samhexum

But have any of you ever been to Russia? I was there after communism fell, but before the USSR actually split up.

Armed man ‘adjusting his pants’ accidentally discharges gun inside Atlanta mall A man walking into the Neiman Marcus store at an Atlanta mall Saturday night accidentally set off his gun while he was “adjusting his pants,” according to police. The gunshot rang out through the Lenox Square mall around 6 p.m. Saturday, Sgt. John Chafee told the Daily News Sunday. Witnesses initially told police there may have been a “dispute” between two people, but officers confirmed that no such fight happened. Instead, the armed man fired the “accidental” discharge while adjusting, Chafee said. No one was injured, but the man fled the scene and has not been identified or located. “We urge gun owners to be responsible and we would recommend they leave their firearms at home while they are out shopping in public areas,” Chafee said. “Instances like this are unacceptable and we expect more from those who choose to carry firearms. Gun ownership is a responsibility no one should take lightly.”

Fort Bragg soldier, 21, who disappeared in May was decapitated, autopsy says They needed an autopsy to determine that?!?!?! :eek::eek:

The entire NBA is anxiously waiting to see if Giannis Antetokounmpo will sign a contract extension before the 12/21 deadline. Today was his birthday; the whole Bucks team sang Happy Birthday to him at practice, then 2 of his closest pals on the team gave him the perfect present... a set of fancy pens. As for myself, I usually just call my long-lost twin brother Jeff Stryker. We were born on the same day.

How about a loyalty program? 5% off after 5 hires, 10% after 10. Try a state with a lot of Republican congressmen. ?

About 150 General Motor Co. dealers are parting ways with Cadillac instead of investing in costly upgrades required to sell electric cars, according to FOX Business. GM recently gave the dealers the choice: accept a buyout ranging from $300,000 to more than $1 million to exit the brand or spend about $200,000 to upgrade their dealerships for the sale of electric vehicles. About 17% of Cadillac’s 880 US dealerships agreed to take the offer to end their franchise agreements for the luxury brand, because many of them own other GM brands like Chevrolet and Buick and don’t sell many Cadillacs. That decision illustrates that even as the value of electric vehicles rises, many car industry insiders remain skeptical about selling and investing in the products. Dealers are weighing costly facility investments like electrical-system upgrades against uncertainty about demand for the vehicles, which now account for about 2% of U.S. vehicle sales. Some retailers say they are putting off orders of electric models, worried they will sit too long on their lots. Even in markets where electric vehicles are more popular, like San Francisco, dealers say the lack of commuting during the pandemic has led to a drop off in demand for cars like GM’s Chevrolet Bolt. Cadillac global brand chief Rory Harvey confirmed that the company offered buyouts to dealers, but declined to specify how many had taken them or the value of the offers. “The future dealer requirements are a logical and necessary next step on our path towards electrification,” Mr. Harvey said. Those who aren’t ready to make that commitment are getting fair compensation for exiting the brand, he added. As plug-in models take up more space in showrooms, they are also likely to reshape the economics of running a dealership, analysts and executives say. Electric vehicles have fewer components and require less frequent maintenance, for example, posing a threat to dealers’ parts and service business, a key profit source. Cadillac is set to play a central role in GM’s electric-vehicle push, which is among the most aggressive of legacy auto makers. The nation’s largest car company last month said it would boost its spending on electrics, as well as driverless-car development, by more than a third compared with previous plans, up to $27 billion by mid-decade. That represents the majority of GM’s planned capital spending, even though electrics account for only about 2% of its global sales today. Minnesota Cadillac dealer Todd Snell said he views the upfront costs for electric cars as an investment in the future, even if he is uncertain how quickly sales will take off, especially in his farming community. “I’m not 100% convinced electric cars will be the silver bullet everyone says they will be, but I do think they will become an important part of the business,” Mr. Snell said. “We’re looking to get bigger and, hopefully, be around for the future.” Cadillac will get first dibs on electric-vehicle innovations as the company rolls them out, and its dealerships could feature plug-in models only by 2030, GM executives have said. The brand’s first all-electric model, a sporty crossover SUV called the Lyriq, is scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2022. Executives hope it will be the beginning of a new image for the brand, which dominated the luxury market as recently as the 1990’s. Cadillac dealer Claude Burns plans to spend the money to sell electric vehicles but he is unsure how quickly he will be able to recoup his investment, which he figures will end up being less than $200,000. But he also noted the growing number of Teslas — which are marketed directly to customers without a dealership — on the roadways around his South Carolina community. “It looks to me like to me this electric-vehicle market might be fixing to take off,” he said. “So I decided I’m going to hang with Cadillac.” A friend in college told me FORD stood for Fix Or Repair Daily or Found On Road Dead.

or the inferior version...

