Reuters: Snowden Tricked Co-Workers Into Giving Him Their Passwords

Facepalm of the day
US News • Views: 24,681

More details emerged today about how Edward Snowden managed to steal so many top secret documents — he reportedly tricked at least 20 of his co-workers into giving him their passwords.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden used login credentials and passwords provided unwittingly by colleagues at a spy base in Hawaii to access some of the classified material he leaked to the media, sources said.

A handful of agency employees who gave their login details to Snowden were identified, questioned and removed from their assignments, said a source close to several U.S. government investigations into the damage caused by the leaks.

Snowden may have persuaded between 20 and 25 fellow workers at the NSA regional operations center in Hawaii to give him their logins and passwords by telling them they were needed for him to do his job as a computer systems administrator, a second source said.

An absolutely shocking lapse of security at an NSA facility. If true, it’s mind-boggling that people who are working with secret information could be so lax with their passwords.

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald is sarcastically mocking this report on Twitter:

Greenwald is also mocking the possibility that Snowden’s leaks may cause harm in the real world, with an exceptionally nasty tweet:

Notice: there isn’t a hint of thoughtfulness in Greenwald’s responses to the question of the harm caused by Snowden. He won’t even admit the possibility; instead he revels in deriding and making fun of it.

Jump to bottom

391 comments
1 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:21:08am

I also work in a classified environment. Had a guy who tried this with me and we had him canned in 2 days.

If true, then everyone involved deserves to be fired.

2 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:22:59am

How are many computer security systems coopted? It’s not brute force hacking, but people writing down passwords, or giving them to coworkers.

These reports indicate that the NSA has serious security issues with its contract workforce, and that steps must be taken to enforce the security protocols that were in place but disregarded, or strengthen and enforce lax regulations.

I wouldn’t be shocked to learn of similar problems with other agencies or the DoD or DHS since they too operate with significant numbers of contract workers and lots of classified information floating around.

The thing is that none of this excuses Snowden.

If anything it shows he purposefully manipulated the system to get at data he wasn’t entitled to. It’s theft of classified information. It’s espionage.

And then he ran off to Hong Kong on his way to Moscow.

That doesn’t make him a hero. That makes him a criminal under US law for stealing classified data, methods, means, and techniques.

3 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:24:36am
4 Bulworth  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:25:21am

Hero. Whistleblower. Patriot. //

5 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:25:54am

re: #1 Kragar

I also work in a classified environment. Had a guy who tried this with me and we had him canned in 2 days.

If true, then everyone involved deserves to be fired.

Everybody with access to government systems gets regular training on this, and for the love of Gawd it’s the NSA, so they should fucking know better.

I’m guessing a lot of the time the training doesn’t get translated over to real life. “Yeah, the training said not to give your password out to anybody including SAs, but Ed says he needs it so it must be an exception.”

6 Charles Johnson  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:27:11am

Man, did he ever screw over his co-workers.

7 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:27:46am

Just like MLK.//

8 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:28:14am

re: #6 Charles Johnson

And that too disrupts the NSA operations that they were working on too. What intel may fall through the cracks as a result of the investigation and purge of those involved in the data breaches.

Meanwhile, Comrade Snowden’s in Moscow complaining about the weather…

9 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:28:40am

re: #1 Kragar

I also work in a classified environment. Had a guy who tried this with me and we had him canned in 2 days.

If true, then everyone involved deserves to be fired.

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

10 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:32:52am

I’ve been hitting Greenwald where it hurts him the most - on Twitter - over this.

11 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:34:56am

re: #5 ericblair

Everybody with access to government systems gets regular training on this, and for the love of Gawd it’s the NSA, so they should fucking know better.

I’m guessing a lot of the time the training doesn’t get translated over to real life. “Yeah, the training said not to give your password out to anybody including SAs, but Ed says he needs it so it must be an exception.”

“Ed says he needs it to fix a serious problem and he’s the SA, so he must know what he’s talking about.”

12 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:35:09am

re: #9 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

trappings of psuedo authority…. “I’m the sys-admin and it’s been a while since the last guy was in here, let me have your p/w so I can cross reference it against the master file to ensure that you’re following policy and changing it like you should……”

how many folks do you know that would simply shrug and pass it along?

13 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:36:03am

re: #10 darthstar

I’ve been hitting Greenwald where it hurts him the most - on Twitter - over this.

As you should. This totally destroys Snowden the starry eye idealist who was worried about what he saw going on at NSA. I always found Snowden’s act and story fishy from the start and this story continues to verify those suspicions.

14 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:36:41am

re: #9 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

Probably because most people tend to put coworkers in the ‘US’ category, so when they’re told ‘don’t give your password to anyone’, they automatically add ‘…who isn’t US’. And people are also used to requests from SAs, though in 32 years of working with computers on my job, there’s only been one time an IT guy asked for my password.

15 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:36:48am

A legitimate system admin will **NEVER** need your password.

The only reason he would ask for your password would be to use it without his own accounts being tracked and logged in the system.

If he did need to use your account, such as to verify permissions to a remote share or system, he could simply reset the password himself, log on using it, then inform the client they needed to reset their password. The problem with that is his resetting the password could be tracked in the system event logs.

Not a problem if you are doing legitimate business with the documentation to support what you’re doing, but a big deal if you are trying to hide what you’re doing.

16 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:37:42am

re: #12 piratedan

trappings of psuedo authority…. “I’m the sys-admin and it’s been a while since the last guy was in here, let me have your p/w so I can cross reference it against the master file to ensure that you’re following policy and changing it like you should……”

how many folks do you know that would simply shrug and pass it along?

Too fucking many.

17 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:38:14am

re: #12 piratedan

trappings of psuedo authority…. “I’m the sys-admin and it’s been a while since the last guy was in here, let me have your p/w so I can cross reference it against the master file to ensure that you’re following policy and changing it like you should……”

how many folks do you know that would simply shrug and pass it along?

More than one. In that job I may self would go for that sort of line, but that’s because I’m a cautious soul and because I’m willing to do things the hard way if that’s what it takes to get them done right.

18 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:38:17am

re: #12 piratedan

trappings of psuedo authority…. “I’m the sys-admin and it’s been a while since the last guy was in here, let me have your p/w so I can cross reference it against the master file to ensure that you’re following policy and changing it like you should……”

how many folks do you know that would simply shrug and pass it along?

Quite a few, but someone among that group should have asked questions or brought this to the attention of superiors. Had they done so, they might have uncovered his thefts sooner - and before Greenwald got to slice and dice the contents to suit his narrative while ignoring the facts and information actually included in the data.

19 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:38:55am

re: #9 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

Because sitting in a briefing or in front of a computer screen and clicking the correct responses on a multiple choice quiz is different from having it happen to you in real life. Security needs to start doing white hat social engineering to actually train people what to expect: that is, random calls to people trying to get their passwords, phishing emails, and then MOAR TRAINING/possible knuckle-rapping to the suckers who take the bait.

By the way, contractors, military, and civilians get the same training and the same security clearance investigations. There are a bunch of problems with the over-reliance on contractors in the federal government, but clearances and violation rates are red herrings.

20 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:39:33am

re: #15 Kragar

A legitimate system admin will **NEVER** need your password.

The only reason he would ask for your password would be to use it without his own accounts being tracked and logged in the system.

If he did need to use your account, such as to verify permissions to a remote share or system, he could simply reset the password himself, log on using it, then inform the client they needed to reset their password. The problem with that is his resetting the password could be tracked in the system event logs.

Not a problem if you are doing legitimate business with the documentation to support what you’re doing, but a big deal if you are trying to hide what you’re doing.

That one time I was asked for my password? It was to set up a new laptop for me, and he offered me the option of him resetting and my having to change, or just sending him my password.

But we don’t do classified stuff here.

21 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:42:22am

re: #20 GeneJockey

That one time I was asked for my password? It was to set up a new laptop for me, and he offered me the option of him resetting and my having to change, or just sending him my password.

But we don’t do classified stuff here.

Even there, he didn’t need your password. It was an option and he was covered by documentation and procedure.

22 Charles Johnson  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:43:11am

re: #15 Kragar

Absolutely - and what’s worse is that NSA personnel go through security training, and I guarantee that NEVER giving out your password is one of the things they’re supposed to learn.

23 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:43:15am

re: #19 ericblair

Because sitting in a briefing or in front of a computer screen and clicking the correct responses on a multiple choice quiz is different from having it happen to you in real life. Security needs to start doing white hat social engineering to actually train people what to expect: that is, random calls to people trying to get their passwords, phishing emails, and then MOAR TRAINING/possible knuckle-rapping to the suckers who take the bait.

By the way, contractors, military, and civilians get the same training and the same security clearance investigations. There are a bunch of problems with the over-reliance on contractors in the federal government, but clearances and violation rates are red herrings.

Yeah. Cripes, pretty much everyone in Corporate America gets Sexual Harassment training every single year, but there’s still lots of it going on. Many of these training sessions become jokes for the participants.

24 Decatur Deb  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:44:45am

re: #9 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

“This little twerp could never be a spy.”

25 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:46:15am

re: #24 Decatur Deb

“This little twerp could never be a spy.”

