The year was 2016. I received a memo from VA Central Office they were conducting an audit of all VA employees to ensure they took the training and digitally signed the attestation form. I needed to collect training records and submit them to the VISN office. What was the training for? The Hatch Act.
This is my review of Heretic Shallow Grave:
Did you think it would be something important? Please.
The VA made a big deal of it due to an Obama Era reform of the Hatch Act enacted in 2012. The law had more or less remained unchanged since it was signed in the 1930’s, these changes meant everyone had to be made aware prior to the 2016 election. Julian Castro apparently didn’t take the training.
This week the legal scholars on TwiX got their panties in a twist over 
this guy in Texas standing behind Trump during his visit to Eagle Pass, TX. “Hatch Act” was trending as a result with many calling for this Maj. General to be stripped of rank and punished to the full extent of the law…which is too bad because he’s in a legal gray area. Although this is certainly bad form to show up in a uniform to what is only going to be viewed as a political circus (thanks a lot John Kerry), it turns out he works for the Texas Military Department, so he’s not technically a Federal employee. So unless Texas has their own version of the act, he’s theoretically not wrong.
The real trouble is even if he violated the Hatch Act they would have to prosecute damn near every federal employee in order to have any legitimacy at all. It really does occur frequently, and few see any real repercussions for violating the act. Unless they actually intend on throwing the book at everyone, and I genuinely want them to open that Pandora’s Box, this is nothing more than a hapless attempt to poison the well for anything related to the Orange Man.
Heretics are always treated worse than infidels. This one is indeed heresy. Porters are supposed to be dark but fairly light. They’ve turned the style into some sort of unterstout, they wish to call a “robust porter”. Just call it a stout already, and there will be no complaints. None whatsoever because as it turns out people actually do like stouts. As a stout, this is in fact a perfectly cromulent 3.9/5 but since they wish me to rate it as a porter, they got it wrong. Heretic Shallow Grave: 3.5/5
I like stouts, but it’s difficult to find anything good.
Had some great ones the last few years…I had an excellent peanut butter stout (that looked like a lager) at Half Door Brewing on a couple trips to San Diego (*may* have been a porter?).
My issue lately is – depending what I’m eating or what I’m doing while drinking (movie, etc) – I just haven’t been in the mood for a stout (esp the oversize bottles I have from Hardywood from their gingerbread, etc specials a few years back – they’re gonna have to keep aging.).
I’m in the same bind. Weird isn’t it?
Some of them are really tasty but just so….thick. not syrupy per se but a lot more of a workout to drink right now compared to a sour or saison or wit that goes down super easy. Esp with a burger or some tots.
More of a Christmas roast drink….but if you bought a bunch, you’re not doing them that frequently. At least they don’t seem to go bad.
Huh, I feel like stouts go pretty well with heavy meals like burgers.
in Europe we have so many good stouts we don’t know what to do with them.
Any good Belgian ones?
off course not what a preposterous suggestion
Stoneface in NH has a rum barrel aged imperial stout. It’s delicious.
Old Rasputin from North Coast is good.
Murphy’s is a better Irish stout than Guinness draught, though I like Guinness. On that note, Guinness Export Stout is excellent.
I haven’t seen Old Rasputin around here, I’m sure it must be somewhere.
I think stouts may be a little less popular here due to the warm weather.
Any anything ‘barrel aged’ just tastes like whiskey (or whatever was in the barrel last). Fine if thats what you like, but I (mostly) like my beer to taste like beer.
What stouts have you enjoyed?
But what if we called it a pizza?
They’d need to add pineapple
1973: The LAST DAYS of PORTER | Scene Around Six | Archivist Picks | BBC Archive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKDwwVR5fd4
if the last days of porter were in 1973, there can’t be any porter now, can it? so you are imagining porters.
Also a porter.
Can we get a Side Hatch Act?
👏 Golf 👏 Clap 👏
it turns out he works for the Texas Military Department, so he’s not technically a Federal employee.
