If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.
— Rachel Carson
2 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 10:51:42pm |
Hulu generally makes you wait 8 days before airing a recent episode of a TV show. I just watched Fringe after less then a week. Man, the writers are bringing it huge. Just a complete mind fuck. I love good writing.
| 3 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 10:57:18pm |
I am now sharing my newest metal discovery, australian space-prog-metal band Alchemist
| 4 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 10:58:01pm |
| 5 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 10:59:09pm |
The cover art of this makes me think of british Amiga and Atari ST game covers for some reason, which is awesome
| 6 |
Kragar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:00:07pm |
"If I had one wish that I could wish this holiday season, it would be that all the children to join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and peace. If I had two wishes I could make this holiday season, the first would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing in the spirit of harmony and peace. And the second would be for 30 million dollars a month to be given to me, tax-free in a Swiss bank account. You know, if I had three wishes I could make this holiday season, the first, of course, would be for all the children of the world to get together and sing, the second would be for the 30 million dollars every month to me, and the third would be for encompassing power over every living being in the entire universe. And if I had four wishes that I could make this holiday season, the first would be the crap about the kids definitely, the second would be for the 30 million, the third would be for all the power, and the fourth would be to set aside one month each year to have an extended 31-day orgasm, to be brought out slowly by Rosanna Arquette and that model Paulina-somebody, I can't think of her name. Of course my lovely wife can come too and she's behind me one hundred percent here, I guarantee it. Wait a minute, maybe the sex thing should be the first wish, so if I made that the first wish, because it could all go boom tomorrow, then what do you got, y'know? No, no, the kids, the kids singing would be great, that would be nice. But wait a minute, who am I kidding? They're not going to be able to get all those kids together. I mean, the logistics of the thing is impossible, more trouble than it's worth! So -- we reorganize! Here we go. First, the sex thing. We go with that. Second, the money. No, we got with the power second, then the money. And then the kids. Oh wait, oh jeez, I forgot about revenge against my enemies! Okay, I need revenge against all my enemies, they should die like pigs in hell! That would be my fourth wish. And, of course, my fifth wish would be for all the children of the world to join hands and sing together in the spirit of harmony and peace. Thank you everybody and Merry Christmas."
-Steve Martin
| 7 |
Summer Seale Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:00:09pm |
Once again, for those who might have missed it at the bottom of the previous thread, here's my impression of Pamela Geller behind the set at the studio, or in her home:
"Why am I surrounded only by fools!?!?"
and
"Fools! I'll destroy them all!!!!"
=)
| 8 |
Kragar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:01:02pm |
re: #7 Summer
Once again, for those who might have missed it at the bottom of the previous thread, here's my impression of Pamela Geller behind the set at the studio, or in her home:
"Why am I surrounded only by fools!?!?"
and
"Fools! I'll destroy them all!!!"
=)
"Where's my gallon of gin?"
| 9 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:02:38pm |
re: #3 WindUpBird
I am now sharing my newest metal discovery, australian space-prog-metal band Alchemist
[Video]
That makes me wish I still smoked pot. Or makes me wish I could find some good acid.
| 10 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:03:02pm |
re: #6 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)
Steve Martin in the Beatles Sgt. Pepper movie with the Bee Gees, all coked out and doing this manic dance and singing Maxwell's Silver Hammer, it really must be seen and then contemplated in a dark room to reach enlightnment
| 11 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:03:33pm |
re: #9 Cannadian Club Akbar
That makes me wish I still smoked pot. Or makes me wish I could find some good acid.
They're pretty great sober! I was a fan of Pink Floyd 15 years before I smoked :D
| 12 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:04:27pm |
re: #11 WindUpBird
They're pretty great sober! I was a fan of Pink Floyd 15 years before I smoked :D
Dude, this fucking rocks.
| 13 |
Kragar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:04:32pm |
re: #10 WindUpBird
Steve Martin in the Beatles Sgt. Pepper movie with the Bee Gees, all coked out and doing this manic dance and singing Maxwell's Silver Hammer, it really must be seen and then contemplated in a dark room to reach enlightnment
True, but the scene with Donald Pleasance and the Bee Gees singing "I want you" to each other usually leaves me in a fetal position for at least 6 hours.
| 14 |
HappyWarrior Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:05:48pm |
Got to see John Wall practice for the Washington Wizards tonight and HoosiersHoops if you're here, I think you're right, I think he's much closer to 6-1 than his listed height of 6-4. Didn't look 4-5 inches taller than me. Looked more like 2-3. Made some impressive outside shots tonight. And the coolest thing of the night was I got my picture taken with Gheorghe Mureşan the biggest guy ever to play in the NBA. Felt like such a shrimp standing next to him. Seemed like a nice guy. Didn't have time to ask him what it was like to work with Billy Crystal.
| 15 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:07:47pm |
re: #12 Cannadian Club Akbar
Dude, this fucking rocks.
I know! They've been around since the 90s and somehow they've escaped my attention despite me being a fiend for finding new metal on the internet, holy hell *_*
| 16 |
Eclectic Infidel Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:10:01pm |
re: #6 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)
I remember watching this on SNL.
| 17 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:19:09pm |
All righty. I am gonna take a nap. Been up since 7 this morning and did a 3 mile walk. I'm bushed.
| 18 |
Kragar Mon, Sep 27, 2010 11:22:46pm |
Got a rematch versus the tau this weekend, 4 days to get some skyclaws ready to suprise them.
| 21 |
Summer Seale Tue, Sep 28, 2010 2:34:02am |
re: #20 freetoken
You must be on Euro time or something, like me.... =)
| 22 |
WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Tue, Sep 28, 2010 2:45:45am |
Fox talking head gets pwned
| 25 |
RogueOne Tue, Sep 28, 2010 3:37:25am |
Prosecutor in Stevens case commits suicide
[Link: www.politico.com...]
Stevens' defense team had complained throughout the trial that prosecutors in the Public Integrity Section of DOJ, an elite office, had failed to turn over exculpatory information to them.And when an FBI agent later alleged that one of his colleagues had an improper relationship with the lead government witness, Bill Allen, Attorney General Eric Holder moved to have the conviction vacated.
Marsh was transferred to a less prestigious office within DOJ in June 2009.
Which kind of ties in with this from last week:
A USA TODAY investigation documented 201 criminal cases across the nation in which federal judges found that prosecutors broke the rules. The abuses put innocent people in jail, set guilty people free.
[Link: projects.usatoday.com...]
| 26 |
RogueOne Tue, Sep 28, 2010 3:40:18am |
re: #25 RogueOne
Balko has a nice piece about the USA Today story noting that:
USA Today’s finding of little to no sanction for misbehaving prosecutors is consistent with other studies. According to an Innocence Project study of 75 DNA exonerations, prosecutorial misconduct factored into just under half of those wrongful convictions. In none of those cases did the offending prosecutor face any serious sanction. A 2006 Yale Law Journal look at violations of the Brady rule, which requires prosecutors to turn over exculpatory evidence to defense attorneys, found "[a] prosecutor's violation of the obligation to disclose favorable evidence accounts for more miscarriages of justice than any other type of malpractice, but is rarely sanctioned by courts, and almost never by disciplinary bodies."
[Link: www.theagitator.com...]
| 27 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 3:41:33am |
re: #25 RogueOne
I really don't understand the history of how prosecutors got to be such a specially protected class. I feel like they're even more protected than judges are.
| 28 |
RogueOne Tue, Sep 28, 2010 3:49:19am |
re: #27 Obdicut
I really don't understand the history of how prosecutors got to be such a specially protected class. I feel like they're even more protected than judges are.
