male prostitutes.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (dGCAG)

123 So, we know who the government works for....

Ideologues.

Posted by: Axeman at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (krQz2)

124 122 Look, Adam Schiff is going to be "elected" Senator from Californica, not by fraud, but by doing the dirty work for the Deep State.

And by dirty work, for once I'm not talking about him and Ed Buck killing young black male prostitutes.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (dGCAG)

=======

"No, no...that is the dirty work we're having him do."
-The Deep State

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (GBKbO)

125 "Vietnam real estate tycoon sentenced to death for fraud amounting to $12.5 billion, nearly 3% of country's GDP."
Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:41 PM

Hmmm...

Posted by: Letitia James at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (Wnv9h)

126 116 If you need to rehypothecate your patina to improve liquidity try baking soda and vinegar with a dash of cardemon.
Posted by: Grandma cures at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM

If that doesn't work, try Bon Ami.
Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (Wnv9h)
________

Lume

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (iFTx/)

127 Sen. Rand Paul: 15 Federal Agencies Knew in 2018 that Wuhan Lab Was Trying to Create COVID 19 – NOT ONE PERSON Came Forward and Spoke the Truth to the American Public
_____

We don't work for the American Public. Duh.

Posted by: 15 Federal Agencies at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (KSkEK)

128 But in a way, aren't we *all* guilty of insider trading based on secret information released by the government?

-The usual shtick once they are caught red handed. And I know libs who eat it up with every limb.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (OJEE4)

129 121 117 David Roberts, an journalist who normally prattles on about "global warming", is denouncing the targeting of Strong Black Women for minor citation issues, and is demanding that all the conservatives in academia be subjected to similar treatment.

Stop laughing! Stop laughing!

After all, we all know that an engineering, physics, or economics professor is just as likely to plagiarize as a diversity hire in a Grievance Studies departments.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM (YAtuc)

========

Fine. Do it.

Expunge everyone with even a patina of plagiarism.

We can probably do without 96% of our academics for a generation or two.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (GBKbO)

That!

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (KbCG3)

130 demanding that all the conservatives in academia be subjected to similar treatment

Both of them?

Posted by: Most Conservatives Have Been Purged From Academia at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (FOweH)

131 The horses already left the barn. Major investment houses rehypothecate their customer funds all the time. My guess is that the government just gave it a patina of legitimacy to avoid liquidity problems after people noticed. I'd have to read the article to be sure.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:36 PM (HnUIn)

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

The author says the they are on the hook for one quintillion dollars.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (2fIO4)

132 David Roberts, an journalist who normally prattles on about "global warming", is denouncing the targeting of Strong Black Women for minor citation issues, and is demanding that all the conservatives in academia be subjected to similar treatment.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:42 PM

Both of them?

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at April 11, 2024 02:46 PM (Wnv9h)

133 104 Doesn't the BLS have a First Amendment right to jawbone with Blackrock? What are you guys, Stalinists?

Posted by: Eeyore at April 11, 2024 02:38 PM (1bNHn)

No, they don't.

No Advance Release of Prerelease Information:
BLS strictly adheres to this principle.
Prerelease information should not be disclosed before official release unless directed by the Commissioner of Labor Statistics under specific circumstances1.

Remember, BLS maintains the confidentiality and security of data to ensure accurate and reliable statistical information for the public.

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:46 PM (RHGPo)

134 Let's not bicker and argue about 'oo expunged 'oo...

Posted by: Monty Python at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (q4HH9)

135 John Daniel Davidson @johnddavidson 1h
The reason the Intel committees wouldn’t agree to reasonable section 702 reforms to prevent the govt from spying on Americans is bc for the Intel community the ENTIRE PURPOSE of sec 702 is to spy on Americans. That’s the main reason our intelligence community exists now.

alexandriabrown @alexthechick 50m
Now?
Posted by: andycanuck (vtyCZ) at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (vtyCZ)

"I'm declaring war on anyone who sells drugs in the community."

"But Black Dynamite, I sell drugs to the community!"

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (fKIdX)

136 Reminds me of one of my favorite NFL fan signs on TV broadcast "Louis Lipps sinks ships". He played for the Steelers. Oh boy, he's 61 years old now.
Posted by: Chuck Martel at April 11, 2024 02:30 PM (KSkEK)

Chris Berman used to make up fake nicknames for players in clips. One of my favorite was when the player Eric "Sleeping with" Bieniemy made a great run one week.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (eoQWY)

137 Fine. Do it.

Expunge everyone with even a patina of plagiarism.

We can probably do without 96% of our academics for a generation or two.

That's the joke - Leftists are demanding that everyone be subjected to this treatment, and Rufo and other conservatives are responding: "Great!"

Part of the Leftist worldview is that all academic disciplines are equally valuable, and that the process for becoming a tenured physics professor is just the same as the process for becoming a tenured Black Studies professor, with equal chances of plagiarism.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (YAtuc)

138 All confidential information maintained by BLS is treated with utmost care.
There are two categories of confidential information:
Respondent Identifiable Information (RII): Collected or maintained by BLS under a pledge of confidentiality. RII must be used solely for statistical purposes and accessible only to authorized individuals.
Prerelease Information: Includes economic series data and analysis prepared for public release. It must not be disclosed or used in an unauthorized manner before official release.
Authorized persons (including BLS employees) have access to confidential information based on their responsibilities and program involvement.
Non-BLS employees granted access to BLS confidential information must be informed of their responsibility to protect it from unauthorized disclosure through written contracts or agreements1.