[Thorin]”Burglar? He looks more like a grocer.” [/Thorin]

26 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:47:18am

re: #20 GeneJockey

That one time I was asked for my password? It was to set up a new laptop for me, and he offered me the option of him resetting and my having to change, or just sending him my password.

But we don’t do classified stuff here.

Same here. I got asked for my password once, but that was when I was getting a new laptop and it was being set up for me. I had the option of changing my password after the fact, too.

27 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:47:22am

re: #22 Charles Johnson

Absolutely - and what’s worse is that NSA personnel go through security training, and I guarantee that NEVER giving out your password is one of the things they’re supposed to learn.

As I said, if confirmed, anyone who gave Snowden their password should be fired and their clearances revoked.

28 Political Atheist  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:50:46am

re: #6 Charles Johnson

WTH convinced intel professionals to give up their passwords to anyone ever?

Is that the level of skill that prevails at NSA? They have got to do better than that.

29 Charles Johnson  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:51:12am
30 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:52:11am

re: #3 Kragar

You’ve got to cut Greenwald some slack. He can barely keep up with the crap he spews, let alone news:

31 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:52:22am

re: #24 Decatur Deb

“This little twerp could never be a spy.”

Real question asked of me by a customer after I’d asked if he’d put a CD back:
“Do I look like a thief?”

My reply: “What does a thief look like?”

I did not get in trouble for that, though the customer had not in fact done something wrong. He just overreacted.

32 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:54:23am

Overall, I gotta say that while Snowden’s early actions around the time of the leak ALREADY gave me cause to doubt his motives and sincerity, the whole thing of contacting GG BEFORE going back as a contractor, and then scamming coworkers for their passwords really, truly takes this SO FAR beyond ‘whistleblowing’ that I can’t understand anyone standing up for him who doesn’t have a financial interest or a political motivation.

Of course, dudebros will say, “Information wants to be free, man!” but they’re just morons.

33 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:55:03am

re: #29 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Whippet! Whippet good!

34 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:56:09am
35 allegro  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:57:37am

re: #32 GeneJockey

Of course, dudebros will say, “Information wants to be free, man!” but they’re just morons.

Then they should not object to giving me their bank account passwords and credit card pin numbers. Right?

36 Political Atheist  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:57:40am

Repost from a related Page

Ahem, if these guys are that lax, why should I believe them about this allegedly careful custody of all that metadata? Good intentions are a good start.

Trust, but verify.

37 The War TARDIS  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:58:17am

re: #23 GeneJockey

As seen in this scene of NCIS.

Youtube Video

38 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:58:18am

re: #31 Dark_Falcon

Real question asked of me by a customer after I’d asked if he’d put a CD back:
“Do I look like a thief?”

My reply: “What does a thief look like?”

I did not get in trouble for that, though the customer had not in fact done something wrong. He just overreacted.

Black pants and turtleneck, black mask, black beret, black gloves, and a big bag labeled ‘SWAG’. Duh. I thought everyone knew that!
//////////////////

39 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:58:32am
40 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 10:59:49am
41 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:00:16am

re: #39 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Is Greenwald not aware of the existence of audiotape digital data storage media?

42 Decatur Deb  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:00:52am

re: #38 GeneJockey

Black pants and turtleneck, black mask, black beret, black gloves, and a big bag labeled ‘SWAG’. Duh. I thought everyone knew that!
//////////////////

Rides around in a blonde’s Sunbeam Alpine.

Image: Cars-4.jpg

43 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:00:52am

re: #41 GeneJockey

Is Greenwald not aware of the existence of audiotape digital data storage media?

The internet is a lie!

44 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:01:12am

re: #35 allegro

Then they should not object to giving me their bank account passwords and credit card pin numbers. Right?

[dudebro]That’s different, man![/dudebro]

45 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:01:37am

re: #42 Decatur Deb

Drives a Sunbeam Tiger.

Or a flock of Cooper Minis.
:)

46 sagehen  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:02:14am

These are not NSA personnel — they’re Booz-Allen personnel.

Booz-Allen clearly doesn’t train their staff properly; they’re not fit to do NSA work. Cancel all their contracts.

47 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:03:04am

re: #45 Feline Fearless Leader

Or a flock of Cooper Minis.
:)

Or wears a gorilla costume and drives an Innocenti convertible.

48 jvic  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:03:18am

1. re: #1 Kragar

If true, then everyone involved deserves to be fired.

Fired and possibly prosecuted, was my first reaction. But then you’ve kicked out into the street people who have highly sensitive information. Shuffling them into a benign desk job may be the lesser evil. I’m glad I don’t have to make that call.

2. Still, there’s the matter of credibility with the public. Trust us, we’ve resolved the matter may not play well in Peoria nowadays. Like I said, I’m glad I don’t have to make the call.

3. At some point a traitor becomes a legitimate target for a snatch-and-grab or a hit. Depending on what Snowden stole, he may be past the point already. His ostentatious concerns about that may have been more than play-acting.

4. re: #9 Dark_Falcon

Quite Concur. I would, however, like to know how the little weasel was able to con that many people.

I’ll take a guess: there’s a difference between what the rulebook states and how things actually get done. Security can’t be too lax, but make it too onerous and people may look for workarounds so as to do their job. This is not an excuse for the offenders, but it’s something a competent management should be aware of.

49 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:04:02am

re: #47 GeneJockey

Or wears a gorilla costume and drives an Innocenti convertible.

And needs to get a Garmin in order to find the right road to get out of the town.

50 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:07:14am

re: #43 darthstar

The internet is a lie!

What, ALL of it? But that would mean that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie. Which means that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie……

*bzzzztt pop PSSSSSHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* (emits smoke and slumps at desk)

51 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:08:11am

re: #49 Feline Fearless Leader

And needs to get a Garmin in order to find the right road to get out of the town.

“You take the high road, Uncle Charles!”

52 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:08:28am

re: #50 GeneJockey

What, ALL of it? But that would mean that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie. Which means that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie……

*bzzzztt pop PSSSSSHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* (emits smoke and slumps at desk)

Uhoh, looks like the magic smoke escaped.

53 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:09:42am

re: #50 GeneJockey

What, ALL of it? But that would mean that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie. Which means that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie……

*bzzzztt pop PSSSSSHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* (emits smoke and slumps at desk)

“Norman, please coordinate!”

54 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:12:32am
55 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:12:51am

re: #48 jvic

Fired and possibly prosecuted, was my first reaction. But then you’ve kicked out into the street people who have highly sensitive information.

Who also may be in dire need of cash flow and have pretty big chips on their shoulders. This is an underappreciated security risk, mainly because senior management doesn’t like to think about it too much.

56 Political Atheist  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:13:30am

O/T

Has anyplace debunked the story about Obama dropping Iranian sanctions months ago? Daily Beast, not linking to that rag.

57 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:14:08am

re: #55 ericblair

Who also may be in dire need of cash flow and have pretty big chips on their shoulders. This is an underappreciated security risk, mainly because senior management doesn’t like to think about it too much.

Who if they take their grievances to the dudebro continuum will be told, “Face it. You fucked up. You trusted us.”
//

58 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:14:40am

re: #29 Charles Johnson

Greyhound/whippet mix? Sweet. Have a friend who has one of those. Sweet dog and super fast… when it wants to be…

59 abolitionist  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:18:20am

My last employer canned a new hire for putting a password on the HD and/or BIOS of the computer assigned to him.

The company computers typically had a user’s first name as their login password, so I never seriously considered changing mine.

Same employer assigned me a task of writing the software for a “keylogger” -like device to be inserted in-line in the keyboard connection. It was not so much a logger as a remote RF bug —and a not very capable one. Special characters and distinguishing upper/lower case were not supported.

60 Decatur Deb  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:18:21am

re: #56 Political Atheist

O/T

Has anyplace debunked the story about Obama dropping Iranian sanctions months ago? Daily Beast, not linking to that rag.

Not confusing with Daily Caller?

61 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:18:36am

re: #42 Decatur Deb

To Catch a Thief…. how apropos…

62 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:22:24am

re: #54 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Voter fraud of course, I mean it’s not like Ken Cuccinelli is a well documented kook.

63 Political Atheist  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:22:38am

re: #60 Decatur Deb

Not confusing with Daily Caller?

Ooops. World News. Still a stinky link. Drudge headlining angst and Netanyahu etc.

64 ausador  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:23:00am

What an idiotic tweet by a supposed “Journalist,” instead of even discussing whether or not the leaks are causing damage to U.S. and allied intelligence gathering efforts just make up a straw man argument and then mock it relentlessly. What is he, 8 years old?

Glenn Greenwald - “I know you are but what am I?” /

65 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:23:46am

re: #64 ausador

What an idiotic tweet by a supposed “Journalist,” instead of even discussing whether or not the leaks are causing damage to U.S. and allied intelligence gathering efforts just make up a straw man argument and then mock it relentlessly. What is he, 8 years old?

[Embedded content]

Glenn Greenwald - “I know you are but what am I?” /

He’s a childish jackass and it’s exactly why he shouldn’t be taken seriously.

