Video: Glenn Greenwald Is Grilled on BBC Newsnight, Spews Insults Like a Firehose

The self-aggrandizing saga of Glenn Greenwald is challenged for once
World • Views: 33,802

Today on BBC Newsnight, activist Glenn Greenwald faced an uncomfortable grilling from the host and several guests, including former senior GCHQ officials who openly scoffed at Greenwald’s tales, particularly his claims that the Russians couldn’t possibly have gotten access to Edward Snowden’s stolen NSA files, and his claims that intelligence agencies are not harmed by massive leaks and that terrorists are not aided.

Many of the questions he faced are the same ones we’ve been asking here, about the discrepancies and problems in his stories about Snowden and the NSA. And when the heat was finally turned up, Mr. Greenwald responded with an utter lack of grace, insulting and patronizing everyone on the show. It’s an amazing, thoroughly unpleasant performance, and shows why Greenwald normally only grants interviews to sympathetic hosts, because he comes off as … well, basically a terrible person. As if someone combined the worst qualities of a weaselly cheap lawyer with a narcissistic fame-seeking paparazzi, and added too much nasty sauce to the mix.

Take it away, Glenn.

Youtube Video

Youtube Video

In the following clip, former chair of the British Joint Intelligence Committee Pauline Neville-Jones says there’s no way the Russians don’t have access to Snowden’s files. Greenwald responds:

The ignorance of those comments is truly astounding to me. First of all you would think that a rational person before making an extremely serious accusation like ‘Russia and China has gotten all of his data’ would have at least a little bit of evidence before saying that? There is NONE. What is the basis for it, some tingly sensation in the stomach?

[…]

She said, they got the data on his laptops. That isn’t how data works, it’s not 1998. Data is stored on thumb drives, and on those thumb drives are very sophisticated means of encryption shells, that as I said before and I know this because I’ve read the documents that I have on this, not even the NSA can break.

The encryption codes are 4,000 characters long…

I did a double take when I heard him say that, because in his patronizing lecture to Baroness Neville-Jones (who has spent much of her life involved in national security and intelligence at the highest levels), Greenwald actually got this important detail completely wrong, in a very amateurish kind of way. The type of encryption he’s talking about (XAES) uses a key with a length of 4096 bits, not “4,000 characters.”

The difference between “4,000 characters” and 4096 bits is huge. He’s off by several factors of 2. Oops.

Youtube Video

Youtube Video

Youtube Video

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621 comments
1 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:12:44pm

“Government claims aren’t the truth.”

And neither are claims from crappy journalists

2 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:14:49pm

Greenwald comes across as such a whiny, self important little shit weasel.

3 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:15:26pm

Just started watching, His facial expression even before he starts answering questions looks like he is not pleased to being interviewed. Almost like he knew he was going to get raked over the coals for his bullshit.

4 Iwouldprefernotto  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:15:32pm

When are his 15 minutes going to end?

5 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:16:24pm

Made it 5 minutes. Nothing he has to say is worth a damn.

6 [deleted]  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:18:21pm
7 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:19:19pm

The material remains completely secure. Sure it does.

8 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:19:26pm

re: #6 Dr. Matt

Sorry, but no - those kind of comments are over the top. Please don’t.

9 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:22:18pm

What an insufferable jerk.

10 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:23:23pm

Really, GG, but who is actually acting “thuggish”?

11 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:24:55pm

The Brazilian govt is providing Greenwald security? WTF?

12 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:25:10pm

Speaks regularly with Snowden, sure he does. And the Russians haven’t gotten access to the data and the Tooth Fairy is real and Santa is going to bring me a PS2 this December.

13 Iwouldprefernotto  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:27:21pm

re: #12 Bubblehead II

Speaks regularly with Snowden, sure he does. And the Russians haven’t gotten access to the data and the Tooth Fairy is real and Santa is going to bring me a PS2 this December.

PS2? Your Santa is behind the times. You need a Santa upgrade.

14 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:30:42pm

re: #13 Iwouldprefernotto

PS2? Your Santa is behind the times. You need a Santa upgrade.

What? The PS2 isn’t the latest cutting edge gaming tech out there?

swoons.

15 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:32:08pm

re: #1 Kragar

“Government claims aren’t the truth.”

And neither are claims from crappy journalists third rate wannabe bloggers

FIFY

16 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:33:12pm

For someone who says he talks to Snowden “regularly” GG doesn’t seem to know much about Snowden’s conditions in Russia, does he? “I think” this and that re Snowden doesn’t equate to “he told me”, Glenn.

This is pretty much GG’s standard, repetitive interview. I also think he is lying about meeting Snowden for the first time in Hong Kong.

17 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:34:01pm

Youtube Video

In this clip, former chair of the British Joint Intelligence Committee Pauline Neville-Jones says there’s no way the Russians don’t have access to Snowden’s files, Greenwald responds:

The ignorance of those comments is truly astounding to me. First of all you would think that a rational person before making an extremely serious accusation like ‘Russia and China has gotten all of his data’ would have at least a little bit of evidence before saying that? There is NONE. What is the basis for it, some tingly sensation in the stomach?

18 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:35:40pm

Well, my new neighbors are proving to be complete fucking idiots.

Noise complaints, multiple breaches of their leases, and when they get served a notice to shape up, they start crying their being harassed.

Dipshits.

19 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:36:22pm

BTW, did a You Tube search for a swooning woman for my last post and found out there was a band called the Swoons.

End Of The Show

Youtube Video

20 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:36:49pm

What is it with dudes with the name Glenn being self-righteous insufferable dicks?

21 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:37:46pm

This is thuggish behavior:

Steal documents, accuse victim of theft of losing control of documents, and then claim that stolen documents are more secure with the thief.

22 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:39:42pm

re: #21 wrenchwench

This is thuggish behavior:

Steal documents, accuse victim of theft of losing control of documents, and then claim that stolen documents are more secure with the thief.

Yep. He’s such a tool too. Cries all the time about US policy but had no time with his pal going over to China and later Russia. GG doesn’t want to make this into a potential serious conversation about intelligence gathering. He wants to make it about himself and his douchecanoe in arms- Eddie. For that reason alone, it’s stupid to compare either of them to say Woodward/Bernstein or Dan Ellsburg.

23 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:39:56pm

re: #21 wrenchwench

This is thuggish behavior:

Steal documents, accuse victim of theft of losing control of documents, and then claim that stolen documents are more secure with the thief.

Same kind of behavior the House Republicans are using these days.

24 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:40:00pm

4K character long encryption key? WTF.

25 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:40:24pm

re: #21 wrenchwench

This is thuggish behavior:

Steal documents, accuse victim of theft of losing control of documents, and then claim that stolen documents are more secure with the thief.

GG’s accusation that the NSA was negligent in handling its data, presumably because Snowden could get his hands on it, really takes the cake.

26 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:45:20pm

Pauline Neville-Jones spent most of her life dealing with national security at the highest levels. It’s just outrageous for Greenwald to think he can lecture her about being ignorant and irrational.

I love how she just smiles and brushes off his rant.

27 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:46:42pm

Obviously, Greenwald really, really hates anyone in authority (because he truly thinks he is the only one intelligent enough to have it). Notice that his fangs really came out when former chair of the British Joint Intelligence Committee Pauline Neville-Jones said what she did about the Russians and Chinese getting what Snowden had with him.

He really is a know-it-all poseur.

28 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:48:55pm

re: #26 Charles Johnson

Pauline Neville-Jones spent most of her life dealing with national security at the highest levels. It’s just outrageous for Greenwald to think he can lecture her about being ignorant and irrational.

I love how she just smiles and brushes off his rant.

But Greenwald KNOWS that the encryption is secure, because he has read the documents he has about this.

And we’re supposed to take his need for evidence seriously?

Too bad he can’t watch these videos with a critical eye. If he had an eye that was critical of himself, he’d gouge it out.

29 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:49:38pm

re: #24 Bubblehead II

4K character long encryption key? WTF.

He’s wrong. He meant 4096 BITS, not “4000 characters.” So after he patronizingly lectures Neville-Jones, he actually gets an important technical detail wrong.

30 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:50:57pm

Glenn Greenwald: the Gold Medalist in every event ever of the Narcisstic Dickwad Olympics.

31 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:51:53pm

4000 character encryption keys!
Lol

32 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:51:58pm

re: #26 Charles Johnson

Pauline Neville-Jones spent most of her life dealing with national security at the highest levels. It’s just outrageous for Greenwald to think he can lecture her about being ignorant and irrational.

I love how she just smiles and brushes off his rant.

That’s his biggest problem right there. He thinks he’s the only man in the room who knows anything about this topic and anyone is either a fool or a lackey.

33 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:52:08pm

re: #26 Charles Johnson

Pauline Neville-Jones spent most of her life dealing with national security at the highest levels. It’s just outrageous for Greenwald to think he can lecture her about being ignorant and irrational.

I love how she just smiles and brushes off his rant.

Among other things, GG is making a category error. He argues as a lawyer that because there is no evidence that Russia has the documents, it must be true that in fact Russia does not have the documents.

Lawyer arguments are pretty useless outside of legal proceedings, and this is no exception. One would have to be an idiot to believe Russia got no intel out of this.

34 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:53:20pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

He’s wrong. He meant 4096 BITS, not “4000 characters.” So after he patronizingly lectures Neville-Jones, he actually gets an important technical detail wrong.

[Dudebro]WHATEVS, IT’S A BIG FAT LIE THAT JEALOUS BITCHES ARE SAYING ABOUT ME BECAUSE I AM MORE AWESOME THAN THEY ARE AND YOU ARE AN INTOLERANT, STUPID, POOPYPANTS MEANYHEAD![/wingnut]

35 Carlos Danger  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:53:22pm

CNN:

Speaker John Boehner has said he’s willing to rely on Democrats to help raise the federal debt limit, a House Republican says.

Is Boehner trying to have his cake and eat it too?

36 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:53:32pm

i once got a technical spec from a very respected engineering organization that specified a numeric field as being “64 bytes” long

but in their case it was just a typo that could happen to anybody…

37 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:54:53pm

640k of ram!

38 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:55:04pm

re: #36 dog philosopher

i once got a technical spec from a very respected engineering organization that specified a numeric field as being “64 bytes” long

but in their case it was just a typo that could happen to anybody…

A bit of an error.

39 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:56:43pm

I’m very interested in that comment GG made about having security provided by the Brazilian govt.

So, OK, I’ll ask the question: Did GG give those documents to the Brazilians in exchange for that protection? He’s certainly not paying for it from his own pocket, so there has to be some quid pro quo involved.

40 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:56:43pm

re: #35 Carlos Danger

CNN:

Is Boehner trying to have his cake and eat it too?

Boehner should count himself lucky if any House Democrats talk to him without the words “fuck off” and “asshole.”. i kid but Boehner really is kidding if he thinks he can get Democrats on board with whatever he’s proposing.

41 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:57:13pm

I’ll never tire of using this line re: Greenwald:

#Greenwald’s so predictable: hyperbole is his stock & trade. Preying on the uninformed & paranoid is his native tongue. He thinks he’s above the system. Over it. Beyond it. He’s the Dude. Bro.

42 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:57:14pm

re: #39 Justanotherhuman

I’m very interested in that comment GG made about having security provided by the Brazilian govt.

So, OK, I’ll ask the question: Did GG give those documents to the Brazilians in exchange for that protection? He’s certainly not paying for it from his own pocket, so there has to be some quid pro quo involved.

It certainly is something worthy to speculate on.

43 Stanley Sea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:57:25pm

I mentioned the sob story I heard yesterday of the guy who spent 30K and took his kid out of school in order to white water raft - only to find the Grand Canyon Nat Park closed.

I swear NPR played that story to piss us off. Because the day after hearing it, I’m still pissed.

44 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:58:13pm

re: #38 b_sharp

A bit of an error.

That bytes!

45 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:58:43pm

re: #44 Eventual Carrion

That bytes!

What bit you?

46 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:59:00pm
47 GeneJockey  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:59:15pm

re: #43 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

I mentioned the sob story I heard yesterday of the guy who spent 30K and took his kid out of school in order to white water raft - only to find the Grand Canyon Nat Park closed.

I swear NPR played that story to piss us off. Because the day after hearing it, I’m still pissed.

Ask him how he voted.

48 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 5:59:37pm

re: #43 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

I mentioned the sob story I heard yesterday of the guy who spent 30K and took his kid out of school in order to white water raft - only to find the Grand Canyon Nat Park closed.

I swear NPR played that story to piss us off. Because the day after hearing it, I’m still pissed.

I feel kind of bad but it seems to me all the outrage is focused on tourists who weren’t able to do certain things. Where’s the sympathy for the kids who are cut from HeadStart? The numerous federal employees who are out of work?

49 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:00:03pm

re: #40 HappyWarrior

I’m sure it has been posted here before, but its worth a repeat: washingtonmonthly.com

Ed Kilgore in the Washington Monthly, key paragraph:

Now I don’t know anything about the president’s relationship with Boehner. But it’s becoming a matter of national security for him to find some way to take him aside, maybe give the Speaker a cigarette from his secret stash, and say: “I will see you in Hell before I negotiate over the debt limit. And if you let a default happen, I will devote the rest of my presidency to making sure you, personally, bear the blame, and go down in history with our most despised traitors and criminals. For generations, little school children in Ohio will cross themselves and make hex signs when your name is mentioned. So do not, do not, go back and tell your crazy people they can win if they just stick together.”

50 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:00:21pm

re: #29 Charles Johnson

He’s wrong. He meant 4096 BITS, not “4000 characters.” So after he patronizingly lectures Neville-Jones, he actually gets an important technical detail wrong.

Yep. Perhaps someone should tweet this GLARING error to gg and see what he has to say about it.

51 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:01:52pm

re: #49 EPR-radar

I’m sure its been posted here before, but its worth a repeat: washingtonmonthly.com

Ed Kilgore in the Washington Monthly, key paragraph

Heh to be a fly on the wall as the saying goes. Boehner seems to have forgotten that there are a lot of people who are going to be turned off big time by his and his party’s actions here and they won’t forget it. I know I’ve never forgotten the first shutdown since it put my mother out of work and why because Newt Gingrich had his ego bruised.

52 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:02:31pm

re: #38 b_sharp

A bit of an error.

it set me to trying to think if there were any numeric values in nature that would require 64 bytes to represent them

the estimated number of atoms in the universe?

number of calculations it would take to predict a days worth of weather on the earth if you knew the starting position and composition of all molecules in the air and surface?

the time it would take to bring all existing republicans up to speed on history, medicine, and science?

53 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:03:15pm

re: #45 Varek Raith

What bit you?

i don’t know, but it did it 8 times.

54 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:04:26pm

All that talk about the WWII veterans not being able to see the memorial. What about the many WWII veterans who weren’t able to see the memorial because of Republican policies like cutting veterans benefits and health care? I mean I do feel bad as I said that they won’t be able to see it but as I said, it’s a lot more outrageous to me that many kids won’t be able to use HeadStart and a good amount of people are out of work because Boehner and his party can’t accept ACA is law. If these vets should be mad at anyone, the persons to be mad aren’t President Obama and his party, they should be mad at Boehner for the simple fact that Boehner kisses the ass of a vocal minority who does not accept settled law.

55 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:04:33pm
56 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:05:56pm

re: #45 Varek Raith

What bit you?

Not much, it was more of a nibble.

57 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:06:04pm

re: #50 Bubblehead II

Yep. Perhaps someone should tweet this GLARING error to gg and see what he has to say about it.

start with how many bits to represent a character in regular ASCII? how many in unicode?

58 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:06:13pm

The difference between 4096 bits and 4,000 characters is huge. Characters are usually considered to be eight bits, so he’s off by several factors of 2.

59 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:07:15pm

re: #48 HappyWarrior

I feel kind of bad but it seems to me all the outrage is focused on tourists who weren’t able to do certain things. Where’s the sympathy for the kids who are cut from HeadStart? The numerous federal employees who are out of work?

Well, it shows you where their priorities are.

And it’s not human beings. It’s their own pleasures or diversions and the inconvenience, dahling. The hell with those who don’t have food or shelter or health care or education—they haven’t earned it doncha know.

They’re not worthy! They’re not worthy!

That would include me, too, if you want the truth—even after 45 yrs of working, I’ve had to start over several times, and still barely have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. But that’s OK, I don’t resent them having what they have—in fact, far less than they resent me breathing.

60 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:07:40pm

re: #56 b_sharp

Not much, it was more of a nibble.

watch out for those 64 bit pointers - they’re sharp!

61 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:08:17pm

re: #60 dog philosopher

watch out for those 64 bit pointers - they’re sharp!

Megabyte me.

62 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:08:49pm

So the Russians are suddenly slouches when it comes to signals intelligence and human intelligence?

It’s guaranteed they can’t break the crypto, and also can’t break the guy who set up the crypto. If, ya know, he’s isn’t already doing the Kim Philby thing?

A lot of unjustified assumptions treated as fact. Dudebro groupthink starts at the top and trickles down.

63 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:09:05pm

re: #60 dog philosopher

watch out for those 64 bit pointers - they’re sharp!

Yeah, they poke you if you peek at them.

64 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:09:32pm

re: #51 HappyWarrior

If we get too close to the debt ceiling deadline without progress, I’d very much like to see the US Chamber of Commerce et al. go public in the Wall Street Journal with a detailed manifesto promising unrelenting opposition to the nuts in the GOP by big business interests.

E.g., “In GOP primaries, we will not fund you and we will only fund sane GOP candidates. Should you make it to a general election, we will fund the Democrat.”

Unlikely, but it seems like one of the few remaining paths to resolve this tea party madness peacefully.

65 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:10:23pm

re: #58 Charles Johnson

No one said there’d be math.

66 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:10:38pm

re: #63 Eventual Carrion

Yeah, they poke you if you peek at them.

That was Atari-ly uncalled for.

67 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:11:15pm

re: #66 b_sharp

That was Atari-ly uncalled for.

Back to the basics.

68 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:11:21pm

re: #59 Justanotherhuman

Well, it shows you where their priorities are.

And it’s not human beings. It’s their own pleasures or diversions and the inconvenience, dahling. The hell with those who don’t have food or shelter or health care or education—they haven’t earned it doncha know.

They’re not worthy! They’re not worthy!

That would include me, too, if you want the truth—even after 45 yrs of working, I’ve had to start over several times, and still barely have a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of. But that’s OK, I don’t resent them having what they have—in fact, far less than they resent me breathing.

I think that’s the thing that bugs me about Republicans/today’s conservatives. They by and large empathy and the rare times we do see empathy from them, it’s directed at the very wealthy who are upset because their taxes may go up a little or the religious right who can’t handle gays getting married. Rarely ever do they have sympathy for the laid-off parent who can’t afford health insurance for his family, the gay kid bullied in school, or anything else. They like to talk about how they’re a “Christian party” but I just see the worst religious fanaticism on social issues combined with Ayn Rand’s worldview on economics.

69 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:13:15pm

re: #66 b_sharp

That was Atari-ly uncalled for.

The Commodore would would agree.

70 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:13:21pm

re: #63 Eventual Carrion

Yeah, they poke you if you peek at them.

it’s a little known fact that Erwin Schrödinger was the original designer of the poke and peek commands

71 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:13:34pm

re: #67 EPR-radar

Back to the basics.

The only possible Action to take.

(Too esoteric?)

72 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:13:45pm

re: #64 EPR-radar

If we get too close to the debt ceiling deadline without progress, I’d very much like to see the US Chamber of Commerce et al. go public in the Wall Street Journal with a detailed manifesto promising unrelenting opposition to the nuts in the GOP by big business interests.

E.g., “In GOP primaries, we will not fund you and we will only fund sane GOP candidates. Should you make it to a general election, we will fund the Democrat.”

Unlikely, but it seems like one of the few remaining paths to resolve this tea party madness peacefully.

Yeah that’s unfortunately unlikely. I’m hoping we see a mass rejection of the Republican party brand throughout the nation. I wish it was a Congressional election year so the impact would be felt immediately but alas we are in 2013. The bright side is I don’t think Ken Cuccinnelli is ever going to be in the governor’s mansion in Richmond unless he’s visiting.

73 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:14:12pm

re: #68 HappyWarrior

I think that’s the thing that bugs me about Republicans/today’s conservatives. They by and large empathy and the rare times we do see empathy from them, it’s directed at the very wealthy who are upset because their taxes may go up a little or the religious right who can’t handle gays getting married. Rarely ever do they have sympathy for the laid-off parent who can’t afford health insurance for his family, the gay kid bullied in school, or anything else. They like to talk about how they’re a “Christian party” but I just see the worst religious fanaticism on social issues combined with Ayn Rand’s worldview on economics.

I think the most basic political postulate of the right is that there is an aristocracy, and non-aristocrats should naturally defer to the aristocrats because they are lesser beings. The US wing nuts define this aristocracy mainly by wealth as opposed to inheritance, although with a moribund estate tax, these categories blur.

74 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:14:36pm

re: #70 dog philosopher

it’s a little known fact that Erwin Schrödinger was the original designer of the poke and peek commands

All I can do is smile and wave.

75 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:16:42pm

re: #73 EPR-radar

I think the most basic political postulate of the right is that there is an aristocracy, and non-aristocrats should naturally defer to the aristocrats because they are lesser beings. The US wing nuts define this aristocracy mainly by wealth as opposed to inheritance, although with a moribund estate tax, these categories blur.

I think you’re right. I used to think that perhaps the American right was a little different from the European one since unlike theirs, technically ours comes from a democratic tradition while the European right is traditionally tied to monarchical and theocratic interests. You’re right though. There is this idea with the right that only the aristocrats know best.

76 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:17:03pm

re: #70 dog philosopher

it’s a little known fact that Erwin Schrödinger was the original designer of the poke and peek commands

Schrödinger’s cat in the box is performing the advanced “peek and poke” operation. After the box is opened, it is either “peek” or “poke”.

77 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:22:35pm

re: #75 HappyWarrior

The Romneys, especially Ann, are a textbook case study of people who arrogantly believe they are aristocrats.

78 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:22:59pm

re: #76 EPR-radar

Schrödinger’s cat in the box is performing the advanced “peek and poke” operation. After the box is opened, it is either “peek” or “poke”.

You poke a value, then you have to peek to see which value you poked. The cat always knew.

79 GeneJockey  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:23:01pm

re: #75 HappyWarrior

I think you’re right. I used to think that perhaps the American right was a little different from the European one since unlike theirs, technically ours comes from a democratic tradition while the European right is traditionally tied to monarchical and theocratic interests. You’re right though. There is this idea with the right that only the aristocrats know best.

Exactly, but in the case of the American right, you can tell who the aristocrats are because they’ve got money, and having money means your opinion matters.

Indeed, one guy I routinely tussled with on another forum, when frustrated with being unable to produce any data to back up his position, would say, “But what have you accomplished in your life?” By which he plainly meant, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”

They complain constantly about ‘The Elite’, yet their philosophy is elitist to the core.

80 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:25:13pm

Also:

…on those thumb drives are very sophisticated means of encryption shells…

What the hell does that mean? He doesn’t understand these technical details at all, he’s just pretending.

81 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:25:16pm

re: #77 EPR-radar

The Romneys, especially Ann, are a textbook case study of people who arrogantly believe they are aristocrats.

Yeah I saw her comments the other day. Basically if her perfect husband had been president, then the shut down wouldn’t have happened. And he’s obviously not much better per the now infamous 47% comment.