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (RHGPo)

139 124 122 Look, Adam Schiff is going to be "elected" Senator from Californica, not by fraud, but by doing the dirty work for the Deep State.

And by dirty work, for once I'm not talking about him and Ed Buck killing young black male prostitutes.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:44 PM (dGCAG)

=======

"No, no...that is the dirty work we're having him do."
-The Deep State
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (GBKbO)
____________

I'm not even sure Ed Buck's victims rose to the level of "prostitutes." They were homeless junkies of such degeneracy that aspiring to be a whore was a dream too far for them. And Buck preyed on these guys. He is more slimy and loathsome than they are.

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (iFTx/)

140 It should only take a few minutes to review all the work of conservatives in academia.

Posted by: Ball Sack at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (ogTiX)

141 So, they named the main character of Fallout Lucy McClane...the same name as John McClane's daughter in Die Hard?

Is that supposed to be a reference, or something?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (GBKbO)

142 Everybody Bears Responsibility For the Plagiarism. How We All Failed Claudine Gay and What We Can Do About It

(one of my favorite lefty formulations)

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (OJEE4)

143 I'll bet good money DU, if they are commenting on this, are all pointing out how this is being done to help Republicans.

Since all corporations are conservative.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (yikga)

144
Chris Berman used to make up fake nicknames for players in clips. One of my favorite was when the player Eric "Sleeping with" Bieniemy made a great run one week.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (eoQWY)

"Drew Bledsoe much he needed a transfusion."

Posted by: From That One Commercial at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (Zz0t1)

145 What are the legal requirements not to prematurely release information at BLS ?

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (RHGPo)

146 137 Part of the Leftist worldview is that all academic disciplines are equally valuable, and that the process for becoming a tenured physics professor is just the same as the process for becoming a tenured Black Studies professor, with equal chances of plagiarism.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (YAtuc)

========

I wouldn't be surprised if the hard sciences are full of it too, to be honest.

I'm just, you know, deeply, deeply cynical about our institutions.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (GBKbO)

147 And yet the Republican Party will have people believe their foreign policy objectives and goals are entirely in line with what's good for the American people.

That there are those on the so-called right who believe this is almost unfathomable to me.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:39 PM (dGCAG)

A greatX10 grand-daughter?

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (YwyqV)

148 So, they named the main character of Fallout Lucy McClane...the same name as John McClane's daughter in Die Hard?

Is that supposed to be a reference, or something?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (GBKbO)

Have you ever seen the outtakes of her two word closeup on the news? Exhausting!!

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (OJEE4)

149 Let’s try this again….

141 So, they named the main character of Fallout Lucy McClane...the same name as John McClane's daughter in Die Hard?

Is that supposed to be a reference, or something?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (GBKbO)

A greatX10 grand-daughter?

(Sorry, Burt, screwed up the copy-paste)

Posted by: DoublySymmetric at April 11, 2024 02:50 PM (YwyqV)

150 148 Have you ever seen the outtakes of her two word closeup on the news? Exhausting!!
Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (OJEE4)

=======

To be fair, she was a real character in Live Free and Die Hard (the best Die Hard movie). Played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:50 PM (GBKbO)

151 This is why I gave up on all the free-market talk. It's just a lie, sold to rightwingers by thinktankers who are owned lock stock and barrel by the liars. We've never had free markets in my lifetime. I'm all for letting Too Big To Fail types fail, and I'm through giving a shit about corporate regulation and taxes. The idea that my interests can or will be protected by siding with the regime's favored fatcats is risible.

Posted by: Let It Burn? No, Set It On Fire at April 11, 2024 02:28 PM (FOweH)

---
There's a difference between a concierge market and a free market.

That's why we have monopoly laws, to keep the market freer.

The Market is a constructed thing, and it has to be regulated to keep it what it is.

The problem with government is they want to manage it. Regulation is one thing, management is another.

Posted by: Axeman at April 11, 2024 02:50 PM (krQz2)

152 >>Chris Berman used to make up fake nicknames for players in clips. One of my favorite was when the player Eric "Sleeping with" Bieniemy made a great run one week.

Oddibe young again McDowell

Posted by: JackStraw at April 11, 2024 02:51 PM (LkLld)

153 In my younger days, while advocated the dissolution of most of the DC agencies, I thought that there might be value in maintaining some manner of national repository for all manner of data. The BLS information was one that I used to heavily rely upon.

That reliance died with the machinations BLS took to shine that turd of a 44th President. Bang! Preserve nothing of DC. Dissolve it all, and salt the earth it once stood upon.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at April 11, 2024 02:51 PM (TOe+Q)

154 Played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:50 PM (GBKbO)

I am well aware of all things Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:51 PM (OJEE4)

155 With the cabal of criminals that run Fedgov, I sure hope we can avoid WWIII.

Posted by: mr tmz at April 11, 2024 02:52 PM (rJ48h)

156 154 Played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:50 PM (GBKbO)

I am well aware of all things Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:51 PM (OJEE4)

=======

If I remember correctly, she was part of the Fappening.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:52 PM (GBKbO)

157 Where the heck did I park my (remote control) flame throwing tank?

Posted by: Jimmy Doolittle at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (f4Opt)

158 President Javier Milei, our nation turns it's lonely eyes to you

Posted by: S&G at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (/6GbT)

159 I'm not even sure Ed Buck's victims rose to the level of "prostitutes." They were homeless junkies of such degeneracy that aspiring to be a whore was a dream too far for them. And Buck preyed on these guys. He is more slimy and loathsome than they are.
Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (iFTx/)

Look at you, all fancy with your prostitutes. I bet they wear perfoom and smell nice, and have Venmo accounts.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (dGCAG)

160 and they need to be in prison.

