Hold hands. Also hold mustard. But yeah everything else on the sandwich looks great.

— Night Vale podcast (@NightValeRadio) August 28, 2013

@Wary12 well, fwiw, we're not doing any stories on the new WaPo piece.

— Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) August 29, 2013

MSNBC backing off the Snowden promos?

re: #2 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Too little, too late AFAIC. I never watched Hayes unless he was on Maddow anyway. After Maddow was dishonest in her presentation of some of the GG/Snowden crap, I uninstalled my apps for her show. I’m sick of the framing & lying by omission, regardless of who does it.

re: #3 Charles Johnson

MSNBC backing off the Snowden promos?

Or burying the embarrassing news.

re: #3 Charles Johnson

Gee, can’t imagine why they’d stop now.

Maybe there’s something in the latest revelations that might be leading to doubts about Snowden and his intentions, starting with the fact that NBC News found that Snowden engaged in identity theft and impersonated other NSA officials to gain access to documents above his classification level.

re: #3 Charles Johnson

MSNBC backing off the Snowden promos?

Maybe. Possibly a marketing decision. Despite giving Greenwald lots of airtime and favorable coverage MSNBC doesn’t seem to be getting the big scoops. Maybe Snowden needs to throw them a bone.

re: #2 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

OK, I’ll have to find another reason not to watch Hayes…….Football!

Part of me gets the feeling that Hayes is running nothing on the new WaPo piece because of the whole “Snowden stole username and password” deal.

Kinda puts the lie to the “St. Snowden, Martyr for Freedom” bullshit.

re: #3 Charles Johnson

MSNBC backing off the Snowden promos?

They went all in with Snowden and their ratings went into the toilet. Not saying those two things are related but….

*eyeroll* Later, lizards.

That’s a shame too, I watched both Hayes and Maddow frequently but when they sided with GG on this speculative libertarian fantasy without actually digging up facts, I stopped watching them and will wait for them to come to their senses. Especially Rachael, who has been outstanding on environmental and womens issues as well as Voter suppression and gun control.

re: #9 Mattand

Part of me gets the feeling that Hayes is running nothing on the new WaPo piece because of the whole “Snowden stole username and password” delay.

Kinda puts the lie to the “St. Snowden, Martyr for Freedom” bullshit.

Yep, that would mean he has no problem with people reporting stuff that would be gathered if someone stole his MSNBC electronic access.

re: #6 lawhawk

Gee, can’t imagine why they’d stop now.

Maybe there’s something in the latest revelations that might be leading to doubts about Snowden and his intentions, starting with the fact that NBC News found that Snowden engaged in identity theft and impersonated other NSA officials to gain access to documents above his classification level.

I’m fighting the urge to tweet directly to Hayes and ask for comment about NBC reporting on Snowden’s identity theft.

Wouldn’t surprise me to see him come back with a variation of “the ends justify the means” rationalization that the dudebros love so much.

CIA has just released a partially declassified 1985 report on Syria’s chemical weapons program via @matthewaid, http://t.co/mV5AXv29LT

— ACRS-ME (@ACRSME) August 29, 2013

Dear Mr. Cameron and Mr. Boehner:

Leadership Politics 101, 1st Day:

Lesson 1:

Never hold a vote on something you aren’t sure won’t pass.

re: #10 b.d.

They went all in with Snowden and their ratings went into the toilet. Not saying those two things are related but….

Possibly may be true. Here is one less viewer…

.@chrislhayes @NowWithAlex @allinwithchris It is a good show; but I'm giving it a rest until the Greenwald moments fade.

— Andrew Gatto (@AndrewGatto) August 29, 2013

re: #12 piratedan

That’s a shame too, I watched both Hayes and Maddow frequently but when they sided with GG on this speculative libertarian fantasy without actually digging up facts, I stopped watching them and will wait for them to come to their senses. Especially Rachael, who has been outstanding on environmental and womens issues as well as Voter suppression and gun control.

It seems like Maddow was letting Hayes do the heavy lifting on that one for the longest time. It’s only recently that she’s weighed in with any comment. I wonder if seeing another gay journalist’s* partner get detained set her on edge a little bit.

I also wonder if it was an editorial decision between MSNBC’s prime time shows to let Hayes slobber all over Snowden/GG. I was hoping Maddow’s relative silence on the matter was a sign of skepticism over the whole affair, although I’m guessing not at this point.

*I know, I know. It’s just easier to shorthand GG this way.

re: #18 Mattand

It seems like Maddow was letting Hayes do the heavy lifting on that one for the longest time. It’s only recently that she’s weighed in with any comment. I wonder if seeing another gay journalist’s* partner get detained set her on edge a little bit.

I wonder if it was editorial decision between their prime time shows to let Hayes slobber all over Snowden/GG. I was hoping her relative silence on the matter was a sign of skepticism over the whole affair, although I’m guessing not at this point.

*I know, I know. It’s just easier to shorthand GG this way.

That could be in play, I know that she’s been very vocal about LGBT issues, but hell, she’s on the right side of a LOT of things and asks pointed questions when the Government needs to do better (i.e. processing disability claims post service for our troops)

DERP

@AMTVNews as if we should believe ANYTHING Israeli intelligence has to say. Remember the USS Liberty? #teaparty #tcot #uniteblue

— Jeanette Borges (@ourrighttoknow2) August 30, 2013

re: #19 piratedan

That could be in play, I know that she’s been very vocal about LGBT issues, but hell, she’s on the right side of a LOT of things and asks pointed questions when the Government needs to do better (i.e. processing disability claims post service for our troops)

True. I’ve been trying to remind myself this is one of those times where, regardless of how much you respect a person’s opinions, you almost never see eye-to-eye on everything.

How adorable is this?

Twin aunts hold new twin nieces.

re: #21 Mattand

and it’s easy to see something that can hit “close to home” suddenly get you in your feelings, i.e. a pseudo journo like GG (and Maddow has been a radio and TV personality so perhaps there are some complex issues about her street cred going on here), a gay spouse involved and presto… hard to be clinically dispassionate about everything.

And now, a word from Bill Watterson (in spirit if not actuality).

huffingtonpost.com

@BardOfBoil @lawhawk Nice try, but not true. Read the language of the Espionage Act.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 30, 2013

re: #24 Dr Lizardo

that was awesome! tyvm for sharing that!

Republican Outreach
The party of Civil Rights!

re: #26 piratedan

that was awesome! tyvm for sharing that!

I thought it was really cool too. Watterson’s words, even if he didn’t actually illustrate it; that honor goes to Gavin Aung Than, who did a remarkable job of doing so in Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes” style.

re: #22 Vicious Babushka

Aww, so much pretty in one place. So how many grandchildren(ahem, excuse me, overlords)does this make now?

Public TV is doing a story on the recovery efforts at Bayou Le Batre, after Katrina. Had a long day, buried my wife’s friend. She was a hoot, came to stay with us in Israel via a Southern Baptist church tour.

‘Nite, all.

re: #6 lawhawk

Gee, can’t imagine why they’d stop now.

Maybe there’s something in the latest revelations that might be leading to doubts about Snowden and his intentions, starting with the fact that NBC News found that Snowden engaged in identity theft and impersonated other NSA officials to gain access to documents above his classification level.

