Bye

[ap215]

Pat McAfee ‘happy’ to announce Jets QB Aaron Rodgers is done appearing on his show for the season

Aaron Rodgers’ season officially came to an end on Wednesday. No, not his season as the Jets quarterback. That ended in Week 1. But his season as the most-talked-about guest on “The Pat McAfee Show.”

It seems popular host Pat McAfee has had enough of the Hall of Fame quarterback, with the former NFL punter turned media personality announcing at the start of Wednesday’s show that Rodgers’ appearance on the show the day before was his last. Rodgers made weekly appearances on the ESPN show and reportedly the original plan was for his segments to continue through the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/pat-mcafee-hap ... 00649.html

[Toonces]

Brooklyn is my home i didn't know anything about this wow.

Secret tunnel in NYC synagogue leads to brawl between police and worshippers

NEW YORK - A historic Brooklyn synagogue that serves as the centre of an influential Hasidic Jewish movement was trashed this week during an unusual community dispute that began with the discovery of a secret underground tunnel and ended in brawl between worshippers and police.

The conflict erupted in the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in Crown Heights, a deeply revered Jewish site that each year receives thousands of visitors, including international students and religious leaders. Its Gothic Revival facade, immediately recognizable to adherents of the Chabad movement, has inspired dozens of replicas across the world.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/secret-tun ... -1.6718796

Why, yes, there is already a conspiracy theory that the tunnel was being used to traffic children

[ap215]

Fruit Stripe Gum farewell: Chewing gum to be discontinued after half a century

The iconic brightly colored Fruit Stripe Gum is being discontinued after more than 50 years.

Food and Wine magazine reported that the gum's manufacturer, Ferrara Candy announced this week, that it will discontinue the gum.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/fo ... 186601007/

[Number6]

Maryland State Board of Elections official resigns after the FBI arrests him on charges related to the Jan 6th Insurrection.

Carlos Ayala, a Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections, resigned from his post Thursday after the FBI arrested him Tuesday on charges related to participating in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Maryland State Elections Board Chair Michael Summers confirmed the resignation in a statement Thursday, The Associated Press reported.

In court documents, prosecutors allege Ayala was identified among a group of rioters illegally gathered on restricted Capitol grounds near scaffolding set up for the upcoming inauguration. He can be seen in video footage climbing over police barricades and moving toward the front of the crowd gathered by the Senate Wing door of the Capitol, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).

He can then allegedly be seen inside a window near the Senate Wing Door using CCTV footage from within the Capitol building. The DOJ said he was holding “a distinctive black and white flag affixed to a PVC pipe flagpole bearing the words ‘We the People’ and ‘DEFEND.’ Featured prominently on the flag was an image of an M-16-style rifle.”
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-ba ... 6-charges/

[ap215]

Larry Hogan steps down from No Labels leadership

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan resigned last month from his position at third-party leadership movement No Labels, stoking speculation that the moderate Republican could mount a potential presidential run on the group’s ballot.

His resignation as co-chair took effect at the end of 2023, he wrote to Nancy Jacobson, the organization’s president and CEO, in a letter. Hogan did not share information about his future plans and praised No Labels in the letter, dated Dec. 15 and obtained by POLITICO on Thursday.

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/1 ... s-00135096

[ap215]

Judge blocks JetBlue-Spirit merger after DOJ’s antitrust challenge

A federal judge Tuesday blocked JetBlue Airways purchase of Spirit Airlines after the Justice Department sued to stop the merger, saying the deal would drive up fares for price-sensitive consumers by taking the discount carrier out of the market.

JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion purchase of discounter Spirit would have produced the country’s fifth-largest airline, a deal the carriers had said would help them better grow and compete against larger rivals like Delta and United.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/16/jetblue ... tment.html

[Glennfs]

Probably in poor taste but

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... infection/

Grassley hospitalized

No way a 90 year old man should be in the House or Senate or be a Judge
And
No way a person in their 80s should be running for reelection.
No that isn't an endorsement of Trump
It is a factual assessment that one of the reasons we are screwed is these old folks running our Government refuse to pass the torch to the next generation.

