The Epstein files are full of both Democrats and Republicans (and probably every other political party you have heard of). Nobody in power was ever going to push for their release, since it would be full of implications for themselves and their friends. The side *not* in power will push for the release, safe in knowing that it won't happen.

It seems like they are coming up with a fake release now. Purposely-obvious redaction will discredit it and even exonerate those who are shown, and foot-dragging will not be fought at all seriously.

I saw something that might work: make the districts elect 5 representatives, using proportional representation. This would keep the politicians local, which Americans appear to like. This does mean about 5 parties will be in congress, not more, but judging by what happens in Europe it would not be much different, any fringe party is forced to immediately merge with another and there seems to be about 5 already.

I think this also makes gerrymandering very difficult, though it might be best to just outlaw it. Districts are drawn by a computer with the only rule that they be as compact as possible.

Actually it would work if the electoral votes were proportionally allocated in each state according the popular vote in that state. This would actually result in the same winner as the popular vote in every presidential election in history. The problem is not that somebody in Wyoming has 4x the voting power of somebody in California or Texas. The problem is the fact that the winner in a state gets *all* the electoral votes. This means a member of the minority party in California or Texas has -1 (NEGATIVE 1) voting power, in that their existence adds to the population and thus the electoral votes that go to the candidate they are against.

I'm quite sure Apple will NEVER make a "mistake" in collecting fees it believes it's due from developers, or those that produce apps they really, really don't want on the market but can't otherwise remove.

I'm sure I'll get moderated down for expressing my opinion that I do not like Apple, never have, and consider them about as welcome as a bad case of the clap. I've a few corporations that I absolutely detest, not because of their tech, but because of their arrogance. Bad tech abounds, and is frequently the result of either bad management or grasping for profit (or both), but the arrogance is simply a case of "because we can". And Apple is not the worst of them in my opinion, but bad enough they aren't a consideration for private purchases, and needs a compelling and strong case when I'm making choices for my employer.

I do understand some love Apple. Those that really have a good case for using it will have me on their side, but "good cause" is not "because I said so!", it's facts based evidence that Apple solves a need they have that is not met elsewhere, because I have facts based evidence where Apple cost the employer unneeded expense and hardship.

The Sam Altman types, and the Thiel/Musk types especially, want technofeudalism with them on top. For some of them the "good of society" factors in but it is always after this.

Fox is publically funded. 66% of FOX TV revenue is from cable "must carry" channel fees even if you never watch 1 second of it. Last I bothered to check (three years ago) If you have cable TV you're paying on average $35 to Fox per year in "Must Carry" fees.
Military bases pay for FOX. So do VA hospitals and VA-VASH housing contracts require FOX be included. Don't remember if it's Dish or Direct-TV that will stop delivery of FOX programming, but again, the fee still is applied.
ESPN is another example of that, though they do it by refusing any service at all if the cable operator doesn't pay for 100% of all their subscribers, used or not.

I'll be surprised if I find out EOs have any authority outside the executive branch of the federal government. Otherwise a presnit could just unilaterally ban abortion, change federal, state, and locals laws and tax rates, disband Congress...

So join ANTIFAI - anti-f*-ai.

Though it might get you labeled as a ter'ist. Especially if you don't buy the products they're pushing.

What's the point of having a national military if you can't use it to pump taxpayer dollars into corporate coffers?

*scenario*

"Fox company, we'll airdrop a licensed mechanic and a licensed parts salesman onto your position around 0930, as soon as they finish repairing some stuff the enemy captured last year and make their way back to our side of the lines. Division says hold your position as best you can until then -- and remind the riflemen not to use their weapons as clubs, as that will void their warranty. It would be better for the overall war effort to let you position be overrun."

"No, Davies can't fix the autocannon even if your lives depend on it. Division says to shoot him in the arse if he so much as touches it."

They're dragging buzzwords through the water, so see whether they get any nibbles.

Your MBA/PHB eats this shit right up.

No. I got rid of the car about a year later. It didn't bother me because at the time, I thought it was just a snitch, like the any other cell phone. Didn't occur to me they could shut off my car but I feel stupid I didn't think of that. Too trusting.

The OnStar system in my previous vehicle still reported to OnStar (or someone) even though it did not HAVE OnStar installed or activated. I was out west where the nearest cell tower was over 60 miles away and was using an SDR and traced it to the trunk on the drivers side. I was looking for some SCADA signals in the 800-950 Mhz range and said "What the actual hell is THAT!?" when I saw it was always near, and always fairly strong. I assume it was beaconing for a cell tower since it was a repeated signlal with about the same waveform.

"Value Priced" installed alarms do that. I installed and maintained alarms in the 70's. I used two types of systems, for low security, a resistor at the bitter end of the zone. That way a open or short would set off the zone. The other was a oscillating R/C or C/L circuit that was tuned to a unique frequency for that alarm on that zone. Lately, the zones (wired or wireless) use TLS.
As to reporting, most were metallic pair from TelCo (kinda expensive) with line security (variable oscillating), or used dial up every few minutes. A special "OverWatch" mode for dial up was available for an extra charge that stayed connected but that was designed by the company and not something off the shelf. These days, it's done with Internet via cable/phone or wireless. A drop in comms == "Trouble" which is treated as an alarm condition.
Another precaution was a code to repeat in case of alarm. Said code said one style, everything is OK. Said in another style it ment the subscriber was being held hostage. Much fun calling for a SWAT response and very, very expensive when the subscriber got it wrong.

We would certainly be at a disadvantage if Russia was able to copy rockets that constantly blew up shortly after launch.

Can we roll back the Chicken War tariffs that have been in place since 1964? (Yes, it's vehicle related.)
How about eliminating the "foreign oil" exemption to windfall profits tax? Especially US oil that is exported then re-imported at a higher price to evade the tax.
While we're at it, delete the Jones Act (Which is why the East Coast imports oil rather than pipe it in), add in Right To Repair, Right To Own, One Touch Make Ready, Repeal of all cable and telephone monopolies, escheat back to the government leased radio spectra not 72% utilized for more than 3 months, revocation of all DRM for E-Books and printer supplies, term limits for SCotUS, Senate, and House, require congressional districts have about the same number of people with the minimum possible circumference as the only legal considerations (Because voters should pick their politicians, politicians should not be able to pick their voters.)

Yeah. Pipe dream I know. Too much power into the hands of the people, too many profits short circuited.