Author: Mark Alexander

Posted on

Stepping Into The Matrix

We went out to Arrowhead Mall yesterday because Ben needed new shirts for work and JC Penney was having a huge sale. He also wanted to go to the Apple Store to look at MacBooks; he has become increasingly disenchanted with his decision to leave the Church of Jobs earlier this year and wanted to check out the new models.

While Arrowhead has had an Apple Store forever, they have remodeled and now have one of the new designs:

That’s right. The new stores are like stepping into one of the “artificial constructs” of the Matrix. I even had to look to find the iconic Apple logo outside the store.

Anyway, the model Ben wants is the 15-inch 2.9/16/512 Touchbar, that even with his education discount comes in at $2500—twice what he paid for his Lenovo Yoga with similar specs a few months ago—so it’s not happening any time soon.

Even then I’m in no hurry for him to switch back. While Ben loves technology, Ben is also one of those Technology Cursed. He has issues with pretty much every piece of gear he buys, and with my own ongoing problem with the keyboard (yes, it’s happening—albeit with different, random keys this time—on the replacement machine I got) on my new Mac, I don’t want him jumping into that shark pool until Apple fixes this mess. (If I could do it over, I would go back and get the 2015 pre-butterfly key model because this is really starting to piss me off. There’s no logic to it; like with the first one I had, the h-key went wonky. Then it cleared up and the g-key lost its mind. Now it’s the n-key. Hardware? Software? Sun spots? Apple will repair it, but from what I understand it will have to be sent out because the entire fucking top case needs to be replaced and I’ll be without a machine for a week—and there’s no guarantee the problem won’t recur. I’m not yet to the point where I’m ready to go without but if it gets any worse I may reconsider that stance.)

0 comments

Posted on

Vintage Audio Porn

Sony STR-V6

Probably the last line of “good” Sony equipment before they descended—like all the rest of the Japanese audio giants—into the disposable silver and black plastic hell that’s plagued us since the 80s.

0 comments

Posted on

Quote of the Day

The President told everyone that only he could do the job and he would drain the swamp. Instead, he’s dammed up the swamp, put a party boat on it, and has turned his attention to Twitter.” ~ Erick Erickson, conservative radio host and blogger.

You know you’re in trouble when your own supporters start calling out your bullshit. But of course that requires a certain amount of self-awareness, doesn’t it?

0 comments

Posted on

It Starts With Just a Trickle…

…for the dam to break.

From AMERICAblog:

GOP Senator Lindsey Graham threatened Donald Trump today with “the end of the Trump presidency” should Trump try to fire special counsel Mueller, who is investigating the extent of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

Graham first noted that there will be no confirmation hearings for a new attorney general in 2017. Trump has made clear on Twitter of late that he wants sitting attorney general Jeff Sessions to resign. Sessions has reportedly refused. Among the reasons Trump wants Sessions gone: Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation, and thus can’t help Trump kill it; Sessions hasn’t been vigorous in investigating leaks (per Trump); and Sessions hasn’t yet launched an investigation of Hillary Clinton.

“There will be no confirmation hearing for a new attorney general in 2017. If Jeff Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay. Any effort to go after Mueller could be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency.”

Graham then said that if Trump tries to fire Mueller, it may be the beginning of the end of his presidency. That likely means Graham is threatening to impeach him and remove him from office. That’s a large threat.

There’s more. It’s pretty great:

Now, Lindsey Graham is only one Senator, but in this Senate every vote counts, and Trump barely has enough votes to get his agenda through, as we’re seeing on health care reform. Trump can’t afford even one Republican Senator saying he’s had enough.

This throws a real wrench in Trump’s plans to get rid of Sessions. Having said that, Republicans like Graham talk a good talk, but they rarely act. Graham is happy to investigate Benghazi till the cows come home, but let’s see if he ever truly and finally takes on Donald Trump.

Again, the comments are great, and will give Trump pause. But until we see some real action, Graham and the rest will still be tarred with Trump’s excesses.

0 comments

Posted on

Contacting My Representatives

It couldn’t be easier. Text RESIST to 50409 (details at Resistbot) and follow the prompts.

This is what I sent:

As you are quite aware someone has announced that Transgender persons are no longer welcome to serve our country. Then, while the media is having a firestorm over that sudden announcement and as the senate GOP are dramatically playing out their “take the healthcare away from the poor and give the money to the rich” scheme, it seems the Department of Justice decides to submit an amicus brief stating that all LGBT Americans simply aren’t covered under the 1964 civil rights act because of who we are and who we love. I know that you and all of this nation’s governors, senators and representatives want to be on the right side of history. For that reason I urge you all to put party politics aside and work towards a just, fair and equal society for all of us. I ask that you stand up and fight for all of our rights as equal citizens no matter our sex, religion, race, sexual orientation, skin color, beliefs, age, pre-existing condition, income, or social status. Please do this for us, for yourselves, for our children and for our country. We need you.

Thanks to Fearsome Beard for providing the majority of the text. He very eloquently put into words what I wanted to say.

0 comments