When I worked for a now-defunct tech company, I reported to someone who was legitimately bonkers. Her sheer bonkersness would fill volumes, but this was her absolute PEAK.
I had been tasked with writing a guide for an option that the dev team had hoped to base on some specific new Microsoft functionality. Because I knew we might not get permission from MS and deadlines were tight, I organized my work so I could quickly remove all references to the feature and rewrite the guide without it... and the developers were aware of my strategy.
When MS declined permission, we met with the development team, my boss, and another writer on the project to revise the project plan because the release date couldn't be pushed. The dev manager asked me for an estimate of how much time it would take to revise the guide. As I'd anticipated the removal of the feature, I started to tell him I needed about 2-3 days, maximum, which would have given us just enough time to review it and get it to production (we still sold software on physical CDs back then).
Before I could say more than a word or two, my whackadoodle boss jumped in (without checking with me and knowing nothing about the guide or the option) and loudly and decisively said "TWO WEEKS."
When I tried to tell her I didn't need that long, she cut me off with a glare, and when the development team pleaded with her to cut it down to a week, she became increasingly angry and began to shout "TWO WEEKS!! TWO WEEKS!! WHAT PART OF TWO WEEKS DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? DON'T LOOK AT HER!! LOOK AT ME - I'M HER BOSS AND I SAY TWO WEEKS!!"
The entire conference room went completely silent from sheer embarrassment. When the meeting ended, she bolted for her office (and called me in later to yell at me), but as the rest of us left, the dev guys apologized to me for having previously doubted me when I'd said she was nuts.
That meeting became a company legend and for years afterwards, the whole development team (even guys who weren't there) would fall apart laughing hysterically if someone even mentioned TWO WEEKS.
That was probably 20 years ago, but I think of it every time the Pustule claims he'll do something in TWO WEEKS... and I guarantee that everyone who was in that meeting (except her) does too.
Lutnick is just one more Project 2025 stooge Trump hired because he only accepts yes-men and brainless sycophants into the Holy Realm of King Donald the Dumbass. On some level, Lutnick knows Trump's pet tariffs are going to destroy the economy, but he would otherwise never get the privilege of sniffing Trump's farts for four whole years, right? So it's "sir, you're a genius, sir."
Seriously, how is this tool the Secretary of Commerce if he has no idea how tariffs work? It's bad enough that Orange hasn't a clue because he (Orange) is, as Lawrence O'Donnell is fond of saying, 'profoundly stupid', but what is Lutnick's excuse?
I for one welcome our new smart phone overlords/factory employers and have been polishing up my tiny little screw screwing skills so I can meet the moment that’s coming any two weeks now.
Those little screw screwing screwers damned well better screw those little screws standing up, because I'm not paying for chairs for a bunch of lowlife little screw screwers to laze around while their screwing little screws.
"[T]he next two weeks are going to be weeks for the record books. President Trump is going to deliver for the American people"
We're getting a little doubtful...Again with the two weeks Howie?!? Two more weeks?!?
You're making us dizzy! We're sick of all these delays! Two weeks and two more weeks and then it's 50 days, I can't keep up!
Mrs. Lutnick asked why we don't call on you any more Howie, and I had to tell her it's because your Howie is a fucking liar. Lies to us and the American People all the time. She thinks it's crazy but knows Howie has changed since he started hanging out with that idiot The Donald.
Guess CBS decided having Nutlick on to lie about economics was less controversial than broadcasting their entire C-suite and Board on their backs, legs spread, screaming "PLEASE DO ME, DEAR LEADER!" The conveyed message is basically the same either way.
When discussing raising the minimum wage, THESE PEOPLE will swear up and down that 100% will be directly and immediately be passed on to consumers by corporations.
When discussing raising taxes in imports, THESE PEOPLE will swear up and down that ZERO percent will be passed on to consumers by corporations.
Let's worry less about the Trade Deficit. After all the use of "deficit" here is somewhat arbitrary. For example, if in Corporate Accounting we exchanged the word "Earnings" for the word "Takings" we'd have a simpler and more direct understanding of exactly what the fuck was happening. Same with "Trade Deficit". Let's say "Stuff Swap" instead and leave it there.
I was in the grocery store today. Needed one pound of ground beef for a recipe. I bought the angus beef because it was on sale at $7.99/lb. as opposed to the regular ground beef, which was $8.99/lb.
Longish, but related.
When I worked for a now-defunct tech company, I reported to someone who was legitimately bonkers. Her sheer bonkersness would fill volumes, but this was her absolute PEAK.
I had been tasked with writing a guide for an option that the dev team had hoped to base on some specific new Microsoft functionality. Because I knew we might not get permission from MS and deadlines were tight, I organized my work so I could quickly remove all references to the feature and rewrite the guide without it... and the developers were aware of my strategy.
When MS declined permission, we met with the development team, my boss, and another writer on the project to revise the project plan because the release date couldn't be pushed. The dev manager asked me for an estimate of how much time it would take to revise the guide. As I'd anticipated the removal of the feature, I started to tell him I needed about 2-3 days, maximum, which would have given us just enough time to review it and get it to production (we still sold software on physical CDs back then).
