Nintendo Switch

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I know it's fashionable for people to love Nintendo regardless of their track record, but hey, I've never been one to go with the flow. So after some time spent with the Nintendo Switch, I've finally managed to get around to putting my thoughts to paper, or bits, or whatever the relevant phrase should be now that we no longer use paper for this sort of thing.

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Gun Companies Crushed By Trump

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If you ever wondered what the primary motivator is for Americans buying guns - you now have some good data: the stock prices of publicly traded gun manufacturers.

What you see here is the result of an October and November run-up because it looked like Hillary Clinton would win the election. The second that Trump was elected, their shares got crushed, and they've been hammered hard ever since then.

So what drives sales? Fear. Fear that those Democrats are going to take away all of the guns.

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues deep into a Trump presidency.

A Layman's Economic Case for Universal Healthcare

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In the US, there's a massive debate about universal healthcare. Republicans tend argue that it's too much of a budget cost or that citizens should be 'free to choose their own' healthcare. Democrats tend to argue that healthcare should be a basic right offered by the state. Lost somewhere in translation here is the economic case for universal coverage. Neither party seems to want to go into it, but it's important to understand how healthcare isn't a regular market, and why it gets so expensive when individuals have to shop for their own coverage.

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Trump Names Rick Perry for Energy Secretary

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Seriously? Perry for Energy Secretary?

Didn't he propose closing the department? I'm being a little bit charitable, because he literally forgot the name of the department when he was trying to list the names of the departments he wanted to close.

He was quoted 15 minutes after the video below as saying, "By the way that was the department of energy I was reaching for a while ago."

Just a Little Bit Swampier

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Would you like to get an audience with El Trumpo's inner circle?

Look no further than the benefits awarded to those who fund El Trumpo's inaugural committee.

"Donate" a cool million, and check out all those benefits!

  • An intimate dinner for 4 with the Pences!
  • 8 tickets to meet the ladies of the first families.
  • 8 tickets to the "Victory reception".
  • Hell, 8 tickets to everything! It's a blowout sale here! Candlelight dinner with Trump & Pence. Concert and fireworks! VIP parade tickets! Premier access to the inaugural ball! Attending the swearing-in ceremony! And most importantly, you or your corporation will be recognized on select printed materials. (This way, the rest of us know who to blame.)

Oh, did I fail to mention that Trump's hotel is one of the ones on offer for the "Select Inaugural Hotels" for these packages? The ones that don't come included?

I'd say I feel like I'm taking crazy pills, but really, I just think that the US is.

Trump Can't Read His Own Lease

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Trump leases his Washington DC hotel space from the US Postal Service. Part of that contract (and indeed, any contract with federal leases) includes the stipulation that no elected officials may be involved in the lease.

Government Executive reports:

The Post Office Lease differs from many of Mr. Trump’s other business arrangements. That’s because, in writing the contract, the federal and D.C. governments determined, in advance, that elected officials could play no role in this lease arrangement. The contract language is clear: “No ... elected official of the Government of the United States ... shall be admitted to any share or part of this Lease, or to any benefit that may arise therefrom...”   
The language could not be any more specific or clear. Donald Trump will breach the contract on Jan. 20, when, while continuing to benefit from the lease, he will become an “elected official of the Government of the United States.” 

Maybe the GSA needs to revoke his lease. Oh, but wait, when he steps into office, he'll be the one employing them. This is a massive conflict of interest. It's time we start doing something about this. Trump cannot be allowed to hold public office while this kind of issue persists.