Oklahoma Tornado Upgraded to EF5, Highest Strength Rating

Winds exceeding 200 miles per hour
US News • Views: 24,043

(Reuters) - The tornado that struck the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday was a rare EF5, the highest rating the National Weather Service assigns in classifying the strength of tornadoes.

An EF5 tornado can pack winds exceeding 200 miles per hour and damage is devastating, the service said.

Damage assessment teams also determined that the huge tornado cut a path of approximately 17 miles by 1.3 miles wide.

Via: Oklahoma Tornado Upgraded to EF5, Highest Strength Rating | Reuters

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207 comments
1 PhillyPretzel  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:06:53pm

It makes sense considering it caused so much damage.

2 Kragar  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:12:29pm

But remember, there is absolutely zero evidence proving climate change exists.

3 Stanghazi  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:13:44pm

It’s fortunate that the number of dead is as low as it is.

4 Targetpractice  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:14:09pm

re: #2 Kragar

But remember, there is absolutely zero evidence proving climate change exists.

And to suggest otherwise is politicizing a disaster!

//

5 Political Atheist  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:20:11pm

Hey I just heard Hoosier and Winston are just fine, communication spotty at best. Message from a mutual friend…

6 Dark_Falcon  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:21:09pm

re: #5 Political Atheist

Hey I just heard Hoosier and Winston are just fine, communication spotty at best. Message from a mutual friend…

Very good to hear!

7 PhillyPretzel  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:22:59pm

re: #5 Political Atheist

That info was posted in the previous thread. :) Please check #192

8 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:23:13pm

re: #5 Political Atheist

Hey I just heard Hoosier and Winston are just fine, communication spotty at best. Message from a mutual friend…

He popped up for a bit downstairs.

9 jaunte  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:30:49pm

The Wild Weather of 2010

Drought, flood, record heat and record snow—this year had it all. Living on Earth’s Jeff Young asks weather experts whether climate change pushed these extreme events. Their answers carry a warning about the weather of the future.
loe.org

Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research:

“I find it systematically tends to get underplayed and it often gets underplayed by my fellow scientists. Because one of the opening statements, which I’m sure you’ve probably heard is “Well you can’t attribute a single event to climate change.” But there is a systematic influence on all of these weather events now-a-days because of the fact that there is this extra water vapor lurking around in the atmosphere than there used to be say 30 years ago. It’s about a 4% extra amount, it invigorates the storms, it provides plenty of moisture for these storms and it’s unfortunate that the public is not associating these with the fact that this is one manifestation of climate change. And the prospects are that these kinds of things will only get bigger and worse in the future.”
 thinkprogress.org

10 Kragar  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:43:07pm

Sen. Inhofe: Aid for Oklahoma ‘totally different’ from Sandy relief requests

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) seemed to contradict his colleague Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) stance on Tuesday on federal assistance for victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado, suggesting that there will be help coming. But he also differentiated that need from his opposition to aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

11 sagehen  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:43:31pm
…approximately 17 miles by 1.3 miles wide.

So, slightly larger than Manhattan.

12 engineer cat  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:50:32pm

have there been larger or more powerful tornados on record?

13 Political Atheist  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:56:24pm

re: #7 PhillyPretzel
re: #8 William Barnett-Lewis

Ooops missed it… Got the call and just dropped in. :-)

14 jaunte  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:57:56pm

Son of Climate Science Pioneer Ponders A Sobering Milestone

e360: If emissions continue at this trajectory as we move deeper into the 21st century, how quickly do you think we could pass milestones like 450 parts per million, 500, or a doubling of CO2 from the pre-industrial era, which would be about 550 parts per million?

Keeling: Well, I would say at the pace things are going, we’ll hit 450 probably in 20, 25 years or so, and similarly we’ll hit 500 in a similar time frame after that. And if we continue accelerating, it will come even quicker than that. That is more or less an estimate based on current rates of growth. So it all plays out pretty quickly if we don’t change course. As to the doubling milestone, it’s important to point out that carbon dioxide is not the only greenhouse gas that we’re emitting. It’s also methane and nitrous oxide. So the doubling milestone will be upon us considerably sooner than the doubling of CO2. And depending upon how you figure the different contributions, we’re not that far from it even today.

15 Walking Spanish Down the Hall  Tue, May 21, 2013 7:58:17pm

re: #12 engineer cat

have there been larger or more powerful tornados on record?

Yes.

Faster winds, larger footprint and longer on the ground.
en.wikipedia.org

16 moderatelyradicalliberal  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:01:09pm

Apparently some atheist heathen was allowed to survive the tornado. I will await Pat Robertson explanation as to why God allowed this to happen.

Youtube Video
17 engineer cat  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:04:02pm

o.t.,

i’ve been making progress on my article, ‘The Agile Development Process: The Cure For America’s Technological Dominance’

18 Targetpractice  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:04:27pm

I can’t think of a time as a gamer when I was less enthusiastic about the release of a new console generation. Hell, can’t even call them gaming consoles anymore, they’re now very fancy DVRs that happen to play games.

19 engineer cat  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:15:33pm

re: #18 Targetpractice

I can’t think of a time as a gamer when I was less enthusiastic about the release of a new console generation. Hell, can’t even call them gaming consoles anymore, they’re now very fancy DVRs that happen to play games.

we’re very close to the point where the only difference between a phone, a computer, and a tv will be the size of the screen

20 Targetpractice  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:31:33pm

re: #19 engineer cat

we’re very close to the point where the only difference between a phone, a computer, and a tv will be the size of the screen

And even that will disappear once OLED technology becomes mass-produced. Laptops and tablet PCs will disappear, replaced by cellphones that can expand their screens to laptop size.

21 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:32:05pm

re: #18 Targetpractice

I can’t think of a time as a gamer when I was less enthusiastic about the release of a new console generation. Hell, can’t even call them gaming consoles anymore, they’re now very fancy DVRs that happen to play games.

I prefer the handhelds for this reason. As gaming devices they are still closer to simply being about the games though the smartphones have done significant damage to that as well. Still, I’d rather a 3DS or even a Vita than any phone on the market for a game. I might consider an older PS2 or, more likely, a WII for a console but always on? Nope. I’ll unplug it when not in play first.

I like the final fantasy games and similar but those are getting almost as rare as the really good RPG’s (Wizardry, Might & Magic, etc) that used to be available on PC’s. Hell, even Tomb Raider’s gotten dumbed down… :(

22 Targetpractice  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:37:40pm

It’s sad that I can actually commend Nintendo for putting on the market a system meant to be used as a gaming console, rather than a lobotomized gaming PC that now gets to pull double duty as a “multimedia experience.” Really wish Sony and Microsoft would just can the bullshit and sell their systems as PCs, at least then the prices would be justified.

23 EPR-radar  Tue, May 21, 2013 8:55:01pm

re: #21 William Barnett-Lewis

I prefer the handhelds for this reason. As gaming devices they are still closer to simply being about the games though the smartphones have done significant damage to that as well. Still, I’d rather a 3DS or even a Vita than any phone on the market for a game. I might consider an older PS2 or, more likely, a WII for a console but always on? Nope. I’ll unplug it when not in play first.

I like the final fantasy games and similar but those are getting almost as rare as the really good RPG’s (Wizardry, Might & Magic, etc) that used to be available on PC’s. Hell, even Tomb Raider’s gotten dumbed down… :(

I’m also a fan of JRPGs like the (increasingly inaccurately named) final fantasy franchise. In fact, my decisions on getting new consoles are pretty much driven by the FF releases.

24 Pawn of the Oppressor  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:01:39pm

re: #16 moderatelyradicalliberal

Apparently some atheist heathen was allowed to survive the tornado. I will await Pat Robertson explanation as to why God allowed this to happen.

[Embedded content]

Saw a bit on TV today about a lady finding her dog in the wreckage of her house. “God had answered her prayers”, she said.

Apparently, God wasn’t interested in saving the kids who drowned in a fucking tornado. But then again, killing kids is kind of his thing…

25 Joanne  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:05:35pm

Someone asked about Michelle Rhee a few days ago.

washingtonmonthly.com

26 Political Atheist  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:06:40pm

re: #24 Pawn of the Oppressor

Saw a bit on TV today about a lady finding her dog in the wreckage of her house. “God had answered her prayers”, she said.

Apparently, God wasn’t interested in saving the kids who drowned in a fucking tornado. But then again, killing kids is kind of his thing…

Isn’t that a little harsh on ordinary church going people that just had their lives shredded?

27 CarleeCork  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:09:13pm

re: #26 Political Atheist

Isn’t that a little harsh on ordinary church going people that just had their lives shredded?

Not nearly as harsh as hearing god saves dogs but not children. My opinion, for what it’s worth.

28 Political Atheist  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:14:28pm

re: #27 CarleeCork

Not nearly as harsh as hearing god saves dogs but not children. My opinion, for what it’s worth.

Fair enough I just think that kind of retort works well put to an evangelist and not at all well to ordinary victims today. IMHO as well of course.

Anyway back to work for me.

29 Dark_Falcon  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:14:58pm

re: #27 CarleeCork

Not nearly as harsh as hearing god saves dogs but not children. My opinion, for what it’s worth.

That’s not that lady’s fault, and I’m sure those children’s deaths is wound to her as well. But she loved her dog and prayed for its safe return. She didn’t do anything wrong. so do back off.

30 Pawn of the Oppressor  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:17:10pm

re: #29 Dark_Falcon

She didn’t do anything wrong. so do back off.

No. Not when it’s put on my TV to try to get an emotional response out of me.

31 blueraven  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:21:24pm

re: #30 Pawn of the Oppressor

No. Not when it’s put on my TV to try to get an emotional response out of me.

