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Notes -
Some signs that maybe this Trump administration won't just be more of the same...
So apparently the US government will "shut down" on Friday if Congress doesn't pass a continuing resolution. (I put "shut down" in quotes because of course they will still continue the all-important business of sending out transfer payments and paying bureaucrats. Mostly they'll just close the National Parks.).
To keep the government running, the House Speaker (Mike Johnson, Republican) put forward a 1500 page continuing resolution that had all kinds of ridiculous shit in it, including funding pro-regime propaganda, changing the word "offender" to "justice-involved person", and of course a bunch of pork barrel projects for both parties.
A 1500 page bill right before Christmas is all very normal of course. No one expects the Congresspeople to read it. They just rubber stamp and then go home to their constituents bragging about their $100 million in funding for music tourism or whatever.
Only, this time, something happened. Spurred on by Elon and Vivek, constituents started calling their representatives and complaining. The bill looks to be in trouble. And now, reportedly, it is being replaced by a bill that's "only" 116 pages. At this point, our resident nitpickers will come in and mention that most of the important stuff in the bill is still there. The money for molasses research is just a small drop in the bucket compared to the money for hurricane relief. And they're right. But still, this is important progress. A government for the people and by the people needs to legible to the people.
Bills should be only as long as they need to be and no longer. This bill should have been a single page, continuing existing funding levels. 116 pages is still 115 pages too long, but it's progress.
It's a good sign that the swamp is less powerful than before.
p.s. Grok AI is very useful for getting information on current events.
It's like when you go to the shop and you get a 75% discount and think you saved a lot of money.
Lol, the Steam Winter sale is on now. If you ever want to "save" 95% on a game, you have to act fast (or wait three months for the Steam Spring sale). Help, I haven't even installed 80% of the games I own...
I feel your problem, I barely have time to game and I'm really tempted to drop 50-100 on picking up games. I decided I will not buy a AAA game until I play and mostly complete Kingdom Come Deliverance, RDR2, and Hogwarts Legacy.
I really wish there was a mod that gets rid of all the tiresome gunplay and outlaw stuff, and instead just lets you play as John Audobon, tracking down and sketching rare birds.
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What is annoying is old games for 20% off, when 1337 offers them for 100 off.
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But imagine paying full price. Only an idiot would do that, amirite?
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