so there's gobs of extra capacity at night when air conditioners and electric ranges and clothes dryers are not running.

Not running the AC at night???

I dunno WTF you live, but here in the New Orleans area...my AC comes on early to mid April and really doesn't hardly shut off till mid November.

Night is when I REALLY crank the temperature down so I can sleep.

Biden is really concerned that high gas prices might hurt his reelection chances, even to the point that he's considering tapping the strategic petroleum reserve again.

I dunno if he actually can without draining it dangerously LOW.

I don't think that fuck refilled it fully from the last time he gamed its usage for temporarily lowering gas prices....even if using the whole full thing, it isn't enough to cause much more than a blip on prices for a week or so maybe?

No, the only mention in the Constitution of "citizens" is in reference to the qualifications to hold certain offices. It applies to everyone here, citizen or not.

If that is the case currently in practice, then someone needs to challenge this...up to SCOTUS if need be. I can't imagine the founders intended to promote the US protections, etc to anyone outside of the US or Non-Citizens....and with current SCOTUS leaning towards originalism....we might get this fixed.

We are our own country, we are NOT the fucking world.

More and more guys are seeing that legalities with marriage and modern feminists attitudes have made marriage something that is just NOT a good deal for them.

Young men today have everything to lose (fiscally and emotionally) with very little to gain by getting married and having kids today.

I see that a lot if not most of that is the US and greater western countries' legal system and attitudes against men and "masculinity" as the culprits in this trend (not discounting inflation and cost of living too)....

I think that's why you're seeing more of the "passport bros" trends of western men seeking out foreign women that have more traditional views on marriage and the male/female relationship.

But back on topic...less marriages...less diamonds to be purchased for wedding rings.

Courts may rule evidence is needed before "punishing" Tik Tok, otherwise could be considered unequal treatment.

I believe the "National Security" ban hammer still holds a lot of sway in instances like this.

TT is held closely by an enemy/antagonistic foreign country...giving them the ability to sway discourse and public sentiment via their algorithms.

This is a bit of new ground granted....

But, the US constitution protects the US and it's people, not hostile foreign countries.....right?

We actually got both houses to pass this attempt and Biden actually signed it.

It is at least a start.

The problem is....this gives WAY too much time....TT will still be fully able to affect and sway this years election.

It's a problem for trans kids too and sure they only make up 1% of the population but when you've got several thousand employees you're going to have a few in there. That's just how math works.

Hey, these folks can play dress up all they want...but, we're just not going to tolerate biological men in women's restrooms and changing areas.

This is common sense stuff that has worked since...forever, not sure why they are trying to wreck women's rights in this and other areas they fought so hard for.....

Well i for one welcome our quadruped flame throwing overlords. Or wait... Imagine a beowulf cluster of those. (Yes i'm that old). but in all seriousness, A swarm of those assaulting trenches... you don't even need accuracy. The sheer horror of seeing those come at you would make you reconsider your life choices.

Nah...just pull out your EMP gun....*ZAP* they all fall over.

I may be wrong, but I think I heard somewhere that flamethrowers aren't classified as weapons in the US. Might be why it's legally easy to market Thermo.

They are not classified as a firearm...they are perfectly legal to own in the US.

... and simply mount an automatic rifle on the top. That after all is where this ultimately is all leading but no one dare say it.

Well, at least in the US, it is incredibly expensive to attain any full auto weapon (can't be manufactured after 1986 for any civilian possession)....and with that scarcity factor, you might be a bit apprehensive to modify or alter a collectors piece.

Then, you have to go through the lengthy federal background checks and licensing to possess a full auto weapon.

And frankly, IMHO...the ATF may see what you are doing with it and reclassify it as AOW (Any Other Weapon)....which I think (not sure) requires more paperwork, and/or might be denied as something a regular US citizen civilian can own...?

That last part I don't know about....but have my suspicions.

People keep seeming to think it is easy to own a full auto weapon (Machine gun)...it really is not.

An AR-15 is not a "machine gun"/Assault Weapon/full auto weapon.

It is merely a semi-auto rifle....it goes bang once each time you pull the trigger.

Security consulting in Abu Dhabi.

OOps...you're right.

There's no way I'd even go visit that part of the world for any length of time for any amount of money.

I value my life above all else.

That rare dude who invests in a home theater to watch alone, that's the target audience.

I was thinking it's for the person that wants to bring their home theater somewhere AWAY from home, like on an airplane.

That alone has been tempting me....

The greatest benefit of remote meetings is not having to look at one another. The only people that want to ruin that are people that live to have meetings, and don't really see them as a function of the job.

THANK YOU!!!

You get it...

I've been working remotely for about the past 14+ years or so.....

And for most of it, I did not have a working camera on the work computer (security)...and even those that did...I think I've been made to turn it on exactly 2 times that I can recall...and that was only to identify myself to a new team coming in....

Hell, for years now I've been asking my CPA if I can write off t-shirts and boxer shorts as business attire...and there's a reason for that...NO CAMERAS!!

But another reason I decided to wait is Apple would let me try it. Dropping $3500 on a product I'm not allowed to test isn't gonna happen.

I did the in-store demo, but it is totally scripted and 100% focused on consuming content. Going off-script is a big no-no.

The demo does not include using the AVP with a keyboard and mouse or integrating with a MacBook.

I also wanted to try using the AVP while reclining or lying down. Not allowed.

Well, I guess you ...could do what others did and basically put down a $3500 *deposit*, and try it for 30 days and return it for refund if you didn't like it.

I'm largely in the same boat as you are....and while that is not my style, to buy $$ things only to return them....I might consider doing it.

AVP looks like something I"d REALLY like to travel with...on a plane with the huge immersive screen and tuning out the world, I'd love that.

Having a large virtual desktop screen on a computer, especially when out on the road...I'd love that.

There's use cases I'd see I'd like it....but it's a lot of money not to really get to try it in the store...