Good grief, it was an elderly lady who just lost everything including, she thought, her dog. Then the dog shows up in the middle of the interview in front of the rubble that once was her home.
Give it a break.

32 Dark_Falcon  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:30:45pm

re: #31 blueraven

Good grief, it was an elderly lady who just lost everything including, she thought, her dog. Then the dog shows up in the middle of the interview in front of the rubble that once was her home.
Give it a break.

What BR said. If some evangelist says that this coming Sunday, then yes, smack him down. In this case have a heart. The woman dealing with a serious amount of grief and pain, some of which went away because she found her dog. In that sort of state, she wasn’t thinking about those elsewhere who died. That’s understandable and entirely forgivable.

33 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:37:52pm

re: #18 Targetpractice

I can’t think of a time as a gamer when I was less enthusiastic about the release of a new console generation. Hell, can’t even call them gaming consoles anymore, they’re now very fancy DVRs that happen to play games.

I really miss Sega.

34 goddamnedfrank  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:40:03pm

If you realize that God, at best, doesn’t actively interfere in Creation and that life is just a bunch of shit that happens then what exactly is the purpose of getting mad at some old lady who chooses to see the hand of the divine in the safe rescue of a cherished pet? It’s weird how people exclusively expect consistency only out of other people’s faiths. The loss of those children and the salvation of a dog have nothing to do with one another because in reality we know it’s a senseless world. So I’m fairly certain the critics are inferring something that was never implied, people can express thanks for random good fortune without also trying to elucidate other people’s tragedies.

35 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:40:05pm

The Genesis. Ghouls and Ghosts. Herzog Zwei. Good times.

36 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:40:53pm

re: #24 Pawn of the Oppressor

Saw a bit on TV today about a lady finding her dog in the wreckage of her house. “God had answered her prayers”, she said.

Apparently, God wasn’t interested in saving the kids who drowned in a fucking tornado. But then again, killing kids is kind of his thing…

As a Christian, I was far more touched by the person putting O’Reilly in his place after he asked about thanking the Lord - “I’m an Atheist.”

As I’ve read elsewhere, I have no doubt that God loves a good Atheist more than a hateful Christian.

As for the specifics, we are given our freedom to make our choices. Sometimes they save; sometimes they fail. It would kill me to be the person who made the choice to hide in that basement and then _still_ lose the children I was trying to save. And yet that’s all we can do - try.

Sartre is famous for saying that “Hell is other people.” What he didn’t notice was that so is salvation.

37 Single-handed sailor  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:41:42pm

re: #36 William Barnett-Lewis

That was Wolf Blitzer.

38 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:42:50pm

re: #35 Amory Blaine

The Genesis. Ghouls and Ghosts. Herzog Zwei. Good times.

Yeah, I really miss getting excited for stuff that looked new and interesting. Bought a lot of Dreamcast games almost sight unseen that way, and they were great.

The PS2 was pretty decent for that too. The gaming community is totally ragging on Microsoft right now for restricting used games.

39 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:43:07pm

re: #37 Single-handed sailor

That was Wolf Blitzer.

Thank you. I get them mixed up regularly.

40 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:50:02pm

Blitzer felt it was an easy set up. He was probably going to use “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord indeed. Back to Biff in our virtual studio!” to segue to a commercial. He’s such a shell of a man.

41 Dark_Falcon  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:53:03pm

Good night, all.

42 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:54:04pm

re: #40 Amory Blaine

Blitzer felt it was an easy set up. He was probably going to use “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord indeed. Back to Biff in our virtual studio!” to segue to a commercial. He’s such a shell of a man.

I have no doubt. As someone who goes to church most of the times I can, I get tired of Asshats like him pretending to speak for me.

43 Sol Berdinowitz  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:54:32pm

re: #41 Dark_Falcon

Good night, all.

Looking for the “Early Etruscan, Late Greek” cartoon by Basha Kliban…just going online here…

44 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:55:13pm

re: #38 dragonath

Yeah, I really miss getting excited for stuff that looked new and interesting. Bought a lot of Dreamcast games almost sight unseen that way, and they were great.

The PS2 was pretty decent for that too. The gaming community is totally ragging on Microsoft right now for restricting used games.

From what I saw, you can trade used games. From the FAQ:

Q: Will Xbox One allow players to trade in, purchase and play pre-owned games?
A: We are designing Xbox One to enable customers to trade in and resell games. We’ll have more details to share later.

But can’t play previous gen games. Ouch.

Q: Will Xbox One be backward compatible with my existing games?
A: Xbox One hardware is not compatible with Xbox 360 games.

45 Sol Berdinowitz  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:55:28pm

If an F5 tornado is the “Finger of God”, which part of God is Wolf Blitzer?

46 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:58:18pm

re: #45 Sol Berdinowitz

No wait I’m still thinking..

47 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 9:59:29pm

re: #44 Amory Blaine

Trade in to who, I wonder? This whole thing, the whole concept that we have Microsoft’s “permission” (their words) to trade, feels like the same thing that just went down with Adobe.

“The bits that are on that disc, you can give it to your friend and they can install it on an Xbox One,” he said. “They would then have to purchase the right to play that game through Xbox Live.”

“They would be paying the same price we paid, or less?” we asked.

“Let’s assume it’s a new game, so the answer is yes, it will be the same price,” Harrison said.

Sony has a real chance if they can keep from being total dicks. Jury’s still out on that.

48 engineer cat  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:00:22pm

re: #36 William Barnett-Lewis

in the end, there is no difference between the atheist and the believer when faced with these events. the atheist strives to live morally, treat others morally, as the meaning in life in the face of a meaningless universe. the believer has faith that it is part of god’s plan when such things happen, and that god is good, but knows that he/she cannot hope to understand how these events fit into the plan that must be good

in the end both strive to remain moral people in the face of a universe that doesn’t seem to care

49 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:00:51pm

re: #47 dragonath

Right like having to trade it in to Microsoft for some chits.

50 austin_blue  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:00:52pm

re: #12 engineer cat

have there been larger or more powerful tornados on record?

Yup. The same area in 1999. Jarrell, Texas in 1997.

51 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:06:49pm

re: #49 Amory Blaine

Right like having to trade it in to Microsoft for some chits.

Good system for them. Getting away from retail is going to be a rocky road.

Kotaku: If I’m playing a single player game, do I have to be online at least once per hour or something like that? Or can I go weeks and weeks?

Harrison: I believe it’s 24 hours.

Kotaku: I’d have to connect online once every day.

Harrison: Correct.

You know, with tornados and stuff crisscrossing the country every summer, I don’t think this is such a great idea.

52 William Barnett-Lewis  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:10:51pm

And so, good night, all.

53 HoosierHoops  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:17:01pm

Well I’ve left my war room blasting music and big screen heaven..I’m in bed with my laptop now and everytime you move to another PC you get logged out. Now years ago it wasn’t that way here.. You could have multiple sessions open..Why did Charles do that? Well last week I watched a university series on Youtube on how to hack a web site..The Professor went through everything and the angles you can hack a website.. Inc. the website links to the tools that does most of the work..Folks it was cool watching how hackers crack the website..And one way was allowing multiple sessions..With dual sessions you can get an error back by sending bad code and if the server sends the return error message you grab the sessionID number and now you are golden.
If you have a sessionID to a web site then you have time to use tools to crack an Admin P/W.
It was awesome to see all the different ways websites are hacked. This lecture was to teach developers to defend against attackers. And how they operate these days.. I guess the series is contraversial for showing ” ” how to hack a web site “..No link here..You’ll need to do a search. It was really interesting to watch and learn about hacking from a University sponsored lechture

54 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:31:48pm

Tribal Leaders Walk Out of State Department’s Keystone XL Consultation Meeting

Elders and chiefs of at least 10 sovereign nations walked out of a meeting with U.S. State Department officials in Rapid City, South Dakota, on Thursday May 16 in which the government was attempting to engage in tribal consultation over the Keystone XL pipeline.

Deeming the meeting “invalid,” leaders of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association - attendees included the Southern Ponca of Oklahoma, Pawnee Nation, Nez Perce Nation, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Ihanktonwan Dakota Yankton Sioux, Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Standing Rock Tribe, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Crow Creek Sioux Tribe - said they would meet only with President Barack Obama to discuss the pipeline.

The Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association is made up of the 16 tribal chairmen, presidents and chairpersons in North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska who have joined to defend treaty rights, according to the group. In January they along with other tribes signed the International Treaty to Protect the Sacred Against the Tar Sands.

Keystone XL would carry up to 800,000 barrels daily of viscous crude known as bitumen from the Alberta oil sands of Canada for 1,700 miles down to the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas. Obama is slated to make a decision on the $7 billion project sometime this year, perhaps as early as the end of summer.

55 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:36:30pm

Legislators back broad Scott Walker authority to sell state property

Republicans on the Legislature’s budget committee largely signed off Tuesday on giving Gov. Scott Walker broad authority to sell heating plants, highways and other state property without seeking competitive bids, but stipulated that lawmakers must approve any sale.

The plan has drawn opposition from University of Wisconsin System officials who say it could hurt fundraising efforts for new campus buildings, as well as from critics who say selling heating plants to private interests could stick the state with higher costs when it buys back output from the plants.

“I wonder if the majority of the Legislature realizes how limiting this will be toward raising money for the university,” said Milwaukee businessman Sheldon Lubar, a former university regent and a major donor to UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee.

Feels more and more like throwing messages in a bottle here in Wisconsin.

56 klys and whatnot  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:36:43pm

And safely landed on the East Coast, where ugh, I am reminded how much I don’t miss humidity ever.

Cross-country flying is le suck, mostly because it eats up the whole day going west to east. I got a decent amount of cross stitch done on the plane though.

