Defensive Driving

The Vodka Pundit tackles Uber's autonomous driving and leaves us with this:

I’ve found that the best way to avoid an accident is to imagine the stupidest thing each driver around you could possibly do in each instant, and then to count on them actually doing it. (This method prevented me, barely, from being forced into a concrete highway divider just yesterday by a careless driver in a black Nissan Murano.) But can Uber or anyone else create an algorithm for cynical imagination?

"[C]reate an algorithm for cynical imagination?"?!? Isn't that why we have Twitter?

Comments

[Cecil Turner]

First principles: I'm a little reluctant to take driving advice from a guy with "vodka" in his moniker.

[Dave (in MA)]

What's the point in allowing cars on the road that don't have someone who can observe the middle fingers and hear the horns of other motorists when the car is involved in doing something stupid?

[I like the idea of vehicleless drivers.]

Heh, Driver's Licentious.

The trooper pulls over the good ol' boy in his F-100, strolls up to the driver and says 'Got any ID?'. The gob, after a long pause, says 'About what?'

[Clarice Feldman]

Cecil, you took the words right outa my mouth.

[Unter den naive lindens.]

A test, can these automatons dodge a driver seeking to cause an accident for the insurance money?

I doubt it. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

[anonamom]

Link to last page:

http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2017/03/defensive-driving/comments/page/99/#comments

[narciso]

He dies take blutarski admonition literally
http://www.voanews.com/a/cyber-firm-rewrites-part-disputed-russian-hacking-report/3781411.html

[narciso]

How have you been Cecil?

[Cecil Turner]

Hey narciso . . . Not bad. Overworked, but well paid for it. Next couple months ought to be easier. Getting older and slower.

[narciso]

They have to sweeten it with honey,

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/03/travel-ban-isis-propaganda-214953

[henry]

i don't know how you would mix a "cynical AI" to predict other drivers without it belleding over into a "cynical AI" doing its own driving like a teenage boy.

[Captain Hate]

Let's get it on:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266197/civil-war-here-daniel-greenfield

[narciso]

Yes to give a computer two contradictory directions is asking for trouble, just ask hal.

[PD]

Mrs. PD (who has always been a stay-at-home mom) sent me this:

http://www.albertmohler.com/2017/03/27/briefing-03-27-17/

Should it be illegal to be a stay-at-home mom? Why feminists want to take this choice away from women.

[henry]

Can't have a village reprogramming raising a child if the mother does it herself.

[-peter]

Your almost daily Wretchard :
https://pjmedia.com/richardfernandez/2017/03/27/not-a-king-but-the-king-of-beggars/

[Man Tran]

I've been cynical about this autodrive crap from the beginning. If you think the class action suits against big tobacco were a circus, wait till children in wheelchairs are up against google and uber.

[JimNorCal]

Argues that it's on.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/266197/civil-war-here-daniel-greenfield
A civil war has begun.

This civil war is very different than the last one. There are no cannons or cavalry charges. The left doesn’t want to secede. It wants to rule. Political conflicts become civil wars when one side refuses to accept the existing authority. The left has rejected all forms of authority that it doesn’t control.

The left has rejected the outcome of the last two presidential elections won by Republicans. It has rejected the judicial authority of the Supreme Court when it decisions don’t accord with its agenda. It rejects the legislative authority of Congress when it is not dominated by the left.

It rejected the Constitution so long ago that it hardly bears mentioning.

[Porchlight]

Last Wednesday night I almost hit a guy walking in the road (a narrow block of a very busy artery). I had no notice because he was invisible to me until the car in front of me suddenly swerved to avoid him. I was incredibly lucky there was no one in the left lane at that moment because I had to change lanes instantly to avoid hitting him and it would have been really bad.

There was a sidewalk right next to him. It was about 10:30 in the evening. He didn't seem obviously drunk or drugged up. I still can't quite believe it.

[Porchlight]

And when I say walking in the road, he was walking in the same direction I was driving. Not trying to cross it. Just walking in what would have been the bike lane, if there had been a bike lane, which there wasn't.

[DebinNC]

Oh, Porch. I'm so glad you were spared having no choice but to hit him.

[-peter]

When I drive to work each morning pre-dawn joggers dressed in black appear out of the mist in a most frightening manner

[Jim Eagle]

MT,

As you probably know, when we (scientific development)started looking at this back about 25 years ago there were two ways to accomplish it.