[JoeMemphis]

Probably in poor taste but

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics ... infection/

Grassley hospitalized

No way a 90 year old man should be in the House or Senate or be a Judge
And
No way a person in their 80s should be running for reelection.
No that isn't an endorsement of Trump
It is a factual assessment that one of the reasons we are screwed is these old folks running our Government refuse to pass the torch to the next generation.

I disagree. I’m not exactly a youngster myself (64) but there are things I know and have learned by experience that you can’t teach in school. I’m sure the same can be said for folks who are in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s even. Depends of course on the job but Inalso think it has a whole lot to deal with how agile the person is mentally. I’ve seen 80 year old folks who are as quick witted as any 40 or 50 year old. I’ve seen folks in their 50’s and 60’s that should have retired 15 years ago.

[Glennfs]

I disagree. I’m not exactly a youngster myself (64) but there are things I know and have learned by experience that you can’t teach in school. I’m sure the same can be said for folks who are in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s even. Depends of course on the job but Inalso think it has a whole lot to deal with how agile the person is mentally. I’ve seen 80 year old folks who are as quick witted as any 40 or 50 year old. I’ve seen folks in their 50’s and 60’s that should have retired 15 years ago.

The problem being that those in positions of power almost always refuse to step aside.
Strom Thurmond
Robert Byrd
Diane Finestein
Ted Kennedy
Just off the top of my head. All refused to step aside.
We still have a few federal judges who were appointed by Reagan.
In this age of over the top bipartisanship people refuse to acknowledge that the person from their camp is just healthy enough or no longer mentally sharp enough to serve.
We need age limits to keep those who should no longer be in power from continuing.

Sidebar 66 first week of April

[JoeMemphis]

The problem being that those in positions of power almost always refuse to step aside.
Strom Thurmond
Robert Byrd
Diane Finestein
Ted Kennedy
Just off the top of my head. All refused to step aside.
We still have a few federal judges who were appointed by Reagan.
In this age of over the top bipartisanship people refuse to acknowledge that the person from their camp is just healthy enough or no longer mentally sharp enough to serve.
We need age limits to keep those who should no longer be in power from continuing.

Sidebar 66 first week of April

You could be unhealthy or mentally unfit at 40. Just saying. Age isn’t necessarily the sole factor nor should it be. That’s age discrimination. Just saying.

[gounion]

The problem being that those in positions of power almost always refuse to step aside.
Strom Thurmond
Robert Byrd
Diane Finestein
Ted Kennedy
Just off the top of my head. All refused to step aside.
We still have a few federal judges who were appointed by Reagan.
In this age of over the top bipartisanship people refuse to acknowledge that the person from their camp is just healthy enough or no longer mentally sharp enough to serve.
We need age limits to keep those who should no longer be in power from continuing.

Sidebar 66 first week of April

Just recall that you ALWAYS voted for Storm, even when you KNEW he wasn’t doing the job anymore.

[Number6]

The problem being that those in positions of power almost always refuse to step aside.
Strom Thurmond
Robert Byrd
Diane Finestein
Ted Kennedy
Just off the top of my head. All refused to step aside.
We still have a few federal judges who were appointed by Reagan.
In this age of over the top bipartisanship people refuse to acknowledge that the person from their camp is just healthy enough or no longer mentally sharp enough to serve.
We need age limits to keep those who should no longer be in power from continuing.

Sidebar 66 first week of April

A person in power, whether in politics or business, always have problems knowing when it's time to leave. While I could support some age limits on positions, like judges, for elected offices that's up to the voters.

[Number6]

You could be unhealthy or mentally unfit at 40. Just saying. Age isn’t necessarily the sole factor nor should it be. That’s age discrimination. Just saying.

I knew a fellow who was 95. Physically, he moved slowly but he was still able to drive without any problems. Mentally, he was sharper than a lot of people I know halve his age. Each person is an individual and each person ages differently so you'd really have to take it on a case-by-case basis if a person is too old to perform their job.

[Number6]

A person in power, whether in politics or business, always have problems knowing when it's time to leave. While I could support some age limits on positions, like judges, for elected offices that's up to the voters. For judges, that to prevent them from serving decades on the bench. Turnover in judges, in the long run, is a good thing.