57 Single-handed sailor  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:38:14pm

NASA developing Soylent Green

Thanks, but no.

58 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:38:51pm

re: #55 Amory Blaine

Legislators back broad Scott Walker authority to sell state property

without seeking competitive bids

Come on Dark. Defend that.

lol, pathetic

59 Single-handed sailor  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:44:51pm

re: #56 klys

And safely landed on the East Coast, where ugh, I am reminded how much I don’t miss humidity ever.

Cross-country flying is le suck, mostly because it eats up the whole day going west to east. I got a decent amount of cross stitch done on the plane though.

Back in the old days I’d bring a 750ml of rum in my carry on. I’d get the free sodas and mix my own. I didn’t mind the long flights. Now, flying sucks ass.

60 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:45:17pm

Panel passes Wis. food stamp work requirement

The Legislature’s budget committee on Tuesday approved Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal requiring that able-bodied adults on Wisconsin’s food stamps program to spend at least 20 hours a week working or getting trained for a job.

Democrats, who voted unanimously against it, called the move a mean-spirited attack on poor people. Republicans, who hold a 12-4 majority on the committee, all supported it as a way to help make people on the program become more self-sufficient.

Those who don’t meet the work requirement would be limited to three months of benefits over three years. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that half of the childless, able-bodied adults on the program between the ages of 18 and 50 who would be subject to the work requirement would not meet it. That is 31,300 out of 62,700.

“It is really one of the most mean-spirited things that I have seen come through here,” said Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine. “It’s part of a trend that is really disturbing.”

61 klys and whatnot  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:46:14pm

re: #59 Single-handed sailor

Back in the old days I’d bring a 750ml of rum in my carry on. I’d get the free sodas and mix my own. I didn’t mind the long flights. Now, flying sucks ass.

I confess I enjoyed a gin and tonic or two while flying. After all, I didn’t have to drive on this end.

Now changing time zones, that’s what really sucks ass. Especially since my husband is a night owl and still on the west coast.

This typically means I will be up until 4am local time and then have to drag myself out of bed around 10-11am.

62 Amory Blaine  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:46:45pm

re: #60 Amory Blaine


Cont…

But Republican Sen. Glenn Grothman, of West Bend, praised the proposal as one of the best things Walker has ever put forward.

“The biggest problem we have in this state and country is we have more and more people adopting the welfare lifestyle,” he said. “We had better do something like this and a lot more.”

And Rep. John Nygren, the Republican co-chair of the committee, said he believed most people would support the requirement.

Walker’s spokesman Tom Evenson defended the FoodShare proposal.

“Gov. Walker’s budget is focused on moving people from government dependence to independence, and this reform gives able-bodied adults who receive FoodShare benefits the opportunity to develop their skills and prepare for the workforce,” Evenson said in a statement.

63 freetoken  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:48:15pm

re: #62 Amory Blaine

… we have more and more people adopting the welfare lifestyle, …”

Where’s my OBAMAPHONE!!

64 freetoken  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:49:38pm

Atavism, UK style:

Andy McSmith’s Diary: Listen children, the world really was created in seven days

A question thrown up while MPs were arguing over gay marriage is whether fundamentalist Christian teachers should have a legal right to propagate creationism in the classroom. This cropped up while opponents of gay marriage were fighting a rearguard action to ensure that any religious group or individual with a religious objection to gay marriage was protected from anti-discrimination law.

George Howarth, a Labour MP, wondered if they would demand the same protection for a science teacher who taught creationism. The Tory MP Edward Leigh replied that it would be wrong for anyone to be “victimised in the workplace” for expressing a deeply held religious belief. Dr William McCrea, from the Democratic Unionist Party, chipped in to say that “quite a number of very eminent scientists believe in the scriptures and the creation”.

It is, in other words, the view of the part of the Tory right and of Ulster Unionists that a science teacher should be allowed to teach that the world was made in seven days without being disciplined.

[…]

65 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:59:05pm

re: #64 freetoken

Atavism, UK style:

Andy McSmith’s Diary: Listen children, the world really was created in seven days

There has been some major dickitude cropping up on the UK right for years now, but I guess that is to be expected with the proliferation of insanity over here- they speak the same language after all.

One-nation Conservatism in the mold of Disraeli- supporting social legislation in the interests of a strong country- is pretty much fading before I Got Mine.

66 freetoken  Tue, May 21, 2013 10:59:21pm

We wonder what our school systems leaders really believe:

Chimacum schools chief takes job in Arizona

Craig Downs, school superintendent for three years, will leave the district at the end of June to take a similar position at a private faith-based school in Arizona.

“I am doing this for a lot of personal reasons,” Downs said Monday. “This is a great opportunity for me.

“I wasn’t looking to leave the district, but … I found that I wanted to get involved in the private side of education as part of a faith-based community.”

Downs will leave Chimacum on June 30 to become superintendent of Joy Christian School in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, Ariz.

[…]

Chimacum High School Principal Whitney Meissner said Downs was effective because he was visible and cared about the students.


“He participated in school programs, and you would always see him around the school,” she said.

“He’s been very active and helped us set up a clear vision for the school with the goal of strengthening staff, improving instruction and improving the school climate — things that will continue after he’s gone.”

[…]

Downs expects that working for a faith-based school will be a different environment, beginning with the parental involvement.

“The parents pay tuition, so it creates a high level of interest in the academic program,” he said.

“And we have the flexibility to teach from the Bible, teaching creationism along with evolution and discussing the validity of both.”

[…]

It sounds like Downs was a good administrator of funds, and he has the apparent good sense and honest to know that in public schools one can’t teach creationism.

But I wonder… does he really believe in the equal validity of creationism and evolution? What does it mean for a disproved assertion (literal creationism) to be “valid”?

He may have been a good bean counter and a friendly guy for his underlings, but is that what it means to get a good education?

He’ll be free now to practice his religious beliefs in his school administration career. I’m left though with the question of how many public school administrators in America would rather teach something other than what is on state-approved curricula?

67 dragonath  Tue, May 21, 2013 11:10:27pm

Oh, freetoken- check out this insane open letter written by Nigel Farage, leader of the UKIP.

Image: FARAGE-AD_2567482a.jpg

* Conservatives are obsessed with “wind farms” and “gay marriage”.

So much for that whole libertarian shtick the party is putting on. They’re using the term “religious freedom”, too.

* “Opening the door to 29 Million Romanians and Bulgarians”

Cheebus, that’s the entire fucking combined population of those countries. And they all want to go to the verdant paradise that is the East Midlands, no?

* “We should be a independent, self governing nation”

Because the Brussels suede denim secret police or something.

68 Single-handed sailor  Tue, May 21, 2013 11:30:49pm

Holy crap! Yesterday’s tornado filmed up close and personal. VIA Live Leak

Liveleak Video

and part 2

Liveleak Video
69 stabby  Wed, May 22, 2013 12:04:19am

re: #14 jaunte

Son of Climate Science Pioneer Ponders A Sobering Milestone

scary.

70 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 12:08:16am

re: #67 dragonath

I still remember when a son of one of the UKIPs online big-whigs used to post here. Had the pretense of being educated, but it’s all a scam.

It doesn’t surprise me that the UKIP is becoming more obviously like the white-nationalists in this country.

71 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 12:11:46am

Time for some Villa-Lobos:

MP3 Audio
72 Kragar  Wed, May 22, 2013 12:53:41am

Virginia Lt. Gov. Candidate Fought Against Desegregation Efforts

Local news station WGBH filmed Jackson giving a speech at a July 1988 community meeting in South Boston hosted by opponents of the mayor’s desegregation plan. According to WGBH, at the event Jackson dismissed the desegregation plan as “social engineering.” In his remarks, Jackson characterized the matter as a question of freedom of choice.

“I am so tired of hearing the people of South Boston dumped on by the saviors of mankind that it makes me nauseous,” Jackson said of desegregation advocates. “I can understand the reaction of the people of South Boston apart from the racial issue because I don’t like being told by some bureaucrat how I’m going to live my life either.”

Jackson, who was identified as a radio station manager and pastor of the New Corner Baptist Church in Roxbury, also spoke with a reporter from WGBH. In the interview, he indicated he believed people should be allowed to choose to live separately from members of other races.

“I think that maximum emphasis needs to be put on the ability of people to choose, even if that means some housing developments are predominantly of one race or another,” said Jackson.

The reporter who interviewed him also asked Jackson, who is African-American, if he felt as though he was being “used” by white politicians who opposed the desegregation plan. His response made it clear he fully supported their efforts.

“Well, the scripture says it’s a good thing to be used in a good cause,” Jackson said.

73 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 12:58:14am

re: #72 Kragar

The tightly controlled (by wingnut) recent VA GOP gathering that selected the party choices for the coming election really picked some winners. I’m sure there will be many more interesting reveals.

74 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 1:01:21am

That last selection was from Villa-Lobos’ “Concerto for Guitar & Small Orchestra”. Previous was the 2nd movement. Here is the third and final movement:

MP3 Audio
75 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 1:51:42am

Late in the middle of the night… good time for some cello. Here is the 3rd mvt. of Saint-saens’ Cello Sonata No.2 :

MP3 Audio
76 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, May 22, 2013 2:13:46am

Well, my pious, gay-hating, wife-stealing, Bible thumping senior deacon of a brother, “Judas,” has suffered a well-deserved heart attack. This is my get well card for him.

Youtube Video
77 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, May 22, 2013 2:16:22am

Last thoughts of a publicly pious fundy hypocrite:
“OH SHIT! WHAT IF THIS GOD’S WRATH STUFF IS REAL!”