82 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:26:43pm

re: #80 Charles Johnson

Also:

What the hell does that mean? He doesn’t understand these technical details at all, he’s just pretending.

Glenn strikes me as a guy who picks up scraps here and there of technical knowledge, then throws them together in the hopes that he sounds like he has a clue what he’s talking about.

83 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:26:53pm

re: #80 Charles Johnson

Also:

What the hell does that mean? He doesn’t understand these technical details at all, he’s just pretending.

So, does the SSL go inside the shell, or is it sprinkled on top with the TLS?

84 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:27:09pm

re: #79 GeneJockey

Exactly, but in the case of the American right, you can tell who the aristocrats are because they’ve got money, and having money means your opinion matters.

Indeed, one guy I routinely tussled with on another forum, when frustrated with being unable to produce any data to back up his position, would say, “But what have you accomplished in your life?” By which he plainly meant, “If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich?”

They complain constantly about ‘The Elite’, yet their philosophy is elitist to the core.

That’s a good point too. It all comes back to wealth with them. I’d like to be successful obviously too but I won’t consider myself a failure at the end of the day if I am not a millionaire. And this is so true, they’re constantly whining about elites yet they’re the biggest elitists out there. I think it’s very elitist to have an economic policy that caters to the interests of the very wealthy at the expense of everyone else. When they use the word, they don’t have a clue what it means, per Santorum calling Obama a snob for thinking every American child should get some form of secondary education.

85 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:27:19pm

re: #82 Targetpractice

Glenn strikes me as a guy who picks up scraps here and there of technical knowledge, then throws them together in the hopes that he sounds like he has a clue what he’s talking about.

Its worked so far.
/

86 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:27:29pm

re: #81 HappyWarrior

Yeah I saw her comments the other day. Basically if her perfect husband had been president, then the shut down wouldn’t have happened. And he’s obviously not much better per the now infamous 47% comment.

She’s conveniently forgetting that the designated role for Mitt Romney, had he won in 2012 with a Republican House and Senate, was to mindlessly sign whatever dreck the Tea Baggers in Congress sent his way.

87 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:28:40pm

re: #75 HappyWarrior

I think you’re right. I used to think that perhaps the American right was a little different from the European one since unlike theirs, technically ours comes from a democratic tradition while the European right is traditionally tied to monarchical and theocratic interests. You’re right though. There is this idea with the right that only the aristocrats know best.

Both rightist traditions have become schizophrenic, they want the money and influence of wealth and power combined with the veneer of legitimacy afforded by populist angst. They’re protean shapeshifters.

This week I’ve seen this argument run a dozen times:

Insane Person: The House sets the budget and the people popularly elected the House.

Sane Person: The Senate has to approve the budget and more people voted for House Democrats in the last election than House Republican. Republicans only control the House via gerrymandering. Lastly, Boehner is refusing to even allow a House vote on the clean CR, which contains their own budget numbers and is only missing the extortion clause.

IP: This is a republic not a democracy. DERP.

SP: I should explain to you how a republic works, okay (explains how republic works.)

IP: Why does Obama hate America?

And on and on and on. “Obamacare is unpopular.” “Obamacare is a word, all but one provision of the ACA is very popular.” Wash rinse repeat.

88 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:30:28pm

re: #83 b_sharp

So, does the SSL go inside the shell, or is it sprinkled on top with the TLS?

With some SFTP to keep it running smoothly.

89 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:30:30pm

re: #84 HappyWarrior

That’s a good point too. It all comes back to wealth with them. I’d like to be successful obviously too but I won’t consider myself a failure at the end of the day if I am not a millionaire. And this is so true, they’re constantly whining about elites yet they’re the biggest elitists out there. I think it’s very elitist to have an economic policy that caters to the interests of the very wealthy at the expense of everyone else. When they use the word, they don’t have a clue what it means, per Santorum calling Obama a snob for thinking every American child should get some form of secondary education.

This business of 30+% of the US populace regarding themselves as being ‘temporarily embarrassed millionaires’ is much less amusing when systematically exploited by the GOP.

90 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:30:34pm

re: #86 EPR-radar

She’s conveniently forgetting that the designated role for Mitt Romney, had he won in 2012 with a Republican House and Senate, was to mindlessly sign whatever dreck the Tea Baggers in Congress sent his way.

Interesting thought simulation:

If the Rs controlled both the Leges and the Exec, would the TPs have the stroke they do now?

91 Interesting Times  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:31:24pm

re: #90 austin_blue

If the Rs controlled all both the Leges and the Exec, would the TPs have the stroke they do now?

Answer: it would be like the Texas legislature controlling all of America.

92 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:31:26pm

re: #87 goddamnedfrank

Both rightist traditions have become schizophrenic, they want the money and influence of wealth and power combined with the veneer of legitimacy afforded by populist angst. They’re protean shapeshifters.

This week I’ve seen this argument run a dozen times:

Insane Person: The House sets the budget and the people popularly elected the House.

Sane Person: The Senate has to approve the budget and more people voted for House Democrats in the last election than House Republican. Republicans only control the House via gerrymandering. Lastly, Boehner is refusing to even allow a House vote on the clean CR, which contains their own budget numbers and is only missing the extortion clause.

IP: This is a republic not a democracy. DERP.

SP: I should explain to you how a republic works, okay (explains how republic works.)

IP: Why does Obama hate America?

And on and on and on. “Obamacare is unpopular.” “Obamacare is a word, the provisions all but one provision of the ACA is very popular.” Wash rinse repeat.

Yep, dealing with lunatics and you pretty much outline what we have to deal with. To me, it’s beyond insanity to expect President Obama to sign a repeal on a bill that he spent loads of political capital on but also has indicated he won’t sign and what’s more that has never passed the Senate in the 43 times it has passed teh House. Today’s right seems to value only one thing in their candidates and that’s the extent that they hate Obama and the Democrats.

93 b_sharp  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:31:32pm

LGF GEEKOUT!

94 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:32:16pm

re: #50 Bubblehead II

Yep. Perhaps someone should tweet this GLARING error to gg and see what he has to say about it.

[Dudebro]YOU’RE A DOUBLE-MEANY POOPYHEAD AND YOU STINKYPANTS AND YOU WALK FUNNY!!!![/Dudebro]

95 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:33:11pm

re: #92 HappyWarrior

Yep, dealing with lunatics and you pretty much outline what we have to deal with. To me, it’s beyond insanity to expect President Obama to sign a repeal on a bill that he spent loads of political capital on but also has indicated he won’t sign and what’s more that has never passed the Senate in the 43 times it has passed teh House. Today’s right seems to value only one thing in their candidates and that’s the extent that they hate Obama and the Democrats.

That’s a pretty fair summation of the gaspers. The sane Rs are scared spitless.

96 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:33:27pm

re: #90 austin_blue

Interesting thought simulation:

If the Rs controlled all both the Leges and the Exec, would the TPs have the stroke they do now?

The moderates would roll over for their extremists, just like they always do, and Romney would have signed bills to repeal Obamacare, end Medicare, end Social Security, and implement some kind of horrid ‘tax reform’.

Tea Partiers would be content.

97 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:33:40pm

re: #90 austin_blue

Interesting thought simulation:

If the Rs controlled all both the Leges and the Exec, would the TPs have the stroke they do now?

I dunno. Part of me thinks Romney would do anything they wanted because he’d fear being challenged for renomination. Another part of me thinks that Mitt if he even wronged them once would risk their wrath. The thing I notice about the TP I’ve noticed is they’re never happy. They prefer to just offer bitterness and anger rather than concrete solutions. They talk about returning America to what it was but the fact of the matter is the America most of them grew up with was much more of a Welfare state than we got now. They remind of the kids who never paid attention in government class but suddenly realized there was a problem.

98 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:34:25pm

The one good thing to come out of all this is that Wall Street and the big money guys have had to confront the results of their own short sighted bullshit. Hopefully this means a lot of the revenue streams feeding the far right noise machine will dry up as wealthy financiers wakes up and realize in their selfish dumbshittery they willingly created the biggest threat to profit to exist within their lifetimes.

99 bratwurst  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:34:33pm

In watching Greenwald now, it strikes me that at least part of his support comes from the same element of human nature that (briefly) allowed Newt Gingrich to surge in the polls last year: there is a segment of the population that loves to see arrogant loudmouths in action. I think simple minded people of any political orientation are easily convinced by extreme confidence.

100 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:35:41pm

re: #98 goddamnedfrank

The one good thing to come out of all this is that Wall Street and the big money guys have had to confront the results of their own short sighted bullshit. Hopefully this means a lot of the revenue streams feeding the far right noise machine will dry up as wealthy financiers wakes up and realize in their selfish dumbshittery they willingly created the biggest threat to profit to exist within their lifetimes.

I think the moneybags need to make this divorce public. The front page of the Wall Street Journal would be a good start.

101 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:39:09pm

re: #98 goddamnedfrank

The one good thing to come out of all this is that Wall Street and the big money guys have had to confront the results of their own short sighted bullshit. Hopefully this means a lot of the revenue streams feeding the far right noise machine will dry up as wealthy financiers wakes up and realize in their selfish dumbshittery they willingly created the biggest threat to profit to exist within their lifetimes.

You’re right ! I’m sure the Koch brothers will immediately change their ways and…nah, not gonna happen.

Sorry, my man, it’s not going to happen. The real players want an unfettered Capitalism, without regulation. Fuck the poor and the proles. Little people, dontcha know.

102 jaunte  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:39:18pm

re: #50 Bubblehead II

Yep. Perhaps someone should tweet this GLARING error to gg and see what he has to say about it.

I’ll try:

“As a journalist, I might take this occasion to remind you that the testimony of many “experts”, relying on their own concept of ‘expertise’, should always be questioned.”

103 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:39:55pm

re: #99 bratwurst

In watching Greenwald now, it strikes me that at least part of his support comes from the same element of human nature that (briefly) allowed Newt Gingrich to surge in the polls last year: there is a segment of the population that loves to see arrogant loudmouths in action. I think simple minded people of any political orientation are easily convinced by extreme confidence.

Because if they had the chance, that’s how they’d behave.

104 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:40:45pm

re: #18 Kragar

Are those the dumpster arsonists?

105 Stoatly  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:41:26pm

re: #76 EPR-radar

“Erwin, what have you done to the cat? It looks half dead”

Mrs Schrödinger

106 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:42:54pm

re: #101 austin_blue

You’re right ! I’m sure the Koch brothers will immediately change their ways and…nah, not gonna happen.

Sorry, my man, it’s not going to happen. The real players want an unfettered Capitalism, without regulation. Fuck the poor and the proles. Little people, dontcha know.

There’s the possibility that some big money prefers not to blow up the economy. If so, there may be some hope.

107 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:43:25pm

re: #76 EPR-radar

“Erwin, what have you done to that cat? It looks half dead”

Mrs Schrödinger

“Ah, but *which* half, my dear?”

108 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:44:36pm

re: #104 Amory Blaine

Are those the dumpster arsonists?

Yup.

109 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:45:50pm

re: #106 EPR-radar

There’s the possibility that some big money prefers not to blow up the economy. If so, there may be some hope.

Well, there’s big money, and then there’s *wealth*. The Koch’s can fund the gaspers into the foreseeable future and not breathe heavily.

110 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:49:02pm

So according to Farenthold the new focus is just on repealing the individual mandate. What the Republicans aren’t telling people is that without it the Affordable in ACA disappears. They’re really terrified that people are loving the rates and coverage they’re seeing in the healthcare exchanges, so one last desperate bid to undermine that.

Which really underlines Dark_Falcon’s shameful, weaselly defense this morning of Mark Kirk’s blatant lies. If Obama was “shaking in his boot” about people’s reactions to Obamacare then why is he fighting to keep it and why are the Republican’s holding the government and economy hostage trying to kill it.

111 kirkspencer  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:49:11pm

My view of the current Republican behavior:
Youtube Video

(Actually I find the series hilarious. But really, ‘I want one more cookie’.)

112 EPR-radar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:49:52pm

re: #109 austin_blue

Well, there’s big money, and then there’s *wealth*. The Koch’s can fund the gaspers into the foreseeable future and not breathe heavily.

A Wall Street syndicate could at least oppose Koch political funding dollar for dollar.

It would be much more interesting if such a syndicate decided that the political activism of the Koch brothers was shitting the bed for everyone who matters (i.e., their members).

113 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:50:41pm

This window of “but they need us to buy their shit” is closing. They are opening up new markets and have been abandoning America at a fast rate. They only respect the laws that protect their property and advance their station. This is blindingly clear.

114 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:57:36pm

re: #112 EPR-radar

A Wall Street syndicate could at least oppose Koch political funding dollar for dollar.

It would be much more interesting if such a syndicate decided that the political activism of the Koch brothers was shitting the bed for everyone who matters (i.e., their members).

But wouldn’t they be putting the money into the Democratic base? Oooh! Scary for the Kochs! The Kochs put there money into organizations that are committed to their desires and whose members should be committed.

(See what I did there?)

115 John Vreeland  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:59:27pm

re: #58 Charles Johnson

The difference between 4096 bits and 4,000 characters is huge. Characters are usually considered to be eight bits, so he’s off by several factors of 2.

He’s off by three factors of two. 2 * 2 * 2 = 8, as in 8 bits per byte.

For perspective, 4096 bits = 512 bytes. But if you are thinking about this like the sort of password you use to log in, it would be more like ASCII, which is only seven bits, or about 585 characters. If you want to think of it as a long PIN, or a credit card number, it would be about 1,233 digits.

This would take a long, long time to crack. Even using every computer on the planet it would take much, much longer than the Universe is expected to last. Even using tricks to reduce the search space, like finding duplicate files, it would still the lifetime of of the Universe squared. So Greenwald is mostly correct.

This is why the cryptoanalyst’s most useful tool is a rubber hose. Bribery, burglary, and blackmail are also popular. But apparently Snowden does not have access to the passwords any more, or so he claims, so I am assuming they are in someone else’s hands at the moment, stored on a thumb drive. That would be where the Russians are now looking.

Also, since they have access to his hardware they could modify it to tell them what the password is whenever it is used. That’s what I would do if I had the time—replace the USB connector with something custom. Since they have the resources they could simply copy one of his machines over to a duplicate with a modified motherboard, or wait until he needs a new machine and then arrange to provide it.

So Greenwald is correct, they cannot decrypt the material without the password and they cannot guess the password, but unless the Russians have been sleeping they ought to be able to catch the password next time Snowden uses it, or obtain it from whoever it has been placed in safe keeping with.

116 RealityBasedSteve  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 6:59:28pm

I’m watching a movie on Netflix starring Brian “Boz” Bozworth, and even it isn’t as painful as watching GG spew his stupid. He MUST have grown up thinking “Lead Paint Tastes Like Candy”.

RBS

117 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:00:01pm

re: #94 Vicious Babushka

[Dudebro]YOU’RE A DOUBLE-MEANY POOPYHEAD AND YOU STINKYPANTS AND YOU WALK FUNNY!!!![/Dudebro]

HAH! If only.

118 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:03:33pm

re: #100 EPR-radar

I think the moneybags need to make this divorce public. The front page of the Wall Street Journal would be a good start.

Not going to happen. Doing so will be admitting they had a part in creating this monster and that is something they will never willing do.

119 b.d.  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:09:31pm

What a great bedside manner Glenn has, that is the mark of a great journalist who has a bright career ahead of him.

//

120 jaunte  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:13:48pm
121 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:16:29pm

re: #120 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Okely dokely.

122 RealityBasedSteve  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:17:14pm

re: #120 jaunte

[Embedded content]

A Fish Costume without a scooter is like a woman without a… wait… WTF????

RBS

123 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:17:40pm
124 jaunte  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:18:20pm
“I don’t know what I want.”

Perhaps a scooterfish?

125 austin_blue  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:19:42pm

re: #124 jaunte

Perhaps a scooterfish?

Yes! Scooterfish for the masses!

126 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:21:29pm

PROJECTING LIKE THE BIGGEST IMAX EVER

127 sagehen  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:22:52pm

re: #87 goddamnedfrank

And on and on and on. “Obamacare is unpopular.” “Obamacare is a word, all but one provision of the ACA is very popular.” Wash rinse repeat.

Did you see that Kimmel thing the other night? Interviewing random people on the street who insisted the Republicans’ Affordable Care Act was a good plan, much better than the hideous Obamacare, and if Obama wasn’t such a tyrant he’d listen to the will of the people and repeal his travesty and replace it with the infinitely superior ACA…

128 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:23:01pm

Opens up the fridge, “I don’t know what I want!” (with a Fran Dresher whine).

129 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:24:34pm

re: #126 Vicious Babushka

Was it you that posted earlier today that IMax wanted to talk to Bryan about his projection capabilities?

130 No Country For Old Haters  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:26:59pm

re: #126 Vicious Babushka

PROJECTING LIKE THE BIGGEST IMAX EVER

[Embedded content]

131 RealityBasedSteve  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:29:21pm

Isn’t that the typical response to a problem. Free ObamaScooterFIsh for all the takers and the Makers get hit with higher taxes and stripped of our rights. /wingnuttery

132 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:30:22pm

THE SELF-BECLOWNING CONTINUES.

133 jaunte  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:31:17pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

134 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:31:24pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

THE SELF-BECLOWNING CONTINUES.

[Embedded content]

Then why doesn’t the GOP not give Obama what he wants and raise the debt ceiling?

135 jaunte  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:32:08pm

re: #134 Targetpractice

Logic has been furloughed.

136 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:33:21pm

re: #134 Targetpractice

Then why doesn’t the GOP not give Obama what he wants and raise the debt ceiling?

Because….. Shut Up! That’s why.

137 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:33:41pm

re: #126 Vicious Babushka

PROJECTING LIKE THE BIGGEST IMAX EVER

[Embedded content]

So if they want to beat Obama, they need to raise the debt ceiling and fund the government!

138 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:34:08pm

Tried getting the wife to apply her uber skills to make me a giant creepy Uncle Sam head for Halloween. No dice. :(

139 RealityBasedSteve  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:36:35pm

On a serious note, what’s going on in Netfixs rating system. It is recommending “Black Snake Moan” (which I did enjoy in the theater) because it’s similar to “Top Gear UK”. Jeremy Clarkson is NO Samuel L. Jackson, and I don’t think anybody would ever confuse Richard Hammond for Christina Ricci.

Top Gear Moan????

RBS
Really Netflix???

140 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:37:55pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

THE SELF-BECLOWNING CONTINUES.

[Embedded content]

Gotta love it when they don’t sufficiently obfuscate that America means White Christian America.

141 No Country For Old Haters  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:38:21pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

THE SELF-BECLOWNING CONTINUES.

[Embedded content]

142 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:42:20pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

THE SELF-BECLOWNING CONTINUES.

[Embedded content]

What’s weird isn’t just Fisher’s clinically insane, schizo-affective douche baggery, but that anybody would put him at the head of a national political org like the FRC, or that anybody looks at that stream of transparent bullshit and thinks giving them money is a good idea.

It’s not just the naked hate, it’s that there isn’t one coherent, intelligently articulated position there. It’s all blatant, obvious, lies, and the people employing him and sending in money know it’s all lies. They know that they’re lying to themselves as they repeat the lies to others. The cynical repetition of the lie becomes a shibboleth, it’s only effective purpose the same as a gang tattoo, to identify the group from outsiders.

143 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:42:48pm

Yeah because the GOP is totally in Obama’s pocket having drank his kool aid and all.

144 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:45:01pm

Careful GOP, only I can see how devious Obama is!!!111tyt1! You are being fooled!!

145 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:46:34pm

re: #142 goddamnedfrank

What’s weird isn’t just Fisher’s clinically insane, schizo-affective douche baggery, but that anybody would put him at the head of a national political org like the FRC, or that anybody looks at that stream of transparent bullshit and thinks giving them money is a good idea.

It’s not just the naked hate, it’s that there isn’t one coherent, intelligently articulated position there. It’s all blatant, obvious, lies, and the people employing him and sending in money know it’s all lies. They know that they’re lying to themselves as they repeat the lies to others. The cynical repetition of the lie becomes a shibboleth, it’s only effective purpose the same as a gang tattoo, to identify the group from outsiders.

Flea’s 2nd Theorem: conspiracy theorists are distinct from mentally ill paranoids in that the former find their nightmare imaginings gratifying and comforting.

146 PeterWolf  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:46:53pm

More of the weasel being weasely.

Do the Russians have access to the documents Snowden has? Greenwald has it that they can’t crack the encryption and does not even deal with the fact that the Russians have the person with the passwords to the files. They don’t have to crack the documents, they just have to crack Snowden and that’s not exactly going to be too difficult now is it.

Oh, and of course Snowden is going to tell Greenwald, and the Russians are going to let him tell Greenwald, that he has been compromised.

Greenwald is a pathetic, lying, weasel.

Edit: Just reading back, if Snowden had the files, but not the passwords, it’s very doubtful that he would currently be enjoying living in Russia.

147 No Country For Old Haters  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:51:56pm

re: #142 goddamnedfrank

It seems obvious to us, but people with the mental machinery to see through his incoherent derp have already opted out of his subculture.

People with even the critical thinking skills of an 8 year old are simply not a factor for Brian, because the sheep he fleeces don’t even have conversations with people of normal or better intelligence. The closest they can come to interacting with a real person is to derp out “libtard” at someone who tries to tell them they’re being fleeced.

He panders to complete lunatics who want some old-time right-wing religious lying to reinforce their belief that they’re virtuous, and their enemies are monsters.

148 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:53:06pm

re: #142 goddamnedfrank

This is just like D_F’s behavior this morning. He knew goddamned well that he was deliberately spinning the first half of Kirks statement and entirely avoiding the second half, but in his mind being honest for even one second would have driven a permanent wedge between him and his father’s side of the family. It’s a shibboleth, mandatory dishonesty as an intrinsic mark of membership and affiliation. The mere idea of admitting the obvious truth burns them in place central to their very concept of self, so they flee from it in a squirming, weaselly, nonsensical, desperate scramble.

I think people here, hell everywhere, have until now been way, way, way too polite about this pattern of behavior. It’s metaphysically impossible to respect.

149 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:58:13pm

re: #147 No Country For Old Haters

People with even the critical thinking skills of an 8 year old are simply not a factor for Brian, because the sheep he fleeces don’t even have conversations with people of normal or better intelligence.

Yeah, actually they do, all the time. This isn’t a matter of intelligence, it can’t be fixed with education. It’s an intrinsic rot that inflicts the concept of character.

150 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:59:32pm

I’d like to have what Fischer’s drinking but I don’t want to have long term brain or liver damage with one swig.

151 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 7:59:45pm

This is fucking hilarious. CBS releases a poll today that is pretty much painful to the GOP in every way, from showing that they’re taking more blame that the administration is for the shutdown, that approval for the shutdown does not at all track to disapproval of the ACA, and that more people think that the GOP should “compromise” than Obama.

But what does Breitbart publish from the poll? 76% say Obama should compromise, which is supposedly a devastating report that has forced the media to “bury” the poll.

152 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:01:58pm

And I am not leaving COS a moment to soon. We are the city getting hit the hardest by the shutdown.

18.8% of the Workforce of this city is federal.

153 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:02:04pm

re: #76 EPR-radar

Schrödinger’s cat in the box is performing the advanced “peek and poke” operation. After the box is opened, it is either “peek” or “poke”.

So Schrödinger’s been working with Pokey?

