The latest effort by Republicans is to try to blame the Silicon Valley Bank failure on the Biden Administration.  My two favorite efforts were by the adorable Donald Trump Jr., and by James Comer (R-KY), chairman of the House “Oversight” Committee.  (Yes, this is the committee for which all 26 Republicans refused to denounce white supremacy.)
 
Anyway, Don Jr. wrote that “I don’t remember banks collapsing under Trump…”  In fairness, I suspect there's a lot Don Jr. doesn't remember during his father’s time in office -- or anytime from the past, for that matter.  Cocaine does that to a person.  For starters, he's already forgotten 16 bank failures under his dad. And forgotten, too, that his dad removed Dodd-Frank bank protections put in place after the 2008 bank crisis – a lack of regulatory protections that allowed the SVB collapse.
 
As for Comer, fresh off his “I won’t denounce white supremacy” tour, he slammed the SVB failure by saying, “They were one of the most woke banks.”
 
Actually, what SVB was -- was an unregulated bank, and that is thanks entirely to Trump and Republicans rolling back those aforementioned banking protections passed during the Obama/Biden Administration.  And by the way, to make this all the more fun, one of those voting to repeal the Dodd-Frank protections and a vocal critic of them was, yes Rep. James Comer.
 
It’s so charming to, to see an elected official almost celebrating a bank failure, especially it not only hurts all the investors, but (with SVB) mostly hurts the business community which Republicans are supposed to adore like a religion.  And since it risks other banks failing – which I’d think Republicans are against (though after their refusal to denounce white supremacy, I’m not quite sure what the GOP is for or against these days, other than “The Libs.”) 
 
But I’m also trying to figure out what a “woke bank” is.  Honestly, if I had to pick any industry that was a little “woke” as any, it would be banking.  I know that SVB did have more of a history investing in start-up companies than many banks (especially being in Silicon Valley), but if that’s what Republicans now consider “woke,” that’s even more anti-business than I’d ever have imagined Republicans to be.
 
There were other Republicans trying this tactic, as well.  And it shouldn’t come as a surprise.  After all, it’s been out of the GOP Playbook for years – blame your worst characteristic on your opponent.
 
And this is just one more example of Republicans trying desperately to blame everything on Joe Biden, and in the end, most falls on Trump. 
 
And this, with the Silicon Valley Bank is just too pathetic since it not only centers directly on Trump and the GOP, but does so for repealing protections put in place during Obama/Biden.

​​​(In fairness, the parking sign blocks a UPS banner in the window.  But in equal fairness, there’s still no big UPS sign in that empty space at the top of the building, like every other store in the mall has -- indeed, like in every mall in the freaking world -- where everybody looks.  And as you're wandering through the parking lot, a small pole shouldn't be able to block you identifying where a store is.)
 
But Ash did a great job, was really friendly with all the other customers who came in, and I told him I’d write about his store on my site here.  A look of what seemed almost like relief came over his face.  (Not that I expect to drive much business there, but hey, you never know.  I can imagine the headlines, "Website article about UPS Store goes viral.  Lines around the block.")
 
So, if you’re in West Los Angeles, and need any UPS service or a Notary, pop in to visit Ash whose UPS Store is at the southeast corner of Sepulveda and National.  You’ll see the big Vons grocery store and CVS – and by the time you get there, maybe you’ll even see a couple of UPS signs by then, too…!

I really enjoy Ryan Reynolds' ad for his Mint Mobile company -- and love some of them.  It seems a lot of the ads are created for online only, so I find myself catching up with them.

​I came across a new one online last night.  It's a full-minute, unlike most of the online-only ads, so I suspect it might air on TV at some point.  I hope so, because it's wonderful -- and a bit different from most others, since it's a parody.  I won't say of what, but it will be clear.  Here it is --

Today we have another podcast with Jon Stewart that's a companion to his new series The Problem with Jon Stewart on Apple TV+, though usually they are standalone episodes on different topics.  This week it’s, “Why the FTX Crypto Scam Is a Tale As Old As Time.”  As their website describes the podcast --“Whatever fun name you wanna put on it, it’s the same damn thing we’ve seen over and over again.” David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, joins us to discuss the spectacular rise and fall of crypto exchange FTX and its disgraced leader, Sam Bankman-Fried. We dive into the ways its collapse mirrors the worst failures of more mainstream markets, how SBF was able to use effective altruism as cover for garden-variety political influence, and why it’s a mess that the House Agriculture Committee ended up regulating exchanges like FTX. Plus, writers Henrik Blix and Jay Jurden stop by to talk about living in a golden age of grifts and teach Jon about the Liver King’s dirty secret.
 