The unusual punishment is Sodomy by gorilla.

Posted by: Jamie Curtis's boobs at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (PMJuY)

161 >>Fathomless Corruption: The Bureau of Labor Statistics Shared Confidential Information About the Economy with "Superusers" Like Hedge Funds and Blackrock, Before That Data Was Shared With the Public

This sounds a lot worse than valuing your properties to get bank loans, that you repay in full with interest.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (XV/Pl)

162 Die Hard with a Vengeance was the best of the bunch, IMO.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (T+Iwg)

163 Everybody Bears Responsibility For the Plagiarism. How We All Failed Claudine Gay and What We Can Do About It

(one of my favorite lefty formulations)
Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (OJEE4)
---
They failed to set her up for success.

Posted by: Axeman at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (krQz2)

164 Woo-woo-woo

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory, red heifer owner at April 11, 2024 02:54 PM (R4t5M)

165 Among many differences, one of the more pronounced between libs and cons is the deference to their supposed leaders.

Libs howl when their "academics" are called out. They threaten the same and I would venture that most cons would say, "Good. Go for it. Let's out all of these mf'ers."

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at April 11, 2024 02:54 PM (KbCG3)

166 163 Everybody Bears Responsibility For the Plagiarism. How We All Failed Claudine Gay and What We Can Do About It

(one of my favorite lefty formulations)
Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (OJEE4)

=======

Wait...this wasn't the cover story from National Review a few months back?!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:54 PM (GBKbO)

167 During a plea for more money for the FBI, it occurred to me ( when he said FISA must be approved) that what the FBI really wants is more power and surveillance of the citizens. He did not even mention controlling the border!

Posted by: Chillin the most at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (0uQp2)

168 I wouldn't be surprised if the hard sciences are full of it too, to be honest.

I'm just, you know, deeply, deeply cynical about our institutions.

Possible, but much less so than the soft disciplines.

The way that they are infiltrating DEI types into the hard science departments is through "Education" - you now have faculty in engineering departments who have PhDs in "Engineering Education", faculty in math departments who have PhDs in "Mathematics Education", and so on.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (YAtuc)

169 When we said

3) ???
4) Profit

We meant that it matter doesn't how you get the profits.

Posted by: Federal Department of Underpants Gnomes at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (z+89e)

170 The author says the they are on the hook for one quintillion dollars.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 02:45 PM (2fIO4)
++++
Nominally, maybe. A lot of the stupendous values for "market liabilities" comes from derivatives, but most derivative players also play both sides (or all sides) of the table simultaneously in an effort to win the spread.

If an investment house has a $1 billion derivative bet that Security X will decline and a $1.05 billion derivative bet that Security X will increase and a $1.03 billion derivative bet that Security X will remain flat, then the nominal derivative exposure on that set of positions is $3.08 billion, but the maximum net exposure (the two higher bets lose and the third, by definition, does not) is $80 million ($0.08 billion).

But it's still a problem if you're betting with other people's money.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (HnUIn)

171 Sometimes, even I am amazed by the sheer inventiveness of the stupid and corrupt. Never ever occurred to me that somebody would self plagiarize.

Who would do that?

If somebody that is that creative was not abjectly lazy the could change the world.

This is groundbreaking, paradigm shattering laziness.

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 02:56 PM (BrwLd)

172
A 'key metric' of the economy is what percentage of the population between the age of ___ and ___ is employed. Record keeping began sometime post WWII. It *used* to be available all the way back to then.

Not any more. Inconvenient truths are now inconvenient - and embarrassing.

Posted by: Divide by Zero at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (RKVpM)

173 I am well aware of all things Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:51 PM (OJEE4)

If I remember correctly, she was part of the Fappening.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:52 PM (GBKbO)

I have always argued, Scott Pilgrim had the highest concentration of hot young, not-well-known starlets of any film in recent history.

And yes, that includes the much-maligned Brie Larson, but good golly do I want Aubrey Plaza to give me that look as she's cursing bleeped words at me.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (dGCAG)

174 It's a write off, Jerry. They just write it off.

Posted by: Kramer at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (q4HH9)

175 159 I'm not even sure Ed Buck's victims rose to the level of "prostitutes." They were homeless junkies of such degeneracy that aspiring to be a whore was a dream too far for them. And Buck preyed on these guys. He is more slimy and loathsome than they are.
Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:48 PM (iFTx/)

Look at you, all fancy with your prostitutes. I bet they wear perfoom and smell nice, and have Venmo accounts.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:53 PM (dGCAG)
____________

"Exactly"

-- Hunter Biden

Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (iFTx/)

176 Corporate greed is causing most of the increase in inflation. General Mills just paid a $300 million dividend to investors, bought back $150 million in stock the enrich executives and investors, and pays its CEO $16 million. It makes profits of $2.1 billion a year. It is raising prices on cereals 20% and blaming "inflation"

The Economist: “Swing voters do not view this year’s election as Republicans would like them to: immigration is not the most important issue for them. Neither do they view it as Democrats wish. Their most important issue is not the defense of democracy, climate policy, or abortion. It is inflation, which remains sticky , followed by the economy.”