154 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:02:24pm

re: #150 HappyWarrior

I’d like to have what Fischer’s drinking but I don’t want to have long term brain or liver damage with one swig.

I thinks he’s rolling on that snuff the Yanomamo make.

155 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:03:21pm

re: #151 Targetpractice

This is fucking hilarious. CBS releases a poll today that is pretty much painful to the GOP in every way, from showing that they’re taking more blame that the administration is for the shutdown, that approval for the shutdown does not at all track to disapproval of the ACA, and that more people think that the GOP should “compromise” than Obama.

But what does Breitbart publish from the poll? 76% say Obama should compromise, which is supposedly a devastating report that has forced the media to “bury” the poll.

Curious but what does the same poll say about whether Republicans should compromise? The idiots on Breitbart have a habit of ignoring what’s in front of them. It doesn’t take one to be a Democratic partisan to know that this shut down is bad news for the GOP in the short and long run.

156 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:04:07pm

re: #154 The Ghost of a Flea

I thinks he’s rolling on that snuff the Yanomamo make.

Probably. It just amuses me that he always wants to paint Obama as the hateful angry and vengeful one when I’ve never once seen a single positive tweet from the man. He makes Jerry Falwell look like a sunshine hippie.

157 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:06:00pm

re: #155 HappyWarrior

Curious but what does the same poll say about whether Republicans should compromise? The idiots on Breitbart have a habit of ignoring what’s in front of them. It doesn’t take one to be a Democratic partisan to know that this shut down is bad news for the GOP in the short and long run.

78% think Republicans should compromise as well. In other words, it’s the standard “Both sides should work this out!” apathy.

158 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:07:11pm

re: #154 The Ghost of a Flea

I thinks he’s rolling on that snuff the Yanomamo make.

Yanomamo, Hell! I’d like to see Fischer’s career torpedoed the same way the 2nd USS Langley’s Avengers torpedoed the Yamato.

159 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:08:08pm

re: #157 Targetpractice

78% think Republicans should compromise as well. In other words, it’s the standard “Both sides should work this out!” apathy.

Yeah, I figured as much. Kind of reminds me of the unskewed polls guy. “I WASN”T WRONG, OBAMA STOLE THE ELECTION!”

160 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:12:52pm

re: #159 HappyWarrior

Yeah, I figured as much. Kind of reminds me of the unskewed polls guy. “I WASN”T WRONG, OBAMA STOLE THE ELECTION!”

It’s like the reading of polls that show a significant fraction of those who don’t support the ACA saying that it doesn’t go far enough as “proof” that the majority of Americans want the law repealed.

161 No Country For Old Haters  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:13:07pm

re: #149 goddamnedfrank

Yeah, actually they do, all the time. This isn’t a matter of intelligence, it can’t be fixed with education. It’s an intrinsic rot that inflicts the concept of character.

I didn’t mean that they keep to themselves. If only.
I’ve tried to have conversations with wingnuts, and it always turns out that there’s not a real person there, just a bunch of conditioned responses, a complete inability to process information that contradicts their beliefs, and a massive cognitive failing that causes them to classify anyone who can think more clearly as an out-group to be hated and destroyed.

Bryan runs no risk of anyone mentioning to his followers that they’re being fleeced by a madman, because that would just make his followers dig deeper into their beliefs, and send him more money.

There’s no downside for him in acting like a complete loon, even though it’s highly visible outside his subculture, and he’s constantly mocked and reviled.

162 cinesimon  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:13:11pm

What a child!
She ought to have simply replied that she felt like she was responding to an arrogant, faux-righteous little ten year old.

163 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:14:36pm

re: #156 HappyWarrior

Probably. It just amuses me that he always wants to paint Obama as the hateful angry and vengeful one when I’ve never once seen a single positive tweet from the man. He makes Jerry Falwell look like a sunshine hippie.

Basically, these are people that know they what they want to do isn’t morally acceptable, but want to do it anyway. So you generate an existential threat, assign it your owns basest motives, and then justify your actions as self defense.

Bryan wants to imprison the gays…for the gays are planning to oppress and imprison Bryan!
Bryan wants to forcibly convert all the Muslims in the country…because they’re all plotting to convert the rest of us!

Simple formula. Deeply, disturbingly effective. Man is the irrational animal, and our most basic irrationality is the delusion of personal clarity in discerning irrational versus rational conduct.

164 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:15:35pm

By the way, from earlier:

This is Jenna Coleman.

165 Stanley Sea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:16:24pm

re: #150 HappyWarrior

I’d like to have what Fischer’s drinking but I don’t want to have long term brain or liver damage with one swig.

It’s a business model. He’s making bank.

166 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:16:47pm

re: #151 Targetpractice

This is fucking hilarious. CBS releases a poll today that is pretty much painful to the GOP in every way, from showing that they’re taking more blame that the administration is for the shutdown, that approval for the shutdown does not at all track to disapproval of the ACA, and that more people think that the GOP should “compromise” than Obama.

But what does Breitbart publish from the poll? 76% say Obama should compromise, which is supposedly a devastating report that has forced the media to “bury” the poll.

This is also where the domestic press has really let the American public down. The Democrats and Obama already compromised, they simply accepted the House Republican budget numbers as is. They didn’t bother fighting at all to restore any of the sequester funding, which they desperately want to do. They know the Tea Party has the Republicans by the balls and this was a major concession to that reality.

In exchange for that major concession the House Republicans decided to act like a terrorists and take the economy hostage, demonstrating why no Republican should ever be trusted ever again. The party needs to die so something sane can take its place.

167 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:18:25pm

Image: Playoffs.jpg

168 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:18:55pm

re: #162 cinesimon

What a child!
She ought to have simply replied that she felt like she was responding to an arrogant, faux-righteous little ten year old.

No, better to take the high road with Greenwald. He’ll spew his vitriol just the same, but by not going after him she makes him look like an even bigger asshole.

169 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:22:53pm

Lol.
Youtube Video

170 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:26:13pm

re: #166 goddamnedfrank

This is also where the domestic press has really let the American public down. The Democrats and Obama already compromised, they simply accepting the House Republican budget numbers as is. They didn’t bother fighting at all to restore any of the sequester funding, which they desperately want to do. They know the Tea Party has the Republicans by the balls and this was a major concession to that reality.

In exchange for that major concession the House Republicans decided to act like a terrorists and take the economy hostage, demonstrating why no Republican should ever be trusted ever again. The party needs to die so something sane can take its place.

Agreed, the domestic press has been exceedingly lax in addressing the reality of this situation, which is that Republicans essentially are saying that Democrats have to agree to allow the chipping away at the ACA to keep the government funded. That it is somehow a “concession” to Democrats to agree to fund the government.

171 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:29:54pm

re: #170 Targetpractice

Agreed, the domestic press has been exceedingly lax in addressing the reality of this situation, which is that Republicans essentially are saying that Democrats have to agree to allow the chipping away at the ACA to keep the government funded. That it is somehow a “concession” to Democrats to agree to fund the government.

For two months only. After approving the Republican’s own budget numbers the Senate Democrats have to sacrifice a bill that the Republican’s couldn’t possibly repeal through normal, legal channels. Instead they get to hold the government hostage. Then again in two months, more extortion.

Every Republican everywhere who supports this is pure, worthless trash.

172 catfitz56  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:34:58pm

So wait.

I thought in one of Glenn’s last leaks with Snowden we learned that supposedly, the NSA has backdoors everywhere and can break any encryption because it has tainted even the very industry standards for encryption algorithms.

Now we’re hearing that these files can’t be cracked.

So which is it?

And if the UK said they only got 75 files back then, who’s to say they haven’t got thousands more, especially given that ability of the NSA to crack anything, right?

173 Interesting Times  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:36:30pm

re: #171 goddamnedfrank

You talked about the money men finally getting nervous about the monster they created - well, what about the worthless corporate media? Aren’t at least some of the executives concerned about the consequences of a default, and prepared to adjust their coverage to, oh, I don’t know…reflect reality for a change?

175 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:38:26pm

re: #173 Interesting Times

You talked about the money men finally getting nervous about the monster they created - well, what about the worthless corporate media? Aren’t at least some of the executives concerned about the consequences of a default, and prepared to adjust their coverage to, oh, I don’t know…reflect reality for a change?

You’d think so huh. They’ve really fucked up the minimal standards of journalism as a profession in the name of ratings.

176 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:42:30pm

re: #175 goddamnedfrank

You’d think so huh. They’ve really fucked up the minimal standards of journalism as a profession in the name of ratings.

I mean, shit, CNN resurrected Crossfire: The four-faced Demon Prince of False Equivalence.

178 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:43:52pm

re: #173 Interesting Times

You talked about the money men finally getting nervous about the monster they created - well, what about the worthless corporate media? Aren’t at least some of the executives concerned about the consequences of a default, and prepared to adjust their coverage to, oh, I don’t know…reflect reality for a change?

You’re talking about the Cult of the False Balance, the believers in the idea that they must report “both sides” and do so in a “non-biased” fashion, lest they lose access and thus be locked out of a potential scoop that somebody else will grab for ratings.

179 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:45:15pm

re: #174 Varek Raith

Aide: Boehner suggested grand budget bargain to White House and ‘everybody laughed at him’

Video from the meeting:

Youtube Video

Edit: originally quoted wrong comment.

180 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:46:33pm

re: #179 goddamnedfrank

Edited to make sense.

181 erik_t  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:49:04pm

re: #115 John Vreeland

He’s off by three factors of two. 2 * 2 * 2 = 8, as in 8 bits per byte.

For perspective, 4096 bits = 512 bytes. But if you are thinking about this like the sort of password you use to log in, it would be more like ASCII, which is only seven bits, or about 585 characters. If you want to think of it as a long PIN, or a credit card number, it would be about 1,233 digits.

This would take a long, long time to crack. ..

Well, yes and no. Greenwald may be using 4096-bit encryption (er… 4000 characters lol).

How much you want to bet his plaintext-password is not using all 4096 bits available within his encryption scheme? I’ll tell you what, I’m sure not.

I’d wager a considerable sum of money the password is more like “hell0_kitty” and it’s using a technically-impressive but functionally-lame level of encryption.

182 GeneJockey  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:49:20pm

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

If debt ceiling is not raised, Obama hopes it will destroy U.S. economy AND the Republican Party. It’s a two-fer for him.

Don’t let Obama destroy the US economy, Republicans! Pass a clean debt ceiling bill, and DARE HIM to sign it!!!!

183 Lidane  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 8:50:17pm

Evening all! Took a break from teh intertubez and finally watched Iron Man 3, since Agents of SHIELD made it obvious they’re going to refer to plot points in all the Marvel films. I liked it. And I liked picking out all the little nerdy things through the movie.

Also:

Spoiler

I’m convinced that both Tony and Pepper have Tony’s modified version of Extremis that he refers to at the end of the film. He got her stabilized so she won’t blow up, and it’s what allowed him to get all the shrapnel and the arc reactor out of his chest.

I’m also hoping that if they do a fourth Iron Man film down the line, they give Pepper her Rescue suit.

184 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:01:00pm

Mmmm, grilled cheese sammich.

185 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:02:08pm

re: #181 erik_t

Well, yes and no. Greenwald may be using 4096-bit encryption (er… 4000 characters lol).

How much you want to bet his plaintext-password is not using all 4096 bits available within his encryption scheme? I’ll tell you what, I’m sure not.

I’d wager a considerable sum of money the password is more like “hell0_kitty” and it’s using a technically-impressive but functionally-lame level of encryption.

12345

186 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:02:48pm

Alright Skyrim, seriously, screw you. You can’t have the dragon spawn when I’m at the docks, you gotta do it right as I’m approaching the ship out in the bay. And, atop that, you send an ancient dragon, meaning without a follower I’m stuck hoping that I’ve got enough healing potions to take the bastard down before he roasts me.

ARGH!

187 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:07:49pm

re: #186 Targetpractice

Alright Skyrim, seriously, screw you. You can’t have the dragon spawn when I’m at the docks, you gotta do it right as I’m approaching the ship out in the bay. And, atop that, you send an ancient dragon, meaning without a follower I’m stuck hoping that I’ve got enough healing potions to take the bastard down before he roasts me.

ARGH!

My Khajit Archer laughs at you.

188 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:08:28pm

re: #187 Kragar

My Khajit Archer laughs at you.

As does my hunter.

189 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:09:38pm

re: #186 Targetpractice

re: #187 Kragar

Level 69 Breton Battlemage with Serana slaughters everything.

190 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:10:05pm

re: #187 Kragar

My Khajit Archer laughs at you.

re: #188 Varek Raith

As does my hunter.

I left my heavy gear back at home. I’m killing an Emperor here, for Sithis’ sake, I can’t go clanking around in heavy armor.

191 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:11:47pm

re: #190 Targetpractice

I left my heavy gear back at home. I’m killing an Emperor here, for Sithis’ sake, I can’t go clanking around in heavy armor.

Real men hull tank.
Er…

192 AlexRogan  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:12:45pm

re: #185 Varek Raith

12345

That’s amazing! I’ve got the same combination on my luggage!

/

193 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:15:49pm

re: #190 Targetpractice

I left my heavy gear back at home. I’m killing an Emperor here, for Sithis’ sake, I can’t go clanking around in heavy armor.

Who wears heavy armor? Its all about sneaking and cover.

194 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:20:40pm

re: #193 Kragar

Who wears heavy armor? Its all about sneaking and cover.

I did, when my stealth skill sucked. Of course, it didn’t help that I was lugging Lydia around as a pack mule, and she’s about as stealthy as a brass band. Now I’ve become a servant of Sithis and have learned the value of a good bow.

195 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:21:39pm

re: #193 Kragar

Who wears heavy armor? Its all about sneaking and cover.

My second playthrough I’m specifically doing heavy armor instead of light.

Basically, you cast the spell Muffle a bunch, apply the Steed Stone blessing, and keep enchanting boots with a Stealth boost.

The results are pretty hilarious. I’m running around unnoticed in Dwarven Armor, which is kind of like being a ninja wearing a gold Amana Refrigerator.

196 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:22:16pm

Youtube Video

197 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:27:53pm

Synched gears interlock at 4,500 rpm

Youtube Video

198 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:33:52pm

It still amazes me how I’m already almost up to lvl 50, completed the Thieves Guild questline and almost completed the Dark Brotherhood line, and I still haven’t advanced either the main storyline or the civil war storylines beyond searching for the blasted horn. It’s a great game where you can spend literally tens of hours doing sidequests without worrying about advancing the main storyline.

199 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:36:09pm

re: #198 Targetpractice

Have you played Arma 3 yet?

200 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:38:06pm

I’m wondering how far I can get needling Bryan?

201 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:38:53pm

re: #199 Amory Blaine

Have you played Arma 3 yet?

Nah, I don’t have much appetite for war games these days.

202 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:39:47pm

re: #199 Amory Blaine

Have you played Arma 3 yet?

I got it because my buddies played it MP and said it was great.

An hour later, I was uninstalling it.

203 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:48:23pm

If I have any major gripe about Skyrim, it’s that I can’t travel outside city limits without fighting a dragon. Hell, I had one spawn right in the middle of Whiterun, so apparently the game has gotten tired of me stalling on finishing the main storyline.

204 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:49:37pm

re: #203 Targetpractice

If I have any major gripe about Skyrim, it’s that I can’t travel outside city limits without fighting a dragon. Hell, I had one spawn right in the middle of Whiterun, so apparently the game has gotten tired of me stalling on finishing the main storyline.

Simple solution.

Don’t start the main storyline.

205 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:50:32pm

“Go and see the Jarl in Whiterun.”
“Fuck you. You’re not the boss of me!”

206 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:52:14pm

re: #205 Kragar

“Go and see the Jarl in Whiterun.”
“Fuck you. You’re not the boss of me!”

But if I do that, then I don’t get Lydia as a pack mule and convenient distraction for when I’m in battle.

207 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:52:38pm

re: #205 Kragar

“Go and see the Jarl in Whiterun.”
“Fuck you. You’re not the boss of me!”

How about we compromise and I shoot the town’s chickens???

208 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:53:13pm

re: #206 Targetpractice

But if I do that, then I don’t get Lydia as a pack mule and convenient distraction for when I’m in battle.

There are plenty of other mules.

209 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:53:56pm

re: #208 Kragar

There are plenty of other mules.

Yeah, but she’s special. It’s almost tradition to lug her around.

210 GeneJockey  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:54:48pm

re: #200 Kragar

I’m wondering how far I can get needling Bryan?

[Embedded content]

Wait, he just said Obama wants the Debt Ceiling NOT raised, so it will destroy America!

211 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:55:55pm

re: #209 Targetpractice

I’ve been using Serana for about 2/3rds of my playthrough.

212 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:57:51pm

re: #211 ProTARDISLiberal

I’ve been using Serana for about 2/3rds of my playthrough.

I role solo. Companions cramp my style

213 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:58:12pm

I’m a loner. No stupid npc companions for me!

214 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 9:59:15pm

re: #213 Varek Raith

I’m a loner. No stupid npc companions for me!

“Hey buddy, can you needlessly agro stuff and run the wrong way and fuck up my plans? Thanks.”

215 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:01:12pm

re: #214 Kragar

“Hey buddy, can you needlessly agro stuff and run the wrong way and fuck up my plans? Thanks.”

They drove me crazy in SWToR.

216 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:02:01pm

“Okay, so I just wait for this guy to stop looking for and…Lydia, where the fuck are you going? No, don’t fight him!! Damnit!”

217 klys  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:03:35pm

Things that are jarring: going from the voice acting in SWTOR to the voice acting in Skyrim.

218 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:04:09pm

Invis, backstab, invis, backstab, invis, backstab

I win.

219 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:04:46pm

re: #217 klys

Things that are jarring: going from the voice acting in SWTOR to the voice acting in Skyrim.

Then I took a lightsaber in the knee.

220 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:05:19pm

re: #217 klys

Things that are jarring: going from the voice acting in SWTOR to the voice acting in Skyrim.

Having not playing SWTOR, how so?

221 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:05:31pm

re: #217 klys

Things that are jarring: going from the voice acting in SWTOR to the voice acting in Skyrim.

Jarring for me was the leveling/skill system in Skyrim versus what I’d gotten used to with the Fallout games. Actually using skills to level them up? That was simultaneously awesome and frustrating.

222 klys  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:05:51pm

re: #219 Varek Raith

Then I took a lightsaber in the knee.

I’m pretty sure that joke will get old someday.

…but not today.

I’m sitting here cracking up hard at this thread and my husband has no clue why.

223 klys  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:06:30pm

re: #220 The Ghost of a Flea

Having not playing SWTOR, how so?

The voice acting in SWTOR is AWESOME. Some of the best I have ever heard in a video game, hands down.

Skyrim makes me think of the Swedish Chef.

224 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:11:54pm

re: #219 Varek Raith

Then I took a lightsaber in the knee.

Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.

225 The Ghost of a Flea  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:16:49pm

re: #223 klys

The voice acting in SWTOR is AWESOME. Some of the best I have ever heard in a video game, hands down.

Skyrim makes me think of the Swedish Chef.

Ha! Accurate,

226 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:18:19pm

re: #213 Varek Raith

See, I’ve been put into the “shit, I am dead” zone health wise a lot in fighting. More than once, Serana does some destruction spell, and launches them into the next hold.

227 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:22:31pm

Still need to work on my magic skills. Gotten pretty good with destruction spells, but the other disciplines are still lacking.

228 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:24:31pm

re: #224 Targetpractice

Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.

“Fisto reporting for duty. Please assume the position.”

229 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:26:35pm

re: #224 Targetpractice

Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter.

Yeah, NV didn’t feel like Fallout to me.

230 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:28:02pm

re: #202 Kragar

Hmm so it’s hit or miss. Was it too involved or boring?

231 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:28:13pm

re: #227 Targetpractice

Still need to work on my magic skills. Gotten pretty good with destruction spells, but the other disciplines are still lacking.

Made an assassin/illusionist, worked great for every quest line except the main one, lol

232 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:28:46pm

re: #230 Amory Blaine

Hmm so it’s hit or miss. Was it too involved or boring?

Yes.

233 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:30:22pm

re: #231 Kragar

Made an assassin/illusionist, worked great for every quest line except the main one, lol

Be using alchemy to handle the invisibility bit. Though the ingredient for such potions are starting to become a major issue.

234 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:31:20pm

re: #233 Targetpractice

Be using alchemy to handle the invisibility bit. Though the ingredient for such potions are starting to become a major issue.

Know what really annoys me?
Lack of salt.
Yeah…

235 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:33:07pm

If there’s anything I’ve come to love about Hearthfire, it’s the gardens for growing a lot of my plant alchemical ingredients. Though I’m still trying to get an answer as to why I can’t grow plants from Raven Rock.

236 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:34:37pm

re: #235 Targetpractice

If there’s anything I’ve come to love about Hearthfire, it’s the gardens for growing a lot of my plant alchemical ingredients. Though I’m still trying to get an answer as to why I can’t grow plants from Raven Rock.

Is that worth picking up?

237 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:37:58pm

re: #236 Varek Raith

Is that worth picking up?

I’ve come to like it a lot. If nothing else, it’s made up for the tediousness of building everything by the convenience. And like I said, the greenhouse helps a great deal if you’re into alchemy.

238 Carlos Danger  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:44:01pm

How I could I miss GOP representatives dressed up as doctors in a photo-op?

Image: skwcdicmmsowudfb9fjc.jpg

Ok, “let’s talk”. After you guys shut down the government. Brilliant.

239 Carlos Danger  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:49:10pm

“Now that we have you under anesthetics, let’s talk about pricing…”

240 BongCrodny  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 10:53:02pm

Deep Question Time:

I’ve been watching Season 3 of “The Walking Dead” on Netflix. I’m still enjoying it, although I’ve noticed the plot holes this year seem to have increased from “forgivable” to “what the fuck?”

Here’s my question: there are roughly 320 million people in the U.S., of which about 75 million are children.

So where the hell are all the kid zombies?

Sure, they pop up once in a while when they’re important to the plot (e.g., Sophia and Penny), but whenever Our Heroes run into a pack or a herd, they’re all adult zombies.

Hey, look — somebody’s got to ask the important questions, right?

241 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:00:34pm

I imagine things are gonna become interesting on the budget front in the next 24-48 hours, as people tune into news about Hurricane Karen only to find out that the federal response is at best hamstrung and at worst totally absent.

242 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:01:14pm

re: #240 BongCrodny

Deep Question Time:

I’ve been watching Season 3 of “The Walking Dead” on Netflix. I’m still enjoying it, although I’ve noticed the plot holes this year seem to have increased from “forgivable” to “what the fuck?”

Here’s my question: there are roughly 320 million people in the U.S., of which about 75 million are children.

So where the hell are all the kid zombies?

Sure, they pop up once in a while when they’re important to the plot (e.g., Sophia and Penny), but whenever Our Heroes run into a pack or a herd, they’re all adult zombies.

Hey, look — somebody’s got to ask the important questions, right?

teevee zombies must be teh sexy for teevee sexy sexy ratings

243 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:05:47pm

re: #240 BongCrodny

Deep Question Time:

I’ve been watching Season 3 of “The Walking Dead” on Netflix. I’m still enjoying it, although I’ve noticed the plot holes this year seem to have increased from “forgivable” to “what the fuck?”

Here’s my question: there are roughly 320 million people in the U.S., of which about 75 million are children.

So where the hell are all the kid zombies?