Hold on. He did what, now?

I stop paying attention for a few days, and suddenly it gets interesting.

re: #22 Vicious Babushka

How adorable is this?

Twin aunts hold new twin nieces.

Totally beautiful!

Anyone need a SysAdmin job with no educational requirement and only 1 yr of experience?

webheadtech.com

'Speaking of offensive performances……' #Twerk pic.twitter.com/TE26MMH2Tv

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) August 30, 2013

re: #34 Gus

MY EYES!

re: #34 Gus

[Embedded content]

Charles, please ban Gus.
Kthxbai.

re: #36 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Charles, please ban Gus.
Kthxbai.

inorite

Here’s a quick guide to gay marriage in New Mexico, for anyone trying to follow along at home.

Later, lizards.

re: #29 A Mom Anon

Aww, so much pretty in one place. So how many grandchildren(ahem, excuse me, overlords)does this make now?

17 girls & 17 boys KAH. :)

re: #34 Gus

I think it could be improved with a little 00 buckshot. //

re: #37 Gus

inorite

Oh god, can you imagine the google image search for that…

Where’s that geography quiz website?

re: #34 Gus

Speaking of government shutdown threats, I think one of our new hatchlings is a little confused about who is making them…

re: #43 klys

Speaking of government shutdown threats, I think one of our new hatchlings is a little confused about who is making them…

Ugh. Sad.

re: #44 Gus

Ugh. Sad.

LGF tends to renew my faith in the possibility for intelligent discourse about the challenges facing politics today.

And then there are letters like that.

re: #43 klys

Speaking of government shutdown threats, I think one of our new hatchlings is a little confused about who is making them…

Every wingnut talking point except BENGHAZI!!!!111!!!!!

re: #46 Vicious Babushka

Every wingnut talking point except BENGHAZI!!!!111!!!!!

I can’t believe I missed its absence. Except I was too busy trying to parse the grammar.

re: #44 Gus

Ugh. Sad.

I just had to go there and do a down-ding.

re: #43 klys

Speaking of government shutdown threats, I think one of our new hatchlings is a little confused about who is making them…

I read it.
I didn’t understand it.

re: #47 klys

I can’t believe I missed its absence. Except I was too busy trying to parse the grammar.

Well ya can’t argue with it, can ya. So there.

Espionage Act - 18 USC § 798 - Disclosure of classified information

(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States any classified information—
(1) concerning the nature, preparation, or use of any code, cipher, or cryptographic system of the United States or any foreign government; or
(2) concerning the design, construction, use, maintenance, or repair of any device, apparatus, or appliance used or prepared or planned for use by the United States or any foreign government for cryptographic or communication intelligence purposes; or
(3) concerning the communication intelligence activities of the United States or any foreign government; or
(4) obtained by the processes of communication intelligence from the communications of any foreign government, knowing the same to have been obtained by such processes—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

It’s indisputable that the information released meets the definition of classified information. It includes intel activities of the US. Each violation - up to 10 years or fine or both.

The term “unauthorized person” means any person who, or agency which, is not authorized to receive information of the categories set forth in subsection (a) of this section, by the President, or by the head of a department or agency of the United States Government which is expressly designated by the President to engage in communication intelligence activities for the United States.

Add to that the potential charges under 18 USC 793, in particular (d) and (e) and (f).

In other words, all applicable to Snowden and his actions.

re: #49 Pavlovian Hive Mind

I read it.
I didn’t understand it.

I saw. I read. I said wtf.

(NOT wft. That’s a VNMR command. argh.)

We need a wingnut to English translator.

re: #51 lawhawk

Espionage Act - 18 USC § 798 - Disclosure of classified information

It’s indisputable that the information released meets the definition of classified information. It includes intel activities of the US. Each violation - up to 10 years or fine or both.

Add to that the potential charges under 18 USC 793, in particular (d) and (e) and (f).

In other words, all applicable to Snowden and his actions.

And yet so many armchair experts were yelling about Snowden being falsely charged with that. The DoJ knew, though.

re: #54 Justanotherhuman

And yet so many armchair experts were yelling about Snowden being falsely charged with that. The DoJ knew, though.

Man, you’d almost think the DoJ employed lawyers or something.

re: #55 klys

Man, you’d almost think the DoJ employed lawyers or something.

Youtube Video

Increasingly, I find that the best response to many things is simply lolwut.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 30, 2013

But it would be a heartfelt and sincere lolwut.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 30, 2013

re: #42 Gus

Where’s that geography quiz website?

Found it.

13199 points.

Cue the parade of sad kitties. Someone forgot to reload the feeders last night, and as a result they are getting wet food tonight as an apology …but all they know right now is that the feeders have gone off and they are EMPTY AND NOW THE KITTIES ARE STARVING.

url.geoguessr.com

re: #59 klys

Cue the parade of sad kitties. Someone forgot to reload the feeders last night, and as a result they are getting wet food tonight as an apology …but all they know right now is that the feeders have gone off and they are EMPTY AND NOW THE KITTIES ARE STARVING.

Image: Lolcat-rubbing-hands-yes-yes-evil-plan-working.jpg

re: #54 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, in plain English (or delawyered), 18 USC 798 is totally applicable to Snowden. Why? Well, it says that if you publish classified stuff or use it in any manner that harms the safety or interest of the US, you’re in violation of the Espionage Act. That applies to all the stuff Snowden’s released thus far to people who aren’t authorized to see it. That means Greenwald/Wikileaks and anyone not authorized to see it.

It would be cool if Twitter could send a ping to a user's website when they tweet, to make this embedding thing go both ways.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 30, 2013

re: #62 lawhawk

I think that one is talking about moral standards, not actual law. In other words, whatever he wants it to mean.

re: #64 Charles Johnson

Yeah, people of a certain moral flexibility appear to want to make Snowden out to be a hero regardless of what the law actually says or means.

Snowden’s actions are a textbook case of espionage under the Act. But yet the pretzel logic and mechanations to try and claim that he isn’t is astounding in its logic levitation. Next step is spoon bending.

re: #65 lawhawk

Yeah, people of a certain moral flexibility appear to want to make Snowden out to be a hero regardless of what the law actually says or means.

Snowden’s actions are a textbook case of espionage under the Act. But yet the pretzel logic and mechanations to try and claim that he isn’t is astounding in its logic levitation. Next step is spoon bending.

To sum it up by using a meme, haters gonna hate. People who hate America will seize on whatever they can to bolster their mindset, and deny anything to the contrary. The same, of course, can be said for the hyper-patriots, but that’s a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.

re: #62 lawhawk

Yeah, in plain English (or delawyered), 18 USC 798 is totally applicable to Snowden. Why? Well, it says that if you publish classified stuff or use it in any manner that harms the safety or interest of the US, you’re in violation of the Espionage Act. That applies to all the stuff Snowden’s released thus far to people who aren’t authorized to see it. That means Greenwald/Wikileaks and anyone not authorized to see it.

That might be too much delawyering. Mere disclosure of classified material is usually not enough for an espionage charge. The quoted legal text seems to be setting forth exceptions to this general rule (i.e., it lists categories of classified information the mere disclosure of which is espionage).

