The Eyes Have It posted:

I can't believe that guy is only 44. He looks so much older/less healthy.

slurm posted:

I wonder if some random guy will try to snag it

Tiny Timbs posted:

People send hobby balloons up there. I’d believe somebody could whip something together if they were motivated.

pantslesswithwolves posted:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/fbi-arrests-2-suspects-accused-planning-attack-baltimore-power-grid-rcna69324

Two Neo-Nazis accused of plotting to attack power substations in and around Baltimore. One of them is one of the founders of Atomwaffen. This is a pretty significant and serious threat lone wolf attack by someone with mental illness that was luckily thwarted by authorities.

quote:

An Insider investigation has found that attacks against the electrical grid nationwide are at an all-time high — and experts say the greatest threat comes from right-wing extremists seeking to sow chaos and accelerate the devolution of the social order. The investigation, which includes an analysis of newly released Department of Energy data, visits to substations, a review of law enforcement records from nine jurisdictions, as well as neo-Nazi propaganda, and interviews with six power industry and extremism experts, found that attacks on the grid spiked dramatically last year, with a 72 percent increase over 2021.

According to Department of Energy statistics, human attacks were responsible for 171 "electric disturbance incidents" around the country in 2022, compared with 99 in 2021. (Insider's review of the data counted incidents that the Department of Energy labeled as the result of vandalism, sabotage, actual physical attack, cyber event and suspicious activity.)

Arrath posted:

Oh for gently caress sake

GoGoGadget posted:

He wasn't a convert, but a sponsor of one.

And yeah, it is a bit odd to have to go through classes to convert, but the more I go through it the more I understand it. As pointed out, the ritual of it all is very important and you can't easily come into that without deliberate teaching. But what attracted me to it was the relative liberalism and actually caring about people I saw in those like the doctor running this RCIA group compared to my Southern Baptist upbringing where I was taught everyone was a sinner that deserved to burn eternally in the fiery pits of Hell.

shame on an IGA posted:

Soul Dentist posted:

Just sounds nasty

Tiny Timbs posted:

I once spent 8 hours in line in Colorado for a "chance" to view rescue dogs for adoption after filling out an extremely onerous and invasive application. Never got to see one; after that we just looked on Craigslist and got a puppy from a surprise litter that happened after two neighboring ranch dogs had a tryst. We made another attempt at getting a rescue dog a few years later and gave up after weeks of back-and-forth, agreements to let inspectors tour our home, interviews, etc. Pet culture in the US develops a lot of extremely strange attitudes.

ASAPI posted:

I saw those as well. It was part of what prompted me to start looking at things.

I get that they are probably stretching their maintenance further. I also get the labor cost issue.

I'm trying to figure out the "why now?" It doesn't seem like there was a noticeable change after the strike was blocked, then suddenly, we have trains leaking poo poo and killing people all over the place. I had expected a slower, more incremental degradation of the system.

bird food bathtub posted:

If it lets them target a minority with their hatred they'll absolutely do it, Robin Williams be damned. Hating and attacking people is what they're all about now.

Hyrax Attack! posted:

The Yiddish Policemen's Union, I thought it was an interesting alternate history story.