66 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:24:18am

re: #59 abolitionist

When I was still the the USMC, our CO’s policy was “all the accounts belong to the Marine Corps, we’re just letting you borrow them.” If we saw anything out of the ordinary, we could take ownership at the drop of a hat.

A PFC with 3 mails, but using 40mb of space? Go in and check it out. Oh look, porn. Write him up.

A Lt under investigation for adultery? Archive his emails, including any backups from before the investigation, in case he deleted stuff, and send a copy to the investigating officers.

My last year in, I was an expert witness in a couple of court martials.

67 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:24:38am

re: #62 HappyWarrior

Voter fraud of course, I mean it’s not like Ken Cuccinelli is a well documented kook.

“Voter fraud,” i.e. “I lost but there’s no fucking way I’ll admit it!”

68 ausador  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:24:41am

re: #50 GeneJockey

What, ALL of it? But that would mean that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie. Which means that you telling me the internet is a lie, is a lie, which means the internet is true, but if it’s true, then the internet is a lie……

*bzzzztt pop PSSSSSHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh* (emits smoke and slumps at desk)

Sterilize imperfections, Ster…i..lize…..ster..uhhhh…..lizzzze….

69 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:28:46am

re: #64 ausador

What an idiotic tweet by a supposed “Journalist”

He’s a document dump troll.

70 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:29:22am

my mortgage has been transferred to a company whose website is every bit as well tested and debugged as the ACA website on the first day

had to get on the phone and talk to HOOMANS

71 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:30:29am

re: #68 ausador

Sterilize imperfections, Ster…i..lize…..ster..uhhhh…..lizzzze….

“This unit must die.”

72 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:30:47am

re: #58 lawhawk

Greyhound/whippet mix? Sweet. Have a friend who has one of those. Sweet dog and super fast… when it wants to be…

Looks like a garden variety whippet to me, though it’s hard to say without anything for scale. Cranium size vs muzzle length, plus the bed looks like one that a Greyhound would fill completely.

Or I might be full of shit. Happens a lot!

My Greyhounds also sleep in positions that look incredibly uncomfortable, but they love ‘em, like the girl who sometimes sleeps with her chin on the floor, which means, with her overbite, her nose gets pushed way up in a way you can’t imagine doesn’t hurt.

73 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:30:49am

“Hey guys, I’m using this server, don’t use it till I give the say so.”
“Oh hey, I was having problems logging off, so I just rebooted it.”
“… Fuck it, I’m done with it.”

74 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:31:08am

imagine if the worst thing that our american politicians had ever done was to smoke crack once in one of their drunken stupors

75 CuriousLurker  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:31:26am

Oh man, we SO have to chip in and buy two of these—one for darth & one for Kragar. LOL

76 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:31:49am

re: #15 Kragar

A legitimate system admin will **NEVER** need your password.

The only reason he would ask for your password would be to use it without his own accounts being tracked and logged in the system.

If he did need to use your account, such as to verify permissions to a remote share or system, he could simply reset the password himself, log on using it, then inform the client they needed to reset their password. The problem with that is his resetting the password could be tracked in the system event logs.

Not a problem if you are doing legitimate business with the documentation to support what you’re doing, but a big deal if you are trying to hide what you’re doing.

THIS, FOREVER^^^^^^^^^^

I have been a sysadmin at the organization I work for (though in my current position I am not one) and we were assigned our own “superuser” passwords that we used to perform our legitimate job duties.

There was *NEVER* any reason to ask a user for their password.

If a user forgot their password, which happens very frequently, there was no way to retrieve it for them, we would just give them a new password that had to be changed after the first login.

There were some older databases lying around that contained login information for some old, pre-Y2K, non-secure systems. and it’s possible that some of the USERID/PASSWORD combinations that are stored in those tables might mirror logins currently being used elsewhere. If so someone might do serious mischief.

77 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:32:55am

re: #67 Targetpractice

“Voter fraud,” i.e. “I lost but there’s no fucking way I’ll admit it!”

Pretty much. And you know they’ll claim fraud in the AG race if Herring wins. I mean it’s not like we’ve never had tight races here before i.e. Byrne vs Bolling or McDonnell versus Deeds but the second a Democrat wins a close race, it has to be FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

78 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:33:39am

When I had to manage those tables I “averted my eyes.”

79 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:33:55am

re: #77 HappyWarrior

Pretty much. And you know they’ll claim fraud in the AG race if Herring wins. I mean it’s not like we’ve never had tight races here before i.e. Byrne vs Bolling or McDonnell versus Deeds but the second a Democrat wins a close race, it has to be FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s like I said Election Night, as soon as Herring started eating up the distance between him and Obenshain, you knew they’d start screeching “VOTER FRAUD!”

80 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:35:26am

re: #76 Vicious Babushka

We do a lot of single use password scans when connecting client systems in for the first time. They set up a testing account for us, and then email us a password for us to use during the connection. If he have issues, we might swap passwords a few times to make sure we have the right one. The deal there though is the entire account is deleted after the testing.

81 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:36:19am

Wingnuts are Tweeting this:
It’s an urban legend, the bike dates from the 1950’s, not pre WW1, and it was abandoned in the forest, then someone deliberately put it into a cut in the tree.
Harmless story compared to the usual wingnut shit, but it shows you how gullible they are.

82 AntonSirius  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:36:51am

re: #47 GeneJockey

Or wears a gorilla costume and drives an Innocenti convertible.

Dressed as a clown and trying desperately to get out of the city by any means possible

83 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:39:08am

re: #77 HappyWarrior

Pretty much. And you know they’ll claim fraud in the AG race if Herring wins. I mean it’s not like we’ve never had tight races here before i.e. Byrne vs Bolling or McDonnell versus Deeds but the second a Democrat wins a close race, it has to be FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like Citizen Kane…

84 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:39:52am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

“Lest we forget” must be wingnut for “Make shit up.”

85 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:40:51am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

That design does look much more 50’s than one from 1914.

86 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:40:57am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

Wingnuts are Tweeting this:
It’s an urban legend, the bike dates from the 1950’s, not pre WW1, and it was abandoned in the forest, then someone deliberately put it into a cut in the tree.
Harmless story compared to the usual wingnut shit, but it shows you how gullible they are.

[Embedded content]

Trees do not grow from the bottom. They grow from the top. The bicycle would have to have floated in mid-air while the tree grew around it.

But that’s Science, and we all know Science is a lie!
//

87 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:42:01am

re: #85 jaunte

That design does look much more 50’s than one from 1914.

And it’s REAL SMALL. He’d have to have been about 8 when he went to war.

88 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:42:28am

Hey, that’s Don’s bike!
discoverwashingtonstate.com

Don was a little embarrassed to be riding a girl’s bike anyway

89 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:43:22am

“Hey, because of outages, I’m having a really hard time getting everything turned in on time, but you’ve got all the email updates I’ve sent you.”

“Yeah, keep working to get everything done on time, but take the time to rewrite all the emails and send them as one report to me to pass along by COB.”

“THOSE TWO THINGS ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. I emailed you the god damn updates so YOU could pass them along.”

90 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:44:07am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

.
Harmless story compared to the usual wingnut shit, but it shows you how gullible they are.

They must not know of this new Google device.

91 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:46:23am

re: #90 jaunte

They must not know of this new Google device.

No, the problem was it was debunked on Snopes, which as we all know is owned by GEORGE SOROS!!!!!

92 ausador  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:46:43am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

Wingnuts are Tweeting this:
It’s an urban legend, the bike dates from the 1950’s, not pre WW1, and it was abandoned in the forest, then someone deliberately put it into a cut in the tree.
Harmless story compared to the usual wingnut shit, but it shows you how gullible they are.

[Embedded content]

They did not have bicycles anything like that design in 1914, that bike was made in the late 40’s or very early fifties!

93 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:47:22am

re: #91 GeneJockey

OMG Soros has taken over discoverwashingtonstate.com!!!!!

94 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:48:26am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

Wingnuts are Tweeting this:
It’s an urban legend, the bike dates from the 1950’s, not pre WW1, and it was abandoned in the forest, then someone deliberately put it into a cut in the tree.
Harmless story compared to the usual wingnut shit, but it shows you how gullible they are.

[Embedded content]

“Print the legend DERP!”

95 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:48:33am

re: #89 Kragar

96 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:49:28am

re: #93 jaunte

OMG Soros has taken over discoverwashingtonstate.com!!!!!

He’s everywhere. He’s the leader of the International Jewish Communist Conspiracy!

Sneaky bastard, too, making billions as a capitalist. Him and Warren Buffet.

97 ausador  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:50:33am

re: #89 Kragar

“Hey, because of outages, I’m having a really hard time getting everything turned in on time, but you’ve got all the email updates I’ve sent you.”

“Yeah, keep working to get everything done on time, but take the time to rewrite all the emails and send them as one report to me to pass along by COB.”

“THOSE TWO THINGS ARE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. I emailed you the god damn updates so YOU could pass them along.”

If you say so, by the way, have you finished those TPS reports I asked for yet? :p

98 Romantic Heretic  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:53:09am

re: #55 ericblair

Who also may be in dire need of cash flow and have pretty big chips on their shoulders. This is an underappreciated security risk, mainly because senior management doesn’t like to think about it too much.

