“The one and only time I’ve had food poisoning we think was traced back to some rice from a Chinese takeaway...”

Bento boxes - standard lunch boxes for gajillion of Japanese (and kids like mine...) - are unrefrigerated and full of rice, among other things.

Not being Asian but being a daily rice eater, I’d say “Nope”...

In western Fairfax county (VA) the 911 operator asks “Fairfax or Loudoun county” as soon as they answer; guess closeness between counties here can cause confusion.

“...they just call 911 out of pure laziness most of the time and tie up the lines...”

“...Secure artists who choose to work with him knowing what they should know by now...”

One would think so, true, but what if The Gummamint knows something we don’t (or at least don’t readily know). Maybe The Bad Guys have developed a way of making laptop shells out of explosive so there is no “hidden” charge to find.

Note that the scenario I imagined had all the laptops in one location, not spread through luggage dispersed through a hold; that IS the reason I sorta suggested this new rule was put in place - to ensure a whole bunch of laptops weren’t gathered into one tight location and detonated.

“...the risk of a catastrophic mid-flight fire from a computer battery in the baggage hold is probably MUCH higher than a terrorist detonating an explosive device on a flight...”

I suspect there was an economic reason for allowing the cattle to be killed rather than simply cutting wire and either letting them run free or herding them down a road.

They’re probably worried about items internal to devices that LOOK like batteries but are not.

I think you need to reread what Comey has testified.

You are confused. (1) there is no evidence that Obama et al “wiretapped” Trump. (2) Comey outright stated that Russia (tried to) influence the election and, sad to say, did so by feeding negative stories to...guess who...

What’s interesting - and damning, IMHO - is the prearranged and organized effort by the GOP to divert attention to the =leaking= of the Trump/Russia connection rather than the connection itself.

“...Malwarebytes Pro...”

Everyone is woe-are-we-ing budget cuts to agencies but why isn’t ANYONE discussing the increase to the Defense budget!?

“...He misread something in the New York Times...”

“...Why would you pass along an old, unreliable car to your kid? Do you hate them...”

“...Donald Trump accused our closest Ally of gross treason and an offence that could spell war. Well who gives a fuck...”

Number 4 may be a few hundred feet off the ground - the spike(s) at the bottom is a guy wire vaporizing.