The categories are 1) code/crypto, 2) crypto/COMINT equipment, 3) COMINT activities of US/foreign states, and 4) COMINT results.

Snowden’s leaks almost surely include one or more of these especially sensitive categories.

The Pentagon Papers are an example of classified material that would not likely fall into any of these categories.

re: #34 Gus

[Embedded content]

Interesting choice of colors the cartoonist used for the lettering on Boehner’s underwear.

re: #58 Gus

Found it.

13199 points.

Game finished!
You got 9074 points in total.

re: #68 BongCrodny

Interesting choice of colors the cartoonist used for the lettering on Boehner’s underwear.

It’s a disgusting image, which is fitting for one of the most accurate cartoons regarding GOP antics I’ve seen.

U MAD BRO MT @HSMPRESS1: Central to all this is the protection of Zionist regime & keeping the Jewish slime ingrained in Muslim lands

— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) August 29, 2013

re: #71 Gus

What the hell.

re: #72 thedopefishlives

What the hell.

HSM

Don’t you people understand?!?!?! The government is tracking everything!!! Just this week I ordered something online and the government is tracking MY MAIL through the POST OFFICE!!!! They even sent me a tracking number!!!1111!tyt

Thanks, Charles…after today’s shenanigans online, I needed some comic relief.

PSA: Blazing Saddles starts in 10 minutes on Retro (Comcast 514)

If you haven’t watched it, watch it.
If you have watched it, watch it again.

re: #69 Iwouldprefernotto

Game finished!
You got 9074 points in total.

Game finished!

You got 13391 points in total.

Ooh, and Chasing Mavericks is on Cinemax at 7pm. Fun movie - good surfing shots.
“Paddle, paddle, paddle, little grom”

Dear Syrian Kids, Sorry about the poison gas, today's'napalm' bombs and all the years of butchery. Cheers, The British Bystanders

— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) August 30, 2013

I guess chemical weapons are now in the ‘acceptable to use’ category.
What a world.

re: #71 Gus

>>>/b/

Oh God. Can you imagine Spencer Ackerman or Teh GG on /b/? They wouldn’t last 10 minutes.

re: #81 Internet Tough Guy

>>>/b/

Oh God. Can you imagine Spencer Ackerman or Teh GG on /b/? They wouldn’t last 10 minutes.

What’s /b/?

re: #82 Gus

What’s /b/?

urbandictionary.com

re: #67 EPR-radar

This is more complicated than I thought.

18 USC 794 is the section of the US code that can lead to the death penalty for spying, and requires delivering or attempting to deliver sensitive material to a foreign entity. (This is the part of the law I usually have in mind when referring to “espionage”, which can be confusing)

18 USC 793 and 18 USC 798 outlaw the unauthorized release of sensitive information, and the penalty in these sections is a fine and up to 10 years imprisonment.

The official complaint against Snowden dated 6/14/2013 alleged violations of sections 793 and 798.

I think Snowden’s actions since then have put section 794 into play. Especially since the foreign entity doesn’t have to be an official of a foreign power. The foreign entity can be just a citizen of any foreign nation.

re: #83 Pavlovian Hive Mind

urbandictionary.com

Roger.

re: #82 Gus

Where all the trolls on 4chan are.

re: #80 Pavlovian Hive Mind

I guess chemical weapons are now in the ‘acceptable to use’ category.
What a world.

I still have nightmare visions of someone coming up with a bio- or nano-tech version of the neutron bomb - kills people, leaves everything else standing.

Once it’s developed, it will be used. That’s what the glorified apes otherwise known as humans do :/

How ironic.

George Zimmerman’s Wife Says She’s Scared of Vigilantes

theatlanticwire.com

Also revealed in the ABC interview was the fact that she had left Z the night before the shooting, after an argument, and stayed at her father’s house.

abcnews.go.com

Z is a violent man, evidenced by his past record of domestic violence and assault on a police officer. It’s just a matter of time before he’s in trouble again because of it.

I've old enough to remember when Twitter had fewer than 25 million experts on the #NSA, national security and #Syria.

— Shoq Value (@Shoq) August 30, 2013

re: #85 Gus

Roger.

GG would feel right at home.

By now most of Syria’s hardware are no longer in concentrated positions. Probably all.

re: #87 Interesting Times

I still have nightmare visions of someone coming up with a bio- or nano-tech version of the neutron bomb - kills people, leaves everything else standing.

Once it’s developed, it will be used. That’s what the glorified apes otherwise known as humans do :/

This reminds me of the most decisive argument in favor of the US use of nuclear weapons in Japan at the end of WWII that I am aware of.

The way history went, there were only two choices available:

A) Nuclear weapons were used in small numbers at the end of WWII.

B) Nuclear weapons were not used in WWII, but were used in large numbers at the outset of WWIII.

Pick one.

I watched Beasts of the Southern Wild. It got kind of weird at the end.

“I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.”

Was that cereal you had this morning? Did you check carefully before eating? You know what, never mind. Better to not think about it.

— Night Vale podcast (@NightValeRadio) August 18, 2013

Hate the sinner; love the sin. //

Kittens Stop NYC Subway Service (PHOTO) http://t.co/uZWNAfQ8Op

— CuriousLurker (@CuriousLurker) August 30, 2013

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”

― Mark Twain

re: #98 Stanley Sea

“God created war so that Americans would learn geography.”

― Mark Twain

He would totally be a troll on 4chan today.

re: #97 Gus

And so it begins. Our feline overlords have finally discovered their power over us.

re: #92 EPR-radar

This reminds me of the most decisive argument in favor of the US use of nuclear weapons in Japan at the end of WWII that I am aware of.

The way history went, there were only two choices available:

A) Nuclear weapons were used in small numbers at the end of WWII.

B) Nuclear weapons were not used in WWII, but were used in large numbers at the outset of WWIII.

Pick one.

To me, the best argument remains: Using the A-Bomb offered a way to end the war with far fewer Allied casualties than any other approach.

It also offered the opportunity to prepare for Operation: OLYMPIC, had that operation’s invasion of Kyushu proved necessary: Hiroshima was the HQ of Kyushu’s defense force, the 41st Area Army, and Nagasaki was a key munitions production center. Both would have had to be neutralized as part of any invasion.

re: #97 Gus

Gah, kittens. My heart melts.

re: #100 thedopefishlives

And so it begins. Our feline overlords have finally discovered their power over us.

Look out!

What, what is it!?

IT’S A KITTEN!!!!!!!

[Sound of man screaming.]

[Fade to black.]

re: #103 Gus

Look out!

What, what is it!

IT’S A KITTEN!!!!!!!

[Sound of man screaming.]

[Fade to black.]

One!

Two!

FIVE!

“Three, sir!”

THREE!

[Pulls pin.]

re: #99 Pavlovian Hive Mind

He would totally be a troll on 4chan today.

Would be awesome to watch.

re: #101 Dark_Falcon

To me, the best argument remains: Using the A-Bomb offered a way to end the war with far fewer Allied casualties than any other approach.