Sure, they pop up once in a while when they’re important to the plot (e.g., Sophia and Penny), but whenever Our Heroes run into a pack or a herd, they’re all adult zombies.

Hey, look — somebody’s got to ask the important questions, right?

Kid zombies: shorter legs, can’t keep up with the big herds

244 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:06:01pm

these high winds in the east bay are stressing out my twine system for keeping the potted trees on the deck from blowing over

245 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:06:47pm

re: #243 Kragar

Kid zombies: shorter legs, can’t keep up with the big herds

i applied for Zombie Herder but i didn’t pass the written test

246 dog philosopher  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:08:19pm

tomorrow morning there is gonna be some blowed down trees in the ca bay area

247 freetoken  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:11:49pm

re: #240 BongCrodny

You’re thinking too hard.

248 Single-handed sailor  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:16:52pm

re: #244 dog philosopher

these high winds in the east bay are stressing out my twine system for keeping the potted trees on the deck from blowing over

yeah, October fire weather for the east bay. I have a hill to the north. I hear the wind but don’t feel any of it.

249 freetoken  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:17:32pm

Speaking of television, reality TV is treading on ever thinner ice of idiocy.

Top Chef, one of the leading “brands” in reality TV, in their new season which aired last night, has one of those on-screen meters which gauge feedback people are sending them in near-real-time.

At the end, when the chef chosen to leave finds out his/her fate, the online question is something like “Did the right chef go home?”, with a bar graph (with labels in psuedo-French, just to remind the viewers that they are above the hoi polloi) moving either to the yes oui or no side over a short span of like 5 seconds.

Here’s the thing - NONE of those viewers ATE THE FOOD! How could they know what was actually served and whether they liked it?

I guess it doesn’t matter, because Top Chef, like so many cooking reality TV sows, isn’t really about the food after all.

250 Lidane  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:18:47pm

re: #240 BongCrodny

Kids = shorter legs = less chance of escaping the large herds. My guess is that when the shit hit the fan and everyone suddenly got hungry for human flesh, kids were some of the first ones to die.

On a serious note, it’s probably due to the shooting schedule. I can’t imagine it’s all that easy to get full-time child actors or child extras for the large herds due to labor restrictions on kid actors.

251 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:23:37pm

My problem with the Zombie Genre: The willing default into a siege mentality

“Well, we’re safe in here. We just have to make sure they don’t get in the mall/prison/school and we’re safe.”

Then, time and again, you see them going about their business while zombie herds of various sizes mill about.

Bullshit, you make taking them down a part of your daily routine. Everyone you take down standing outside your wall is one less you have to worry about. Its never too much trouble to put one down, its saving another survivor in the long run. Its not like you have to come up with new tactics or lure them into ambushes. You stand at the wall with a cinderblock on a chain, you drop it on their head, you reel it back up.

252 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:24:12pm

re: #250 Lidane

Kids = shorter legs = less chance of escaping the large herds. My guess is that when the shit hit the fan and everyone suddenly got hungry for human flesh, kids were some of the first ones to die.

On a serious note, it’s probably due to the shooting schedule. I can’t imagine it’s all that easy to get full-time child actors or child extras for the large herds due to labor restrictions on kid actors.

Well, sure, that too.

254 sagehen  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:32:41pm

re: #240 BongCrodny

Deep Question Time:

So where the hell are all the kid zombies?

Sure, they pop up once in a while when they’re important to the plot (e.g., Sophia and Penny), but whenever Our Heroes run into a pack or a herd, they’re all adult zombies.

Hey, look — somebody’s got to ask the important questions, right?

They got eaten, very early in the outbreak.

255 Amory Blaine  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:34:10pm

Fred Phelps’ head is going to explode.

256 sagehen  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:35:13pm

Did you guys know Bryan Cranston was in Babylon 5? Only one episode, only one scene, but if you watched B5 you’ll remember this…


Youtube Video

257 Kragar  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:37:20pm

re: #256 sagehen

Did you guys know Bryan Cranston was in Babylon 5? Only one episode, only one scene, but if you watched B5 you’ll remember this…

[Embedded content]

I remember that one.

258 Lidane  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:37:58pm

re: #256 sagehen

Bryan Cranston was also on the Power Rangers:

Youtube Video

259 piratedan  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:39:58pm

late to the thread, TY CJ for posting this…. I assume that this is pretty much normal behavior for GG when his authoritay is challenged and it is not a pretty sight. I wish that there was a way to reconcile his need for attention and this belief that the US is source of all e-ville in the world today.

Granted I’m pragmatic enough to understand that not everything my country does is right or even done with honorable intentions, after all I already lived through Nixon, Reagan and Bush the Lesser, but I fail to see why he happened to choose THIS administration as being the touchstone for all misdeeds when it has come farther than the last six administrations in regards to playing fair and being an honest broker in the world. THAT is the part that I have the hardest time reconciling.

260 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:43:28pm

Dealing with a wingnut who actually thinks that if you’re listed as “essential” during a shutdown and thus working, you’re getting paid. I’m sure my mother will be thrilled to know that her boss was wrong and she’s still getting a paycheck next week. *rolls eyes*

261 sagehen  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:46:44pm

GG chose THIS administration to lash out at because… because THIS administration is who was there when he had an opportunity. It’s not like he’s been biding his time.

(tonight’s “Scandal” recap to prepare for the new season, Huck describes his past as “I did things that if I told you it would be hard for you to ever say the Pledge of Allegiance again.” In Huck’s case that may very well be true. I wonder how he’d react if he knew what Olivia did?)

262 sagehen  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:54:37pm

re: #258 Lidane

Bryan Cranston was also on the Power Rangers:

[Embedded content]

um… which one is he? and how can you tell?

263 Lidane  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:57:23pm

re: #262 sagehen

um… which one is he? and how can you tell?

He’s the villain and it’s a voiceover part.

264 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Oct 3, 2013 11:58:52pm

Off topic rant incoming:

Based on the number of comments my ignore list filters out Fark has become around 18% pure DERP. Maybe more, this is just a spot check.

I have over 400 users on my ignore list (400!), which is the only thing keeping the place (particularly the politics tap) visitable on an even occasional basis.

You can’t find a center through false equivalence, the Fark experiment with a Commie/Fascist axis and link self reporting was a laughable failure from the beginning, and they stuck with it for years.

You can’t create a community by deliberately refusing to moderate all but the most extreme (or more often, critical) content. You can’t foist off the moderation on the user base through ignore lists either, and since it’s impossible to train people not to quote assholes you’re going to see the comments from assholes anyway, only the threads become less redundant.

You have to make a choice, like Charles did here, are you going to sacrifice your personal integrity or are you going to sacrifice the page views generated by professional trolls. Are you going to legitimize the dumbing down of your user base through controversy and ignorance while fostering a bifurcated, angry dystopian blog attracting a user base that is only capable of taking past one another.

I’ve really come to hate what Fark has become, in it’s early days, before the tabs, the ignore lists and the false equivalence worship it was a fun place. One of the few early blogs to see the community building potential in digital imaging, the Photoshop threads were a lot of fun. Now it is mostly shit.

265 piratedan  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 1:32:27am

so when you see a Republican on the street, be sure to thank them for caring about the country and the people who serve her…..Let them know how much you appreciate them taking the principled stand of denying affordable health care to the working poor and disabled and that they’re willing to risk our country’s finances and global reputation because of it. Let them know that we appreciate the integrity that they’ve shown in how they deal with legislation that they’ve voted for by “moving the goalposts” at the first opportunity and the evenhanded way that they appear to hate everyone, women, minorities, the poor, immigrants and now even federal workers.

266 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 2:40:06am

re: #264 goddamnedfrank

I have been back there only like four, five times since coming here. There the false equivalence shit is also extended to the headlines.

267 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 3:10:31am

If there was an earlier discussion of the Neugebauer video I must have missed it.

Youtube Video

Good lord what a complete asshole, telling a Park Ranger, a federal employee working for an IOU, that she should be ashamed of herself for trying to enforce equally the consequences of a government shutdown he did everything possible to create.

Neugebauer said that he is firm in his resolve to not fund Obamacare and that he is prepared to take the shutdown “as long as it takes” to make sure the continuing resolution will not fund Obamacare.

That’s him a few days ago basically saying that he’s willing to hold the country hostage for as long as it takes just so he can kill a law that was passed by both houses, signed by the President and declared valid by the Supreme Court. Then a few days later he has the balls to bitch out and publicly scold a park ranger, for daring to enforce a closure made necessary by the very shutdown he championed.

Then, when called on his fuckery he has the nerve to try and blame Harry Reid for the thing that Neugebauer has been vocally calling for and deliberately helped happen. Wow. Just, wow.

Remember that this entire bullshit deal is over a two month funding deal, so the plan was to hold the US hostage, shutdown the government in exchange for an insane ransom demand, and then do it all over again in eight weeks.

To be a Republican at this point means you’re either A.) too fucking stupid to cross the street unescorted, or B.) so monumentally goddamned evil, selfish, manipulative and racist that litmus paper rots at your touch, or C.) a gutless, ganged in ****.

268 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 3:45:27am

re: #267 goddamnedfrank

It doesn’t seem to be working, though, on anyone who’s not already a party-before-country Republican. And this is just at the beginning, this is before the real effects go into play.

I think the real problem is incompetence, not ideology. It’s not that these guys have some whackjob ideology, it’s that they suck at their job. As a lot of other articles have pointed out, the GOP could have gotten all sorts of concessions, in general, from Obama and the Democrats, in the course of normal politics— like the repeal of the medical device tax, they could have gotten that from the Democrats easily.

But because of their incompetence, they’re throwing that away, throwing away any legislative credibility. They really suck at politics when it comes to actually achieving goals, though they’re really good at the politics of radicalizing primary voters to create safe districts.

269 Stoatly  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:04:04am

re: #115 John Vreeland

This would take a long, long time to crack. Even using every computer on the planet it would take much, much longer than the Universe is expected to last. Even using tricks to reduce the search space, like finding duplicate files, it would still the lifetime of of the Universe squared. So Greenwald is mostly correct.

This is why the cryptoanalyst’s most useful tool is a rubber hose. Bribery, burglary, and blackmail are also popular. But apparently Snowden does not have access to the passwords any more, or so he claims, so I am assuming they are in someone else’s hands at the moment, stored on a thumb drive. That would be where the Russians are now looking.

There’s a saying that anyone can devise a security system they can’t break themselves - it’s making a system no-one else can break that’s the trick

Whoever originally came up with the system has no doubt used the best crypto tech that he can find and been oh so clever in how the PWs are distributed and hidden (and no doubt encrypted themselves)

But as you say the weak point is usually the human element - and arrogant confidence in the tech’s infallibility seems to be a bit of a theme in breaking the best systems.
The classic example being Enigma - it should have been impossible to crack using existing tech, even with a genius like Turing working on it - just as the Germans believed. But human error and laziness by the operators gave a way in.

The Russians have a cyber-warfare capability we can only guess at: not just crypto (recent revelations that assumptions about decrypt difficulty used the “wrong kind of entropy”; actually codes may be easier to crack than previously assumed aside - a direct crack may well be impossible at the moment)
But an international network of spooks/spies/hackers plus an unhealthy blurring of lines with organised crime gives the Russian SS a hell of a reach - into even the furthest darkest corners of the world.
Look at Stuxnet - it shows the extraordinary lengths states can go to reach the most carefully hidden

270 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:05:01am

Morning Lizardim. What’s going on among the lizardfolk on this dank and dreary morning?

271 Sionainn  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:08:48am

re: #270 thedopefishlives

Morning Lizardim. What’s going on among the lizardfolk on this dank and dreary morning?

Big day for me. I’m trying to get all the reports typed up from the company I’m contracting with, then need to get with the doctor’s office to finalize some things so that we are all able to be up and running with my new medical transcription company on Monday!

How’s Baby Dopefish?

272 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:09:21am

re: #264 goddamnedfrank

I pretty much stick to the headlines on Fark. I very rarely click into the actual comments because the level of stupid is just breathtaking. And that’s coming from someone who regularly engages professional trolls and idiots of both the useful and not-so-useful variety on the JREF forums.

273 Sionainn  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:10:37am

re: #267 goddamnedfrank

If there was an earlier discussion of the Neugebauer video I must have missed it.

[Embedded content]

said that he is firm in his resolve to not fund Obamacare and that he is prepared to take the shutdown “as long as it takes” to make sure the continuing resolution will not fund Obamacare.

That’s him a few days ago basically saying that he’s willing to hold the country hostage for as long as it takes just so he can kill a law that was passed by both houses, signed by the President and declared valid by the Supreme Court. Then a few days later he has the balls to bitch out and publicly scold a park ranger, for daring to enforce a closure made necessary by the very shutdown he championed.

Then, when called on his fuckery he has the nerve to try and blame Harry Reid for the thing that Neugebauer has been vocally calling for and deliberately helped happen. Wow. Just, wow.

Remember that this entire bullshit deal is over a two month funding deal, so the plan was to hold the US hostage, shutdown the government in exchange for an insane ransom demand, and then do it all over again in eight weeks.

To be a Republican at this point means you’re either A.) too fucking stupid to cross the street unescorted, or B.) so monumentally goddamned evil, selfish, manipulative and racist that litmus paper rots at your touch, or C.) a gutless, ganged in ****.

I’ve got to give credit to the park ranger. I’d have let him have it had I been in her position.

Did you check out the flag that ass is wearing? Who the hell wears a flag that size? Oh, that’s right, a moron, and someone who doesn’t know the Flag Code. Some patriot.

274 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:10:41am

re: #271 Sionainn

Big day for me. I’m trying to get all the reports typed up from the company I’m contracting for, then need to get with the doctor’s office to finalize some things so that we are all able to be up and running with my new medical transcription company on Monday!

How’s Baby Dopefish?

The younger fish is fine. The older fishspawn came down with a cold this week, which got transmitted to the Mrs. Fish, thus making the household a not-so-happy place for the last week. I seem to have escaped this particular bug, though, which is good considering I’ve been spending most of my off-work hours upside down under the dashboard of the Mrs. Fish’s Mafiamobile.

275 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:19:37am

re: #270 thedopefishlives

Morning Lizardim. What’s going on among the lizardfolk on this dank and dreary morning?

I got the Gateway Timeout error on the first couple of tries. Got some actual work done.

Actually my project is kind of fun, tracking a global call center and seeing how many overseas calls are routed to USA. It’s the opposite of “outsourcing.”

276 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:19:55am

Did LGF go down for anyone else? It “disappeared” for about an hour just now.

And GG has butthurt this am. Listen, GG, there can only be one (1) head honcho in all this, and I don’t think even 2 massive egos can survive this kind of thing.

277 BongCrodny  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:20:16am

re: #247 freetoken

You’re thinking too hard.

That’s probably the first time I’ve ever been accused of that.

278 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:24:24am

re: #275 Vicious Babushka

I got the Gateway Timeout error on the first couple of tries. Got some actual work done.

Yeah, LGF has been up and down for me fairly frequently over the last week or however long. I hope Charles and co. get it figured out soon, I’m sure it’s driving him crazy.

279 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:44:00am
280 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:46:16am

OK, so after being made to jump through 90 (more) hoops over the last 2 weeks, The Teenager and I have an appointment today with his vocational rehab caseworker about updating his work plan so he can go to school at the program for young adults with autism. Silly me, I thought when they CALLED ME and told me it was a go 2 weeks ago that we were on track. Nooooo. I had to call them, having not heard a word back, and then had to have The Teenager call (because he’s an adult now) and talk to people. Which is hard for him because being business like and formal on the phone is just difficult for him, but he tries. He just forgets to ask key questions, even when written down. Anyhoo, the school called him yesterday and they are ready for him to come up on the 19th to get settled in so he can start on the 21st. We just have to go to the voc rehab office in our county so he can tell them he REALLY wants to go to this school. Ahh paperwork and bureaucracy, yummy.

Keep a happy thought for him if you have a spare one. This meeting is the last hurdle in the process(I’ve been working on this since 2011). I hope. Geesh.

281 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:47:16am

re: #142 goddamnedfrank

What’s weird isn’t just Fisher’s clinically insane, schizo-affective douche baggery, but that anybody would put him at the head of a national political org like the FRC, or that anybody looks at that stream of transparent bullshit and thinks giving them money is a good idea.

It’s not just the naked hate, it’s that there isn’t one coherent, intelligently articulated position there. It’s all blatant, obvious, lies, and the people employing him and sending in money know it’s all lies. They know that they’re lying to themselves as they repeat the lies to others. The cynical repetition of the lie becomes a shibboleth, it’s only effective purpose the same as a gang tattoo, to identify the group from outsiders.

Steve Stockman’s Twitter feed spews the same crap as Fischer, and this freaking moran (and others like him as well) was elected to Congress. Now we are seeing how much damage they are capable of.

282 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:54:29am

re: #279 Vicious Babushka

One of my first thoughts after I found out she wasn’t armed and she had a young child was PPD. I’d bet she had a panic attack and just freaked the hell out. She picked the absolute worst place to do that, sadly. This is the saddest thing, it made me cry. I just wish they hadn’t killed her, obviously. She lost her way, she didn’t want to hurt anyone. I wonder if she just got in the car and took off because, well, it seemed like a good idea. Panic attacks are horrifying if you’ve never had one. Having one while driving? I can’t even.

I had PPD after my son was born, it went undiagnosed and untreated for 3 yrs. I was lucky, it never went beyond anxiety and crying jags. There’s also a more severe form of this, post-partum psychosis, I wonder if that was in play here. My mother had the severe kind after I was born, so bad that my dad’s parents had to take over my care. Back then of course there was not a real treatment for this beyond sedation and a pat on the head. She couldn’t even hold me or look at me for the first few months after I was born. Other family dynamics were in play here too(long story-her own family was a freak show mess), but she’ll admit to this day she was so out of it and anxious she barely remembers my infancy.

283 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:54:31am

Why is it the British have journalists who actually call people on their shit and we can’t get those people here in the U.S. press? There’s another BBC journalist who’s known for this (can’t remember his name atm).

284 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:57:09am

BBL, time to get ready for this meeting.

285 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:58:19am
286 BongCrodny  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 5:58:48am

re: #270 thedopefishlives

Morning Lizardim. What’s going on among the lizardfolk on this dank and dreary morning?

Getting ready for my eye examination, as approved by the Veterans Administration.

Seriously, though — a few weeks back I was at the local VA hospital for a routine checkup, and the nurse who examine me told me that as a veteran I qualified for a free hearing aid and a pair of glasses.

Speaking as someone who has seen better days, I was incredibly grateful. The job I held in the Navy pretty much started the chain that more or less destroyed my hearing (moderate to severe hearing loss and moderate tinnitus); during the years that I had company-issued health insurance I never had a plan that covered hearing aids. In fact, it’s my understanding that while most insurance plans will cover hearing examinations, few plans cover the actual hearing aids themselves.

While my own personal situation is far from bleak, I will certainly admit to having seen better days. If I had to pay out-of-pocket for the type of quality hearing aids I need, it would break me financially.

It’s obviously a viewpoint influenced by my own needs, but for me this is how good government is supposed to work. Take care of your citizens in need; if someone needs a little help in order to lead a productive life that should carry more weight than the offended barking of the “but, my TAXES!” crowd.

287 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:01:22am

Greets and saluts from the unseasonably warm and beautiful NYC metro area. The GOP shutdown marches on and the GOP continues to use the NPS as a prop, even though they’re as much a victim of the GOP shutdown as every other federal agency. The projection is strong among the GOP and their apologists.


Calling the NPS a goon squad is reprehensible and disrespectful of these hard working and dedicated folks who are preserving the nation’s natural beauties. Rather rich that the GOP thinks that they should reopen the NPS sites, because the GOP has fought to reduce their budgets time and time again. More than that, they’ve fought to prevent the NPS from preserving sites - demanding that drilling, mining, and other activities that could threaten national park sites (and all those areas where the NPS has jurisdiction like national recreation areas, national forests, etc.) They’re hardly conservationists - they’re hoping to exploit the federal lands to the detriment of future generations, and now they think that the NPS should open up memorials on the mall even as it would expose the NPS to liability should anyone fall or be injured on site. Besides, the shutdown is entirely of the GOP’s doing. But for their insistence on pushing ACA poison pill provisions in every CR and other legislation, a deal would have been done and the shutdown avoided.

The GOP has no strategy here other than chaos. If they want to reopen the national parks, it’s real simply. Pass a clean CR. Speaker Boehner doesn’t have it in him to do the right thing.

288 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:05:18am

Good morning Lizards!

Friday. Good.

Pirates got stomped last night. Bad.

Got ticket to Pirates game on Sunday. Good.

LGF still acting wonky here at work. Bad.
(some buttons not working, upding use throws me to front page, etc. Running Firefox and using a proxy server.)

LGF apparently working fine at home. Good.
(Firefox there as well, but later version than work version.)

Issues at work with phones and Iphone email security. Bad.

Finishing up a small project today. Good.

The frogurt contains sodium benzonate…

289 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:05:24am

I see GG uses a link for shortened URLs that my computer gives a warning on, thusly:

“Shortened link

The link you followed has been shortened with is.gd. Shortened links can go anywhere on the Internet so you shouldn’t continue if you got the link from a suspicious source e.g. junk email.

The full original link is shown below. Click the link if you’d like to proceed to the destination shown: -
ggsidedocs.blogspot.com.br

QR code
Give me this URL as a QR code

Why am I seeing this page? We currently force a preview page for certain destination sites that we see frequently used in phishing campaigns. We hope this will help users think twice about where the link goes and not fall victim to any such scams!”

Teehee. GG hangs with the dead phish?

290 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:05:33am

Oh ugh.

Alternet has some good articles but I just saw this shit come up on their sidebar:

Surveillance of Whole Populations Threatens to be the Greatest Human Rights Challenge of Our Time. By Edward Snowden

How to Kill Goyim and Influence People: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel
Max Blumenthal

Anti-Semitic Dudebro frenzy, gah.

291 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:05:57am

re: #276 Justanotherhuman

Did LGF go down for anyone else? It “disappeared” for about an hour just now.

And GG has butthurt this am. Listen, GG, there can only be one (1) head honcho in all this, and I don’t think even 2 massive egos can survive this kind of thing.

[Embedded content]

Trouble in Dudebroville? Are they fighting over who is more oppressed again?

292 Sionainn  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:06:04am

re: #282 A Mom Anon

One of my first thoughts after I found out she wasn’t armed and she had a young child was PPD. I’d bet she had a panic attack and just freaked the hell out. She picked the absolute worst place to do that, sadly. This is the saddest thing, it made me cry. I just wish they hadn’t killed her, obviously. She lost her way, she didn’t want to hurt anyone. I wonder if she just got in the car and took off because, well, it seemed like a good idea. Panic attacks are horrifying if you’ve never had one. Having one while driving? I can’t even.

I had PPD after my son was born, it went undiagnosed and untreated for 3 yrs. I was lucky, it never went beyond anxiety and crying jags. There’s also a more severe form of this, post-partum psychosis, I wonder if that was in play here. My mother had the severe kind after I was born, so bad that my dad’s parents had to take over my care. Back then of course there was not a real treatment for this beyond sedation and a pat on the head. She couldn’t even hold me or look at me for the first few months after I was born. Other family dynamics were in play here too(long story-her own family was a freak show mess), but she’ll admit to this day she was so out of it and anxious she barely remembers my infancy.

The news keeps saying that she tried ramming through the barricades at the White House. Her car, at least in the photos I’ve seen, looked untouched. I’m questioning the shooting. I’m hoping more information comes out.