I would say boycott cereal but for some people I know cereal is all they can afford to eat and what they primarily exist on.

They are PRICE GOUGING - deliberately and artificially keeping prices high to benefit Trump and the GOP - because with them in control, corporations and the wealthy elite would get away with paying zero taxes, and henchmen like Trump's Mick Mulvaney would be able to continue dismantling consumer protections.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (JCZqz)

177 173 And yes, that includes the much-maligned Brie Larson, but good golly do I want Aubrey Plaza to give me that look as she's cursing bleeped words at me.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (dGCAG)

=========

Brie Larson has never been hotter than she was as the complete bitch Envy Adams.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:58 PM (GBKbO)

178 The Army is seeking to bring back retired soldiers to fill critical manpower shortages, according to a service-wide directive published this week.

The All Army Activities (ALARACT) document describes how Army retirees can find and apply for open positions and aims to maintain a sufficient number of personnel to fill all of the Army’s authorized positions.

Any Army, Reserve or National Guard soldier who qualifies as retired or will soon be retired — meaning they achieved at least 20 years of service — and anyone receiving retired pay is eligible to apply, the message states. Neither age nor disability, alone, would exclude a soldier from joining depending on the disability, and they would still have to meet the Army’s health requirements.

“There is no age limitation, although personnel older than 70 are not normally recalled,” the message states.

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 02:58 PM (RHGPo)

179 Wait, wait, wait -- you're saying the government acted corruptly to pour billions of dollars into the pockets of the Democrat Party's deepest-pocketed allies, and then lied about it?

Remember you can't vote for Trump because he's just going to give a bunch of money to corrupt corporations.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 02:58 PM (ibTVg)

180 If I remember correctly, she was part of the Fappening.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:52 PM (GBKbO)

I felt really sorry for her actually. I've always liked her and the pics that were released were taken for her boyfriend or husband.

Posted by: ... at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (OJEE4)

181 huh? what? but UKRAINE!!!!!

Posted by: GOP at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (FjlUt)

182 176 Corporate greed is causing most of the increase in inflation. General Mills just paid a $300 million dividend to investors, bought back $150 million in stock the enrich executives and investors, and pays its CEO $16 million. It makes profits of $2.1 billion a year. It is raising prices on cereals 20% and blaming "inflation"
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at Apri

=======

Doesn't this fool know that inflation isn't actually happening and that it's just a creation of conspiracy theories from unregulated media?

Also that Biden fixed inflation with the Inflation Reduction Act?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (GBKbO)

183 @173

>>And yes, that includes the much-maligned Brie Larson, but good golly do I want Aubrey Plaza to give me that look as she's cursing bleeped words at me.

Interestingly, it has the actors who would go on to play Captain America and Superman, as well as Captain Marvel.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (XV/Pl)

184 ---
There's a difference between a concierge market and a free market.
That's why we have monopoly laws, to keep the market freer.
The Market is a constructed thing, and it has to be regulated to keep it what it is.
The problem with government is they want to manage it. Regulation is one thing, management is another.
Posted by: Axeman

-------------
I don't disagree, but I think the root of the problem is all government spending and most regulation.
They do this because the "controlled" part is most of our economy. Reduce government debt, spending, employment, transfer payments, etc. and most of these problems go away.

Posted by: The astonishing Gentlemen TIJM at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (FnaTf)

185 ... They are PRICE GOUGING - deliberately and artificially keeping prices high to benefit Trump and the GOP - because with them in control, corporations and the wealthy elite would get away with paying zero taxes, and henchmen like Trump's Mick Mulvaney would be able to continue dismantling consumer protections.
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (JCZqz)
++++
They love Trump - and Trump loves them - so much that they were willing to leave vast sums on the table to the detriment of their bottom lines by declining to engage in price-setting collusion during the Trump administration when it would have been consequence-free because of their mutual admiration!

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (HnUIn)

186 183 @173

>>And yes, that includes the much-maligned Brie Larson, but good golly do I want Aubrey Plaza to give me that look as she's cursing bleeped words at me.

Interestingly, it has the actors who would go on to play Captain America and Superman, as well as Captain Marvel.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (XV/Pl)

========

Routh had already played Superman.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (GBKbO)

187 *Remember you can't vote for Trump because he's just going to give a bunch of money to corrupt corporations.*

And mean tweets.

Posted by: Karen McAwfl at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (q4HH9)

188 This woman was literally too lazy to be bothered with plagiarizing somebody else's study. She was so very lazy that just replagirising herself was the best she could do.

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (BrwLd)

189 "Exactly"

-- Hunter Biden
Posted by: Elric Blade at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (iFTx/)

I'm gonna guess MANY of Hunter's prostitutes don't have Venmo accounts.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (dGCAG)

190 Allegedly!

Posted by: MSM at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (nvKZ7)

191 @186

>>Routh had already played Superman.

What do I look like a Film Nerd!!!!!

