KN@PPSTER @ Liberty.me

Because There's Never Enough KN@PPSTER
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  • Thomas L. Knapp

A Hypothetical Feb 2, 2016

October, 2016: US Supreme Court associate justice Anthony Kennedy collapses and dies of a heart attack, on the day after justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announces her decision to retire immediately. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly tells US president Barack Obama not to bother announcing nominees to the two positions, as he will delay any confirmation hearings/votes until after the January, 2017 inauguration of the next president.November 8, 2016: US Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) is elected to serve as the 45th president of the United States. In his victory speech, he repeats a promise he's made over the course of his...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

My Iowa Caucus Predictions Feb 1, 2016

I should have trotted these out earlier, if for no other reason than that if I'm right, being right well ahead of things burnishes my predictive credentials more than being right at the last minute. But I only just now got around to it. So, I predict: On the Republican side:Ted Cruz comes in first, ahead of Donald Trump by a nose;Rand Paul tops 10%;Within 72 hours, Mike Huckabee drops out and starts campaigning for Trump. On the Democratic side:Bernie Sanders comes in first, beating Hillary Clinton by at least 5%; and"Uncommitted" and/or Joe Biden (if that's allowed as a...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

Still Puzzling Out the Chromebox vs. Macbook Pro Conundrum Feb 1, 2016

The situation:I've been thinking about (and occasionally mentioning) abandoning the Googleverse since last March. A recent mention of the steps I've taken toward doing so brought about a "Thanks For Asking!" question last week and a bit of an answer on last night's podcast.A situation report and a request for opinions:On the one hand, I think there are various good reasons for abandoning ChromeOS, the Chrome browser, Gmail, Blogger, etc. Apart from the snit linked in the first sentence, it mostly comes down to the fact that Google packages the user as product and that doing so entails various losses...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote3 1

The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 64: Goodbye Google?/Austin Petersen WTF? Feb 1, 2016

This week's episode of the KN@PP Stir Podcast is brought to you by Darryl W. Perry: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/244834483" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height='450' iframe="true" /] In this episode:Thanks For Asking! (Goodbye Google?);LP presidential nomination also-rans (Austin Petersen)Some show links:Austin Petersen's campaign siteCaryn Ann Harlos's takedown of Petersen on his rejection of the Libertarian Party's foundational principle.Petersen's terrible, horrible, very bad clickbait site The Libertarian Republic (do NOT click on this link unless you want your computer to start running like a snail with a stomach ache).Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

Pastry cuz MURKA! Jan 30, 2016

Purchased at Wal-Mart today (photo by Amelia Millay):Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Election 2016: Prediction Market Musings Jan 30, 2016

As I mentioned awhile back (not worth looking up to link), I've invested a whopping $10 in the PredictIt "prediction market" on two sets of shares. I bought:100 shares of "Joe Biden wins the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination" at five cents per share; and250 shares of "Joe Biden wins the 2016 US presidential election" at two cents per share.The price of those shares as reflected in trading at PredictIt has been swinging back and forth -- their prospective total sale value has been up or down by as much as $5 since buying them. As I write this, the most...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Public Key, Updated Jan 29, 2016

I've deleted/revoked my previous public key. Please use the following as needed (and I'll try to remember to check that email address more often -- in fact, the next and most likely annoyingly difficult phase of my departure from the Googleverse will be abandoning Gmail, possibly for Unseen).-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----Version: OpenPGP.js v.1.20131017Comment: http://openpgpjs.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=kUcz-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

First Surprise of Tonight’s GOP Debate Jan 29, 2016

Rand Paul got the most applause by far of all the candidates as they were introduced. Maybe the talking up I've been hearing about his ground game in Iowa isn't all just guff.Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Why I’m Not a Big Fan of Florida’s “Seminole Compact” Jan 28, 2016

First, a couple of videos from the Seminole Tribe touting its "benefits" (here's a link to the site promoting the pact):[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6trsrsDedQY][youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aXaDebttbU]Let's look at the claims "in favor" of the compact:It would "create jobs" building Seminole casinos, staffing Seminole casinos, etc.It would guarantee the government of Florida $3 billion in revenues over five years.It would let the legislature limit the expansion of gambling to "keep Florida's entertainment options family-friendly."Now look at what those claims actually mean:Sure, it would create jobs building and staffing Seminole casinos; and it would cost the jobs that would be created by letting anyone who...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Thanks For Asking! — 01/28/16 Jan 28, 2016