78 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:33:19am

How Far-Right Activists Like E.W. Jackson Took Over the Virginia GOP

[…]

What Virginia got, specifically, was this: Jackson previously warned that President Obama is either an atheist or a Muslim, but definitely an “evil presence.” He compared Planned Parenthood to the KKK. He alleged that the Obama are communist sympathizers. He said that gays are turning their backs on black women, “sexualizing children” and just generally a “poison” to society. He said that a vote for him is a vote for God. He wants Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to be reinstated. He said that the Democratic party’s agenda is “worthy of the Antichrist.” He also filmed a video in which he smashes watermelons (representing Obama’s policies) with an American-flag axe.

[…]

Well, there you go. The American Party of God, indeed.

79 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:34:47am

re: #78 freetoken

How Far-Right Activists Like E.W. Jackson Took Over the Virginia GOP

Well, there you go. The American Party of God, indeed.

That’s sure some awesome outreach. Letting black people know what is expected of them if they wish to be part of the new, rebranded GOP.

80 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:40:51am

This got little coverage when it came out last week:

Spring 2012 Earliest on Record

March 2012 set records for warm temperatures that promoted early leafing and flowering across large areas of the United States. A team of scientists at the USA National Phenology Network, which is sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, have published a study which shows that 2012 was the earliest spring over the 48 U.S. states since 1900 when systematic weather data began to be available for the entire area.

[…]

The historical trend of spring indices suggests that the 2012 growing season advanced as much as 20-30 days in the East and Midwest from the 1900-2012 long-term mean.

[…]

81 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:49:04am

Goldbugs - what they don’t want to hear:

How Gold Rallied for Years on a ‘Misunderstanding’

The rally in the gold market over the last several years has been based on a misunderstanding of the global economy’s problems and a misunderstanding of what quantitative easing is.

Sounds good, let’s read on:

Investors are just starting to realize that their framework for analysis can’t account for what’s happening in the world right now. They are gradually learning that the economics they learned from textbooks needs updating. That’s why they are starting to throw in the towel on gold and why I expect the price to fall further.

Every time I read something like that I know that the author really believes his readers are idiots.


The author is just another guy who’s trying to position himself as an expert. He’s put himself on the line, saying gold will continue to fall until it reaches the cost of production. He might be right, but there is no cost in being wrong (because there’s always a new mark around the corner) and if his guess is right he will brag about it for years.

82 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:51:28am

re: #81 freetoken

I think the argument they use for true survivalist suckers is that it does not matter how much you pay for gold right now, when the Big Crash and Total Collapse of Civilization comes, your money and all your other investments aside from gold, guns and granola bars will be useless.

83 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:51:38am

re: #80 freetoken

Some more of that guvmint propaganda about global warming.
//

84 Dr Lizardo  Wed, May 22, 2013 3:55:49am

re: #67 dragonath

Because the Brussels suede denim secret police or something.

No doubt Mr. Farage is worried they’ll come looking for his uncool niece.

Upding for the DK reference.

85 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:02:30am

Someone agrees with me, anyway:

The GOP’s black ‘mad men’: Why the party can’t find its own Barack Obama

[…]

With the current GOP firmly in the grip of the far right, it’s rare that a black Republican can rise very far without toeing the line — or even exceeding it.

[…]

86 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:12:25am

re: #85 freetoken

Someone agrees with me, anyway:

The GOP’s black ‘mad men’: Why the party can’t find its own Barack Obama

If the GOP was not so choked on its own vitriol, they would admit that Barack Obama is a fulfillment of the very American Dream they are so proud of touting: someone from a non-priveleged background who made his way to the top based on his own effort and dedication.

But they are too busy painting him as an elitist, an affirmative action baby or someone who stole/bought the election to see the damage they are doing to their own credibility.

87 freetoken  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:15:21am

Ah yes, the party of God:

Tennessee Republican Representative cites bible in cutting food stamps that benefit kids

[…]

During the recent debate by the House Agriculture Committee, California Democratic Representative Juan Vargas advised the committee to follow the example of Jesus Christ regarding how the least among us should be treated.

Representative Stephen Fincher, a Republican from Tennessee, countered with his own bible verse, stating,
“The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

The verse is from the Old Testament, and refers to those who refuse to work. Fincher’s comment insinuates that the less fortunate are generally lazy or fraudulent.

[…]

Ironically, Fincher’s family owns a western Tennessee 2500 acre farm which garners millions of dollars in Federal farm subsidies that are funded by the bill he believes should receive cuts.

The Farm Bill has allowed the Fincher family to use tax revenue to purchase farm equipment over several generations. The Fincher’s had no out-of-pocket costs for this equipment.

[…]

Here he is a couple of days later bragging about it:

Youtube Video

He just won’t admit that leaving helping the poor to only private do-gooders had already failed - which is exactly why the Big Ag funded politicians could so easily sell the idea that helping the poor buy food was a good idea.

88 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:23:23am

re: #87 freetoken

Ah yes, the party of God:

Tennessee Republican Representative cites bible in cutting food stamps that benefit kids

Here he is a couple of days later bragging about it:

[Embedded content]

He just won’t admit that leaving helping the poor to only private do-gooders had already failed - which is exactly why the Big Ag funded politicians could so easily sell the idea that helping the poor buy food was a good idea.

The verse is from the Old Testament, and refers to those who refuse to work.

The verse is from Thessalonians 3:10, last time I checked that was in the New Testament.

The “Old Testament” for all its ferociousness against Teh Ghey and stuff, is also pretty stern about those who neglect and oppress the poor and helpless.

89 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:23:37am

re: #87 freetoken

“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

(Scrooge, pre-redemption)

Seriously, this idea of work-fare has been kicked around for decades by the conservatives, who are convinced that people on welfare just love being on welfare and never want to get off it.

90 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:24:44am

And totally overlooks the fact that a lot of recipients are among the working poor.

I guess he considers them to be people who did not work hard enough to get a “decent job”…

91 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:27:15am

re: #89 wheat-dogghazi

“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

(Scrooge, pre-redemption)

Seriously, this idea of work-fare has been kicked around for decades by the conservatives, who are convinced that people on welfare just love being on welfare and never want to get off it.

Walmart is one of the largest recipients of Food Stamps in the country.

Sadly, so is the U.S. military.

92 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:37:46am

re: #40 Amory Blaine

Blitzer felt it was an easy set up. He was probably going to use “Praise the Lord, praise the Lord indeed. Back to Biff in our virtual studio!” to segue to a commercial. He’s such a shell of a man.

The same way that he thought “Boston Bomber suspect has been arrested!” was a slam dunk. Whatta FAIL.

93 A Mom Anon  Wed, May 22, 2013 4:48:51am

re: #87 freetoken

I think those same standards should be applied to elected officials and their definition of the word “work” as they apply it to others. They make FAR more money off the taxpayers every year than an entire family of 4 does on food stamps. For what most of these assholes make in a year, more than a couple of families could be fed.

Karma, why do you not work quicker? I can assure you if their children had ever gone hungry they’d keep their traps shut about this stuff.

(edited to lose the awkward wording,coffee stat!)

94 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 5:05:03am

re: #93 A Mom Anon

Karma, why do you not work quicker? I can assure you if their children had ever gone hungry they’d keep their traps shut about this stuff.

It is kicking in, quicker than you think. this sort of ranting plays well within the Right Wing Bubblesphere, but falls flat on its fact to anyone listening in from outside.

95 A Mom Anon  Wed, May 22, 2013 5:13:49am

re: post 94

Well, we’ll see. I’m kind of losing hope on that one.

This sort of crap is seeping into the consciousness of otherwise decent humans. I just had a disagreement with one of my best friends about this very topic the other day, and her politics are on the liberal side of things. She’s bought into the stereotypes.

I have been a mom who had to give up food so my kids could eat. In the early days of my marriage, we were kinda broke, not on food stamps, but damned close. I fed the family first, and if there was stuff left over I had dinner, if not, I had nothing, or maybe a bowl of oatmeal. When my daughter was little,I was a single mom, without food stamps and WIC we wouldn’t have made it. I worked full time too, for KMart. So seriously, these fucking politicians, who barely find the time to actually do anything classified as “work” passing judgement on poor people can go fuck themselves with a rusty farm implement.

96 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, May 22, 2013 5:23:28am

re: #95 A Mom Anon

Well, we’ll see. I’m kind of losing hope on that one.

This sort of crap is seeping into the consciousness of otherwise decent human. I just had a disagreement with one of my best friends about this very topic the other day, and her politics are on the liberal side of things.

There is a lot of this lodged deep in our consciousness, the whole Protestant Work Ethic thing trumping any sort of compassion for the less fortunate.

But I think it is something that ebbs and flows. People love anecdotal evidence about Food Stamp scammers and gladly ignore well-researched studies that indicate otherwise.

But Americans are edging away from paul Ryan and his approach of cutting social spending to the bone to pay (back) all the tax cuts we have given to “job creators”, especially when so many of those Heoes of Capitalist Enterprise create jobs that still pay below the povery level.

97 A Mom Anon  Wed, May 22, 2013 5:47:37am

re: #96 Sol Berdinowitz

I guess the next election cycle will tell the tale, somewhat anyway, of whether people are over this crap or not. With gerrymandering and voter suppression though, I don’t know how it’s going to work out.

Some days I get so disgusted with human beings I feel like I should just get a couple more dogs and ignore everyone but my immediate family whenever possible. At least dogs have more love in their entire beings than most people do.

98 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:00:42am

Good morning all!

Last night I brewed the White House Honey Ale, a recipe crafted by the WH kitchen staff. Should make a great summer beer!

whitehouse.gov

Youtube Video
99 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:02:21am

re: #98 geoffm33

Good morning all!