FTFY.

99 Jack Burton  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:54:32am

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

On top of the obvious bullshit about the bike age, the US didn’t get involved in WW1 until April 1917.

100 Romantic Heretic  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:55:55am

re: #75 CuriousLurker

Oh man, we SO have to chip in and buy two of these—one for darth & one for Kragar. LOL

[Embedded content]

Want!

101 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:57:39am
102 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:58:08am

re: #99 Jack Burton

On top of the obvious bullshit about the bike age, the US didn’t get involved in WW1 until April 1917.

Yes, but people who get their history lessons from Beck and Barton probably don’t know that.

103 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:58:25am

re: #100 Romantic Heretic

Want!

You can have mine. I don’t drink coffee.

104 Romantic Heretic  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 11:59:43am

re: #103 Kragar

You can have mine. I don’t drink coffee.

Thanks.

105 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:00:09pm
106 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:01:09pm

re: #101 darthstar

[Embedded content]

They’re trying to shut him up!!!

107 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:03:04pm

re: #101 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Wow, talk about crashing and burning. STILL won’t stop the conspiracy theorists - “Obama’s agents got to the publisher!”

108 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:03:41pm
109 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:03:42pm

re: #106 Targetpractice

They’re trying to shut him up!!!

It’s supposed to be:
1. Make shit up.
2. Go on 60 Minutes.
3. Profit!

not
1. Make shit up.
2. Go on 60 Minutes.
3. Have book pulled by publisher because you made shit up.

110 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:04:41pm

re: #107 GeneJockey

Wow, talk about crashing and burning. STILL won’t stop the conspiracy theorists - “Obama’s agents got to the publisher!”

Write all the fictional tell all books you want. Just don’t bitch when the internet fact checks you and makes you look like the idiot you are.

111 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:05:04pm

re: #109 darthstar

It’s supposed to be:
1. Make shit up.
2. Go on 60 Minutes.
3. Profit!

not
1. Make shit up.
2. Go on 60 Minutes.
3. Have book pulled by publisher because you made shit up.

“Should have gone to Regnery!”

112 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:05:31pm

re: #105 darthstar

[Embedded content]

What’s worse is he took them from articles published by the Gatestone Institute, one of whose fellows is the odious Fjordman.

113 leftynyc  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:08:39pm

I haven’t read all the posts so sorry if this is a duplicate: Simon and Shuster pulling the Benghazi book:

politico.com

114 funky chicken  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:09:09pm

re: #5 ericblair

Everybody with access to government systems gets regular training on this, and for the love of Gawd it’s the NSA, so they should fucking know better.

I’m guessing a lot of the time the training doesn’t get translated over to real life. “Yeah, the training said not to give your password out to anybody including SAs, but Ed says he needs it so it must be an exception.”

Jesus Christ. My kids know better, and all they have to protect is their email and twitter/instagram/snapchat/whatever the new social media thing the kids are using these days.

My husband is military, sooper sekrit clearance guy, and anybody who asked for his passwords would be fired just as soon as he could get his 3 star on the phone. It’s unbelievable that NSA employees were/are actually this stupid. Fire them all and hire retiring military members who are having a hell of a hard time finding decent jobs.

115 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:09:10pm
116 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:09:16pm

re: #113 leftynyc

I haven’t read all the posts so sorry if this is a duplicate: Simon and Shuster pulling the Benghazi book:

politico.com

just came up on salon as well

117 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:09:20pm

re: #102 Dark_Falcon

Yes, but people who get their history lessons from Beck and Barton probably don’t know that.

Yep, the effete British and the cowardly French were stalemated with the Germans until Buffalo Bill led an army of cowboys and Indian fighters to Europe and showed them how it was done!

118 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:09:45pm
119 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:10:11pm
120 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:10:14pm

re: #118 darthstar

More butt-hurt for GG and Co.

121 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:10:24pm

re: #113 leftynyc

This was obviouls another Obama trap, letting the GOP froth and spew outrage until they were too intoxicated to notice that they were over the edge on this one, too.

122 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:11:31pm

re: #75 CuriousLurker

Oh man, we SO have to chip in and buy two of these—one for darth & one for Kragar. LOL

[Embedded content]

I have some of these.

123 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:11:42pm

re: #114 funky chicken

Jesus Christ. My kids know better, and all they have to protect is their email and twitter/instagram/snapchat/whatever the new social media thing the kids are using these days.

My husband is military, sooper sekrit clearance guy, and anybody who asked for his passwords would be fired just as soon as he could get his 3 star on the phone. It’s unbelievable that NSA employees were/are actually this stupid. Fire them all and hire retiring military members who are having a hell of a hard time finding decent jobs.

As previously pointed out the Snowden fellow employees were probably contractors and not actual NSA employees. Though the NSA should probably still take some heat for for choosing poorly and apparently not making sure their hirelings are properly trained about proper security.

124 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:12:27pm
125 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:13:14pm

re: #124 Lidane

[Embedded content]

*toketoketoke* IMPEACH!!!

126 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:14:22pm

re: #118 darthstar

[Embedded content]

PERSECUTION!!1 DAVID CAMERON IS BARACK OBAMA’S POODLE AND OBAMA HAS TOLD HIM TO SILENCE ALL WHO DARE TO SPEAK TEH TROOF!!!11

127 Schadenboner  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:16:40pm

re: #26 Lidane

Same here. I got asked for my password once, but that was when I was getting a new laptop and it was being set up for me. I had the option of changing my password after the fact, too.

Oh behalf of computer janitors everywhere I would like, once again, to thank Microsoft for making there be *no* way to create domain-user profiles without the user logging in.

Because domained laptops are never mailed to home-office users and those users never use post-logon VPN connections to authenticate. Nope.

128 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:17:38pm

I await the beginning of the primaries, when we start hearing the promises from TP candidates that, when they get to D.C., they’ll make getting the “truth” about Benghazi one of their top priorities.

129 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:18:24pm

Yesterday, President Obama ripped Rick Perry a new asshole in Texas. Today, he’s doing the same for Bobby Jindal in Louisiana.

130 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:19:20pm

re: #105 darthstar

[Embedded content]

So he’s not only plagiarizing, but he’s plagiarizing RACIST SHIT FROM GATESTONE.

131 Killgore Trout  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:21:42pm

Most of the press is still running the Arafat=polonium stuff with minimal skepticism. Some of the only doubt surprisingly comes from Al Jazeera itself.

Russian study calls Arafat poisoning claims ‘unsubstantiated’

The Russian report concluded that “only one of the four provided fragments,” a piece of the skull bone, “was found to have radioactive background.”

Dr. Francois Bochud, who led the Swiss investigation, told Al Jazeera’s David Poort that the skull was an unlikely place to test for the radioactive substance.

“We thought that (the skull) would not be the best kind of bone sample to measure,” he said. “It is not as vascularized as other bones and therefore not the bone that would collect the highest quantity of polonium.”

Dave Barclay, a veteran forensic scientist and investigator, told Al Jazeera, “the choice of bone fragments that they’ve chosen to use is very odd and the levels they’ve got appear to be 10 or 20 times less than you’d expect just from anyone else in the world.”

“I think the results are meaningless,” he said.

132 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:21:55pm

re: #105 darthstar

[Embedded content]

133 Amory Blaine  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:22:03pm

Just made this one up.

134 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:22:06pm

re: #129 darthstar

135 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:23:26pm

re: #128 Targetpractice

I await the beginning of the primaries, when we start hearing the promises from TP candidates that, when they get to D.C., they’ll make getting the “truth” about Benghazi one of their top priorities.

2016 GOP platform:

Defund/Delay/Repeal Obamacare
Ban abortions everywhere. Birth control too.
Stop Agenda 21!!!1!eleventy!
Benghazi
Eliminate taxes on the 1% while raising taxes on the poor
Round up and deport 12 million people
Eliminate the Voting Rights and Civil Rights acts
Reinstate DOMA and DADT
Dismantle DOE, HUD, EPA, FDA, IRS,
Make English the official language and Christianity the state religion

But they’re the party of small government, don’tcha know.

136 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:23:27pm
137 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:24:21pm

re: #133 Amory Blaine

Just made this one up.

Win.

138 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:25:49pm

“Rand Paul doesn’t do what Rand Paul does for Rand Paul.
Rand Paul does what Rand Paul does because Rand Paul is Rand Paul.”
— Dr. Rand Paul

139 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:26:27pm

re: #131 Killgore Trout

Most of the press is still running the Arafat=polonium stuff with minimal skepticism. Some of the only doubt surprisingly comes from Al Jazeera itself.

Russian study calls Arafat poisoning claims ‘unsubstantiated’

We should have a ‘Shit Stirrer Award’ for the US non-right media outlet that has done the most blatant job of trying to create controversy via bad reporting.

140 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:27:38pm

Rand Paul such a douchecanoe he makes his father look a little likable.

141 ausador  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:27:49pm

re: #121 Sol Berdinowitz

This was obviouls another Obama trap, letting the GOP froth and spew outrage until they were too intoxicated to notice that they were over the edge on this one, too.