I believe you're right, they are more protected than judges. I think I understand the how (if prosecutors are actually doing unbiased work for the community we wouldn't want them to have to defend their actions for every prosecution) but, like you, I don't know why that immunity continues when we have more than enough evidence that prosecutors only care about conviction rates and not "justice".
| 29 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 3:49:43am |
The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.
- Jack Handy.
| 31 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:01:23am |
re: #29 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face.
- Jack Handy.
Especially if said mouth is stuffed with candy!
(or in your case ,, cake!)
| 32 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:03:53am |
re: #31 sattv4u2
Hey!
Spent the night at my folks last night, slept in the windowless basement bedroom. Was so excited about the absolute dark, was awesome!
Woke up this morning... couldn't see outside... felt like I'd slept for two days... no clock... had to get up in case I had overslept. Was 5am.
Up for the day! Yay me!
| 33 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:08:56am |
Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly, it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come. - Jack Handy
(I hope Jimmah sees that).
| 34 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:25:22am |
re: #32 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Hey!
Spent the night at my folks last night, slept in the windowless basement bedroom. Was so excited about the absolute dark, was awesome!
Woke up this morning... couldn't see outside... felt like I'd slept for two days... no clock... had to get up in case I had overslept. Was 5am.
Up for the day! Yay me!
Just got back from taking my son to the bus stop
Didn't get home from work last night till just after 1 a.m (16 hour day),,,, got up at 6:30 to get him going,,
Now, back to bed for half an hour, get up, shower drop the dogs off at the groomers on my way into work for a (minimum) 12 hour day
Yay me !!!!!
| 35 |
Taqyia2Me Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:45:00am |
re: #34 sattv4u2
Let's hope all Americans have good jobs as soon as possible!
| 36 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:53:36am |
I only got about 4 1/2 hours sleep last night. I'd better be able to slips in a nap before work or I'm gonna be cranky today. OK, more cranky. Morning all. Gonna hit a mile walk in a bit.
| 37 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 4:57:35am |
re: #35 Taqyia2Me
Let's hope all Americans have good jobs as soon as possible!
I'm down to about 20 hours a week right now and the boss is sweating making payroll tomorrow. I might have to take a job as a dishwasher to make more than I am now. Sucks to be me.
| 38 |
Shropshire_Slasher Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:03:41am |
Charles,
That is a nice picture of you in your user profile. I like the contrast of the bricks in the background. How about some more music that you like, I may disagree with you sometimes, but you have awesome taste in music.
| 39 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:05:26am |
re: #38 Shropshire_Slasher
Look Charles up on YouTube. He rocks himself.
| 40 |
RogueOne Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:14:40am |
re: #39 Cannadian Club Akbar
Look Charles up on YouTube. He rocks himself.
I think I got the wrong one:
| 41 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:15:48am |
| 42 |
Shropshire_Slasher Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:19:38am |
I will have to remember to look up Charles on Youtube when I get home, If I can stop playing L4D2 long enough!
| 43 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:21:09am |
| 44 |
Mocking Jay Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:22:18am |
re: #37 Cannadian Club Akbar
I'm down to about 20 hours a week right now and the boss is sweating making payroll tomorrow. I might have to take a job as a dishwasher to make more than I am now. Sucks to be me.
My new job isn't that great, but it is nice to have one.
| 45 |
Mocking Jay Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:23:43am |
re: #32 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Hey!
Spent the night at my folks last night, slept in the windowless basement bedroom. Was so excited about the absolute dark, was awesome!
Woke up this morning... couldn't see outside... felt like I'd slept for two days... no clock... had to get up in case I had overslept. Was 5am.
Up for the day! Yay me!
I love total darkness. No fear of that for me. Way cool.
| 46 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:24:47am |
re: #28 RogueOne
I believe you're right, they are more protected than judges. I think I understand the how (if prosecutors are actually doing unbiased work for the community we wouldn't want them to have to defend their actions for every prosecution) but, like you, I don't know why that immunity continues when we have more than enough evidence that prosecutors only care about conviction rates and not "justice".
Here's a hypothetical for you:
Prosecutor indicts drug dealer. Case goes to trial. Drug dealer intimidates witnesses, who then give equivocal testimony. Dealer gets off.
Do we want that prosecutor exposed to a false arrest/malicious prosecution suit just because he/she lost the case? Of course not. But how do you shut those kinds of revenge suits down without fairly wide-ranging protection?
There are some notable prosecution errors. But the vast majority of what goes on in the world is the routine work of putting bad guys in jail. Protecting prosecutors for their work against the bad guys on our behalf is the right thing to do.
| 47 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:24:58am |
re: #44 JasonA
My new job isn't that great, but it is nice to have one.
I'm not complaining (yes I am) but hopefully I can find something closer to home. I don't care if I have to do dishes or bus tables. This is getting scary. But season down here is about to start. More hiring will be coming. And I rock my industry.
| 48 |
Mocking Jay Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:28:02am |
Oh, and mom was released yesterday! I'm proud of her! She's up and walking pretty well now. She gets tired quickly, but that's to be expected.
| 49 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:29:21am |
re: #48 JasonA
Oh, and mom was released yesterday! I'm proud of her! She's up and walking pretty well now. She gets tired quickly, but that's to be expected.
Cool, good for her!!!!
| 50 |
shutdown Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:30:46am |
How are things in the Lizard Lounge this morning?
| 51 |
Taqyia2Me Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:33:42am |
re: #37 Cannadian Club Akbar
Damn, I hope that improves for you right away!
| 54 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:35:42am |
re: #51 Taqyia2Me
Damn, I hope that improves for you right away!
Me too. This is scary. I am in the last industry to be hit. And my savings is pretty much gone. BBIAB.
| 55 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:37:47am |
re: #46 garhighway
But prosecutors are also protected against actual malfeasance.
For example, Patricia DeAngelis committed about a billion different items of prosecutorial misconduct, including fabricating testimony. She suffered not a single punishment because of them.
[Link: www.justicenow4.com...]
| 56 |
Aye Pod Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:45:57am |
re: #33 Fat Bastard Vegetarian
Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly, it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come.
Yeah - but only if you've been very, very good.
PS that is the very Matt Groening quote that iceweasel got her nick from.
| 57 |
Interesting Times Tue, Sep 28, 2010 5:59:13am |
re: #55 Obdicut
For example, Patricia DeAngelis committed about a billion different items of prosecutorial misconduct, including fabricating testimony. She suffered not a single punishment because of them.
[Link: www.justicenow4.com...]
Becomes even more sickening when you think of it in the context of executions. And that lovely supreme court ruling saying new evidence couldn't be considered as long as the original trial was technically correct 9_9
On another note, you've spoken before about how the real cost of oil is hidden through various "artificial" (i.e. non-free-market) mechanisms, correct?
| 58 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:02:55am |
re: #57 publicityStunted
On another note, you've spoken before about how the real cost of oil is hidden through various "artificial" (i.e. non-free-market) mechanisms, correct?
Kind of the opposite: The real cost of oil is naturally hidden in the 'free market', because the free market can't charge for things like pollution. The real economic cost of oil should also include the cost of cleaning up the pollution it generates; the free market has no mechanism to adjust the price of things so that it reflects the damage that they do. The free market can only evaluate the value of things in terms of consumer desire for them, and nothing else.
| 59 |
Aye Pod Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:05:59am |
re: #45 JasonA
I love total darkness. No fear of that for me. Way cool.
Same here. Being stoned in total darkness with the sound of a horse repeatedly galloping towards you as you make your way home to your isolated highland bothy is kinda scary though.
