Israel Considers Giving Bloggers Journalist Credentials

Blogosphere • Views: 5,570

Here’s some unexpected praise that made my morning, in a Jerusalem Post article on an Israeli proposal to give some bloggers journalist credentials.

The Government Press Office (GPO) is considering granting leading bloggers press credentials equal to those of journalists and reporters.

Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to the prime minister, took the opportunity to formally recognize the work bloggers do in defending Israel and uncovering fraudulent claims against the Jewish state at the International Jewish Bloggers Convention last week.

Lauding the work of bloggers in defending Israel, Dermer claimed that “The blogger [Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs] who revealed Reuters’ doctoring of images during the Second Lebanon War did as much as any Israeli intelligence officer did.”

Other bloggers noted in this article:
The Muqata
Augean Stables

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501 comments
1 Cathypop  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:57:23am

Congratulations Charles

2 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:57:34am

I hear sounds of heads exploding at lgf2

3 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:57:38am

Congratulations, Charles.

4 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:58:14am
Dermer claimed that “The blogger [Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs] who revealed Reuters’ doctoring of images during the Second Lebanon War did as much as any Israeli intelligence officer did.”

I would get that quote laminated and hung on the wall.

Bravo...bravo.

5 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:58:35am

Better be careful, Charles, or pretty soon, you WILL be getting Zionist checks in the mail.

In all seriousness, though, congratulations. What an honor.

6 Danny  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:58:36am

Very cool. Congrats Charles.

7 Dynomite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:58:45am

re: #2 Kosh's Shadow

I hear sounds of heads exploding at lgf2

Those aren't heads. I think another one of those "FBI plants" actually set a real one off over there. :O

8 Cygnus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:59:29am

This will give the trolls out there a collective aneurysm.

9 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:59:34am

Congratulations!

10 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:59:38am

Nice.

11 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 10:59:40am

Congrats, Charles. You've earned it.

12 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:00:07am

Nice work, boss. Glad to see your efforts are appreciated.

13 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:00:20am

Well, Netanyahu's senior adviser may think I'm OK, but right wing bloggers really, really hate me. As much as they hate Pat Buchanan.

[Link: rightwingnews.com...]

14 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:01:02am

That sounds fun. Maybe we can beg for the same thing here in Houston.

Granted, there's the issue of giving trolls press access.

15 Gus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:01:21am

Congratulations Charles. That's quite an endorsement.

16 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:01:31am

An affirmation well deserved, Charles!

17 Semper Fi  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:01:46am

Charles,
You certainly have earned the recognition.
Thanks for being there...

18 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:01:52am

re: #13 Charles

Well, Netanyahu's senior adviser may think I'm OK, but right wing bloggers really, really hate me. As much as they hate Pat Buchanan.

[Link: rightwingnews.com...]

You're only ranked sixth? Your not trying...
///

19 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:02:24am

See Charles, I told you, the Tribe has your back!

20 Bagua  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:03:28am

re: #9 NJDhockeyfan

Congratulations!

Best news in a long time, Israel is starting to recognize the importance of the Media war.

Great respect and admiration to you Charles!

21 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:03:29am

re: #13 Charles


10) Ron Paul (14)
9) Michael Savage (15)
6) Pat Buchanan (16)
6) Charles Johnson (16)


Heh.

22 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:03:35am

If the Government Press Office does grant press credentials, let's hope they are very selective. The honor will only be as good as the people holding the credentials. Charles would be an excellent start.

23 Cygnus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:03:49am

re: #18 Walter L. Newton

You're only ranked sixth? Your not trying...
///

And you're tied for 6th with two others! Hmmm...6...6...6...OH NO!!! :)

24 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:03:59am

re: #18 Walter L. Newton

You're only ranked sixth? Your not trying...
///

For shame, Charles! You're not cynical enough!

25 fat.elvis  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:04:03am

Well-deserved! Congrats.

26 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:04:33am

Congratulations Charles.

High praise from people who have to make cool and rational decisions about the security of Israel.

27 Baier  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:04:33am

WTG Charles!

28 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:05:51am

Crazy Census Conspiracies: Vote For The Most Insane

Bachmann, Alex Jones, Michelle Malkin, etc.

29 Summer Seale  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:06:10am

Congratulations! =)

30 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:06:15am

Look at that photo of Victor Davis Hanson at the top of the page. I think he's smiling a little more.

31 Danny  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:06:55am

re: #13 Charles

So the least disliked (i.e., most liked) are Pat Robertson (4), Mitt Romney (4), and Michael Smerconish (4).

I don't think I'd worry about not being liked by these folks.

32 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:07:13am

re: #28 Killgore Trout

Crazy Census Conspiracies: Vote For The Most Insane

Bachmann, Alex Jones, Michelle Malkin, etc.

My vote goes to Alex Jones, followed by Alex Jones and Alex Jones.

33 averagecdn  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:07:15am

Sweet!

34 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:07:26am

Congrats to Charles for the well deserved recognition.

Cant wait to read how the nutters at both ends of the political spectrum react.

35 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:08:14am

re: #13 Charles

Well, Netanyahu's senior adviser may think I'm OK, but right wing bloggers really, really hate me. As much as they hate Pat Buchanan.

[Link: rightwingnews.com...]


Fuggedaboutit.
They're known by the company they creep.

/fuggedabout PIMF too

36 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:08:17am

re: #13 Charles

Well, Netanyahu's senior adviser may think I'm OK, but right wing bloggers really, really hate me. As much as they hate Pat Buchanan.

[Link: rightwingnews.com...]

That list says more about what they consider "right of center" than it does about anything else.

Pat Robertson only rated 4 with an honorable mention. So SoCons see themselves as being just right of center.

Amazing.

37 davinvalkri  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:08:26am

Can we call you an "internationally respected news analyst" now, Charles? Congrats!

38 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:08:27am

re: #32 fenrisdesigns

It would be nice if Alex Jones was the only nut on that list.

39 Spider Mensch  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:08:37am

Kudos. LGF has always been on the side of Israel. I first found LGF by it's mention on a Israeli news website.

40 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:09:15am

Beats a Zionist check any week.

41 Steve White  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:09:31am

Great quote and well deserved.

Another benefit: by having governments recognize that bloggers cover news, it helps break down the wall between 'old' and 'new' media. That's very important in an age when old media might be willing to sacrifice your (not theirs) constitutional rights in order to preserve their profits.

42 Land Shark  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:09:39am

Well, it's about time Charles / LGF gets some props for his consistent defense of Israel. Can you hear the sound of heads exploding at blogs that spewed that utter bullshit of what a Jooo hating bastard Charles is? I can.

BOOOM! There goes another one.

Congrats, Charles, you earned it.

43 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:09:48am

Everyday, I'm more and more amazed by the number of "influential" right wing bloggers I've never even heard of before.

44 MandyManners  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:10:32am

Mr. Prime Minister, I have Charles Johnson on the line. I'll put him right through.

CONGRATULATIONS, CHARLES!

45 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:10:42am

I have to wonder how many MSM guru's heads asploded over this announcement, actually. There will be screaming and frothing and brain spatter on the windows at CNN headquarters tonight.

46 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:12am

re: #13 Charles

Given those who responded, I'm not all that surprised. You really touched a nerve with the idea that everyone may be entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts and calling those out for their associations with racists, kooks, and urging a more honest evaluation of why associating with racists was ever acceptable to anyone, let alone the right wingers that you previously considered friends.

47 medaura18586  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:22am

Congrats Charles! That's just great!

48 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:29am

Taxes on Zionist Checks is one of the ways Obama is planning to pay for the new healthcare plan.

49 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:36am

re: #31 Danny

So the least disliked (i.e., most liked) are Pat Robertson (4), Mitt Romney (4), and Michael Smerconish (4).

I don't think I'd worry about not being liked by these folks.

I know. Pat Robertson! Good freaking grief. The right wing blogosphere has gone completely off the rails, if they hate me as much as they hate Pat "Hitler wasn't so bad" Buchanan.

50 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:42am

/so when is the Zionist paycheck coming through?

51 harrygirl  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:11:59am

that is wonderful Charles; great work (and nice to be acknowledged for it)

52 Cygnus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:02am

re: #45 thedopefishlives

I have to wonder how many MSM guru's heads asploded over this announcement, actually. There will be screaming and frothing and brain spatter on the windows at CNN headquarters tonight.

Teeny tiny brains splattering.

53 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:19am

re: #50 lawhawk

/so when is the Zionist paycheck coming through?

I have it on good authority that the check is in the mail.

54 turn  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:39am

re: #45 thedopefishlives

I have to wonder how many MSM guru's heads asploded over this announcement, actually. There will be screaming and frothing and brain spatter on the windows at CNN headquarters tonight.

Somebody should send this link to Dan Rather. hehehe

55 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:47am

He'll get up!

We'll all get up!

It'll be anarchy!

56 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:47am

As a Zionist Lord of Remulak, I wish to point out that agent Johnson, has received high honors.

He has all the bagels he can want, and if he desires to date attractive members of the IDF, they will not shoot at him.

On a more serious note. Perhaps the most important aspect of the media war, which Israel has done so terribly at, is the need to not be associated with the most crazy and despicable aspects of the far right. If Israel allows the far right to claim them as a partisan issue, then all support of Israel automatically gets linked to all manner of other odious crap in the public mind.

So I thank Charles for being someone with legitimate credibility who is supporting Israel - G-d knows there are plenty who still want to kill us - but for rejecting the other sickening elements of the slide that the far right has taken into madness.

It allows Israel to have an honest and well seen voice of support that will not be instantly dismissed as horrible.

I really do thank you for that.

On the American front, for many of the same reasons, what you do is even more important. The only way that the slide into madness gets stopped is by not going along with the madness. I honestly believe that this site is the most important political site on the right. By most important, I mean the one with the best chance of making a positive change for the better.

I really do love being here.

57 S'latch  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:55am

re: #13 Charles

You are right next to Pat Buchanan on that list. Ron Paul is only slightly more disliked than you. (Right wing bloggers dislike many people.)

58 Colin Nelson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:12:55am

Charles:

Bravo Zulu

- for meritorious service

59 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:13:31am

re: #51 harrygirl

that is wonderful Charles; great work (and nice to be acknowledged for it)

Welcome to LGF.

/Gotta a razor if you need one...haha..couldn't resist...

60 Condor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:13:39am

#44:
Mr. Prime Minister, I have Charles Johnson on the line. I'll put him right through.

re-edited:
Mr. Prime Minister, I have Charles Johnson on the screen. I'll pull him right up.

Congrats!

61 Bagua  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:13:47am

Also to be recognised is Richard North of EU Referendum for his exhaustive work in exposing the Qana fraud and Green Helmet.

The Corruption of the Media

62 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:20am

re: #45 thedopefishlives

I have to wonder how many MSM guru's heads asploded over this announcement, actually. There will be screaming and frothing and brain spatter on the windows at CNN headquarters tonight.

Or worse, at the BBC and Reuters, since Charles found problems with their "reporting".

63 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:24am

Hated by right wing bloggers, loved by Israel.

Sounds like success!

64 rsquare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:27am

Nice Charles.
As a long time reader/registered user, I say you deserve the kudos.

MSM: pwned

cheers,
rsquare

65 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:29am

re: #46 lawhawk

Indeed, some of those I don't even recognize, the ones I do are fully in the shrieking nuthouse column or the firm SoCon column.

66 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:36am

re: #50 lawhawk

/so when is the Zionist paycheck coming through?

Your check will come when you fulfill your probe quota. Silly humans...

67 Neutral President  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:59am

re: #55 Ben Hur

He'll get up!

We'll all get up!

It'll be anarchy!

You just bought yourself another Saturday Mister!

68 sffilk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:14:59am

May you always tell the truth about Israel.

And let us all say, "Amen."

69 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:15:08am

You realize of course, this will all be another example of the Jewish control of the media. /

70 M. Dubious  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:15:17am

Just remembered why I love LGF.

71 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:15:20am

re: #51 harrygirl

Welcome

72 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:18am

I'm late to the party, but WTG Charles.

73 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:27am

re: #69 HelloDare

You realize of course, this will all be another example of the Jewish control of the media. /

To prove my point, the first up ding was Ben Hur.

74 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:29am

re: #66 LudwigVanQuixote

Your check will come when you fulfill your probe quota. Silly humans...

Let us discuss this further in the chipping room. Bring your 9-volt batteries. [Link: screwloosechange.blogspot.com...]

75 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:30am

re: #56 LudwigVanQuixote

Better watch out or the stalkers will call you Charles' "house Jew".
Oh, they already did.

How come they never recognize me?

76 MilkOfMalfeasance  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:31am

Nice Charles. Keep up the good work.

77 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:16:32am

re: #66 LudwigVanQuixote

Kodos, is that you?

78 DeathtotheSwiss  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:19:32am

Way to go.

79 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:19:39am

Congrats on the recognition of your excellence in journalistic endeavors Charles, well deserved.

80 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:19:44am

Charles, is it true that Zionist Checks already have taxes taken out the way the IRS takes money off the top when people hit it big in Las Vegas?

81 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:21:20am

re: #80 HelloDare

Charles, is it true that Zionist Checks already have taxes taken out the way the IRS takes money off the top when people hit it big in Las Vegas?

We're Zionists, you dolt. We don't pay no STINKIN' taxes.

82 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:21:49am

Another journalistic coup for Charles. Mazel tov!

83 Buck  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:22:03am

Charles, you are a hero to me. Congrats.

84 King of the Douche, now you may bow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:23:00am

Big f'ing Atta Boy,Charles!!!

85 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:23:10am
86 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:23:30am

re: #80 HelloDare

Charles, is it true that Zionist Checks already have taxes taken out the way the IRS takes money off the top when people hit it big in Las Vegas?

No no no you see, the 8.25% taken out of Zionist checks goes back to the Federal Reserve, so after Bernanke powders and snorts a portion of it while bathing in molten coinage, it goes straight back to Israel, to fund the flu-fighting rabbis' flyovers.

87 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:23:45am

re: #81 thedopefishlives

We're Zionists, you dolt. We don't pay no STINKIN' taxes.

Doesn't it feel great to have thrown off those shekels?

88 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:24:00am

re: #85 Ben Hur

Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot.

Is that not creepy or what.

I mean...there have to be strings holding him up somewhere...

89 Land Shark  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:24:21am

re: #80 HelloDare

Charles, is it true that Zionist Checks already have taxes taken out the way the IRS takes money off the top when people hit it big in Las Vegas?

Of course they do! The Vast Zionist Conspiracy That Rules The World Behind The Scenes Even Though There is No F'n Evidence of Such A Thing (tm) has many on-going projects like (insert your favorite examples of slander about the Jews here) and they all need to be funded.

90 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:25:04am

re: #75 Kosh's Shadow

Better watch out or the stalkers will call you Charles' "house Jew".
Oh, they already did.

How come they never recognize me?

Yeah, well, Actually being a Dark Lord of Remulak has it's privileges.

re: #77 lawhawk

Kodos, is that you?

Mebst! It is because of your lack of attention to details like this that you only get the occasional bagel chip as opposed to a proper bagel!

Quick review...

Intergalactic Zionism was founded to spread Zionism throughout the Galaxy. Our short term goals are:

1. Conquer your world through back door means so that you love us when we finally take over.

2. Use various governmental institutions and fluoridation of water to spread mind control waves, so that you love us even more when we take over... the probes determine how fluoridated humans are...

3. Take your most beautiful women as our own.

4. Make your planet a beautiful place like Miami, so our Elders have a nice new place to retire.

5. Wrap it up it's Kedem time.

OK?

91 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:25:07am

re: #88 Oh no...Sand People!

Is that not creepy or what.

I mean...there have to be strings holding him up somewhere...

I don't see anything creepy there, sorry.

92 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:25:14am

re: #86 fenrisdesigns

flu-fighting rabbis' flyovers.

Foo Fighters? What?

93 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:25:21am

re: #88 Oh no...Sand People!

Is that not creepy or what.

I mean...there have to be strings holding him up somewhere...

He made a cardboard cutout so he could go out and fight crime.

94 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:25:58am

re: #85 Ben Hur

Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot.

His teleprompter said, "Don't move, smile."

95 Land Shark  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:07am

re: #85 Ben Hur

Oh man, that was funny as hell. Coke Zero all over my monitor, thanks Ben!

96 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:23am

re: #92 Leonidas Hoplite

[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

97 turn  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:25am

re: #85 Ben Hur

Unbelievable (and a bit spooky - unreal)

98 Neutral President  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:35am

re: #80 HelloDare

Charles, is it true that Zionist Checks already have taxes taken out the way the IRS takes money off the top when people hit it big in Las Vegas?

