gut

KC bizarrely considers going for 4th and 1 from the CLE 12.  Wisely ends-up kicking the FG to go up 17-0 (because why even toy with NOT taking a 3 score lead when you are trying to get the #1 seed).

And the kicker misses it.  Crazy stuff.

Seems to be a new phase in this whole "where are these drones from?!?"

Not sure I buy there were launched from some Iranian or Chinese ship. That seems way too much of an act of aggression.  It also doesn't seem all that necessary, unless the purpose is to probe a response.

While it would be understandable not to shoot these down over populated areas, the lack of response and somewhat indifference from the administration makes me think these have to be ours.  Probably conducting our own drills to test readiness.

The truth of all this is probably much more boring.  Likely some researcher had a breakthrough, and the govt swooped them up and under an NDA.  "At least 20 years ahead of anything we've seen".  I think the govt has always had tech that seems 20 years beyond anything we're capable of.

The vile rhetoric from the usual idiots is unsurprising.  Showing, once again, they are just fine with violence [including, apparently, murder] if they approve of the intent.

Inevitably the "class warfare" was going to result in real warfare.  The more you see just how batshit crazy the left is the more you understand why Trump got elected.

posted by iclfan2

I also found it weird that the jury took almost a week to deliberate, said they couldn’t agree on the higher charge, then when that was thrown out they acquitted on the lesser charge almost immediately. Strange.

I'm wondering the same thing.  Best guess is 1 or 2 jurors were intent to convict him regardless of the facts.  When then more serious charge was dismissed, they threw in the towel.

Alvin Bragg, again.  He also tried to prosecute that deli owner that stabbed a guy in the neck trying to rob them.  What does it take to be brought in front of the bar?!?

posted by iclfan2

And Bragg will be re-elected bc of clowns.

Did he seriously try this case, too?!?  Guy should be disbarred.

Although I will say, while I agree with the verdict there also should have been a trial.  Justice system worked like it should.

But I disagree with the elevated murder charge.  Never should have been anything other than involuntary.  The guy did die, so the question of excess force was rightfully adjudicated by a jury.  But there clearly was never any intent or motive to commit murder.

I'm sure the Hollywood studios are already lining up for the movie rights.

Still, it's hard to evade all the cameras everywhere no matter how well you planned.  Seems he did, except like you said for the moment he took off the mask to flirt.

If he had no personal harm and is just some sort of anti-capitalist vigilante that is crazy.

That said, I read the AVERAGE denial rate in health insurance is 17%.  Amazing.  Of course, that likely includes many legit denials (such as electives, attempted fraud, and stuff that isn't actually covered).

But United was more than double that rate at 35%!  And they're the largest insurer in the country.

Which seems absurd.  The flip side is they only make 7-8% operating margin, which still seems about double the industry average.  Now, on almost $400B in revenue, that extra 4% equates to $16B!

Anyway, among many things broken in the industry, it seems maybe our health insurance costs are too low (ignoring other issues) such that if United denied only 17% of claims they probably lose money.  Insurers also really stick it to the small, independent hospitals on reimbursement, which is another grossly broken aspect of healthcare.

posted by BR1986FB

According to two different polls, the Dems "overwhelmingly" prefer Kamala Harris as their candidate to run for POTUS in 2028.

Almost as shocking as Trump being the 2024 frontrunner after losing in 2020, and then proceeding to quite possibly cost the Repubs the Senate.  Stymied the "red wave" in 2022, and got only more popular, for some reason.

I just hope this doesn't mean President Kamala in 2024.  But let's not forget how horribly unpopular she actually was as VP, and didn't get a single delegate in 2020 primaries.

posted by geeblock

What year was this? Just curious. 

Almost 30 years ago.  I assume those educ majors in that class had a math specialty or discipline, and that was probably like a capstone course for them.  I was a dumbass for not tutoring the hot chicks that were failing.

posted by Ironman92

Take your “real stress” and shove it up your ass.

Emotional is far different from real stress.  And you can suck at your job or mail it in and still get a paycheck. I'd get fired in a heartbeat for that.