It also offered the opportunity to prepare for Operation: OLYMPIC, had that operation’s invasion of Kyushu proved necessary: Hiroshima was the HQ of Kyushu’s defense force, the 41st Area Army, and Nagasaki was a key munitions production center. Both would have had to be neutralized as part of any invasion.

I know why you’re coming at it from this point of view, but to me it is one of the most repulsive arguments; the idea that lives from one side are worth more than another.

To make the argument that it reduced casualties on both sides is one thing, but to argue that it was only the decrease in Alllied lives that mattered is not an argument that I like, even if it may be truthful to the thinking of the time. We should be better than that today.

re: #105 Stanley Sea

Would be awesome to watch.

I often feel he was born in the wrong era.
He’d fit in all too well today.

re: #104 thedopefishlives

One!

Two!

FIVE!

“Three, sir!”

THREE!

[Pulls pin.]

[Sound of man breathing heavily.]

Last message. Tell my mom I love her. My wife and kids. [Sound of man breathing heavily.] I love you too. We’re surrounded. There are kittens everywhere. They’ve taken over the city. They’ve killed almost everyone…

[Sounds of loud kitten squeaks.]

Did you hear that? Did you…

[Sound of kitten hiss.]

I love…

[Static.]

[Fade to black.]

re: #106 klys

I know why you’re coming at it from this point of view, but to me it is one of the most repulsive arguments; the idea that lives from one side are worth more than another.

To make the argument that it reduced casualties on both sides is one thing, but to argue that it was only the decrease in Alllied lives that mattered is not an argument that I like, even if it may be truthful to the thinking of the time. We should be better than that today.

I do not think such an argument repulsive in the context of World War Two: The responsibility of President Truman, Gen. MacArthur, Adm. Nimitz and all other Allied leaders was to their own troops and Allies. The Japanese had forfeited such concern by their surprise attack and horrific behavior.

Retired Madison WI Police Chief on Handling Protest: When Will We Ever Learn?

Kitten Invasion III

Kittennado

It had to be done.

re: #109 Dark_Falcon

I do not think such an argument repulsive in the context of World War Two: The responsibility of President Truman, Gen. MacArthur, Adm. Nimitz and all other Allied leaders was to their own troops and Allies. The Japanese had forfeited such concern by their surprise attack and horrific behavior.

This is something where we will agree to disagree and I certainly acknowledge the historical context of this. I’m just saying that in hindsight, we can also know that the decision to invade would have resulted in horrific civilian casualties on both sides and acknowledging that this probably resulted in fewer deaths on both sides, even at the cost it had, seems fair.

I have not been to Hiroshima yet; my husband tends to visit the less common sites at this point after living in Japan for 2.5 years, and our only trip together was Tokyo and some outside sides. I’m hoping to go back in December/January though, and even if it doesn’t happen this visit, it will happen at some point. But there was a human cost, and many of those lives were innocent. Pearl Harbor, for all its horror, was an attack on a military target that caused few civilian casualties. We cannot say the same about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, whatever military purposes they may have served.

THIS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS THAT WE MIGHT MILITARILY INTEVENE IN SYRIA AND DROP BOMBS IN SYRIA!!!!!!!!! I CAN’T SLEEP UNTIL THERE IS JUSTICE!!!!!!!! NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!!!!!!! NO WAR IN SYRIA!!!!!

//

Right wingers are pulling permits to sing at the Capitol to disrupt the protests. The regular singers are outside, respecting the permit.

Youtube Video

re: #113 klys

This is something where we will agree to disagree and I certainly acknowledge the historical context of this. I’m just saying that in hindsight, we can also know that the decision to invade would have resulted in horrific civilian casualties on both sides and acknowledging that this probably resulted in fewer deaths on both sides, even at the cost it had, seems fair.

I have not been to Hiroshima yet; my husband tends to visit the less common sites at this point after living in Japan for 2.5 years, and our only trip together was Tokyo and some outside sides. I’m hoping to go back in December/January though, and even if it doesn’t happen this visit, it will happen at some point. But there was a human cost, and many of those lives were innocent. Pearl Harbor, for all its horror, was an attack on a military target that caused few civilian casualties. We cannot say the same about Hiroshima and Nagasaki, whatever military purposes they may have served.

Area fire attacks were all we had back in WWII and had Nagasaki at least not been A-Bombed it would have been fire-bombed like Hamburg, Dresden, and Tokyo.

It is important to not transpose today’s circumstances onto the past: Japanese society as a whole was at war with us during WWII and winning the war meant destroying Japan’s ability to make war, which given the technology of the time meant heavy civilian casualties. This last was especially true in Japan, given its veritable cottage military industry in civilian homes.

Dead thread dudebro defender is busy again downstairs.

Before I call it a night, another good one for your FB friends who hyperventilate about the NSA & priivacy: Facebook Reminds Users: All Your Data Is Fair Game

re: #59 klys

Cue the parade of sad kitties. Someone forgot to reload the feeders last night, and as a result they are getting wet food tonight as an apology …but all they know right now is that the feeders have gone off and they are EMPTY AND NOW THE KITTIES ARE STARVING.

You can expect some poor ratings in your next Feline Overlord evaluation and audit forms.

re: #97 Gus

Hellboy would have been proud of NYC today.

re: #114 Gus

THIS IS JUST OUTRAGEOUS THAT WE MIGHT MILITARILY INTEVENE IN SYRIA AND DROP BOMBS IN SYRIA!!!!!!!!! I CAN’T SLEEP UNTIL THERE IS JUSTICE!!!!!!!! NO JUSTICE NO PEACE!!!!!!! NO WAR IN SYRIA!!!!!

//

The hippies and the hawks, both selling their pungent barrows of bullshit. As in most matters, it seems the truth lies somewhere in between.

Wow. When the hell did I get so moderate.

re: #120 thedopefishlives

The hippies and the hawks, both selling their pungent barrows of bullshit. As in most matters, it seems the truth lies somewhere in between.

Wow. When the hell did I get so moderate.

Ha, could say the same about myself. Really, I don’t blame people for being reticent about Syria but at the same time, you realize that there are serious geopolitical ramifications of doing nothing.

And on that note, my pillows are calling my name. Wouldn’t want to disappoint. Night Lizards, looking forward to the long weekend I will probably spend here.

One thing is for sure. I am glad I’m not and will never be president. I mean I am not saying I’ll never criticize a president again but I’ll never second guess acting like it’s so easy. Obama really does face a difficult decision here and ultimately no matter what decision he does make, people are going to find fault with it. It takes a special individual to want to bear that burden and I continue to be glad that someone is Barack Obama and not John McCain or Mitt Romney.

re: #116 Dark_Falcon

Area fire attacks were all we had back in WWII and had Nagasaki at least not been A-Bombed it would have been fire-bombed like Hamburg, Dresden, and Tokyo.

It is important to not transpose today’s circumstances onto the past: Japanese society as a whole was at war with us during WWII and winning the war meant destroying Japan’s ability to make war, which given the technology of the time meant heavy civilian casualties. This last was especially true in Japan, given its veritable cottage military industry in civilian homes.

Have you done much reading about WWII from the Japanese perspective? Society was not as monolithic as you might think, despite the writings of the leaders.