The MJ-12 Illuminati Bilderberger CFR Jooos in the Federal Reserve have that under control.

/Luap Nor

99 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:38am

re: #87 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Doesn't it feel great to have thrown off those shekels?

Most terrible pun EVER... I am impressed.

If you are epha in my area we can pun some more. You have talant. :)

100 beholden  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:26:47am

Shit, Charles. Why don't they just give you honorary Israeli Intelligence credentials. :)

101 davinvalkri  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:27:09am

re: #91 Charles

I don't see anything creepy there, sorry.

I think the "creepy" bit is how Obama's expression doesn't seem to change much at all from picture to picture, even though they obviously couldn't have been taken in the rapid-fire demonstrated. On the one hand, a guy in politics has probably learned to make a nice consistent smile to wow all his supporters with. On the other hand, I certainly couldn't reproduce a smile with that sort of accuracy even once.

102 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:27:31am

re: #91 Charles

I don't see anything creepy there, sorry.

Posted it just for fun.

I've seen those types of vids done on others.

103 davinvalkri  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:28:19am

re: #98 ArchangelMichael

The MJ-12 Illuminati Bilderberger CFR Jooos in the Federal Reserve have that under control.

/Luap Nor

Majestic 12? Am I looking at a Deus Ex fan?

104 doubter4444  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:28:31am

Congratulations.

105 Neutral President  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:28:36am

re: #100 beholden

Shit, Charles. Why don't they just give you honorary Israeli Intelligence credentials. :)

CJ is a MOSSAD AGENT!!!11!!

/kos

106 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:28:52am

re: #98 ArchangelMichael

Nope. Not seeing any fnords there.

107 Neutral President  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:28:59am

re: #103 davinvalkri

Majestic 12? Am I looking at a Deus Ex fan?

Yes sir.

108 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:14am

re: #99 LudwigVanQuixote

Most terrible pun EVER... I am impressed.

If you are epha in my area we can pun some more. You have talant. :)

Hmm
Should I Ba'al out of this topic, and give into my yen for another?

109 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:17am

re: #105 ArchangelMichael

CJ is a MOSSAD AGENT!!!11!!

/kos

Actually, there will probably be people that claim this just from the story alone. I mean, if Charles is as effective as an Israeli intelligence officer... HE MUST BE ONE! GASP!

110 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:23am

re: #91 Charles

I don't see anything creepy there, sorry.

Then that requires some serious coaching. I doubt I have a single photo in my mugshot collection that has the EXACT, and when I say exact I mean, as is portrayed in that 21 seconds, EXACT same smile.

But I guess when all you have is image, gotta play your strengths.

111 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:31am

re: #101 davinvalkri

I think the "creepy" bit is how Obama's expression doesn't seem to change much at all from picture to picture, even though they obviously couldn't have been taken in the rapid-fire demonstrated. On the one hand, a guy in politics has probably learned to make a nice consistent smile to wow all his supporters with. On the other hand, I certainly couldn't reproduce a smile with that sort of accuracy even once.

I just can't see anything odd or creepy about a politician with a practiced smile. Next we'll start getting creeped out because he shakes hands, or bows to the wrong people.

Oops.

112 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:33am

re: #101 davinvalkri

I think the "creepy" bit is how Obama's expression doesn't seem to change much at all from picture to picture, even though they obviously couldn't have been taken in the rapid-fire demonstrated. On the one hand, a guy in politics has probably learned to make a nice consistent smile to wow all his supporters with. On the other hand, I certainly couldn't reproduce a smile with that sort of accuracy even once.

To be fair, you'd have to compare it to other politicians in the same situation. But still, it's funny. Are we sure it's not a cardboard cutout?

113 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:29:35am

re: #102 Ben Hur

Posted it just for fun.

I've seen those types of vids done on others.

Ms Hilton.

114 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:30:42am

re: #100 beholden

Shit, Charles. Why don't they just give you honorary Israeli Intelligence credentials. :)

That'd probably make Charles Mossad than happy.

115 davinvalkri  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:30:50am

re: #111 Charles

I just can't see anything odd or creepy about a politician with a practiced smile. Next we'll start getting creeped out because he shakes hands, or bows to the wrong people.

Oops.

I kinda do see something creepy about practiced smiles, but then the Mona Lisa gives me a slight chill down my spine when I look too long, so I'm probably not the best judge of that.

116 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:31:30am

re: #91 Charles

I don't see anything creepy there, sorry.

There is nothing "strange" about that. Really, I', not sure how to explain it, but it's a "physical sense" that you develop if you are use to posing, being in front of the public, speaking, just as a musician knows where the notes are on an instrument, it becomes second sense to pose and smile the same way every time.

Stage actors do it every day, every performance. It would spook you to watch 7 performances of the same show, daily, and see the same eye inflections, the same look, the same gesture of a finger, day after day, show after show, in the very same spot every time.

I sit in a control booth watching this happen every week to live actors. It's part and parcel of "performing" for the public.

It's nothing strange at all.

117 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:31:30am

re: #111 Charles

I just can't see anything odd or creepy about a politician with a practiced smile. Next we'll start getting creeped out because he shakes hands, or bows to the wrong people.

Oops.

Don't bring Bush into this...oh wait!

118 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:31:40am

re: #113 Ben Hur

Ms Hilton.

SFW???

119 Dizzy  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:05am

Yasher Koach, Charles.

120 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:05am

re: #118 Leonidas Hoplite

SFW???

Yes.

121 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:28am

re: #108 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Hmm
Should I Ba'al out of this topic, and give into my yen for another?

I was Avodah that topic...

122 M. Dubious  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:36am

re: #114 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Took a while, then I finally got it. Nice.

123 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:39am

re: #75 Kosh's Shadow

Better watch out or the stalkers will call you Charles' "house Jew".
Oh, they already did.

How come they never recognize me?

Or me! I don't know. In the same way, Iceweasel is their main focus liberal, and Sharmuta is their main focus girl. I can't win. Am I too sweet and retiring or something?

124 johnnygriswold  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:41am

Congrats, Charles.

125 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:32:48am

re: #111 Charles

I just can't see anything odd or creepy about a politician with a practiced smile. Next we'll start getting creeped out because he shakes hands, or bows to the wrong people.

Oops.

Man, and you used to be the scourge of the left. Helps to diversify your portfolio, I suppose.

126 Colin Nelson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:33:02am

uuhhh - am I missing something - some big inside joke - or are some posts wanting me to believe that the author thinks that each of the Pres photos is really a separate photo of the Pres's mug?

127 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:02am

re: #85 Ben Hur

Ladies and gentlemen, your President is a robot.

Holy Carp! How does he do that?

128 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:12am

re: #120 Ben Hur

Yes.

Heh.

I like this one...

Stanley Cup

129 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:13am

re: #116 Walter L. Newton

I've had my pic taken with Bloomberg a few times at the Gov's pad - there usually is a super long line to get a pic with him, and you are shuffled next to him and the picture taken all in about 3 seconds, and the next is shuffled in just as fast.

He doesn't have time to move to much.

In all my pics he looks about the same.

Just shorter.

130 SanFranciscoZionist  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:21am

re: #108 pre-Boomer Marine brat

Hmm
Should I Ba'al out of this topic, and give into my yen for another?


Asherah that we can come to some understanding.

131 doubter4444  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:43am

re: #88 Oh no...Sand People!

Is that not creepy or what.

I mean...there have to be strings holding him up somewhere...

Pretty funny! I don't know about creepy, but man pressing the flesh... I knew an ex pol who said it took him years to figure the perfect handshake, that in his first campaign the pain in his hand was so great that after a couple of months or so he could hardly pick up a glass or water (or knowing him, and glass of scotch).

132 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:34:54am

re: #121 LudwigVanQuixote

I was Avodah that topic...

I Shin Bet you know a helluva lot more trivia about this than I do.

/flopping into the dirt with one of my poorer efforts ... :D

133 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:35:22am

re: #128 Leonidas Hoplite

Heh.

I like this one...

Stanley Cup

That was cool!

134 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:35:37am

re: #45 thedopefishlives

I have to wonder how many MSM guru's heads asploded over this announcement, actually. There will be screaming and frothing and brain spatter on the windows at CNN headquarters tonight.

Unfortunately, no one's going to take the calm, reasoned approach of going back to the era of fact-checking and rational reporting. Instead, they'll try to figure out how best to cash in on this latest development.

"OK, so Israel is gonna legitimize bloggers as journalists. What are we gonna do to hang onto our piece of the pie? Let's see - we know crazy works, thanks to Glenn Beck, and the crazier the better! So - who runs the craziest damn political blogs around? THAT'S who we need to emulate!

Somebody get Pam Geller on the phone right now!"

135 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:35:50am

It would be creepy if he named the look "Blue Steel."

136 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:36:16am

re: #133 Ben Hur

That was cool!

Glad you liked!

137 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:36:38am

re: #135 Ben Hur

It would be creepy if he named the look "Blue Steel."

...I bet it has a name... for some reason... I really do.

138 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:36:59am

re: #137 Oh no...Sand People!

...I bet it has a name... for some reason... I really do.

The Magnum.

139 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:07am

Congrats Charles!

140 Land Shark  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:12am

re: #115 davinvalkri

Actually, I didn't find the video creepy, just funny. I wouldn't be surprised if most politicians practice posing, smiling, waving, etc. to project whatever image or emotion they want to show at the moment.

141 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:17am

re: #135 Ben Hur

It would be creepy if he named the look "Blue Steel."

or "Magnum". Unless there was a gasoline fight involved, then it would just be friggin' hilarious.

142 bj  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:20am
Israel Considers Giving Bloggers Journalist Credentials

Ahem, it's about time somebody does. Mazel tov Israel, thanks Muqata for hanging in there with this issue.

And Charles, your creds will come with the thanks of many Israelis, Jews and just plain ol' folks who appreciate the support you've shown Israel especially during our roughest times.

143 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:36am

re: #138 fenrisdesigns

The Magnum.

We're talking about the pose!

144 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:40am

Bitchin'!

145 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:37:52am

re: #135 Ben Hur

It would be creepy if he named the look "Blue Steel."

He uses that name for a part of his anatomy.

146 Danny  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:38:04am

re: #135 Ben Hur

It would be creepy if he named the look "Blue Steel."

The music in that video is by a band called Black Lips.

147 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:38:36am

re: #146 Danny

The music in that video is by a band called Black Lips.

Which vid?

The Obama one or the Paris one?

148 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:38:40am

re: #145 HelloDare

He uses that name for a part of his anatomy.

Doesn't blue mean the circulation's cut off?

149 Danny  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:39:34am

re: #146 Danny

The music in that video is by a band called Black Lips.

Oh...the Obama one. Were you referring to the other one?

150 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:39:42am

re: #148 fenrisdesigns

Doesn't blue mean the circulation's cut off?

You'd have to ask him that.

151 Oh no...Sand People!  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:39:48am

Gotta step out of this thread...

Later all!

152 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:40:43am

G20 Protest: Dumpsters & Rocks vs. Sound Weapons & Tear Gas

153 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:41:01am

re: #150 HelloDare

You'd have to ask him that.

The one thing I would ask a president if I met him. That or if I could use his cool red telephone.

154 pre-Boomer Marine brat  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:41:19am

re: #122 harald

Took a while, then I finally got it. Nice.

Thank you.
The best puns are only noticed after the passage of time.

/steaming under the sun in the yard helps bring out the aroma too ... :D

155 Dr. Shalit  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:42:05am

Well Charles, you made the front page of the J'lem Post - Could the Cover of te Rolling Stone be next?

-S-

156 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:44:48am

Feathered fossils prove birds evolved from dinosaurs, say Chinese scientists


A new species of feathered dinosaurs provides hard evidence the prehistoric creatures evolved into birds, a group of Chinese scientists has claimed.

The team - lead by the man dubbed the 'real-life Indiana Jones' - say the fossils represent five different species from two different rock sequences in north-eastern China. All the species have feathers or feather-like structures.

The new finds are 'indisputably' older than archaeopteryx, the oldest known bird, which scientists claim provides exceptional evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs.


With pics.

157 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:46:22am
158 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:46:49am

G-20 arrest was by police force, not military.

The individuals involved in the 9/24/2009 arrest which has appeared online are law enforcement officers from a multi-agency tactical response team assigned to the security operations for the G20.

It is not unusual for tactical team members to wear camouflaged fatigues. The type of fatigues the officers wear designates their unit affiliation. Prior to the arrest, the officers observed this subject vandalizing a local business. Due to the hostile nature of the crowd, officer safety and the safety of the person under arrest, the subject was immediately removed from the area.

159 Big Steve  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:47:07am

re: #111 Charles

I just can't see anything odd or creepy about a politician with a practiced smile. Next we'll start getting creeped out because he shakes hands, or bows to the wrong people.

Oops.

Come on folks...Reagan had an incredible practiced smile as well that he could turn on in a millisecond.

160 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:47:16am

re: #152 Killgore Trout

G20 Protest: Dumpsters & Rocks vs. Sound Weapons & Tear Gas

In other words, a typical G20 conference complete with protest.

161 MrSilverDragon  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:47:47am

re: #156 Killgore Trout

Feathered fossils prove birds evolved from dinosaurs, say Chinese scientists

With pics.

They've only just figured it out? I've known since 1993, when Jurrasic Park the Movie came out!

/feelin' snarktastic today

162 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:47:58am

re: #123 SanFranciscoZionist

Or me! I don't know. In the same way, Iceweasel is their main focus liberal, and Sharmuta is their main focus girl. I can't win. Am I too sweet and retiring or something?

I think you need more schtick...

Sharm is a girl... So they already have a woman they can bash, just for daring to be a woman that would not follow their crazy. Sharm also has been here since ever and she always has CJ's back. That's the angle on her.

Ice too is a girl, but in addition to being one, she pisses them off by out debating them - and rubbing their noses in the fact that they are not as smart as she is, and, she is a liberal.

So smart women who disagree with them they can not handle.

You are a smart woman who disagrees with them, but you haven't been here as long as Sharm, and you don't kick their little misogynistic nuts as hard as Ice.

Honestly, they started noticing me because of AGW and what I wrote about ID before. I do seriously write angry philippics about the new right in all sorts of ways that will make their little pea-brains explode, but lots of people do that. They really hate the fact that keep bringing science and debunking their crap with actual physics. Remember, all good GOP (as they see it) know that AGW is a communist fraud, and that Darwinism leads to masturbation, blindness and Nazism.

So, you need to carve out a niche... You do really well in debunking historical revisionism... Then you can be yet another smart woman who knows more than they do - AND- further strip away their talking points.

They will hate you for that enough then that you too will have your sex life speculated on, and insults made to your heritage.

163 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:48:00am

Israel restrained but determined

Disputed remarks

Mr Netanyahu gave a long list of his own relatives murdered in the gas chambers.

Mr Netanyahu and indeed most Israelis think a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten their very existence.

Time and again, they refer to the Iranian president's remarks about "wiping Israel off the map".

Those remarks - what was actually said and the interpretation to place on it - are disputed, but their meaning has always seemed very clear to Israelis.

Effen BBC

164 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:48:16am

I've got a facebook photo album of me and a coworker driving around southeast Utah. I could have called it "Me standing in front of stuff and smiling". I look identical in nearly every photo. Same smile. Same distance from the camera. It's pretty funny.

165 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:48:35am

re: #164 bosforus

And unintentionally so.

166 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:48:45am

re: #156 Killgore Trout

On that note, I posted this on an earlier thread and still think this is the coolest thing I've seen today...

Tracing the Origins of Human Empathy

A pioneer in primate studies, Frans de Waal sees our better side in chimps, especially our capacity for empathy. In his research, Dr. de Waal has gathered ample evidence that our ability to identify with another's distress -- a catalyst for compassion and charity -- has deep roots in the origin of our species. It is a view independently reinforced by recent biomedical studies showing that our brains are built to feel another's pain.

Like tuning forks, we reflexively respond to others' moods. We can weep at the plight of people we have never met or, spellbound by fiction, become caught up in the lives of people who never existed. Indeed, we may be hard-wired for empathy, University of Chicago researchers who studied children's neural responses to others reported last year. "It starts on day one, when a baby cries because it hears another baby cry," says Dr. de Waal.