Last night I brewed the White House Honey Ale, a recipe crafted by the WH kitchen staff. Should make a great summer beer!

whitehouse.gov

[Embedded content]

What kind of equipment do you need to make your own brew?

My son makes his own wine. We are going to Toronto this weekend for a special family wine tasting.

100 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:05:24am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. It’s cool so far this morning, but it’s expected to get a whole lot warmer this afternoon with summer-like temperatures (and potential for t-storms and showers too).

The other big news in the NYC metro area is that Anthony Weiner will be running for mayor this November. He has no business in the race considering his poor character, and even worse judgment, but he’s got $5 million reasons to do so (and think he can win too) - all that money could help him get ahead of his lackluster opponents.

The Mayor’s race is a mess with a bunch of awful candidates who can’t even articulate or even consider the real needs of the city to address infrastructure problems, school issues, and improving housing opportunities. The City has a budget that rivals at least half the states in the country (well, it’s population is greater than many states). But it’s hamstrung by the fact that the MTA is a state agency and can’t get it properly funded, and we’ve got an aging infrastructure that needs to be addressed - particularly in light of Hurricane Sandy. There are neighborhoods that are still hard hit by Sandy, and will take years before they’re fully recovered.

And it really does start with the MTA. If the subways go down, the City can and will roll to a screeching halt - buses and cars simply can’t pick up that slack. The MTA has already announced that they’re seeing all kinds of problems from Sandy-related damage. Signal and track problems have increased exponentially since Sandy damaged tracks, signals, electronic gear, and tunnels. Pumps have failed to meet the regular inflows, meaning that repairs have to shut down subway service. It’s going to get worse, unless the fixes are implemented in a timely fashion, or else the subways will limp along from one crisis to the next. The City should set up a dedicated fund for transit capital projects, and separate fund for long term maintenance to supplement the MTA budget. It can’t and shouldn’t wait for Albany to fix the budget mess at the MTA.

101 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:15:54am

re: #99 Vicious Babushka

What kind of equipment do you need to make your own brew?

My son makes his own wine. We are going to Toronto this weekend for a special family wine tasting.

TL/DR summary:

I have this and a few other things

Longer:

I’m sure it’s a lot like wine where you can have as basic or extravagant a setup as you wish/have money for :)

What I used last night:

- 7 gallon aluminum pot to boil gallons of water
- Mesh bag to hold the hops and steeping grains*
- Metal stir spoon
- 6 gallon food grade plastic fermenting bucket
- Home depot bucket for water and sanitizing solution to keep everything sanitized

Once bottling day arrives (in a bout two weeks):

- 6 gallon bottling bucket (same as fermenting bucket above, but has a hole punched out near bottom for a spigot
- tubing to get the beer from the fermenting bucket to bottling bucket
- bottling wand (which is basically a hard plastic tube that attaches to the bottling bucket and allows you to fill the bottles easily).
- glass or PET plastic bottles
- caps
- bottle capper

I am still doing extract brews which mean the malted barley has already been mashed to extract their sugars and dehydrated/reduced to be packaged into an ingredients kit.

My next brew will be an “All Grain” brew where I will mash the malted barley myself. Reduces costs and gives you more freedom in creating your own recipes.

102 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:17:44am

re: #101 geoffm33

OK, it’s as complicated as I thought it was.

103 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:18:27am

Coburn and Inhofe and the rest of the GOP in OK is trying to spin furiously away from Coburn’s initial comments about how he’s going to seek offsets in his OK disaster aid plan - to avoid the mistakes made during the Sandy aid package.

Right. What complete BS and he knows it.

The Sandy aid package was held up for months because he and the rest of the craven GOP blocked all aid to the stricken areas because they wanted to impose something that had never been done in any other natural disaster - offsets in the budget to cover the Sandy aid.

While Congress passed the first of several Katrina aid packages within two weeks of the disaster, the GOP blocked any action for months. In fact, they let the NFIP run out of money and refused to fund that program, affecting everyone across the nation for months until they enacted it in a separate bill.

It’s insane what the GOP has done in politicizing natural disaster responses. But that’s what Coburn, Inhofe, and the rest have done. They voted against Sandy aid and now demand their own funds but on their terms.

Any delays in aid coming to OK and Moore residents themselves are on these GOPers who have made a mess of the federal disaster aid funding system. If it takes months to hash out a deal, that’s on the GOP.

Democrats have repeatedly stated that aid will be forthcoming with no strings. It’s the GOP that wants to impose all manner of precondition on a deal, including chopping programs that also happen to help those hit by the Moore tornado (like Medicare, Medicaid, SS, and any other kind of federal aid program you can think of).

It’s the same GOP who thinks that the sequester is a good thing when it slashes budgets of all federal agencies, including the NOAA, NSSL, NWS, and other agencies that are responsible for predicting weather, climate, and can help reduce the death toll in severe weather conditions with prompt and accurate warnings. Chop the aid, and the quality of warnings will drop - and that means people can and will die.

Imagine if we didn’t have access to the European model for the Sandy landfall. We would have been hit even harder and more people would likely have died because they didn’t have time to get to safety ahead of the storm. The American models, which aren’t as sophisticated (they haven’t been updated with new computer gear that can model the atmosphere in smaller bits adding detail that can suss out key features that affect model tracks), took longer to realize that the storm will hook into New Jersey.

These financial choices have consequences, and these GOPers are foolhardy in thinking that chopping the budget saves money, when it will actually cost more to not fund these programs fully.

But I’m preaching to the choir here. /rant off

104 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:21:20am

re: #102 Vicious Babushka

OK, it’s as complicated as I thought it was.

And it stinks the house up. My wife wasn’t too pleased. She was out of town the last time I brewed. She says I need a better ventilation plan for next time. Which is a lot better than ‘if you brew in the house again, you can sleep in your car’.

105 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:21:30am

A man being questioned in Florida by the FBI in connection with the Boston bombings apparently attacked the interrogator, and was shot and killed.

According to NBC News, a special agent was interviewing the suspect regarding his connections to bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and other extremists. The suspect, identified by the FBI as Ibragim Todashev, was originally cooperative, but he was shot after attacking the agent, NBC News reported.

A friend of Todashev, Khusn Taramiv, said Todashev, 27, was being investigated as part of the Boston bombings and knew Tsarnaev because both were MMA fighters.

Taramiv claims he and Todashev were interviewed by the FBI for nearly three hours on Tuesday.

“(The FBI) took me and my friend, (Ibragim Todashev). They were talking to us, both of us, right? And they said they need him for a little more, for a couple more hours, and I left, and they told me they’re going to bring him back. They never brought him back,” Taramiv said.

106 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:21:49am

TEH STUPID IT BURNSSSSS!

107 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:25:04am

re: #100 lawhawk

Okay. I think I’m going to work on someone else’s campaign, then.

Any suggestions as to who looks at all good to you?

108 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:26:13am

re: #103 lawhawk

…..

The Sandy aid package was held up for months because he and the rest of the craven GOP blocked all aid to the stricken areas because they wanted to impose something that had never been done in any other natural disaster - offsets in the budget to cover the Sandy aid.

…..

I agree with your sentiment about preaching to the choir, but I just wanted to quote this part of your post. MONTHS. I mean, WTF!

109 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:28:10am

re: #103 lawhawk

The Sandy aid package was held up for months…

It really doesn’t even matter what words come after the opening of that paragraph. The statement stands on it’s own and is pretty damning. What a bunch of aholes.

110 Bubblehead II  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:33:00am

Morning Lizards.

111 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:33:08am

re: #106 Vicious Babushka

And return the left over eleventy billion to the taxpayers!!!

112 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:33:16am

re: #106 Vicious Babushka

That makes perfect sense, if you think there aren’t going to be any other natural disasters this year (or ever).

But that’s complete nonsense given that there are ongoing natural disasters that are in need of being addressed, including:

1) ongoing flooding in the Central US due to the same front that caused the Moore tornado.
2) severe drought in Central US.
3) tornadoes that continue to pepper most of the Central and Eastern US.

And hurricane season starts in less than two weeks (June 1) and the consensus estimate is a prediction of four major hurricanes (Cat 3+) and anywhere from 10-15 hurricanes total.

Last year saw a record number of storms and events that resulted in damage totals in excess of $1b. That was without any major earthquakes on the West Coast (which is long overdue for a big one - meaning that when it happens, it’s likely to be a huge hit to the budget).

Oh, and 25% of all disaster declarations since 2009 have come from OK and TX. No state is immune from natural disasters, so the politicization is absolutely nuts.

113 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:35:27am

re: #106 Vicious Babushka

Confirmed. FACT.

/

114 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:37:05am

Paging Mr. Jones….Mr. Alex Jones, please report to the conspiracy room.

FBI agent shoot and kills Orlando man with ties to Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev

115 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:41:03am

money.cnn.com

I’m just sick up to here of all this gdamn socialismmarxism sharethewealth crap.

/

116 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:41:55am

re: #114 geoffm33

His confirmed FACTs about “weaponized weather” and government creating and directing tornadoes is most illuminating.

/

117 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:48:32am

re: #107 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

I’m really not sure about who I’d give support to. They’re such an uninspiring bunch and most are status-quo types. No real big ideas among the lot and many of their policies require huge sums of money that aren’t to be found in the current state or local budgets without seriously addressing taxes or shifting priorities..

Bill Thompson nearly won the last election against Bloomberg despite being outspent by an outrageous amount (40 to 1 IIRC). His policy proposals aren’t exactly standing out. Not particularly charismatic.

Liu has ethics problems of his own (campaign staffers from his last election have been convicted on various charges).