I am not saying that the decision to use the bomb was the wrong choice. I am merely saying that to continue to view it through the lens of only Allied lives - versus the lives on both sides of the conflict - rubs me the wrong way.

re: #123 HappyWarrior

. It takes a special individual to want to bear that burden and I continue to be glad that someone is Barack Obama and not John McCain or Mitt Romney.

I had this exact thought earlier today - you said it very well.

re: #124 klys

Have you done much reading about WWII from the Japanese perspective? Society was not as monolithic as you might think, despite the writings of the leaders.

I am not saying that the decision to use the bomb was the wrong choice. I am merely saying that to continue to view it through the lens of only Allied lives - versus the lives on both sides of the conflict - rubs me the wrong way.

I can understand that, but I don’t agree with it. War means, in part, killing enough of the enemy to break their ability to continue while holding down your own losses.

“War is cruelty, you cannot refine it. The crueler it is, the sooner it will be over.” - Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman

re: #124 klys

Have you done much reading about WWII from the Japanese perspective? Society was not as monolithic as you might think, despite the writings of the leaders.

I am not saying that the decision to use the bomb was the wrong choice. I am merely saying that to continue to view it through the lens of only Allied lives - versus the lives on both sides of the conflict - rubs me the wrong way.

In the long run, it probably saved hundred of thousands of Japanese lives as well.

re: #125 darthstar

I had this exact thought earlier today - you said it very well.

Really, if McCain had been elected, we’d already would have started bombing Damascus. Who knows what Romney would have done but Romney’s deference to the interests of the wealthy over middle class on economic issues is another matter. Anyhow to to along with what I’ve said, this is why I really didn’t argue that Sarah Palin was per say inexperienced, my problem with her is that she obviously didn’t have the right mindset to be the number 2 in our country. And in hindsight while I supported both his bid for VP, John Edwards would not have been an as good VP as Biden has been.

re: #128 HappyWarrior

Really, if McCain had been elected, we’d already would have started bombing Damascus. Who knows what Romney would have done but Romney’s deference to the interests of the wealthy over middle class on economic issues is another matter. Anyhow to to along with what I’ve said, this is why I really didn’t argue that Sarah Palin was per say inexperienced, my problem with her is that she obviously didn’t have the right mindset to be the number 2 in our country. And in hindsight while I supported both his bid for VP, John Edwards would not have been an as good VP as Biden has been.

That last being true because Joe Biden is fundamentally an honest man and John Edwards is not.

re: #129 Dark_Falcon

That last being true because Joe Biden is fundamentally an honest man and John Edwards is not.

Yes but it’s more than that. I think Biden is a deeper thinker than he’s given credit for. He’s more than just Uncle Joe who will occasionally say something silly. He understands how politics works and more importantly in a time where the VP plays a big role, he understands foreign policy and its nuances.

re: #127 Kragar

In the long run, it probably saved hundred of thousands of Japanese lives as well.

Which is why I don’t dispute it. I just wanted to express my disagreement with seeing it cast in a modern light only in terms of Allied casualties, whatever the motivation of the decision makers at the time.

re: #130 HappyWarrior

Yes but it’s more than that. I think Biden is a deeper thinker than he’s given credit for. He’s more than just Uncle Joe who will occasionally say something silly. He understands how politics works and more importantly in a time where the VP plays a big role, he understands foreign policy and its nuances.

Well, Joe is a Realpolitik kind of guy. His suggestion, back in the days when he was still in the Senate, that Iraq should be broken up into a three-part Republic, Shiaa, Sunni, and Kurdish, is looking more and more intelligent, isn’t it?

Major fuck-up by Cameron, today. The UK is off the table except in a support role. It appears to be us and the French. Which is okay, as the French Air Force is killer bee.

re: #132 austin_blue

Well, Joe is a Realpolitik kind of guy. His suggestion, back in the days when he was still in the Senate, that Iraq should be broken up into a three-part Republic, Shiaa, Sunni, and Kurdish, is looking more and more intelligent, isn’t it?

Major fuck-up by Cameron, today. The UK is off the table except in a support role. It appears to be us and the French. Which is okay, as the French Air Force is killer bee.

Yeah he proposed something similar to what happened in Yugoslavia. Something I remember being derided at the time but I agree with you looks more and more intelligent especially given that Iraq itself is an invented modern state created out of the ashes of the former Ottoman Empire.

.@attackerman Terrorists ——> @HSMPRESS1 http://t.co/7m6M3f0BCX

— Gus (@Gus_802) August 30, 2013

re: #133 HappyWarrior

Yeah he proposed something similar to what happened in Yugoslavia. Something I remember being derided at the time but I agree with you looks more and more intelligent especially given that Iraq itself is an invented modern state created out of the ashes of the former Ottoman Empire.

That’s exactly right. Artificial borders drawn without regard to the various tribes and sects contained within them. Chaotic until the Baath Party took over, and then only held together by brute force. Now, Baghdad is chaos central once again.

re: #134 Gus

[Embedded content]

Who *is* that assclown?

re: #120 thedopefishlives

Your being “moderate” is really a reflection of the complexity of this. We don’t attack every country just because of it’s civil war, the middle east even more so. At the same time, allowing countries to think that the chemical weapons bans are no longer going to be enforced just doesn’t seem like something we should allow.

People going “yawn, it’s just another weapon” strike me as the people who yawned because the CRA was getting gutted or the Republicans being able to hamper the EPA because it’s doing it’s job so well. People obviously haven’t read their history.

re: #135 austin_blue

That’s exactly right. Artificial borders drawn without regard to the various tribes and sects contained within them. Chaotic until the Baath Party took over, and then only held together by brute force. Now, Baghdad is chaos central once again.

It goes to show you how the decisions made at the Paris Peace Conference following WWI impact us today as we near the centennial of the First World War. What’s interesting to me is that Woodrow Wilson had a lot of sympathy for the sovereignty wants of the ethnic groups of Europe but had little for those in Asia and Africa.

.@HSMPRESS1 Seriously. You guys sound like a bunch of fucking idiots. I'd happily drone you on any day.

— Gus (@Gus_802) August 30, 2013

re: #139 Gus

Thank you for giving me the chance to abuse a fanatic.

I really want to haul off on him.

@Only4RM .@msnbc @BenjySarlin Network spin makes me want to puke. How about reporting for a change, rather than trying to set narrative.

— Sean McCabe (@darthstar99) August 30, 2013

re: #124 klys

Have you done much reading about WWII from the Japanese perspective? Society was not as monolithic as you might think, despite the writings of the leaders.

I am not saying that the decision to use the bomb was the wrong choice. I am merely saying that to continue to view it through the lens of only Allied lives - versus the lives on both sides of the conflict - rubs me the wrong way.

You mean like the Chinese and Malaysians and various other Asians who were being eviscerated by the tens of thousands every day, until the Japanese emperor surrendered unconditionally and told his troops to not do that anymore because they had to come home?

Fry them.

Private party at the park last night…Imagine Dragons & Train. Could have gone, but had long day at work so I blew it off. My wife puts on quite the party for her clients(okay, she does the food & drink).

