“Hands off Biden’s pillowcases” journalists stealing from Air Force One told

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“Journalists have been told to stop stealing souvenirs from US President Joe Biden’s official aircraft. An inventory check on Air Force One after Mr Biden’s visit to the US west coast in February found several items were missing from its press section. Branded pillowcases, glasses and gold-rimmed plates are among the items that have allegedly vanished from the jet. The White House Correspondents’ Association warned that taking items from the plane was forbidden. Last month, the association sent an email to reporters to say that such behaviour reflected poorly on the press pool — the group of journalists who travel with the president — and must stop. Journalists are sometimes given small packages of M&Ms chocolates decorated with the presidential seal as a souvenir. But taking items with an Air Force One logo — including cutlery and towels — has been commonplace for years, reports claim.” (03/31/24)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702982

Steve Trinward

The Roots of a Renaissance

Source: Underthrow
by Max Borders

“Red vs. Blue is such a crude distinction. It always has been. It pulls people into partisan team sports, locks them in affiliation binaries, and pits them against one another in memetic warfare (sometimes street violence.) It is destroying our souls. More troublingly, though, left-right politics obscures a more fundamental dynamic: the rise of illiberal culture.” (03/29/24)

https://underthrow.substack.com/p/the-roots-of-a-renaissance

Thomas L. Knapp

The Real Enforcement Mechanism for the Constitution

Source: Tenth Amendment Center
by Michael Boldin

“Almost everything people learn about how the constitution is supposed to be enforced is wrong. As a result, we live under the largest government in history, and it’s only going to keep getting worse without a huge change of course. First, in what should be an obvious point, words on paper – even if they are the best bunch of words known to humankind – don’t enforce themselves. They never did, and they never will.” (03/29/24)

https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2024/03/29/the-real-enforcement-mechanism-for-the-constitution/

Thomas L. Knapp

Arkansas education plan is conservative blueprint for nationwide success

Source: Fox News
by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders [AR]

“America’s students are falling behind. As governor, it was my priority to get kids back on track. Arkansas has forged our own path forward to better serve students, teachers, and families and become a blueprint for the nation. Last year, in one of my first acts as governor, I signed an executive order to prioritize LEARNS, the biggest, most far-reaching, conservative education reform in America. That executive order was then expanded during our first legislative session, passed by the legislature, and I signed it into law last March. LEARNS, now state law, put into motion sweeping changes to improve every aspect of our education system – from early childhood education to teacher training, to classroom practice, to workforce readiness, to school safety. Today, Arkansas is observing early gains, and in turn, drafting a conservative blueprint for success.” (03/29/24)

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/arkansas-education-plan-conservative-blueprint-nationwide-success

Steve Trinward

Peru: Government agents raid President Boluarte’s residence in luxury watch investigation

Source: Associated Press

“Televised images swept Peru late Friday of government agents from an investigative team breaking into the president’s residence with a sledgehammer in a raid authorized by the judiciary at the request of the attorney general’s office. Dina Boluarte is being preliminarily investigated for possessing an undisclosed collection of luxury watches since she came to power in July 2021 as vice president and Social Inclusion minister, and then as president in December 2022. Initially, she claimed ownership of at least one Rolex as a long-held possession acquired through ‘personal gains’ since the age of 18, urging the media not to delve into personal matters.” (03/31/24)

https://apnews.com/article/peru-president-boluarte-luxury-watches-investigation-e39d68d3e04cf228c59bd6858306c520

Steve Trinward

Only Schmucks — and People With High Search Costs — Pay Retail

Source: EconLog
by Art Carden

“When should you pay retail? Pay careful attention to the costs of looking for a better deal. Consider tickets to a sporting event or a concert. I’ve paid retail (plus ‘convenience charges’) to buy tickets to a minor league hockey game when, in previous years, I would have just scoured the parking lot looking for people with an extra ticket or two to unload. Needing four seats, wanting to sit close to friends, and having a busy day such that we didn’t arrive until after the puck dropped, it was much easier to bite the bullet and pay retail.” (03/29/24)

https://www.econlib.org/only-schmucks-and-people-with-high-search-costs-pay-retail/

Thomas L. Knapp

Full hotels, emergency plans: Cities along eclipse path brace for chaos

Source: USA Today

“Tens of thousands of stargazers will crowd downtown Dallas to witness April’s total solar eclipse. Campground lodging and local hotels are nearly sold out in Erie, Pennsylvania. Indianapolis is hosting one of the largest watch parties in the nation alongside the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. And many hotel rooms and vacation rentals on the path are either sold out or listed at sky-high prices. … Massive crowds make for massive traffic jams, and city officials said they’ve been working for years to help ease the coming gridlock. Many town officials on the path of totality consulted city leaders who were on the path of totality during the 2017 total eclipse to inform their planning for this year’s event, they told USA TODAY.” (03/30/24)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/30/cities-along-eclipse-path-brace-for-chaos/73044896007/

Thomas L. Knapp