PPD is nothing to ignore. So sad all the way around.

293 BongCrodny  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:06:47am

re: #287 lawhawk

The GOP has no strategy here other than chaos.

The Grand Old Nihilist Party.

294 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:09:08am

DERP

295 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:09:14am

Acting more and more like the Got Ours (f*** you) Party.

296 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:09:25am

re: #279 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

The whole incident just gets sadder.

297 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:09:45am

So tired of this BS from the Republicans. I have one as my congress critter and I just sent him this email:

Message Subject: Get to work you lazy SOB
Message Text:
When are you incompetent SOB’s going to shut up, sit down and send a clean CR that lasts until a budget is passed? I am so tired of your stupid greed screwing over the nation. Get to work if you know how! I am so looking forward to voting for ANYONE other than you in the next election & yes, I WILL REMEMBER your incompetence in this issue.

I know it will do no good, but damn it made me feel a tiny bit better to hit send on that one.

298 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:14:36am

Hmm. Looks like home version of Firefox is somewhere in the 20s (24 the latest I think) and the work version is… 15?

O_o

299 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:15:29am

New Comments button not working, but that’s a small price to pay for having LGF back up.

300 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:16:57am

re: #299 Vicious Babushka

New Comments button not working, but that’s a small price to pay for having LGF back up.

Spy mode seems to be trucking along just fine, if you have that deep-seated need to be up to the second on every post here at LGF.

301 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:18:47am

re: #291 b.d.

Trouble in Dudebroville? Are they fighting over who is more oppressed again?

Oh hell, you know these privileged white boys are more oppressed than the poor mother who can’t get her WIC this month.

Or the little kids who must dig in the garbage dumps in Rio to find both food and something to sell—from the same kind of favela that GG’s much younger boyfriend came from—or so he claims.

302 Stoatly  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:23:06am

re: #299 Vicious Babushka

New Comments button not working, but that’s a small price to pay for having LGF back up.

Time to repost:
How I pictured Charles during the outage

303 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:25:47am

re: #302 Stoatly

Time to repost:
How I pictured Charles during the outage

That made me laugh. Very nice.

304 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:28:51am


Short GOP: We want ours, screw everyone else.

GOP Rep - I need my paycheck!
Everyone else: So do we!
GOP: Screw’ em. No one gets anything until the ACA burns. If the economy burns, and we chop federal spending once more, so much the better.

305 hellosnackbar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:30:39am

Greenwald sees himself as a penetrative polemicist.
The reality is :he’s a polemic prick!

306 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:32:07am

The wingnuts are taking offense at the definition of “Slavery” as the ownership of a human being as property because it doesn’t match their made-up definition as SOMEBODY WHO GETS STUFF FROM TEH GUBMINT!!11!!

307 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:33:21am

re: #304 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Short GOP: We want ours, screw everyone else.

GOP Rep - I need my paycheck!
Everyone else: So do we!
GOP: Screw’ em. No one gets anything until the ACA burns. If the economy burns, and we chop federal spending once more, so much the better.

Even if POTUS caves and ACA gets repealed somehow, the GOP will go on to their next target of the debt ceiling.

308 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:36:02am

WTFITS. It’s in FRANCE dumbass!

309 Patricia Kayden  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:41:03am

re: #166 goddamnedfrank

Nancy Pelosi tried to explain that to Gayle King this morning on CBS, but Gayle kept crying “both sides do it, what are you doing to compromise with the Republicans, what would you say to my kid about why both parties can’t work with each other”.

It was sad.

310 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:41:07am

re: #306 Vicious Babushka

The wingnuts are taking offense at the definition of “Slavery” as the ownership of a human being as property because it doesn’t match their made-up definition as SOMEBODY WHO GETS STUFF FROM TEH GUBMINT!!11!!

The demonization of government assistance is, I think, one of the great tragedies of the American conservative movement. Shit happens, and it’s nice to have a social safety net to fall on until you can get back up. But the hyper-emphasis on people who abuse the system and the broad generalization of “Oh, they’re all like that” really burns me. It’s taking away from the people who have legitimate need for assistance.

311 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:41:18am

re: #308 Vicious Babushka

What part of government shutdown do these people not understand. They don’t get to pick and choose what stays open or not. And curiously, the GOP TP Extortionists have decided to single out the NPS sites for particular interest.

Now, it’s national cemeteries located in France? Really? That’s where your ire is placed? Not on the millions of women and kids affected by the shutdown of WIC or SNAP?

312 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:42:51am

re: #311 lawhawk

What part of government shutdown do these people not understand. They don’t get to pick and choose what stays open or not. And curiously, the GOP TP Extortionists have decided to single out the NPS sites for particular interest.

Now, it’s national cemeteries located in France? Really? That’s where your ire is placed? Not on the millions of women and kids affected by the shutdown of WIC or SNAP?

The Republicans on my FB feed and on another website I frequent are all crying about how the government shuts down the park service but still has the money to open Obamacare exchanges. It’s like they’re deliberately trying not to understand how this stuff works.

313 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:43:26am

re: #311 lawhawk

What part of government shutdown do these people not understand. They don’t get to pick and choose what stays open or not. And curiously, the GOP TP Extortionists have decided to single out the NPS sites for particular interest.

Now, it’s national cemeteries located in France? Really? That’s where your ire is placed? Not on the millions of women and kids affected by the shutdown of WIC or SNAP?

They think that the millions of pregnant women and babies thrown off WIC ARE LIBERATED FROM TEH SLAVERY OF GUBMINT DEPENDENCE!!!1!!!

314 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:43:33am

Oh, the jobs numbers came out this morning. Oh wait.

They didn’t. Shutdown. The GOP Shutdown.

Jobs data compiled by the BLS isn’t considered essential, so the stock markets are out of luck on key data that they rely on in making decisions.

But according to the TP extortionists government is the cause of all that ails the nation.

315 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:44:14am

re: #313 Vicious Babushka

That goes with the slavery of the access to affordable health insurance from private insurers via health exchanges.

316 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:44:14am
317 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:45:43am

Heh!

gothamist.com

318 Patricia Kayden  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:49:36am

re: #294 Vicious Babushka

Slaves didn’t depend on the government. The government didn’t protect them from the whims of their masters.

Plus the ACA is not government-provided healthcare!

319 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:50:50am

Looking forward to watching these videos later. I figured it was only a matter of time before Greenwald got enough confidence to talk to the BBC. Though this means we’ll all be subject to angry tweets about how the BBC is a government run scheme.

320 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:51:28am

For media watchers in the US, this is a neat visualization. Who’s relying on what media for their news.

You can search by newspaper, online only, tv/radio, etc.

321 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:53:16am

re: #318 Patricia Kayden

Slaves didn’t depend on the government. The government didn’t protect them from the whims of their masters.

Plus the ACA is not government-provided healthcare!

Idiot wingnuts will co-opt TEH SLAVERY!!11!! and TEH HOLOCAUST!!11!! to fit their agenda.

HURR HURR GUN CONTROL IS TEH HOLOCAUST!!11!!
HURR HURR ABORSHUNS ARE TEH HOLOCAUST!!!11!!
HURR HURR TAXES ARE TEH SLAVERY!!11!!!
HURR HURR OBAMACARE IS TEH SLAVERY!!11!!

And on and on and on.

322 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 6:59:23am

It’s getting harder and harder to tell the difference between Bryan Fischer’s and Steve Stockman’s Twitter feeds.

323 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:04:14am

U CAN HAV UR DEFINISHUNS AND I WILL HAVE MINE!!11!!!

324 Ian G.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:04:31am

re: #287 lawhawk

Calling the NPS a goon squad is reprehensible and disrespectful of these hard working and dedicated folks who are preserving the nation’s natural beauties.

Not just preserving the natural beauties of the country. If you get hurt doing some adventuring in these potentially dangerous wild lands, it’s the park rangers who have to come rescue you. They put their own lives on the line to help people who fell down a mountain, or got caught in bad weather, or had an unlucky encounter with a grizzly bear.

And they’re being called goons by the mouth-breathing thugs who are throwing a tantrum over the fact that a black man has been elected to the Presidency twice.

Little about the shutdown is getting me upset, but the teabagger thuggery towards the NPS has my blood boiling.

325 Dr. Matt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:05:11am

Clint Van Zandt was reporting today that Miriam Carey was paranoid about the government and thought President Obama was spying on her. Wonder how this paranoia was fueled…….,.

326 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:05:22am

re: #314 lawhawk

Oh, the jobs numbers came out this morning. Oh wait.

They didn’t. Shutdown. The GOP Shutdown.

Jobs data compiled by the BLS isn’t considered essential, so the stock markets are out of luck on key data that they rely on in making decisions.

But according to the TP extortionists government is the cause of all that ails the nation.

Looks like USDA grants to local Food Banks are affected. That’s about 1/3 the budget of ours. (Only have one report from Miami.)

327 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:05:37am

re: #324 Ian G.

Not just preserving the natural beauties of the country. If you get hurt doing some adventuring in these potentially dangerous wild lands, it’s the park rangers who have to come rescue you. They put their own lives on the line to help people who fell down a mountain, or got caught in bad weather, or had an unlucky encounter with a grizzly bear.

And they’re being called goons by the mouth-breathing thugs who are throwing a tantrum over the fact that a black man has been elected to the Presidency twice.

Little about the shutdown is getting me upset, but the teabagger thuggery towards the NPS has my blood boiling.

The teabaggers think the entire NPS system should be sold to private corporations and made available for drilling and strip mining.

328 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:07:44am

Vo Nguyen Giap has passed away at the age of 102.

Damn. That’s one hell of a long life.

abcnews.go.com

329 Ian G.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:08:54am

re: #327 Vicious Babushka

The teabaggers think the entire NPS system should be sold to private corporations and made available for drilling and strip mining.

That’s one of those things they’ll never say publicly, though, just as they’ll never make their true feeling about Medicare and Social Security known. They need the votes of the millions of elderly white people who drive the RV to Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon every year.

330 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:09:27am

re: #324 Ian G.

Absolutely true. There’s an ongoing search that has been hampered by the shutdown out at Craters of the Moon. NPS officials got an exemption so they could continue searching for the missing woman.

NPS rangers rescue hundreds of people a year at Grand Canyon alone - from falls, snake bites, etc.

They engage in high risk dangerous rescues on the slopes of Mount Rainier when climbers get stuck because of weather.

They save lives.

The GOP calls them a goon squad. All because they’re enforcing a shutdown of the GOP’s own creation.

331 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:09:40am

But remember HURR HURR ITZ ALL OBAMAZ FAULT!!!1!!!!!

332 Ian G.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:10:11am

re: #328 Dr Lizardo

Vo Nguyen Giap has passed away at the age of 102.

Damn. That’s one hell of a long life.

abcnews.go.com

I’ll take “people I had no idea weren’t dead for 20 years” for $400, Alex.

333 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:11:03am

re: #324 Ian G.

Not just preserving the natural beauties of the country. If you get hurt doing some adventuring in these potentially dangerous wild lands, it’s the park rangers who have to come rescue you. They put their own lives on the line to help people who fell down a mountain, or got caught in bad weather, or had an unlucky encounter with a grizzly bear.

And they’re being called goons by the mouth-breathing thugs who are throwing a tantrum over the fact that a black man has been elected to the Presidency twice.

Little about the shutdown is getting me upset, but the teabagger thuggery towards the NPS has my blood boiling.

They also face serious threat from cartel goons guarding pot farms—at least one was killed a few years ago.

334 Achilles Tang  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:11:27am

re: #151 Targetpractice

This is fucking hilarious. CBS releases a poll today that is pretty much painful to the GOP in every way, from showing that they’re taking more blame that the administration is for the shutdown, that approval for the shutdown does not at all track to disapproval of the ACA, and that more people think that the GOP should “compromise” than Obama.

But what does Breitbart publish from the poll? 76% say Obama should compromise, which is supposedly a devastating report that has forced the media to “bury” the poll.

Morning, in catching up on news I thought I would share this insight into how Fox interprets polls.

A quarter of voters blame “Republican leaders such as John Boehner,” while another 17 percent blame “Tea Party Republicans such as Ted Cruz.” But 24 percent point the finger at Obama.

They know Republicans can’t add, or don’t know that a quarter is 25%, so they don’t point out that 42% blame Republicans but only mention that 24% blame Obama. Needless to say 90% of those 24% are Republicans.

Link

335 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:14:24am

The main reason the NPS is being used as a target right now is that it is readily visible to the public and generally used by even their supporters. They’re playing up confrontations at the WW2 memorial since that can be played as anti-elderly, anti-veteran, and anti-patriotic in the NPS having the site closed.

In other words, it’s all PR and spin work. They don’t want to mention or talk about WIC, trickle-down damage, etc.

And I also see lots of “the Dems won’t compromise” with the zero point already defined with the Dems having given up the sequestor cuts and more and expected to “compromise” further from that point.

336 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:15:35am

re: #331 Vicious Babushka

Does this guy have an essential job? No? Why’d he get hired?

A secretary may not have an essential job classification, but if the secretary is absent for any prolonged period of time, work productivity will drop for those who rely on her.

And then there are the contract workers.

And the BLS, which puts out the statistics that Wall Street and businesses rely upon.

And NASA, which puts satellites into orbit that we rely upon - GPS? Weather satellites? NOAA? Storm warnings? FEMA?

Clueless person is clueless.

337 Ian G.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:17:14am

re: #330 lawhawk

A month ago, I did a particularly tough hike up to an alpine lake in Grand Teton (Amphitheater Lake, if anyone wants to Google Image it). By the time I reached the top, I was feeling the affects of the altitude, with dizziness and losing my mental edge a bit. Also, I hadn’t counted on the afternoon thunderstorms firing up so quickly, as menacing black clouds were growing over the peaks. And, of course, it’s bear country. I had seen 2 black bears on the way up, but I couldn’t be sure there weren’t grizzlies around.

Nothing happened to me, other than getting drenched and pelted with some hail as I got off the mountains, but if something had….like getting hit by lightning, or slipping and falling on a wet stretch of trail, or making a surprise encounter with a grizzly….

Let’s just say that as soon as I was back in lower altitude and in full command of my faculties again, I thought about how good it is to have Park Rangers looking out for my safety.

338 Dr. Matt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:18:13am
re: #331 Vicious Babushka
Again, if 900,000 fed workers get furloughed as ‘non-essential,’ why hire them to start with? t.co #HarryReidsShutdown
— Drew McKissick (@DrewMcKissick) October 4, 2013

The idiots that keep parroting this bullshit talking point don’t realize that their position is non-essential where they work…..unless of course they are a trauma nurse/physician, division/department chair, or the POTUS.

339 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:19:12am

re: #332 Ian G.

I’ll take “people I had no idea weren’t dead for 20 years” for $400, Alex.

I knew Giap was alive - and by all accounts, quite spry - well into his 90s, but I didn’t know he was alive, well, not anymore.

Giap’s military operations at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu is still taught at military colleges throughout the world; it was probably Giap’s standout achievement.

Not matter what one may think of him - ruthless Communist butcher or nationalist hero - I gotta say, that’s one hell of a legacy.

340 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:20:26am

re: #336 lawhawk


And NASA, which puts satellites into orbit that we rely upon

Most launches nowadays aren’t done at Cape Canaveral, and many of the ones that still are are privately funded

One of the busiest launch stations in the past decade or so has been the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

spaceflightnow.com

As of right now, non of the launches scheduled for Cape Canaveral have been postponed nor cancelled

341 CarolJ  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:26:05am

O BTW, Federal employees are probably brownbagging it now, because contractors operate the canteens and cafeterias now. So visitors wouldn’t even be able to get food, gas, or clean bathrooms at parks anyway, so why visit?

342 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:26:16am

re: #338 Dr. Matt

The idiots that keep parroting this bullshit talking point don’t realize that their position is non-essential where they work…..unless of course they are a trauma nurse/physician, division/department chair, or the POTUS.

Well these are also people who get their information from talk radio hosts and pundits. It’s funny hearing a pundit tell a federal employee who wants his or her ass off daily that their job is “non-essential” when a pundit really is nothing but a bs artist.

343 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:28:20am

The memes flying around Teh Twitters is that NOBODY IS SIGNING UP FOR TEH EXCHANGES!!11!! and EVERYBODY’S PREMIUMZ IS GOING UP!!11!! and I WAS KICKED OFF MY EXISTING PLAN!!!1!!

I don’t know if any of this is true and it is impossible to verify, but for now I’m going to assume that it’s all bullshit.

344 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:28:46am
345 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:29:45am

re: #340 sattv4u2

They operate the launch sites. They are contracting with Space X, OSS, and carrying out their own launches. All NASA facilities are shuttered, except the skeleton crew for the ISS. No launches. No personnel. Nothing gets done.

abcnews.go.com

There’s a planned launch for a Mars probe, and if it doesn’t launch by December 7, the next opportunity is in 2016. That adds costs. With shutdown, no launch.

Thanks GOP.

346 sattv4u2  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:30:00am

re: #342 HappyWarrior

Well these are also people who get their information from talk radio hosts and pundits. It’s funny hearing a pundit tell a federal employee who wants his or her ass off daily that their job is “non-essential” when a pundit really is nothing but a bs artist.

“Cept it wasn’t pundits that coined the “non-essential” phrase

I recall being a kid lo those many decades ago with snow storm related school closings that the local gov’t (city and state) would issue that “non-essential” workers should stay home

347 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:33:37am

re: #343 Vicious Babushka

The memes flying around Teh Twitters is that NOBODY IS SIGNING UP FOR TEH EXCHANGES!!11!! and EVERYBODY’S PREMIUMZ IS GOING UP!!11!! and I WAS KICKED OFF MY EXISTING PLAN!!!1!!

I don’t know if any of this is true and it is impossible to verify, but for now I’m going to assume that it’s all bullshit.

Nobody is signing up for the exchanges? MNSure was bustling, as far as I’m aware.

348 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:33:45am
349 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:34:36am

You know, it’s funny hearing winguts complain about the memorials being closed down when they’re the ones who don’t think museums and memorials should be funded federally in the first place. You know, I do feel bad for the veteran or school child that came to D.C to see a museum or certain monuments. But a couple of things. There are people who are actually having their lives adversely effected by a shutdown. Second off, the shutdown that caused the NPS to close in the first fucking place is the GOP’s own fault. This is just such a cynical show by the GOP if they think the American people are going to buy this sideshow. And then these fuckers have the nerve to act like it’s Obama or even more pathetically attacking the people who spend everyday making our national parks a more enjoyable experience?

350 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:35:57am

re: #346 sattv4u2

“Cept it wasn’t pundits that coined the “non-essential” phrase

I recall being a kid lo those many decades ago with snow storm related school closings that the local gov’t (city and state) would issue that “non-essential” workers should stay home

I’m talking about the pundits who use the word “non-essential” to imply that “non-essential” workers are useless and thus it was pointless for the feds to even hire them in the first place. That’s what I’m talking about here and I’m calling the pundits out because their job is a lot more “non-essential” than any of the government employees out of work right now. I’ve got no beef with the word, I’ve got beef with people distorting what it means when they know full well what it means.

351 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:36:50am

re: #343 Vicious Babushka

The memes flying around Teh Twitters is that NOBODY IS SIGNING UP FOR TEH EXCHANGES!!11!! and EVERYBODY’S PREMIUMZ IS GOING UP!!11!! and I WAS KICKED OFF MY EXISTING PLAN!!!1!!

I don’t know if any of this is true and it is impossible to verify, but for now I’m going to assume that it’s all bullshit.

Safe assumption, but there will be tiny grains of truthiness scattered throughout. One qualified insurance company in Louisiana reported no sales on the first day because of a computer foul-up.

352 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:40:26am

WTFITS

353 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:40:41am

re: #351 Decatur Deb

Safe assumption, but there will be tiny grains of truthiness scattered throughout. One qualified insurance company in Louisiana reported no sales on the first day because of a computer foul-up.

Minnesota isn’t releasing enrollment numbers yet because they’re not 100% certain how to track enrollment, but they have confirmed that there have been people purchasing plans and signing up, despite computer glitches along the way.

354 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:42:45am

Grammar Pirate
kindofsketchy.com

355 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:43:09am
356 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:43:21am

re: #352 Vicious Babushka

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

Armed with a car? I mean I think I kind of get what King Stupid is trying to say that she was using a car as a deadly weapon but she wasn’t armed.

357 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:44:15am
358 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:44:33am

Mold Counts are “Very High” in my part of the world today

oy

359 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:44:35am

re: #352 Vicious Babushka

WTFITS

Bryan Fischer knows all about being unarmed, being the lone unarmed man in a battle of wits.

360 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:44:55am

re: #352 Vicious Babushka

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

Simple explanation, VB - She was DWB. Had she been a white Republican, the Secret Service would be a bunch of jackbooted thugs, who hunted down and killed a poor, confused woman. Since she was black, she was clearly dangerous.

361 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:45:11am

re: #353 thedopefishlives

Minnesota isn’t releasing enrollment numbers yet because they’re not 100% certain how to track enrollment, but they have confirmed that there have been people purchasing plans and signing up, despite computer glitches along the way.

There are about 5 steps in the end-to-end process, and while a simple case might be done spontaneously on-line, that’s not a very good idea. Getting registered and choosing a plan ought to take some reflection, and that’s after the customer gets his eligibility, any cost reductions, and has time to review the cost/benefit of the plans offered. That’s why the season is open all the way to March.

362 Dr. Matt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:45:19am

re: #352 Vicious Babushka

363 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:45:36am

re: #352 Vicious Babushka

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

Random nerve firings?

364 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:46:02am

I’ve seen this on FB, and on twitter as well. Some folks are treating a “28th” amendment to the Constitution as though it’s real.

There is no 28th Amendment. A few people have proposed something along the lines of requiring that Congress make no law that would not apply to Congress as well. Warren Buffet proposed an amendment that would make any member of Congress ineligible to run for reelection if there’s a deficit of more than 3% of GDP.

But the US Constitution has only 27 Amendments.

365 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:49:23am

re: #361 Decatur Deb

There are about 5 steps in the end-to-end process, and while a simple case might be done spontaneously on-line, that’s not a very good idea. Getting registered and choosing a plan ought to take some reflection, and that’s after the customer get his eligibility, any cost reductions, and has time to review the cost/benefit of the plans offered. That’s why the season is open all the way to March.

Also complicating the issue are people who qualify for state-funded insurance. They are officially enrolled in these programs by the state, but the programs are offered through MNSure and could technically be counted as enrollment in a sense.

366 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:50:51am
367 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:51:44am

re: #365 thedopefishlives

Also complicating the issue are people who qualify for state-funded insurance. They are officially enrolled in these programs by the state, but the programs are offered through MNSure and could technically be counted as enrollment in a sense.

Yup. Expanded Medicaid and CHIP are effectively part of the exchanges (marketplaces). They might also send you to ‘outside’ help, like VA or Indian Health Service.

368 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:53:29am

Tell the truth Steve: they are voting against GOP refusing to stop the shutdown.

It’s like there’s a power outage, but instead of turning the power back on for everyone, the energy company goes house by house and tells people what fixtures and appliances they are allowed to turn on.

369 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:54:15am

re: #366 Vicious Babushka

Grassley purposefully inserted a provision that required Congressional employees be put on exchanges. That’s what was enacted.

Vitter now wants to change how the OPM interprets the law, and the end result would cost those Congressional employees thousands of dollars by eliminating the subsidy that the Congress previously paid towards the health benefits.