Definitely not a fan of Catismatidis or the other GOPers. Lhota might have seemed okay, except that he bailed on the MTA when it needed him most, and he doesn’t exactly have a great vision for what to do with the MTA either now that he’s running for mayor. That’s odd, considering that was his greatest strength.

Quinn might win because she’s the last one standing - and her policies probably have the most appeal. I think her personality leaves something to be desired, but she also benefits from being the only major party female candidate, and would make history by being the first female mayor in the city’s history.

Most of the polls indicate that the Republican candidates don’t stand a chance, regardless of who the Democrats pick.

118 Political Atheist  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:55:38am

re: #117 lawhawk

re: #107 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

Interesting politics with our mayoral race. The candidate who had the big endorsements lost. Would have been LA’s first woman mayor. But Wendy Gruel lost to Eric Garcetti, essentially two insiders. We just had the largest change up at the city council in a very long time.

Now we see if anything changes. Is there an emoticon for unimpressed?
:-/ maybe?

119 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:57:20am

DERP

This same person probably can’t understand why African-Americans vote overwhelmingly Democrats even though

DEMOCRATZ WAZ TEH RACISTS 100 YEARS AGO!!11!!

120 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Wed, May 22, 2013 6:58:24am

re: #117 lawhawk

Yeah, Quinn’s slogan bugs me.

“We can make New York work for middle class families. Join Me!”

What about lower-class families? Are we pretending those don’t exist in NYC?

However, she’s done actual good stuff with food stamps.

I like what Thompson has done with affordable housing.

You think Quinn would win against Thompson?

121 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:00:22am

re: #119 Vicious Babushka

These derpers aren’t much for complete sentences…

122 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:01:20am
What about lower-class families? Are we pretending those don’t exist in NYC?

They don’t exist anywhere, apparently. At least our political classes don’t seem interested in finding out.

123 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:05:03am

Helping the middle class probably goes a good way towards helping everyone outside the top 1% at the moment. Partly because it would boost the economy generally and partly because the US “middle class” extends a long way down anyway.

124 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:08:46am

re: #120 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

Quinn v. Thompson is probably the dream matchup for Thompson. He’s focusing on maximizing his vote among the Latino and Black vote, and Quinn’s not getting much support from those communities. Thompson might win that matchup in a runoff.

But in the primary with the vote being split so many ways, Quinn’s banking on getting to 40% while everyone else splits the vote. She has to hope that she’s got enough support.

Affordable housing and zoning go hand in hand, but right now, developers are finding that they can maximize profits by building superluxury residences. That’s good for the economy generally, but doesn’t help those who are being priced out of living in NYC. Increasing density through zoning changes might help bring more housing (since there’s not much new buildable areas to work with.

The next mayor should be pressing Ratner to build out the housing at Atlantic Yards faster than they promised (and later backtracked). Same thing with the Hudson Yards - build out the housing faster, and these developers will recoup the costs faster.

An interesting map showing where/how much money the candidates have raised.

125 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:09:10am

re: #119 Vicious Babushka

@jeanniemcbride
Does anyone understand WHY Jews that support democrats that are clearly anti-semites.??? #tcot #TGDN #teaparty

ENGLISH…DO YOU SPEAK IT?

126 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:17:46am

re: #119 Vicious Babushka

McBride — an ancient Jewish family name, so she probably knows a lot about what she is (trying to) tweet about.

//

127 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:19:23am

re: #126 wheat-dogghazi

I’m trying to have an actual conversation with her.

128 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:28:54am

Those Democratic-voting Jews probably don’t realize that Abe Lincoln was a Republican. He defeated the Nazis you know.

129 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:30:20am

Eventheliberal WashPost has yet another frontpage ‘newstory’ on THE BENGHAZI TALKING POINTS.

I’d link to it, but a)I’m lazy and b)the front page portion of the article was basically seven paragraphs of controversy, Petraeus, ‘pivotal’, controversy, talking points, etc.

Meanwhile, apparently the worlds most investigative reporter, Sheryl Atkisson, is still on the case, now claiming her computer’s been bugged or something.

I’m pretty damn close to going Galt on the whole bunch.

130 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:30:50am

Interesting facts about Moore OK.

The City’s website indicates that all residences should have storm cellars or safe rooms.

But the local building code imposes no such requirement.

Only 10% of the homes actually have one.

The cost for building a unit is $3-$5,000.

There was funding put in place to help residents build these shelters through FEMA, but red tape at the state and federal level has held up the program.

The state is repeatedly hit by tornadoes, and yet the state building code (and by extension local building codes) doesn’t mandate all homes to be built or retrofitted with storm shelters? Guess the state legislators have more pressing priorities.

Cost and culture are cited as reasons not to impose these standards.

Construction standards in Moore have been studied extensively. In a 2002 study published in the journal of the American Meteorological Society, Timothy P. Marshal, an engineer in Dallas, suggested that “the quality of new home construction generally was no better than homes built prior to the tornado” in 1999.

Few homes built in the town after the storm were secured to their foundations with bolted plates, which greatly increase resistance to storms; instead, most were secured with the same kinds of nails and pins that failed in 1999. Just 6 of 40 new homes had closet-size safe rooms.

Mayor Glenn Lewis of Moore said that since then, the town had strengthened building codes, including a requirement that new homes incorporate hurricane braces. The city has also aggressively promoted the construction of safe rooms and other measures, with more than $12 million from state and federal emergency management funds to subsidize safe-room construction by offering a $2,000 rebate, said Albert Ashwood, the director of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Still, he said, it has been several years since Moore has received new financing for the program.

About a year and a half ago, Mr. McCarty, the builder, spoke to a group of Oklahoma legislators who were considering mandating shelters for new homes, he recalled. But no legislation was proposed, he said, because of the bad economy. A small, prefabricated sunken shelter can cost $4,000, he said, and “mandating another three or four thousand dollars on every new home can really add up when you’re trying to keep houses affordable.”

You know how you can keep the cost down? Reduce the size of the home by 50 sf. If it’s costing $100 per sf to build a home, you simply reduce the size by a 5x10 foot section. Bingo.

This is just asinine.

131 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:31:05am

re: #128 iossarian

The vampires too.

132 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:35:16am

re: #128 iossarian

Those Democratic-voting Jews probably don’t realize that Abe Lincoln was a Republican. He defeated the Nazis you know.

And he’s a quarter Jewish, not too shabby.

133 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:37:41am

re: #132 geoffm33

And he’s a quarter Jewish, not too shabby.

Stands To Reason.

134 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:44:32am

re: #130 lawhawk

Another great example of where the government can borrow money and save in the long run.

1) Govt borrows $500K, essentially at 0% right now
2) Lends at low mortgage rates to homebuyers to build 100 shelters*
3) As a result, 5 fewer people die from tornadoes over 10 years
4) Govt saves on welfare payments to orphans etc., balancing cost of lending program

This is where the power of statistics, and government’s ability to plan on a large scale and over a long time period can really pay off.

* Note this money is repaid eventually, and part of it is recuperated through taxation on the building firms and their employees.

135 jaunte  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:49:38am

re: #130 lawhawk

Mike Gilles, a former president of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association, said that he built safe rooms in all his custom homes, and that even many builders who build speculatively now make them standard.

But asked whether the government should require safe rooms in homes, he said, “Most homebuilders would be against that because we think the market ought to drive what people are putting in the houses, not the government.”

There they are, resisting the “Nanny State Tyranny” again.

136 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:50:17am

re: #134 iossarian

Great ideas, but needs moar taxcutz.

137 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:50:25am

re: #134 iossarian

And having a storm celler/safe room would be a selling point to me and my family if I were living in that area. I wouldn’t consider living in a home that didn’t have it, and if I were building a new home, I’d be demanding that the builder include that and other above the code requirements to make the home storm resistant (including storm resistant windows and hurricane straps for the roof and tie-downs for the wall components.

138 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:55:34am
At risk of sounding like a broken record, Bernanke also repeated the same advice he’s been giving Congress for years: Congress and the Obama administration should focus on supporting the recovery now, he said, while bringing the country’s finances in order over the longer term.

Sigh, Bernanke. There he goes again, with this silly ‘recovery’ talk. What the hell communistmarxist kind of president first appointed this guy?

139 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:55:37am

What a dumbfuck

140 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:55:49am

re: #137 lawhawk

And having a storm celler/safe room would be a selling point to me and my family if I were living in that area. I wouldn’t consider living in a home that didn’t have it, and if I were building a new home, I’d be demanding that the builder include that and other above the code requirements to make the home storm resistant (including storm resistant windows and hurricane straps for the roof and tie-downs for the wall components.

This is an interesting point - I won’t comment on whether this is genuinely the case for you and your family, but I’d like to tie this to studies of buyer preferences in the car market.

Famously, when asked what they look for in a car, people place safety and durability high up the list. However, when you look at car buying patterns themselves (comparing, for example, the price points of cars that are similar in features but differ on consumer safety reports) it turns out that people barely pay any premium at all for the safer car. Premiums are much larger for creature comforts, the classic example being the number of cup holders.

I expect a similar thing goes on in home buying in Tornado Alley. Which is why the government needs to step in and mandate shelters, the same way we mandate seatbelts, minimum braking performance and so on in cars.

141 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:56:12am
142 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 7:58:12am

re: #138 Bulworth

Sigh, Bernanke. There he goes again, with this silly ‘recovery’ talk. What the hell communistmarxist kind of president first appointed this guy?

It’s so stupid. Bernanke’s a Republican and he gets it.

Can you imagine what would have happened if Obama had actually appointed Democrats or *gasp* left-wingers to some of these government positions?

143 Bulworth  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:01:43am

re: #141 Vicious Babushka

Be prepared for many derp questions about who or what ‘IDF’ stands for.