Image: 1240262_10201982304624091_1663062315_n.jpg

re: #143 Gus

I think I will invoke the Ottomans here.

re: #138 HappyWarrior

It goes to show you how the decisions made at the Paris Peace Conference following WWI impact us today as we near the centennial of the First World War. What’s interesting to me is that Woodrow Wilson had a lot of sympathy for the sovereignty wants of the ethnic groups of Europe but had little for those in Asia and Africa.

Frankly, that was in part because the European groups were white, but also that their nations were to be carved out on the German and Hapsburg Empires who had been defeated, not the victorious British and French.

re: #144 darthstar

Imagine Dragons is great.

Train…not so much.

re: #145 ProTARDISLiberal

I think I will invoke the Ottomans here.

re: #146 Dark_Falcon

Frankly, that was in part because the European groups were white, but also that their nations were to be carved out on the German and Hapsburg Empires who had been defeated, not the victorious British and French.

And I should have included the Ottomans there. Like the Hapsburg Empire, they were subject to breakup for having lost.

It is of course one of history’s great ironies the the Ottoman and Hapsburg Empires, who had fought so many wars against each other, fought their last war as allies.

re: #147 ProTARDISLiberal

Imagine Dragons is great.

Train…not so much.

I’ve seen train - about 15 years ago…opening act was better - a high-energy Sinatra cover band called Torch & the Bones. They were fucking awesome. Never even heard of Imagine Dragons.

re: #148 Dark_Falcon

If that waste of a jagoff Abdulhamid II hadn’t overthrown Murad V, the Ottomans likely would have survived. We wouldn’t be dealing with these fanatics now, at least, not to this degree.

This is just wrong.

Image: 1230030_10153177147485545_1134343879_n.jpg

Youtube Video

re: #108 Gus

[Sound of man breathing heavily.]

Last message. Tell my mom I love her. My wife and kids. [Sound of man breathing heavily.] I love you too. We’re surrounded. There are kittens everywhere. They’ve taken over the city. They’ve killed almost everyone…

[Sounds of loud kitten squeaks.]

Did you hear that? Did you…

[Sound of kitten hiss.]

I love…

[Static.]

[Fade to black.]

GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!!!

/Hudson, Aliens

re: #153 AlexRogan

GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!!!

/Hudson, Aliens

If you only mew.

re: #120 thedopefishlives

The hippies and the hawks, both selling their pungent barrows of bullshit. As in most matters, it seems the truth lies somewhere in between.

Wow. When the hell did I get so moderate.

Just be grateful that, at this stage of the game of life, you’re presumably sane.

re: #153 AlexRogan

GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER!!!

/Hudson, Aliens

In space, no one can hear mew.

One of the dangers of rushing off to the presses to beat Greenwald to the scoop.

Dispute over report about secret NSA budget - SFGate http://t.co/Yj5U4V0LvF via @SFGate

— BlueTrooth (@BlueTrooth) August 30, 2013

“Ah! What’s that?”

Suppository man.

re: #150 ProTARDISLiberal

If that waste of a jagoff Abdulhamid II hadn’t overthrown Murad V, the Ottomans likely would have survived. We wouldn’t be dealing with these fanatics now, at least, not to this degree.

Not so sure about that. Given the level of rot in the Ottoman Empire by 1876 and given the number and power of its enemies, Murad might well have failed as well.

The real fatal mistake was the decision by the Young Turks to pursue Pan-Turkism and then ally with Germany.

Keep wondering if they’re gonna declare Obama the “Teflon President” after his term’s over. Seems like every “scandal” that the GOP has tried to gin up has fallen flat on its face. Even when they had no part in it, like the NSA “scandal,” they totally fail to get anywhere with it.

re: #160 Targetpractice

Keep wondering if they’re gonna declare Obama the “Teflon President” after his term’s over. Seems like every “scandal” that the GOP has tried to gin up has fallen flat on its face. Even when they had no part in it, like the NSA “scandal,” they totally fail to get anywhere with it.

Reagan was called Teflon President early in his administration. It wasn’t just a nickname, it was a rule - nothing was allowed to stick to him.

re: #142 sagehen

You mean like the Chinese and Malaysians and various other Asians who were being eviscerated by the tens of thousands every day, until the Japanese emperor surrendered unconditionally and told his troops to not do that anymore because they had to come home?

I’m not in the right place right now to respond to this comment, so I merely want to say that I apologize if it seemed that I was minimizing what the Japanese actions during the war were. My intent - again - was merely to highlight that it is distasteful to me to look at the decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki solely in terms of Allied troop lives saved instead of including the difference in casualties in terms of both Japanese civilians and all those saved by the surrender of the Japanese troops. The decision to drop the bomb saved very many lives, I am sure; I am equally sure that the decision was made based solely on Allied troop losses and not out of any humanitarian basis for either the thousands being killed in Asia by Japanese troops or for the lives of Japanese civilians who had little to no say in the war machine, as much as I wish both of those factors may have played a role in it.

re: #162 klys

Also worth noting, the Americans offered very favorable sentences to some of the worst Japanese war criminals in exchange for the information on their experiments regarding chemical and biological warfare on Chinese prisoners.

Our lack of standing on this issue goes way back.

And the argument for not interfering with the Japanese forces occuyping China in the 1930’s was that there was no central government there, a Japanese withdrawl would have simply resulted in further chaos and bloodshed.

Nobody expects the Cultural Revolution!!!

re: #162 klys

well Japanese society was extremely regimented and their government had done an excellent job of portraying the US/Allied forces as bloodthirsty barbarians who could not be trusted and who had no sense of honor. First hand accounts (even film courtesy of the World At War series) showed Japanese civilians throwing themselves off of cliffs and into live fire committing suicide to avoid capture by “enemy” troops (noted at both Saipan and Okinawa). There was much speculation about the number of ground troops that would be needed to subdue the Japanese mainland based on the behavior seen on those outposts. Plus their treatment of captured prisoners was especially cruel as there were many examples by those commanders stating that they felt that any soldier who surrendered wasn’t worthy of the uniform much less humane treatment, note the treatment of those prisoners that were captured at Bataan and Corregidor.

When Tojo’s government finally fell and the Emperor was forced to reveal his lack of God-like status it crumbled their national identity like an empty soda-pop can yet without the A-Bomb I’m not sure that there would be much of Japanese culture that would have survived an actual assault based on the propaganda work done by the Japanese government. It took a shock like the A-Bomb to show them that they truly couldn’t win and that resistance was indeed futile.

re: #162 klys

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both vital to the defense of Japan, housing rail yards, munitions depots, as well as command elements for the Japanese army units preparing the defenses. If the atom bombs had not been dropped, they were already slated for massive conventional bombardment.

re: #166 Kragar

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were both vital to the defense of Japan, housing rail yards, munitions depots, as well as command elements for the Japanese army units preparing the defenses. If the atom bombs had not been dropped, they were already slated for massive conventional bombardment.

They were, however, both picked for the fact that they were undamaged, making it easier to determine the effects of the new weapon.

I’m really not sure how my stated opinion that I disagreed with DF’s stating only the savings of Allied troop lives as a result of dropping the atomic bombs versus acknowledging the savings on both sides of the conflict (and also acknowledging that there is material out there including interviews with Japanese civilians that shows that the wartime support on the mainland was not as uniform as the West might think) has turned into people thinking that I supported the Japanese actions in WWII.