I knew I was separated from it by the fence which enclosed it's field, but nevertheless I did end up breaking into a run and being effectively chased home by it.
| 60 |
Taqyia2Me Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:07:10am |
re: #53 imp_62
Taqyia, did you sleep at all last night??
From about 11 central to about 5:30...not too bad for an old man on a Bears game night.
Go Bears -- 3 and 0 so far...
| 61 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:09:14am |
re: #60 Taqyia2Me
From about 11 central to about 5:30...not too bad for an old man on a Bears game night.
Go Bears -- 3 and 0 so far...
I think the Pack had 18 penalties last night. If I'm the coach they don't get Tuesday off. As a matter of fact, they better know how to do push ups. And if they don't, they will.
| 63 |
Interesting Times Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:10:56am |
re: #58 Obdicut
I see. I was thinking of things like subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuel firms (especially the tax breaks they get on the leasing of public land for drilling).
In any case, I'd be really interested in your input on the info I've put up in this page (and the comments...you'll know which ones...)
| 64 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:11:11am |
re: #59 Jimmah
When I was a teenager, I worked on a wilderness area owned by the California Academy of Sciences. It was in Northern California, rattler country-- and also ranching country.
I was taking a group of city-slicker kids out for a seven day camping trip. On day one, we were still very close to a few ranches. I left them down on a dirty road while I went up a hilltop to scout for rattlers and otherwise make sure it was a good location for a first camp (we hadn't made it to the camp I'd already prepared, due to blisters and bellyaching).
When I came back down, all seven of them had linked arms and were staring resolutely at a cow.
I asked what the hell they were doing, and they said they had linked arms in case the cow charged.
Forgoing questions like "What the hell good would that do?" I walked up to the cow, thumped it a few times on the side, scratched it under the chin, and then told them to come up with their packs. Then I threw as many packs as I could stabilize on the back of the cow, and led it up the hillside to the camp.
Some of them managed to get over their fear of cows that day. But I caught at least one of them still eying the cow suspiciously, as though at any moment it might decide it's cud would taste better soaked in human blood.
| 67 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:16:59am |
re: #63 publicityStunted
I see. I was thinking of things like subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuel firms (especially the tax breaks they get on the leasing of public land for drilling).
Ah, that's all true, too, but that gets into a deeper philosophical conversation for me, in a twofold manner:
1. People selling oil are using up an irreplaceable resource. Should replaceable and irreplaceable resources be treated differently? I feel that they should.
2. The amount of support that nearly any industry, including the oil and gas industry, receives from the government is staggering. Everything from geological surveys to equipment regulations to infrastructure; large scale industry depends on a stable, robust government with the power and ability to create and maintain infrastructure, weights and measures, and civil and criminal courts. The oil and gas industry does benefit in some special ways, especially in terms of geological support, coast guard support, and tax breaks; without these particular forms of support, the price of oil and gas would be much higher, yes.
| 68 |
Ojoe Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:17:00am |
| 69 |
Aye Pod Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:17:32am |
re: #64 Obdicut
Some of them managed to get over their fear of cows that day. But I caught at least one of them still eying the cow suspiciously, as though at any moment it might decide it's cud would taste better soaked in human blood.
Heh. Sounds they got their knowledge of cows from Gary Larson cartoons.
| 70 |
iossarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:20:39am |
re: #67 Obdicut
How can this be? I thought the captains of industry worked their mighty works DESPITE the government's evil intervention!
| 71 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:22:11am |
| 72 |
jamesfirecat Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:25:12am |
re: #71 Cannadian Club Akbar
Great, I liked the fact that Grayson had guts (something that nobody would deny is in short supply among elected democrats) but there's being assertive and there's being... well as you put, a douchebage, and that's soft selling it.
| 73 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:26:41am |
re: #72 jamesfirecat
Great, I liked the fact that Grayson had guts (something that nobody would deny is in short supply among elected democrats) but there's being assertive and there's being... well as you put, a douchebage, and that's soft selling it.
Webster: So, write a journal. Second, find a verse. I have a verse for my wife, I have verses for my wife. Don’t pick the ones that say, ‘She should submit to me.’ That’s in the Bible, but pick the ones that you’re supposed to do. So instead, ‘love your wife, even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it’ as opposed to ‘wives submit to your own husbands.’ She can pray that, if she wants to, but don’t you pray it
[Link: factcheck.org...]
| 74 |
Daniel Ballard Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:27:03am |
re: #68 Ojoe
Good morning Ojoe!
And we have news reports of power outages. SoCal people need to ease off on the electric load today. Let the laundry, blow dry and vacuum wait for cooler hours. Imagine 113 deg. without A/C. Ugly.
| 76 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:30:58am |
re: #70 iossarian
How can this be? I thought the captains of industry worked their mighty works DESPITE the government's evil intervention!
Heh. The cruelest way to look at the current economic set up is that you have the first world, the consumers, where the government has ensured that a free and open society exists that enables wealth to be (though this is rapidly becoming untrue) spread out amongst the largest possible number of consumers. These consumers can purchase products made by the repressed populations in areas like India, China, Thailand, etc. where the governments are strong enough to quell worker discontent and ensure that the products are made cheaply and 'efficiently'.
So we have a set of consumers, a set of producers, and those who profit from it in the main are the owners of the capital.
This is a massively simplistic analysis that leaves out a hell of a lot, but one thing is true: There are no major industries in any countries that don't have strong central governments. At most, there is resource extraction. But in order to have a real economy, you have to have a strong central government.
| 77 |
Varek Raith Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:31:04am |
re: #71 Cannadian Club Akbar
I find it much easier to make a list of people I like.
Makes it quick and easy.
;)
| 78 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:32:36am |
re: #71 Cannadian Club Akbar
Wow. He pretended that Daniel Webster said the exact opposite of what he did. What an asshole.
Fuck Grayson. Weiner is everything good about Grayson without being a liar and a dick.
| 79 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:34:14am |
re: #77 Varek Raith
I find it much easier to make a list of people I like.
Makes it quick and easy.
;)
If I'm not on YourListTM then you are on mine.
//
| 80 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:35:40am |
re: #78 Obdicut
I just wish I got to vote in that election.
| 81 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:40:25am |
Holy crap. I am so wide awake after not getting a bunch of sleep. A mile walk prolly helped. And today is an easy day at work.
| 82 |
Varek Raith Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:41:55am |
re: #81 Cannadian Club Akbar
Holy crap. I am so wide awake after not getting a bunch of sleep. A mile walk prolly helped. And today is an easy day at work.
Last night sucked.
I was the only person there when an 18 wheeler pulled up.
:/
| 83 |
Interesting Times Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:42:11am |
re: #78 Obdicut
Wow. He pretended that Daniel Webster said the exact opposite of what he did.
Ugh. Someone's been taking video editing lessons from Andrew Breitbart :(
| 84 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:43:30am |
re: #82 Varek Raith
Last night sucked.
I was the only person there when an 18 wheeler pulled up.
:/
I have a forklift license.
| 85 |
Varek Raith Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:43:52am |
| 86 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:44:50am |
re: #85 Varek Raith
You suck.
:P
I also have bad eyes and have no depth perception. It's a win win!!!
| 87 |
iossarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:45:41am |
re: #83 publicityStunted
Ugh. Someone's been taking video editing lessons from Andrew Breitbart :(
This is a good line, but it's also the whole question: how far do you want "your" side to go in order to win?
Most days I say stick to the high road. But there are definitely times when I think: "Fuck it, lets just kick the crap out of Rove for a change".
It would be easier to condemn this kind of thing from the left if there was anything like condemnation of it on the right.
