The unimportant news thread

[Papy Oli]

Oasis reforming.

Happy news day. Buzzin' 

Now, getting some tickets on sale Saturday is another matter 

[DavidW]

I've seen the recent news that due to a lack of confidence in Boeing, some astronauts will be stranded on the ISS. One of my students is all excited about the thought of working as an engineer at Boeing in the future. I couldn't help but think, "Hey, you do you!"

[ShineyMcShineShine]

Oasis reforming.

Happy news day. Buzzin' 

Now, getting some tickets on sale Saturday is another matter 

"bookmakers are offering 4/1 on Oasis splitting up before the end of tour." --Guardian

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It's apparently been cleaned up since then, but when as a tourist I was shown the alleged "Juliet's Balcony" in Verona, every wall of the courtyard of which it was a part was covered in romantic graffiti as high as human arms could reach.
But graffiti at important sites has a long history. Witness among others the Varangian who left his runic signature high up in Hagia Sophia.

Yes, I know that graffiti isn't new.  My feeling these days is that it has become more of an issue.  Question:  when (approximately) did you visit the alleged "JB"?  Theoretically, we should have grown as a society and know more (including being respectful of historical monuments).  Wondering if the increase (?) has more to do with the internet and blogs/videos, etc., and trying to get hits/likes?

PD

[JBS]

Yes, I know that graffiti isn't new.  My feeling these days is that it has become more of an issue.  Question:  when (approximately) did you visit the alleged "JB"?  Theoretically, we should have grown as a society and know more (including being respectful of historical monuments).  Wondering if the increase (?) has more to do with the internet and blogs/videos, etc., and trying to get hits/likes?

PD

Summer 1992. Fun thing about it was that the guide told us beforehand that it had no real connection to the story or the families involved, but since every tourist saw it, we were going to see it too.

[Papy Oli]

"bookmakers are offering 4/1 on Oasis splitting up before the end of tour." --Guardian

There's always that risk 

[Todd]

I am ashamed to report that I only learned about this yesterday.  Here's how to take the chance component out of the lottery:

Local: They're cashing in millions. On other people's lottery tickets

Michigan: This Michigan couple spotted a lucrative lottery loophole

The Oregonian article is behind a paywall, but the short of it is that some enterprising folks buy winning non-jackpot tickets at steep discounts to face value from original ticket purchasers at bars, delis (larded with state gambling machines, as it happens), and similar locales and then cash them in with the state.  Some people make millions doing this.  The government is aware.  Since state lotteries are openly regressive tax schemes on the retail side, and since the state and feds get their cut on the payout side, irrespective of who cashes in, everyone is a winner.  I was aware of hard money lenders, private equity funds, and hedge funds buying large annuity jackpot tickets at discounts, but it never occurred to me to do it on the cheap.  My curiosity is more than a little piqued. 

[Todd]

From The Hill: Emissions from Canada's 2023 wildfires higher than all but 3 countries: Study

A wildfire heat map from The Economist:



In Oregon, a record ~1.4 million acres have burned in 2024 so far, though fortunately not near heavily populated areas like in 2020. 

These facts are posted in this thread because there's nothing anyone can do about it.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

From The Hill: Emissions from Canada's 2023 wildfires higher than all but 3 countries: Study

A wildfire heat map from The Economist:



In Oregon, a record ~1.4 million acres have burned in 2024 so far, though fortunately not near heavily populated areas like in 2020. 

These facts are posted in this thread because there's nothing anyone can do about it.

I read awhile ago (within the past year I believe?) about how bad the Canadian wildfires were (and have experienced the smoke/smell/problems with air quality in my own area).  Can't remember whether I posted this online, but I do remember having a conversation with a friend regarding how the fires can lay dormant throughout the Canadian winter (due to peat reserves):  zombie fires.

Here's a link to one article about them:  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/zombie-peat-fires-wildfire-alberta-1.7022806

PD

[ShineyMcShineShine]

News from two ends of the spectrum:

Worker dead at Wells Fargo desk for 4 days https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFCmNeTgdrs

Amazon drivers not allowed to move mouths https://www.reddit.com/r/AmazonDSPDrivers/comments/1f2y2cp/try_to_tell_me_when_i_can_move_my_own_mouth_im_out/

[Todd]

From The Economist:

Too Much of a Good Thing

Americans love big cars, but new analysis suggests the heaviest vehicles kill more people than they save

As per usual, The Simpsons already addressed this.  In the 90s.

[ShineyMcShineShine]

As per usual, The Simpsons already addressed this.  In the 90s.

"You can't hurt that finish, rainwater will strip it right off"

<cough>cybertruck<cough>

[Todd]

Nasa astronaut reports 'strange noise' from Boeing Starliner spacecraft

Oh, Boeing!  Chapter 73.

[ritter]

Nasa astronaut reports 'strange noise' from Boeing Starliner spacecraft

Oh, Boeing!  Chapter 73.

It's rumoured they have now found out what was producing the "strange noise":

[DavidW]

Nasa astronaut reports 'strange noise' from Boeing Starliner spacecraft

Oh, Boeing!  Chapter 73.

I suppose chapter 73 is better than chapter 11!

[Todd]

I suppose chapter 73 is better than chapter 11!

Indeed.  Fortunately, on the financial side, Boeing is expertly run with superior cash flow projections key to their success.  Right now, Boeing corporate bonds have a BBB- rating, which means they are one rating above junk bond status.  Hey, wait . . .

(The Feds will not let Boeing disappear, or more specifically Boeing's manufacturing capacity will not be allowed to disappear.  In the worst-case scenario, the company would either get a bailout, or it would be "encouraged" to merge with another firm (Lockheed, say, to choose a competitor entirely at random), or it would be forced to break apart, with the defense and space related division going to a US domiciled firm (eg, Lockheed, SpaceX) with the other two divisions going to market.  I mean that would never happen, and a silly, random internet poster postulating such outlandish scenarios in no way indicates that other people within government, the industries Boeing competes in, or activist investment firms are thinking along similar lines.  Also, the outlined never-in-a-million-years scenarios may not necessarily sound better than Chapter 11 to members of the current Boeing board.  But then, activist investors may buy into the board, foment change, which could perhaps lead to a company like, say, the Carlyle Group (another purely random selection) pouring money in and setting off a boardroom fight.  The possibilities, while not endless, are numerous.)

[Todd]

From NavyTimes: Navy suffers shortage of working uniform trousers

Sometimes, such serious news can get one down.  It's at moments like this that one can appreciate a new commercial, but not just any commercial, the new Bud Light ad with Shane Gillis, itself a newsworthy event:

[ShineyMcShineShine]

From NavyTimes: Navy suffers shortage of working uniform trousers

Sometimes, such serious news can get one down.  It's at moments like this that one can appreciate a new commercial, but not just any commercial, the new Bud Light ad with Shane Gillis, itself a newsworthy event:

Nobody dressed in drag: they're improving.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Nobody dressed in drag: they're improving.

Clever ad! 

Here's one for you all:  Italian burglar gets side-tracked mid-burgle by a book.  *Caught read-handed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4kpv3p4zo

*And I take all of the blame for that bad pun!

PD

p.s.  And check out what he was reading and the author's comments!

[Karl Henning]

Clever ad! 

Here's one for you all:  Italian burglar gets side-tracked mid-burgle by a book.  *Caught read-handed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4kpv3p4zo

*And I take all of the blame for that bad pun!

PD

p.s.  And check out what he was reading and the author's comments!

I only wish all burglaries were this entertaining (and non-violent)