CBS didn’t pay their source for the story, they just had their wholly owned subsidiary publishing house agree to pay him an advance for a publishing contract for a book he wrote about his “exclusive” Benghazi information.

It would have worked too, no one probably would ever have caught on if FOX news hadn’t seen their chance to damage the credibility of CBS. When FOX wanted to interview him and he demanded money first it kinda made it obvious to them that there had already been some kind of deal with CBS.

FOX decided that the proper thing to do was to damage the reputation of CBS as much as possible rather than broadcast questionable information. Even if it did further their own slanted narrative of the Benghazi attack and point to supposed government malfeasance.

“So remember, FOX is “Fair and Balanced” unlike CBS who pays people to lie to you and MSNBC who is simply a tool of the Democrats….”

143 allegro  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:29:46pm

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

The federal funds cover 100% of the expansion for 3 years and at least 90% thereafter. Covering the thousands of people who are uninsured and earn too little to qualify for ACA means those people go without care until they are very ill then have to use much more costly emergency room care that they cannot pay for. That increases cost for everyone. Refusing the expansion is just a GOP asshole move that really can’t be defended.

144 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:29:50pm

re: #139 Dark_Falcon

We should have a ‘Shit Stirrer Award’ for the US non-right media outlet that has done the most blatant job of trying to create controversy via bad reporting.

This award would be open only to non-right-wing outlets to highlight the bad behavior of one of those. The right-wing outlets would have a different series of awards:

1. The OUTRAGE OUTRAGE!!1 Award.

2. The Benghazi Boogaloo Award.

3. The Unhinged Attack of the ACA Award.

And lastly:

4. The Inciting Racial Panic Award.

Feel free to suggest your own ‘Awards’.

145 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:29:54pm

re: #142 Varek Raith

Simon & Schuster Pulls Discredited Benghazi Book

Someone at Simon and Schuster once donated to the Obama campaign ergo something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

146 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:30:20pm

re: #138 jaunte

“Rand Paul doesn’t do what Rand Paul does for Rand Paul.
Rand Paul does what Rand Paul does because Rand Paul is Rand Paul.”
— Dr. Rand Paul

Malkovich malkovich?

147 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:30:32pm

Seems legit.

Image: tinfoil.jpg

148 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:30:54pm

re: #144 Dark_Falcon

This award would be open only to non-right-wing outlets to highlight the bad behavior of one of those. The right-wing outlets would have a different series of awards:

1. The OUTRAGE OUTRAGE!!1 Award.

2. The Benghazi Boogaloo Award.

3. The Unhinged Attack of the ACA Award.

And lastly:

4. The Inciting Racial Panic Award.

Feel free to suggest your own ‘Awards’.

5.) The Mitt Romney Memorial Award for Changing One’s mind mid-sentence.

149 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:32:12pm

re: #143 allegro

The federal funds cover 100% of the expansion for 3 years and at least 90% thereafter. Covering the thousands of people who are uninsured and earn too little to qualify for ACA means those people go without care until they are very ill then have to use much more costly emergency room care that they cannot pay for. That increases cost for everyone. Refusing the expansion is just a GOP asshole move that really can’t be defended.

Yep and Jindal is governor of one of the poorest states at that. He’s acting like a hack.

150 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:32:18pm

re: #147 Lidane

Seems legit.

Image: tinfoil.jpg

Actually, depending on how one applies the foil, it might actually boost reception.

151 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:32:41pm

re: #141 ausador

CBS didn’t pay their source for the story, they just had their wholly owned subsidiary publishing house agree to pay him an advance for a publishing contract for a book he wrote about his “exclusive” Benghazi information.

It would have worked too, no one probably would ever have caught on if FOX news hadn’t seen their chance to damage the credibility of CBS. When FOX wanted to interview him and he demanded money first it kinda made it obvious to them that there had already been some kind of deal with CBS.

FOX decided that the proper thing to do was to damage the reputation of CBS as much as possible rather than broadcast questionable information. Even if it did further their own slanted narrative of the Benghazi attack and point to supposed government malfeasance.

“So remember, FOX is “Fair and Balanced” unlike CBS who pays people to lie to you and MSNBC who is simply a tool of the Democrats….”

But FNC could not have damaged CBS if CBS had not walked right into Fox’s crosshairs. CBS screwed up by the numbers and in so doing handed FNC a club with which to beat CBS while making Fox look good by comparison.

152 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:33:15pm

re: #123 Feline Fearless Leader

As previously pointed out the Snowden fellow employees were probably contractors and not actual NSA employees. Though the NSA should probably still take some heat for for choosing poorly and apparently not making sure their hirelings are properly trained about proper security.

Snowden worked at the NSA Remote Operations Facility in Hawaii, not a contractor facility, so the other people were quite likely government civilians or active duty. This is not a contracting problem, it’s a more general security procedures problem. Social engineering is always the hardest attack to combat, because we are social creatures who want to cooperate.

153 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:33:25pm

re: #142 Varek Raith

Simon & Schuster Pulls Discredited Benghazi Book

This is no different from Nazis burning books!!!

154 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:33:46pm

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

[Embedded content]

Time-limited, as in after 2020, the state will have to cover - wait for it - TEN PERCENT!

Jindal is a steaming pile of shit for turning it down. He cares more about sticking it to Obama and appealing to the FOAD crowd than he does about his constituents.

155 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:33:50pm

The First World War looms much larger in the European consciousness than in the American, especially in the UK and France. They were in it from the beginning while the US only participated for the last 18 months of the war, with American troops engaged on a large scale for only the last five months.
French and British losses were horrific, nearly unbelievable to present day perceptions. France lost 1.4 million military dead and 260,000 civilians, more than 4% of the pre-war population. 75% of the young men between 18 and 24 were war casualties, with 30% killed and the rest wounded to one degree or another. British Empire fatalities were nearly a million with 75% of those from the UK itself.
During the Second World War, American officers like Patton were often exasperated at the caution displayed by their British counterparts. The British leaders, like Montgomery, had spent years in the trenches as junior officers and had seen the great slaughter first hand. British losses in the second war were half as great as in the first, despite having larger forces fighting all over the world

156 blueraven  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:34:51pm

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

The Feds pay 100% of the expansion for the first three years and then gradually reduce its subsidy to 90% by 2020.

Where is the time limit beyond that?

157 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:34:53pm

re: #148 HappyWarrior

5.) The Mitt Romney Memorial Award for Changing One’s mind mid-sentence.

Slightly altered. Mitt Romney isn’t dead so ‘memorial’ is not appropriate.

158 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:34:57pm

re: #146 Feline Fearless Leader

Stolen from South Park on James Cameron…

159 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:34:57pm

re: #153 Targetpractice

This is no different from Nazis burning books!!!

TRAMPLING THE 1ST AMENDMENT!

160 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:35:34pm

Darrell Issa is a Lying Liar

House Oversight Chairman Darrell “Witch Hunt” Issa turned heads yesterday when he appeared on Fox News and claimed that healthcare dot gov could only handle 1,100 concurrent users when it launched.

As ThinkProgress points out today, Darrell Issa knew full well that this was a misleading claim.

[In] a letter to Issa, Rep. Ellijah Cummings (D-MD), the ranking member on the Committee, pointed to an interview Issa’s own staff conducted with Henry Chao, the Deputy Information Officer. Chao explained that the 1,000 figure were “the results of a much smaller testing environment” and were not conducted “with final production testing of the system at full capacity.”

Darrell Issa is really bad at this Fake Scandal thing. You’re not suppose to discredit yourself.

161 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:35:44pm

re: #155 Shiplord Kirel

The First World War looms much larger in the European consciousness than in the American, especially in the UK and France. They were in it from the beginning while the US only participated for the last 18 months of the war, with American troops engaged on a large scale for only the last five months.
French and British losses were horrific, nearly unbelievable to present day perceptions. France lost 1.4 million military dead and 260,000 civilians, more than 4% of the pre-war population. 75% of the young men between 18 and 24 were war casualties, with 30% killed and the rest wounded to one degree or another. British Empire fatalities were nearly a million with 75% of those from the UK itself.
During the Second World War, American officers like Patton were often exasperated at the caution displayed by their British counterparts. The British leaders, like Montgomery, had spent years in the trenches as junior officers and had seen the great slaughter first hand. British losses in the second war were half as great as in the first, despite having larger forces fighting all over the world

This is a good point that I don’t think many Americans think about when we look at why our European allies do foreign policy. You had literally in WWI whole towns of young men wiped out in some places. Just imagine that for a second.

162 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:37:29pm

re: #157 Dark_Falcon

Slightly altered. Mitt Romney isn’t dead so ‘memorial’ is not appropriate.

True, true. Okay how about this
6.) The Ron Paul Award for perceived economic knowledge.

7.) The Ted Cruz Award for best political theater.

8.) Bryan Fischer Award for mental gymanstics

9.) and the coup de gras, the Glenn Beck Nazi Award for totally misunderstanding what the Nazis actually were.

163 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:37:43pm

re: #153 Targetpractice

This is no different from Nazis burning remaindering books!!!

FTFY
////

164 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:38:04pm

re: #160 Varek Raith

Darrell Issa is a Lying Liar

Darrell Issa is really bad at this Fake Scandal thing. You’re not suppose to discredit yourself.

