Chet Collins

Op-Ed: I Have To Write This Quickly As The Taliban Is Breaking Into My Building But Biden Is Doing A Great Job - The Babylon Bee

Now, it might be hard to see the larger picture over the shouting and gunfire just below me, but this operation has gone about as well as it possibly could have. And what has gone wrong, such as the Taliban now entering my floor, just emphasizes why we needed to leave.

Biden: ‘We Are Not Negotiating With Terrorists, We’re Just Giving The Taliban Whatever They Ask For’ - The Babylon Bee

The Taliban guy - who by the way, was a lot friendlier than some of you so-called journalists - asked if we could leave on August 31st because that’s his birthday. His birthday, ok?

I’m glad it’s not just for me, but UPS Ground’s new strategy of letting a box sit at the destination facility for an entire day (3 if it arrives on a Friday morning) before delivery is way not cool.

📦

White House More Than Doubles Its Inflation Forecast in New Update - WSJ

The Office of Management and Budget said it expects consumer prices will rise 4.8% in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, up sharply from the 2% rise that the Biden administration forecast in May.

Merry Christmas, y’all!

Funny definition of “transitory,” tho.

Officials also dialed back their projections for budget deficits this year, projecting an annual shortfall of $3.1 trillion, down from $3.7 trillion forecast in May, as strong economic growth this year bolstered federal revenues.

Way to go! It’s hard to run an entire country on a measly $3.6T of revenue. We only overspent our income by 86%.

It’s kind of like when you only make $65,000, but to run your household you have to spend $120,900 a year.

Adulting, ya know?

Texas House Passes Voting Bill - WSJ

The bill limits early voting hours to between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

VOTER SUPPRESSION!!!!!!!

Hat tip to the product team at Coke for their improvements to the taste of Coke Zero!

🥤

Business Groups Withdraw Suit Challenging Health-Price Transparency Rule - WSJ

“I asked the Chamber, why would a self-funded employer not want transparency in healthcare pricing?” she said.

Because local competitors will simply raise their prices to match the highest prices in their market. What incentive do they have to offer a discount?

It’s the same effect that tariffs drive. Domestic manufacturers raise their prices to just below the new foreign producer cost.

U.S. Household Income Jumped in July as Spending Slowed - WSJ

The checks could boost Americans’ spirits at a time when consumer sentiment surveys show concerns have risen about the Delta variant, Mr. Brusuelas said, and as inflation rises.

Totally misses the point. Inflation is rising because of the stimulus checks. Too much money chasing too few products.

Notice to Developers: You Could Be Entitled to Between a $250 and $30,000 Payment From Apple - MacRumors

As part of the settlement, some U.S. developers would be entitled to receive a payment from Apple, so long as they meet certain requirements.

Wow! I’ve never seen a class action settlement that so heavily favors the class members. Normally the lawyers get all of the benefit.

Essentially, Apple is retroactively reducing commissions from 30% to 15% for those who made less than $10,000. Slightly less advantageous for folks over that mark.

The New Employer Benefit: Matching Emergency Savings - WSJ

Recently, Ms. Dillon amassed enough in her emergency account to purchase a computer.

Not an emergency.

Americans At Mercy Of Taliban Just Glad We Don’t Have A President Who Posts Mean Tweets Anymore - The Babylon Bee

“I’m just glad we have a real leader in the White House now, who doesn’t say mean things on Twitter,” said one man sheltering in a house in hopes that the Taliban doesn’t murder him.

Biden Says U.S. Will Respond to Kabul Attacks; ‘We Will Hunt You Down’ - WSJ

The White House has been frustrated by criticism of the withdrawal and has been emphasizing the scope of the airlift mission in Kabul.

The problem is that the Administration put itself into the position where all of this was necessary.

If a baseball team is losing 0-10 going into the 9th Inning, it’s no great cause for celebration that they score 11 runs in the inning and win. They had to do it, there was no other choice.

The Kabul Airport Massacre - WSJ Opinion

Mr. Biden is telling Americans that Afghanistan won’t again become a terror haven, but it already is.

Unnatural pauses, rambling, looks of confusion, and rhetorical meandering.

The physical embodiment of this entire disaster.

This was not the speech for the moment.

Amortization tables are fun to play with.

Kabul Airport Explosions Kill Four U.S. Troops, at Least 13 Afghans - WSJ

Thursday’s bombings were the first major security incidents since the Taliban took power in Kabul and began dismantling the blast barriers and other security installations that had been erected to thwart insurgent attacks during the two decades of American military presence.

It’s been 10 days since the Taliban took Kabul.

In a tweet condemning Thursday’s attacks, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid pointed out that they “took place in an area where U.S. forces are responsible for security.”

These are the first in-country combat deaths since February 2020.

What Are Joe Biden’s Fixed Principles? - WSJ Opinion

In his public appearances, Mr. Biden, who is properly chary of giving press conferences lest he lapse into one of his infamous gaffes, has come more to resemble the puppet in a ventriloquist’s act.

Cauliflower has never looked so good.

In Kabul, Private Rescue Efforts Grow Desperate as Time to Evacuate Afghans Runs Out - WSJ

And countless Afghans who thought the U.S. would protect them after having assisted the U.S.-led coalition forces in the past two decades are now realizing that they will most likely be left behind to face Taliban wrath alone.

Afghan Evacuation Drama Nears End, as Aug. 31 Deadline Approaches - WSJ

Many aid organizations have been told by Western governments that evacuation flights won’t continue past Friday, as the U.S. military will need the days remaining until the Aug. 31 deadline to remove its own equipment and troops from Kabul. That guidance represented one sign that the window for Afghans desperate to leave the Taliban-controlled country is closing and that thousands of Afghans who want to leave likely will be stranded.

The article title is misleading.

I think it’s clear that the drama is only just beginning.

Biden’s Guest Hosting Of ‘Jeopardy!’ A Disaster As He Flees Every Time A Contestant Puts An Answer In Form Of A Question - The Babylon Bee

“Sorry,” he said while exiting the stage, “my staff says if I answer any questions, I don’t get ice cream.”

Delta Air Lines to Impose $200 Monthly Surcharge for Unvaccinated Employees, Add Testing Requirements - WSJ

to pay an extra $200 each month. The company said the additional charge will help to cover hospital stays that are more likely for unvaccinated people infected with Covid-19—something that Delta said can cost the company tens of thousands of dollars a person. In recent weeks, all Delta employees who have been hospitalized with Covid-19 were unvaccinated, Mr. Bastian said.

I was wondering when insurance surcharges would start. Completely reasonable to cover an unnecessary risk.

CIA Chief William Burns Met With Senior Taliban Figure in Kabul - WSJ

CIA Director William Burns met secretly with the Taliban’s top figure in Kabul on Monday amid a chaotic U.S. effort to evacuate American citizens and Afghans allied with the U.S. in advance of an Aug. 31 deadline, U.S. officials said.

The humiliations continue.

A Taliban 9/11 - WSJ

So a question for those who still believe Mr. Biden was right to pull us out: Do they also believe his assurances that our loss of on-the-ground intelligence, an air base in a strategic part of the world, and an ally instead of an enemy in Kabul will all be compensated for with “over the horizon” capabilities?

Fitbit Charge 5 Tracker Design and Features Leaked in New Video - MacRumors

Google-owned Fitbit appears to be readying an update to its Charge fitness tracker lineup

Fitbit still exists?