In his new book -- "The Age of Empathy" -- Dr. de Waal, director of Living Links Center at Emory University's Yerkes National Primate Research Center in Atlanta, traces the origins of our ability to put ourselves in another's place. Drawing on his experiments and studies by other animal behaviorists, he highlights how chimpanzees and other primates console each other, prefer to share, and nurse the injured. There are no fossils of feelings, but as our closest living relatives, Dr. de Waal believes these primates are reminders of empathy's antiquity.

RTWT

167 Diamond Bullet  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:48:56am
Lauding the work of bloggers in defending Israel, Dermer claimed that “The blogger [Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs] who revealed Reuters’ doctoring of images during the Second Lebanon War did as much as any Israeli intelligence officer did.”

I'll drink to that!

168 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:49:41am

Well the good news from Israel just keeps rolling in. Looks like the IAF had a Erev Shabbos car-b-que: IAF kills three terrorists in northern Gaza Strip air strike

B/t/w Mazal Tov Charles

169 Fenris  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:49:51am

re: #156 Killgore Trout

Their "explore more" section links to Harrison Ford.

170 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:49:55am

re: #130 SanFranciscoZionist

Asherah that we can come to some understanding.

That was good.

171 Rexatosis  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:50:24am

LGF gets creds! now when does the Israeli gov't pull the creds of that Hamas propoganda mouthpiece Reuters?

Just askin'

172 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:50:50am

re: #158 HelloDare

Thanks for posting that.

173 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:51:37am
Iran Reveals Existence of Second Uranium Enrichment Plant

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 25 -- President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain blasted Iran's construction of a previously unacknowledged uranium enrichment facility and demanded Friday that Tehran immediately fulfill its obligations under international law or risk the imposition of harsh new sanctions.

"Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follow," Obama said, detailing how the facility near Qom had been under construction for years without being disclosed, as required, to the International Atomic Energy Agency. "International law is not an empty promise."

Yes, it really is. When the U.N. treats bulding Nuke plants the same as spitting on the sidewalk, then yes it is an empty promise.

174 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:51:50am
175 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:52:16am

re: #166 Leonidas Hoplite

There are no fossils of feelings


Heh. Cool article.

176 DeathtotheSwiss  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:53:42am
177 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:53:53am

SO I wonder if the current "detractors" of LGF will still vie for press credentials even though the eeevil Charles Johnson was instrumental in Israels decision?

178 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:54:55am

re: #162 LudwigVanQuixote

Steve asked you about this book the other day and you said you would get back to us...

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

179 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:55:50am

The right wing blogs a crowing over the violent g20 protests today and calling out the lefties. The big difference of course is that lefty networks and pundits didn't promote these protests. Democrat politicians are not endorsing them or speaking to the crowds. These are fringe leftists and are pretty marginalized from the mainstream.

180 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:55:53am

re: #173 Racer X

Yes, it really is. When the U.N. treats bulding Nuke plants the same as spitting on the sidewalk, then yes it is an empty promise.

Hi Racer! Heh, I was just reading an article on Fox about this very subject. Here are some "Dinnerjacket You're Busted!" snippets:

It's not a secret site," Ahmadinejad said at a news conference in New York. "If it was, why would we have informed the IAEA about it a year ahead of time. "They will regret this announcement."

Well, gee, you may have a point you little squirt. Oh wait...

Iran revealed the existence of its covert uranium enrichment facility to the IAEA this week after it discovered the project's secrecy had been breached by Western intelligence agencies.

What a piece of...

181 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:56:10am

re: #178 Walter L. Newton

I found Cool It by the same author an intersting read

182 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:56:35am

re: #156 Killgore Trout

Ever since I've learned about dinosaurs I've known about transitional fossils. Archaeopteryx was in every dinosaur book I've ever owned.

183 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:56:41am

re: #172 Killgore Trout

Thanks for posting that.

It's in the spinoffs.

184 Fat Bastard Vegetarian  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:57:32am

Chaaarles! Woo hoo!

185 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:58:09am

re: #156 Killgore Trout

Feathered fossils prove birds evolved from dinosaurs, say Chinese scientists


With pics.

I had a two dinosaur eggs sunny side up for breakfast this morning.

187 BARACK THE VOTE  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 11:58:54am

re: #162 LudwigVanQuixote


Ice too is a girl, but in addition to being one, she pisses them off by out debating them - and rubbing their noses in the fact that they are not as smart as she is, and, she is a liberal.

So smart women who disagree with them they can not handle.
(snip)

you don't kick their little misogynistic nuts as hard as Ice.

Oh come now. There are plenty of people right here who hate me for the exact same reasons.

190 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:00:23pm

re: #186 Walter L. Newton

How do you get blood out of turnip?

191 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:00:24pm

re: #185 HelloDare

I had a two dinosaur eggs sunny side up for breakfast this morning.

Cool. I had Huevos Rancherosaurs.

192 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:01:09pm

re: #189 NJDhockeyfan

Change!

*drinks*

193 Cato the Elder  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:01:22pm

You you rock? Yes, you rock!

"[...] did as much as any Israeli intelligence officer did."

Like I said. You rock.

194 MrSilverDragon  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:01:45pm

re: #190 Mich-again

How do you get blood out of turnip?

First you take a food injector and fill it with blood. Then you inject the turnip. Then, squeeze the turnip and voila, blood out of a turnip.

/I know, it's just the mood I'm in today.

195 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:01:57pm

re: #190 Mich-again

How do you get blood out of turnip?

Image: Juicer_Manual_BL30_001.jpg

196 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:03:30pm

Off topic, but did anybody see that islamic prayer session that was planned in D.C.? Evidently it was supposed to be a gathering of "patriotic muslims" gathering for a simple prayer session.

They were expecting 50,000 but only a few hundred showed up. Color me surprised butt booky ass naked, holding nothing but an ice cold Newcastle brown laughing hysterically.

197 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:04:02pm

And for the record I'd look sexy as all get out like that.

198 The Sanity Inspector  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:05:53pm

OT: Good Victor Davis Hanson review of a book about the siege of Vienna is here, at First Things magazine's website.

199 Cato the Elder  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:05:55pm

re: #196 Equable

Off topic, but did anybody see that islamic prayer session that was planned in D.C.? Evidently it was supposed to be a gathering of "patriotic muslims" gathering for a simple prayer session.

They were expecting 50,000 but only a few hundred showed up. Color me surprised butt booky ass naked, holding nothing but an ice cold Newcastle brown laughing hysterically.

Did Pam and Bobby show up to disrupt it, like they boasted they would do?

200 vxbush  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:05:55pm

re: #116 Walter L. Newton

So you're telling me the President is a professional actor.

Which is synonymous with politician, of course.

/super

201 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:06:28pm

re: #196 Equable

Robert Spencer infiltrated the gathering and Crazy Pam posted the pics. They showed up, did their thing and went home.

202 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:06:42pm

re: #126 Colin Nelson

uuhhh - am I missing something - some big inside joke - or are some posts wanting me to believe that the author thinks that each of the Pres photos is really a separate photo of the Pres's mug?

It's a silly joke. The photo is the same.

203 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:06:54pm

re: #200 vxbush

So you're telling me the President is a professional actor.

Which is synonymous with politician, of course.

/super

I'm telling you we are all actors, and all of life is a stage... barf.

204 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:07:15pm

re: #199 Cato the Elder

Good afternoon Cato.

I didn't see/hear anything else but a small blurb on Fox News this morning.

For my part, if I didn't respect the right to worship I'd streak it holding hothing but an ice cold Newcastle Brown, laughing hysterically.

205 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:07:23pm

re: #196 Equable

Off topic, but did anybody see that islamic prayer session that was planned in D.C.? Evidently it was supposed to be a gathering of "patriotic muslims" gathering for a simple prayer session.

They were expecting 50,000 but only a few hundred showed up. Color me surprised butt booky ass naked, holding nothing but an ice cold Newcastle brown laughing hysterically.

Given that several blogs were actively flogging their readership into full hate and violence mode for the last few weeks over this gathering, I'm not surprised turnout was low. There was a very high risk of something very bad happening.

Which says way, way more than I want to hear about the state of the US these days.

206 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:07:27pm

OT: any sci-fi fans out there read Spin by Robert Charles WIlson?

207 Colin Nelson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:07:34pm

re: #202 debutaunt

thx

208 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:07:35pm

re: #179 Killgore Trout

The right wing blogs a crowing over the violent g20 protests today and calling out the lefties. The big difference of course is that lefty networks and pundits didn't promote these protests. Democrat politicians are not endorsing them or speaking to the crowds. These are fringe leftists and are pretty marginalized from the mainstream.

That's an excellent point KT: ok if I quote you on my blog post regarding the same? I might as well make some friends now that I have some time to pay attention again.

209 truth stick  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:08:26pm

Good goin, if the people on both sides really don't like you, then you are onto something then.

210 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:08:30pm

re: #201 Killgore Trout

Is that right? I'll have to go have a look.

This is disconcerting, as both of them have been hollering:

"Where are all of the patriotic American muslims standing out of the crowd against islamofascism?"

So a few brave souls show up and they disrupt it?

WAY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ASSHOLES!

211 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:08:58pm

International Relations Dept.:

Hugo Chavez pitches a tent for Moammar Gadhafi.

So to speak.

212 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:09:27pm

re: #211 Occasional Reader

International Relations Dept.:

Hugo Chavez pitches a tent for Moammar Gadhafi.

So to speak.

How was lunch. Have any ice in your tea?

213 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:09:33pm

re: #211 Occasional Reader

International Relations Dept.:

Hugo Chavez pitches a tent for Moammar Gadhafi.

So to speak.

...That's what she said?

214 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:09:53pm

re: #208 Thanos

That's an excellent point KT: ok if I quote you on my blog post regarding the same?


Go for it.

215 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:10:00pm

re: #211 Occasional Reader

International Relations Dept.:

Hugo Chavez pitches a tent for Moammar Gadhafi.

So to speak.

SFW?

216 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:10:32pm

re: #212 Walter L. Newton

How was lunch. Have any ice in your tea?

I got wild and crazy and had a beer, actually.

217 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:10:53pm

re: #215 Leonidas Hoplite

SFW?

Oh, yes. It's a real news story. But the pitched tent part is right there in the lede.

218 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:11:01pm

re: #140 Land Shark

Actually, I didn't find the video creepy, just funny. I wouldn't be surprised if most politicians practice posing, smiling, waving, etc. to project whatever image or emotion they want to show at the moment.

Carol Burnett did a funny take-off of Queen Elizabeth doing the 'wave'.

219 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:11:11pm

re: #204 Equable

Good afternoon Cato.

I didn't see/hear anything else but a small blurb on Fox News this morning.

For my part, if I didn't respect the right to worship I'd streak it holding hothing but an ice cold Newcastle Brown, laughing hysterically.

And carrying a ham sandwich.

220 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:11:20pm

re: #195 HelloDare

Really, if someone can't afford it, how is fining them going to help matters.

221 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:12:20pm

re: #218 debutaunt

Carol Burnett did a funny take-off of Queen Elizabeth doing the 'wave'.

"My beloved peasants..." I remember it well!

222 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:12:28pm

re: #216 Occasional Reader

I got wild and crazy and had a beer, actually.

I had medallions if veal.

223 Cato the Elder  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:13:15pm

re: #201 Killgore Trout

Robert Spencer infiltrated the gathering and Crazy Pam posted the pics. They showed up, did their thing and went home.

How weak. I was kinda hoping for a rumble.

224 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:13:35pm

Confucius family tree unveiled

Amid the blast of horns and the thumping of drums which shook the ground at the great temple in the sage's ancestral town of Qufu, the 80-volume genealogy containing 2 million names was unveiled by the clan's leading elder in China.

"After more than 70 years our family is united again, and we have gathered to witness this historical moment which is not only a commemoration of our ancestors but a continuation of our nation's history," said 83-year-old Kong Deyong.

225 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:13:51pm

re: #222 Ben Hur

I had medallions if veal.

Cow kittehs!

226 truth stick  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:14:16pm
Really, if someone can't afford it, how is fining them going to help matters.


I don't know, but I'm sure somehow,some way it will all be GWB's fault.

227 filetandrelease  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:14:32pm

Congratulations Charles...

OT

Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in jail or a $25,000 penalty, Barthold wrote on JCT letterhead. He signed it "Sincerely, Thomas A. Barthold."

That is, if you don't sign up for the new government mandated health insurance!

Isn't it exciting!?

228 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:14:53pm

Off to work in a few minutes, new show opening tonight "A Picasso." Interesting two-person script, fictional history, Picasso and a female attache in a basement storage room full of art stolen by the Nazi's.

She wants him to authenticate 3 drawings, Picasso like drawings, so they can use on of them in a private "burning" for the press and other politicians.

He makes a deal.

Very interesting cat and mouse came ensues between Picasso and the female Nazi.

Very clever use of a known personality and his weaknesses and strength's against the oh-so-proper Nazi sense of art versus pornography.

229 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:15:25pm

This health care situation is deteriorating rapidly, and I guess it's because there was a fundamental flaw in the initial reasoning. From the beginning premise, there were a couple of roads, and as is their wont, our legislators had the map upside down and took the wrong one:

Problem: We have (x) million uninsured Americans.
Task: We must fix this.
Solution:

We must insure (x) milllion Americans.
Where will we get the money?
In part, we'll cut Medicare, and call it cleaning up waste, fraud, and abuse.
But what will we do if people ask, "Why can't you just do that now?"
Good point. I know, we'll pass legislation requiring people to purchase health insurance.
That might work, but what if they don't do it voluntarily?
Ah, in that case, we'll need to add a provision that will fine them for not doing so, or even put them in jail.
I think we've solved it.

Now, about that pesky prison overcrowding issue. What do we do about that?
Raise taxes.
But, if we keep putting Americans in prison, they won't have a source of income, and where will we get the tax revenue?
We'll tax the rich.
Well, it doesn't really work out mathematically, but it's a good political slogan!

I've pretty much decided to vote against my incumbents, even if I like them personally. It's just too much.

230 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:15:54pm

re: #201 Killgore Trout

Robert Spencer infiltrated the gathering and Crazy Pam posted the pics. They showed up, did their thing and went home.

Morons. I see that the shrieking harpy has also posted another in her endless series of LGF=Hitler videos.

231 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:16:29pm

re: #228 Walter L. Newton

[Link: www.minersalley.com...]

If you are in the Denver area, check it out.

232 Gus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:16:59pm

re: #179 Killgore Trout

The right wing blogs a crowing over the violent g20 protests today and calling out the lefties. The big difference of course is that lefty networks and pundits didn't promote these protests. Democrat politicians are not endorsing them or speaking to the crowds. These are fringe leftists and are pretty marginalized from the mainstream.

Most of them are students of the far left or anarchist variety. I saw a few other types mixed in -- on man had a "Don't Tread on Me" flag. As you say it has no affiliation with the DNC and in fact it's the opposite. Some will try to use it to snark away regarding Ron Paul, Glenn Beck and the Tea Parties if you know what I mean.

233 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:17:13pm

re: #230 Charles

Morons. I see that the shrieking harpy has also posted another in her endless series of LGF=Hitler videos.


She needs a new gimmick.

234 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:17:21pm

re: #228 Walter L. Newton

Break a leg (if that is the correct thing to say)

235 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:17:44pm

re: #232 Gus 802

Most of them are students of the far left or anarchist variety. I saw a few other types mixed in -- on man had a "Don't Tread on Me" flag. As you say it has no affiliation with the DNC and in fact it's the opposite. Some will try to use it to snark away regarding Ron Paul, Glenn Beck and the Tea Parties if you know what I mean.

Students?

Like at universities?

236 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:18:02pm

re: #214 Killgore Trout

Go for it.

Done, let's see if it draws fire or ire.

237 Walter L. Newton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:18:06pm

re: #234 Kosh's Shadow

Break a leg (if that is the correct thing to say)

Yup. Thanks. It's always fun opening night, 7 week later, it's a job. But thank goodness, a job of some sort none the less.

238 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:18:50pm

Microsoft researcher converts his brain into 'e-memory'

Microsoft is working on a SenseCam that would hang around a person's neck and automatically capture every detail of life in photo form.


I hope you like watching 8 hours worth of photos of my computer screen while I work and post on LGF. Cause that's what you're gettin'.

239 Gus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:18:56pm

re: #235 Ben Hur

Students?

Like at universities?

Yes. Pittsburgh has many.

240 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:19:16pm

re: #232 Gus 802

I noticed the Gadsen flags too. They might be Paulians, they've attended the g20 riots before. It's also worth noting that these are the same idiots that always riot at g20 meetings. If Obama was a real Marxist/socialist/communist they're be dancing in the streets.

241 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:19:34pm

re: #220 Mich-again

I agree. It's a stupid provision.