1. Have government install the major components in the infrastructure (roads and bridges), or

2. Keep the infrastructure mods limited and have the car makers install the technology in the vehicle making it more expensive but saves the taxpayer versus the user.

Looks like option 2 has taken the lead because the local, state and Feds didn't have the money to devote to it on a 50 state integrated basis.

Now with all the focus on the accidents and possible death scenario, I expect to see some move toward a hybrid where the government steps in with a safety fix in the infrastructure. Either that or they make self-development so costly it will slow down the entry on a mass basis.

[narciso]

Yikes, was it at a major intersection or some backroad?

[Threadkiller]

It rejected the Constitution so long ago that it hardly bears mentioning.

Both parties rejected the Constitution when Savanna Guthrie and a Meercat YouTuber became the go to resources on eligibility.

[DebinNC]

Porch's post made we wonder if suicides are up in recent years. Turns out they're at a 30 yr high, especially in people normally thought of as in the prime of life - 40s to early 60s - especially women.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy Bruce has pointed out that more women entered the poverty condition under Zippy than any other President.

[Porchlight]

It was between two of the biggest intersections in the downtown area, narciso. Directly in front of the Whole Foods flagship store/HQ.

DebinNC, thanks. It did almost seem suicidal. However, I have also seen the occasional person walking in the road in a kind of "yeah, I'm in the road, what are you gonna do about it chump" fashion.

[Captain Hate]

I've been cynical about this autodrive crap from the beginning. If you think the class action suits against big tobacco were a circus, wait till children in wheelchairs are up against google and uber.

It's like they've never heard of the concept of legal liability. Or worked on making legacy software Y2K compliant.

[narciso]

Yes Westworld, Blade runner terminator, matrix, ultron it never ends well.

[Captain Hate]

However, I have also seen the occasional person walking in the road in a kind of "yeah, I'm in the road, what are you gonna do about it chump" fashion.

This has been the case here too; even when there are perfectly good sidewalks available.

[glasater]

Read a driving analogy years ago regarding Russia when they were trying to become a capitalist society.

The anaology went..it was like trying to change driving from the left side of the road to the right side..incrementally.

To me that's what Ryan was trying to do with Obamacare..

[Account Deleted]

I've come over to the "It's Civil War" side of the argument since the election of Donald J. Trump.

JimInNorCal-- you nailed it with your summary of the "rejection" of the elected authority.

One vulnerability among the EmoCrat-Proggo-Deep State Left is that their foot soldiers and a large percentage (as far as I can tell) are *dependent* on federal spending at the DC job machine level and at the tax revenue laundering that gets done at state and local levels.

Trump should "blockade" these cash pipelines like Lincoln blockaded the southern state trade routes to Europe.

Strangle those cockbags. Make their lives Vicksburg 2.0.

MAGA!

[narciso]

I could understand if it was during peak times when cars are whizzing by, then again people just act stranger every day.

[maryrose]

Cecil:
Nice to see you here!

[DebinNC]

have also seen the occasional person walking in the road in a kind of "yeah, I'm in the road, what are you gonna do about it chump" fashion

Yikes! Obviously, some younger fools have no idea how quasi-vision impaired many oldsters are, especially while driving at night. I no longer drive anywhere at night I don't have to.

[Jim Eagle]

The Gentle Giant was walking in the road before he was smacked down.

[jimmyk]

"yeah, I'm in the road, what are you gonna do about it chump"

That's practically every intersection in Manhattan.

A rabbi friend of mine pointed out that aside from AI programming issues, what about ethical decisions? Suppose the alternative to an accident with the guy in front of you (or with a tree) is to mow down the mom and 4 toddlers in tow just to the right. I'd rather not leave that to the millennial dufus who programmed the car.

Welcome back, Cecil!

[matt - deplore me if you must]

Maybe the Uber cars need a Jetsons software package. How they will ever deal with LA illegal dodgeball traffic I will never know. Between the hit and runs and the sheer lunacy one sees I cannot see any software anticipating Juan Corona's next move on the 405.

We have also had a tremendous influx of Chinese drivers. But it seems that the DMV has not yet been completely corrupted as happened in Hongcouver. They drive slow but randomly.

Having had a geezer cross an unbroken white line into my lane and watching his Toyundaikia crumple against the inner wheel well of my steel bodied red blooded 'Merican masterpiece a few weeks ago, defensive driving to me means ceramic armor, run flat tires and a skid plate under the engine compartment.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

DebinNC,

Me, too. I am also handicapped by a lack of depth perception, which I have apparently had since birth. Never thought a thing about it until I took a test for it. I was absolutely without it.

