Media Thread (non Faux)

[Vrede too]

Jeez, don't say that out loud. Somebody will try it fershure if they haven't already. And hey - it might sorta work. San Diego contracts with AMT and Falck for emergency services, along with its city departments. Falck ended up with slower average response, more complaints, and higher costs than in-house, and I think lost their contract. Dunno about AMT but I see their aid cars all over.

I think private school bus companies may do better than they did at first, but I remember one conversion in Florida from system-owned to contract and the company (I think it was "First Student") did about everything you could imagine to screw up short of selling off busloads of kids to the sex trade. Cities who contract with companies like "Waste Management" to eliminate in-house departments frequently regret it a couple of years into the contract.

Depending on the service, specialized companies can do a good job, but it's that "lowest bidder" part that's scary. When a company's first priority is to make a profit, they're usually willing to cut all available corners to get those contracts.

Ambulance services are often private (for profit or nonprofit) since the service they provide is usually covered by Medicaid, Medicare or insurance, and they provide the financial oversight. There's no equivalent reimbursement scheme for firefighting, school buses, garbage hauling, or the valuable services provided by public radio and TV.

[O Really]

Yeah, the private service ambulances don't bother me. I guess really they're more related to medical industry along with clinics, hospitals, etc. and not so much a government service anyway. The others on the list not so much.

[1 CAT FAN]

Chuck Schumer Protest: Democratic Officials Arrested at Senator's Office

Pro Palestinian protesters, including two sitting Democratic New York officials, were arrested by police outside the offices of New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on Friday afternoon, according to video posted to social media.https://www.newsweek.com/protesters-arr ... za-2107782



Damn, maybe if they dressed up like a U.S. flag with a match beside it they would have gotten away with it.

Schumer probably has a residence in a gated community too, aye O Really?

[Vrede too]

Yeah, the private service ambulances don't bother me. I guess really they're more related to medical industry along with clinics, hospitals, etc. and not so much a government service anyway. The others on the list not so much.

It's a mix. I'd GUESS that most rescue ambulance services are still public, attached to an FD or not, but Idk. Otoh, most transport ambulance services - non911, hospital to rehab, etc. - are private.

[1 CAT FAN]

Trump and Epstein had a relationship, but there's no evidence of Trump wrongdoing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/search/? ... rong+doing

[Vrede too]

MAGA Brands Tucker Carlson a Terrorist Sympathizer

I've thought so for years, but not for the same silly reason Loomer-led MAGA is whining about.

[O Really]

So the judge gave Combs 4 years. Not bad, although I find myself twisting my legal rationale for it. I really don't care about the prostitution, and he wasn't convicted on the trafficking, racketeering, etc., and wasn't charged with the domestic violence. Some (right white guy) might have walked with time served. But it looks like the judge considered that he's really a pretty rotten excuse for a human being and put him away. That's a good thing.