But having said all that, yes, I condemn Grayson's fact-distortion, which debases our public discourse!
| 88 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:46:21am |
re: #76 Obdicut
Hey, Obdi. I thought of you when I heard the president had signed the new small business lending bill into law yesterday:
| 89 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:48:06am |
re: #87 iossarian
Tonight on Fox News: Grayson is a douche. On Hannity, O'Reily and Greta!!!
/funny in my head.
| 90 |
Interesting Times Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:52:38am |
re: #87 iossarian
This is a good line, but it's also the whole question: how far do you want "your" side to go in order to win? Most days I say stick to the high road. But there are definitely times when I think: "Fuck it, lets just kick the crap out of Rove for a change".
I think Harry Truman had the best advice about this: "I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell."
In other words, be as brutal and negative as you want as long as what you're saying is true! Otherwise, you risk getting "caught" and then losing your credibility.
(unless of course you're Fox or Breitbart, in which case you simply get excused or rewarded).
| 91 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:53:05am |
re: #64 Obdicut
[snip part of good anecdote]
Some of them managed to get over their fear of cows that day. But I caught at least one of them still eying the cow suspiciously, as though at any moment it might decide it's cud would taste better soaked in human blood.
I think part of it is an instinctual understanding that the cow/hoofed mammal is big enough to pound you into mush if it really took a mind to do. Of course, those familiar with them know that in most cases they have no interest in doing so and have come out to take a look at you out of curiosity.
I used to walk into/through my brother-in-law's lower pasture when visiting. It was the domain (at the time) of a pair of male Clydesdales (2 and 3 year-old brothers). I'd be cutting across there and they'd eventually notice me and come moseying over to say 'hello'. I'd been warned that they were friendly (they were), but that they were young and clumsy enough that I could get myself stepped on by accident. So I was pretty careful. Still, having a couple of large horses (6'+ at the shoulder) come bearing down on you in open ground is something.
My 9-year-old niece got a similar experience (with a couple of adults along). She was smart enough to not try walking underneath them at least. ;)
| 92 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 6:55:11am |
re: #88 prairiefire
Hey, Obdi. I thought of you when I heard the president had signed the new small business lending bill into law yesterday:[Link: www.msnbc.msn.com...]
Ooh, awesome. I didn't know that. Thanks.
| 94 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:08:07am |
re: #93 Cannadian Club Akbar
Another American Idiot out with a gun, shooting folks up.
| 95 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:09:18am |
re: #94 prairiefire
Another American Idiot out with a gun, shooting folks up.
Hopefully just shooting himself.
| 96 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:09:53am |
re: #94 prairiefire
Another American Idiot out with a gun, shooting folks up.
I just hope the guy is dead. Cheaper that way. And I'm an asshole.
| 97 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:11:23am |
re: #93 Cannadian Club Akbar
And another
[Link: www.boston.com...]
Four people were killed, including a child who was 2 to 3 years old, and one man suffered life-threatening injuries, in a shooting early this morning in Boston's Mattapan section
| 98 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:11:59am |
the new leader of the British Labour party just disavowed the Iraq war as a mistake.
and reaffirmed the commitment to Israel.
| 99 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:12:29am |
| 100 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:12:31am |
The gun violence in America is ridiculously high. We are a nation of psychos.
| 101 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:13:52am |
re: #97 sattv4u2
And another
[Link: www.boston.com...]
Four people were killed, including a child who was 2 to 3 years old, and one man suffered life-threatening injuries, in a shooting early this morning in Boston's Mattapan section
He needs to be dead as well. Once again, I am an asshole.
| 102 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:15:33am |
re: #101 Cannadian Club Akbar
I don't think you're an asshole. I just think that the government should have the power to enact the death penalty, since they have shown they're not responsible with it.
If the fucker who shot the child trips and falls on his gun and it shoots his heart out, I wouldn't shed a tear.
| 103 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:15:38am |
re: #99 wozzablog
and wants to lift the Gaza blockade...
so, a mixed bag.
What's his name? Hey, wozza, wozza up?
| 104 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:16:31am |
re: #102 Obdicut
I don't think you're an asshole. I just think that the government should have the power to enact the death penalty, since they have shown they're not responsible with it.
If the fucker who shot the child trips and falls on his gun and it shoots his heart out, I wouldn't shed a tear.
Let him run past me
I'll stick out my leg!
| 105 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:18:32am |
[Link: thenewsoftoday.com...]
The 68 year old leader of Stalinist North Korea, Kim Jong Il, has promoted his youngest son, Kim Jong Eun to a 4 star general position in the North Korean government.
The kid is only like 27, and he might be being the one chosen to take over North Korea.
| 106 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:18:51am |
re: #103 prairiefire
What's his name? Hey, wozza, wozza up?
it's Ed Milliband, brother of the last foreign secretary David Milliband and son of marxist Ralph Milliband...........
| 107 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:19:35am |
re: #105 Obdicut
[Link: thenewsoftoday.com...]
The kid is only like 27, and he might be being the one chosen to take over North Korea.
I have read where he is a bigger bastard then his dad.
| 109 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:19:49am |
re: #105 Obdicut
Yep, the other two older ones are either too dissipated and/or crazy.
| 110 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:20:06am |
re: #105 Obdicut
[Link: thenewsoftoday.com...]
The kid is only like 27, and he might be being the one chosen to take over North Korea.
Wonder if he has dads appetite for porn and if he's also "so ronnery"
| 111 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:20:51am |
re: #107 Cannadian Club Akbar
I have read where he is a bigger bastard then his dad.
What's terrifying to me is that I know absolutely nothing about him. North Korea may be a joke in many ways, but its got internal propaganda enough that if they ever wanted to actually start a war, lots and lots and lots of people would die. Hell, the whole country could go Jonestown some day.
The modern age.
| 112 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:20:56am |
re: #107 Cannadian Club Akbar
I have read where he is a bigger bastard then his dad.
iirc,, thats the eldest son
| 113 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:21:18am |
re: #110 sattv4u2
Wonder if he has dads appetite for porn and if he's also "so ronnery"
If he likes booze like his dad, I should be Ambassador.
//
| 114 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:21:43am |
re: #106 wozzablog
it's Ed Milliband, brother of the last foreign secretary David Milliband and son of marxist Ralph Milliband...
A very Hopey/ Changey speech!
| 115 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:21:57am |
| 116 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:22:08am |
re: #113 Cannadian Club Akbar
If he likes booze like his dad, I should be Ambassador.
//
And hookers ,, don't forget the hookers!
| 117 |
Interesting Times Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:22:55am |
re: #111 Obdicut
What's terrifying to me is that I know absolutely nothing about him. North Korea may be a joke in many ways, but its got internal propaganda enough that if they ever wanted to actually start a war, lots and lots and lots of people would die.
And to make matters worse, the only country who could ever prevent such a thing is (you guessed it) China - as per their own self-interests, you would hope they wouldn't want millions of refugees pouring across their border.
| 118 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:22:57am |
re: #116 sattv4u2
And hookers ,, don't forget the hookers!
Booze, hookers, crack. I am so there!!!
///
| 119 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:23:03am |
re: #106 wozzablog
and he's using the Kings of Leon "use somebody" as a backing track........
And pissed at the conservatives outflanking labour on the left with civil liberties.
| 120 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:23:19am |
re: #106 wozzablog
it's Ed Milliband, brother of the last foreign secretary David Milliband and son of marxist Ralph Milliband...