1. Invest early in Microsoft. 2. Invest early in Apple. 3. Invest early in Amazon. Bonus advice... any of the decisions you're going to make in the next 40 years, DON'T DO IT! But if you don't have either, make sure your personality is exceptionally sparkling, and your bank account is exceptionally large.

http://synd.imgsrv.uclick.com/comics/cl/2020/cl201206.jpg

Roald Dahl’s family quietly issues apology for late author’s anti-Semitism The family of Roald Dahl, who penned the children’s classics “Matilda” and “James and the Giant Peach,” has quietly apologized for the late writer’s “prejudiced” anti-Semitic comments. Dahl, who died at age 74 in 1990, had made offensive declarations in several interviews, including a 1983 interview with The New Statesman, reports The Sunday Times of London. “There is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity, maybe it’s a kind of lack of generosity towards non-Jews. I mean, there’s always a reason why anti-anything crops up anywhere,” Dahl said. “Even a stinker like Hitler didn’t just pick on them for no reason.” In 1990, Dahl told The Independent: “I’m certainly anti-Israeli and I’ve become anti-Semitic in as much as that you get a Jewish person in another country like England strongly supporting Zionism.” Even some of Dahl’s characters are considered anti-Semitic portrayals, including the large-nosed child snatcher he added in his screenplay of Ian Fleming’s classic “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Dahl’s relatives posted their apology on the author’s website. The statement isn’t dated and wasn’t sent to any Jewish groups or promoted publicly. “The Dahl family and the Roald Dahl Story Company deeply apologise [sic] for the lasting and understandable hurt caused by some of Roald Dahl’s statements. Those prejudiced remarks are incomprehensible to us and stand in marked contrast to the man we knew…,” the apology reads. “We hope that, just as he did at his best, at his absolute worst, Roald Dahl can help remind us of the lasting impact of words.” In a statement to the Sunday Times, the family members acknowledged both their love for Dahl and the pain he caused. “Apologising [sic] for the words of a much-loved grandparent is a challenging thing to do, but made more difficult when the words are so hurtful to an entire community. We loved Roald, but we passionately disagree with his anti-Semitic comments….These comments do not reflect what we see in his work – a desire for the acceptance of everyone equally – and were entirely unacceptable. We are truly sorry.”

He was 73.

Is that what the kids are calling it these days?

Schmidt and Nico have decided to be each other's designated safe partner for sex during the pandemic. Covid is probably going to eventually kill Meredith Grey, but it has reinvigorated GREY'S ANATOMY. It has been quite good so far. I guessed tonight's return-from-the-dead character, though.

Nah, he was actually a nice guy. ? ? 4 questions, took about a minute.

I've actually figured out the real names of three people on hook-up sites, but haven't mentioned it to any of them for exactly that reason. Long ago, there was a porn star who listed his phone # in an ad, and I reverse-directory-ed it and found that he was listed in the phone book with his address. Shortly after that I had some work doing surveys a block away and even though he wasn't actually in the area I was supposed to be covering, I took the opportunity to ring his bell (literally, unfortunately) and ask him the survey questions.