Issa’s just a sad hack.

165 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:38:16pm

re: #161 HappyWarrior

This is a good point that I don’t think many Americans think about when we look at why our European allies do foreign policy. You had literally in WWI whole towns of young men wiped out in some places. Just imagine that for a second.

In Surprised by Joy, CS Lewis relates that only 3 of the 55 members of the class ahead of his (1916) survived the war. “The Somme consumed the rest.”

166 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:38:47pm

re: #155 Shiplord Kirel

The First World War looms much larger in the European consciousness than in the American, especially in the UK and France. They were in it from the beginning while the US only participated for the last 18 months of the war, with American troops engaged on a large scale for only the last five months.
French and British losses were horrific, nearly unbelievable to present day perceptions. France lost 1.4 million military dead and 260,000 civilians, more than 4% of the pre-war population. 75% of the young men between 18 and 24 were war casualties, with 30% killed and the rest wounded to one degree or another. British Empire fatalities were nearly a million with 75% of those from the UK itself.
During the Second World War, American officers like Patton were often exasperated at the caution displayed by their British counterparts. The British leaders, like Montgomery, had spent years in the trenches as junior officers and had seen the great slaughter first hand. British losses in the second war were half as great as in the first, despite having larger forces fighting all over the world

Just so. To be fair, Patton had seen battle in WWI himself, and had actually seen just as much as Monty had (Montgomery spent most of the war on staff duties after suffering a severe wound in his first combat assignment). Monty’s actions (and his public persona) were very much a reaction to the changed temperament of Britain due to WWI.

167 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:38:55pm

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

168 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:39:42pm

re: #165 Shiplord Kirel

In Surprised by Joy, CS Lewis relates that only 3 of the 55 members of the class ahead of his (1916) survived the war. “The Somme consumed the rest.”

Honestly such a experience would make me a pacifist. I certainly don’t condone the appeasement of the Nazis in the 30’s but people who blindly condemn the British and French leadership at that time ignore what they were coming out of. We have the wonderful benefit of having hindsight bias and knowing what the Nazis were.

169 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:39:56pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

Whatever, Jim, whatever.

170 blueraven  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:02pm

re: #156 blueraven

The Feds pay 100% of the expansion for the first three years and then gradually reduce its subsidy to 90% by 2020.

Where is the time limit beyond that?

Anyway the states not expanding medicaid will most likely lose more money in the end. Blatant stupid political posturing while disregarding many of the most needy citizens. TX for example, over 1 million!

171 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:34pm

re: #157 Dark_Falcon

Slightly altered. Mitt Romney isn’t dead so ‘memorial’ is not appropriate.

He is forgotten, so it is.

172 Joanne  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:35pm

re: #149 HappyWarrior

Yep and Jindal is governor of one of the poorest states at that. He’s acting like a hack.

Jindal is a hack. Volcano monitoring?

173 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:44pm

DeMint: “even if they eat so much trans fat that they in fact do have greater health risks, this is their personal and informed choice”
blog.heritage.org

174 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:44pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

Says the man who wants to ban unwed pregnant women from teaching. Shut up Jim. If you’re going to have a problem with this, you need to repudiate all the so-con reactionary bullshit you stood for as a senator and now as the Heritage Foundation’s gofer.

175 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:40:46pm

re: #161 HappyWarrior

On the flip side, there is no Russian word for “attrition”.

FACT!
/

176 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:41:00pm

re: #2 lawhawk

How are many computer security systems coopted? It’s not brute force hacking, but people writing down passwords, or giving them to coworkers.

These reports indicate that the NSA has serious security issues with its contract workforce, and that steps must be taken to enforce the security protocols that were in place but disregarded, or strengthen and enforce lax regulations.

I wouldn’t be shocked to learn of similar problems with other agencies or the DoD or DHS since they too operate with significant numbers of contract workers and lots of classified information floating around.

The thing is that none of this excuses Snowden.

If anything it shows he purposefully manipulated the system to get at data he wasn’t entitled to. It’s theft of classified information. It’s espionage.

And then he ran off to Hong Kong on his way to Moscow.

That doesn’t make him a hero. That makes him a criminal under US law for stealing classified data, methods, means, and techniques.

Exactly. Something I’ve maintained all along: Snowden committed criminal acts, and I also think Greenwald and Poitras aided and abetted. There is, after all, a reason that all 3 are safely (for the time being) out of the country.

177 erik_t  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:41:03pm

Where do I go to sign up for the Freedom For Melamine mailing list?

178 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:41:38pm

re: #173 jaunte

DeMint: “even if they eat so much trans fat that they in fact do have greater health risks, this is their personal and informed choice”
blog.heritage.org

I actually don’t entirely disagree with him on that. But OTOH this is a guy who is a okay with forcing his idea of morality on the rest of us so he’s not exactly credible.

179 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:42:28pm

re: #175 Kragar

On the flip side, there is no Russian word for “attrition”.

FACT!
/

There isn’t? I only lasted two weeks in Russian 101 and all I learned was da, nyet, and vodka. Won’t see me getting around easily in Moscow.

180 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:42:34pm

re: #178 HappyWarrior

Based on how transfats are used in food processing, I’m not sure it is really an informed choice to consume them.

181 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:15pm

re: #178 HappyWarrior

I actually don’t entirely disagree with him on that. But OTOH this is a guy who is a okay with forcing his idea of morality on the rest of us so he’s not exactly credible.

But if trans fats harm human health, and is included in food only to increase the shelf life, why should it be allowed in food?

182 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:24pm

re: #168 HappyWarrior

Honestly such a experience would make me a pacifist. I certainly don’t condone the appeasement of the Nazis in the 30’s but people who blindly condemn the British and French leadership at that time ignore what they were coming out of. We have the wonderful benefit of having hindsight bias and knowing what the Nazis were.

Hitler thought he could just launch a mechanized Blitzkrieg and end the war before the casualties started piling up…he nearly succeeded.

183 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:43pm

re: #180 jaunte

Based on how transfats are used in food processing, I’m not sure it is really an informed choice to consume them.

Yeah, it’s not as simple as he’s making it out to be, I agree. DeMint’s big problem on this issue though is he’s the guy who has outright stated he wants unwed women out of the classrooms and is okay with banning gay people from teaching. He’s the ultimate conservative nanny stater.

184 funky chicken  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:51pm

re: #173 jaunte

DeMint: “even if they eat so much trans fat that they in fact do have greater health risks, this is their personal and informed choice”
blog.heritage.org

Sigh. I guess Crisco is a big contributor to DeMint’s PAC?

185 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:55pm

re: #173 jaunte

DeMint: “even if they eat so much trans fat that they in fact do have greater health risks, this is their personal and informed choice”
blog.heritage.org

Laying odds that DeMint also views mandatory labelling of contents on food packaging as tyranny….

186 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:43:56pm

re: #168 HappyWarrior

Honestly such a experience would make me a pacifist. I certainly don’t condone the appeasement of the Nazis in the 30’s but people who blindly condemn the British and French leadership at that time ignore what they were coming out of. We have the wonderful benefit of having hindsight bias and knowing what the Nazis were.

Neville Chamberlain knew what sort of man Hitler was, but he let himself be blinded by his ego and refusal to admit error. At one point, FDR offered to hold negotiations over the Sudetenland as part of a summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the end of WWI. Chamberlain refused, and DERPed out cheap anti-Americanism along with his refusal.

187 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:44:06pm

re: #162 HappyWarrior

9.) and the coup de gras, the Glenn Beck Nazi Award for totally misunderstanding what the Nazis actually were.

You want to say coup de grace. The closest I can translate “coup de gras” is something like “fat bomb”, which is probably more appropriate, so on second thought carry on.

188 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:44:22pm

re: #181 wrenchwench

But if trans fats harm human health, and is included in food only to increase the shelf life, why should it be allowed in food?

We let tar be included in cigarettes don’t we? I have to admit, I need to give it more thought but my big problem with DeMint is he’s a hypocrite.

189 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:44:58pm

Battles which 50-100 years ago would have been called amazing successes then would be called disasters and quagmires today.

190 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:46:11pm

re: #186 Dark_Falcon

Neville Chamberlain knew what sort of man Hitler was, but he let himself be blinded by his ego and refusal to admit error. At one point, FDR offered to hold negotiations over the Sudetenland as part of a summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the end of WWI. Chamberlain refused, and DERPed out cheap anti-Americanism along with his refusal.

Well I was speaking in general. Believe me, I’m the first guy you’ll meet who will condemn Chamberlain for selling out the Czechoslovak people ot the Nazis given I had family there at that time who no doubt were impacted and had other family impacted when they invaded Yugoslavia. However, I do understand why there were people in Europe and the US who wanted to avoid war. I am not defending Chamberlain. I am saying, I understand why some of the leadership want to avoid war.

191 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:46:54pm

re: #189 Kragar

Battles which 50-100 years ago would have been called amazing successes then would be called disasters and quagmires today.

Even when Grant was winning, they called him a butcher but he won.