What a mix. So, his brother is a hawk? And Ed Miliband is going against the conventional wisdom after the Iraq Inquiry. A marxist dad. I wonder what that is like growing up.
| 121 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:23:24am |
| 122 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:24:10am |
re: #120 prairiefire
What a mix. So, his brother is a hawk? And Ed Miliband is going against the conventional wisdom after the Iraq Inquiry. A marxist dad. I wonder what that is like growing up.
Grounded a lot?
/
| 123 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:24:10am |
re: #118 Cannadian Club Akbar
Booze, hookers, crack. I am so there!!!
///
Just hike near the border and you could be!
| 124 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:24:12am |
re: #119 wozzablog
and he's using the Kings of Leon "use somebody" as a backing track...
And pissed at the conservatives outflanking labour on the left with civil liberties.
He sounds kind of dreamy.
| 125 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:24:41am |
re: #114 sattv4u2
and why not? - the last two leaders of the party were electoral poison. "more of the same" just won't cut it.
| 126 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:25:16am |
re: #55 Obdicut
But prosecutors are also protected against actual malfeasance.
For example, Patricia DeAngelis committed about a billion different items of prosecutorial misconduct, including fabricating testimony. She suffered not a single punishment because of them.
[Link: www.justicenow4.com...]
The question is how to design a system that exposes the DeAngelis's of the world but not the normal, workaday prosecutors that lose a case from time to time.
It's tougher than you think.
| 127 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:26:31am |
re: #122 Cannadian Club Akbar
Grounded a lot?
/
A Marxist dad might make you give your favorite toy away to a stranger, just to prove a point.
| 129 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:27:01am |
OT: the day of reckoning is coming for those who thought building big cities in the desert was a good idea:
[Link: www.nytimes.com...]
| 130 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:27:27am |
re: #127 prairiefire
A Marxist dad might make you give your favorite toy away to a stranger, just to prove a point.
Rock 'em Sock "em Robots!!! I will hurt him!!!
//
| 131 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:27:35am |
re: #127 prairiefire
A Marxist dad might make you give your favorite toy away to a stranger, just to prove a point.
A marxist dad wouldn't have bought you a toy in the 1st place!
| 132 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:27:48am |
re: #127 prairiefire
A Marxist dad might make you give your favorite toy away to a stranger, just to prove a point.
Ed's brother nationalised Ed's train set ;-p
| 133 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:28:33am |
| 134 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:28:51am |
re: #126 garhighway
The question is how to design a system that exposes the DeAngelis's of the world but not the normal, workaday prosecutors that lose a case from time to time.
It's tougher than you think.
Oh, I know it's tough. But that's a clear cut-case to me-- so why hasn't she been prosecuted herself? I feel like our system does an okay job of going after corrupt judges, and that's arguably even more difficult to set up.
I think judicial findings of prosecutorial misconduct should result in automatic investigations and/or suspensions. A court of law has already decided what happened was misconduct; the only remaining question is whether it is willful or not.
Judges really don't declare prosecutorial misconduct lightly.
| 135 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:30:02am |
re: #132 wozzablog
Ed's brother nationalised Ed's train set ;-p
A Marxist dad would let you seize the means to produce your own train set.
| 136 |
sattv4u2 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:30:32am |
re: #135 Decatur Deb
A Marxist dad would let you seize the means to produce your own train set.
And then pay you not too!
| 137 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:31:13am |
| 138 |
Ericus58 Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:32:16am |
re: #129 garhighway
OT: the day of reckoning is coming for those who thought building big cities in the desert was a good idea:
[Link: www.nytimes.com...]
Time to catch the water show at the Bellagio now before the lake is drained!
..... I sure hope that "O" continues.....
| 139 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:33:46am |
i should point out that Ed is very very very very soft left. He's long been on the privatisation band wagon.
| 141 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:35:19am |
re: #139 wozzablog
i should point out that Ed is very very very very soft left. He's long been on the privatisation band wagon.
Please tell me the British rail is running on time now.
| 142 |
lawhawk Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:36:20am |
re: #129 garhighway
Heh... they're building a big "eco-friendly/sustainable" city in the UAE. That's in the middle of the desert.
When will people understand that it's not a good idea to live in a frakkin' desert /channelling Sam Kinison
| 143 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:37:40am |
re: #141 prairiefire
Please tell me the British rail is running on time now.
The last time I tried to take Amtrack, the train was 24 hrs late, which is the same thing as being on time the next day.
| 144 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:38:35am |
re: #141 prairiefire
Please tell me the British rail is running on time now.
heh. it was privatised disastrously in the early 90's by the conservatives........... and the infrastructure has been brought back into government control piecemeal ever since. The trains are still run by private companies - but the private franchises are not going well.
| 146 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:39:48am |
re: #138 Ericus58
Time to catch the water show at the Bellagio now before the lake is drained!
... I sure hope that "O" continues...
I was in las Vegas back in June. My hotel room faced the west. In the late afternoon, the window was hot to the touch.
I don't know how people live there.
I get how they go there to party for a few days, but live there? Can't see it.
| 147 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:39:56am |
re: #142 lawhawk
Back on FARK, there was a complete nitwit AGW-denier, Democrat-hating, complete weirdo who would say things like "Civilization started in the desert".
Some 'deserts' civilization started in:
| 148 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:40:58am |
re: #142 lawhawk
Heh... they're building a big "eco-friendly/sustainable" city in the UAE. That's in the middle of the desert.
When will people understand that it's not a good idea to live in a frakkin' desert /channelling Sam Kinison
[Video]
What's funny is that his punch line ("We don't live in the desert! We live where the FOOD IS!") is factually inaccurate. We have millions living in the desert.
| 149 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:41:56am |
| 150 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:42:13am |
re: #144 wozzablog
heh. it was privatised disastrously in the early 90's by the conservatives... and the infrastructure has been brought back into government control piecemeal ever since. The trains are still run by private companies - but the private franchises are not going well.
How does British rail compare to US rail usage? Especially in terms of track totals and passenger traffic ration compared to freight?
The track totals simply have to be smaller, probably by an order of magnitude. And I have the impression that the passenger/freight ratio must be quite high compared to the US. I was in the UK for a few weeks back in the mid-90s and did all the city hopping using a BR pass and then walking or using taxi within a city to get around. (With a few short bus excursions mixed in.)
| 151 |
Liberal Classic Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:42:31am |
re: #107 Cannadian Club Akbar
I have read where he is a bigger bastard then his dad.
I read that he was educated in Sweden and liked basketball. Talk about a wild card.
| 152 |
Obdicut Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:42:50am |
re: #143 Decatur Deb
The last time I tried to take Amtrack, the train was 24 hrs late, which is the same thing as being on time the next day.
I'll say this for Amtrak: We shipped nearly all of our stuff from San Francisco to New York via Amtrak for about half the price of the next cheapest service.
We actually had to pick it up in New Jersey, which was a pain, but the guys who worked the package service there were nice, competent, and didn't screw us. They didn't charge us the fee they're supposed to for keeping stuff for longer than forty-eight hours; they very reasonably asked, "You want to come down on the weekend? Figured. Don't worry about it."
One box was lost from the main shipment-- which was our fault, we should have shipped from a center that could palletize them, but went to the wrong one so all the boxes were separate.
They not only tracked the missing box down, but sent it on to the New York station so I could pick it up easier-- and again, no extra charge.
| 153 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:45:34am |
re: #152 Obdicut
I'll say this for Amtrak: We shipped nearly all of our stuff from San Francisco to New York via Amtrak for about half the price of the next cheapest service.
We actually had to pick it up in New Jersey, which was a pain, but the guys who worked the package service there were nice, competent, and didn't screw us. They didn't charge us the fee they're supposed to for keeping stuff for longer than forty-eight hours; they very reasonably asked, "You want to come down on the weekend? Figured. Don't worry about it."