Apparently I have adjusted my reactions over the years to accommodate it. It does explain, however, why I could never play badminton or tennis. To me, I would swing the racket and it was like the ball or shuttlecock went right through the racket.

Night driving is especially difficult, and I avoid it at all costs. I am ok if I am on a lit, familiar street, but if it's really dark I have a terrible time. consequently, I only drive at night under emergency situations.

[Threadkiller]

http://theresurgent.com/rand-paul-gop-can-do-tax-reform-and-repeal-obamacare-simultaneously/

[Account Deleted]

from yesterday's thread--- for maryrose:

How many schools did I work at? None of your business as if that would matter. Snark is intentional here because to me your question reflects indignation at my informed and intentional generalization.

So let me give it to you like this:

Twenty-four years of service in student affairs at the post-secondary level spread out across 1 community/technical college; 1 regional state university (with 9 constituent colleges, a medical school, and 65 specialization in-house technical studies institute); 1 land grant research university (VT); and 2 private Catholic colleges in New England ----> during those years my responsibilities included either direct advisory contact or supervisory duties managing staff with direct advisory contact with college students ages 18-25.

That afforded me the opportunity to collect survey data on 250,000 students on many different fields of inquiry in order to profile and direct our service offerings.

One question my surveys *ALWAYS* included was a ranking (1-10, 10 superior 1 SUCKED) of the student's guidance counselor from their JUNIOR year in high school.

1.3 per cent of respondents gave their GC's a rating of 7 or higher. 48% gave their GC's a 1 (or lower!!!).

So, maryrose, I didn't have to work in every high school in America and get to know every open-toed office buffalo justifying their existence while working with less than 10 per cent of the student body.

I am glad you are one of the valued GC's. Tremendous and you should be applauded. But your occupational group is one of the primary culprits in this abysmal "achievement" gap that the handwringers and pearl clutchers go on and on about as they chase federal funds for schools. I know some of these people first hand here and elsewhere (Illinois, VT, and California). They are part of the "influencer cadre" and they are professionally trained "counselors" with advanced degrees.

Having said all of this I'd also like to underscore that in my advising function at postsecondary institutions I'd attend professional meetings held around the country where student personnel "professionals" (gag) would network across institutional levels.

I never once met a high school GC or university "counseling center" type I trusted, especially when it came down to them working with students who a) were not homosexuals; b) were not white; and c) were poor.

I was a part-time high school teacher (sub)at 11 different high schools in 3 states over 24 years. From this dumpster diving location in a high school's culture I was able to learn a lot in the faculty lounges from the "distinguished" faculty and staffs who were there "for the cheeldren." Gag me some more.

It's twice as ridiculous at the postsecondary level.

The Guidance Counselors and Counseling Center staffs (colleges) were like rabbis for the athiest and hyper-secular teachers and admins who would sanitize their discriminatory, elitist, and sometimes criminal behavior toward the students they were intended to serve.

There are a lot of fine people working selflessly and effectively at both levels.

But after 24 years swimming in the institutional backwaters of that system (serving poor, non-white, non-liberal minded students) finding those people was like looking for rose petals in a cesspool.

I'm glad you are what and who you say you were when you were, maryrose.

Truly.

Kev

[James D]

The anaology went..it was like trying to change driving from the left side of the road to the right side..incrementally.

To me that's what Ryan was trying to do with Obamacare..

I view it (or dealing with any Big Government statist monstrosity) as trying to cure a disease by removing half of a diseased organ. Ultimately it doesn't work, because (1) you still have the diseased half causing problems, and (2) the body adapts in unpredictable (but always harmful) ways to the removal of only half the organ, causing new problems that will be even harder to deal with than what was there before.

This is why the "grab the 80% you can get" rule works great for the progs, but doesn't really work at all for conservatives.

Every prog program is like a mutating, parasitic viral disease. Not only does it cause problems in itself, but it forces the body to react to it (bad), and starves healthy organs of needed resources (obviously also bad).

If they only get 80% of the virus into the body, it will still cause tremendous harm, and it will probably cause the body to do the remaining 20% harm to itself, plus more on top of that.

On the other hand, if our side gets 80% in removing a prog program, there's still 20% doing harm, and it's not long before that 20% expands to take up all the room of what you removed, and you're back where you started, or worse.

you can't compromise or negotiate with the progs any more than you can with the ebola virus.

