Re: No Change There Then
Lawyers! Don't forget the lawyers! I don't see any of them being laid off.
21 publicly visible posts • joined 14 Apr 2016
Unfortunately, the way Proposition 65 was written (and passed by the stupid voters), was any detectable level of carcinogen requires the warning. As tests have gotten better (as in detecting ppb), it seems practically everything has carcinogens. There was a lawsuit about 20 years ago to require the "organic" markets to post signs because ripe fruit contains several detectable carcinogens. They lost because the judge had some common sense. This time they won. Because the judge is stupid and, you know, big business.
After all the accusations by the Left that the Russians interfered with the election, it somehow seems poetic that Facebook and Twitter, in the heart of Left leaning Silicon Valley, in the heart of Left leaning California, should be the means the Russian used. All due to capitalist greed, too.
A few year ago, a husband and wife shooting team were nice enough to do the score keeping and publishing on their laptop. Then they took a trip and TSA detected traces of explosives on the laptop. Apparently enough gun powder residue was transferred from the score sheets to the fingers and the keyboard to be detectable. The got a good grilling, but eventually convinced TSA about what must have happened. Since I assume the explosive detection detects oxidizing substances (e.g., nitrates, perchlorates, etc.), it occurred to me that fertilizing the lawn and garden could transfer enough nitrates to your shoes to be detected. So I became very careful about which clothes I wore to the airport. But I still wonder how many people get caught be false positives in airport security.
Back in the 80's, I toured a machining facility that did a lot of work for NASA and JPL. One of their special contracts was re-machining the solid booster segments. After each launch and recover, the segments were broken down and cleaned. Then the top an bottom where the O-rings were fitted were re-machined to fit properly. Apparently the heat from the solid fuel caused enough warping to require this. If SpaceX can relaunch without having to replace/repair/refurbish half the components they are way ahead of where the shuttle was in reuse.
It seems like an offer without substance to me. How would Assange get to the US without being nabbed for jumping bail? And once in the hands of the UK again, why wouldn't the UK extradite him to Sweden? And, finally, the US has not asked for Assange's extradition. So what was he going to do, stand on the steps of the Department of Justice and look like a stupid tourist?
I find there are often two types of activists:
The first are the crusaders. Their existence is defined by the "devil" they attack. If the devil goes away, so does their purpose.
The second are those with material (i.e., money) interests. In many areas, cigarettes (and alcohol, and...) are taxed to treat the health issues caused by the offending substance. If people quit, then the tax revenue dries up and they lose their jobs (and careers).
So, yes, when their bluff is called, don't expect universal joy.
Silicon Valley is really in the hole with Trump. For the electoral college delegates, California is a winner-take-all state. Since California is also very much a Democrat Blue state, the Trump basically ignored the state since he had no chance to win anything. Since many of the Silicon Valley big wigs were very pro-Clinton, there is now absolutely nothing they have to offer Trump. They didn't support him in the vote, and can't deliver any meaningful support in the next election. I seriously doubt that Trump will ever lift a finger to do anything for Silicon Valley in particular, and California in general.
The University of California and California State University campuses are state universities. The campus police are officially California State police and are not private. Makes me wonder if any law suits are naming the university or the state as defendant. But then again, the state is about as financially broke as the university, so maybe it makes no difference.