One box was lost from the main shipment-- which was our fault, we should have shipped from a center that could palletize them, but went to the wrong one so all the boxes were separate.
They not only tracked the missing box down, but sent it on to the New York station so I could pick it up easier-- and again, no extra charge.
I ride Amtrak some, mainly between NYC and Philly, and it works fine almost all the time.
In the NE Corridor, nothing is 100%: not airplanes, not trains, not even I-95.
| 154 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:46:22am |
re: #152 Obdicut
They're great for shipping--that's one of the reasons the Panama Canal has been de-emphasised. I'm trying today to get a sleeper to DC from a major city, not from Chipley FL. They seemed to have closed that route. Loved the trains in Italy and Germany where the population density makes them viable.
| 155 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:46:51am |
re: #151 Liberal Classic
I read that he was educated in Sweden and liked basketball. Talk about a wild card.
I'm not sure about the kid, but I hope he has sense.
| 156 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:48:17am |
re: #150 oaktree
How does British rail compare to US rail usage? Especially in terms of track totals and passenger traffic ration compared to freight?
The track totals simply have to be smaller, probably by an order of magnitude. And I have the impression that the passenger/freight ratio must be quite high compared to the US. I was in the UK for a few weeks back in the mid-90s and did all the city hopping using a BR pass and then walking or using taxi within a city to get around. (With a few short bus excursions mixed in.)
Passenger km per head of population
UK - 770
USA - 80
The USA has a fantastic rail freight record vs the UK i think at the moment, but the statistics don't really compare due to country size.
| 157 |
lawhawk Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:49:42am |
OT:
University of Texas gunman appears to have killed himself, and no one else appears to have been injured. Thank goodness for that...
| 158 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:50:27am |
re: #157 lawhawk
OT:
University of Texas gunman appears to have killed himself, and no one else appears to have been injured. Thank goodness for that...
Good.
| 159 |
Liberal Classic Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:51:44am |
re: #155 Cannadian Club Akbar
Same here. It's maybe too much to hope for a peaceful reunification at the moment. I just hope he is not crazy. A sane individual might be able to alleviate some suffering of his people and improve relations with his neighbors. That is, if the KWP establishment will let him.
| 160 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:52:57am |
re: #154 Decatur Deb
They're great for shipping--that's one of the reasons the Panama Canal has been de-emphasised. I'm trying today to get a sleeper to DC from a major city, not from Chipley FL. They seemed to have closed that route. Loved the trains in Italy and Germany where the population density makes them viable.
Agreed - across some areas of the states its unviable to run commuter/passenger lines, but across the urban sprawls and between towns within a few hours of each other it should be possible. Particularly given the increased security in air travel meaning greater travel times without going anywhere.
| 161 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:53:13am |
re: #159 Liberal Classic
Satttv4u said his other sons were nuts. I have hope.
| 162 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:54:41am |
Evening honcos.
Still trying to work out my California Absentee ballot...
| 163 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:55:23am |
re: #162 laZardo
Evening honcos.
Still trying to work out my California Absentee ballot...
Unfold it. Tricky, huh?
/
| 164 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:55:42am |
re: #160 wozzablog
Agreed - across some areas of the states its unviable to run commuter/passenger lines, but across the urban sprawls and between towns within a few hours of each other it should be possible. Particularly given the increased security in air travel meaning greater travel times without going anywhere.
Our air hub support structure adds to that. It once cost almost as much to take a 1 hr puddle-jump to the Atlanta hub as it did to continue from Atlanta to Milan.
| 165 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:57:13am |
re: #154 Decatur Deb
They're great for shipping--that's one of the reasons the Panama Canal has been de-emphasised. I'm trying today to get a sleeper to DC from a major city, not from Chipley FL. They seemed to have closed that route. Loved the trains in Italy and Germany where the population density makes them viable.
Rather than look to Europe - which would be a mistake (as you say with the relative population densities) the way to go is to look at New South Wales in Australia and their frequent services that help reduce commute times tremendously and enable fast travel between the suburbs without needing a car.
[Link: www.cityrail.info...]
| 166 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:57:31am |
re: #150 oaktree
Did a little bit of research and I think my impression about US vs UK rail usage is correct. A few statistics via Wikipedia:
US
Total rail in km: 226,427 (2007)
Freight in billions of ton-km: 2773 (2008 - 1st in world)
Passengers in billions of pass-km: 22.5 (2006 - 14th in world)
UK
Total rail in km: 16,321 (2008)
Freight in billions of ton-km: 22.2 (2006 - 18th in world)
Passengers in billions of pass-km: 50.7 (2008 - 8th in world)
Interesting side fact is that both networks are roughly half of their historical high in length of total rail. I presume that is mainly the development of highways and truck transport making a lot of short lines and secondary track unprofitable.
| 167 |
Darth Vader Gargoyle Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:57:51am |
Oh all knowing lizard army,
I'm getting a kindle 3 wi-fi for my birthday. Anyone have one? Like, no like?
| 168 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 7:59:46am |
re: #166 oaktree
Train freight is the best way to get product out there.
| 169 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:00:41am |
re: #163 Cannadian Club Akbar
Unfold it. Tricky, huh?
/
HOMG UR A GENIUS
/
//so it's either the Democrats that ruined the budget or the Tea Party. Fuck that, I'll just stamp it straight Green.
| 170 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:02:33am |
re: #157 lawhawk
OT:
University of Texas gunman appears to have killed himself, and no one else appears to have been injured. Thank goodness for that...
My radio just said they might be looking for a second suspect.
| 171 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:03:42am |
What sold me on the need for greater US rail is two things -
1) the communte time between Boulder and Denver while stuck on the freeway........... it was INSANE given the actual distance involved.
2)my girlfriends place in suburban San Antonio - no transport links at all, where as when i was in Sydney or Melbourne in similar suburban circumstances it was a twenty minute walk to a station, then a short comfortable ride into town.
| 172 |
Killgore Trout Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:04:04am |
The wingnuts are gonna enjoy this...
Obama: Fox News is 'destructive' to America
Fox News pushes "a point of view that I disagree with. It's a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long-term growth of a country that has a vibrant middle class and is competitive in the world," Obama said.
"But as an economic enterprise, it's been wildly successful. And I suspect that if you ask Mr. Murdoch what his number one concern is, it's that Fox is very successful."
| 173 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:04:27am |
re: #170 Cannadian Club Akbar
My radio just said they might be looking for a second suspect.
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
| 174 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:05:26am |
re: #156 wozzablog
Passenger km per head of population
UK - 770
USA - 80The USA has a fantastic rail freight record vs the UK i think at the moment, but the statistics don't really compare due to country size.
The wikipedia page I was looking at did some comparison that included use of commuter rail. The ratio was still heavily in favor of the UK. Then again, the UK essentially was rail-centric and is essentially concentrated enough compared to most of the US that rail continues to be highly effective. Outside of the Eastern Corridor in the US the distances rapidly scale up and the economies of the various methods change.
Once the interstates and more comfortable air travel came in I think the passenger service for rail got caught in a vise. Cheap and relatively slow went to the buses, quick (possibly uncomfortable) and more expensive went to the aircraft. And the railroads opted to concentrate on freight due to the profits and to avoid the additional infrastructure costs of maintaining the specialized cars and employees needed for continuous passenger service.
| 175 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:06:28am |
re: #168 Cannadian Club Akbar
Train freight is the best way to get product out there.
Most of the time. For certain items/quantities barge is better.
| 176 |
Cannadian Club Akbar Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:07:17am |
re: #175 oaktree
Most of the time. For certain items/quantities barge is better.