[Old Lurker]

Dems force a one week delay in the committee vote for Gorsuch.

[James D]

How did they manage that?

How did Mcturtle allow it?

[Captain Hate]

Your (almost) daily Children of the Cornhole:

Why Republicans Are Ruling With Utter Incompetence
Their dysfunction is the result of years of bad-faith opposition to Obama.

By Brian Beutler

Climate Deniers Are Winning—and Getting Greedy
With Trump in the White House, an anti-environmental conference in D.C. should have been a celebration. Instead, there was fear and loathing.

By Emily Atkin

Grierson & Leitch Episode 61: Life and Power Rangers
By Tim Grierson

Death to the Flâneur
This mythic figure is having a moment. But to adopt his point of view is to look for meaning around all the wrong corners.

By Josephine Livingstone

The Innocent Man Being Confused for Europe’s Most Wanted Smuggler
Police from four countries joined forces—and blew the operation. Here's why the crackdown on immigration is making things worse.

By Eric Reidy

[henry]

so take 5 minute McTurtle, exercise nuke option. Modify Schumer's behavior instead of giving in to it.

[Old Lurker]

Dems are feeling their oats, James.

[Old Lurker]

I hope he can count to 51 for the Nuclear Option better than Ryan could count his votes.

[Account Deleted]

""yeah, I'm in the road, what are you gonna do about it chump" fashion."

The idiots here in Berkeley where my son attended elementary school, middle school and high school do not teach "stop, look, and listen" to the kids for traffic safety because it "discriminates against physically challenged kids."

Okay. Let them be maimed or killed. The fruit of that visionary policy is evident.

MASSIVE state and local spending (federally subsidized "projects") for lighted crosswalks, flashing caution signs at intersections etc to protect the snowflakes who have their earphones in and are staring at their phones.

Also we have what are referred to as "traffic calming" projects. That includes, beside removing entire traffic lanes on major arteries for use as "bikes only" (you'd think we were in Communist China with the amount dedicated for six bikes an hour), building these 100 sq foot ramps for pedestrians expanding outward from the original curblines.

This was because the phone wearing morons were standing in the gutters or toes off the curb when vehicles would make their right turns and mow their asses down. So now, the morons do the same thing at the edge of these huge ramps.

Again, the construction contracts were enormous and concrete aint cheap anymore....thanks to all the visionary construction in Communist China.

The EmoCrat bumpersticker says "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Ya. Federally funded *anything* seems to produce the opposite effect. When it comes to the chicken crossing the road this seems especially true.

Bring on them driverless cars and thin the flippin herd some more.

Ya caint fix schteppid.

[Porchlight]

That's practically every intersection in Manhattan.

Yeah, at intersections I'm used to it. This wasn't at an intersection, though. He was walking in the lane, in the same direction as the traffic.

[Captain Hate]

I have as much faith in McTurtle as I do in Ryan.

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that Ryan scuttled the healthcare bill as the revenge of the establishment. I'm sure Tom Donohue was urging him to take the temporary hit to his leadership abilities and in return he'd dispatch his leakers to Politico and MessNBC to blame it on the intransigence of those pesky conservatives and the burden would be shifted almost immediately. Win/win for Donohue and the GOPe.

[glasater]

JamesD, you are so spot on. Can't negotiate with progs..ever.

[Old Lurker]

Don't know the details of the Gorsuch delay; it was just on the news with no details beyond wide support among R's but so far 15 D's against.

[Captain Hate]

Delays in the Gorsuch vote are very bad politics. I've seen some Zuckerberg libs already think Schoooooomer is making a strategic mistake with his witlessly unprincipled stand.

[narciso]

Yes James d, or it's malware essentially the same difference,

[James D]

I understand that, viewed objectively, this is probably a good thing, and totally reasonable, but it just creeps me the eff out:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/25/health/surgery-awake-anesthesia.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fhealth&action=click&contentCollection=health&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

[Porchlight]

Be careful with James D's link, there's a not very savory photo about halfway down the page. Thanks NYT.

[James D]

Sorry about that.

They mentioned the Hospital for Special Surgery in the article - I wonder if JiB will be opting for the "no anesthesia" plan?