This week's AMA thread, and the podcast to follow, are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:The skinny:Ask me anything (anything) in comments;I'll answer in the comment thread, on this weekend's podcast, or both.[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoo9Vu1a9bU&w=300&h=169]Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote3 0

Talk About Burying the Lede … Jan 27, 2016

You'd think TED CRUZ CALLS FOR MINIMUM WAGE OF $53 AN HOUR would be the headline, not an aside in the final paragraph. Just sayin' ...Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

There’s Been an Unfortunate Change at AbeVigoda.com Jan 26, 2016

Screen shot:Sorry to hear it. He was 94.Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Ewoks for McAfee? Jan 26, 2016

No, not that kind. This kind.[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEk7DQPaFCM]Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

The KN@PP Stir Podcast, Episode 63: Concerning Dr. Marc Allan Feldman Jan 25, 2016

This week's podcast (and all of them through 2016!) are brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:In this episode: [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/243655256" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height='450' iframe="true" /] Thanks For Asking! (of day jobs and conservative living constitutionalists);Dr. Marc Allan Feldman's campaign for the Libertarian Party's 2016 Presidential NominationDownload KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote0 0

Is Twitter Making it This Idiotically Difficult for Everyone, or Just Me? Jan 24, 2016

Lately I've been getting several messages a week -- anecdotally, it feels like daily or maybe even more frequently -- warning me that due to a "suspicious sign in," I should consider re-setting my password, and/or will need to use a special code instead of my password the next time I log in.Even when that doesn't happen, it seems like 90% of the time Twitter demands that I confirm my phone number on login, seemingly for the same "there has been suspicious activity" reasons.Since the "suspicious login" messages tend to hit my email box regularly, a few hours after actual...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

Hmmm … was I onto something long before quite a few others? Jan 22, 2016

Some skeptics have suggested that Donald Trump is a Democratic plant in the 2016 presidential race -- that he's there for the specific purpose of wrecking the Republican Party's prospects on behalf of his good friends, the Clintons.Heck, I don't write off that possibility. In fact, I just noticed, while doing some vanity Googling, that I suggested the idea myself ...... In 2011!And whaddayaknow, he's even following a variant of the same strategy this year that he followed in 2011-2012, only this time aiming his "birther" stuff in the other direction, at a Republican (Ted Cruz), to sow internal discord...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote3 0

Notes to Planned Parenthood Jan 21, 2016

When your political allies have been guaranteeing you half a billion dollars a year -- half your annual revenues -- in corporate welfare for decades, and treat it as outrageous that anyone would question your entitlement to that annual welfare check, yes, you are part of "the establishment." Pretending you aren't doesn't even come close to passing the laugh test.Download KN@PPSTER's Big Freakin' Book of Stuff -- FREE!

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

Book Recommendation — Bernie: A Lifelong Crusade Against Wall Street and Wealth Jan 20, 2016

You think you know Bernie Sanders, because you've half-attentively followed the Democratic presidential horse race. But you probably don't know Bernie Sanders at all. My friend Darcy Richardson fills the gap with 400 plus pages of the real scoop.I haven't finished the book yet (my copy just arrived yesterday), but I'm already loving it. Like all of Richardson's work, it is rich in detail (if you're interested in the history of American third party politics, his multi-volume history of same, Others, is the essential work -- here's a link to the first volume).Whatever you think of Sanders, his long career...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote1 0

A Bit of Crow for Breakfast (But I’m Gonna Share it With My OS) Jan 18, 2016

So: I'm still personally tussling with the ethics of ad blockers. But you're damn right I'm using one (uBlock Origin) now. Here's why:My Asus Chromebox only sports 2Gb of RAM and an Intel dual-core Celeron CPU running at 1.4 GHz. Yet somehow it manages to run several open browser tabs (five easily, usually 10 or more) without slowing down for MOST sites. I can only think of two sites that I either stopped using or minimized my use of because they were so full of ad crap that they slowed my machine down or caused tabs to run out of...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

The KN@PP Stir Podcast Has Been Preempted … Jan 18, 2016

... by something that I would characterize as almost, but not quite, laryngitis. My voice isn't entirely gone, but it's just a croak, and a judicious application of bourbon to the problem has proven ineffective in bringing it back to its naturally annoyingly hoarse state.If there HAD been a podcast tonight, it would have been brought to you by Darryl W. Perry:I don't think I'm actually coming down with anything. To be honest, I got a little bit more enthusiastic than usual with the singing at church this morning, and that's when things with my throat started going south. Or...

By Thomas L. Knapp Vote2 0

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