Depends on your location.
| 177 |
cliffster Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:08:11am |
re: #173 Cannadian Club Akbar
[Link: www.foxnews.com...]
My guess is, at the end of the day, it's going to be just some dude took a gun and shot himself at the PCL library on campus, and everything got blown out of proportion. I've heard it was an AK-47. I've heard he fired off 15 shots before killing himself. I just got a text from a friend who goes to UT that they are bringing a tank onto campus. Life in the information age..
| 178 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:08:59am |
| 179 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:09:50am |
re: #154 Decatur Deb
I enjoyed selling rail car sized loads of rice and french fries. That's how some of the high volume items are shipped. Black tanker cars of high fructose corn syrup.
| 180 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:10:35am |
re: #176 Cannadian Club Akbar
Depends on your location.
Of course. If you don't have a river/ocean nearby barge won't work. Of course, not having a rail spur nearby would have you stuck with truck or inter-modal. If you don't have a road, I hope someone has a handy pack mule service. ;)
My reference for barge was a company I worked for getting 500,000 lb lots of a chemical to a plant near Pittsburgh from a refinery near Houston, TX.
| 181 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:11:09am |
re: #179 prairiefire
I enjoyed selling rail car sized loads of rice and french fries. That's how some of the high volume items are shipped. Black tanker cars of high fructose corn syrup.
Sounds like our county fair.
| 182 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:12:51am |
re: #174 oaktree
True. but - there is no need for all rail systems to connect up. Light rail in massive sprawling towns with fairly low population densitys works (see Perth, Australia) and its surrounds. Cheap and plentyful busses disgourge commuters to a rail station that acts as a transit hub for the particular suburb, lightning quick into the centre of town and every few minutes.
| 184 |
Wozza Matter? Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:16:09am |
re: #178 Decatur Deb
re: #174 oaktree
It's the inter-city links that are hard to do. The several nearest cities of 1 million pop. are about a 5-hour drive from here.
A five hour drive at 70mph is 3 hrs at 115mph on a train, even faster with truly highspeed rail. People are more productive and relaxed too, if not stuck in traffic :p
| 185 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:16:26am |
re: #181 Decatur Deb
Sounds like our county fair.
Used to see those all the time. I lived 2-3 miles from a plant that made and sold "fruit" juice. Piles of them near my brother's place since a plant near there owned by Kraft makes Cool Whip there.
I worked with transportation-related computer applications (railcar tracking and freight rate calculations) for about seventeen years. Picked up a ton of semi-useless data about railroad cars, networks, etc. by osmosis. Recall being on a highway near Houston in a van going somewhere and I was looking at railcars on a siding near the highway. Recognized the car numbers as hopper cars leased by my company... O_o
| 187 |
Decatur Deb Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:20:11am |
re: #185 oaktree
Used to see those all the time. I lived 2-3 miles from a plant that made and sold "fruit" juice. Piles of them near my brother's place since a plant near there owned by Kraft makes Cool Whip there.
I worked with transportation-related computer applications (railcar tracking and freight rate calculations) for about seventeen years. Picked up a ton of semi-useless data about railroad cars, networks, etc. by osmosis. Recall being on a highway near Houston in a van going somewhere and I was looking at railcars on a siding near the highway. Recognized the car numbers as hopper cars leased by my company... O_o
Railroad worker family. When I was about 6, I spent some nights in the switching towers at a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie yard in McKee's Rocks.
| 188 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:20:53am |
re: #182 wozzablog
True. but - there is no need for all rail systems to connect up. Light rail in massive sprawling towns with fairly low population densitys works (see Perth, Australia) and its surrounds. Cheap and plentyful busses disgourge commuters to a rail station that acts as a transit hub for the particular suburb, lightning quick into the centre of town and every few minutes.
A lot of US cities used to have commuter rail service by the local railroad companies, or even electric railroad companies set up to simply supply commuter service.
A major issue that crops up is right-of-way, and also a desire to minimize at grade crossings to cut-down on accidents and fatalities. So one ends up with a lot of digging, or building elevated/embankment track. And when that was done in the early 20th century there was a lot of back-and-forth about who would pay for it. (And in western NY state the city/state won and the railroads were legislated into paying for most of the improvements.)
| 190 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:22:09am |
re: #172 Killgore Trout
The wingnuts are gonna enjoy this...
Obama: Fox News is 'destructive' to America
Meanwhile at CNN the posted the same bogus UFO story that we looked at the other day over at Fox News. What's funny is that I bet most American's will believe this crap about UFOs before they'll accept evolution as science.
| 191 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:25:21am |
re: #187 Decatur Deb
Railroad worker family. When I was about 6, I spent some nights in the switching towers at a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie yard in McKee's Rocks.
Heheh. Main yard I drove by all the time was a BLE (Bessemer and Lake Erie) yard near the Allegheny River. I think the track north of there was all BLE, and the track between there and Bessemer was shared with the URR (Union Railroad). Mainly open hopper cars, so I presume they were moving coal or coke.
Was up in an abandoned quarry between Rochester and Buffalo this spring. While walking in I found some coal. Anthracite from eastern PA and probably got there courtesy of the LVRR.
Not a train nut, but I've worked with a few. :)
| 193 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:26:59am |
While we're on the topic of crime...
U.S. soldier suspected in fatal shooting of 2 fellow soldiers
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths of two fellow soldiers and the wounding of a third in Iraq, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
Spc. Neftaly Platero is in pre-trial confinement, a U.S. military statement said.
Platero is suspected in the deaths of Spc. John Carrillo Jr., 20, of Stockton, California, and Pfc. Gebrah P. Noonan, 26, of Watertown, Connecticut, the military said...
| 194 |
prairiefire Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:27:02am |
| 197 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:28:47am |
re: #195 laZardo
It worked with Area 51.
/i think
Yeah. Area 51 was a flight test facility surrounded by a bunch of drunk hicks that thought they were seeing flying saucers from time to time.
| 198 |
Fat Bastard Vegetarian Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:32:56am |
So, my brophew (nephew that my parents adopted) is in town and brought his male pit bull. Was just outside "getting busy" with another male dog. (catching, not pitching, if I may add)
I am very happy.
I just called his dog inside, said, "Here Homo!"
My brophew hit me... said "Dog's name is Harper!"
Heh. His manly dog is teh ghey.
| 200 |
reine.de.tout Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:34:21am |
re: #157 lawhawk
OT:
University of Texas gunman appears to have killed himself, and no one else appears to have been injured. Thank goodness for that...
thank goodness!
My nephew is at UT . . .
| 201 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:36:53am |
re: #199 laZardo
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK.
/adjusts tinfoil
You ever notice how most UFO look like they were designed by the same guy that designed the Studebaker?
/
| 202 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:40:39am |
re: #201 Gus 802
You ever notice how most UFO look like they were designed by the same guy that designed the Studebaker?
/
That's because they have people in the product design departments of most major companies to come up with UFO forms different from their 'true' nature.
/and yes, i haven't had much sleep as of late.
| 203 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:42:07am |
re: #202 laZardo
That's because they have people in the product design departments of most major companies to come up with UFO forms different from their 'true' nature.
/and yes, i haven't had much sleep as of late.
Yep. Designed by some guy wearing black rimmed glasses and smoking a pipe.
"Say Bob. What do you think of my latest UFO concept?"
/
| 205 |
Darth Vader Gargoyle Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:43:10am |
re: #201 Gus 802
You ever notice how most UFO look like they were designed by the same guy that designed the Studebaker?