192 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:47:02pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

People should be able to do whatever they want with their bodies! Except abortions…and recreational drugs…and prostitution…and sodomy…

193 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:47:34pm

re: #182 Sol Berdinowitz

Hitler thought he could just launch a mechanized Blitzkrieg and end the war before the casualties started piling up…he nearly succeeded.

What came to be called Blitzkrieg was the German idea for avoiding a repeat of the deadlock of WWI. It was brilliant, but for a number of reasons failed when confronted by the English Channel and the Russian steppes.

194 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:47:36pm

re: #187 ericblair

You want to say coup de grace. The closest I can translate “coup de gras” is something like “fat bomb”, which is probably more appropriate, so on second thought carry on.

Ah thanks, my French is terrible. Only took a little bit of when I took an introduction to foreign language class years ago. So thanks.

195 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:47:42pm

re: #155 Shiplord Kirel

One of the most heart-wrenching moments in “Goodbye Mr Chips” was the weekly casualty lists that Mr Chips read to his students.
Granted, the book & film were fiction, but based on the very real history.

196 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:47:51pm

re: #175 Kragar

On the flip side, there is no Russian word for “attrition”.

FACT!
/

изнашивание от трения

well, they need three words to get the point across…

197 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:48:44pm

Small government! Rebranding!

198 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:49:18pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

I’m almost certain there will be a black market for that so DeMint won’t have to suffer…

199 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:49:56pm

12+ years of the War on Terror: ~57k American dead and wounded

42 days at the Battle of Kursk: ~860k Russian dead and wounded

200 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:50:31pm

Jim DeMint’s missive translated from Teabag to English: “Whatever Barack Hussein Obama supports, I’m Against!! Ow, my butt, it hurts!!1!”

201 Joanne  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:50:49pm

re: #197 Lidane

Small government! Rebranding!

[Embedded content]

God, guns and….

202 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:51:02pm

re: #199 Kragar

12+ years of the War on Terror: ~57k American dead and wounded

42 days at the Battle of Kursk: ~860k Russian dead and wounded

Battle of Kursk, aka “Where the fuck did Ivan get all those tanks?!”

203 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:51:10pm

re: #188 HappyWarrior

We let tar be included in cigarettes don’t we? I have to admit, I need to give it more thought but my big problem with DeMint is he’s a hypocrite.

Cigarettes are not sold as food, and include warning labels. And yes, DeMint is a hypocrite.

204 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:51:27pm

re: #197 Lidane

I don’t mind gun safety being taught in schools, just so long as its in the same class as comprehensive sex ed.

And you can save Bible School for you church.

205 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:51:54pm

re: #194 HappyWarrior

Ah thanks, my French is terrible. Only took a little bit of when I took an introduction to foreign language class years ago. So thanks.

Didn’t mean to be a pedant or anything, just thought it was a pretty good unintentional pun. There are a lot of “coup de” phrases, and I can’t think of one word that would translate the “coup” part directly (“coup d’oeil” is a glance, “coup de telephone” is a phonecall, etc). So fat bomb it is.

206 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:51:56pm

re: #202 Targetpractice

Battle of Kursk, aka “Where the fuck did Ivan get all those tanks?!”

“From that factory, right over there. Look, here comes another one!”

207 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:52:03pm

re: #197 Lidane

Small government! Rebranding!

GOP Senate Candidate Wants Gun Safety, Religion Taught In Schools

They have three more years to race to the fundamentalist bottom of the barrel, and the GOP does not understand anything but doubling down on the conservatism if they fail.

208 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:52:21pm

re: #203 wrenchwench

Cigarettes are not sold as food, and include warning labels. And yes, DeMint is a hypocrite.

True enough. And you’re right the more I think about it. And yeah he’s a huge one. As I said, he’s a bigger nanny stater than Obama ever will be.

209 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:53:18pm

re: #205 ericblair

Didn’t mean to be a pedant or anything, just thought it was a pretty good unintentional pun. There are a lot of “coup de” phrases, and I can’t think of one word that would translate the “coup” part directly (“coup d’oeil” is a glance, “coup de telephone” is a phonecall, etc). So fat bomb it is.

Nah, nah, it’s cool. Didn’t know that though, interesting.

210 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:53:20pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

Legalize gutter oil in the U.S.!

211 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:53:58pm

Coming Next Week: Mike Huckabee refuses to oppose transfats ban, is formally purged as a RINO.

212 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:54:16pm

re: #207 Sol Berdinowitz

They have three more years to race to the fundamentalist bottom of the barrel, and the GOP does not understand anything but doubling down on the conservatism if they fail.

I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. At the rate that they keep doubling down and moving to the right, the GOP will be a white nationalist fascist party in a few more election cycles. Something’s got to give sooner rather than later.

213 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:54:25pm

Fun Fact: The Luftwaffe bombing campaign to soften up Kursk spent most of their effort bombing decoys. Hundreds of thousands of women and children set up fake targets for weeks before the battle. Most of what the Germans bombed was nothing more than logs and black paint.

214 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:54:25pm

Fitday:

Although it should come as no real surprise, fast food products are among the most trans fat-heavy foods currently available. The worst offenders when it comes to fast food-related trans fats are McDondalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken. A typical order of the former’s french fries contains roughly 14.5 grams of trans fats and a serving of friend chicken from the latter contains between 7 and 10 grams of trans fats. For this reason, it is recommended that you consume fast food no more than twice a month.fitday.com

215 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:55:03pm

friend chicken?

216 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:55:23pm

re: #213 Kragar

Fun Fact: The Luftwaffe bombing campaign to soften up Kursk spent most of their effort bombing decoys. Hundreds of thousands of women and children set up fake targets for weeks before the battle. Most of what the Germans bombed was nothing more than logs and black paint.

Funner fact: the Russians had a spy network that knew almost exactly when and where the Germans were planning to attack and were waiting to ambush the entire operation.

217 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:55:28pm

re: #165 Shiplord Kirel

In Surprised by Joy, CS Lewis relates that only 3 of the 55 members of the class ahead of his (1916) survived the war. “The Somme consumed the rest.”

And all for naught. In my Military History class we discussed the Somme briefly, instead focusing on Verdun, which was as horrific but went on a lot longer. I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be in the trenches for years, with death raining down sporadically and randomly on you, with the mud and the dead, and with no change day after day, month after month, for four years.

218 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:55:43pm

re: #179 HappyWarrior

There isn’t? I only lasted two weeks in Russian 101 and all I learned was da, nyet, and vodka. Won’t see me getting around easily in Moscow.

истощение

219 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:56:04pm

Amazon has already suspended the e-book.

220 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:56:11pm

re: #184 funky chicken

Sigh. I guess Crisco is a big contributor to DeMint’s PAC?

Crisco shortening products are trans fat free.

I kind of panicked for a minute because I use Crisco in pie crust.

221 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:56:36pm

re: #215 jaunte

friend chicken?

Or foe?

222 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:57:03pm

re: #167 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Join the Fats for Freedom Crusade!

Because the freedom to poison yourself slowly over years with food is what America is about.

223 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:57:12pm

re: #221 wrenchwench

That’s certainly a well-sculpted fried head.

224 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:57:43pm

re: #221 wrenchwench

Or foe?

Pretty sure that’s fake.
*shrugs*

225 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:58:09pm

re: #189 Kragar

Battles which 50-100 years ago would have been called amazing successes then would be called disasters and quagmires today.

Battle of Messines, 1917
An overwhelming victory for the British 2nd Army, with the Germans pushed back 3000 yards over a front of 6 miles, at a cost of 24,562 casualties.
This was the site of the famous mining operation that led to the simultaneous detonation of several hundred tons of explosives under the German lines to kick off the attack.

226 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:58:34pm

Image: rbtop-animated-haiyan.gif

227 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:58:37pm

re: #213 Kragar

Fun Fact: The Luftwaffe bombing campaign to soften up Kursk spent most of their effort bombing decoys. Hundreds of thousands of women and children set up fake targets for weeks before the battle. Most of what the Germans bombed was nothing more than logs and black paint.

Do you have a link or a book about that?

I’m not doubting you, I just find the subject of deception in war very interesting.

228 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:59:05pm

re: #216 Sol Berdinowitz

Also, by the time Kursk began, Russians had begun a new practice in their infantry training. After the initial failure of their troops to stand against Panzers, they began a process called ironing. The troops would dig trenches, then Russian tanks would drive over them, in some cases for hours at a time. This was to let the troops know they could survive an armored assault.

229 calochortus  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:59:34pm

re: #173 jaunte

DeMint: “even if they eat so much trans fat that they in fact do have greater health risks, this is their personal and informed choice”
blog.heritage.org

A quick look at the topic over at FR indicates DeMint may be picking a losing horse to back. A fair number of Freepers do support his position-but not with real enthusiasm and there are a lot who aren’t happy with food additives.
Industry may support him, but even Crisco no longer contains transfats so it can be done…

230 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 12:59:59pm

re: #227 The Ghost of a Flea

Do you have a link or a book about that?

I’m not doubting you, I just find the subject of deception in war very interesting.

History channel had a documentary on it a while back.

231 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:00:17pm

Tea partier shifts tactics on Obamacare

PLAINVILLE, Kan. — Reality has sunk in for one of Congress’s staunchest Obamacare opponents.