Before I could say more than a word or two, my whackadoodle boss jumped in (without checking with me and knowing nothing about the guide or the option) and loudly and decisively said "TWO WEEKS."
When I tried to tell her I didn't need that long, she cut me off with a glare, and when the development team pleaded with her to cut it down to a week, she became increasingly angry and began to shout "TWO WEEKS!! TWO WEEKS!! WHAT PART OF TWO WEEKS DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? DON'T LOOK AT HER!! LOOK AT ME - I'M HER BOSS AND I SAY TWO WEEKS!!"
The entire conference room went completely silent from sheer embarrassment. When the meeting ended, she bolted for her office (and called me in later to yell at me), but as the rest of us left, the dev guys apologized to me for having previously doubted me when I'd said she was nuts.
That meeting became a company legend and for years afterwards, the whole development team (even guys who weren't there) would fall apart laughing hysterically if someone even mentioned TWO WEEKS.
That was probably 20 years ago, but I think of it every time the Pustule claims he'll do something in TWO WEEKS... and I guarantee that everyone who was in that meeting (except her) does too.
You meant Howard "Nutlick", right? You're welcome.
Lutnick is just one more Project 2025 stooge Trump hired because he only accepts yes-men and brainless sycophants into the Holy Realm of King Donald the Dumbass. On some level, Lutnick knows Trump's pet tariffs are going to destroy the economy, but he would otherwise never get the privilege of sniffing Trump's farts for four whole years, right? So it's "sir, you're a genius, sir."
The wrong Lutnick died on 9/11.
Fight me for it.
Seriously, how is this tool the Secretary of Commerce if he has no idea how tariffs work? It's bad enough that Orange hasn't a clue because he (Orange) is, as Lawrence O'Donnell is fond of saying, 'profoundly stupid', but what is Lutnick's excuse?
Personally I would prefer no records were broken for the remainder of the season.
Wait a minute. The dollar has declined under Chump? And this is a good thing?
Many exporters would feel so, imported not so much.
Ta, Michael. This is not how it works; it's not how anything works. Too weaks.
I for one welcome our new smart phone overlords/factory employers and have been polishing up my tiny little screw screwing skills so I can meet the moment that’s coming any two weeks now.
Those little screw screwing screwers damned well better screw those little screws standing up, because I'm not paying for chairs for a bunch of lowlife little screw screwers to laze around while their screwing little screws.
This universe is just wrong if his name is not Nutlick.
It was in high school.
"[T]he next two weeks are going to be weeks for the record books. President Trump is going to deliver for the American people"
We're getting a little doubtful...Again with the two weeks Howie?!? Two more weeks?!?
You're making us dizzy! We're sick of all these delays! Two weeks and two more weeks and then it's 50 days, I can't keep up!
Mrs. Lutnick asked why we don't call on you any more Howie, and I had to tell her it's because your Howie is a fucking liar. Lies to us and the American People all the time. She thinks it's crazy but knows Howie has changed since he started hanging out with that idiot The Donald.
Guess CBS decided having Nutlick on to lie about economics was less controversial than broadcasting their entire C-suite and Board on their backs, legs spread, screaming "PLEASE DO ME, DEAR LEADER!" The conveyed message is basically the same either way.
I regret that I am allowed only one doot to up for this.
Curious!!
When discussing raising the minimum wage, THESE PEOPLE will swear up and down that 100% will be directly and immediately be passed on to consumers by corporations.
When discussing raising taxes in imports, THESE PEOPLE will swear up and down that ZERO percent will be passed on to consumers by corporations.
It's a fucking puzzler!!
Let's worry less about the Trade Deficit. After all the use of "deficit" here is somewhat arbitrary. For example, if in Corporate Accounting we exchanged the word "Earnings" for the word "Takings" we'd have a simpler and more direct understanding of exactly what the fuck was happening. Same with "Trade Deficit". Let's say "Stuff Swap" instead and leave it there.
Now. Let's take a look at the Lying Surplus.
Just gonna say I have a GINORMOUS trade deficit with my local grocery store....not ONCE in my life have they ever purchased something from me!
RIGHT?!
"Why wouldn’t you renegotiate a disastrous and idiotic trade deal, negotiated and signed into law by [checks notes] Donald Trump in his first term?"
ABR: Always Be Renegotiating!
The party line is the deal was negotiated by Obama.
🙄
I don't care what they say. Time to start growing coffee in the backyard. Made in the USA tariff free!
The tariffs will fix the trade deficit and the U.S. deficit. They're also a whipped pizza topping and a floor cleaner. OK.
I was in the grocery store today. Needed one pound of ground beef for a recipe. I bought the angus beef because it was on sale at $7.99/lb. as opposed to the regular ground beef, which was $8.99/lb.
'Angus'? Sounds Scottish. Are you buying furrin beef?
Also when countries open their markets things are gonna take off. Those iPhone factories are going to spring up in no time.
I made an appointment for a manicure so my digits will be in tip-top shape for all that little screw screwing.