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (XV/Pl)

192 I would say boycott cereal but for some people I know cereal is all they can afford to eat and what they primarily exist on.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at April 11, 2024 02:57 PM (JCZqz)

Here's someone who never looked at the price of cereal these days. Last time I looked 20 years ago I decided I couldn't afford it.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (eoQWY)

193 I’m waiting for DU to defend this. Same people who hate everything finance but love everything Democrat. Will be some serious brain exploding.

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (Y6Wgg)

194 It is inflation, which remains sticky , followed by the economy.”

I've been saying for a while that hyper-inflating the currency by the Dems was a bad idea, because unlike income taxes it hits their core constituencies - government workers and the dependent class - as well.

The hyper rich can of course mostly ignore inflation as they'll have early access and information with the Bidenbux so they'll be able to earn money that exceeds the amount they lose through inflation

Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (ibTVg)

195 185 They love Trump - and Trump loves them - so much that they were willing to leave vast sums on the table to the detriment of their bottom lines by declining to engage in price-setting collusion during the Trump administration when it would have been consequence-free because of their mutual admiration!
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (HnUIn)

========

Trump is a tyrant who rules with an iron fist, keeping corporations from price gouging with the threat of undemocratic means of punishment in order to protect the American people.

Biden is just too in love with democratic norms to do that, being helpless in the face of corporate malfeasance.

The answer is obvious: vote for tyranny. Vote for Trump.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (GBKbO)

196 Whip Inflation Now!

Posted by: An old lapel button at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (q4HH9)

197 This chilly redhead used to be more comfortable before her clothier rehypothecated her brassier and lost it when the trade went sideways:
http://tiny.cc/1fjqxz

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (HnUIn)

198 191 @186

>>Routh had already played Superman.

What do I look like a Film Nerd!!!!!
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (XV/Pl)

=======

A little bit, yeah.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (GBKbO)

199 It is something, self plagiarizing, George Costanza would do

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (BrwLd)

200 This woman was literally too lazy to be bothered with plagiarizing somebody else's study. She was so very lazy that just replagirising herself was the best she could do.
Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:00 PM (BrwLd)

It would be amusing if she did plagiarize someone, but THAT person had plagiarized her previous work.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (eoQWY)

201 168 I wouldn't be surprised if the hard sciences are full of it too, to be honest.

I'm just, you know, deeply, deeply cynical about our institutions.

Possible, but much less so than the soft disciplines.

The way that they are infiltrating DEI types into the hard science departments is through "Education" - you now have faculty in engineering departments who have PhDs in "Engineering Education", faculty in math departments who have PhDs in "Mathematics Education", and so on.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (YAtuc)

It's not just that though. The sciences have been corrupted by the hunt for grant money etc. People have been voicing concerns about the degree to which it produces junk science and how most results have not been replicated and likely aren't replicable for decades now. Just look at the garbage that gets relayed via the media, even on topics that aren't especially political. Anyone with a correspondence course level of understanding of epidemiology knows that most epidemiology study findings reported are pure trash.

Posted by: We Probably Can't Be Cynical Enough at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (FOweH)

202 If you combined Plaza and Larson you'd have either a damn fine looking woman or a stick depending on which parts you use I guess.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (ibTVg)

203 194 The hyper rich can of course mostly ignore inflation as they'll have early access and information with the Bidenbux so they'll be able to earn money that exceeds the amount they lose through inflation
Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (ibTVg)

=======

Remember when the mayor of San Francisco said that she was fucking tired of acting like she cared about inflation because she wasn't having problems affording food?

It was about 2 years ago.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (GBKbO)

204 Interestingly, it has the actors who would go on to play Captain America and Superman, as well as Captain Marvel.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (XV/Pl)

I didn't realize Michael Cera played Superman.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (dGCAG)

205 Supposably.

Posted by: Ross from Friends at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (q4HH9)

206 Wait so corporations and the elite are on Team Trump? 🤣🤣🤣

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (Y6Wgg)

207 204 Interestingly, it has the actors who would go on to play Captain America and Superman, as well as Captain Marvel.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 02:59 PM (XV/Pl)

I didn't realize Michael Cera played Superman.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (dGCAG)

========

He did play Marlon Brando.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (GBKbO)

208 Anybody that is trying to luve off of cereal would be a retard, it is expensive per calorie and has no nutrition worth buying

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (BrwLd)

209 206 Wait so corporations and the elite are on Team Trump? 🤣🤣🤣
Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (Y6Wgg)

=======

For the same reason that corporate media lets all of the negative Trump stories slide and focus so much on Biden's gaffes.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (GBKbO)

210 My patinas are up here.

Posted by: chilly redhead at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (q4HH9)

211 Aubrey Plaza need a boob job. Not a lot, just a little something something.

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (Y6Wgg)

212 From the side ads:
---
Ben Carson: "Memory Loss Is Finally a Thing of the Past!"
---
No body will even remember it!

Posted by: Axeman at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (krQz2)

213 @207

>>He did play Marlon Brando.

Ersatz Orson Welles: As big as Brando was, he never played a Planet Devouring Robot, now did he?

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (XV/Pl)

214 So "all experts agree" because they're all copying from each other. Ah, now I see

Posted by: InZona at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (W14WA)

215 194 It is inflation, which remains sticky , followed by the economy.”

I've been saying for a while that hyper-inflating the currency by the Dems was a bad idea, because unlike income taxes it hits their core constituencies - government workers and the dependent class - as well.