Net result is the GOP wants to chop Congressional employee salaries in a pissing match and they think this would put the Democrats in a corner?

370 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:54:18am

re: #368 Vicious Babushka

Tell the truth Steve: they are voting against GOP refusing to stop the shutdown.

It’s like there’s a power outage, but instead of turning the power back on for everyone, the energy company goes house by house and tells people what fixtures and appliances they can turn on.

“PlayStation is fine, but your XBox 360? That’s a communist appliance, we’re going to have to confiscate that.”

371 Mattand  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:54:49am

Fantasy time:

In a bout of self-awareness, Boehner realizes how much harm a small handful of radicals is doing to the country, and maybe the globe. He calls for a resolution funding both the debt ceiling and the budget for a year, with no ACA strings attached.

They pass, partly due to the “moderates” finding their spine because the leader of the House is finally standing up to the loons. The resolutions pass.

Boehner would have to resign, but does so with the knowledge he did something because he did what any patriot would do: put country above party.

Why are you all laughing at me?

372 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:58:21am

re: #371 Mattand

It could happen…

373 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:58:57am
Now I don’t use the term “batshit crazy” very often, but this women is certifiable. She’s as loony as they come and how she ever got elected to public office, then re-elected, is beyond me. She’s by far one of the most repulsive individuals I’ve ever witnessed and the sooner she’s gone from public office, the better we’ll all be.

Guess Who …

374 makeitstop  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 7:59:28am

re: #356 HappyWarrior

Armed with a car? I mean I think I kind of get what King Stupid is trying to say that she was using a car as a deadly weapon but she wasn’t armed.

That’s been going around quite a bit on Facebook this morning.

Durr, hurr, carz r MURRDR WEPNZ and ar NOT REGGILATED!!

375 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:00:48am

hypocrisy?

376 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:01:58am

truth

377 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:02:07am

re: #374 makeitstop

That’s been going around quite a bit on Facebook this morning.

Durr, hurr, carz r MURRDR WEPNZ and ar NOT REGGILATED!!

Yep except cars weren’t created for the soul purpose of killing. Facts hurt.

378 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:02:14am

re: #373 FemNaziBitch

She does come from the state whose official bird is the loon.

379 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:02:54am

re: #375 FemNaziBitch

hypocrisy?

Oh big time.

380 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:02:59am

TOR is the network that was being used by “Silk Road” and a whole ring of horrible child porn. Nice friends you got Glenn.

381 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:04:29am

This person is fucked up.

382 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:04:47am
383 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:05:21am

Anyone know anything about this author?

384 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:05:50am

re: #380 Vicious Babushka

TOR is the network that was being used by “Silk Road” and a whole ring of horrible child porn. Nice friends you got Glenn.

[Embedded content]

Everytime I see a reference to this I think of the Sci-Fi book publisher TOR.

385 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:06:04am

re: #372 Decatur Deb

And I could have a unicorn pony.

386 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:06:49am
387 GOPHostage#25698724  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:07:03am

re: #362 Dr. Matt

That woman lived a bit longer than she might have in Los Angeles. LAPD, L.A. Sheriffs have both opened fire on unarmed drivers seeking escape, if a cop is in the direction the car moves, it’s a shoot. DC seems to have a more um… careful (if that’s the right word) policy.

388 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:07:13am

re: #381 Vicious Babushka

This person is fucked up.

[Embedded content]

Fucked up doesn’t do them justice. And then there are the idiots calling her “Barry’s daughter.”

389 Mattand  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:07:28am

re: #372 Decatur Deb

It could happen…

That was inspired by my former congressman, Jon Runyan, who joined a group of GOP reps to call for a clean budget CR.

Of course, there’s a few caveats:

1) He’s my former congressman, because we got gerrymandered out of his district. We were the only town that reliably voted Dem.

The district we’re in now is usually solid Dem. It’s entirely possible that the Dems engineered the move, but I’m not holding my breath on that.

2) For all of his new found concern for the country, Runyan is one of the rocket scientists who voted 40+ times to overturn the ACA. So he helped create this mess.

Still, who knows? Runyan does a lot of work with veterans, and if his FB page is any indication, his constituents are pissed.

We’ll see…

390 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:08:17am

re: #381 Vicious Babushka

This person is fucked up.

[Embedded content]

Add the references to Sinead O’Connor and Miley Cyrus and my view of humanity this week is at an all time low.

391 Sionainn  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:08:47am

re: #386 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

I just want to slap the smarmy look off his face every time I see his photo.

392 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:09:58am

re: #382 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I honestly don’t even get the point of delaying ACA. This was debated, passed, and upheld into law. IT’s time to implement it and if it fails, so be it. It was passed legitimately and it is legal. But in the broader picture, I’m glad that even Fox News polls recognize that the shutdown shouldn’t be on the presidents hands because he refuses to sign a repeal or defunding of a bill.

393 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:10:09am

re: #380 Vicious Babushka

TOR is the network that was being used by “Silk Road” and a whole ring of horrible child porn. Nice friends you got Glenn.

TOR is a great privacy tool. Which makes it a natural draw for all sorts of criminal types. And, therefore, a logical target for those who are trying to actually bust criminals and not do useless things like read your grandmother’s recipes. My God.

394 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:11:08am

re: #375 FemNaziBitch

hypocrisy?

Well, of course! She NEEDS her paycheck! Not like those nonessential Government Workers. THEY don’t need THEIRS.

Holy moses, I’m starting to HATE these GOP’ers. They shut down the Gov’t, then blame everyone else, and then try to save their images when it turns out that America doesn’t really LIKE the shutdown by funding the most telegenic parts - parts they don’t think should exist in the first place, and which they’d TOTALLY de-fund if they could!

395 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:11:47am

You know, I understand that for the first many years of a man’s life he is basically forced by tradition, his father or his mother to obey a woman (his mother) mother no matter what.

It seems that for some men they spend the latter parts of their lives working to make sure all women obey them (or all men).

How did this become the standard for society?

I just don’t understand

396 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:12:51am

re: #394 GeneJockey

Well, of course! She NEEDS her paycheck! Not like those nonessential Government Workers. THEY don’t need THEIRS.

Holy moses, I’m starting to HATE these GOP’ers. They shut down the Gov’t, then blame everyone else, and then try to save their images when it turns out that America doesn’t really LIKE the shutdown by funding the most telegenic parts - parts they don’t think should exist in the first place, and which they’d TOTALLY de-fund if they could!

It’s getting me very angry personally. It’s not just that though Gene, it’s when Congressmen like that one idiot from Texas verbally abuse park rangers as if the shutdown and thus NPS being closed is directly the fault of the park rangers. These people just make me ill.

397 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:14:16am

The GOP: You own the shutdown and all the nonsensical ravings of lunatics that comprise your caucus and your base.

Exhibit 1: Rep. Tim Griffin:

slate.com

Exhibit 2: Rep. Steve Stockman
(any and all tweets)

Exhibit 3: Rep. Michele Bachmann
(any and all statements, utterances, and bloviations).

Feel free to add to the list. It’d make for a never ending series of pages too.

398 makeitstop  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:14:42am

re: #381 Vicious Babushka

This person is fucked up.

Miriam Carey was shot because she was wearing colors of a different gang that BarryHo and came onto his turf.

And right up to speed on his cultural references, too.
///

399 ProTARDISLiberal  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:14:42am

I just saw Boehner whining on MSNBC.

400 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:15:16am

too cool!

401 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:15:33am

re: #396 HappyWarrior

Or Rep. Darell Issa who thinks he’s more important than the NPS/Capitol Police setting up barricades to secure the Capitol Building during yesterday’s incident (that’s meant to keep him and his fellow Congressmembers, staff, and public safe during an incident of uncertain origin, duration, and potential for catastrophic harms).

402 brennant  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:16:16am

re: #397 lawhawk

Ted Cruz


G.O.P. Elders See Liabilities in Shutdown

Ms. Ayotte asked Mr. Cruz to disavow the group’s effort and demanded he explain his strategy. When he did not, several other senators — including Mr. Johnson, Mr. Coats and even Mitch McConnell, the minority leader — joined in the criticism of Mr. Cruz.

Well done House! You did follow this nut into traffic.

403 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:16:29am

re: #380 Vicious Babushka

TOR is the network that was being used by “Silk Road” and a whole ring of horrible child porn. Nice friends you got Glenn.

[Embedded content]

Again, and this is a surprise or bad because? ‘Dark Net’ levels the NSA, GCHQ, and DoD Cyber Command cannot operate would be the places Al Qaeda would use to plan their murderous attacks, so of course the governments of the US and UK must work to ‘crack’ Tor.

And Tor will crack, folks, don’t doubt it. The United States and United Kingdom have the best code-breakers and best code-breaking gear in the world. We beat the ENIGMA Glenn, we’ll beat your friends’ encryption.

404 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:16:33am

re: #396 HappyWarrior

It’s getting me very angry personally. It’s not just that though Gene, it’s when Congressmen like that one idiot from Texas verbally abuse park rangers as if the shutdown and thus NPS being closed is directly the fault of the park rangers. These people just make me ill.

One wingnut on my Facebook feed asked why the NPS had barricaded the roads on the Gettysburg Battlefield, “After all,”she wrote, “Don’t We The People own those roads?”

I said, yeah, and We The People expect to be protected while we’re on those roads, and We The People expect the NPS to police them. And We The People ARE the government anyway.

No response.

405 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:16:36am

re: #395 FemNaziBitch

You know, I understand that for the first many years of a man’s life he is basically forced by tradition, his father or his mother to obey a woman (his mother) mother no matter what.

It seems that for some men they spend the latter parts of their lives working to make sure all women obey them (or all men).

How did this become the standard for society?

I just don’t understand

generations of patriarchy? It kind of hits you when you realize although you are only 26 that your own grandmother was born into a world where women couldn’t vote and one where no woman had ever been elected to Congress. And that’s just for perspective.

406 Sionainn  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:16:37am

re: #401 lawhawk

Or Rep. Darell Issa who thinks he’s more important than the NPS/Capitol Police setting up barricades to secure the Capitol Building during yesterday’s incident (that’s meant to keep him and his fellow Congressmembers, staff, and public safe during an incident of uncertain origin, duration, and potential for catastrophic harms).

Has anything else been put out about that incident other than that one Tweet?

407 Mattand  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:17:02am

re: #399 ProTARDISLiberal

I just saw Boehner whining on MSNBC.

MSNBC? I can’t imagine that even Scarborough is cutting him any slack at this point.

LOL, he really is bad at his job.

408 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:18:24am

re: #405 HappyWarrior

generations of patriarchy? It kind of hits you when you realize although you are only 26 that your own grandmother was born into a world where women couldn’t vote and one where no woman had ever been elected to Congress. And that’s just for perspective.

It’s as if 6000 (LOL) years ago a group of teenage men decided they never again had to listen to a woman—we we are living the results.

409 ProTARDISLiberal  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:18:51am

re: #407 Mattand

It was at some sort of Press Conference.

410 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:19:06am

re: #404 GeneJockey

One wingnut on my Facebook feed asked why the NPS had barricaded the roads on the Gettysburg Battlefield, “After all,”she wrote, “Don’t We The People own those roads?”

I said, yeah, and We The People expect to be protected while we’re on those roads, and We The People expect the NPS to police them. And We The People ARE the government anyway.

No response.

Yeah, wingnuts seem to have this idea that federal employees are like aliens (strange word choice I know) but you put it well, we the people are the government. My father’s father worked much of his career in the federal government. My mom has too and my maternal grandmother worked for many years as a government secretary. And that’s not even talking about the numerous family members who have served in the US armed forces.

411 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:20:25am

re: #410 HappyWarrior

Yeah, wingnuts seem to have this idea that federal employees are like aliens (strange word choice I know) but you put it well, we the people are the government. My father’s father worked much of his career in the federal government. My mom has too and my maternal grandmother worked for many years as a government secretary. And that’s not even talking about the numerous family members who have served in the US armed forces.

HURR HURR WE TEH PEEPLE DON’T NEEDS NO MOOCHING FEDRUL EMPLOYEES, WE CANS DEFEND ARESELFS AN DEFENDS ARE BELOVED CONSTITION WITH ARE GUNZ!!1111!!!

412 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:20:35am

re: #408 FemNaziBitch

It’s as if 6000 (LOL) years ago a group of teenage men decided they never again had to listen to a woman—we we are living the results.

Heh feels that way. It amuses me to see men threatened somehow by women being able to make the same as them or gasp even be their superior in a career position.

413 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:21:15am

Is this the Park Ranger incident everyone is talking about?
Youtube Video

414 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:22:08am

re: #412 HappyWarrior

Heh feels that way. It amuses me to see men threatened somehow by women being able to make the same as them or gasp even be their superior in a career position.

MOMMY MADE ME EAT MY PEAS!!!!!!! wahhhhhahhhhaaaa

415 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:22:08am

re: #395 FemNaziBitch

Those Google results aren’t the ones I got when I put in the terms, though there was some overlap. They may change with some regularity, or it may be bogus.

416 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:22:51am

re: #413 FemNaziBitch

Is this the Park Ranger incident everyone is talking about?
[Embedded content]

Yes, it is. Fucking hypocritical bastard. As if it’s her fault that people aren’t allowed in the parks and not his through his and his party’s actions.

417 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:24:17am

re: #415 calochortus

Those Google results aren’t the ones I got when I put in the terms, though there was some overlap. They may change with some regularity, or it may be bogus.

I think the fact that it is even created or posted on fb is disturbing enough.

Remember this shit from a few weeks ago?

418 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:24:39am

re: #412 HappyWarrior

Heh feels that way. It amuses me to see men threatened somehow by women being able to make the same as them or gasp even be their superior in a career position.

As we used to say, back in the day: “A man of quality isn’t threatened by a woman of equality.”

419 Targetpractice  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:24:53am

re: #409 ProTARDISLiberal

It was at some sort of Press Conference.

Apparently the WSJ published an “anonymous” quote from a White House official saying “We’re winning” the fight over the shutdown and Johnny got his panties in a bunch over it.

420 ProTARDISLiberal  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:26:11am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Oh, the good old anonymous source.

I call BS.

421 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:26:25am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Apparently the WSJ published an “anonymous” quote from a White House official saying “We’re winning” the fight over the shutdown and Johnny got his panties in a bunch over it.

Those guys are looking for deflection HARD. Anything to change the subject off of their horrible idea to shut the government down.

422 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:26:49am

re: #417 FemNaziBitch

I think the fact that it is even created or posted on fb is disturbing enough.

Yes, but since we (and I’m looking at VB here) regularly jump on fake quotes, I think we need to be careful about embracing things that support our position without some evidence.

423 blueraven  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:27:06am

re: #382 darthstar

[Embedded content]

LOL at this spin…

In addition, while about twice as many voters overall have a favorable opinion of Barack Obama as Ted Cruz, the Texas senator has a healthy 60 percent favorable rating among Tea Partiers. That’s lower than Obama’s 86 percent favorable rating among Democrats, yet it tops Boehner’s 35 percent among Republicans and Reid’s 34 percent among Democrats.

Really? The TP support nationwide is at near record lows.

gallup.com

424 Targetpractice  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:27:16am

re: #420 ProTARDISLiberal

Oh, the good old anonymous source.

I call BS.

Yeah, it’s amazing that this anonymous official gets quoted a day after McConnell and Paul get caught on a hot mic chuckling about how they’re gonna win this shutdown.

425 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:28:10am

re: #424 Targetpractice

Yeah, it’s amazing that this anonymous official gets quoted a day after McConnell and Paul get caught on a hot mic chuckling about how they’re gonna win this shutdown.

Yeah, maybe the Charlie Sheen brand of winning.

426 erik_t  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:28:28am

re: #423 blueraven

LOL at this spin…

Really? The TP support nationwide is at near record lows.

gallup.com

Oh yeah, well, uh, Obama’s support is at 100% among his great aunts.

So there!

427 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:29:12am

re: #422 calochortus

Yes, but since we (and I’m looking at VB here) regularly jump on fake quotes, I think we need to be careful about embracing things that support our position without some evidence.

I understand what you are saying.

428 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:29:16am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Apparently the WSJ published an “anonymous” quote from a White House official saying “We’re winning” the fight over the shutdown and Johnny got his panties in a bunch over it.

re: #423 blueraven

LOL at this spin…

Really? The TP support nationwide is at near record lows.

gallup.com

Honestly 60% seems low for Cruz among the TP. I guess it goes to show you that they finally got their true conservative in fake filibuster armor and many of them still aren’t happy.

430 makeitstop  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:31:01am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Apparently the WSJ published an “anonymous” quote from a White House official saying “We’re winning” the fight over the shutdown and Johnny got his panties in a bunch over it.

Yeah, but Aqua Buddha and Sen Turtle hot-micing it about how they can ‘win this’ is totally. jake.

431 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:31:41am

thinkprogress.org
This is a hoot.

432 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:31:51am

IT’S IN FREAKING FRANCE!
HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPACT U.S. CITIZENS MORE THAN THE 9 MILLION KICKED OFF WIC?

433 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:32:25am

re: #430 makeitstop

Yeah, but Aqua Buddha and Sen Turtle hot-micing it about how they can ‘win this’ is totally. jake.

It’s like Mitt Romney attacking the president personally but don’t you dare say anything negative about Marvelous Mitt.

434 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:32:38am

Much needed kitteh break!

first two entries

435 ProTARDISLiberal  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:32:58am

Well, the BBC released something.

I’m not ready, I’m not ready, I’m not ready.

436 Targetpractice  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:33:17am

re: #430 makeitstop

Yeah, but Aqua Buddha and Sen Turtle hot-micing it about how they can ‘win this’ is totally. jake.

Yeah, I didn’t know Johnny was giving a presser so I couldn’t tune in, but I doubt one of the questions from the press pool was “Where were you yesterday when two very non-anonymous members of your own party were caught saying roughly the same thing?”

437 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:33:20am

The TGDN and LNYHBT are full of horrific racist shit about Miriam Carey.

438 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:34:22am

re: #436 Targetpractice

Yeah, I didn’t know Johnny was giving a presser so I couldn’t tune in, but I doubt one of the questions from the press pool was “Where were you yesterday when two very non-anonymous members of your own party were caught saying roughly the same thing?”

It’s your typical run of the mill fauxrage.

439 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:37:39am

re: #432 Vicious Babushka

Meanwhile, Stockman’s still getting paid to do nothing but be a Twitter troll 24/7.

440 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:39:31am

re: #437 Vicious Babushka

The TGDN and LNYHBT are full of horrific racist shit about Miriam Carey.

TiGDeN I know about, but LNYHBT?

441 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:39:57am

re: #439 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Meanwhile, Stockman’s still getting paid to do nothing but be a Twitter troll 24/7.

Yeah. And maybe someone can help me out here but does the US even operate the D-Day memorial in France and if so, I don’t know how a US shutdown would impact. No matter, there’s a practical reason they had the memorials and parks shut down. And if someone were to vandalize the memorial, Stockman would be the first to cry for impeaching Obama due to that.

442 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:40:00am

re: #440 Dark_Falcon

TiGDeN I know about, but LNYHBT?

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled.

443 Targetpractice  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:40:38am

re: #438 HappyWarrior

It’s your typical run of the mill fauxrage.

Personally, I think the smell of desperation is getting thicker. Boehner’s backed into a legislative corner. The piecemeal bills aren’t getting the sort of positive press he was hoping for, the Grand Bargain balloon got popped before it left his hand, polls are coming in daily that show the GOP position as untenable, and the dipshits who pushed for this shutdown have no exit strategy because they’re pleased as punch for the shutdown to continue on indefinitely.

444 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:40:38am

re: #431 HappyWarrior

thinkprogress.org
This is a hoot.

Another entry for the file marked “lies Republican tell to make themselves feel better”.

“Dogshit” really is becoming a nearly perfect description of both Republicans and their policies.

445 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:40:44am

It’s just downright adorable seeing Republicans pretend to care about our national parks and monuments when if they could, they’d privatize it all.

446 makeitstop  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:41:14am

I like that Dems are warming to the idea of calling these people what they are.

Cory Booker’s Campaign Calls Sarah Palin An ‘Extremist’

447 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:41:47am

Between the “hurr hurr the Obamacare websites are slow POTUS is incompetent” and the “Harry Reid doesn’t care about kids with cancer!” outrage I’m seeing, it seems a lot of my Republican friends are having a hard time coping with the fact that the ACA is still law and the government shut down is being blamed on the GOP.

I am amused.

448 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:42:00am

re: #434 FemNaziBitch

Much needed kitteh break!

first two entries

Right after that is a post on a Pampas Deer fawn. The Pampas are in Argentina, which means that Zooborns is fronting for a doe who is clearly a Peronist Progressive.

/Stalker Blog

449 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:43:01am
450 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:43:14am

re: #446 makeitstop

I like that Dems are warming to the idea of calling these people what they are.

Cory Booker’s Campaign Calls Sarah Palin An ‘Extremist’

As they should be. I wish Booker would call out Lonegan out for being a homophobic troll too.

451 Carlos Danger  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:43:14am

This picture- Republican rhetoric in a nutshell:

Image: 1379864_276818849110085_356970474_n.jpg

452 kirkspencer  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:43:15am

re: #404 GeneJockey

One wingnut on my Facebook feed asked why the NPS had barricaded the roads on the Gettysburg Battlefield, “After all,”she wrote, “Don’t We The People own those roads?”

I said, yeah, and We The People expect to be protected while we’re on those roads, and We The People expect the NPS to police them. And We The People ARE the government anyway.

No response.

One of the joyous common barrages public employees receive is “I pay your salary with my taxes.” Sometimes I wound up using a variation of this response: “Sir/maam, you pay part of my salary. There are almost 1 million people in this state who pay taxes. That means you paid for 1/1,000,000 of my time. I am scheduled to work approximately 2,000 hours this year which is 120,000 minutes which is 7,200,000 seconds. I have used fifteen seconds explaining it, which means you owe someone repayment for the seven seconds of theirs that you have wasted.”

453 jayjaybear  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:43:40am

Uh-oh…looks like it’s time for a little “come-to-Oprah” meeting for Gayle…

454 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:44:48am

BUT ONLY IF THEY’RE NOT DEAD.

455 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:44:50am

re: #442 thedopefishlives

Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled.

Strange that the haters would choose that phrase. It is sometimes used by Catholic Clergy, but they never use it in a racist context. It is supposed to be a statement of, yes, hope and faith in Jesus Christ and not a fronting for bigotry.

456 elizajane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:44:50am

Don’t know if anybody posted this upstream but this was a great piece yesterday by Juan Cole:

Edward Snowden’s revelations about the excesses of the National Security Agency have so far had no effect whatsoever on actual practices. But Ted Cruz’s conspiracy to shut down the American government as a bargaining ploy in his quest to stop the working poor from being able to see a doctor has been much more effective in reducing NSA activity.

It won’t be remembered in Washington that the United States military is still at war in Afghanistan, but Gen Ray Odierno affirms that military capabilities are being degraded by the GOP-engineered loss of civilian support staff (he is implying and loss of special pay, danger pay and bonuses for troops in the field.) Since this is the deliberate act of Sen. Cruz and the Tea Party representatives in the GOP House, wouldn’t that be, like, treason?

1. Some 70% of NSA staff have been sent home as a result of the Republican Party shutdown of the Federal government. Despite its straying into US territory and its possible industrial espionage abroad, the NSA does actually track terrorists, and we would like it to do that well; that ability has doubtless been degraded by Cruz’s grandstanding.