242 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:20:12pm

re: #233 Killgore Trout

She needs a new gimmick.

I think she's running out of them. This is the same woman who dressed in a bikini to blog the Iraq War, IIRC.

243 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:20:16pm

re: #178 Walter L. Newton

Steve asked you about this book the other day and you said you would get back to us...

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Fair enough...

I have a lot of problems with Bjorn Lomberg.

His entire premise is that it will be cheaper to just deal with the effects of warming than to try to prevent it.

Let me give one example of where I think such ideas utterly break down. I can give many more than this, but lets focus on a for instance, in just one region.

The American South West gets 75% of it's water from meltwater. If that climate changes and teh ice sources go away, you will need to find a way to replace 75% of the water used by those states. OK...

How do you get the water to those people? Also note that these states are now much more arid desert than before, so people there will need even more water than now to stay hydrated.

So how much water are we talking about?

[Link: ga.water.usgs.gov...]
[Link: www.newton.dep.anl.gov...]

If you include showers and all the water that went into all the food you eat, and all the things we use water for, like laundry, flushing the toilet, feeding the lawn etc...we are talking 200-300 liters per day.

however, let's keep the water local, and assume that no-one in the future south west washes anymore and digs holes to poo in.

It will come down to about 10 liters per day. If they stay inside, and don't sweat too much in the heat, and only rarely brush their teeth.

OK so how many people are in the Southwestern areas affected?

We need to worry about on order of 30 million people. So we will need to build a water network that delivers 300 million liters of water per day to every city over a five state area.

Again, that is if we do not let them flush toilets or wash. If we let them do those things, it gets up to 3-6 billion liters per day.

How much would building such a system cost?

Answer, trillions of dollars, and it makes for a massive security risk, because one terrorist bomb during a heat wave, means millions die of thirst.

Where does this water come from? How much do you think it would cost to desalinate? How do yu power the system...

Well the power answer is you would need large reactors to give you the needed power. But if you have that, why not just build the reactor now, save money, save the environment, and not have to do all the rest?

So short form Lomberg is full of shit. Please remember that there are many many other parts to the world that will have their own issues. There are not enough trillions to fix it if we just let it happen.

244 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:21:11pm
245 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:21:37pm

re: #238 bosforus

Microsoft researcher converts his brain into 'e-memory'


I hope you like watching 8 hours worth of photos of my computer screen while I work and post on LGF. Cause that's what you're gettin'.

And we thought Twitter was bad.

246 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:21:57pm

re: #240 Killgore Trout

I noticed the Gadsen flags too. They might be Paulians, they've attended the g20 riots before. It's also worth noting that these are the same idiots that always riot at g20 meetings. If Obama was a real Marxist/socialist/communist they're be dancing in the streets.

There's always a good contingent from the isolationist right at these gatherings. At the Seattle riots a few years ago, Pat Buchanan showed up and made a joint appearance with Jane Fonda's ex, Tom Hayden.

247 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:22:03pm

re: #230 Charles

Morons. I see that the shrieking harpy has also posted another in her endless series of LGF=Hitler videos.

For a woman who likes to memorialize the Holocaust, she sure seems to enjoy trivializing it - consorting with neonazis, consorting with eurofascists, comparing people she doesn't like to Hitler.

248 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:22:15pm

re: #229 subsailor68

This health care situation is deteriorating rapidly, and I guess it's because there was a fundamental flaw in the initial reasoning.

Yep.

We cannot afford to pay for it because America is broke.

And for those who whine about a moral obligation, I say it is absolutely immoral for me to live like a sloth, drink like a fish, smoke Pall Malls and eat Big Macs every day, then expect you to reach into your pocket when I get old and pay for my health care.

That is immoral.

249 Gus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:23:07pm

re: #240 Killgore Trout

I noticed the Gadsen flags too. They might be Paulians, they've attended the g20 riots before. It's also worth noting that these are the same idiots that always riot at g20 meetings. If Obama was a real Marxist/socialist/communist they're be dancing in the streets.

Come to think of it I think Ron Paul made a statement regarding G20. That ilk feeds on the G8, G20, CFR, Bilderberg, etc. And yeah, there would be a lot of dancing from the protesters had Obama been a Marxist/socialist/communist. I'd say a lot wouldn't even like that. The anarchists were out in force and they had their usual signage about no-capitalism/no-nations/no-borders.

250 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:23:14pm

re: #244 buzzsawmonkey

And medallions of beef?

Those are for cow taxis.

251 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:23:18pm

re: #246 Shiplord Kirel

There's always a good contingent from the isolationist right at these gatherings. At the Seattle riots a few years ago, Pat Buchanan showed up and made a joint appearance with Jane Fonda's ex, Tom Hayden.

Do you have a link for that Shiplord, not doubting, it would just make another good update.

252 truth stick  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:24:26pm

re: #238 bosforus

Microsoft researcher converts his brain into 'e-memory'

Can I store my game data from my PS3 and 360 this way? it would make playing games at friends houses a lot easier

253 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:24:45pm

re: #250 Occasional Reader

Those are for cow taxis.

In India, they call them holy medallions.

254 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:07pm

re: #245 Kosh's Shadow

And we thought Twitter was bad.

Seriously, how effen deprived and unsatisfied must you be with your own life when there's actually a market for this kind of crap?

255 solomonpanting  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:23pm

re: #238 bosforus

Microsoft researcher converts his brain into 'e-memory'


I hope you like watching 8 hours worth of photos of my computer screen while I work and post on LGF. Cause that's what you're gettin'.

Your screen will need a good cleaning.

256 wrenchwench  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:25pm

re: #246 Shiplord Kirel

At the Seattle riots a few years ago, Pat Buchanan showed up and made a joint appearance with Jane Fonda's ex, Tom Hayden.

Now there's a moronic convergence.

257 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:27pm

re: #205 SixDegrees

Given that several blogs were actively flogging their readership into full hate and violence mode for the last few weeks over this gathering, I'm not surprised turnout was low. There was a very high risk of something very bad happening.

Which says way, way more than I want to hear about the state of the US these days.

Afternoon Six:

While I don't condone this mindset I can understand the pathology behind it by mere notion of "turnabout is fair play".

I will probably become a target for this, but as I don't agree I do understand as I am seeing in my community/state/country many people becoming sick and tired of seeing muslims coming out en masse to publicly rail on against the West calling for jihad and death to the kuffar; this while living under the security and guarantee of free speech that their non-caliphate hosts give them.

People are becoming further wary and untrustworthy of muslims, especially when they show up in numbers. This is largely because gatherings such as these are rare, and there are those who will believe that this gathering was arranged in the hopes that a vitriolic opposition would show up and give them their "what for", thus cementing the "victimhood" status many muslims aspire towards.

I myself have done copious research on muslims, the koran and their heritage/history. I can state that there are two things I don't trust: the ones that call for jihad and a caliphate, and the idea that when you do what they see as injustice you in turn do to all muslims. I understand that the vast majority do not share this like-mindedness and are afraid to come out publicly to stand with the United States and the West. This has to change. We need dialog.

I disagree that this is a trend with the citizens of my beloved country. Unfortunately numbers don't lie. A huge majority of terrorist attacks are perpetrated by muslims in the name of islam. Also a huge majority of public gatherings of muslims here and abroad are rife with extremists calling for the deaths of the kuffars and everything else they rail about.

People are reacting to what they see and while I disagree, again I understand why. I myself stay quiet doing my part here and there (I can't say here what those "parts" are). You cannot honestly expect people to sit idly and quietly forever, donning the illusion that they are the proverbial "cooler heads" that they are expected to be indefinitely. They see people calling for war and people are starting to get up and answer that call.

Fuck man I am as afraid as you are, but for different reasons.

Again we need dialog and for more muslims to get up and say something positive and get their people moving to stand side by side with the people who despise killing in the name of religion. Sitting quiet about it gives people the notion that they agree with it, pure and simple.

I sincerely hope that the "infiltrators" and those who showed up to disrupt this prayer session inspire the America loving muslims to stand up and say:

"HEY FUCKO WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE!"

258 What, me worry?  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:36pm

Sounds like the convention already happened yes? But Charles, you should make plans to go next year. They'd treat you like a King. You'd have a ball.

259 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:43pm

re: #254 bosforus

Assuming this data would eventually be shared with an interested public.

260 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:25:58pm

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

That's assuming that the weather patterns don't shift and actually bring more water to the Southwest and/or the headwaters of the Colorado River.

The fact is that no one knows what the climate changes will bring. They may be beneficial. They might not.

Are you willing to spend trillions of dollars to try and change things - that might not change in any event, or might change for the better without any intervention?

261 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:26:23pm

Wow, way to babble Equable you drunken punk rock assmunch. Sorry about that.

262 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:26:25pm

re: #238 bosforus

Wow. Now that's just kinda creepy. I'm all for technology, but... sheesh.

263 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:27:06pm

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

There is plenty of clean fresh water in the Midwest. Even the ancient people on Earth knew they had to live near water. How nuts is it to move to the desert and then bitch that there isn't any water there.

The looming water crisis in the SW reminds me a bit of the old Sam Kinnison routine about bringing food to starving people in Ethiopia. ( Granted, it was in poor taste and I was never a big fan of that loon)

You know, we've been bringing you food out here to the middle of the desert every day and it occurred to us that you people need to GO WHERE THE FOOD IS!

Real estate is cheap here now and there is plenty of water and fertile land. But yet so many people who live in unhospitable areas scoff at the "rust belt". We'll see in the coming decades I guess.

264 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:27:20pm

re: #251 Thanos

He's right...

Seattle Surprise

. In their discussion of news coverage of the protests, the leftist media critics at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting zapped CNN and others for paying too much attention to Buchanan: "Though right-wing nationalists appeared to make up--at most--an infinitesimal fraction of the actual protesters in Seattle's streets, the media seemed to anoint Buchanan as a major leader of the anti-WTO movement." In one important sense, Buchanan is just that. He is the only prominent presidential candidate advocating the anti-trade agenda of the protesters, the only agenda they share. It's not surprising, therefore, that Beltway-oriented shows like Inside Politics interviewed him rather than, say, Walden Bello or Tom Hayden.

While Buchanan's tribalism may not blend well with multiculturalism or gay rights, his isolationist ideals are consistent with the far green's "bioregionalist" vision of local self-sufficiency. Nor is his contempt for poor countries out of place. A strong theme running through the anti-globalization critique is that higher living standards in developing countries would be a disaster.

265 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:27:32pm

re: #251 Thanos

Do you have a link for that Shiplord, not doubting, it would just make another good update.

Nevermind, I found it. Reason Magazine really needs Virginia back as editor :)

[Link: www.reason.com...]

266 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:28:13pm

Well, I gotta hit the can. Better turn my cameras off.

267 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:28:19pm

re: #238 bosforus

That reminds me of a movie.

268 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:28:32pm

re: #246 Shiplord Kirel

There's always a good contingent from the isolationist right at these gatherings. At the Seattle riots a few years ago, Pat Buchanan showed up and made a joint appearance with Jane Fonda's ex, Tom Hayden.

Reminds me of the first time I saw a magazine at the newsstand called "The American Conservative", thought "hey, this looks interesting", and picked it up. I quickly figured out it was a Buchananite vehicle. But what I noticed about their pieces on the Iraq war is that with minimal editing, you could reprint them in "Mother Jones", and nobody would know the difference. Right/left; not always a useful distinction.

269 Gus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:28:43pm

Back later.

Congrats again Charles.

270 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:28:44pm

re: #260 lawhawk

That's assuming that the weather patterns don't shift and actually bring more water to the Southwest and/or the headwaters of the Colorado River.

The fact is that no one knows what the climate changes will bring. They may be beneficial. They might not.

Are you willing to spend trillions of dollars to try and change things - that might not change in any event, or might change for the better without any intervention?

Actually buddy that is just wrong. The colorado will not suddenly become the Nile in any projection. Even if it did, you would need to pump the water then from the Colarado and still have the same economic problems.

You are saying you don't want to do anything based solely on the wishful thinking that it will not be that bad. The fact is that every prediction for the US southwest - every single one of them I have seen is bleak. And the science is good enough to say that.

271 bosforus  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:29:00pm

re: #266 bosforus

Well, I gotta hit the can. Better turn my cameras off.

And don't check my timestamps. I may be a while.

272 What, me worry?  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:30:32pm

re: #257 Equable

You weren't babbling, btw, but if it makes you feel better, I do it all the time.

My opinion, to get any of these gatherings to really work, they have to be supported by non-Muslims, otherwise I can't see it.

I would also point out as the climate has shifted, it really isn't the Islamists that seem to be America's largest threat lately.

273 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:32:08pm

On topic: Good on ya', Charles, for a recognition well-earned.

274 wrenchwench  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:32:20pm

re: #270 LudwigVanQuixote

Actually buddy that is just wrong. The colorado will not suddenly become the Nile in any projection. Even if it did, you would need to pump the water then from the Colarado and still have the same economic problems.

You are saying you don't want to do anything based solely on the wishful thinking that it will not be that bad. The fact is that every prediction for the US southwest - every single one of them I have seen is bleak. And the science is good enough to say that.

I thought we here in NM were sitting on a big-ass aquifer. Are you saying it's fed by meltwater?

275 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:32:39pm

re: #267 lawhawk

That reminds me of a movie.

Sad, that was Natalie Wood's last movie IIRC. I think she died during filming (1981) and they had a terrible time trying to work around that - so much so that the movie didn't come out until 1983.

276 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:32:50pm

re: #263 Mich-again

There is plenty of clean fresh water in the Midwest. Even the ancient people on Earth knew they had to live near water. How nuts is it to move to the desert and then bitch that there isn't any water there.

The looming water crisis in the SW reminds me a bit of the old Sam Kinnison routine about bringing food to starving people in Ethiopia. ( Granted, it was in poor taste and I was never a big fan of that loon)

You know, we've been bringing you food out here to the middle of the desert every day and it occurred to us that you people need to GO WHERE THE FOOD IS!

Real estate is cheap here now and there is plenty of water and fertile land. But yet so many people who live in unhospitable areas scoff at the "rust belt". We'll see in the coming decades I guess.

The Southwest can kiss my ass. Has anyone here ever flown into Phoenix? after passing over thousands of square miles of sparse sagebrush, almost uniformly tan, you know you're over the city because your eyes are assaulted by enormous, garish strips of green and blue. Golf courses. Swimming pools. Abundantly watered lawns. Hundreds of thousands of eastern transplants all striving to recreate the landscape they left behind, where the climate is cooler and gets over 40 inches of rain a year, in a hot, arid climate that gets well under 12 inches.

And they're making plans to pump water out of the Great Lakes so they can continue this utterly profligate, unsustainable lifestyle.

My ass is ready: two cheeks, no waiting. Pucker up.

277 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:32:57pm

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

What if there was a better way to produce potable drinking water locally?

Like this?
Desalination start-up gets $10 million

Or this?
Machine claims to get water out of thin air

278 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:33:06pm

re: #272 marjoriemoon

You weren't babbling, btw, but if it makes you feel better, I do it all the time.

My opinion, to get any of these gatherings to really work, they have to be supported by non-Muslims, otherwise I can't see it.

I agree and I'd be glad to show up to one near me, if one occurred. I'd stand with any American any day, any time. I love my people.

I would also point out as the climate has shifted, it really isn't the Islamists that seem to be America's largest threat lately.

Well these new developments about Iran's nuclear program and the recent foiled terror plots say differently, at least to those whose scope of vision doesn't go any further than what is abstract.

279 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:34:14pm

re: #274 wrenchwench

I thought we here in NM were sitting on a big-ass aquifer. Are you saying it's fed by meltwater?

Well I am not sure where you are, but does it rain a lot where you are or nearby? Chances are that the aquifer is ultimately fed by melts.

280 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:34:36pm

Armadillo Cam

281 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:34:57pm

re: #270 LudwigVanQuixote

Actually buddy that is just wrong. The colorado will not suddenly become the Nile in any projection. Even if it did, you would need to pump the water then from the Colarado and still have the same economic problems.

You are saying you don't want to do anything based solely on the wishful thinking that it will not be that bad. The fact is that every prediction for the US southwest - every single one of them I have seen is bleak. And the science is good enough to say that.

Lawhawk never said it would become the Nile, LVQ, and I think you're panic mongering again. Predictions can be wrong, especially predictions of doom as you have posted many times.

Quite frankly, there is nothing we can really do. China and India have shown no interest whatsoever in reducing emissions, and even if we stopped all carbon burning right now, this very second (much to our detriment, I might add), there will still be effects regardless from what has been done. It is better to adapt and change what we're doing than claim we can actually do something that will have immediate effect.