[exdemocrat]

KK - i take it you're not impressed by the latest 'improvements' to 7th street? ;-)

[exdemocrat]

not impressed by your 1.43, James. Without a good sound sleep and the powerful pain meds, what fun is left in getting surgery? ;-)

[Jim Eagle]

During my first arthroscopic knee surgery back in 2012, I woke up while the surgeon was talking baseball with his co-surgeon and the anethaesist. I was still under the sedative but I did say to the "are you guys taliking baseball", to which they put the mask back on me:)

[Porchlight]

No worries, James D. It was an interesting article, although I thought they went out of their way to castigate the doctors who supposedly said inappropriate things in the patient's hearing.

I'm sure the surgeons and nurses do have to modulate their discussion knowing the patron is listening. Maybe I just hate the NYT but they always seem to throw SOMETHING into the article to appease the prejudices and juvenile humor of their regular readers.

The husband of a friend had this awake brain surgery a few months ago. Amazing.

[jimmyk]

what fun is left in getting surgery? ;-)

Maybe a slightly improved chance at ever waking up? :)

I've heard horror stories of people waking up during serious surgery (like open heart) and being excruciating pain, not being able to scream, but hoping the doctors notice as quickly as possible. :(

[rse]

On Obama donating to charity including his foundation, remember it was listed as a panelist in that Bloomberg evidence-based policymaking invite-only event this week that I posted the alarmeing agenda for.

When giving to charity actually funds the Marxist Humanist transformative agenda HQ'd at the UN and the local mayor's office, how is that charity?

New post up where I talk some more about what the MH agenda looks like since it rarely wears a T-shirt announcing its presence with the M word or Uncle Karl's face.

http://invisibleserfscollar.com/revolution-of-the-heart-right-actions-good-thoughts-and-correct-intentions/

That Flinders book I mentioned was put out by the Mormon Press, which certainly explains Romney's unwillingness to truly take on Obama.

[Captain Hate]

Maybe I just hate the NYT but they always seem to throw SOMETHING into the article to appease the prejudices and juvenile humor of their regular readers.

But they're the smarty pants.

[lurkersusie]

I opted to stay awake for my meniscus surgery.

[Buckeye]

I had my last colonoscopy done while I was awake.

Got to watch same camera feed the gastro guy did:)

[Pagar, a bacon ham and sausage supporter]

http://www.angrypatriotmovement.com/famous-general-comes-forward/

"“This whole thing has been a charade. It is tactical deception. They do not want the Trump administration to look into the violation of the Espionage Act by Hillary Clinton, with her rogue server, and by the president, who used a pseudonym on her rouge server. They are both in violation of the Espionage Act,” McIerney said."

Should not be a surprise to any one, IMO.

http://www.hannity.com/articles/election-493995/report-podesta-hid-75000-shares-of-15682137/

[sbw]

Got to watch same camera feed

That’s almost recursive.

Or is it like a Klein Bottle?

[James D]

On an intellectual level, I totally get why people would opt to stay awake.

But on a gut level, I have absolutely no desire to know what my innards look like. And my level of tolerance for discomfort is so low that I'd have them knock me out for routine teeth cleanings at the dentist if that were an option.

I'd have to be paid handsomely (I'm talking high seven figures at a minimum) to agree to stay awake during any kind of surgical procedure.

[narciso]

Like with that politico piece, where they strive for some sanity, but can't help reflexively bash trump.

[Captain Hate]

Tammy: Is there a Nobel prize for legal work they can give Kabbalah?

https://mobile.twitter.com/HeyTammyBruce/status/846020453189783552

[jimmyk]

But they're the smarty pants.

Been getting so frustrated with my genius NYT/NPR-addicted family (mother, sibs) passing e-mails around moaning about everything Trump does. I just want to say to them: "There was an election. Republicans won the presidency, both houses of Congress. They campaigned on promises to do certain things. You expect them to enact or maintain Democrat policies? To quote the insurance commercial: 'That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works.'

"Instead of complaining that Republicans are acting like Republicans, and forgetting completely what Obama and the Democrats said and did in 2009-10 ('Elections have consequences,' 'I won,') how about complaining to the Democratic leadership about their lousy campaign and candidate? And trying to understand why they lost so badly, without use of words like 'racism,' 'Hitler,' 'Nazi,' etc."

[Captain Hate]

https://mobile.twitter.com/jennajameson/status/846411668687007744

[Jack is Back!(On his iPhone)]

I have come to really appreciate Tammy Bruce on the FBN morning shows. Sharpest knife in the drawer and with cutting humor.