2. Likewise 70% of the CIA has been sent home, at a time when al-Qaeda is reviving. Perhaps the Defense Intelligence Agency is in a bit better shape, since it has more military personnel, who are exempt from being furloughed.

3. 4000 computer specialists working for US intelligence have been furloughed.

4. Some 400,000 civilian support staff at the Department of Defense have been sent home without pay.

juancole.com

457 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:45:18am

re: #455 Dark_Falcon

Strange that the haters would choose that phrase. It is sometimes used by Catholic Clergy, but they never use it in a racist context. It is supposed to be a statement of, yes, hope and faith in Jesus Christ and not a fronting for bigotry.

I think it’s Hannity’s sign-off.

458 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:45:39am

re: #449 Lidane

[Embedded content]

These are the stories that should terrify the Tea Party and Boehner. These are their own co-idealogists realizing that ACA while it’s not perfect should first not be repealed and two has some good parts about it. IT goes to show you that repeal was always about one thing and that was preventing people from seeing ACA’s benefits. Hell if the GOP weren’t so short minded and beholden to the TP, they could have even dishonestly tried to reclaim the label a little.

459 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:47:09am

re: #455 Dark_Falcon

Strange that the haters would choose that phrase. It is sometimes used by Catholic Clergy, but they never use it in a racist context. It is supposed to be a statement of, yes, hope and faith in Jesus Christ and not a fronting for bigotry.

Key words: supposed to be. These Bible-thumping wingnuts are perfectly happy to twist anything around to suit their vile agenda.

460 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:47:13am

re: #457 Vicious Babushka

I think it’s Hannity’s sign-off.

Still a filthy misuse of the phrase to use it as a tag for racist tweets. Anyone tweeting such who happens to be Catholic is failing his church’s teachings rather badly.

461 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:49:28am

re: #451 Carlos Danger

This picture- Republican rhetoric in a nutshell:

Image: 1379864_276818849110085_356970474_n.jpg

I’ve seen that exact picture on my FB feed multiple times.

462 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:50:06am

re: #445 HappyWarrior

It’s just downright adorable seeing Republicans pretend to care about our national parks and monuments when if they could, they’d privatize it all.

If they were privatized they wouldn’t have to be shut down…
/

463 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:50:30am

re: #447 Lidane

Between the “hurr hurr the Obamacare websites are slow POTUS is incompetent” and the “Harry Reid doesn’t care about kids with cancer!” outrage I’m seeing, it seems a lot of my Republican friends are having a hard time coping with the fact that the ACA is still law and the government shut down is being blamed on the GOP.

I am amused.

I have a friend on another site who is in full-on “blame Obama for not compromising with the Republicans” mode. It’s rather funny because even some friends from Australia are pointing out exactly how ridiculous his argument is.

464 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:52:27am

re: #463 thedopefishlives

I have a friend on another site who is in full-on “blame Obama for not compromising with the Republicans” mode. It’s rather funny because even some friends from Australia are pointing out exactly how ridiculous his argument is.

I’d ask what is there really left to compromise? Okay, they got their sequester. Obama agreed to do much more spending cuts than tax raises on the very wealthy. The whole ACA legislation that they hate has compromises to them too. Obama wasn’t elected to just bend over and say “Thank you sir may I have another” whenever the Republicans throw a fit which has been pretty much every day of his presidency. And furthermore, the Republicans should compromise too. They haven’t sown any willingness at all to compromise with him especially the fringe loons that Boehner lets control him.

465 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:53:45am

re: #464 HappyWarrior

I’d ask what is there really left to compromise? Okay, they got their sequester. Obama agreed to do much more spending cuts than tax raises on the very wealthy. The whole ACA legislation that they hate has compromises to them too. Obama wasn’t elected to just bend over and say “Thank you sir may I have another” whenever the Republicans throw a fit which has been pretty much every day of his presidency.

HURR HURR THEIR SHUD BE NO TAXES!!!1!! TAXES IS TEH SLAVERY!!!11!!!!! HEAR IZ A PICHUR OF CHAINZ 2 SHOW U HOW MUCH TAXES IS JUST LIEK TEH SLAVERY!!!11!!!!

466 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:53:48am

*sigh*


Boehner knows better than this. And it’s a play that the Obama administration can see coming miles away.

467 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:54:44am

re: #464 HappyWarrior

I’d ask what is there really left to compromise? Okay, they got their sequester. Obama agreed to do much more spending cuts than tax raises on the very wealthy. The whole ACA legislation that they hate has compromises to them too. Obama wasn’t elected to just bend over and say “Thank you sir may I have another” whenever the Republicans throw a fit which has been pretty much every day of his presidency.

Yeah, but that’s their idea of compromise: My way or the highway. Remember, these are the people whose definition of “give and take” is “you give, I take”.

468 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:54:52am

re: #463 thedopefishlives

I have a friend on another site who is in full-on “blame Obama for not compromising with the Republicans” mode. It’s rather funny because even some friends from Australia are pointing out exactly how ridiculous his argument is.

The basic problem for the GOP is that most people are familiar with the idea that it is eventually necessary to fight back against a bully, or to ignore a toddler’s tantrum. If either/both of these models get applied to the House GOP’s behavior by enough people, as appears to be happening, this shutdown won’t be a political winner for the GOP.

469 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:55:36am

COMPROMISE WITH US! OKAY, HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU WANT BUT A FEW THINGS! NO FAIR! YOU’RE LIKE HITLER!

470 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:56:12am

re: #466 Lidane

GOP is attempting to pivot away from Obamacare being the genesis and sole reason that shutdown started (as witnessed by every single CR pushed including ACA poison pill provisions) and now trying to link the CR to the debt ceiling and demands for more spending cuts.

It’s so transparent that the GOP is realizing that the ACA defund, delay, destroy gambit has failed and is hurting the GOP in polling that they’re now floating a new gambit in the hopes of improving their polling.

This is poll-based politics at its worst, and what’s even worse is that the GOP doesn’t have an end game with any of this when their extortionist demands come up empty.

471 makeitstop  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:56:50am

re: #466 Lidane

*sigh*

Boehner suggests taking the country into default absent additional spending cuts

Boehner knows better than this. And it’s a play that the Obama administration can see coming miles away.

Hell will rain down on Rs if they allow a default, because Dems have finally figured out how to frame the debate.

472 thedopefishlives  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:56:55am

The GOP is like an inverse Robin Hood: Steal from everyone but the rich, give to everyone but the poor.

473 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:57:09am

re: #466 Lidane

More dogshit from the dogshit speaker of the dogshit GOP House.

474 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:57:40am

Do the Republicans really want to set this precedent? What happens when the Democrats don’t get their way on something? Shall we shut down the government over access to abortion? Or raising the minimum wage? Maybe just when some House member doesn’t get the parking space he or she wanted?

475 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:58:57am

re: #466 Lidane

Oh and Boehner has already undermined the debt ceiling as hostage talks by saying the nation cannot default.

Well, when you’re threatening just that once again, you are either lying, or you actually intend to default.

Either way, Boehner and the GOP loses.

The only thing that changes is whether the nation and world economy suffers a catastrophic heart attack with the default occurring, or a sigh of relief that the GOP extortionist demands were not met and the debt ceiling increased in time.

476 danarchy  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:59:24am

re: #462 calochortus

If they were privatized they wouldn’t have to be shut down…
/

Or would they?

477 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:59:32am

re: #474 calochortus

Do the Republicans really want to set this precedent? What happens when the Democrats don’t get their way on something? Shall we shut down the government over access to abortion? Or raising the minimum wage? Maybe just when some House member doesn’t get the parking space he or she wanted?

The bug-eyed zealots don’t care, and the sane GOP members of congress are too scared of the bug-eyed zealots to do anything useful.

478 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 8:59:34am

re: #474 calochortus

Do the Republicans really want to set this precedent? What happens when the Democrats don’t get their way on something? Shall we shut down the government over access to abortion? Or raising the minimum wage? Maybe just when some House member doesn’t get the parking space he or she wanted?

That’s why I think there’s a lot of Senate R’s pissed at Cruz.

479 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:00:12am

AGW is being sited as the cause for a deadly increase in the number of Giant Hornets in China:

Chen pointed with a shaky hand at the small plot of cabbage, scallions and corn where his friend Yu Yihong was stung to death by giant hornets.

“When he got to the hospital, there were still two hornets in his trousers,” says Chen, a local farmer who, like many villagers, declined to give his full name to a foreign journalist. “The hornets’ poison was too strong - his liver and kidneys failed, and he couldn’t urinate.”

Yu, a square-jawed 40-year-old farmer in perfect health, had been harvesting his crops when he stepped on a nest of vespa mandarinia hornets concealed beneath a pile of dry corn husks. The hornets swarmed Yu, stinging him through his long-sleeve shirt and trousers. He ran, but the hornets chased him, stinging his arms and legs, his head and neck.

After Yu succumbed to his wounds and about 50 of his friends and relatives gathered to mourn his passing. Outside the farmer’s mountainside home in Yuanba village, they ate preserved eggs, buckwheat noodles and boiled peanuts in silence; one set off a string of fireworks. Yu’s wife and two children sat inside weeping.

Vespa mandarinia is the world’s largest hornet, around the size of a human adult’s thumb, yellow and black in colour and highly venomous. Their 6mm-long stingers carry a venom potent enough to dissolve human tissue. Victims may die of kidney failure or anaphylactic shock.

SNIP

Both locals and experts blame this year’s scourge on climate change; the past year has been unusually warm, allowing a high number of hornets to survive the winter. Huang Ronghui, an official at the Ankang Forestry Bureau’s pest control department, lists a host of other possibilities: the hornets may have been agitated by a dry spell, while labourers have been moving deeper and deeper into the mountains, disturbing their nests. “Other than this, hornets are attracted to bright colours and the smell of peoples’ sweat, alcohol and sweet things,” he told state media. “They’re sensitive to movement, such as running people or animals.”

Image: vespa-mandarinia-008.jpg

480 kirkspencer  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:00:27am

re: #474 calochortus

Do the Republicans really want to set this precedent? What happens when the Democrats don’t get their way on something? Shall we shut down the government over access to abortion? Or raising the minimum wage? Maybe just when some House member doesn’t get the parking space he or she wanted?

The thing is you have to get enough of your party members to go along. Democrats are far less likely to have unanimity.

481 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:02:06am

re: #455 Dark_Falcon

Strange that the haters would choose that phrase. It is sometimes used by Catholic Clergy, but they never use it in a racist context. It is supposed to be a statement of, yes, hope and faith in Jesus Christ and not a fronting for bigotry.

Hey Dark. Uh, do you see anything in that bit about the Catholic church that just might fly in the face of the facts about the church and bigotry?

I was raised Catholic and Catholic schooled. I won’t get into all the little things that led up to my one big decision about Catholic hierarchy, but lets just say bigotry entered into it.

And this isn’t attacking your comment…just mentioning those uncomfortable truths in the purpose of the statement as you have written it.

482 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:02:45am

re: #476 danarchy

Or would they?

But that just means it’s not privatized enough!

483 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:03:21am

re: #480 kirkspencer

The thing is you have to get enough of your party members to go along. Democrats are far less likely to have unanimity.

You also have to be a nihilist that does not give a flying f**k about anything other than ‘winning’ at all costs. The GOP has a far higher fraction of such nihilists in office than the Democrats.

484 Dr. Matt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:04:30am
485 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:05:34am

re: #480 kirkspencer

The thing is you have to get enough of your party members to go along. Democrats are far less likely to have unanimity.

The GOP doesn’t seem to be particularly unified right now either. But you’re right in that currently the Dems don’t have a unified group of crazies. That’s not a guarantee that they won’t in the future, though.

486 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:05:36am

re: #481 ObserverArt

Hey Dark. Uh, do you see anything in that bit about the Catholic church that just might fly in the face of the facts about the church and bigotry?

I was raised Catholic and Catholic schooled. I won’t get into all the little things that led up to my one big decision about Catholic hierarchy, but lets just say bigotry entered into it.

And this isn’t attacking your comment…just mentioning those uncomfortable truths in the purpose of the statement as you have written it.

The Catholic Church has its problems, but racism generally isn’t one of them. There are other kinds of bigotry, true, but I was addressing racism in my post.

487 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:06:37am

re: #456 elizajane

His good points are overshadowed by starting with a large falsehood.

Edward Snowden’s revelations about the excesses of the National Security Agency have so far had no effect whatsoever on actual practices.

Fits his narrative, I guess, but undermines his credibility in my eyes. Although I have to admit he didn’t have much before this, either.

488 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:09:11am

re: #460 Dark_Falcon

Still a filthy misuse of the phrase to use it as a tag for racist tweets. Anyone tweeting such who happens to be Catholic is failing his church’s teachings rather badly.

Ahh, more on this. I was just addressing this in #481.

All I will say is the church has failed its own teachings.

Rather badly. Maybe more than rather, I think proven it was all bad.

So, when the church fails its own teachings, does it give license for others like Hannity to bastardize the meaning and what was behind it. Sort of a do as others do, the church seems to think it is okay.

489 Mike Lamb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:09:50am

re: #454 Vicious Babushka

BUT ONLY IF THEY’RE NOT DEAD.

[Embedded content]

Has anyone ever had a more inapt Twitter handle?

490 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:09:58am

re: #487 wrenchwench

His good points are overshadowed by starting with a large falsehood.

Fits his narrative, I guess, but undermines his credibility in my eyes. Although I have to admit he didn’t have much before this, either.

Concur. Cole’s attempt at minimizing Snowden and Greenwald’s actions speaks to a rather large bias on his part. Those here at LGF are sincere in their concern for the NSA, but I think Juan Cole is just using them as a prop to attack Republicans.

491 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:11:42am

re: #486 Dark_Falcon

The Catholic Church has its problems, but racism generally isn’t one of them. There are other kinds of bigotry, true, but I was addressing racism in my post.

Understood. But, no excuse. One does not cancel the other. Bigotry is bigotry to me.

492 Carlos Danger  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:12:34am

So… this ad is going to run in Boehner’s district:

Youtube Video

493 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:14:02am

re: #490 Dark_Falcon

Concur. Cole’s attempt at minimizing Snowden and Greenwald’s actions speaks to a rather large bias on his part. Those here at LGF are sincere in their concern for the NSA, but I think Juan Cole is just using them as a prop to attack Republicans.

He has a list of ‘friends and interlocutors’ on his blog that’s a really mixed bag. It includes Greenwald.

Friends and Interlocutors:
Josh Marshall | Truthdig| The Nation | DailyKos |Tomdispatch.com | Michael Hudson (MEI Singapore) | Kevin Drum (Mother Jones) | Mondoweiss | Salon.com | Think Progress | Helena Cobban | Huffingtonpost |Syria Comment | Marc Lynch | WashingtonNote | Stephen Walt | Kamil Pasha | Andrew Sullivan | George Packer | Glenn Greenwald | Read between the Lines. | Nir Rosen
Napoleon’s Egypt Blog

494 gwangung  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:14:50am

re: #486 Dark_Falcon

The Catholic Church has its problems, but racism generally isn’t one of them. There are other kinds of bigotry, true, but I was addressing racism in my post.

Overt racism maybe. But covert or unconscious racism? Hmph.

495 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:14:59am

Steve YOU voted to shutdown WIC. OWN IT. OWN IT you fuckball.

496 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:15:29am
497 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:17:32am

re: #496 Lidane

[Embedded content]

He beat the French, he beat the US, looks like he almost beat Death.

498 brennant  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:18:02am

re: #479 Dark_Falcon

[Crosses China off vacation list]

Nope nope nope nope nope

499 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:19:08am

The Fake Quotes continue as if nothing ever happened.

500 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:19:09am

re: #492 Carlos Danger

So… this ad is going to run in Boehner’s district:

[Embedded content]

Oh, that is gonna piss of some people. At this time, I do not know if that is the best approach, but there it is.

I think anyone with a brain should head for the highest ground possible right now. McKinley-like heights. To me, a response like this, while fun, just keeps the rancor going and opens the floor for more of the same.

But that is just me.

501 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:22:38am

re: #494 gwangung

Overt racism maybe. But covert or unconscious racism? Hmph.

Someone else onto the same line of thinking as I am. There are many many closets in a Catholic Church.

A study of some of the things alleged during World War 2 might say there was more than just a bit of overt racism.

502 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:23:00am
503 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:23:53am

re: #497 wrenchwench

He beat the French, he beat the US, looks like he almost beat Death.

He kept his brain active and stayed fit as best he could, didn’t smoke and didn’t drink too much alcohol. That’s a good recipe for a long life.

504 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:24:53am

re: #500 ObserverArt

I’m inclined to agree with you. We do need to try for a more rational, adult approach. The ad is going to please some folks, but probably not change minds.

505 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:26:42am

re: #491 ObserverArt

Understood. But, no excuse. One does not cancel the other. Bigotry is bigotry to me.

No excuses, but facts remain: Anyone using “LNYHBT” as a tag for a racist tweet is not only a bigot but willfully misunderstands that phrase Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.

506 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:27:21am

re: #504 calochortus

I’m inclined to agree with you. We do need to try for a more rational, adult approach. The ad is going to please some folks, but probably not change minds.

I’m fond of the ad. If/when the GOP is prepared to deal seriously, then a reasonable response would in order.

Until then, truth-telling about their actions, no matter how harsh it may seem, is very legitimate.

507 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:27:41am

re: #505 Dark_Falcon

No excuses, but facts remain: Anyone using “LNYHBT” as a tag for a racist tweet is not only a bigot but willfully misunderstands that phrase Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.

They’re Tweeting to that hashtag because they know it’s a cesspool of RWNJs.

508 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:29:50am
509 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:30:07am

re: #502 Lidane

[Embedded content]

That was a damned good read; thanks for posting.

510 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:30:18am

re: #479 Dark_Falcon

That is one freakin’ fugly bug.

511 simoom  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:31:48am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Apparently the WSJ published an “anonymous” quote from a White House official saying “We’re winning” the fight over the shutdown and Johnny got his panties in a bunch over it.

It’s not even really a quote.

This is the background “quote” in full from the middle of the WSJ article:

Said a senior administration official: “We are winning…It doesn’t really matter to us” how long the shutdown lasts “because what matters is the end result.”

I can’t really think of any above board reason to paraphrase and ellipses out every critical part of such a short quote. I’m guessing it was far longer, and didn’t fit what the WSJ writer wanted it to say. In its current form it’s more a WSJ quote than an anonymous official quote.

Essentially what happened here is WSJ posted their article, and that quote wasn’t the focus of it at all. Shortly after the Weekly Standard put up a post that focused only on the quote, then Heritage and the NRCC started hitting it, followed by politico & buzzfeed reporters feigning outrage about it to Jay Carney on twitter, who responded by disavowing any sentiment even remotely like it.

512 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:32:25am

re: #486 Dark_Falcon

The Catholic Church has its problems, but racism generally isn’t one of them. There are other kinds of bigotry, true, but I was addressing racism in my post.

Racism is a huge part of the church. There has been exactly how many non-Italian Popes?

You might want to pick-up a copy of “Black Catholics in America” by Cyprian Davis. There was also some bruhaha a while back about Latino nuns not being promoted within their orders.

513 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:35:41am

re: #498 brennant

[Crosses China off vacation list]

Nope nope nope nope nope

Speaking of China, has wheat-dogghazi logged on since the crash? Charles said he had to block all Chinese IPs because of the server overload.

514 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:36:50am

re: #502 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Good read. Their own words seem to validate my perception that you have many who see their vision of what America is changing and they don’t like it.

515 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:38:04am
516 Mattand  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:39:11am

re: #508 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Barbed wire?

Well, now I know what bullshit lie to expect from “independent” friends next.

517 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:39:30am

re: #515 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

And predictably silent about what Mitch and Rand were actually heard saying. Not some anonymous quote. God I’d love to be a Congressional Republican. I’d convince myself that I’m the ultimate ladies man and that no woman could resist my charms.

518 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:41:31am
519 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:43:03am
520 Mattand  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:43:20am

re: #502 Lidane

re: #514 HappyWarrior

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t guys like Sullivan and Frum partly responsible for getting the GOP to this point in the first place?

521 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:44:08am

re: #519 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Love it.

Pulling a Harry Truman; brilliant. The GOP will lose their shit.

LOLOLOLOLOL

522 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:44:08am

re: #520 Mattand

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t guys like Sullivan and Frum partly responsible for getting the GOP to this point in the first place?

Of course. And neither of them seems willing to cop to the fact that they’re part of the problem.

523 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:44:43am

Now francis is “neutral linking” to whackjob conspiracy sites and excuses himself “The information is true, so what does it matter who site it is.”

TRUTH. CONFIRMED.

524 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:45:00am

Cupcakes! Yum!

thatsnerdalicious.com

525 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:46:23am

re: #479 Dark_Falcon

AGW is being sited as the cause for a deadly increase in the number of Giant Hornets in China:

SNIP

Image: vespa-mandarinia-008.jpg

…

Huang Ronghui, an official at the Ankang Forestry Bureau’s pest control department, lists a host of other possibilities: the hornets may have been agitated by a dry spell, while labourers have been moving deeper and deeper into the mountains, disturbing their nests.

…


Animal Behaviour: Confused hornets may attack humans
August 7, 2003

A common ingredient of cosmetics and fragrance can throw hornets into a defensive rage, according to a Brief Communication in the August 7, 2003 Nature. The insects release similar chemicals when they are threatened, so it is possible that humans might inadvertently provoke confused hornets into attacking them. Masato Ono and colleagues identified a multi-component alarm pheromone in the venom of the world’s largest hornet, Vespa mandarinia. One of the ingredients of this chemical cocktail elicits a strong attack reaction by fellow hornets, the team found. Worker insects exposed to the extract flew excitedly around the nest and rushed towards the target. Up to 74 people die each year in Japan after being stung by insects. Hornets are among the worst offenders. The team went on to analyse the volatile components in venom from all seven Japanese hornet species. The samples contained chemicals that are common in manufactured food as well as cosmetic products. It may be sensible to screen these products for the presence of pheromones that could alarm dangerous insects, the team advise.

Correlation, causation, science and all that jazz.

526 HappyWarrior  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:47:16am

re: #520 Mattand

Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t guys like Sullivan and Frum partly responsible for getting the GOP to this point in the first place?

I’d say Frum more so than Sully since he was directly part of the Bush admin. But Sully was pretty rock in the wool conservative before Iraq IRIC.

527 CuriousLurker  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:48:38am

Drive-by comment - I don’t know if anyone has posted about this yet, but it looks like Boehner may be getting ready to cave:

How Boehner Is Quietly Working To Defuse The Debt Limit Fight

With the government shut down and his back against the wall, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) is quietly putting out signals that he’ll defuse the coming threat of a debt default in the only feasible way: by enlisting Democrats.

According to leaks by anonymous House Republicans to New York Times, Washington Post and CNN, Boehner has privately told colleagues he won’t permit the first ever default on the country’s debt and might lift the borrowing limit with Democratic votes if necessary. In other words, he’s willing to break the so-called Hastert Rule and bring up a bill that lacks the support of a majority of House Republicans.

“Anything that is going to pass the Senate and get signed by President Obama will certainly get Democratic votes in the House,” a senior House GOP aide told TPM. […]

Gah, need a new thread—this one is choking my browser.