282 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:35:43pm

re: #280 HelloDare

Awesome.

283 HelloDare  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:36:01pm
284 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:36:06pm

re: #277 Racer X

What if there was a better way to produce potable drinking water locally?

Like this?
Desalination start-up gets $10 million

Or this?
Machine claims to get water out of thin air

Run the numbers... How much water is there is the desert air to extract, and you need a large source of salt water to desalinate if you want to desalinate. Where is that body of water?

285 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:36:26pm

re: #277 Racer X

What if there was a better way to produce potable drinking water locally?

Like this?
Desalination start-up gets $10 million

Or this?
Machine claims to get water out of thin air

And don't forget the stillsuits.

286 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:36:45pm

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

Without coming off as a denier (I am not) please allow me to point out the problem with using the southwest / meltwater example as a counter to the Lomberg argument.

Most of the consumption from the Colorado River goes to existing reservoir systems. So were the precipitation to fall as rain and run off, the water would still be stored in reservoirs.

The meltwater argument works in places where reservoir infrastructure doesn't exist. Himalayan runoff issues would be a huge disaster, keeping Bangladesh under water most of the year and depriving the region of clean water for half of the year, for example.

287 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:36:54pm

re: #283 HelloDare

Museum of Animal Perspectives

This. Is. Wicked.

288 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:37:45pm

re: #265 Thanos

Nevermind, I found it. Reason Magazine really needs Virginia back as editor :)

[Link: www.reason.com...]

re: #264 Killgore Trout

He's right...

Seattle Surprise

Thanks, folks. I found a lot about Buchanan and Hayden both being at the protests but could not find anything about their joint TV appearance. It was just a brief interview on CNN or somewhere that I remember.

289 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:37:51pm

re: #276 SixDegrees

And they're making plans to pump water out of the Great Lakes so they can continue this utterly profligate, unsustainable lifestyle.

Well that will be interesting to see politicians try to make that happen. People around here of all political stripes are extremely protective of the Great Lakes.

290 Eowyn2  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:37:53pm

re: #239 Gus 802

Yes. Pittsburgh has many.

Organized Anarchists

291 Bob Dillon  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:38:10pm

“The blogger [Charles Johnson of Little Green Footballs] who revealed Reuters’ doctoring of images during the Second Lebanon War did as much as any Israeli intelligence officer did.”

Hats off to you Charles. Intel analysis is not limited to military training.

292 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:38:11pm

re: #281 Honorary Yooper

Lawhawk never said it would become the Nile, LVQ, and I think you're panic mongering again. Predictions can be wrong, especially predictions of doom as you have posted many times.

Quite frankly, there is nothing we can really do. China and India have shown no interest whatsoever in reducing emissions, and even if we stopped all carbon burning right now, this very second (much to our detriment, I might add), there will still be effects regardless from what has been done. It is better to adapt and change what we're doing than claim we can actually do something that will have immediate effect.

You are not understanding what I am saying. In order for the Colorado to save the day, it would literally have to be for the American Southwest what the Nile is for Egypt.

There is no projection in which the South West wins.

I am not panic mongering. I am telling you the truth. If you find that truth unsettling - good. Sane people should be unsettled by it. Sane people also can take steps to prevent this.

293 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:38:20pm

re: #284 LudwigVanQuixote

Run the numbers... How much water is there is the desert air to extract, and you need a large source of salt water to desalinate if you want to desalinate. Where is that body of water?

Pacific Ocean? Gulf of California? Gulf of Mexico?

294 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:38:42pm

re: #274 wrenchwench

I thought we here in NM were sitting on a big-ass aquifer. Are you saying it's fed by meltwater?

Many of these deep rock aquifers are much older water, not meltwater. However, some of them cannot be replenished easily. Meltwater is what drives the various rivers from the Rio Grande to the Colorado. Given the tremendous heights of the Rockies, the biggest threat to the Southwest's water supply is population, not climate change. Too many people for the water resources. However, help may be on the horizon. If California can get its act together over desalination (there are plants approved for San Diego for example), there will be more water for other parts of the Southwest.

295 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:38:48pm

Awesome, Low-Tech Gadget Creates Liters of Fresh Water

Sometimes the simplest technology is the best. The Watercone, a solar-powered water purifier, is a testament to that.

The cone-shaped device turns salty or dirty water into up to 1.7 liters of fresh water in a matter of hours, according to Watercone.

Here’s how it works: You pour the bad water into a black pan, and then you screw on a cone. The black pan absorbs sunlight and heats up the water. Then, the evaporated water condensates into droplets on the cone’s inner wall, and the droplets drop into a circular trough at the inner case of the cone. After a few hours, you can unscrew the cap, tip the cone upside down and empty out the clean water into a receptacle.

The Watercone is due out this summer, and it should cost no more than $30. This will be a tremendous help for poorer, developing countries.

Check out a video of the Watercone in action below:

296 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:39:02pm

re: #279 LudwigVanQuixote

Well I am not sure where you are, but does it rain a lot where you are or nearby? Chances are that the aquifer is ultimately fed by melts.

Hi Ludwig! Science question for ya.

Our town's water plant processes water from our river. Water is then pumped to the towers for distribution. During times when the river is up, the plant processes additional water (above the amount needed) and then pumps that into ASR wells (Aquifer Storage and Retrieval) - that are actually just part of the aquifer so to speak. During drier times, we retrieve water to lessen the impact on the river.

In your view, is that a sustainable and/or desirable approach? (So far it's worked, but we've had a pretty severe drought for quite some time, and only starting to get some rain.)

297 Neuron  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:39:21pm

First Charles you earned the recognition and Thank you for it. Second, not a bad day for LGF. VDH and now Israel recognizes you for your outstanding work showing the lies and distortions of the, so called "main stream media." I started coming to your website after 911 because you proved to be THE source for information on the war against Islamofascism. To my pleasant surprise you proved to be the beacon of truth when it comes to Israel and a great friend to the Jewish people. I don't know Charles maybe God has had a hand in this ;-)
Whatever it is, all we Jews ask for is the truth. However, it doesn't hurt to see all the support that comes from many of the bloggers you link to and to those who lend their support, thanks to all of you as well. Especially now, when the world seems upside down.

298 ryannon  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:39:57pm

re: #54 turn

Somebody should send this link to Dan Rather. hehehe

Somebody should send it to Reuters.

Perhaps I will.

299 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:40:10pm
300 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:40:13pm

re: #257 Equable

Yeesh.

And what if the Muslims at these gatherings DON'T call for jihad? From all accounts, this was a completely peaceful event.

Last time I checked, the right to peaceably assemble was something that ALL Americans enjoyed, not just non-Muslims.

301 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:40:21pm

re: #268 Occasional Reader

Reminds me of the first time I saw a magazine at the newsstand called "The American Conservative", thought "hey, this looks interesting", and picked it up. I quickly figured out it was a Buchananite vehicle. But what I noticed about their pieces on the Iraq war is that with minimal editing, you could reprint them in "Mother Jones", and nobody would know the difference. Right/left; not always a useful distinction.

Buchanan and Paul are definitely the axis around which the crazy right revolves, with an unhealthy dose of genteel racism, neo-Confederate revivalism, and conspiracist media thrown in.

302 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:40:38pm

re: #292 LudwigVanQuixote

You are not understanding what I am saying. In order for the Colorado to save the day, it would literally have to be for the American Southwest what the Nile is for Egypt.

There is no projection in which the South West wins.

I am not panic mongering. I am telling you the truth. If you find that truth unsettling - good. Sane people should be unsettled by it. Sane people also can take steps to prevent this.

I have faith in science to find a solution.

303 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:40:48pm

re: #290 Eowyn2

Organized Anarchists

I remember when they were just call shitheads.

304 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:41:23pm

re: #302 Racer X

I have faith in science to find a solution.

But apparently not enough faith to believe climate scientists when they tell you there's a serious problem.

305 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:41:47pm

re: #279 LudwigVanQuixote

Well I am not sure where you are, but does it rain a lot where you are or nearby? Chances are that the aquifer is ultimately fed by melts.

No, odds are the aquifer is older water, not fed directly from melt. Some aquifers have had water for thousands, maybe even millions of years that cannot be replenished in any way, shape, or form. Most places in the Southwest do not average much in total rainfall for the year (maybe 10-15 inches total).

306 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:41:50pm

re: #286 karmic_inquisitor

Without coming off as a denier (I am not) please allow me to point out the problem with using the southwest / meltwater example as a counter to the Lomberg argument.

Most of the consumption from the Colorado River goes to existing reservoir systems. So were the precipitation to fall as rain and run off, the water would still be stored in reservoirs.

The meltwater argument works in places where reservoir infrastructure doesn't exist. Himalayan runoff issues would be a huge disaster, keeping Bangladesh under water most of the year and depriving the region of clean water for half of the year, for example.

75% of the water used in the Southwest comes from melts. You will find that the Colarado is fed by them too. This issue is not like Bangladesh, rather that as the climate changes in the South West, the places that get permafrost up in the mountains,will not have it anymore.

Look at the Princeton links for projections.

I used this as one example of an area that would be hard to fix. There are many others. We could also talk about the costs of not having enough food, because crops have failed in the Midwest.

307 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:42:58pm

re: #293 Leonidas Hoplite

Pacific Ocean? Gulf of California? Gulf of Mexico?

Right, so how much would it cost to build, power and secure a system that would do this and distribute the water? Back of the envelope it is trillions.

308 Salamantis  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:43:08pm

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

Fair enough...

I have a lot of problems with Bjorn Lomberg.

His entire premise is that it will be cheaper to just deal with the effects of warming than to try to prevent it.

Let me give one example of where I think such ideas utterly break down. I can give many more than this, but lets focus on a for instance, in just one region.

The American South West gets 75% of it's water from meltwater. If that climate changes and teh ice sources go away, you will need to find a way to replace 75% of the water used by those states. OK...

How do you get the water to those people? Also note that these states are now much more arid desert than before, so people there will need even more water than now to stay hydrated.

So how much water are we talking about?

[Link: ga.water.usgs.gov...]
[Link: www.newton.dep.anl.gov...]

If you include showers and all the water that went into all the food you eat, and all the things we use water for, like laundry, flushing the toilet, feeding the lawn etc...we are talking 200-300 liters per day.

however, let's keep the water local, and assume that no-one in the future south west washes anymore and digs holes to poo in.

It will come down to about 10 liters per day. If they stay inside, and don't sweat too much in the heat, and only rarely brush their teeth.

OK so how many people are in the Southwestern areas affected?

We need to worry about on order of 30 million people. So we will need to build a water network that delivers 300 million liters of water per day to every city over a five state area.

Again, that is if we do not let them flush toilets or wash. If we let them do those things, it gets up to 3-6 billion liters per day.

How much would building such a system cost?

Answer, trillions of dollars, and it makes for a massive security risk, because one terrorist bomb during a heat wave, means millions die of thirst.

Where does this water come from? How much do you think it would cost to desalinate? How do yu power the system...

Well the power answer is you would need large reactors to give you the needed power. But if you have that, why not just build the reactor now, save money, save the environment, and not have to do all the rest?

So short form Lomberg is full of shit. Please remember that there are many many other parts to the world that will have their own issues. There are not enough trillions to fix it if we just let it happen.

Bjorn Lomberg is far from the only person performing cost-benefit analyses and calculating opportunity costs these days:

[Link: reason.com...]

Mentioned in the article are Yale economist William Nordhaus, British economist Nicholas Stern, and Dutch economist Richard Tol,

309 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:43:37pm

re: #307 LudwigVanQuixote

Right, so how much would it cost to build, power and secure a system that would do this and distribute the water? Back of the envelope it is trillions.

Maybe we could get the Romans to build us an aqueduct...

310 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:43:55pm

re: #301 Shiplord Kirel

Buchanan and Paul are definitely the axis around which the crazy right revolves, with an unhealthy dose of genteel racism, neo-Confederate revivalism, and conspiracist media thrown in.

And neither are friends of Israel. I won't be surprised to see far-right loons use the story about Israel considering a press pass for Charles as red meat for their minions in their smear campaign against LGF.

311 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:44:04pm

re: #304 Charles

But apparently not enough faith to believe climate scientists when they tell you there's a serious problem.

?

I agree there is a serious problem. I agree there is Global Warming.

I'm on the fence on what we should do about it. The discussion today was wether or not we should spend Trillions trying to prevent GW, or spend Trillions adapting to it.

312 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:44:45pm

Anyway I was downdinged by Charles himself so I guess I'll clarify myself a bit as I like being here and many of the people.

I don't agree with those who would denigrate islam or portray it as millions of Khalid Sheikh Mohammeds and certainly wouldn't stand with those who would disrupt their precious right to pray for whatever they are praying about. It actually warmed my heart to see those people in the square and I toasted to them quietly.

I don't dislike muslims and stingently oppose those who paint them wholesale as potential or active terrorists. I see them as people like myself, worshipping and being grateful for the right to worship.

I thought I made it clear that I oppose Gellar and her ilk who would do the aforementioned.

All I was saying is that I understand their pathology and wanted to give my personal explanation/viewpoint. There's extremists on all sides of any opinion and as my name connotes, I try as hard as I can to not be one.

I don't stand with any extremists or agree with any person of that stripe. I believe what I believe for my own sake and for the sake of my precious and priceless Equable Jr.

313 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:44:55pm

re: #299 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Abbas says Israel freeze of settlements a must

No. Next stupid request?

And Erekat has flat out refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
(The link has disappeared from jpost.)

Such peace partners.

314 SFGoth  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:45:02pm

So what should Charles's new Hebrew name be? Shlomo? Chaim? (That's Gene Simmons's real name)

315 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:45:03pm

re: #305 Honorary Yooper

No, odds are the aquifer is older water, not fed directly from melt. Some aquifers have had water for thousands, maybe even millions of years that cannot be replenished in any way, shape, or form. Most places in the Southwest do not average much in total rainfall for the year (maybe 10-15 inches total).

That is certainly true. However, non-replenish able aquifers are no solution. You will drain them very, very quickly if you need to pump millions of liters per day out of them.

316 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:45:30pm

re: #300 Charles

Yeesh.

And what if the Muslims at these gatherings DON'T call for jihad? From all accounts, this was a completely peaceful event.

Last time I checked, the right to peaceably assemble was something that ALL Americans enjoyed, not just non-Muslims.

Sorry if I didn't communicate myself properly in that post. I said in another post, that if a gathering like that were to happen within driving distance of me I'd go join it and pray with them.

317 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:45:47pm

re: #308 Salamantis

Fine, so I am telling you that their analysis is stupid because they have not adequately thought of the costs involved.

318 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:02pm

Charles, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.
And thank you.

319 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:11pm

re: #313 Kosh's Shadow

And Erekat has flat out refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
(The link has disappeared from jpost.)

Such peace partners.

Erekat is the original Baghdad Bob.

320 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:21pm

re: #309 Leonidas Hoplite

Maybe we could get the Romans to build us an aqueduct...

Chico Marx!

321 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:24pm

re: #300 Charles

Yeesh.

And what if the Muslims at these gatherings DON'T call for jihad? From all accounts, this was a completely peaceful event.

Last time I checked, the right to peaceably assemble was something that ALL Americans enjoyed, not just non-Muslims.

And again, I was commenting on what they see, not what I see.

322 KingKenrod  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:51pm

re: #306 LudwigVanQuixote

75% of the water used in the Southwest comes from melts. You will find that the Colarado is fed by them too. This issue is not like Bangladesh, rather that as the climate changes in the South West, the places that get permafrost up in the mountains,will not have it anymore.

Look at the Princeton links for projections.

I used this as one example of an area that would be hard to fix. There are many others. We could also talk about the costs of not having enough food, because crops have failed in the Midwest.

Can you guarantee that a AGW-fighting program costing tens of trillions of dollars will work? In other words, by 2100, will we be back to our comfy 1950 era weather?

Or are we possibly screwed no matter what? If so, adaptation is the way to go.

323 StillAMarine  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:46:54pm

Big congratulations to you, Charles. You have been an acknowledged friend of Israel for a long time and it is good to see you get the recognition you deserve.
Meanwhile from Debka, "... Gen. James Cartwright, US Joint Chiefs of Staff vice chairman, told Israel exactly where it stands on the United States order of priorities:
First: The US homeland, such as the (hypothetic) narrow strip down the East Coast from Philadelphia to Washington, which we must defend;
Second: US forces around the world;
Third: NATO countries, our allies;
Fourth: Friends like Israel.
This determination ought to have acted as a wake-up call for Jerusalem.