144 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:02:49am

re: #143 Bulworth

Be prepared for many derp questions about who or what ‘IDF’ stands for.

I knew I should not have responded to this but it was such a slam dunk!

145 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:05:09am

re: #140 iossarian

Interesting study.

We live in Northern NJ, so tornado damage isn’t a priority (though we’ve had our share of severe weather in recent years). The housing stock is generally much older, and my home - which we bought knowing it wasn’t in a flood zone, was built in 1928. For us, it’s flood risk, and we bought a home outside a flood zone. We had looked at homes that would have required flood insurance, but decided against buying there because of flood potential. In fact, we had a deal fall through after a noreaster hit and left that potential home’s basement flooded out even though it was outside a flood zone. Don’t want to deal with that kind of mess.

I’m probably going to reinforce the roof over the next couple of years, but we also cut down one of the huge trees on the property to prevent it from coming down on the house in bad weather. We think that had it been up during Sandy, we probably would have looked at a total loss if it came down (or massive losses to our neighbors if it went down on their house instead).

146 jaunte  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:06:57am

re: #144 Vicious Babushka

The denial wall can’t be broken. Those ribs must be from one of those famous Missouri mini-steers.

147 lawhawk  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:07:40am

re: #144 Vicious Babushka

He also drinks beer, which is not permitted under Islamic law.

148 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:09:07am

re: #145 lawhawk

All very sensible! Of course, the “cup holders vs. actual safety performance” is another of these things that only comes out in the aggregate.

149 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:09:11am

re: #129 Bulworth

Eventheliberal WashPost has yet another frontpage ‘newstory’ on THE BENGHAZI TALKING POINTS.

I’d link to it, but a)I’m lazy and b)the front page portion of the article was basically seven paragraphs of controversy, Petraeus, ‘pivotal’, controversy, talking points, etc.

Meanwhile, apparently the worlds most investigative reporter, Sheryl Atkisson, is still on the case, now claiming her computer’s been bugged or something.

I’m pretty damn close to going Galt on the whole bunch.

I’m wondering if Atkisson has caught the conspiracy-theory flu, from hanging around RWNJs too much. She’s beginning to sound a little loopy.

150 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:10:12am

re: #127 Bert’s House of Beef and Obdicuts

I’m trying to have an actual conversation with her.

Wish you luck.

151 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:10:13am

re: #146 jaunte

The denial wall can’t be broken. Those ribs must be from one of those famous Missouri mini-steers.

Maybe it’s the mini-steer of defense?

*runs off for coffee*

biab

152 blueraven  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:12:07am

re: #146 jaunte

The denial wall can’t be broken. Those ribs must be from one of those famous Missouri mini-steers.

Let’s see a photo of George Bush eating pork.

153 blueraven  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:13:13am

re: #152 blueraven

Let’s see a photo of George Bush eating pork.

Prove he is not a MUSLIM!!

154 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:14:31am

re: #146 jaunte

The denial wall can’t be broken. Those ribs must be from one of those famous Missouri mini-steers.

155 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:15:02am

TAQQIYA!!11!!

156 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:20:21am

re: #148 iossarian

All very sensible! Of course, the “cup holders vs. actual safety performance” is another of these things that only comes out in the aggregate.

And is another data point that the average homo sapien is an idiot.

157 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:21:15am

Haha…I see what you did there!

158 erik_t  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:25:30am

As a bike commuter, the most favorable interactions are not with
* large cars
* small cars
* cars with Obama bumper stickers
* cars with Romney anti-Obama bumper stickers
* cars with those insipid “Start SEEING Motorcycles” bumper stickers
* even law enforcement vehicles

They are with semis. Drivers that know their vehicle is unlike most of the rest on the road, and therefore they’re having a large impact on those around them, and therefore are especially observant and considerate.

I feel like there might be a broader lesson here.

159 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:28:18am

Rare sighting of LIBRUL DERP
Dear Annie, do you think Walmart gives a shit if you spam up Twitter?

160 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:31:12am
161 efuseakay  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:31:50am

re: #144 Vicious Babushka

I knew I should not have responded to this but it was such a slam dunk!

No need to go looking for pics. Just ask what would be wrong if he were a Muslim.

162 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:32:34am

re: #161 efuseakay

No need to go looking for pics. Just ask what would be wrong if he were a Muslim.

I’m not opening up that can of derp.

163 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:44:06am

re: #162 Vicious Babushka

I’m not opening up that can of derp.

I’m surprised derp comes in cans. I thought the minimum package was 55 gal drum.

164 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:45:04am

re: #158 erik_t

As a bike commuter, the most favorable interactions are not with
* large cars
* small cars
* cars with Obama bumper stickers
* cars with Romney anti-Obama bumper stickers
* cars with those insipid “Start SEEING Motorcycles” bumper stickers
* even law enforcement vehicles

They are with semis. Drivers that know their vehicle is unlike most of the rest on the road, and therefore they’re having a large impact on those around them, and therefore are especially observant and considerate.

I feel like there might be a broader lesson here.

Worst are rented RVs, but that’s more of a tourist problem than a commuter problem.

165 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:46:20am

re: #164 wrenchwench

Worst are rented RVs, but that’s more of a tourist problem than a commuter problem.

Truckers are professionals. People who rent RV’s have probably never driven one before.

166 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:46:45am

re: #149 wheat-dogghazi

I’m wondering if Atkisson has caught the conspiracy-theory flu, from hanging around RWNJs too much. She’s beginning to sound a little loopy.

Does she have a non-loopy past? I’ve only seen loopiness for the last 5 years or so.

167 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:48:21am

re: #165 Vicious Babushka

Truckers are professionals. People who rent RV’s have probably never driven one before.

Exactly. They have no idea how wide they are. I find that people in little mini cars yield the whole lane when passing, while RVers will hit you with their side mirrors and not even notice.

168 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:49:05am

re: #163 Feline Fearless Leader

I’m surprised derp comes in cans. I thought the minimum package was 55 gal drum.

They have those little “travel-size” ones, too. You can get em at Walgreens and suchlike.

169 efuseakay  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:51:37am

re: #162 Vicious Babushka

I’m not opening up that can of derp.

Why not? Let them have at it for everyone to see. ;)

170 Bubblehead II  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:53:31am

Two Arrested, Accused Of Looting In Tornado-Ravaged Moore Neighborhood

This kinda crap needs to be severely punished.

171 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:54:21am

re: #169 efuseakay

Why not? Let them have at it for everyone to see. ;)

I know exactly how this would play out.

VB: So what if Obama really is a Muslim?

UNITEBLUE LIBRUL ADMITS OBAMA REALLY IS A MUSLIM!!!11!!!!!TGDN TCOT CREEPINGSHARIA ATLASSHRUGS MUSLIMS ISLAM

172 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:55:35am

HOLY SHIT

173 erik_t  Wed, May 22, 2013 8:59:33am

re: #172 Vicious Babushka

If that’s not a dead-girl/live-boy level political transgression, then such a concept no longer exists.

174 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:04:50am

TEH FACE-PALMING STUPID CONTINUES…

175 darthstar  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:08:48am

re: #174 Vicious Babushka

TEH FACE-PALMING STUPID CONTINUES…

After years of Bush people ‘not recalling’ before Congress, it’s good to see the Republicans getting a small dose of their own medicine. Even Darrel Issa seemed to take it in stride this morning with the taking of the fifth by the IRS director.

176 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:11:58am

re: #172 Vicious Babushka

HOLY SHIT

That doesn’t even rate pinocchios. The poor puppet’s jaw fell off at the state of ignorance that would lead to a statement such as that.

177 geoffm33  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:12:22am
Climate Nazis are sending out Tweets to recruit more followers that will help them decorate your house with the artwork of Mussolini.

AND

The goons at the Service Employees International Union are plotting with the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 to put you in gay reeducation camps.

Fact. Checkmate!

Courtesy of The Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theory Generator

178 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:14:18am

LOL

179 klys and whatnot  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:14:18am

re: #117 lawhawk

This caused such a double-take for me as I know a Bill Thompson who has definitely not run for mayor. :)

Time zones suck.

180 efuseakay  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:14:40am

re: #171 Vicious Babushka

I know exactly how this would play out.

VB: So what if Obama really is a Muslim?

Let them have at it. Let them waste their energy.

181 iossarian  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:15:45am

re: #174 Vicious Babushka

TEH FACE-PALMING STUPID CONTINUES…

It’s fortunate that the Obama administration didn’t lose the emails that exonerated them from the whole Benghazi talking points non-scandal. Imagine what would happen if a president was suspected of being involved in a politically-motivated disruption of government business and then lost the emails that might have shed light on the extent of his involvement! That would be really bad.

Probably worth impeachment, I would have thought.

Or maybe not…

en.wikipedia.org

182 HappyWarrior  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:15:57am

re: #172 Vicious Babushka

HOLY SHIT

Anti-slavery amendment? Uh try appeasing the slave powers. I’ve heard about this guy though. He ran against George Allen because Allen wasn’t “conservative” enough for him and the other nutters. Really between him, Cuccinneli, and the nut the GOP has running for AG, this would be probably the most extreme governor, lt governor, and AG the state of Virginia has had in a long time. Just wish the Dems had a better top of the ballot guy than Terry McAuliffe whose only real positive IMO is that he’s not batshit insane and not Ken Cuccinelli but I fear that won’t be enough since the GOP base loves Crazy Cooch.

183 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:16:04am

re: #180 efuseakay

Let them have at it. Let them waste their energy.

I don’t want to fuck up my timeline with all that derp.

184 efuseakay  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:16:07am

re: #175 darthstar

After years of Bush people ‘not recalling’ before Congress, it’s good to see the Republicans getting a small dose of their own medicine. Even Darrel Issa seemed to take it in stride this morning with the taking of the fifth by the IRS director.