/
More like an Edsel....wait a minute, it's all so clear to me now!!!111!111!
/wraps second layer of reynolds wrap around head//
| 207 |
brownbagj Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:48:02am |
re: #205 rwdflynavy
Just so I don't have to scroll up to reply...
I have a kindle. Not the wifi only, but the whispernet version.
I love my kindle. No glare on the screen, easy on the eyes with the gray background. No headaches even after hours of reading.
I would think the wifi only version would be great too. I rarely download books out of reach of wifi anyway. So I doubt it would be very restrictive.
I hear that there is huge downward pricing pressure though. At some point, I wouldn't doubt e-readers to be given away. The money for Amazon and others is in the actual purchasing of books.
| 208 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:48:34am |
re: #203 Gus 802
Yep. Designed by some guy wearing black rimmed glasses and smoking a pipe.
"Say Bob. What do you think of my latest UFO concept?"
/
| 209 |
Darth Vader Gargoyle Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:49:11am |
re: #207 brownbagj
Just so I don't have to scroll up to reply...
I have a kindle. Not the wifi only, but the whispernet version.
I love my kindle. No glare on the screen, easy on the eyes with the gray background. No headaches even after hours of reading.
I would think the wifi only version would be great too. I rarely download books out of reach of wifi anyway. So I doubt it would be very restrictive.
I hear that there is huge downward pricing pressure though. At some point, I wouldn't doubt e-readers to be given away. The money for Amazon and others is in the actual purchasing of books.
Thanks brownbagj, appreciate the info!
| 210 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:51:38am |
re: #205 rwdflynavy
More like an Edsel...wait a minute, it's all so clear to me now!!!111!111!
/wraps second layer of reynolds wrap around head//
It's funny. No one started seeing UFOs until Hollywood invented them. Even the side profiles look a bit like a car. This article is hilarious. CNN is titling it Ex-military brass: UFOs eyed nukes. So I go to the article and they have on former colonel and one former captain. Some brass they have there. The whole press even was put together by some author, Robert L. Hastings.
So yeah, once again the aliens are clueless. Instead of checking out the atomic and hydrogen bomb test sites, Lawrence Livermore, Manhattan Project, etc. they're hovering over some lone missile silo being watched by an Air Force captain on a bender. Yep, it's all true. /
| 211 |
Killgore Trout Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:53:21am |
| 212 |
brownbagj Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:55:11am |
re: #210 Gus 802
Just because they can travel through space in disc shaped flying machines moving thousands of miles an hour - bending the space time fabric - does not mean they understand nuclear power.
Or maybe they are pranksters and like scaring lone security guards.
Either scenario is plausible. Just prove neither are true!
| 213 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:56:47am |
Speaking of aliens and conspiracy theories, I've decided to enter this on Friday afternoon.
| 214 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:57:03am |
re: #212 brownbagj
Just because they can travel through space in disc shaped flying machines moving thousands of miles an hour - bending the space time fabric - does not mean they understand nuclear power.
Or maybe they are pranksters and like scaring lone security guards.
Either scenario is plausible. Just prove neither are true!
Yep. I have a dragon in my apartment. He's green and likes to play with cat toys. He's also fluent in Mandarin and Norwegian.
/
| 215 |
brownbagj Tue, Sep 28, 2010 8:58:43am |
re: #214 Gus 802
Mandarin is a given. Norwegian, now that is pretty special.
| 216 |
Gus Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:00:23am |
re: #215 brownbagj
Mandarin is a given. Norwegian, now that is pretty special.
That's how they got to Garrison Keillor. He never could grasp the Norwegian language so he left Norway. Some say he rowed all the way home. He was never the same since.
//
| 217 |
laZardo Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:05:32am |
re: #211 Killgore Trout
Teaser Trailer For True Grit Is Pure Coen Brothers
Looks good.
The Duke Abides...
| 218 |
Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:11:24am |
re: #211 Killgore Trout
Teaser Trailer For True Grit Is Pure Coen Brothers
Looks good.
Oh? Do they kill the annoying girl five minutes in so that it can be an enjoyable movie?
/snark
| 219 |
RogueOne Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:12:58am |
re: #46 garhighway
Here's a hypothetical for you:
Prosecutor indicts drug dealer. Case goes to trial. Drug dealer intimidates witnesses, who then give equivocal testimony. Dealer gets off.
Do we want that prosecutor exposed to a false arrest/malicious prosecution suit just because he/she lost the case? Of course not. But how do you shut those kinds of revenge suits down without fairly wide-ranging protection?
There are some notable prosecution errors. But the vast majority of what goes on in the world is the routine work of putting bad guys in jail. Protecting prosecutors for their work against the bad guys on our behalf is the right thing to do.
I'll agree, to a point, and I thought I was clear about that in my earlier answer to Obdi. The problem I see is that we know, absolutely know, there are prosecutors who have lied and cheated to put innocent people behind bars and they're still immune from lawsuits. The USA today article only dealt with federal prosecutors and their list was far from all-inclusive and they still came up with 210 cases. I guess the question in my mind is how many thousands of innocent people have to be incarcerated before we decide to do something about it.
| 220 |
brownbagj Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:17:30am |
| 221 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:21:11am |
re: #219 RogueOne
I'll agree, to a point, and I thought I was clear about that in my earlier answer to Obdi. The problem I see is that we know, absolutely know, there are prosecutors who have lied and cheated to put innocent people behind bars and they're still immune from lawsuits. The USA today article only dealt with federal prosecutors and their list was far from all-inclusive and they still came up with 210 cases. I guess the question in my mind is how many thousands of innocent people have to be incarcerated before we decide to do something about it.
I am not saying that there isn't a problem. I am just waiting to hear a proposal for fixing that problem that doesn't expose the ordinary prosecutor to some pretty nasty blow-back.
This strikes me as a really hard problem to fix without having all kinds of unintended (bad) consequences. So I guess you could say that I am conservative on this point.
| 222 |
garhighway Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:37:42am |
More on the SW water situation: how would you like to have the job of being in charge of water supplies for Las Vegas?
[Link: green.blogs.nytimes.com...]
| 223 |
reine.de.tout Tue, Sep 28, 2010 9:41:15am |
re: #207 brownbagj
Just so I don't have to scroll up to reply...
I have a kindle. Not the wifi only, but the whispernet version.
I love my kindle. No glare on the screen, easy on the eyes with the gray background. No headaches even after hours of reading.
I would think the wifi only version would be great too. I rarely download books out of reach of wifi anyway. So I doubt it would be very restrictive.
I hear that there is huge downward pricing pressure though. At some point, I wouldn't doubt e-readers to be given away. The money for Amazon and others is in the actual purchasing of books.
I have the wi-fi only Kindle. It was priced much lower, and like you, I've never dowloaded books out of reach of wifi. It's much faster than the whispernet which is what I had before.
| 224 |
simoom Tue, Sep 28, 2010 1:45:23pm |
re: #71 Cannadian Club Akbar
Yup, it's a revolting ad. From the Arabic-sounding music, to the background of burka clad women, to the final "Taliban Dan Webster" written in a faux-arabic font. While Webster (ignoring the specific video clip used in the ad and whether or not it was edited dishonestly) is at the extreme fringes when it comes to legislating his religious beliefs, this ad is total distraction from getting that point across to the voters. Despite Grayson's protestations to the contrary, it is clearly trading in the current climate of Islamaphobia -- using it as the club with witch to whack his opponent.
Besides being unethical, IMO, this is extremely counterproductive as its novelty, from the left, will cause the media to take notice, and it will be used to show a false equivalence between the left and right anytime the Right's anti-Muslim politics are brought into question.
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