Would like to keep on this thread, but I really must leave. Have a great weekend, All.

324 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:47:44pm

re: #320 debutaunt

Chico Marx!

That was "viaduct".

325 reine.de.tout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:47:47pm

re: #205 SixDegrees

Given that several blogs were actively flogging their readership into full hate and violence mode for the last few weeks over this gathering, I'm not surprised turnout was low. There was a very high risk of something very bad happening.

Which says way, way more than I want to hear about the state of the US these days.

I didn't hear about the gathering ya'll were talking about.

But I do know this:

My cousin's daughter married a Muslim, and converted.
I have seen the photos on her FB page of their family 4th of July celebration. I've seen my little cousin and her husband and kids at family Easter gatherings.

Muslims exist here who love this country, as well as their Christian relatives and this country's celebrations. And if blogs are whipping people into a frenzy over a gathering before it happens, then people are indeed NOT going to show up.

326 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:47:56pm

re: #314 SFGoth

So what should Charles's new Hebrew name be? Shlomo? Chaim? (That's Gene Simmons's real name)

I've always been partial to "Malachai", myself.

327 SFGoth  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:48:01pm

re: #319 Ben Hur

Erekat is the original Baghdad Bob.

Baghdad Bob was hilarious. I have DVD about him. There was a rumor going around that SNL would have him as a guest host. That would have been the all-time rated episode, but SNL were too stupid to do it. Kinda like how they refuse to have Blue Oyster Cult on to reprise the cowbell skit.

328 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:48:01pm

Radicals on Campus

329 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:48:18pm

re: #296 subsailor68

Hi Ludwig! Science question for ya.

Our town's water plant processes water from our river. Water is then pumped to the towers for distribution. During times when the river is up, the plant processes additional water (above the amount needed) and then pumps that into ASR wells (Aquifer Storage and Retrieval) - that are actually just part of the aquifer so to speak. During drier times, we retrieve water to lessen the impact on the river.

In your view, is that a sustainable and/or desirable approach? (So far it's worked, but we've had a pretty severe drought for quite some time, and only starting to get some rain.)

Hey buddy! I owe you a longer answer... but I actually am getting called away. Short form is yes, provided it is still raining enough.

330 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:48:19pm

re: #315 LudwigVanQuixote

That is certainly true. However, non-replenish able aquifers are no solution. You will drain them very, very quickly if you need to pump millions of liters per day out of them.

Lud - Have you followed this week's story of purported "missing data" used to create the Jones and Wigley record? Just wondering what your thoughts are on that.

331 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:48:22pm

re: #292 LudwigVanQuixote

You are not understanding what I am saying. In order for the Colorado to save the day, it would literally have to be for the American Southwest what the Nile is for Egypt.

There is no projection in which the South West wins.

I am not panic mongering. I am telling you the truth. If you find that truth unsettling - good. Sane people should be unsettled by it. Sane people also can take steps to prevent this.

Problem is, LVQ, it cannot be prevented. There is no way to prevent it for several reasons:
1. Not everyone is on board. Please, do what you will, but China and India are not on board with any proposal.
2. There has been enough done already that if we stopped burning carbon now, we'd still be feeling the effects for quite some time.
3. Natural forces will aid and abet as well as counteract what has been done. We still know so little about how things interact.
4. The Southwest has never won in any senario, even without any climate change whatsoever. The major problem there has been, and always will be population versus water supply. Cliamte can change the equation one way or another, but it will be a desert in the near future as it was also for the Anasazi.
5. The Colorado could never save the day. It has never carried enough water in geologic history to ever have saved the day no matter what the senario. The only things that will work are, conversation and desalination. That's it.

332 What, me worry?  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:07pm

re: #278 Equable

Well these new developments about Iran's nuclear program and the recent foiled terror plots say differently, at least to those whose scope of vision doesn't go any further than what is abstract.

I should be more specific. Globally yes, still the same. Locally, maybe not so much.

I do agree that it takes all of us working together, but unfortunately that doesn't always play out in the real world.

333 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:15pm

re: #324 Kosh's Shadow

That was "viaduct".

I know. I was reminded of him saying it.

334 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:27pm

re: #305 Honorary Yooper

Imagine if someday people from the SW ever discovered what an awesome place the UP is and how it is nearly void of any development whatsoever and some of them relocated there?

All of the Yoopers I know would not be too happy about that. They would prefer their secret to stay that way.

335 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:28pm

re: #281 Honorary Yooper

The question of manmade global warming touches on some of the stuff that Paul Ehrlich got himself into - if you're going to assume that man is behind global warming, then you need to reconcile with the fact that every person exhales CO2 and requires energy to live. That energy has to come from someplace, and in most of the world, that means releasing prodigious amounts of COx and other actual pollutants (methane, SO2, mercury, particulates, etc.) If the US maintained its current levels of COx or even decreased them, without every other nation doing the same, levels of COx would rise regardless - primarily because of population growth - and we know what Ehrlich thought of that. That's a dark place that I would never want to go near (population controls).

So, the proposals are touching on the next best thing - taxing carbon emissions, which essentially ignores that there will be countries that opt out, and/or refuse to abide by the restrictions because their economies need to grow.

And if you can't provide reliable and consistent energy, your economy will suffer; your standard of living will suffer; and quality of life will decrease.

But as to the specific issue of water and the Colorado River basin, more effective and efficient water usage could make better use of existing resources; along with the elimination of the need for everyone in Las Vegas to have a green lawn, and for golf courses to be erected in the middle of a desert.

Oh yes, that's right - much of the Southwest was, is, and will continue to be ... a desert. It's just that we've got people moving there because they like the climate. Just ignore the lack of a precious natural resource that we absolutely need to have. H2O.

Which also is at the heart of the ME conflicts over land - because who controls the land also controls the waters underneath.

336 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:35pm

re: #325 reine.de.tout

I didn't hear about the gathering ya'll were talking about.

But I do know this:

My cousin's daughter married a Muslim, and converted.
I have seen the photos on her FB page of their family 4th of July celebration. I've seen my little cousin and her husband and kids at family Easter gatherings.

Muslims exist here who love this country, as well as their Christian relatives and this country's celebrations. And if blogs are whipping people into a frenzy over a gathering before it happens, then people are indeed NOT going to show up.

One other thing to note about this: The first spot I noticed outrage against the muslim prayer day thing was at John Birch Society blogs.

337 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:49:49pm

re: #306 LudwigVanQuixote

75% of the water used in the Southwest comes from melts. You will find that the Colarado is fed by them too. This issue is not like Bangladesh, rather that as the climate changes in the South West, the places that get permafrost up in the mountains,will not have it anymore.

Look at the Princeton links for projections.

I used this as one example of an area that would be hard to fix. There are many others. We could also talk about the costs of not having enough food, because crops have failed in the Midwest.

Dude - the point is storage.

If the same amount of precipitation falls over the same area, but none falls as snow, roughly the same amount will end up stored in the same reservoir system (what percentage ends up as runnoff depends on the saturation of the soil the precipitation falls on, which is influenced by the rate of precipitation and what has fallen prior).

If the argument is now that the aggregate precipitation is reduced (which is a supportable argument) because of a change in the climate system delivering the water then that is a different argument than the "meltwater" proposition, which is often employed when skeptics ask "So what if the glaciers melt?" or "so what if it is rain and not snow?"

Given the industrial infrastructure of the West and the long dry season that the water storage infrastructure was designed to compensate for, the meltwater argument is weak when applied to the southwest.

338 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:50:42pm

A Laurouche supporter posting on a Paulian forum...
Why using figures such as Glenn Beck, and others, is ok.


Most people in society are lead by Gestalts, regardless if they know it or not, for good or bad. Leaders of societies don't act on the individuals to change them, they act upon the gestalts to change them. The leaders know how to wield gestalts in such a manner to move the population. This is what generally puts them in the position to be a leader, and how the population is moved in directions without even knowing it.
...
You don't have to like Glenn Beck. I don't like him. Should we use to him to spread the message out preserving and returning to The Constitution? Hell Yes. This is how society and thus civilization functions.
339 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:50:44pm

re: #331 Honorary Yooper

I'm not saying that we shouldn't do anything to reduce CO2 emissions; we should, especially building nukes.

But Israel has developed technology to reduce water use in irrigation, and that would help mitigate the lack of water in some places.

It is only part of a solution, yes, but it is a useful part.

340 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:51:09pm

re: #333 debutaunt

I know. I was reminded of him saying it.

Well, I was expecting someone to say "Why a duck?"

341 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:51:44pm

re: #340 Kosh's Shadow

Well, I was expecting someone to say "Why a duck?"

Enough with the Marxist dialectic!

342 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:52:47pm

re: #340 Kosh's Shadow

Well, I was expecting someone to say "Why a duck?"

I was going for the subtlety.

343 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:53:14pm

re: #313 Kosh's Shadow

And Erekat has flat out refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
(The link has disappeared from jpost.)

Such peace partners.

Some fights don't end until someone gets their asses kicked so badly they decide its not worth fighting anymore.

344 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:53:22pm

re: #309 Leonidas Hoplite

Maybe we could get the Romans to build us an aqueduct...

Dang, was hoping this would turn into a silly Monty Python thread for a tedious friday afternoon

345 What, me worry?  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:54:23pm

re: #314 SFGoth

So what should Charles's new Hebrew name be? Shlomo? Chaim? (That's Gene Simmons's real name)

Chaim may be good for Charles, but it's a bit old fashioned. Maybe something hipper.

346 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:54:36pm

re: #332 marjoriemoon

I should be more specific. Globally yes, still the same. Locally, maybe not so much.

I do agree that it takes all of us working together, but unfortunately that doesn't always play out in the real world.

Indeed.

I belong to a local group of people who work on their oratory and spend a lot of time debating each other. The muslims we have in our group express their desire to speak out against jihad and the like but are leery to do so because of the "hive mind" they encounter in their mosques and muslim speaking groups that they belong to. They are afraid of backlash from their own people and those who work to discredit them wholesale.

It sucks. They are constantly caught in the middle.

347 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:54:56pm

re: #344 Leonidas Hoplite

Dang, was hoping this would turn into a silly Monty Python thread for a tedious friday afternoon

NOONE EXPECTS THE SILLY MONTY PYTHON THREAD! ITS CHIEF WEAPON IS SUPRISE!

348 Honorary Yooper  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:55:57pm

re: #339 Kosh's Shadow

I'm not saying that we shouldn't do anything to reduce CO2 emissions; we should, especially building nukes.

But Israel has developed technology to reduce water use in irrigation, and that would help mitigate the lack of water in some places.

It is only part of a solution, yes, but it is a useful part.

Yes, that's part of the solution. No one single thing is an answer. There are various ideas, some of which are tried and true, and some of which are completely new. We will be able to change and adapt due to technology, not being a bunch of luddites. The ludditism is almost as bad as the creationism because it fails to embrace science and engineering and only cherry picks the parts it wants.

349 Leonidas Hoplite  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:56:12pm

re: #347 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

NOONE EXPECTS THE SILLY MONTY PYTHON THREAD! ITS CHIEF WEAPON IS SUPRISE!

you honcos has made tears from my eyes they floweth

350 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:56:21pm

re: #347 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

NOONE EXPECTS THE SILLY MONTY PYTHON THREAD! ITS CHIEF WEAPON IS SUPRISE!

As long as it doesn't devolve into this...

:)

351 scrubjay  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:57:22pm

Your calling BS on people is the main reason i come to your web site. I give you 5 bagels for this.

352 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:58:13pm

re: #350 Pianobuff

As long as it doesn't devolve into this...



:)

I think this is the more likely outcome

353 Salamantis  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:58:42pm

re: #317 LudwigVanQuixote

Fine, so I am telling you that their analysis is stupid because they have not adequately thought of the costs involved.

You claim that they have not adequately thought of the costs involved in not acting.

I could likewise claim that you do not ever seem to consider the costs of implementing such suggestions as boycotting India (the world's most populous democracy), and China (the world's most populous country, and one which underwrites much US debt).

354 harrygirl  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 12:59:04pm

re: #59
thanks for the welcome; it's harry or harried but not hairy :)

355 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:00:01pm

re: #353 Salamantis

implementing such suggestions as boycotting India

Should we instead curry favor with them?

/sorry

356 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:00:26pm

re: #312 Equable

I see that you down-dinged my post. Is that just a little retaliation thing, or do you actually disagree that US Muslims have the right to peaceably assemble?

357 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:01:01pm

re: #350 Pianobuff

As long as it doesn't devolve into this...


:)

We had that on the morning thread, complete with the descent into abuse.
(Don't give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!)

Off to a meeting.
Meetings, bloody meetings.

358 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:01:09pm

re: #355 Occasional Reader

Should we instead curry favor with them?

/sorry

Spot on post my friend/

359 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:02:07pm

re: #312 Equable

Not sure why I was dinged on the downard slope for that Charles, I thought I clarified myself to satisfy the status quo nicely.

360 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:02:19pm

re: #358 Creeping Eruption

Spot on post my friend/

Thank you. I feel vindiloocated.

361 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:02:23pm

re: #355 Occasional Reader

Should we instead curry favor with them?

/sorry

Actually OR, I consider it a naan issue.

;-)

362 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:02:45pm

re: #352 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Or this:

363 Ben Hur  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:02:46pm

Oooo...

Neo is fighting Morpheus!

364 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:03:02pm

re: #356 Charles

I see that you down-dinged my post. Is that just a little retaliation thing, or do you actually disagree that US Muslims have the right to peaceably assemble?

No not at all, I just felt that you came at me in spite of me stating several times in that post that I disagree with the extremists that would harass the people praying.

365 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:03:58pm
366 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:03:59pm

re: #361 subsailor68

Actually OR, I consider it a naan issue.

;-)

Come now, let's get back on topic with out daal - lay.

367 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:04:39pm

re: #366 Guanxi88

Come now, let's get back on topic with out daal - lay.

We can't just sit around chana -ing out Punjab after punjab.

368 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:05:43pm

re: #367 Guanxi88

We can't just sit around chana -ing out Punjab after punjab.

These puns will really help your Korma

369 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:05:56pm

By gosht! the thread has gone into pun-lock!

370 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:06:53pm

re: #369 Guanxi88

By gosht! the thread has gone into pun-lock!

And will soon become a source of Agra-vation.

371 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:06:54pm

re: #369 Guanxi88

By gosht! the thread has gone into pun-lock!

Better that than Punjab

372 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:08:02pm

re: #365 buzzsawmonkey

Interesting. So, the Muslims in the group "want to speak out against the jihad," but are afraid to do so--even though they know of others in their community who are of like mind, and even though they know of people outside their community who would be in sympathy with them, but whom they do not wish to ask for aid?

While I would love to be sympathetic to the people you describe, what you are actually saying is that jihad is the message du jour in at least one domestic Muslim community, so much so that other members of that community dare not oppose them, nor even dare to approach others outside the community about it.

Somebody has to grow a pair in that community--whether individually or collectively--and take action, if the term "moderate Muslim" is not to continue being a term of derisive mockery. Either that, or eventually much uglier consequence will descend upon the community from without.

Does it bother you at all that this characterization of what Muslims in the community think is coming from someone who clearly distrusts Muslims in general, and not from members of this (unspecified) community?

373 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:08:38pm

re: #362 lawhawk

Or this:



None of that! What we need is some discipline on this thread! A propose some military drill to get us back on track.

374 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:08:42pm

I began with:

While I don't condone this mindset I can understand the pathology behind it by mere notion of "turnabout is fair play".

What I was trying to say is that those reacting stupidly to the gathering are reacting to what they see and can't tell the forest from the trees.

And as for the muslims themselves I said:

I understand that the vast majority do not share this like-mindedness and are afraid to come out publicly to stand with the United States and the West. This has to change. We need dialog.

And:

I sincerely hope that the "infiltrators" and those who showed up to disrupt this prayer session inspire the America loving muslims to stand up and say:

"HEY FUCKO WE'RE ON YOUR SIDE!"

Not sure where you got the idea that I believe that it's fine to disrupt their prayer. In fact I made several posts to clarify myself further.

375 Killgore Trout  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:09:53pm

My Happy Place, 4 Year Old Drummer

376 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:10:52pm

re: #371 Creeping Eruption

Better that than Punjab

Once more, the thread bogs down, saaging under the groaning weight of these puns.

377 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:11:27pm

re: #373 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Military discipline? You call that military discipline?

Of course, there's Gunnery Sergeant Hartman if you're not careful.