[Glennfs]

The problem is that an incumbent rarely loses. I am sure the people of Iowa would prefer a different Senator. But, they aren't going to elect a democratic candidate. Same with California and the late Feinstein.
Currently Pelosi.
Those lawmakers know it and they also know thet won't get primaried.

[gounion]

The problem is that an incumbent rarely loses. I am sure the people of Iowa would prefer a different Senator. But, they aren't going to elect a democratic candidate. Same with California and the late Feinstein.
Currently Pelosi.
Those lawmakers know it and they also know thet won't get primaried.

And if the incumbent is a Republican, you will always vote for them, just like you continued to vote for Strom. Hell, if he was 125 and still on the ballot, you’d vote for him.

[Glennfs]

And if the incumbent is a Republican, you will always vote for them, just like you continued to vote for Strom. Hell, if he was 125 and still on the ballot, you’d vote for him.

You voted against the governor of Maryland when he had an approval rating of around 65pct in a state around 65pct democrats.

If Charles Mason was running against Jesus Christ you would vote for the democrat.
You are a low information voter because you only vote for the democrat.

[ZoWie]

Jesus was non-partisan. That's what got him nailed. Having driven the money-changers from the Temple, He'd certainly never get the Republican nod. It's doubtful the Democrats would want Him either. Too much like that Sanders feller who keeps hanging around the fringe. Maybe He'd run third party and get ignored.

Damn, there's a screenplay in there somewhere.

[ap215]

This makes no sense for voting against a budget?

Chi Ossé, Tiffany Cabán and Shahana Hanif lose committee chair positions in City Council shakeup

An active game of musical chairs in the City Council ended on Thursday, with changes in store for nearly a dozen committee chair positions for the 2024-2025 session.

The full list of committee membership, which was approved by the rules committee on Thursday morning, is expected to later be approved by the full council in the afternoon.

https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics ... kybox-post

[Number6]

The problem is that an incumbent rarely loses. I am sure the people of Iowa would prefer a different Senator. But, they aren't going to elect a democratic candidate. Same with California and the late Feinstein.
Currently Pelosi.
Those lawmakers know it and they also know thet won't get primaried.

Still, it's up to the voters to make that decision. If they think someone is too old to hold office then they won't vote for them. From my experience in watching elections, the two biggest pluses for a candidate is name recognition and what they are currently doing.

If a voter who doesn't pay particular attention to a race then tend to vote for the person whose name they recognize. That's why candidates get tons of signs in yards and on billboards as well as ads in media. Constantly hearing, reading, or seeing a candidate's name makes them seem familiar to the voter.

An incumbent has a built-in advantage because for those voters not paying much attention the incumbent is doing a good job if they aren't receiving negative news coverage. For these voters, when in doubt vote for the incumbent rather than take the risk of someone you don't know.

[Number6]

Jesus was non-partisan. That's what got him nailed. Having driven the money-changers from the Temple, He'd certainly never get the Republican nod. It's doubtful the Democrats would want Him either. Too much like that Sanders feller who keeps hanging around the fringe. Maybe He'd run third party and get ignored.

Damn, there's a screenplay in there somewhere.

Or a musical?

[ZoWie]

Hopefully it's better than Jesus Christ Superstar.

[Number6]

Hopefully it's better than Jesus Christ Superstar.

When I was in basic training in early 1975 or TI (Training Instructor) took us to the chapel to see the play Jesus Christ Superstar. When the lights dimmed and the play began, I told the guy next to me to wake me just before the end. He did and I had a good nap.

[ap215]

Sports Illustrated employees left in limbo as publisher faces money troubles

The jobs of people who produce Sports Illustrated were in limbo Friday after the company that paid to maintain the iconic brand’s print and digital products told staff that its license was revoked.

In an email to employees Friday morning, the Arena Group, which operates Sports Illustrated and related properties, said that because of the revocation, “we will be laying off staff that work on the SI brand.”

https://apnews.com/article/sports-illus ... 115538ed58

[ap215]

Elizabeth Holmes banned from federal health programs for 90 years

Federal regulators announced Friday that convicted fraudster Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the defunct blood testing company Theranos, has been banned from participating in federal health programs for 90 years, effectively a lifetime ban.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cited Holmes’s 2022 conviction for fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud as the reason for her ban.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4 ... -90-years/