The hyper rich can of course mostly ignore inflation as they'll have early access and information with the Bidenbux so they'll be able to earn money that exceeds the amount they lose through inflation
Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:01 PM (ibTVg)

They then turned it around and:

A) Blame everyone but themselves
B) Offer handouts to help stop the fire they started
C) Ensure conditions don't get better to keep this group eating from the hand

Their core constituencies are their intended victims.

Posted by: The Central Scrutinizer at April 11, 2024 03:05 PM (KbCG3)

216 He did play Marlon Brando.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (GBKbO)

And Charlie Brown.

The guy has range.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 03:05 PM (dGCAG)

217 I think we all knew that there are many (if not all) Congresscritters getting inside info to boost their stock portfolios. The HOW was always hidden from us; now we know ONE avenue for this data; I'm sure there are many more.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 11, 2024 03:05 PM (ynpvh)

218 Wait so corporations and the elite are on Team Trump? 🤣🤣🤣
Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:03 PM (Y6Wgg)
---
The Dems work a narrative until it's a decaying corpse.

And even then they try to use it whenever it seems they need something to deflect or distract.

Posted by: Axeman at April 11, 2024 03:06 PM (krQz2)

219 She has to be a bit conflicted, she did get caught plagiarizing, but she also got plagiarized. Should she be embarrassed or angry?

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:06 PM (BrwLd)

220 Inflation can be a god thing for certain people.
Your costs got up $1000 a month but your investments increase $2000 a month. Not a bad deal.

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:06 PM (Y6Wgg)

221 I can almost understand why the godless commies murdered the elite back ing the day.

Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at April 11, 2024 03:06 PM (ufFY8)

222 217 I think we all knew that there are many (if not all) Congresscritters getting inside info to boost their stock portfolios. The HOW was always hidden from us; now we know ONE avenue for this data; I'm sure there are many more.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at April 11, 2024 03:05 PM (ynpvh)

======

I remember seeing a topline of a study that showed that Congresscritters are actually really bad at playing the market on average.

It's the top ten percent or so that do really well. The ones with the most power, essentially.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:07 PM (GBKbO)

223 Y'know what causes inflation? Moon gases!

Posted by: Sheila Jackson Lee at April 11, 2024 03:07 PM (z+89e)

224 If you combined Plaza and Larson you'd have either a damn fine looking woman or a stick depending on which parts you use I guess.
Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (ibTVg)

As noted the other day, Larson is much ridiculed for her flat azz, but I think that was just one photo that made her look bad. And she's such a funt, she does deserve to be ridiculed.

As for Plaza, honestly I think she's damn near perfect. Including her near-permanent RBF.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 11, 2024 03:07 PM (dGCAG)

225 Just look at the garbage that gets relayed via the media, even on topics that aren't especially political. Anyone with a correspondence course level of understanding of epidemiology knows that most epidemiology study findings reported are pure trash.
Posted by: We Probably Can't Be Cynical Enough at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (FOweH)

25 published papers on Covid were retracted in the first 6 months.

Another racket is the retention of theories long past their due date. One such is "supersymmetry" the idea that there are double the number of particles because what we actually see seems unbalanced. To explain why we don't see them, the theory pretends that something is boosting half to high masses so we can't make them in the colliders. They predict a mass in the theory.

Some years later, the colliders have improved to discount supersymmetry. So the professors tinker with the theory to boost the particles mass beyond what the current collider can detect...so a new collider gets made and discounts THAT. Everybody's job remains forever.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:08 PM (eoQWY)

226 People of color who actually worked hard for their academic degrees and had reputable scholarship in order to get jobs must just be shaking their heads and having massive eye rolls at this sort of DEI ("DIdn't earn it") corruption.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 11, 2024 03:08 PM (XkYcA)

227 People of color who actually worked hard for their academic degrees and had reputable scholarship in order to get jobs must just be shaking their heads and having massive eye rolls at this sort of DEI ("DIdn't earn it") corruption.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 11, 2024 03:08 PM (XkYcA)
++++
Same as it ever was.

This was also a problem with the first, tamer version of this crap that is Affirmative Action.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:09 PM (HnUIn)

228 If an investment house has a $1 billion derivative bet that Security X will decline and a $1.05 billion derivative bet that Security X will increase and a $1.03 billion derivative bet that Security X will remain flat, then the nominal derivative exposure on that set of positions is $3.08 billion, but the maximum net exposure (the two higher bets lose and the third, by definition, does not) is $80 million ($0.08 billion).

But it's still a problem if you're betting with other people's money.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 02:55 PM (HnUIn)

———

What I’m concerned about is when the GenX withdrawals start in earnest, would there be enough cash on hand to pay out? I assume the money they leveraged has to be held onto.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 03:09 PM (ehu56)

229 The Duke brothers were pikers with their OJ plan.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 11, 2024 03:10 PM (CmCN0)

230 213 @207

>>He did play Marlon Brando.

Ersatz Orson Welles: As big as Brando was, he never played a Planet Devouring Robot, now did he?
Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 11, 2024 03:04 PM (XV/Pl)

This is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: Brian Dennehy at April 11, 2024 03:10 PM (PiwSw)

231 As far as we know the actual numbers weren't leaked, although this is a developing story, and the BLS is being very closed-lip about the extent of the collaboration with the big Wall Street firms.
_______________

Unexpectedly!

