I live in an area elsewhere with essentially zero crime, 24x7 security, cameras, and a well-lit parking garage. Someone stole the catalectic converter off my 2008 Prius last week, a part whose street value is only worth ~$100 and that requires equipment and professional-level skill to steal, likely by someone whose day job generates $70-90/hr.

Gotta be pretty damn desperate to risk a felony for a little over an hour's wages, especially when that theft requires actual work.

It's one cut and two bolts, less than five minutes. Mine was taken at 11am. This video isn't mine but shows the time and skill required; https://video.nest.com/clip/a6f2fb329b1e4cfb9a51f5436c74bfa7...

Source; fellow 08 Prius owner.

I thought it required a hacksaw and a bad drug habit. Impressive they got under a Prius, usually they go for small SUVs for the high clearance.

battery advances have turned the tide. I can get a good 5 minutes of high-torque operation on a battery-powered grinder - plenty of time to cut the exhaust and hanging bolts.

Giving individuals money is a top Democratic political point but they don't have the negotiating power to make the GOP budge. Democrats would absolutely love to give a $1200 check to every individual, as that would help cities greatly.

Socialist is a toxic insult in the GOP party, and it's how they painted the Democrats in Florida, as well as AOC and Bernie.

> they don't have the negotiating power to make the GOP budge.

A reminder that Nancy Pelosi turned down a $1 trillion+ stimulus offer from the White House.

Trump makes $1.8 trillion economic relief offer, but deal with Pelosi remains elusive (Oct 09 2020)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/10/09/trump-ec...

Nancy Pelosi blasts the White House's $1.6 trillion stimulus plan, saying it's not even 'half a loaf' (Oct 01 2020)

https://www.businessinsider.com/nancy-pelosi-blasts-white-ho...

She had to because it was extremely bad, based on an evaluation from the Chairs of the Committees of Jurisdiction. You can read their top-line comments (presented with links to more in-depth analysis) here[1].

[1] https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/101320

Nothing in that link seems to indicate it was “extremely bad”. Just seems like your typical not enough pork/special interest support red team versus blue team nonsense.

OSHA regulations and “census worker relief” need to be tied into this specific funding bill? Really?

My anti-socialist Aunt and Uncle live on social security a pension from his municipal job and complain about their medicare copays when they cost more than $4. They also purposely don't recycle because of "O'Bummer." I tried to explain to them that recycling existed before Obama but it fell on deaf ears. My aunt literally dumped a giant bag of empty bottles into the garbage can and gave a little gleeful laugh saying, "Haha, OBAMA!" as the cans clattered down.

Meanwhile they have grandkids so I don't really understand why they wouldn't support environmental policies. They're basically brainwashed by Fox News and Rush Limbaugh's talk radio show.