This is just my opinion, but I would think an administration so mired in charges of pedophilia would be a little careful about the optics surrounding any such charges in their midst. That doesn’t seem to be the case. The US had – had – a diplomat in the UK. He was accused of possessing indecent images of children. The UK says the crime should have been investigated and tried in the UK, according to UK laws. Instead, the US sneaked in late at night and whisked the guy out of the country.

On the one hand, I can’t say I’m surprised that Team Pedophile would take care of one of their own. It seems weird, to me, that they go to SO MUCH trouble to distract everyone from the Trump/Epstein files, then just come and whisk away an accused pedophile. “Hey, let’s put the spotlight right back on our most irritating issue!” Jenius at work, I tell ya.

But this doesn’t seem to be the only time the US has stepped in to protect their own, regardless of the crime. I’ve heard a lot from MAGA about people from other places coming to America and committing crimes, as though that’s a phenomenon unique to people from south of the border but here’s this guy, in the UK, passing around child porn and being actively protected by the US.

He’s not the only one, either. How about American fighter pilot Capt Jacob Wulfson? He was accused of strangling a woman to death in Cambridge. The US whisked him to safety as well. He DID stand trial, but on a US airbase. He was sentenced after court-martial to six whole months in prison for the murder. The US courts acquitted him on the charges of sexual assault and aggravated sexual contact. He, too, should have stood trial in the UK, according to the laws of the UK.

Oh, but he’s not alone. Take the case of Anne Sacoolas, a US state department employee. She killed a British teenager with her car. She, too, was taken out of the UK and brought back to the US. She eventually pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. She was sentenced to eight months. For killing a kid. Oh, the sentence was suspended. That seems…insufficient.

I suppose these get filed under the “diplomacy” umbrella. The US certainly needs to be careful that the UK isn’t just scapegoating foreigners for their own reasons. But just taking them away? Our replacement, limited punishments for their very serious crimes seem like kind of an insult…

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All of this recent bad, some would say honest, press about Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having an effect. The corporate heads of AI are now saying out loud that they think maybe the industry should slow down a little. Who knows what they’re doing? We only know what they’re saying.

Well, we also know that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has decided to delay an IPO amid rising concerns over AI safety. Uh-huh. I’m sure that decision has nothing to do with the bad press keeping the offering less exciting. That is to say, Altman decided he’ll get a better price if he waits until the heat is off. The only hitch to that plan is if AI keeps misbehaving – and people keep finding out.

So for now, the CEOs of the biggest companies are making a great show of slowing down and being more careful. Don’t forget, these are the SAME CEOs that spent millions of dollars on their preferred politicians to prevent regulation and get favorable legislation. It seems very likely they’ve suddenly seen the light and intend to slow down, be more careful, and regulate themselves.

I predict it won’t be too long until someone discovers the corporations are still blindly racing down the road at breakneck speeds at which time, we’ll be offered the “explanation” that, “Well, someone is going to do it. It might as well be me.” In the human life destruction derby, AI is making some moves of it’s own. Climate Change had better come up with something fast if it wants to maintain it’s lead…

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The measles are still killing people. Team Evil is responding by trying to get the reporting states to pretend the victims died of something else. I guess that’s easier than trying to actually do the very difficult job correctly…

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I own a Kia. Whenever I get it serviced, I’m offered a free trial of SiriusXM, the satellite radio service. I usually sign up because they have some comedy channels that are tolerable. Mind you, I ONLY sign up for the free trial. I NEVER accept the “offer” to subscribe. Each time I do, my impression of SiriusXM is reinforced. It’s not great.

First, at $300.00/year, it’s VERY expensive – especially considering it STILL includes advertisements on some of it’s channels. I don’t do that. If I pay a subscription, I don’t want commercials. If I get commercials, I’m not paying a subscription. SiriusXM wants both.

I know Howard Stern is the big SiriusXM deal, but I stick mostly with the comedy stations. (And now, even Stern is cutting back.) During this most recent free trial, the company revised the lineup and added even MORE commercials. Ooh, tantalizing. The one area I had an interest, the company made it worse. Nice.

My biggest objection, though, is that the service doesn’t work well. That’s not quite right. It works fine – unless you drive under something. How often does THAT happen, though? I mean, are there really bridges and tunnels? Are trees even real? Because a tree CAN block the SiriusXM signal. If you’re like me, and focused on the comedy channels, just imagine how much fun it is to miss the punchline because you drove under a tree.

Too expensive, undependable signal, AND ads on top of high subscription prices? It’s a wonder they get anybody to sign up. They won’t be getting me, though…