CURRENT EVENTS May 22 - July 5

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Social Security stops reporting call wait times and other metrics​

The changes are the latest sign of the agency’s struggle with website crashes, overloaded servers and long lines at field offices amid Trump cutbacks.


“… The agency removed a menu of live phone and claims data from its website earlier this month, according to Internet Archive records. It put up a new page this week that offers a far more limited view of the agency’s customer service performance.

The website also now urges customers to use an online portal for services rather than calling the main phone line or visiting a field office — two options that many disabled and elderly people with limited mobility or computer skills rely on for help. The agency had previously considered cutting phone services and then scrapped those plans amid an uproar.…”
 
nycfan said:

Social Security stops reporting call wait times and other metrics​

The changes are the latest sign of the agency’s struggle with website crashes, overloaded servers and long lines at field offices amid Trump cutbacks.


“… The agency removed a menu of live phone and claims data from its website earlier this month, according to Internet Archive records. It put up a new page this week that offers a far more limited view of the agency’s customer service performance.

The website also now urges customers to use an online portal for services rather than calling the main phone line or visiting a field office — two options that many disabled and elderly people with limited mobility or computer skills rely on for help. The agency had previously considered cutting phone services and then scrapped those plans amid an uproar.…”
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As someone with an 80-year-old mom who I have to help with a lot of stuff, lot of contact with her 81-year-old sister and 77-year-old brother, as well as my two 80-year-old in-laws, I can tell you that only one of them (my FIL) can navigate online portals and websites. I know it must be impossible to believe for younger folks but a lot of our elderly folks simply cannot understand or navigate the online world. Believe me, it frustrates the hell out of me, but it is not just boomer stubbornness.
 
1moretimeagain said:
For nations opposed to funneling $hundreds of millions to Trump, this strategy presents a less expensive alternative.

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To be fair, that's a shrewd move by Pakistan and I don't blame them for trying. Every government around the globe knows that Trump craves flattery and respectability and constant stroking of his monstrous ego, so very publicly nominating him for an award like the Nobel will no doubt get them plaudits from Dear Leader.
 
nycfan said:
As someone with an 80-year-old mom who I have to help with a lot of stuff, lot of contact with her 81-year-old sister and 77-year-old brother, as well as my two 80-year-old in-laws, I can tell you that only one of them (my FIL) can navigate online portals and websites. I know it must be impossible to believe for younger folks but a lot of our elderly folks simply cannot understand or navigate the online world. Believe me, it frustrates the hell out of me, but it is not just boomer stubbornness.
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One of the many, many, many flat-out stupid things that Elon and DOGE did during their reign of terror and willy-nilly budget and personnel cuts done mostly by college-age tech bros with no government experience whatsoever, was trying to move the Social Security Administration to an entirely online presence. Most of Social Security's current elderly target base isn't all that internet-capable or even competent, and they're still old-school and prefer to call. I certainly could understand having Social Security slowly but steadily transition to a more online presence as people currently in their 50s and 60s move into retirement and start drawing Social Security, but doing a sudden switch right now doesn't make much sense.
 
nycfan said:
As someone with an 80-year-old mom who I have to help with a lot of stuff, lot of contact with her 81-year-old sister and 77-year-old brother, as well as my two 80-year-old in-laws, I can tell you that only one of them (my FIL) can navigate online portals and websites. I know it must be impossible to believe for younger folks but a lot of our elderly folks simply cannot understand or navigate the online world. Believe me, it frustrates the hell out of me, but it is not just boomer stubbornness.
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Heart goes out. It’s not easy.
 
nycfan said:
As someone with an 80-year-old mom who I have to help with a lot of stuff, lot of contact with her 81-year-old sister and 77-year-old brother, as well as my two 80-year-old in-laws, I can tell you that only one of them (my FIL) can navigate online portals and websites. I know it must be impossible to believe for younger folks but a lot of our elderly folks simply cannot understand or navigate the online world. Believe me, it frustrates the hell out of me, but it is not just boomer stubbornness.
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Reminds me of trying to give my 80-year old father step by step instructions over the phone how to access ESPN plus. Ronnie Chieng describes it well:

 

Senate Weighs Effectively Killing Rule That Drove Rise of Fuel-Efficient Cars​

Automakers split over measure to eliminate fines for failing to meet mileage standards that helped launch fuel-efficient mainstays like Toyota’s Prius​


🎁 —> https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/...b?st=4gMA5D&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

“… Republican senators are proposing a change to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, rules as part of President Trump’s wide-ranging tax and spending bill. If enacted, the proposal would eliminate fines for violating CAFE, all but nullifying rules that for generations have pushed automakers to churn out ever cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

That technology has saved two trillion gallons of gasoline over the past 50 years, according to the journal Energy Policy.

… Trump came to office promising to cut regulations across the government, leading to the most significant unwinding of automotive clean-air and fuel-economy regulations in decades. Congress last month struck down the nation’s most aggressive emissions rules, and the Environmental Protection Agency has said it aims to loosen restrictions on automobile greenhouse-gas emissions.

Some carmakers have already signaled they are preparing to step up production of gas-powered cars. GM said last month it would invest $888 million to repurpose an electric vehicle plant to make V-8 engines. Stellantis also said it is bringing back the HEMI V-8 in the 2026 Ram 1500 pickup. …”
 
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