New rule cracks down on emotional support animals on planes Airlines don't have to treat emotional support animals as service animals, a new rule says. The US Department of Transportation rule announced Wednesday states that "carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets." Air carriers are also permitted to limit service animals to dogs. The final rule on Traveling by Air with Service Animals defines a service animal as "a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability." Emotional support animals are prescribed by mental health professionals to provide their owners with comfort and support, but unlike service animals, they are not required to have training in specific tasks. Airlines have asked DOT to regulate this issue in part over their concern that passengers were fraudulently passing off their pets as the more loosely defined and fee-free category of emotional support animals. Flying with a small pet inside the cabin can cost $125 or more each way on US airlines. The new rule was also prompted by an increase in service animal complaints from passengers with disabilities, a lack of clarity around the definition of "service animal," misbehavior by emotional support animals and disruptions caused by "requests to transport unusual species of animals onboard aircraft," according to the DOT. Pigs, peacocks and other unexpected animals have previously flown as emotional support animals. Airlines for America, a trade group for US airlines, applauded the new rule. "Airlines are committed to promoting accessibility for passengers with disabilities and ensuring their safe travel. The Department of Transportation's final rule will protect the traveling public and airline crew members from untrained animals in the cabin, as well as improve air travel accessibility for passengers with disabilities that travel with trained service dogs," said A4A President and CEO Nicholas E. Calio in a statement. American Airlines is also pleased with the rule. "This new rule reflects a respect for individuals with disabilities who travel with legitimate service animals, which we share, while providing clear and practical guidelines that will eliminate the abuse of the system that has been a source of concern for our team members and customers," said AA spokesperson Stacy Day. "We look forward to the improved experience we'll be able to deliver to our customers, especially those with legitimate service animals, as a result." The new rule allows airlines to require passengers traveling with service animals to fill out and submit a DOT form "attesting to the animal's training and good behavior, and certifying the animal's good health." Approximately 15,000 comments were received in response to a notice of the proposed rule posted in the Federal Register in February 2020, according to the DOT. Those comments were taken into account in drafting the final rule. The rule will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register. The publication date has not been set. Previously, a passenger traveling with an emotional support animal was required to present a letter to their airline from a licensed health professional. CertaPet, one of a number of services that provide screening and letters for emotional support animals, called the rule "a great disservice to those facing mental health challenges that get emotional support from their animal." The company said in a statement that "providing clear guidelines for certification and vetting companies in the industry" would have been a better solution. "We understand that there have been incidents that have discredited emotional support animals and the service they provide, but those situations could be prevented by increased regulation," the telehealth company's statement said. "We think emotional support peacocks are ridiculous too."

Julianna Margulies is joining the cast for season 2

Anyone who has died.

They need to get some male eye candy on the show.

Amanda Kloots has been named a new co-host on THE TALK.

A comedian’s viral Twitter ode to New York bodegas has sparked a heated debate on what exactly sets the city corner mainstays apart from suburbia’s grocery and convenience stores. “People who live outside of NYC and don’t have bodegas: where do you go to buy two Diet Cokes, a roll of paper towels, and oh also lemme get some peanut butter m&ms since I’m here, why not,” wrote funnywoman Alison Leiby on Monday. “(this is also about how candy is kept behind glass and is only accessed by the owner or, when he is not there, his 8 year old son),” added Leiby in a follow-up tweet. The initial post, which as of Tuesday afternoon had garnered more than 53,000 likes, primarily provoked two distinct reactions, each equally as visceral: Those who said Leiby had simply described a supermarket or convenience store, and those who rushed to defend bodegas’ honor as a unique business. “In PA there’s this thing called Wawa,” wrote one user, who described herself as a former New York City resident of 17 years, in reference to the convenience store chain. “In CA there’s this thing generally called stores, but you drive to them instead of walking to the corner.” Replied another user to Leiby’s rhetorical question, “Literally everywhere within 10 minutes of my house. Your idea of a unique quirk is a f–king store.” Sniped a third, “Literally any place with a cash register.” Other users were quick to praise the one-of-a-kind charm of a big-city bodega. “There’s nothing like them,” wrote one bodega backer. “I lived in NYC for 10 years, LA 5, Atlanta 3. Used to get bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll, toilet paper, white vinegar, and a turkey sandwich all at once and all delicious. Nothing similar in LA or Atl, sadly.” Wrote another, “A bunch of bitter people are saying the grocery store but the real answer is nowhere comes close. There isn’t one stop for dishwasher detergent a turkey sandwich a kombucha a pack of starbursts a bag of doritos and some chocolate covered shortbread cookies.” And the popular Brooklyn-based @Bodegacats_ account offered a reminder that there’s more to a bodega than the products on the shelves. “You mean, where do you go to pet your cats…,” the account wrote. A few in the middle agreed with Leiby’s love of New York and bodegas, but questioned how she made the point. “there is so much stuff you can only do at a bodega but you just described a 7/11,” read one such reply. “This is ‘View of the World from 9th Avenue’ in a tweet,” wrote another user, referring to the famous city-centric cover of The New Yorker. “I love New York, but people who live in New York really need to leave New York once in a while.” As Leiby’s tweet exploded, she cracked wise about whether the attention worth it. “If they don’t talk about all this on NY1 tomorrow then it was all for nothing,” she wrote late Monday. By Tuesday morning, the debate indeed spilled over to the cable news channel’s morning show, leading Leiby to proclaim, “THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”