378 karmic_inquisitor  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:11:51pm

Roll Call has something interesting on a claim by the new ranking member of the Armed Services Committee

[Link: www.rollcall.com...]


McKeon Says Administration Sent Mixed Signals on Troop Increases
By Jennifer Bendery and John Stanton
Roll Call Staff
Sept. 23, 2009, 8:18 p.m.

All eyes are on Gen. Stanley McChrystal this week as he prepares to hand off his troop request for Afghanistan to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. But some lawmakers already have an idea of what to expect from President Barack Obama when it comes time to make a decision about beefing up combat soldiers.

House Armed Services ranking member Howard McKeon (R-Calif.) said Wednesday that Gates told him on a July trip to Afghanistan that Obama “wasn’t inclined to send troops over there.”

McKeon said Gates also told him that, in light of Gen. David Petraeus and McChrystal being asked to submit assessments to the president on the war in Afghanistan, Obama had “given instructions” to them to “scrub everything, to make sure they didn’t ask for more than they needed.”

That conversation prompted McKeon to ask McChrystal if the directive sent “a chilling message” that the U.S. and NATO commander should ask for less troops than he needed. “He said, ‘No, I’m honor-bound to ask for what I need,’” McKeon said.

Drudge is reporting a story that references this one, but leaves out the caveat in last paragraph I quoted.

379 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:12:15pm
380 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:12:29pm

re: #365 buzzsawmonkey

Well the proplem with this, is there is a lot they would be turning their backs on if they "came out", so to speak. For many muslims I know blood is thicker than country.

381 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:12:36pm

re: #371 Creeping Eruption

Better that than Punjab

If you hang out langar, the puns will only get worse.

382 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:13:24pm

re: #381 Pianobuff

If you hang out langar, the puns will only get worse.

True, these punsters will just keep jamun along.

383 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:13:50pm

Is there anyone who didn't see this coming?

Students' Obama Song Used For GOP Fundraising

The Republican National Committee has sent a fundraising email to supporters tied to what it calls the "fanaticism" displayed in a video of New Jersey elementary-school students singing a song praising President Obama. (Watch it at left.)

RNC Chair Michael Steele writes that the video shows "the indoctrination of our nation's greatest treasure -- our children."

"Friend, this is the type of propaganda you would see in Stalin's Russia or Kim Jong Il's North Korea," Steele writes. "I never thought the day would come when I'd see it here in America.

Obviously, I find the video ludicrous and disturbing but generalizing it into some kind of statement about the administration is pretty far around the bend itself. If we had caught the White House press office producing and distributing this to thousands, it would be a different story but that isn't what happened here.

384 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:14:03pm

re: #289 Mich-again

Well that will be interesting to see politicians try to make that happen. People around here of all political stripes are extremely protective of the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes Compact will certainly help, since one state can't act independently of other members. But if the price rises high enough, membership will lose it's appeal.

More important is the possibility of the Federal government bowing to growing political influence in the Southwest (Phoenix was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country until the recession hit, I believe) and declaring the Great Lakes to be a "National Resource" controlled by some Federal agency which would decide how to parcel it out across the continent. It might prove to be the trigger for a resurgence of Federalism, but it's within the Fed's power to do this if they choose to.

Michigan already pisses away huge amounts of tax dollars to the Federal government and receives little in return. Our water won't be treated any differently.

385 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:15:08pm

re: #382 Guanxi88

True, these punsters will just keep jamun along.

You'd think they would be sari by now

386 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:15:16pm
387 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:15:50pm

re: #386 buzzsawmonkey

You had better curry up and learn so that you can keep up!

Oh lord that was bad.

388 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:15:51pm

re: #334 Mich-again

Let's talk about all the snow up there. Lots and lots of snow. It's probably snowing already, and won't stop until May. At least.

389 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:16:00pm

re: #377 lawhawk

Military discipline? You call that military discipline?



Of course, there's Gunnery Sergeant Hartman if you're not careful.

How would you like to spend the day marching up and down the square? Or do you have something better to do?

390 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:16:19pm

re: #385 Pianobuff

You'd think they would be sari by now

Some folk will biryani shame for the sake of a good pun.

391 Racer X  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:17:01pm

re: #383 Shiplord Kirel

Is there anyone who didn't see this coming?

Students' Obama Song Used For GOP Fundraising

Obviously, I find the video ludicrous and disturbing but generalizing it into some kind of statement about the administration is pretty far around the bend itself. If we had caught the White House press office producing and distributing this to thousands, it would be a different story but that isn't what happened here.

Agreed. This is not organized by the white house. It is organized by local teachers.

392 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:17:14pm

Got three terrorists. No car swarm pictures yet

According to initial reports, Israel war planes intercepted a vehicle which was transporting rockets to be fired into Israeli. In a statement released directly after the strike, the IDF said that the terrorists had exited the vehicle and were unloading weapons when the IAF fired missiles at them.


The Palis will claim the rockets were giant baby bottles in 3...2...1...

393 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:17:15pm

re: #386 buzzsawmonkey

I have to admire the extent of the Indian puns here, which way, way outstrip my knowledge of Indian language, culture and cuisine.

Clearly I need to at least revisit an Indian restaurant in the near future.

You need no reason to visit one of those culinary palaces, go, and blessings be upon you.

394 Judith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:17:26pm

Well deserved praise Charles, well deserved.

395 Spenser (with an S)  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:17:51pm

re: #388 lurking faith

Let's talk about all the snow up there. Lots and lots of snow. It's probably snowing already, and won't stop until May. At least.

Actually, we're having the summer now that we missed in August. 75 and sunny today.

396 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:18:18pm
397 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:18:30pm

re: #386 buzzsawmonkey

I have to admire the extent of the Indian puns here, which way, way outstrip my knowledge of Indian language, culture and cuisine.

Clearly I need to at least revisit an Indian restaurant in the near future.

Let not this pun-shwarma go to waste.

398 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:18:59pm

re: #395 Spenser (with an S)

81 degrees where I am at 1:18.

That's Southern California for you.

399 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:19:30pm

re: #307 LudwigVanQuixote

Right, so how much would it cost to build, power and secure a system that would do this and distribute the water? Back of the envelope it is trillions.

There are already continent-spanning pipeline systems in place that move vast quantities of resources across the nation. None of them cost anywhere near a single trillion dollars.

Please take a deep breath. You're verging on hysteria here.

400 Creeping Eruption  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:19:54pm

re: #386 buzzsawmonkey

I have to admire the extent of the Indian puns here, which way, way outstrip my knowledge of Indian language, culture and cuisine.

Clearly I need to at least revisit an Indian restaurant in the near future.

Bengali, have we found a pun topic to stump even the mighty punster Buzzsawmonkey?

401 Sharmuta  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:20:07pm

Congratulations, Charles.

402 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:20:09pm

re: #390 Guanxi88

Some folk will biryani shame for the sake of a good pun.

I want to know when punning stops and punging starts.

403 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:20:22pm

Flying pig moment?
Kremlin to Iran: 'Iran must prove nuke program peaceful'

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday urged Iran to prove it is not seeking to develop atomic weapons, stepping up pressure on Teheran and signaling increased solidarity with Western nations determined to rein in its nuclear program.

Medvedev said revelations that Iran has secretly been building a uranium-enrichment plant raised "serious concerns," and demanded Teheran come to the table at an international meeting next week with a cooperative attitude and evidence of peaceful intentions.


I guess this means the Russians will also sign the strongly worded letter.

404 mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:20:31pm

re: #384 SixDegrees

and declaring the Great Lakes to be a "National Resource" controlled by some Federal agency which would decide how to parcel it out across the continent. It might prove to be the trigger for a resurgence of Federalism, but it's within the Fed's power to do this if they choose to.

Canada might have a thing to say about that.

405 subsailor68  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:21:26pm

re: #384 SixDegrees

The Great Lakes Compact will certainly help, since one state can't act independently of other members. But if the price rises high enough, membership will lose it's appeal.

More important is the possibility of the Federal government bowing to growing political influence in the Southwest (Phoenix was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country until the recession hit, I believe) and declaring the Great Lakes to be a "National Resource" controlled by some Federal agency which would decide how to parcel it out across the continent. It might prove to be the trigger for a resurgence of Federalism, but it's within the Fed's power to do this if they choose to.

Michigan already pisses away huge amounts of tax dollars to the Federal government and receives little in return. Our water won't be treated any differently.

Hi Six! The administration (as I'm sure ya know) has appointed a Great Lakes czar:

Obama names Chicago environmentalist as Great Lakes czar

President Obama has named Cameron Davis, president of a Chicago environmentalist group, to oversee the administration’s initiative to clean up the Great Lakes.

Davis' charter is environmental, but it would be interesting to see what happens under your scenario. Does he fight the parceling, or does he oversee it? Interesting situation.

406 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:21:50pm

re: #402 Pianobuff

I want to know when punning stops and punging starts.

Don't you mean ponging? But if not, let's just say that the answer you sikh will not be found here.

407 Charles Johnson  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:21:51pm

re: #383 Shiplord Kirel

Is there anyone who didn't see this coming?

Students' Obama Song Used For GOP Fundraising

Obviously, I find the video ludicrous and disturbing but generalizing it into some kind of statement about the administration is pretty far around the bend itself. If we had caught the White House press office producing and distributing this to thousands, it would be a different story but that isn't what happened here.

As usual, the GOP is racing to the bottom and trying to capitalize on the latest fake outrage, by whipping up the base into a frenzy over something that's not important in the least, to try to squeeze out some more money.

408 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:22:26pm

re: #395 Spenser (with an S)

Actually, we're having the summer now that we missed in August. 75 and sunny today.

Shhh!

Actually, the landscape itself could keep westerners away. I remember one Coloradoan's complaint, upon visiting Michigan, was that you couldn't see any scenery because there were too damned many trees everywhere. LMAO

409 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:22:31pm

re: #407 Charles

As usual, the GOP is racing to the bottom and trying to capitalize on the latest fake outrage, by whipping up the base into a frenzy over something that's not important in the least, to try to squeeze out some more money.

Nice work if you can get it, to quote Fred Astaire.

410 mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:22:41pm

re: #383 Shiplord Kirel

Obviously, I find the video ludicrous and disturbing but generalizing it into some kind of statement about the administration is pretty far around the bend itself. If we had caught the White House press office producing and distributing this to thousands, it would be a different story but that isn't what happened here.

But it is fair game for GOP fund raising efforts just like showing clips of RW nuts that have no ties to GOP politicians is regularly used by the Dems.

411 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:23:58pm

re: #386 buzzsawmonkey

I have to admire the extent of the Indian puns here, which way, way outstrip my knowledge of Indian language, culture and cuisine.

Clearly I need to at least revisit an Indian restaurant in the near future.

Come to DC. "Indique" in Cleveland Park: Dee-licious.

412 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:25:10pm

re: #411 Occasional Reader

Come to DC. "Indique" in Cleveland Park: Dee-licious.

Pricey?

413 lawhawk  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:25:33pm

re: #392 Kosh's Shadow

Not exactly car swarm, but Getty Images (not for squeamish) does have a couple photos of the dead terrorists.

414 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:25:45pm
415 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:25:50pm

re: #409 Guanxi88

Nice work if you can get it, to quote Fred Astaire.

Holding hands at midnight.

416 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:26:12pm

re: #412 lurking faith

Pricey?

Nope. Not as cheap as the standard-issue corner Indian restaurant, but far higher quality, a nice atmosphere, and not expensive.

417 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:26:37pm

re: #415 debutaunt

Holding hands at midnight.

And then taking that vow.
Nice work if you can get,
And if you get, tell me how!

418 infidel4ever  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:26:50pm

Congratulations Charles... You earned it!

419 Kragar  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:27:13pm

re: #413 lawhawk

Not exactly car swarm, but Getty Images (not for squeamish) does have a couple photos of the dead terrorists.

"He wouldn't say Allahhu Akbar if you put 50,000 volts thru him. This is an ex-terrorist!"

420 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:28:16pm

re: #417 Guanxi88

And then taking that vow.
Nice work if you can get,
And if you get, tell me how!

Ahhh - the days of great song lyrics!

421 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:28:24pm

re: #414 buzzsawmonkey

Is Cleveland Park anywhere near Dulles Airport?

To put it mildly... no. Dulles is a good 25 miles or so from the city.

422 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:28:25pm

Yes he has "run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible."

423 Salamantis  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:28:50pm

My copy of The Greatest Show On Earth: The Evidence For Evolution by Richard Dawkins just arrived.

I'm still waiting on my copy of The New Atheism: Taking A Stand For Science And Reason by Victor J. Stenger.

424 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:29:06pm

re: #422 Equable

Yes he has "run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible."

Gone to meet his maker...

425 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:29:37pm

re: #420 debutaunt

Ahhh - the days of great song lyrics!

I was so sad when Anita O'Day passed on a couple of years back. One of the last links to that era.

426 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:29:39pm

re: #404 mich-again

Canada might have a thing to say about that.

Canada would be pissed. What would they be able to do to stop it? Withhold poutine shipments? Sorry to snark on my Canadian friends, but there's simply nothing Canada could do but accept such diversions.

The most likely solution would be to cut them in on fees.

427 Equable  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:30:01pm

Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace!

428 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:30:42pm
429 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:30:43pm

re: #416 Occasional Reader

Nope. Not as cheap as the standard-issue corner Indian restaurant, but far higher quality, a nice atmosphere, and not expensive.

Found the website; it does look good. And reasonable, especially by DC standards.

430 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:30:47pm

re: #407 Charles

As usual, the GOP is racing to the bottom and trying to capitalize on the latest fake outrage, by whipping up the base into a frenzy over something that's not important in the least, to try to squeeze out some more money.

Very disturbing to see Steele not only acquiescing to this, but actively flogging it.

431 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:02pm

re: #426 SixDegrees

Canada would be pissed. What would they be able to do to stop it?

They might send their air force to bomb the Baldwins' house.

432 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:06pm

re: #425 Pianobuff

I was so sad when Anita O'Day passed on a couple of years back. One of the last links to that era.

Youtube has some terrific videos of her.

433 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:45pm

re: #405 subsailor68

Hi Six! The administration (as I'm sure ya know) has appointed a Great Lakes czar:

Obama names Chicago environmentalist as Great Lakes czar

President Obama has named Cameron Davis, president of a Chicago environmentalist group, to oversee the administration’s initiative to clean up the Great Lakes.

Davis' charter is environmental, but it would be interesting to see what happens under your scenario. Does he fight the parceling, or does he oversee it? Interesting situation.

I don't think this will be a problem on 0bama's watch. Maybe not long afterward, though.

434 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:46pm

re: #410 mich-again

But it is fair game for GOP fund raising efforts just like showing clips of RW nuts that have no ties to GOP politicians is regularly used by the Dems.

"Tu quoque"

Acting like Democrat propagandists is not my idea of restoring the Republican Party's fortunes.

435 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:49pm
436 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:57pm

re: #428 buzzsawmonkey

C'mon! Not bad from memory, though.

Try this one on:

" I say, Fred, old potato, have you heard about this Yam?"

437 mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:31:57pm

re: #407 Charles

As usual, the GOP is racing to the bottom and trying to capitalize on the latest fake outrage, by whipping up the base into a frenzy over something that's not important in the least, to try to squeeze out some more money.

From what I've seen its common for political fundraising efforts to use scare tactics, mudslinging, half-truths, and outright lies about the opposition. The Dem ad that used a mushroom cloud to scare people in the '60's and the infamous Willy Horton ad used by the GOP come to mind. Its a pretty disgusting line of work.

438 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:32:15pm

re: #431 Occasional Reader

They might send their air force to bomb the Baldwins' house.

Heh.

Start pumping!

439 Fenway_Nation  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:32:56pm

Quick question regarding the press and terrorism.

For the two wanna-be jihadis in Illinois and Texas, aren't we basically telling more competent and determined terrorists what not to do when law enforcement and the media go into detail on how the various plots were discovered and thwarted?

I'm all for disclosure and everything, but wouldn't this be tipping our hand and letting other cells know that they should be even more cautious and secretive?

440 Lawrior  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:33:00pm

re: #424 debutaunt

Gone to meet his maker75 virgins...


Fixed that for you.

441 McSpiff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:33:11pm

re: #426 SixDegrees

Poutine eh? You might want to check your stats on Canada-US trade if you think thats all we ship. A trade war wouldn't be much better for the US than Canada.

442 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:33:15pm

re: #435 buzzsawmonkey

and favorable traffic patterns.

[cough] ahh, about that...