Teachers always fucking cry about how hard their job is.  No, it really isn't - sorry, you're just a babysitter.  You have no idea what it's like to work on a true 24/7 job where every time your phone or email pings your entire weekend could be ruined.  Where you can't sleep in because you're afraid you miss a critical email that came at 8am on a Sunday.  Where fucking up is basically part of the job but you never know if you're about to be fired or managed out.

posted by jmog

I do agree that DifEQ was the easiest of the 2 year calculus series (Calc 1/2/3 then DifEQ).

Yes you needed calculus first but it was far easier at the time of taking it than the 3 calculus classes.

Partial differential equations, advanced calculus, and real analysis however are a different ballgame. 

Obviously it varies by university, but Calc 3 was super easy, too.  Took me a while to get abstract algebra, but it ended up being one of my favorite courses.

Real Analysis was a real bitch.  My proof for one question - which I frequently received a '0' for a grade (if it wasn't 100% correct, it was 100% wrong) - was often longer than the entire chapter on the topic. The book was absolutely worthless.

posted by Ironman92

I’ll also add this…you don’t want that K-3 classroom teacher position. You don’t want any part of it.

Yeah, you don't want any part of what I do, either.

You don't know real stress until you're under a deadline at 2am after months of 80-hour mentally exhausting weeks.

posted by jmog

Just curious what class?.

Differential equations.  Most of my math classes were way harder than business, and Real Analysis told me "you're done in math", but DE was a joke.

posted by geeblock

You solved it! Average class size is 36. Anything else? There is a teacher shortage and an easy path for people in business, come sign up! 

Well then clearly we need to stop hiring shitty teachers.  Or just stop grossly overpaying babysitters.

JMOG wasn't wrong.  I had a 300-level math class with a bunch of education majors who struggled to even pass.  I did all my homework during class, and aced every exam.  One of the easiest classes I had.

posted by Ironman92

Average class size of what is 36? High school level? K-12, your subject area? Kindergarten have 36 kids a room?

My bad.  I neglected to include shitty teachers who can't do basic math.

posted by geeblock
What’s your solution to fixing inner city schools?

Maybe MORE shitty teachers isn't the answer.  Maybe 2 shitty teachers each with 20 students isn't as good as 1 good teacher with 40 students.

Maybe increase pay to attract good teachers and get rid of the ones who struggle to read and write.  But LOL that's not how unions work.

posted by CenterBHSFan

I don't understand why people are so pre-emptively upset about this when nobody agreed with the conviction in the first place.

Most people said that about the gun charges (but LOL he's on video and the prosecutor is just supposed to ignore seeing a crime?).  No serious person said it about the tax fraud charges (including 3 felony counts).  I think for some reason he skated on money laundering charges - statute of limitations ran out in some cases.

You try what Hunter did with your taxes and you are definitely going to jail.

posted by TedSheckler

I'm watching Landman and it's fantastic.

Agreed so far. 

Taylor Sheridan's series have mostly all been great, though Yellowstone clearly fell off when he became distracted with other projects.  Will be interesting to see if other of his shows suffer the same fate if they go on for more than a season or two.

posted by CenterBHSFan

But now, if he can't use the 5th, a shit ton of exposure is liable to happen.

I hadn't thought of that angle.  Of course, Congress and [presumably] DOJ already looked into Joe and couldn't find evidence of wrongdoing.  Which is a short way of saying if Hunter just lies to a committee it would be tough to prove.

He's also liable to just blame addiction for his inability to recall key facts they seek answers to.

As far as Joe I'm not sure how much more elder abuse the Republicans want to subject him to.

posted by geeblock

Thanks for the tax lesson, for the record the voluntary part of the discussion was the fact that businesses could choose to sign up for the new plan or continue with the old way. Thus to sign up for the new plan was “voluntary “ 

Again, you're frighteningly obtuse for an educator.

There was no "voluntary" choice of two plans.  Taxes are not voluntary.  What you're referring to has nothing to do with paying taxes but was simply a new program for reporting [a.k.a tracking] tips.

The fact that you continue to connect this to tax liability - as you did again just a few posts above - shows you either don't know what you're talking about or just really struggle with reading and writing.