[exdemocrat]

jimmy - see JimNorCal's 12.19. From Greenfield: "The left has rejected the outcome of the last two presidential elections won by Republicans. It has rejected the judicial authority of the Supreme Court when it decisions don’t accord with its agenda. It rejects the legislative authority of Congress when it is not dominated by the left."

Your family members, iow.

[Porchlight]

The left is all about power, as we know. It has no principles. The left only supported free speech until they gained control of the institutions.

[Captain Hate]

JiB,

I think Ailes last really inspired move before he was shown the door was getting Tammy off BOR and over to FBN.

[Captain Hate]

Sessions is demanding that sanctuary cities cooperate with ICE or lose federal funding in DOJ grants.

[bunky]

Its a civil war when there are two sides engaged. There's only one fighting and it ain't us.

[daddy]

Good Morning! Remember last week when I accused DrK of being naive after he said there was no way anyone in the Intel Community would illegally listen to members of Trump's Team if they didn't have a Judge's signature on their FISA order authorizing it?

Brooklyn Prosecutor Charged with Faking Judges' Signatures for Illegal Wiretaps

A supervising prosecutor from the Brooklyn district attorney's office forged judges' signatures in order to obtain illegal wiretaps and then used those wiretaps to illegally monitor cell phone calls and text messages, federal prosecutors alleged in an indictment Monday.

[David, Infamous Deplorable]

Porchlight,
You wrote:

The husband of a friend had this awake brain surgery a few months ago. Amazing.

And now I can't the image out of my head of some surgeons with a patient on the operating table, skull opened up, the body jerking uncontrollably, and one surgeon saying to the other, "Hey, I wonder what happens if we poke here?" "Cool."

David

[Captain Hate]

I think we'll know when this gets farmed out:

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChelseaClinton/status/845751278387052544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Ftammybruce.com%2F2017%2F03%2Fchelsea-clinton-gets-triggered-by-maga-hat-on-abe-lincoln.html

[David, Infamous Deplorable]

The above post was supposed to read:

"Hey, I wonder what happens if we poke here?" arm jerks spasmodically "Cool!"

Stupid HTML.

David

[exdemocrat]

daddy - and this went on for a full year before anyone started to investigate it.

[exdemocrat]

not my personal image of a femme fatale: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn-prosecutor-jail-time-forging-wiretap-orders-article-1.3010412

[daddy]

Here's the prosecutor who forged the Judges signatures, Tara Lenich, 41.

I am unable to find her Political affiliation in the news reports.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h5OdlZQuwc&feature=share

Video of Attorney General Sessions discussing sanctuary cities at White House press briefing.

[Captain Hate]

From exdemocrat's link coming from Lupica's paper:

Brooklyn federal prosecutors accused Tara Lenich of illegally wiretapping two cell phones in the indictment unsealed Monday morning.

I expect rocket surgeons F Chuck, Steffi, Morning Schmoe, Vanderbilt Poofter and Chris Wallace, among others, to be in high dudgeon about finding the wires of cellphones to tap.

[daddy]

.

[Cecil Turner]

Thanks, guys.

I'd like to think the FISA court judges and prosecutors are a cut above average (many/most of the warrants require a signoff by the AG, IIRC). I'd also like to think they'd almost certainly be caught if they tried such shenanigans.

[Wouldn't bet my freedom on it, though.]

[James D]

She should spend the rest of her life in prison.

[daddy]

.

[David, Infamous Deplorable]

Daddy,

I was pretty sure there was a Far Side cartoon like that. I just couldn't remember what it was.

David

[Clarice Feldman]

I think it more likely that they dissembled about rhe real targets and probable cause to get the FISA warrant, Cecil.

[Cecil Turner]

One of my favorite Buckaroo Banzai (unfairly underrated movie, IMO) quotes:

Buckaroo Banzai: You can check your anatomy all you want, and even though there may be normal variation, when it comes right down to it, this far inside the head it all looks the same. No, no, no, don't tug on that. You never know what it might be attached to.

And I don't care whether they kill me or not: I'd rather be out or so medicated I might as well be.

[peter]

a little silliness at the LUN -- love the look on the kid's face

[Old Lurker]

If there is a tool to sneak a peek at that which somebody thought should be private, somebody certainly will. Who besides DrK could think otherwise?

[David, Infamous Deplorable]

Captain Hate,

The responses to that tweet by Chelsea Clinton are hilarious. My favorite is:

Hey, Chelsea, what do you get when you cross a crooked politician with a crooked lawyer. Apparently, a moron.

Priceless.

David