Not quite so clear cut.
https://dodsoco.ogc.osd.mil/Ethics-Program-Resources/DoD-Ethics-Guidance/SOCO-Advisories/2014-SOCO-Advisories/Advisory-14-03-December-5-2014/
Also, to throw more fuel on the fire. State military departments are considered federal agencies under labor law, at least as far as dual status federal technicians are concerned, thanks to a recent Scotus ruling.
Excellent. It will be even funnier if Texas adds this in their articles of secession to protect this guy,
So is the Texas Military Department a National Guard or Reserve unit? If not, the first chunk of gibberish doesn’t seem to apply.
There’s two National Guard portions, and a State Guard portion.
Given that Eagle Pass is where Texas and the feds are squabbling over jurisdiction, I’d say that in this instance the guy, who works for the governor, is representing Texas and fighting against the actions of the feds. He could legitamately be at Eagle Pass because the governor ordered him to be there. So, he wouldn’t be constrained by the Hatch Act, since NOT being there might be an act of insubordination.
/some legal training
It says member of the Guard or Reserve, not members of a Guard or Reserve unit, so would undoubtedly apply to the state AG depending on circumstances.
The state AG is a Title 32 defined title/position, likewise he probably holds a federal commission or at least federal recognition of his rank.
Now I have another question:
How can you be a member of the Guard or Reserve without being a member of Guard or Reserve unit? Wouldn’t that mean you are outside of any chain of command?
No, for example IRR members are not assigned to a specific unit but are in a readiness group or pool. They’re still subject to orders from the commander and above.
I’m not sure that state area commands (or whatever they are called today) are a NG unit/organization or separate as a state entity. I don’t think they’re able to be federalized/mobilized like conventional NG units (troop program units).
from the AM lynx and Pie’s twitter link.
Ron Popeil says “Its been done already”.
1978
We need more commercials like that and less drug commercials.
Vince “Slap-Chop” Offer got his tongue bit by a hooker.
Must not have made the sale.
The pharma commercials are just bribes to the networks. They can’t possibly be justified based on whatever incremental revenue they generate.
How’s your A1C?
I dunno, I haven’t checked my ZIP code yet.
I have heard it’s a form of control. Buy millions in ads, and they guarantee the networks won’t say a bad word about them. They don’t need to advertise, they’ve already got your doctor on the take.
And no one can actually buy what they advertise without a doctor prescribing it.
Not to mention the tiny fraction of the audience who even has the malady their snake oil “treats”.
I’ve seen some commercials that are vague at best about what they’re for, but they make sure to urge the viewer to “ask your doctor if RandomlyGeneratedSyllables is right for you!”
“Sooh-tick-too” is my recent favorite.
What?
$7.77? what a rip off.
There is a 50/50 chance my maternal grandmother had one of those. She had a basement full of QVC-sold items and got weekly Schwan’s truck deliveries.
Uniform enforcement of the Hatch Act would put hundreds of federal, state, and local apparatchiks in prison for their ongoing anti-Trump shenanigans. This is why there will never be uniform enforcement of the Hatch Act.
Exactly. Throw them all in the brig.
And no one has a fit over pastors giving pulpit endorsements to canDidates.
Preachers, like doctors, make mistakes
…to have any legitimacy at all.
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
They care about legitimacy just a little less than they care about accountability.
I thought Julian Castro was that cuban kid they hid in a closet.
Can we send this one back to Cuba too?
The real trouble is even if he violated the Hatch Act they would have to prosecute damn near every federal employee in order to have any legitimacy at all.
No kidding. They can start with Janet Yellin.
“Tish” James would like a word.
When I got up, the power was out. It just came back on about fifteen minutes ago. It’s amazing how dependent we are on constantly available electricity. That must be why so many people are working so hard to destroy the power grid.
My furnace burns propane, but it requires electricity to function.The igniter for the burners on my stove requires electricity. Fortunately, the gas still flows, so they can be lit with a match for coffee making purposes.
And, of course, you people.
It’s true. I’m lit up. https://youtu.be/cABZfkRcQ6A?si=c5BPBq8SvkdXTthk
The real trouble is even if he violated the Hatch Act they would have to prosecute damn near every federal employee in order to have any legitimacy at all.
Legitimacy has nothing to do with it.