528 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:48:59am

re: #519 Vicious Babushka

529 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:49:00am

re: #504 calochortus

I’m inclined to agree with you. We do need to try for a more rational, adult approach. The ad is going to please some folks, but probably not change minds.

Had the impression that Boehner’s district is bulletproof.

530 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:49:31am

I’m old enough to remember when “killer bees” coming in through Texas were going to kill all Americans.

Panic!

531 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:50:30am

re: #530 Gus

I’m old enough to remember when “killer bees” coming in through Texas were going to kill all Americans.

Panic!

Remember “The Swarm”?

That flick came at the tail-end of the first big disaster movie wave of the 1970s. Heh.

532 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:51:47am
533 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:52:16am

bbl

534 darthstar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:52:19am

Okay…finally got to watch the clips up top. Greenwald was outclassed and tried to use US interview tactics - shouting down his interviewers - to no avail. Loved the eye-roll of the British security expert when he did that. Priceless.

535 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:55:11am

DUMBASS FAIL
NPR is not a part of the government.

536 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:55:12am
537 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 9:58:31am

re: #466 Lidane

John Boehner was in the House all through the budget-busting W Bush years. He has no right to natter on about the debt in such a self-serving way.

538 erik_t  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:01:12am

re: #532 Vicious Babushka

Beads?

539 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:01:15am

Whew, I have returned from the Bureaucracy. In one piece even.

So it’s official, The Teenager has been approved for year one of up to a four year program for what’s referred to as Vocational Rehabilitation. Yes wingnuts, that horrible Stimulus Money is being used in part to keep a young person off disability and help him learn life skills (including driving! Yay!) ,prepare him for secondary education AND get him ready for work. He is one of 50 this year. Invest in people now, payoff later when they become productive taxpayers who in turn contribute to help others like them. Circle of Life as opposed to Circle of Derp. So ha you morans. Shut down the government will you? HA again you fuckers. It’s too big to shut the whole thing down (bwhahahahaha, insert evildemondebilliberal laugh here)!!!

540 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:02:26am

re: #535 Vicious Babushka

The ignorant and deceitful leading the blissfully ignorant.

541 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:04:25am

re: #532 Vicious Babushka

I’m guessing those bees are trying to tell us something there. Now what could it be? And whatever reason might they have to be a tad pissy with humans?

Me? I loves me some bees, I garden, I welcome them. Might even get a hive going one of these days. I hope they don’t kill them trying to get them out of there.

542 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:04:45am

re: #538 erik_t

Beads?

This photo originated with Erick, I have no idea if it is real or where it was taken. He claims Hartsfield, yesterday, but he could have been pwn3d.

543 CuriousLurker  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:04:52am

re: #532 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

The perspective: Look at the full-size pic and note the size of the “bees” flying towards the swarm in relation in relation to the guy in the service vehicle in the foreground (and they’re farther away than he is).

So there are bees at least as big as sparrows flying right past him towards a HUGE, presumably deadly, swarm and he doesn’t even glance over his shoulder. Uh-huh. @EWErickson #FAIL.

544 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:05:38am

I’m reminded of that movie “Bee Story” which my grandkids love to watch.

545 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:06:08am

re: #532 Vicious Babushka
[samuel l. jackson] I have had it with these motherf*cking bees on this motherf*cking plane! [samuel l. jackson]

546 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:06:39am

re: #542 Vicious Babushka

This photo originated with Erick, I have no idea if it is real or where it was taken. He claims Hartsfield, yesterday, but he could have been pwn3d.

Yeah, never mind the 30,000’ and subfreezing temps. Bees can hold on at 500 mph and don’t affect the aerodynamics of the plane?

547 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:07:01am

The bees are just attracted to the chemicals from the chemtrail wingtip dispersal nozzles on the airliners wingtips.

//

548 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:08:29am

re: #543 CuriousLurker

The perspective: Look at the full-size pic and note the size of the “bees” flying towards the swarm in relation in relation to the guy in the service vehicle in the foreground (and they’re farther away than he is).

So there are bees at least as big as sparrows flying right past him towards a HUGE, presumably deadly, swarm and he doesn’t even glance over his shoulder. Uh-huh. @EWErickson #FAIL.

That wing was at -30 f. and 500 knots for some time. Tough bees.

549 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:08:52am

re: #543 CuriousLurker

I just searched all the local news outlets here and there’s nothing about bees on a plane. And trust me, if that had happened it would have made the news. A bee swarm in someone’s walls or fireplace makes it into the news down here so, no the bees were telling us nothing. Except that Erickson is an idiot, but we knew that already. Seriously, he’s from freaking GA, he’s got no excuse for not knowing where to look for confirmation.

550 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:09:11am

re: #532 Vicious Babushka

Inside, where?

551 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:09:18am

re: #548 Decatur Deb

That wing was at -30 f. and 600 knots for some time. Tough bees.

Those Chinese mandarina hornets, they are as big as a dwarf!

552 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:09:25am

re: #539 A Mom Anon

Whew, I have returned from the Bureaucracy. In one piece even.

So it’s official, The Teenager has been approved for year one of up to a four year program for what’s referred to as Vocational Rehabilitation. Yes wingnuts, that horrible Stimulus Money is being used in part to keep a young person off disability and help him learn life skills (including driving! Yay!) ,prepare him for secondary education AND get him ready for work. He is one of 50 this year. Invest in people now, payoff later when they become productive taxpayers who in turn contribute to help others like them. Circle of Life as opposed to Circle of Derp. So ha you morans. Shut down the government will you? HA again you fuckers. It’s too big to shut the whole thing down (bwhahahahaha, insert evildemondebilliberal laugh here)!!!

Excellent!

This part, BTW:

Invest in people now, payoff later when they become productive taxpayers who in turn contribute to help others like them.

Is one I find that wingnuts often completely fail to grasp. One of them once told me what I’m sure he thought was a scandalous story about one of his wife’s coworkers. She’d gotten pregnant as a teen, dropped out of school, and ended up on welfare. She finished school, then with the help of Pell Grants, went to college and got herself a well-paying job.

I said, ‘That sounds like a success story. With the help of these programs, she went from being a drag on society to being a productive taxpayer.’

His response? “But she didn’t have to pay it back!!!!”

The Teabaggers don’t care how many people are helped by these programs, because somewhere, somebody JUST MIGHT benefit more than they have to repay, and/or because people who use the programs to re-start their lives after a mistake don’t end up being punished for that mistake for the rest of their lives.

553 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:09:52am

re: #550 b.d.

Inside, where?

[Embedded content]

First class!

554 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:10:19am

re: #549 A Mom Anon

I just searched all the local news outlets here and there’s nothing about bees on a plane. And trust me, if that had happened it would have made the news. A bee swarm in someone’s walls or fireplace makes it into the news down here so, no the bees were telling us nothing. Except that Erickson is an idiot, but we knew that already. Seriously, he’s from freaking GA, he’s got no excuse for not knowing where to look for confirmation.

Somebody sent him a Photoshop and he was totally pwn3d by it.

555 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:10:50am

re: #553 calochortus

First class!

Not Bee’s ness class?

556 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:11:14am

Now he’s just making shit up.

557 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:11:30am

re: #555 b.d.

Not Bee’s ness class?

I don’t know whether to up or down ding that. I guess I’ll have to go with upding.

558 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:12:24am

re: #555 b.d.

Not Bee’s ness class?

Updung for punning - the highest form of low humor!

559 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:13:16am

re: #552 GeneJockey

His response? “But she didn’t have to pay it back!!!!”
.

Sure she does - every time she files a tax return. Stupid fucking Teahadi’s…

561 Carlos Danger  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:14:14am

BREAKING

Image: pg4p80q3.gif

562 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:14:35am

re: #552 GeneJockey

The Teabaggers don’t care how many people are helped by these programs, because somewhere, somebody JUST MIGHT benefit more than they have to repay, and/or because people who use the programs to re-start their lives after a mistake don’t end up being punished for that mistake for the rest of their lives.

That’s it right there in a nutshell. Envy; endless, screeching envy and a desire to see others punished. These are the people D.H. Lawrence once referred to as “Patmossers”…..they simply cannot be happy in Heaven unless they see those whom they regard as inferior writhing in Hell.

Happiness for others is beyond their emotional capabilities.

563 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:15:33am

re: #543 CuriousLurker

The perspective: Look at the full-size pic and note the size of the “bees” flying towards the swarm in relation in relation to the guy in the service vehicle in the foreground (and they’re farther away than he is).

So there are bees at least as big as sparrows flying right past him towards a HUGE, presumably deadly, swarm and he doesn’t even glance over his shoulder. Uh-huh. @EWErickson #FAIL.

It looks like the wingtip of one of those new planes with the vertical thingies at the end of the wing. The bees are actually in the FOREGROUND, and the swarm looks so big because the pic was shot with a telephoto lens which flattens perspective, so the ground crew in the background looks to be in front.

The swarm is probably a foot or so across. Also very unlikely it came in like that, since AFAIK there’s no place to hide out there.

OR, it’s all ‘shopped.

564 calochortus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:15:36am

bbl

565 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:15:50am

Oh noz! Bee swarm on car! End-times baby!

566 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:15:52am

re: #552 GeneJockey

Excellent!

This part, BTW:

Is one I find that wingnuts often completely fail to grasp. One of them once told me what I’m sure he thought was a scandalous story about one of his wife’s coworkers. She’d gotten pregnant as a teen, dropped out of school, and ended up on welfare. She finished school, then with the help of Pell Grants, went to college and got herself a well-paying job.

I said, ‘That sounds like a success story. With the help of these programs, she went from being a drag on society to being a productive taxpayer.’

His response? “But she didn’t have to pay it back!!!!”

The Teabaggers don’t care how many people are helped by these programs, because somewhere, somebody JUST MIGHT benefit more than they have to repay, and/or because people who use the programs to re-start their lives after a mistake don’t end up being punished for that mistake for the rest of their lives.

Wingnuts have bought into the notion that to be poor is proof of being evil, and being rich is proof of being good.

567 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:15:53am
568 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:16:04am

re: #552 GeneJockey

Yep. That would mean they’d have to acknowledge other humans as being, well, human. Heaven forbid. I wish other states would take this program here in GA and model it all over the country. The people working there(those awful public sector workers) are devoted to the young people in their care, they certainly aren’t doing it for the big money. This is something GA could actually be very proud of.

How are your youngsters doing with school and stuff?

569 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:16:41am

re: #559 William Barnett-Lewis

Sure she does - every time she files a tax return. Stupid fucking Teahadi’s…

No, no, he knew that. She didn’t have to pay MORE THAN her regular taxes. She got all that FOR FREE!!! in his estimation.

570 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:17:35am

re: #522 Lidane

Of course. And neither of them seems willing to cop to the fact that they’re part of the problem.

The very definition of “using people.”

You’re my friend and good companion, until you aren’t. Or, something like that.

571 simoom  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:17:37am

Wonders never cease. A reasonable Politico reporter:

572 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:17:52am

Not uncommon. Bees will follow the queen bee everywhere.

573 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:18:08am

There actually was a “Bees on a Plane!” incident last year.
Youtube Video

574 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:18:08am

re: #556 Vicious Babushka

He’s hearing the voices in his head, or Michele Bachmann…. or both.

575 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:18:12am

re: #550 b.d.

Inside, where?

[Embedded content]

Methinks Erick is confused. Or he’s thinking of Xenomorph larvae.

576 CuriousLurker  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:18:56am

Okay, this thread is seriously bogging down my browser. Later, lizards.

577 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:19:01am

Friday, December 14, 2007
Snakes On a Plane? No…Just Bees

578 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:19:28am

re: #556 Vicious Babushka

579 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:19:28am

re: #571 simoom

Fire up the Murdoch-signal. An act of journalism my have occurred in district 27, and we can’t be having any of that. //

580 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:19:35am

re: #576 CuriousLurker

Okay, this thread is seriously bogging down my browser. Later, lizards.

Switch to Spy mode for the individual thread!

581 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:20:07am

re: #566 EPR-radar

Wingnuts have bought into the notion that to be poor is proof of being evil, and being rich is proof of being good.

Otherwise known as the Prosperity Gospel.

If you’re faithful and pray hard enough, God will grant you his favor and give you a high paying job, a new house, new car, perfect body, and perfect life. If you doubt him, it’s off to the poorhouse with your hellbound ass.

582 Decatur Deb  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:20:16am

re: #563 GeneJockey

It looks like the wingtip of one of those new planes with the vertical thingies at the end of the wing. The bees are actually in the FOREGROUND, and the swarm looks so big because the pic was shot with a telephoto lens which flattens perspective, so the ground crew in the background looks to be in front.

The swarm is probably a foot or so across. Also very unlikely it came in like that, since AFAIK there’s no place to hide out there.

OR, it’s all ‘shopped.

Not shopped, the bees were locals that swarmed the tug and plane. (if this is the source—wing is right.)

cbsnews.com

583 b.d.  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:20:31am

re: #567 Vicious Babushka

#TeaPartyShutdown

nice

584 Kragar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:21:38am

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

585 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:22:34am

re: #568 A Mom Anon

Yep. That would mean they’d have to acknowledge other humans as being, well, human. Heaven forbid. I wish other states would take this program here in GA and model it all over the country. The people working there(those awful public sector workers) are devoted to the young people in their care, they certainly aren’t doing it for the big money. This is something GA could actually be very proud of.

How are your youngsters doing with school and stuff?

Well, the older one (the one with ASD and Social Anxiety) wants to go back to school (community college) with an eye to going into research in psychology/biology, but in the meanwhile he’s looking into a program that trains students for cooking in a professional kitchen. I don’t see that working out, myself: 8-12 hours a day in a hot, noisy place, cooking food he doesn’t personally like, for strangers. On the plus side, he’d never have to talk to the strangers!

The younger one let his anxiety about school prevent him registering for this term till it was too late to get into anything but Underwater Bastketweaving, so he’s looking for seasonal retail work. And I think he knows that when I ask if he’s registered for NEXT term, I will seriously kick his ass if he just says, “Don’t worry, Dad. I got this”, which is what he said all summer.

I sometimes worry less about the older one.

586 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:24:04am

re: #584 Kragar

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

Nice finite material existence you got there.

Shame if something happened to it.

587 Kragar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:26:32am

“Tithing is a blessed act” goes nicely with “God helps those who help themselves”.

588 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:27:11am

So what happens if Boehner recruits Democrats to pass the debt ceiling bill, suspends the “Hastert Rule” to bring it to the floor, and the moderate majority then amends the bill to also include a “clean” continuing resolution?

589 lawhawk  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:27:56am

re: #584 Kragar

Because no Mormon has ever had a medical ailment? Or Popes have never had illnesses? Because Pat has never had a medical ailment?

Is his ministry so hurting for money that he’s going to hit them up with this nonsensical lunacy?

Oh wait, he had a 10 hour heart surgery back in 2009. Or is he admitting that he himself doesn’t tithe?

590 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:28:01am

re: #584 Kragar

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

I imagine that’s easily debunked, with just a little work. For example, I’m pretty sure my brother tithes, but it didn’t prevent him having an MI at 61 (Mild, now he’s got a stent and he’s on something for his lousy lipid metabolism)

591 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:29:41am

re: #588 Feline Fearless Leader

So what happens if Boehner recruits Democrats to pass the debt ceiling bill, suspends the “Hastert Rule” to bring it to the floor, and the moderate majority then amends the bill to also include a “clean” continuing resolution?

Teahadis go absolutely batsh*t crazy and primary Boehner, or if all else fails, leave the GOP in droves and start a third party

592 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:29:42am

re: #587 Kragar

“Tithing is a blessed act” goes nicely with “God helps those who help themselves”.

As my pappy always says, blood diamonds don’t smuggle themselves out of Liberia.

593 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:30:11am

re: #584 Kragar

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

Alternatively, God is like the Mafia’ - ‘Nice lookin’ body you got here. Be a shame if sump’in was to happen to it…’

594 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:30:14am

re: #584 Kragar

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

Does that mean having a chicken handy in case you need to see the local medicine doctor or $400,000 in case you have a ruptured aneurysm?

596 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:32:13am

re: #594 Gus

Does that mean having a chicken handy in case you need to see the local medicine doctor or $400,000 in case you have a ruptured aneurysm?

It’s blasphemy to question the Holy Protection Racket.

597 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:32:20am

Or as with the old Western movies… if you get shot up full of holes all you need is Bowie knife — and a bottle of sour mash for anesthesia — to take out the bullets and the local saloon girl to apply hot towels on your wounds for a couple of weeks as she falls in love with you after you recover from 6 slugs from a .45.

598 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:32:30am
599 EPR-radar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:32:39am

re: #593 GeneJockey

Alternatively, God is like the Mafia’ - ‘Nice lookin’ body you got here. Be a shame if sump’in was to happen to it…’

How is one supposed to know which of God’s self-appointed earthly representatives to send the protection money to?

600 Kragar  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:33:10am

Cruz complains to Democrats about being seen as ‘the root of all evil in the world’

Self important dick whines what?

601 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:33:33am

re: #584 Kragar

Robertson: If You Tithe You Won’t Have Health or Financial Problems

Evil, pure and simple.

Still not as brazen as Benny Hinn.

(Not to be construed as a defense of Robertson)

602 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:33:47am

re: #596 The Ghost of a Flea

It’s blasphemy to question the Holy Protection Racket.

True. All non-sinners will either a) experience a miracle cure or b) not a big deal if you die because you get to go to heaven for billions and billions of years.

603 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:34:41am

re: #585 GeneJockey

LOL, I know, I worry more about my older one who is not autistic sometimes. She’s incredibly smart book wise, but she’s got the common sense of those Jackass guys on MTV.

I told the voc rehab caseworker today that honestly, I want to see The Teenager find his own pace and go that way. As long as there’s forward movement, I’m good with that. So if a two yr program at community college takes him 4 yrs, we are THRILLED with that. But yeah, you can’t ever totally relax, sometimes they don’t get you have to do stuff on deadlines and in a certain order or nothing happens so you have to put a proverbial foot in their behinds.

604 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:34:45am

Hey doc’, how much for a blood letting?

Oh, got a chicken?

605 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:34:53am

re: #601 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Still not as brazen as Benny Hinn.

(Not to be construed as a defense of Robertson)

Or Oral Roberts, who once famously claimed that if he didn’t raise a couple hundred grand in the next month, God was going to “call him home”.

In other words, send me money, or God’s gonna whack me.

606 wrenchwench  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:36:21am
607 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:37:01am

re: #602 Gus

True. All non-sinners will either a) experience a miracle cure or b) not a big deal if you die because you get to go to heaven for billions and billions of years.

The real beauty of the prosperity gospel is retroactive continuity.

I’m wealthy, therefore I must have been moral and pious! I should give more money to evangelists!

I’m poor, therefore I must have been wicked and impious! I should give more money to evangelists!

608 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:37:14am

re: #598 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Wait - in return for allowing them out of the hole they dug for themselves, they’re offering to increase the deficit on the one hand, and on the other reduce spending on another program that doesn’t affect the budget at all?

WTFITS?

609 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:37:39am
610 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:39:00am

re: #605 Dr Lizardo

Or Oral Roberts, who once famously claimed that if he didn’t raise a couple hundred grand in the next month, God was going to “call him home”.

In other words, send me money, or God’s gonna whack me.

“Nobody make a move, or the n***** gets it!”

611 Lidane  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:39:05am

re: #608 GeneJockey

Wait - in return for allowing them out of the hole they dug for themselves, they’re offering to increase the deficit on the one hand, and on the other reduce spending on another program that doesn’t affect the budget at all?

WTFITS?

It’s called desperation.

“We offered a budget with reasonable tax and spend cuts instead of an Obamacare repeal and Harry Reid shot us down anyway! It’s all Harry Reid’s fault!”

That will be the spin. Count on it.

612 Gus  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:40:09am

Oops. Forgot the proverbial miracle cure…

“WALK! WALK! PRAISE JESUS! YE SHALL WALK!”

613 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:40:11am

re: #609 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Wait, didn’t Talking Heads have a song about this - “Stop Making Sense”?

614 GeneJockey  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:42:08am

re: #603 A Mom Anon

LOL, I know, I worry more about my older one who is not autistic sometimes. She’s incredibly smart book wise, but she’s got the common sense of those Jackass guys on MTV.

I told the voc rehab caseworker today that honestly, I want to see The Teenager find his own pace and go that way. As long as there’s forward movement, I’m good with that. So if a two yr program at community college takes him 4 yrs, we are THRILLED with that. But yeah, you can’t ever totally relax, sometimes they don’t get you have to do stuff on deadlines and in a certain order or nothing happens so you have to put a proverbial foot in their behinds.

The day I graduated from College, my Mom gave me a big hug, congratulated me, told me how proud she was, and made it clear as a bell that, while I could live there until September, after that I was on my own.

615 ObserverArt  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:53:43am

re: #600 Kragar

Cruz complains to Democrats about being seen as ‘the root of all evil in the world’

Self important dick whines what?

It appears the glue is coming off the covering. A good thing.

616 A Mom Anon  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:53:49am

re: #614 GeneJockey

Oh I was out before high school was done. I was a bad influence on the siblings for smoking dope so the parents kicked me out and that was that. That key moment kept me out of college, I had to work while finishing high school to survive, and ended up with a union job for awhile, then had The Daughter and school just never made it back into my reality. The Teenager will always have a home with us, as long as he’s working and trying his best. I wouldn’t do this if he were not autistic, and it’s not out of sympathy, it’s out of genuine experience watching him get screwed over time and time again by his peers and supposed “mentors”. This program is supposed to cover that though, the focus is on independence. He’s not the type to not let us know that he’s ready to roll on his own. We take it a few days at a time right now, I think this is the best thing in the world that could happen for him. Time will tell if he takes full advantage of everything they have to offer him.

617 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 10:56:06am

re: #383 FemNaziBitch

Anyone know anything about this author?

Well, it seems she was on the Daily Show talking about the myriad legal privileges churches get that people don’t know about.

Comedy Central

618 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 1:28:00pm

re: #532 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

bwahahahaaaa!!!!
Those “bees” are the size of sheep…

619 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 1:39:02pm

re: #542 Vicious Babushka

This photo originated with Erick, I have no idea if it is real or where it was taken. He claims Hartsfield, yesterday, but he could have been pwn3d.

Totally NOT real.

620 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 2:03:29pm

re: #582 Decatur Deb

Not shopped, the bees were locals that swarmed the tug and plane. (if this is the source—wing is right.)

cbsnews.com

Photo was TOTALLY shopped.
Speaking as a beekeeper who is regularly called out to deal with swarms.

621 John Vreeland  Fri, Oct 4, 2013 3:58:21pm

re: #181 erik_t

Well, yes and no. Greenwald may be using 4096-bit encryption (er… 4000 characters lol).

How much you want to bet his plaintext-password is not using all 4096 bits available within his encryption scheme? I’ll tell you what, I’m sure not.

I’d wager a considerable sum of money the password is more like “hell0_kitty” and it’s using a technically-impressive but functionally-lame level of encryption.

Not likely. Greenwald himself might do something like this but the actual password was generated by someone who knows how to harden systems in unfriendly terrain. He almost certainly generated the full 4096 bits at random and stored them on a thumb drive. The thumb drive then becomes the key and the target of of anyone trying to break the code.

But if the Russians have access to the hardware (and they do, that being a specialty of theirs), then obtaining they key might be easy. Duplicating his computer onto one with custom firmware and then swapping one would be one way. But without the password they will accomplish nothign.


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