But Rumsfeld knew exactly where Saddam’s WMD were. In the area around Tikrit!

185 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:18:12am

Racist hashtag of the day

#BarackObamaPrisonNickNames

186 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:22:55am

Cheerful kitty picture.

Image: Bubble_Cat.jpg

Cats are like children, the oddest things amuse them.

187 darthstar  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:22:59am

re: #184 efuseakay

But Rumsfeld knew exactly where Saddam’s WMD were. In the area around Tikrit!

To the north and the south and the east and the west of there, if I recall.

188 klys and whatnot  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:24:07am

re: #158 erik_t

As a bike commuter, the most favorable interactions are not with
* large cars
* small cars
* cars with Obama bumper stickers
* cars with Romney anti-Obama bumper stickers
* cars with those insipid “Start SEEING Motorcycles” bumper stickers
* even law enforcement vehicles

They are with semis. Drivers that know their vehicle is unlike most of the rest on the road, and therefore they’re having a large impact on those around them, and therefore are especially observant and considerate.

I feel like there might be a broader lesson here.

I have the flip problem (which I am definitely not relating to you, just using your comment as a rant - I always try to be aware of cyclists and give them a wide berth).

Traffic laws exist to provide both drivers and cyclists an idea of how the other is going to behave. Unfortunately, for the last portion of my commute, the cyclists I encounter tend to consider these …guidelines to be ignored, for the most part. And it terrifies me, because I don’t want to hurt someone.

The last fatality on campus was …2 years ago? Cyclist riding at night, no light, no helmet, ran a stop sign (this is so common as to be expected) and was hit by a 70+ year old man who had the right of way. Kid was a visiting grad student from somewhere in east Asia and probably just mimicking what he saw most others doing.

I wish I could say I saw an improvement in how the cyclists on campus behaved after that, but…no. I’ve also been run into as a pedestrian, by a cyclist. From behind.

Ok, my rant is over.

189 erik_t  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:28:20am

re: #188 klys

Traffic laws exist to provide both drivers and cyclists an idea of how the other is going to behave. Unfortunately, for the last portion of my commute, the cyclists I encounter tend to consider these …guidelines to be ignored, for the most part. And it terrifies me, because I don’t want to hurt someone.

I want to beat these people with a rake. If they want to endanger themselves, fine, but don’t give people like me a bad name. A full month of yielding and waving and stopping at signals can be undone by one dumbshit cutting across a lane of traffic at rush hour on a Tuesday.

Assholes are doing their level best to ruin cycling for the rest of us.

190 Eclectic Cyborg  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:28:40am

re: #18 Targetpractice

I can’t think of a time as a gamer when I was less enthusiastic about the release of a new console generation. Hell, can’t even call them gaming consoles anymore, they’re now very fancy DVRs that happen to play games.

THANK YOU!!

I was never exactly enthralled with the current gen, I didn’t even own a 360 until 2010.

You know what I miss? The days when you could plug a game in and be playing about 30 seconds later.

Awhile back I decided to play Call of Duty for a few minutes before going to bed. The process involved the following:

- Turn on Xbox, log on to Xbox live
- OOPS! The Xbox needs a system update, can’t get on live until I install.
- Wait 7 minutes or so for update to finish and console to reboot
- Get on live, load CoD
- OOPS! CoD needs a live update, can’t play unless I install
- Wait 3 minutes for CoD update to finish
- Load CoD again, enter matchmaking, wait 3 minutes for game to commence.

Out of 20 minutes, I spent about 6 actually PLAYING the game.

191 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:28:43am

re: #188 klys

I think it’s the standard “asshole” problem. Or at the very least not considering what the potential issues are with the behaviors and how they don’t play well with others. I see lots of marginal behavior here in Center City (Philadelphia). By pedestrians, by bicycle riders, skateboarders, and the car drivers as well.

And there seems to be some sort of native pedestrian behavior about waiting for the signal to change while standing three feet out into the road already.

192 klys and whatnot  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:32:36am

re: #189 erik_t

I want to beat these people with a rake. If they want to endanger themselves, fine, but don’t give people like me a bad name. A full month of yielding and waving and stopping at signals can be undone by one dumbshit cutting across a lane of traffic at rush hour on a Tuesday.

Assholes are doing their level best to ruin cycling for the rest of us.

I love cyclists like you. You are the distinct minority that I encounter in my commute.

Which to be fair, I am discussing the area around campus (and worse, on campus), where you have a lot of kids riding. No helmets. A non-zero number on cell phones. Stop signs apparently don’t exist. In general, the cyclists I encounter farther away from campus tend to be better than on campus, but unfortunately on campus exists for me.

I drive with the assumption that I should anticipate every cyclist violating traffic laws and react accordingly. If it turns out they don’t, then all I’ve done is paused for a moment. If they do, then I haven’t just hurt or killed someone.

193 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:36:39am

re: #192 klys

I’m surprised at the number of bicyclists I am seeing who are not wearing helmets. Wearing one is habitual for me when out on a bike. And given how busy the trail along the Schuylkill gets I have to take the chance of a spill happening as a given. Especially since it is being shared with runners and pedestrians, and often quite a large number of children meandering about as well.

194 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:37:12am

re: #189 erik_t

I want to beat these people with a rake. If they want to endanger themselves, fine, but don’t give people like me a bad name. A full month of yielding and waving and stopping at signals can be undone by one dumbshit cutting across a lane of traffic at rush hour on a Tuesday.

Assholes are doing their level best to ruin cycling for the rest of us.

The worst offender in this town is the most prominent ‘bicycle advocate’. I decided two weeks ago that I will no longer avoid calling him out. I no longer care who in the ‘cycling community’ I offend by showing others how stupid he is. I almost got in a fight with him in a meeting last week. I exposed a bit of his stupidity and he reacted. This could be fun.

Two rake references deleted.

195 stabby  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:37:32am

re: #144 Vicious Babushka

Look what you’ve done, now I have to go find bbq sauce!

196 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:37:33am

And a colorful virtual lunch for everyone since I am headed out to get a bite.

Image: Stuffed_Peppers.jpg

197 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:40:28am

Hatchling alert.

198 klys and whatnot  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:40:33am

re: #196 Feline Fearless Leader

And a colorful virtual lunch for everyone since I am headed out to get a bite.

Image: Stuffed_Peppers.jpg

I see your stuffed peppers and raise you with Mexican stuffed poblanos (as having been frozen for an hour before putting in vacuum sealed bags).

199 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:42:44am

re: #193 Feline Fearless Leader

I’m surprised at the number of bicyclists I am seeing who are not wearing helmets. Wearing one is habitual for me when out on a bike. And given how busy the trail along the Schuylkill gets I have to take the chance of a spill happening as a given. Especially since it is being shared with runners and pedestrians, and often quite a large number of children meandering about as well.

I am a dedicated, habitual helmet wearer, and I still encourage people to use them (actually I encourage them to wear one, but not to use it). But I am not the big helmet pusher I used to be. I’m all about cyclist and driver education now. Cycling is not as dangerous as being a pedestrian, and we don’t see them wearing helmets. Most traffic deaths are from head injury, but we don’t see people in cars wearing them.

200 Vicious Babushka  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:44:24am

re: #199 wrenchwench

I am a dedicated, habitual helmet wearer, and I still encourage people to use them (actually I encourage them to wear one, but not to use it). But I am not the big helmet pusher I used to be. I’m all about cyclist and driver education now. Cycling is not as dangerous as being a pedestrian, and we don’t see them wearing helmets. Most traffic deaths are from head injury, but we don’t see people in cars wearing them.

Did you see “Premium Rush”? Did you think the movie glorified reckless bike riding?

201 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:44:36am

re: #199 wrenchwench

I am a dedicated, habitual helmet wearer, and I still encourage people to use them (actually I encourage them to wear one, but not to use it). But I am not the big helmet pusher I used to be. I’m all about cyclist and driver education now. Cycling is not as dangerous as being a pedestrian, and we don’t see them wearing helmets. Most traffic deaths are from head injury, but we don’t see people in cars wearing them.

I also habitually wear a pair of safety glasses. Got into that after taking a bumblebee off an eyelid while doing about 15 mph on a downhill.

202 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:46:48am

re: #200 Vicious Babushka

Did you see “Premium Rush”? Did you think the movie glorified reckless bike riding?

Didn’t see it, but sounds like it did do that. Reckless cyclists are a real threat to pedestrians, as Klys can attest.

203 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:48:24am

re: #201 Feline Fearless Leader

I also habitually wear a pair of safety glasses. Got into that after taking a bumblebee off an eyelid while doing about 15 mph on a downhill.

I’ve worn glasses since 3rd grade, so I forget to recommend eye protection to people who don’t. It may be more important than a helmet. Gloves are also safety equipment. They’ll save your hands in a crash.

204 wrenchwench  Wed, May 22, 2013 9:50:44am

re: #197 Vicious Babushka

Hatchling alert.

Now has interesting avatar.

205 Joanne  Wed, May 22, 2013 11:57:35am

re: #196 Feline Fearless Leader

And a colorful virtual lunch for everyone since I am headed out to get a bite.

Image: Stuffed_Peppers.jpg

Oooh…those looks yummy. Recipe?

206 Joanne  Wed, May 22, 2013 11:58:03am

Damn, dead thread again. Freaking work getting in the way! :-)

207 Dr. Matt  Thu, May 23, 2013 11:56:14am

re: #67 Bubblehead II

Heckler going on about Gitmo. The Pres handled it with class as usual.

That was slick. He is one cool customer. I’m sure Fox will spin this that the president was rude and unpresidential.


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