They’ve turned the style into some sort of unterstout, they wish to call a “robust porter”. Just call it a stout already, and there will be no complaints. None whatsoever because as it turns out people actually do like stouts. As a stout, this is in fact a perfectly cromulent 3.9/5 but since they wish me to rate it as a porter, they got it wrong.
I’d try it anyways.
3.9/5 is high praise from Mr. Shooter
Why was the power out? you ask. The ~12 inches of fresh heavy spring snow may have something to do with it.
Climate change!
We went from 65% to 100% in a week. Just rain down here in the valley.
This week the legal scholars on TwiX got their panties in a twist
The very notion of Democrats having the faintest interest in enforcing the Hatch Act is a kneeslapper.
The thing with that is the Dems can and will use any given law as a sword against their enemies and they could not care less how selective prosecution appears to the general public. Dark days for the rule of law my man.
Some more photos on that local train crash.
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/photos-train-derailment-along-lehigh-river-in-northampton-county/collection_470e0cee-d8a0-11ee-8b1e-e76b66720a8b.html#2
Looks like a hot mess.
Out of the river and a road above looks like a pretty easy recovery. The bed looks okay but the tracks themselves look very “Sherman necktie” and will need to be replaced.
Your tax dollars at work
The Department of Education is opening an investigation into whether the Oklahoma school district where the late 16-year-old transgender student Nex Benedict attended high school failed to appropriately respond to sex-based harassment, according to a letter obtained by NBC News on Friday.
The letter was addressed to the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBTQ rights group, which had filed a complaint with the department following Benedict’s Feb. 8 death.
Benedict died a day after engaging in a fight with three other students in a school bathroom at Owasso High School, in a case that has drawn intense media attention and condemnation from LGBTQ advocates around the world.
Why don’t they investigate the people pushing the “transgender” insanity?
I thought the “murdered for being transgender” story was debunked a few days ago? Or at least the coroner hasn’t been bribed to lie yet.
Yup. It turns out teenage girls aren’t super likely to actually beat somebody to death. Who knew?
Did you just assume their upper body strength?
IIRC, the coroner said the cause of death is unrelated to the fight. I don’t recall hearing the specific cause of death. That has lead to all sorts of speculation.
In its complaint, the HRC called on the Department of Education to investigate the district for failing “to address the discrimination and harassment to which Nex was subjected” and to determine whether the district violated Title IX, a landmark civil rights law that protects people from gender-based discrimination in education programs funded by the federal government.
Change one definition (from sex to “gender”), and the law magically acquires vast new powers.
The framers of the constitution were limited by the regressive times in which they lived from putting down to paper their true thoughts about trannies and such.
For which Current Day trannies and such should be grateful.
“Nex’s family, community, and the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) community in Oklahoma are still awaiting answers following their tragic loss,” Kelley Robinson, the HRC’s president, said in a statement Friday evening.
Give me a fucking break.
Answers? To a person who didn’t die of a beating, and even if that was the proximal cause, it was initiated by the now-dead person. Right?
the broader 2SLGBTQI+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex+) community
Did the just other asexuals? Cancel them.
Are they confusing intersex (rare for that list, an actual medical condition) with something they just made up called “intersex+”?!
Oh, they are profoundly confused, but not about whether their newly minted “gender identity” has any medical basis. Because of course it doesn’t.
Those genetic intersex freaks are on their own. The new hotness is forcing objective reality to submit to subjective belief.
A friend of mine left half a Samuel Adams sampler in my fridge so I fugured I’d piggyback on the beer thread with a quick review of each.
-Postseason IPA: Too hoppy.
-Cold Snap: Too hoppy.
-Blonde Ale: Too hoppy.
-Red Zone Lager: Tastes like grapefruit. Also too hoppy.
Will drink because free but not a fan. For God’s sake, take it easy on the hops fellas.
Half the beers in the store seem to be IPAs. I won’t yuck anyone’s yum, but goddamn I could sue some more variety in the remaining styles.
My go tos are Peroni, Pacifico, and Guinness during the cold months-all solid not overhopped beers.
I don’t think I’ve seen Pacifico. I’ll give it a go the next time I see it.