Happily, though a podcast, the show now seems to be posting an audio Zoom version of the episode, so that's what we'll go with.  And you can watch it here.
​

Over the weekend, actress Valerie Bertinelli decided to show how ludicrous the new “Twitter Blue” verification policy was.  And so, she changed her screen name to “Elon Musk” and tweeted out about a dozen messages, many of them in support of Democratic candidates.  She then changed her name back.
 
I was curious how Elon Musk reacted, so I went to his feed.  It was not pretty.  My intention was just to check out if he had a response, and my post a reply.  But what he wrote on the subject and so much of the other criticism was just jaw-droppingly bad.  It was sort of like forming a comedy duo act, and he decided to be the straight man.  Tweet after tweet after tweet after tweet.
 
I kept thinking, “Okay, that’s it.”  But then I’d read the next one.  And then think, “Okay, I can’t not comment on that.”
 
Here’s how I spent about a half-hour last night --
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Twitter needs to become by far the most accurate source of information about the world. That’s our mission.
 
R.J.E.:
Well, y'know, getting rid of the Identity Verification protocol was a *Really Bad* way to start going about this.  By the way, you did a nice job in "One Day at a Time."
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
My commitment to free speech extends even to not banning the account following my plane, even though that is a direct personal safety risk.
 
R.J.E.:
What about someone else's direct personal safety risk? (Like, say, where people tweet that someone deserves to die.) Are you committed to *that*??
 
Or to the safety of democracy? As in "spreading misinformation to help destroy people's trust in institutions."
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Power to the People
 
R.J.E.:
Like no voter suppression!

And no laws that discriminate against anyone, regardless of race or gender!

And laws that require corporations pay fair taxes, like The People!

And a woman's right to choose for HER life!

And no book banning!

And teaching the truth of slavery!

Right on!
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Previously, we issued a warning before suspension, but now that we are rolling out widespread verification, there will be no warning. This will be clearly identified as a condition for signing up to Twitter Blue.
 
R.J.E.:
This sounds a little like a line from the commandant in "The Great Escape."
 
BTW, what if one has not signed up for $100/year "Twitter Blue" and therefore not received the "warning?"  Will they get suspended even though they weren’t warned?
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying “parody” will be permanently suspended
 
R.J.E.:
You seem a bit touchy.


Define "parody." How does it differ from "mocking"? Or "social protest"?

P.S. Are you aware that when you tell a joke but say, "OK, this is going to be a joke, it's funny" it generally ruins the joke.

Ohh, I get it. This is "free speech." With limits.
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Any name change at all will cause temporary loss of verified checkmark
 
R.J.E.:
This is an added burden for women who get married and change their name.

And Kanye West a couple times a year.
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Trash me all day, but it’ll cost $8
 
R.J.E.:
It will cost $8 to criticize someone now on Twitter?? Or just if you are criticized.

Is that $8 per criticism, or will it cover criticizing you for a full month?

Free speech seems to be getting more expensive by the day.
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Again, to be crystal clear, Twitter’s strong commitment to content moderation remains absolutely unchanged. In fact, we have actually seen hateful speech at times this week decline *below* our prior norms, contrary to what you may read in the press.
 
 
 
R.J.E.:
And your whitewashing note is contrary to what I see on my actual feed.

We have totally different definitions of "crystal clear" and "commitment."   I believe mine are more accurate. Though, to be crystal clear, I'm biased.
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Regarding Twitter’s reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day. Everyone exited was offered 3 months of severance, which is 50% more than legally required.
 
R.J.E.:
No one forced YOU to vastly overpay $44 BILLION for Twitter. So, that was a choice.

And you chose to change policies about verification & making hate speech more accessible, driving away advertising.

Cool, so it was "You're fired, instead of 2 weeks severance, here's 3 weeks."
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Excellent summary of Twitter’s Trust & Safety from the head of the team.  [He then attached a statement from the head of the team.]
 
R.J.E.:
”As proof that all our new policies are GREAT, our new company official who I hired to install them will now tell explain the new policies are GREAT!!"
 
 
 
ELON MUSK:
Followed by creator monetization for all forms of content
 
R.J.E.:
Is this from you or Valerie Bertinelli?

​Well, just to let you know that – as I always say – I tries nots to steers ya wrong.  Yesterday, Greg announced that Sensitive Home was chosen as a 2022 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Winner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the second year in a row!  And just to be clear, it’s “only” two years in a row because the company has only been in business for two years.
 
(What this all means is that the “EPA Safer Choice” program helps identify products with safer chemical ingredients that don’t sacrifice on quality or performance.  It focuses on efforts to advance sustainability, environmental responsibility, and product safety.  These are considered by many to be Good Things.  And all the better, the entire line of Sensitive Home products is certified.  Which is also considered A Good Thing.)
 
I feel obligated by contest rules of fairness to point out that the award is for the entire Sensitive Home team, not just its esteemed inventor.   But the inventor gets to sleep with the award under his pillow.
​