I don’t.

I just wanted to acknowledge that both sides of the conflict involved real human lives. That was it.

re: #168 klys

I’m really not sure how my stated opinion that I disagreed with DF’s stating only the savings of Allied troop lives as a result of dropping the atomic bombs versus acknowledging the savings on both sides of the conflict (and also acknowledging that there is material out there including interviews with Japanese civilians that shows that the wartime support on the mainland was not as uniform as the West might think) has turned into people thinking that I supported the Japanese actions in WWII.

I don’t.

I just wanted to acknowledge that both sides of the conflict involved real human lives. That was it.

I got that. And I will state that the devastation dealt Hiroshima (the primary target) and Nagasaki (a secondary target- unlucky them!) was an overall win for the US. Does it suck that so many civilians died? You betcha!

(oh, pasta, did I just channel sister Sarah?)

OTOH, the fire bombings of Dresden and Tokyo killed at as many civilians, and generated a collective “meh’ from the Japanese and the Germans.

But after H and N got hit by single bombs whose power directly threatened the Royal Family of Japan with instant and inescapable annihilation, they folded their cards and surrendered.

Game, Set, and Match. Superior tech was a game changer that saved a million American and Japanese lives. Am I happy that the dark colors of women’s kimonas were burned into their skin during the initial detonation? No. Am I happy that the shadows of human torches were left blank on building walls near Ground Zero as their bodies exploded? No.

(Chilling image from Ray Bradbury’s There Will Come Soft Rains)

But as an extension of strategic policy, it was extraordinarilly effective.

And adios, all. Sleepy time.

Other analysts insist that even the atomic bombs did not change the Japanese leaders’ minds, it was the imminent threat of invasion from the USSR that caused them to throw in the towel, at that point a US occupation seemed the better alternative…

re: #113 klys

the decision to invade would have resulted in horrific civilian casualties on both sides

Um, how would it have resulted in horrific civilian casualties on the Allied side?

re: #114 Gus

Presumably, if the results of our military’s handiwork on Afghan wedding parties and such received graphic news coverage, some people’d be demanding military strikes against ourselves.

re: #170 Sol Berdinowitz

Other analysts insist that even the atomic bombs did not change the Japanese leaders’ minds, it was the imminent threat of invasion from the USSR that caused them to throw in the towel, at that point a US occupation seemed the better alternative…

That’s not at all the way I heard it. Rather — we dropped one, the emperor and his advisory team debated what sort of terms they’d accept for a ceasefire. We said no, we want unconditional surrender, then dropped a second (which they had no way of knowing was all we had), and they thought “OMG they’re going to do one every few days ‘til there’s nothing left!!” and gave in.

I also heard that the tipping point in Truman’s decision was he wanted the bomb to be a message to Stalin, “hey, look what we got, don’t fuck with us” ‘cause our alliance with the Soviets was already falling apart.

The writing's on the wall. It's an unknown language written with a shaky hand. Best not sleep tonight.

— Night Vale podcast (@NightValeRadio) August 29, 2013

So the “black budget” is around $50 billion?

That’s about what I would have guessed. Is anyone surprised by that number?

50 billion? How many billions disappeared into Iraq with no accountability?

I have definitely hit the point where it is better for all parties involved if I stop commenting on the Internet for the evening.

G’night all.

re: #177 klys

I have definitely hit the point where it is better for all parties involved if I stop commenting on the Internet for the evening.

G’night all.

good when you recognize your limits…I have had evenings like that, too, almost got me kicked off this site once.

re: #171 jonhendry

Um, how would it have resulted in horrific civilian casualties on the Allied side?

Maybe she means some of our allies, not US civilians. Japanese troops were all over Asia, and the Philipines, and other Pacific Islands.

I know the number of US troop casualties we anticipated, we had so many body bags manufactured and sitting in the holds of our ships, that we haven’t had to buy any more since — even now, 70 years later, through Korea and Vietnam and Iraq and everything else we’ve done anywhere else, we still haven’t come close to using them all up.

re: #179 sagehen

Maybe she means some of our allies, not US civilians. Japanese troops were all over Asia, and the Philipines, and other Pacific Islands.

I know the number of US troop casualties we anticipated, we had so many body bags manufactured and sitting in the holds of our ships, that we haven’t had to buy any more since — even now, 70 years later, through Korea and Vietnam and Iraq and everything else we’ve done anywhere else, we still haven’t come close to using them all up.

They had basically written off the first wave, expecting 90% casualties…

This seems to be a familiar story for some reason.

Ted Nugent’s wife stopped for carrying gun at D/FW Airport

MP3 Audio

re: #181 RadicalModerate

This seems to be a familiar story for some reason.

Ted Nugent’s wife stopped for carrying gun at D/FW Airport

How is she supposed to stop an armed hijacker on a crowded plane unless she is armed? Why do you people just want to cave into terrorists?

/

MP3 Audio

Fucking Miranda had a goddamn password written down on a piece of paper.

What clownshoes.

twitter.com

My prediction: US & France back Turkish strike with Nato gear. I’m no expert, have no special knowledge & am probably wrong.

I can’t believe the swarm of idiots on Twitter and the rest of Teh Internets who have so much hate in them for the minimum-wage workers that were striking yesterday.

Typical comment:

If all your’e qualified to do is flip burgers or bus tables, that’s all your’e worth.

And yet they will eat “food” (and I use that word with extreme generosity) that has been prepared by these so-called “worthless, unskilled losers.”

I remembers these fucktards at FreeRepublic telling laid-off IT professionals that they should go out and clean houses or wait tables for $2/hr instead of sitting on their lazy butts collecting unemployment while looking for another job.

Because, you know, working for next-to-nothing gives you “dignity” or something.

I mean really, these people have been absorbed by the Koch propaganda machine to actually believe that a feudal society is in their best interests.

re: #185 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Fucking Miranda had a goddamn password written down on a piece of paper.

What clownshoes.

twitter.com

BBC Breaking News ‏@BBCBreaking 2h

High Court order allowing UK police to continue inspecting material seized from Guardian journalist’s partner David #Miranda is agreed

Glenn Greenwald has some serious explaining to do. This new information utterly destroys his narrative about Miranda’s detention.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) August 30, 2013

Seamus Heaney has died
bbc.co.uk

re: #190 Stoatly

Seamus Heaney has died
bbc.co.uk

Oh damn. I got to meet him— he was a colleague of my dad. A great man, both in original work and translation.

France on the phone. Apparently they surrendered to #Syria weeks ago.

— Prince Charles (@Charles_HRH) August 30, 2013

re: #189 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

And look at this little exchange:

Glenn Greenwald ‏@ggreenwald 4m
UK Govt: their op-sec was sloppy, but we can’t get access to their docs because they’re all “heavy encrypted” #GlaringContradictions
Collapse

4:52 AM - 30 Aug 13 * Details
LeftDial ‏@LeftDial 3m
@ggreenwald Did your partner have names of field agents as they are claiming ?
Expand

Sling Trebuchet ‏@SlingTrebuchet 2m
@ggreenwald What of the report that David was carrying a hand-written password for one file?
Expand

Brett ‏@QuietAmerican55 2m
@ggreenwald what are you referring to?
Expand

Josh May ‏@JMay1000 1m
@ggreenwald so you’re not denying it

GG is still trying to frame the narrative.

re: #189 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

That explains why The Guardian buried the detail about smashing hard drives as a throw away in another story, they agreed not to mention it at all and broke their promise because they were butthurt.