Peroni is decent, and Guinness is Guinness, as noted above the export stout I think is the best, iirc.
I’ll give a rating/review of one I tried recently:
Mango Cart(Golden Road Brewing): Like is says on the tin, very fruity, but not offensive or sour, very little hops, sweet but not cloying. 3.75/5
I’d think it would be widely available. Pacifico is one of Constellation’s labels.
Yeah, I’m trying out new to beers where I live and can confirm – it’s 1/2 IPAs, 1/2 anything else. Like any good commie, I do appreciate the limiting of my choices.
The biggest tragedy (for me) is that any ‘variety pack’ seems to be 3/4 IPAs.
I’m genuinely surprised you don’t like Cold Snap and Blonde Ale. I really dislike IPAs and neither of those beers remind me of them.
I thought the “murdered for being transgender” story was debunked a few days ago? Or at least the coroner hasn’t been bribed to lie yet.
It will never be debunked. If it turns out the whatsit died of a drug overdose, it will be common knowledge that right wing genderbullies forcibly injected it with enough fentanyl to kill all the elephants in Africa.
It’s the new Matthew Shepherd fable.
Turns out (motivated) belief is indifferent to the truth. Who knew?
It doesn’t matter if that killed her(?), they still didn’t do enough to stop the bullying (because now it will be used as a cudgel to make OK comply with woke ideology). It is a real laugh to use ‘sex based’ discrimination as a club against two sets of females having it out.
It’ll fail.
This is one they’re losing badly.
I am not getting anything out of that story. It is deliberately murky so that it can be made to easily fit the bullshit narrative.
Mendacity is their SOP which tells me the whole thing is nonsense. 3 days later? So…suicide? OD? Car wreck? Cancer? WTH?
How did the kid die? Until we know that they should shut up.
For God’s sake, take it easy on the hops fellas.
Have you tried Longboard?
Its not bad, but I don’t go out of my way to buy it. Kona used to make some really good stuff, not sure I’ve had anything from them that knocked my socks off lately.
Not sure Kona sells in my area. Going by the reviews I’ll pick some up if I ever see it.
Baffling revelation
The Berkeley IGS poll released on Friday showed Garvey garnered more support than his Democratic and Republican rivals. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said they planned to back Garvey, while 25 percent expressed support for Schiff, 19 percent for Porter and 8 percent for Lee.
The poll suggests a shift since the beginning of the year, as a Berkeley IGS poll from January showed Garvey trailing Schiff and Porter. That survey found Schiff leading with 21 percent of support, while Porter followed with 17 percent. Garvey placed third, with 13 percent saying they planned to vote for him.
Garvey responded to the poll in a statement to Newsweek, saying he is “deeply humbled by the trust and support” shown in the poll.
“This demonstrates that our message of addressing the real issues that Californians care about with compassionate, common-sense solutions is resonating more than the tired political bickering of career politicians. It’s clear that people are ready for new leadership that brings us together to build a brighter future for California,” he said.
Something tells me the Democrat attack ads aimed at Garvey are going to make Herschel Walker look like Winston Churchill.
Garvey’s less of a horrible candidate than Walker, but he’s also in a more difficult to win place.
Garvey is rising in the polls because Schiff is running ads saying he is too conservative for California. The strategy is to get Garvey into second place in the primary. That knocks Katie Porter, the most threatening Democrat, out of the general election. After the primary, Schiff will unload on Garvey.
All this means is that team Red only makes up 27% of the voters.
Garvey’s less of a horrible candidate than Walker, but he’s also in a more difficult to win place.
Exactly. If Garvey somehow makes it onto the November ballot, the Democrats will sling mud at him like he’s Genghis Khan, Hitler and Caligula’s horse all rolled into one.
Huh, remastered Dante’s Inferno short film clip from 1911. Looks surprisingly good and right creepy:
https://youtu.be/OCWzGY0Zc5k?si=5mlM2JJAphI5zhV6
Harking back to the morning ode to Murray Rothbard, I wish I had seen this earlier.
Now granted, Rothbard and disciples would jump all over this as evidence against govt; and yet expect anarchy to somehow work?
THAT’S RAYCISSS!
Relevant