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 11, 2024 03:10 PM (YqDXo)

232 226 People of color who actually worked hard for their academic degrees and had reputable scholarship in order to get jobs must just be shaking their heads and having massive eye rolls at this sort of DEI ("DIdn't earn it") corruption.
Posted by: Fen

Which would those be?

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:10 PM (BrwLd)

233 So the Feds are stealing corruption tips from movies like "Trading Places?"
Posted by: JM in illinois, behold the Manchurian President at April 11, 2024 02:25 PM (Q7cQT)

That's how I see the environment scam. Two old guys who bet a dollar they can get the general population to wash their trash.

Posted by: InZona at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (W14WA)

234 What I’m concerned about is when the GenX withdrawals start in earnest, would there be enough cash on hand to pay out? I assume the money they leveraged has to be held onto.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 03:09 PM (ehu56)
++++
Unless there's some serious tomfoolery happening, yes, of course. By definition there will be "enough money" in 401(k) vehicles and similar. They will just be worth less if the draw-down in aggregate exceeds new inflow of money. More sell pressure means lower prices, and therefore lower proceeds to the owner.

Annuities might end up in real trouble, though, if they have guaranteed minimums and the investment house loses money on the spread.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (HnUIn)

235 or at least the economist who sent the original email, a longtime but relatively low-ranking employee

Right, it was all just some flunky in the Cincinnati office.

Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I AM The Science at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (lg881)

236 What I’m concerned about is when the GenX withdrawals start in earnest, would there be enough cash on hand to pay out? I assume the money they leveraged has to be held onto.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 11, 2024 03:09 PM (ehu56)

There is no money. There isn't even a promise of money. It is IOUs all the way down, and increasingly we can't skim money off the dollar from international trade to help float the boat.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (eoQWY)

237 Right, it was all just some flunky in the Cincinnati office.
Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I AM The Science at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (lg881)
++++
It always is.

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (HnUIn)

238 237 Right, it was all just some flunky in the Cincinnati office.
Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I AM The Science at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (lg881)
++++
It always is.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (HnUIn)

=======

Nuke Cincinnati?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (GBKbO)

239 Here's someone who never looked at the price of cereal these days. Last time I looked 20 years ago I decided I couldn't afford it.
---
True poor doesn't eat cold cereals.
We couldn't afford cold cereal growing up.
Not when a 5lb bag of rolled oats was a weeks of breakfasts at 1/3 the price of Cheerios.

Took me a long time as an adult to ever eat oatmeal.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at April 11, 2024 03:13 PM (yikga)

240 The latest OMG sting on Fed Reserve is confirmatory

Posted by: epador at April 11, 2024 03:14 PM (/Dqor)

241 232 226 People of color who actually worked hard for their academic degrees and had reputable scholarship in order to get jobs must just be shaking their heads and having massive eye rolls at this sort of DEI ("DIdn't earn it") corruption.
Posted by: Fen

I imagine they feel like the many legal Hispanic immigrants and citizens who have to watch the illegals coming in.

Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I AM The Science at April 11, 2024 03:14 PM (lg881)

242 Cincinnati was where all the IRS shenanigans with the tea party happened. So yeah Nuke.

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:14 PM (Y6Wgg)

243 237 Right, it was all just some flunky in the Cincinnati office.
Posted by: Dr. Fausti - I AM The Science at April 11, 2024 03:11 PM (lg881)
++++
It always is.
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (HnUIn)

=======

Nuke Cincinnati?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:12 PM (GBKbO)

They can't find it, its the advantage of being in flyover country. Just in case, there is a tiny bend in the road town in Indiana called Cincinnati to redirect the planes to.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:14 PM (eoQWY)

244 DEI: In another case of ‘Didn’t Earn It’ Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Board member Lisa DeNell Cook’s entire academic career has been found to be fraudulent. From faking research data, to outright plagiarism, to lying on her resume - Cook is in charge of our monetary policy. She can't be fired, her term lasts 14 years.
Hat Tip @amuse

Posted by: International Brotherhood of Hobos and Associated Hermits at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (dzZCL)

245 243 They can't find it, its the advantage of being in flyover country. Just in case, there is a tiny bend in the road town in Indiana called Cincinnati to redirect the planes to.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:14 PM (eoQWY)

=======

You can't fool me.

That's Covington.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (GBKbO)

246 Nood Qatar

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (mIj8s)

247 244 DEI: In another case of ‘Didn’t Earn It’ Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Board member Lisa DeNell Cook’s entire academic career has been found to be fraudulent. From faking research data, to outright plagiarism, to lying on her resume - Cook is in charge of our monetary policy. She can't be fired, her term lasts 14 years.
Hat Tip @amuse
Posted by: International Brotherhood of Hobos and Associated Hermits at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (dzZCL)

=======

Also, this didn't come out during her approval process in the Senate, meaning that GOP staffers didn't even think of investigating, or they knew and didn't care.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, fighting kaiju with Ishiro Honda at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (GBKbO)

248 DEI: In another case of ‘Didn’t Earn It’ Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Board member Lisa DeNell Cook’s entire academic career has been found to be fraudulent. From faking research data, to outright plagiarism, to lying on her resume - Cook is in charge of our monetary policy. She can't be fired, her term lasts 14 years.
Hat Tip @amuse
Posted by: International Brotherhood of Hobos and Associated Hermits at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (dzZCL)
++++
Anyone can be fired. So how does one fire a Fed governor? Impeachment?

Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (HnUIn)

249 Even the blacks who did it legit probably still are all for affirmative action. It gives their kids an advantage and even for themselves opens a lot more doors. Why would anyone oppose something that benefits them?

Posted by: Montec at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (Y6Wgg)

250 I just went and checked the Disclosure laws applicable to employees of the Dept. of Labor and Statistics. It's exactly what you would expect. The only laws they apply relate directly to the source of information they use to compile their statistics. There are no out front laws they adhere to relative to disclosure of time sensitive information. Instead, those are governed by INTERNAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.

Just like the IRS, FBI, CIA etc. In other words, no repercussions unless the DOJ (which has their own optional policies and procedures) decides to put a target on someone.

Posted by: Kato Kaelin at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (dIske)

251 Fwiw it is more fun to think about how many minority women with subpar academic backgrounds have been scammed by academia into getting worthless masters degrees with a ton of debt and no demand

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (BrwLd)

252 Just look at the garbage that gets relayed via the media, even on topics that aren't especially political. Anyone with a correspondence course level of understanding of epidemiology knows that most epidemiology study findings reported are pure trash.
Posted by: We Probably Can't Be Cynical Enough at April 11, 2024 03:02 PM (FOweH)
______________

I've been told by people in relevant fields that epidemiology papers are generally rubbish, apart from the link between cigarettes and lung cancer. Otherwise, pffft.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (YqDXo)

253 DEI: In another case of ‘Didn’t Earn It’ Biden-appointed Federal Reserve Board member Lisa DeNell Cook’s entire academic career has been found to be fraudulent. From faking research data, to outright plagiarism, to lying on her resume - Cook is in charge of our monetary policy. She can't be fired, her term lasts 14 years.
Hat Tip @amuse
Posted by: International Brotherhood of Hobos and Associated Hermits at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (dzZCL)

Well at least someone there is creative.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (eoQWY)

254 Chris Berman used to make up fake nicknames for players in clips. One of my favorite was when the player Eric "Sleeping with" Bieniemy made a great run one week.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 02:47 PM (eoQWY)

"Drew Bledsoe much he needed a transfusion."
Posted by: From That One Commercial at April 11, 2024 02:49 PM (Zz0t1)

Curtis "Jesus, Mary, &" Joseph

aka CuJo, the NHL goalie

Posted by: SturmToddler at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (nXhwP)

255 GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik dropped some breaking news on Thursday during a House Committee hearing on the FBI’s budget with Director Christopher Wray: There is audio of Biden telling his ghostwriter that he ‘just found all the classified documents downstairs.’

Posted by: SMOD at April 11, 2024 03:17 PM (RHGPo)

256 Fwiw it is more fun to think about how many minority women with subpar academic backgrounds have been scammed by academia into getting worthless masters degrees with a ton of debt and no demand

Posted by: N at April 11, 2024 03:16 PM (BrwLd)
____________

It's cute that you think they paid for them. Ever heard of scholarships?

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 11, 2024 03:17 PM (YqDXo)

257 nood

Strippers

Posted by: banana Dream at April 11, 2024 03:17 PM (Y6IkP)

258 Anyone can be fired. So how does one fire a Fed governor? Impeachment?
Posted by: Joe Mannix (Not a cop!) at April 11, 2024 03:15 PM (HnUIn)

just forget to send paychecks for a while and start a lot of investigations that are just routine.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:18 PM (eoQWY)

259 I'd make a comment about someone needing to be investigated for insider trading, but I couldn't even type such a comment with a straight face, much less say it.

Posted by: Octochicken at April 11, 2024 03:19 PM (oCS0o)

260
As noted the other day, Larson is much ridiculed for her flat azz, but I think that was just one photo that made her look bad

I remember seeing her in Scott Pilgrim and honestly she was beautiful.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 11, 2024 03:20 PM (ibTVg)

261 Some years later, the colliders have improved to discount supersymmetry. So the professors tinker with the theory to boost the particles mass beyond what the current collider can detect...so a new collider gets made and discounts THAT. Everybody's job remains forever.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 11, 2024 03:08 PM (eoQWY)
_______________

Maybe the particles are hiding in the deep ocean, alongside the heat that can't be found.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 11, 2024 03:20 PM (YqDXo)

262 Maybe the particles are hiding in the deep ocean, alongside the heat that can't be found.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at April 11, 2024 03:20 PM (YqDXo)
++++
I found it. There were severe consequences.

Posted by: Zombie Stockton Rush at April 11, 2024 03:23 PM (HnUIn)

263 OJ: Damn man, its hot down here!
J McCain: Yeah, but it's a dry heat...

Posted by: Boswell at April 11, 2024 03:24 PM (K+UlC)

264 Soros gave back all "outside money" so he could turn his operations into a "family office" that has no disclosure requirements about its investments.

I'd take the bet that he's well on his way to being the richest man ever through insider trading including by using leaks from Treasury. He was convicted of doing exactly that in Europe years ago.

Posted by: Ignoramus at April 11, 2024 03:42 PM (Gse2f)

265 “Plagiarizing oneself” is really a matter of permissions. Most Higher Ed codes of ethics, intellectual honesty, academic integrity, etc., require prior permission of all involved before, e.g., one submits academic work from a previous course for a grade in a different course.

Posted by: Biff Wellington IV at April 11, 2024 04:48 PM (YX+Uf)

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