@mattapuzzo The password doesn't give them any access to documents, which is why they say they can't access the documents.

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) August 30, 2013

What is the password for, if not access to documents?

re: #196 Vicious Babushka

What is the password for, if not access to documents?

Why, the latest Danish porn, silly!

re: #195 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Glenn is flopping around like a fish on a dock.

re: #187 Vicious Babushka

I can’t believe the swarm of idiots on Twitter and the rest of Teh Internets who have so much hate in them for the minimum-wage workers that were striking yesterday.

Typical comment:

And yet they will eat “food” (and I use that word with extreme generosity) that has been prepared by these so-called “worthless, unskilled losers.”

I remembers these fucktards at FreeRepublic telling laid-off IT professionals that they should go out and clean houses or wait tables for $2/hr instead of sitting on their lazy butts collecting unemployment while looking for another job.

Because, you know, working for next-to-nothing gives you “dignity” or something.

I mean really, these people have been absorbed by the Koch propaganda machine to actually believe that a feudal society is in their best interests.

The reason so many on the right believe in a feudal or a quasi-feudalist society is because they genuinely believe they’re going to be the feudal lords; they lack the foresight to comprehend that once they’ve fulfilled their role, they’ll be chucked aside and instead become the serfs in the society they’ve helped to create.

re: #199 Dr Lizardo

The reason so many on the right believe in a feudal or a quasi-feudalist society is because they genuinely believe they’re going to be the feudal lords; they lack the foresight to comprehend that once they’ve fulfilled their role, they’ll be chucked aside and instead become the serfs in the society they’ve helped to create.

The talking point is that these are “entry level” jobs and the workers will eventually “work their way up” totally ignoring that the trend over the past 30 years, upward mobility is declining and these jobs go nowhere.

Yes, they still parrot the Derp that the Reagan years were some kind of “Golden Age” even though I can remember that is when the outsourcing of manufacturing started to take place.

Forbes.com spews all kinds of Koch-sponsored myths about the Reagan “Golden Age.”

DERP

Edward Snowden will receive 2013 Whistleblower Award from Transparency International at a Berlin ceremony tonight http://t.co/GX2Kf8sKE2

— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) August 30, 2013

I guess this must mean that Glenn will receive it “on Snowden’s behalf”

re: #202 Vicious Babushka

I guess this must mean that Glenn will receive it “on Snowden’s behalf”

Great point. WIll he accept the award in person?

Also, who was the runner up?

Thirdly wth is a Transparency International?

WTH? A script for the Internet?

Bitcoin exchange Tradehill suspends trading due to “banking and regulatory issues”

thenextweb.com

Would I be able to trade something besides dollars for bitcoins? Is this evolving into a kind of Bartertown? Why would I want to exchange dollars for bitcoins? Can anyone create their own currency? What are bitcoins backed by?

re: #202 Vicious Babushka

Interesting. Tonight, I will be receiving the first annual Queen of the World Award from Moms International. For my outstanding work in parenting, budgeting, negotiating and assorted animal wrangling. It’s very prestigious and exclusive, don’tcha know.

I will also be receiving One Meeellllion Dollars as part of my award.

re: #191 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Oh damn. I got to meet him— he was a colleague of my dad. A great man, both in original work and translation.

I loved his work. His piece on his brother’s funeral was heartbreaking and he brought that same sense of real human emotion to his version of Beowulf, easily the finest modern English version.

re: #203 b.d.

Great point. WIll he accept the award in person?

Also, who was the runner up?

Thirdly wth is a Transparency International?

The whistleblower prize was instituted in 1999 by the German section of the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA) and the Association of German Scientists.

German chapter of the global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International joined the prize for the first time this year.

Whistleblower Prize worth $3,900 in absentia.

re: #202 Vicious Babushka

I guess this must mean that Glenn will receive it “on Snowden’s behalf”

No, that will be Laura Poitras. GG is afraid to travel.

Snowden receives the Leg Lamp of Whistleblowing Award and the world goes wild.

//

re: #208 Justanotherhuman

No, that will be Laura Poitras. GG is afraid to travel.

Whatevs, Snowboy will never see it and won’t even know about it unless his handlers decide to tell him.

re: #210 Vicious Babushka

Whatevs, Snowboy will never see it and won’t even know about it unless his handlers decide to tell him.

Sarah Harrison will tell him, no doubt. Unless she’s under house arrest. Not a peep from her lately, either.

re: #207 b.d.

Whistleblower Prize worth $3,900 in absentia.

GG: “Yeah, go ahead and make that check out to Edward Snowden. That’s G - L - E - N - N…”

re: #208 Justanotherhuman

No, that will be Laura Poitras. GG is afraid to travel.

Oh. In that case, right into the Wikileaks account it goes…
/

Well, it appears Laura Poitras is probably working with this outfit (note the graphic of Snowden).

transparency.de

Is the prize her money, too? A bit of payment for services rendered?

It had to happen:

Miley Cyrus’s VMAs Scandal: The Muslim Connection Exposed!

Our old buddy, Bill “I Was Bryan Fischer Before You Ever Heard Of Him” Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights grabs the derp by the horns and discusses Miley Cyrus’s performance at the Video Music Awards:

Donohue weighed in on the topic of the week on Thursday, comparing reactions to Cyrus’ performance and the controversy over the upcoming Miss World pageant in Indonesia next month.

In comments distributed on Thursday, Donohue that some Muslims have called for the cancelation of the pageant because it “is only an excuse to exhibit women’s body parts.”

Which, in Dohonue’s estimation, is a lot more female-friendly than Cyrus’ foam-fingered display

“Last Sunday, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Miley Cyrus simulated masturbation with a giant foam finger, grabbed her crotch, rubbed herself against a man old enough to be her father, pretended the man was performing anal sex on her, and walked around in a nude latex bikini. Her mother loved it. So did her manager. Millions of young girls and guys loved it as well,” Donohue wrote.

Comparing the reaction to Cyrus’ show to the uproar over the Miss World pageant, Donohue concluded, “Who are the real feminists? Miley’s fans? Or the Muslims? If debasing women is the yardstick, the Muslims win.”

Lest anyone get the idea that Donohue thought that canceling the Miss World pageant is a good idea, he added, “We don’t have to agree with those who want to ban beauty pageants to know that their concerns are not trivial, especially in a day and age when Miley (and her dutiful mother) may be lurking right around the corner.”

Somehow, I think societies where women’t aren’t allowed higher learning, the right to vote or even to drive freaking cars fall a little lower on the feminist chart than does a society where a woman can express herself (whether profanely or not) without any real fear of reprisal.

Next week: Bill explains why up is down.

re: #196 Vicious Babushka

What is the password for, if not access to documents?

For a pron site?

re: #197 Justanotherhuman

Why, the latest Danish porn, silly!

Ha, was my first thought.