443 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:33:31pm

re: #428 buzzsawmonkey

Or this one:

Bad news
Go 'way
Call round
Some day
In March or May
I'm dancing and I can't be bothered now.

My bonds & shares
May fall downstairs
Who cares?
Who cares?
I'm dancing and I can't be bothered now.

444 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:33:32pm

re: #435 buzzsawmonkey

I am deeply disappointed. On the other hand, 25 miles is not that far, given a good internal combustion engine and favorable traffic patterns.

You want favorable traffic patterns in DC?

*boggle*

445 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:34:28pm

re: #432 debutaunt

Youtube has some terrific videos of her.

I saw a pictorial tribute on youtube within days after her death over the tune "Crazy He Calls Me". Very moving.

But her live performance of Sweet Georgia Brown at Newport... Bravo!

446 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:34:41pm

re: #440 Lawrior

Fixed that for you.

It's going to be a very big disappointment.

447 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:34:57pm

re: #444 lurking faith

You want favorable traffic patterns in DC?

*boggle*

(Next he's gonna say, "well, at least I'll be getting away from all this dang pollen in New York!")

448 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:35:19pm
449 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:36:18pm

re: #445 Pianobuff

I saw a pictorial tribute on youtube within days after her death over the tune "Crazy He Calls Me". Very moving.

But her live performance of Sweet Georgia Brown at Newport... Bravo!

She told the story of how she put that great outfit together.

450 Lawrior  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:36:28pm

re: #446 debutaunt

I'd like to think so.
/please don't start this discussion.

451 Guanxi88  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:36:34pm

re: #448 buzzsawmonkey

Any Yam today?

BTW, I did the "Nice Work" lyrics from memory, but a) I'm cursed, and b) the 78 of that has been a favorite of mine for years.

Nice find, sir!

452 Randall Gross  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:36:55pm

Lawhawk: I just caught up to your smackdown of the Drudge headline, good work on that.

453 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:37:08pm

re: #449 debutaunt

She told the story of how she put that great outfit together.

I still have yet to read her autobiography, but Good Lord, what a life!

454 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:38:44pm

re: #453 Pianobuff

I still have yet to read her autobiography, but Good Lord, what a life!

O'Day is pig latin for Dough.

455 Kosh's Shadow  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:39:35pm

re: #427 Equable

Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace!

I hope he's not so peaceful, getting rockets up his behind for eternity.

456 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:40:08pm

re: #453 Pianobuff

I still have yet to read her autobiography, but Good Lord, what a life!

Rent [Link: www.netflix.com...]

457 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:40:08pm

re: #439 Fenway_Nation

Quick question regarding the press and terrorism.

For the two wanna-be jihadis in Illinois and Texas, aren't we basically telling more competent and determined terrorists what not to do when law enforcement and the media go into detail on how the various plots were discovered and thwarted?

I'm all for disclosure and everything, but wouldn't this be tipping our hand and letting other cells know that they should be even more cautious and secretive?

That occurred to me as well. But it may not be as bad as it seems at first glance.

Several years ago, a lot of radical groups realized that their emails could be traced with ease, so they started looking around for ways to anonymize their communications. Lo and behold, a host of email anonymizer services sprang up to meet this demand, carefully stripping off all trace of origin and often employing elaborate networks that would ping-pong a message through several different servers to make tracing even more difficult.

There has long been a rumor, and it seems to be true, that the largest and most successful of these services were run by the FBI and CIA, with the express purpose of attracting the nuts and keeping tabs on them.

So it's possible that the release of information is somewhat selective, and is meant to nudge others with similar aspirations in a particular direction.

Of course, it's all going to come out in court anyway, so the feeling might simply be that it's information that's already headed for release. And it sounds as though there was some sort of screwup in New York, although that's not definite yet. But perhaps some good will come of it, too. As in all such matters, we're in an arms race with the enemy - they discover our weaknesses and exploit them, we do likewise, and round and round it goes.

458 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:40:50pm

re: #454 debutaunt

O'Day is pig latin for Dough.

Just the other day, buzzsawmonkey pointed out what the name of the actress "Alice Faye" is Pig Latin for.

459 Pianobuff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:40:59pm

re: #456 debutaunt

Rent [Link: www.netflix.com...]

Thanks!

460 mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:41:02pm

re: #439 Fenway_Nation

I'm all for disclosure and everything, but wouldn't this be tipping our hand and letting other cells know that they should be even more cautious and secretive?

One could argue both sides of that question. On one hand you make a good point that providing all the details of the sting operation will only educate the next terrorist what not to do. But keeping all the details secret will lead people to think we don't get any benefit from all of the resources we pour into FBI surveillance and that the war on terror is just a big hoax. Not an easy answer.

461 lurking faith  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:41:42pm

re: #447 Occasional Reader

*spew*

(I think today's local pollen count is in the infrared zone.)

462 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:42:56pm

re: #441 McSpiff

Poutine eh? You might want to check your stats on Canada-US trade if you think thats all we ship. A trade war wouldn't be much better for the US than Canada.

I'm aware of the realities; I amended my statement in the very next sentence. In the end, though, if the US decides to start siphoning off the lakes, there's not much Canada will be able to do to stop it in the end. And before things get that far, we'll probably just shovel enough money north of the border to make any problems go away.

463 SecondComing  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:43:50pm
464 Occasional Reader  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:45:36pm

re: #463 SecondComing

iPhone finally gets MMS

At last! Took 'em long enough.

465 CommonCents  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:46:02pm

OT: US charges accomplice of Democratic fund-raiser

NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Many of the fake documents used by a leading Democratic Party fund-raiser to defraud HSBC (HSBA.L) and Citigroup Inc (C.N) were made by his brother-in-law, U.S. prosecutors said on Friday.

Authorities arrested and charged Shahin Kashanchi, brother-in-law of indicted fund-raiser Hassan Nemazee, who donated to the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and other leading Democrats over the years.

Nemazee pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in Manhattan federal court to defrauding a total of three banks -- Bank of America (BAC.N) was the other -- out of $292 million in loan proceeds.

Sweet. Perhaps in the next election a Republican can borrow millions of dollars, prop up some candidates, then default on loan (sarcasm of course).

Will the campaign contribution recipients be forced to pay back the money to the banks? Doubt it.

466 debutaunt  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:46:36pm

re: #458 Occasional Reader

Just the other day, buzzsawmonkey pointed out what the name of the actress "Alice Faye" is Pig Latin for.

Ahm gonna smack that big lug!

467 Throbert McGee  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:50:44pm

re: #13 Charles

Well, Netanyahu's senior adviser may think I'm OK, but right wing bloggers really, really hate me. As much as they hate Pat Buchanan.

[Link: rightwingnews.com...]

[Glancing over the list of responding "right wing bloggers"]

Oh, geez... it must sting to get dissed by the satirical geniuses at Nose On Your Face.

468 Stuart Leviton  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:51:06pm

Mazel tov, Charles.

469 Bagua  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:51:34pm

re: #292 LudwigVanQuixote

You are not understanding what I am saying. In order for the Colorado to save the day, it would literally have to be for the American Southwest what the Nile is for Egypt.

There is no projection in which the South West wins.

I am not panic mongering. I am telling you the truth. If you find that truth unsettling - good. Sane people should be unsettled by it. Sane people also can take steps to prevent this.

I agree. It is not "panic mongering" to report this potential impact based upon the premise of additional warming.

470 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:52:10pm

re: #399 SixDegrees

There are already continent-spanning pipeline systems in place that move vast quantities of resources across the nation. None of them cost anywhere near a single trillion dollars.

Please take a deep breath. You're verging on hysteria here.

That is very, very insulting.

I am not verging on hysteria. What you are doing is failing to understand the magnitude of what you are suggesting.

I just calculated that the SW will need on order 4 billion litres per day, if the people their conserve water.

Now let's look at the cost of transport...

The Alaska pipeline for instance is 800 miles long, and in 1977, cost 8 billion. That is over 100 billion in today's money. I don't know the exact amount, but let's say 100 billion for a round estimate.

It pumps much, much fewer than 3-billion liters per day.

BUt the real key issue is that it is only 800 miles long... How many more miles of pipe do you think you would need to lay to adequately deal with just one state? Do you think it is 10x? or perhaps 100x? Right, you will need a branching network... How long do you think that is over every population center in five states?

guess what - it is more like 1000x as long if you add up all the pipe.

And we need to account for the fact that we are pumping up hill and all the desalination.

So, 1000 X 100 billion is 100 trillion dollars.

And this is for the SW. We would spend more of our money on LA and the problems of sea level rise there than we would on the people we would just ask to evacuate places like Arizona.

So please, do the math and don't insult me by claiming I am being hysterical. I am not. PLease don't try to brush everything I am saying away, but just calling it a name and pretending you can ignore it.

471 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:53:03pm

re: #470 LudwigVanQuixote
[Link: www.alyeska-pipe.com...]

472 SixDegrees  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:55:05pm

re: #470 LudwigVanQuixote

That is very, very insulting.

I am not verging on hysteria. What you are doing is failing to understand the magnitude of what you are suggesting.

I just calculated that the SW will need on order 4 billion litres per day, if the people their conserve water.

Now let's look at the cost of transport...

The Alaska pipeline for instance is 800 miles long, and in 1977, cost 8 billion. That is over 100 billion in today's money. I don't know the exact amount, but let's say 100 billion for a round estimate.

It pumps much, much fewer than 3-billion liters per day.

BUt the real key issue is that it is only 800 miles long... How many more miles of pipe do you think you would need to lay to adequately deal with just one state? Do you think it is 10x? or perhaps 100x? Right, you will need a branching network... How long do you think that is over every population center in five states?

guess what - it is more like 1000x as long if you add up all the pipe.

And we need to account for the fact that we are pumping up hill and all the desalination.

So, 1000 X 100 billion is 100 trillion dollars.

And this is for the SW. We would spend more of our money on LA and the problems of sea level rise there than we would on the people we would just ask to evacuate places like Arizona.

So please, do the math and don't insult me by claiming I am being hysterical. I am not. PLease don't try to brush everything I am saying away, but just calling it a name and pretending you can ignore it.

Your estimates are ridiculous.

473 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:55:28pm

re: #472 SixDegrees

Your estimates are ridiculous.

ok back that up.

474 SecondComing  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:55:46pm

re: #464 Occasional Reader

At last! Took 'em long enough.

No kidding! Nice to finally have one of the functions on my old free Sprint phone.

475 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:56:47pm

re: #472 SixDegrees

NO really, Say I am off by a factor as much as ten... Then we are still talking a ten trillion price tag.

If you want to say I am being ridiculous, back it up.

476 Dancing along the light of day  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:57:25pm

Congratulations, Charles on this fine recognition!

477 McSpiff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 1:58:48pm

re: #462 SixDegrees

Agreed. Money would make all our concerns go away quickly. Guess I'm just sick of the dismissive attitude some Americans have towards Canada, and you got my standard response.

478 Bagua  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:02:20pm

re: #470 LudwigVanQuixote

So please, do the math and don't insult me by claiming I am being hysterical. I am not. PLease don't try to brush everything I am saying away, but just calling it a name and pretending you can ignore it.

I agree, just the new tunnel in Boston cost over $14 Billion, a massive pipeline project like this would involve a significant cost, certainly in the trillions.

Considering current conditions and population growth alone, it is not hard to image hundreds of billions of dollars in things like pipelines, desalinization, population shifts, and associated infrastructure.

479 McSpiff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:04:51pm

re: #478 Bagua

I agree, just the new tunnel in Boston cost over $14 Billion, a massive pipeline project like this would involve a significant cost, certainly in the trillions.

Considering current conditions and population growth alone, it is not hard to image hundreds of billions of dollars in things like pipelines, desalinization, population shifts, and associated infrastructure.

New York Water Tunnel #3 will have taken 50 years to complete, if it's on schedule and cost over $6 billion. And thats just 60miles. [Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

480 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:04:57pm

re: #478 Bagua

I agree, just the new tunnel in Boston cost over $14 Billion, a massive pipeline project like this would involve a significant cost, certainly in the trillions.

Considering current conditions and population growth alone, it is not hard to image hundreds of billions of dollars in things like pipelines, desalinization, population shifts, and associated infrastructure.

Woah, are you feeling OK bro? I'm not used to you backing me up...

But thanks!

481 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:06:14pm

re: #479 McSpiff

New York Water Tunnel #3 will have taken 50 years to complete, if it's on schedule and cost over $6 billion. And thats just 60miles. [Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Yeah - exactly, anyone who thinks we could just build pipes out of the problem just has not looked at the real numbers such projects entail.

482 McSpiff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:08:22pm

re: #481 LudwigVanQuixote

Totally agreed. Huge water works projects are always ridiculously expensive, even when compared to oil or gas. The real world numbers certainly back this up.

483 Spare O'Lake  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:09:48pm

re: #462 SixDegrees

I'm aware of the realities; I amended my statement in the very next sentence. In the end, though, if the US decides to start siphoning off the lakes, there's not much Canada will be able to do to stop it in the end. And before things get that far, we'll probably just shovel enough money north of the border to make any problems go away.

You guys are already stealing our water sekritly.
We're just too nice to do anything about it.

484 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:13:08pm

re: #465 CommonCents

Hassan Nemazee has been a Mullah promoter here in the US for a long time and a financial scam artist to boot. Pure scumbag. And you are right about him being a big contributor to various Dem politicians, particularly John F-in Kerry.

485 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:16:18pm

re: #477 McSpiff

Guess I'm just sick of the dismissive attitude some Americans have towards Canada,

Me too. And anyone who thinks the US can just divert Great Lakes water to the SW states and tell Canada to FOAD is nutz. And if they think we could just send some cash to Canada and buy them off they're delusional as well.

486 McSpiff  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:21:20pm

re: #485 Mich-again

Well, if we're talking a stupid amount of money id believe. Remove the national debt? Finance health care for the next generation? I could see people listening. I mean hell if we're talking about trillion dollar pipelines, why not dream big.

487 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:23:02pm

Generating the gigawatts of power to desalinate sea water for people who choose to live in a desert climate would be completely counterproductive to all of our efforts to curb global warming. Those people need to go where the water is.

488 [deleted]  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:24:13pm
489 Mad Prophet Ludwig  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:36:10pm

re: #487 Mich-again

Generating the gigawatts of power to desalinate sea water for people who choose to live in a desert climate would be completely counterproductive to all of our efforts to curb global warming. Those people need to go where the water is.

Except that a lot of those places will be underwater... AGW really is bad news overall.

490 Taqyia2Me  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:41:05pm

Congratulations, Charles!

491 Kot Begemot  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:42:20pm

I don't think you guys realize the true significance of this. Charles just beat Ron Paul in an online poll.

492 Mich-again  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:43:00pm

re: #489 LudwigVanQuixote

Except that a lot of those places will be underwater... AGW really is bad news overall.

Heck, we already spend many billions of dollars building and maintaining dikes and elaborate pumping systems so American people can live in cities that are below sea level. And when Mother Nature tried to reclaim the place, we just blamed it all on GWB and spent billions more to rebuild it.

493 Kot Begemot  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:43:36pm

Oh darn, wrong thread.

494 see bs  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 2:55:35pm

Awesome! That that also mean access to sporting events? I would gladly be a sports corespondent for LGF :)

Seriously, that is great to hear. Journalism and Media have changed and those in power who snub their noses at the serious work that some bloggers have done show that we really do have a voice in finding and promoting the truth in todays crazy times.

495 marsl  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 3:31:07pm

Well, it's kind of repetitive, but I believe it's needed: Congratulations and keep the good work!

496 coldpizza  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 4:31:11pm

Congrats Charles, its well deserved.. Can we change the name to Little Green Mossads?

497 califleftyb  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 4:36:00pm

Ever see a lizard kvelling???

498 EE  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 6:05:42pm

Congratulations, Charles, on being recognized for your excellent work!

499 copyace  Fri, Sep 25, 2009 6:58:30pm

Belated, but heartfelt congratulations, Charles! You are truly among the righteous.
>>Brent

500 hellosnackbar  Sat, Sep 26, 2009 7:03:24am

Well done and richly deserved Charles!
Isn't it strange how "golden rule" common sense can initiate such approbrium from the rabble who call themselves conservatives?

501 maryatexitzero  Sat, Sep 26, 2009 8:27:10am

Congratulations Charles!

I went to the blogger's convention in Jerusalem last year, and met a lot of great bloggers. And Bibi was there (his speech there was pretty good too). It's nice to know that the Israeli leadership understands the value of bloggers.

Congratulations to Richard Landes at Augean Stables. He's been working on the Pallywood/al Dura issues for years.


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