Just weeks ago, Rep. Tim Huelskamp was one of the most prominent faces of the government shutdown, privately plotting with conservatives to push House Republicans into a strategy they later came to regret.

But this week, as he wheeled through county after county, lambasting his congressional leadership and the Obama administration with equal fervor, Huelskamp is publicly admitting that a government shutdown to choke off funding for Obamacare likely isn’t in the cards when government funding runs out again in January.

(PHOTOS: Obamacare online glitches: 25 great quotes)

The shift may signal a broader move away from the slash-and-burn tactics favored by some of Congress’s most conservative lawmakers — and a broader recognition on the far right that the GOP is in dire need of a tactical makeover. Of course, Huelskamp still says that Obamacare must be repealed, but he adds that he’s now willing to downsize his demands and “pass something that says you can keep your plan if you like it.” President Barack Obama, appearing on NBC Thursday, apologized to Americans who lost their insurance plans.

SNIP

And here comes the insanity:

Huelskamp, who ran unopposed in 2012, enjoys an enviable level of support here at home that allows him wide political leeway. But his scaled-back demands caught the ear of constituents and staunch Huelskamp allies.

(WATCH: 10 things Obama wants you to know about healthcare law)

“I’ve noticed it — I think they’ve backed off, they’ve surrendered,” said Jim Circle, the chairman of the Rooks County Republican Party, who said he believes Obama is against Christians and his agenda is “right out of the communist manifesto.” “The nation has one chance next year to turn the Senate. And they [Republicans] have to maintain control of the House. If they can get past Harry Reid, then they can fix it or defund it. I don’t care what they do. They shouldn’t fight a losing battle.”

Bolding mine.

232 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:01:19pm

re: #224 Varek Raith

Pretty sure that’s fake.
*shrugs*

Bottom Line
The debate regarding the breaded McDonald’s chicken head will probably never be fully resolved.

Yet it’s classified as an Urban Legend at that site………..

233 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:01:51pm

re: #184 funky chicken

Sigh. I guess Crisco is a big contributor to DeMint’s PAC?

yay! a bonus for pure and unadulturated lard!
Southern cooks rejoice….

234 calochortus  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:02:51pm

re: #233 Backwoods_Sleuth

yay! a bonus for pure and unadulturated lard!
Southern cooks rejoice….

And pie makers everywhere (at least gentile ones…)

235 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:02:59pm

re: #233 Backwoods_Sleuth

yay! a bonus for pure and unadulturated lard!
Southern cooks rejoice….

NO MOAR trans fats in Crisco!
Kosher cooks rejoice…

236 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:03:25pm

re: #232 wrenchwench

Yet it’s classified as an Urban Legend at that site………..

snopes.com

237 sagehen  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:03:42pm

re: #155 Shiplord Kirel

The First World War looms much larger in the European consciousness than in the American, especially in the UK and France. They were in it from the beginning while the US only participated for the last 18 months of the war, with American troops engaged on a large scale for only the last five months.
French and British losses were horrific, nearly unbelievable to present day perceptions. France lost 1.4 million military dead and 260,000 civilians, more than 4% of the pre-war population. 75% of the young men between 18 and 24 were war casualties, with 30% killed and the rest wounded to one degree or another. British Empire fatalities were nearly a million with 75% of those from the UK itself.
During the Second World War, American officers like Patton were often exasperated at the caution displayed by their British counterparts. The British leaders, like Montgomery, had spent years in the trenches as junior officers and had seen the great slaughter first hand. British losses in the second war were half as great as in the first, despite having larger forces fighting all over the world

Canada, Australia and New Zealand, too.

Canada lost 60,000 in WWI, when the country’s entire population was 8 million.

For scale — we lost 50,000 in Vietnam, when our population was 250 million.

238 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:04:11pm

re: #213 Kragar

Fun Fact: The Luftwaffe bombing campaign to soften up Kursk spent most of their effort bombing decoys. Hundreds of thousands of women and children set up fake targets for weeks before the battle. Most of what the Germans bombed was nothing more than logs and black paint.

Another Fun Fact: Kursk also marked the operational debut of the PzKpfw V, aka the Panther, which had been developed from experience fighting the T-34 on the Eastern Front. Of course, in a sign of things to come, the first two unloaded from their transports were immediately written off as loses when their engines caught fire.

239 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:05:07pm

re: #238 Targetpractice

Another Fun Fact: Kursk also marked the operational debut of the PzKpfw V, aka the Panther, which had been developed from experience fighting the T-34 on the Eastern Front. Of course, in a sign of things to come, the first two unloaded from their transports were immediately written off as loses when their engines caught fire.

What, did the Italians build those?
////

240 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:05:21pm

Obviously, he can’t write without it.

Salon exclusive: More Rand Paul plagiarism

UPDATED! Salon exclusive: In two 2013 speeches, Paul borrowed from a conservative think-tank without attribution

salon.com

What’s a little plagiarism amongst friends? ///

241 calochortus  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:05:22pm

re: #235 Vicious Babushka

NO MOAR trans fats in Crisco!
Kosher cooks rejoice…

I noticed when they took out the trans-fats. It coincided with younger child leaving for college and suddenly I was doing less baking. Older Crisco develops a sort of translucent look to it that wasn’t there when it contained the trans-fats. I don’t think it goes bad, it just looks a little different. I adjusted by buying Crisco in a smaller size so it doesn’t sit around as long.

242 ericblair  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:05:37pm

re: #218 Varek Raith

истощение

The backstory behind the joke in case some were wondering is that Reagan (supposedly) said that Russian has no word for “freedom”. Because the language of Dostoyevskiy and Gogol would be missing key literary and philosophical concepts, I suppose.

BTW, I did a quick Google search and can’t find a direct reference of Reagan saying this, just Hitchens saying that Reagan said it.

243 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:05:56pm

re: #236 Varek Raith

snopes.com

The McNoggin….

lol

244 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:06:58pm

All good threads devolve to pie eventually.

245 A Mom Anon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:07:23pm

re: #174 HappyWarrior

I would happily bake Mr. DeMint a big old batch of transfatty muffins and cakes every week in the name of Freedom.

246 HappyWarrior  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:07:23pm

re: #244 wrenchwench

All good threads devolve to pie eventually.

Pie is good and good is pie.

247 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:07:45pm

re: #213 Kragar

re: #216 Sol Berdinowitz

The Soviet general staff (STAVKA) actually planned a large wave of air attacks of their own for the morning of the German offensive. Those raids, however, were one aspect of the Soviet plan that did not work; The Luftwaffe had just deployed new radars to the base intended to support the ‘CITADEL’ offensive. These radars detected the incoming Russian air strike packages far enough out for Luftwaffe fighters to get airborne and devastate them.

248 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:07:50pm

re: #244 wrenchwench

All good threads devolve to pie eventually.

Isn’t that a mnemonic for something?
//

249 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:08:07pm

re: #241 calochortus

I noticed when they took out the trans-fats. It coincided with younger child leaving for college and suddenly I was doing less baking. Older Crisco develops a sort of translucent look to it that wasn’t there when it contained the trans-fats. I don’t think it goes bad, it just looks a little different. I adjusted by buying Crisco in a smaller size so it doesn’t sit around as long.

Crisco now makes convenient “baking bars” which I store in the freezer.

250 Vicious Babushka  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:09:14pm

I was going to make a lemon meringue pie but Shabbos comes so early and there wasn’t time.

Next week I promise אי”ה

251 calochortus  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:10:15pm

re: #249 Vicious Babushka

Crisco now makes convenient “baking bars” which I store in the freezer.

Freezing is good.

252 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:10:27pm

re: #239 GeneJockey

What, did the Italians build those?
////

They were rushed into combat without testing to be on time for the big offensive. Later turned out to be one of the best tanks of the war

253 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:10:53pm

re: #248 GeneJockey

Isn’t that a mnemonic for something?
//

I can never remember what ‘mnemonic’ means.

/

254 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:11:32pm

Lolwhut.

255 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:11:57pm

re: #239 GeneJockey

What, did the Italians build those?
////

No, the Panther was ordered into production before its mechanical problems could be solved. As a result, the early ‘D’ model Panthers had severe problems. The subsequent Panthers A and G cured some of those problems, but the Panther remained severely problematic mechanically for its entire service life.

256 lawhawk  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:12:47pm

re: #247 Dark_Falcon

Except that the Luftwaffe was limited because of logistics - it was lacking petrol, oil, lubricants, and replacement parts for aircraft for a sustained fight. Meanwhile, the Soviets were cramming sending aircraft and tanks right out of the factory into battle - that’s how close the fighting got.

So, while the Germans thought that they had a plan in place to close the Kursk salient and shorten their lines and deal with repairing the logistics to their overextended lines, the Soviets had advantages of time, space, and Enigma cracking the German codes. The Brits had shared intel on the pending invasion, so the Soviets prepositioned forces and shifted assets to prepare for a counter offensive, which had devastating results for the Germans.

257 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:12:55pm
“The capture of this hill is worth 10,000 men!”
-French general in World War I

“Generous bastard, isn’t he?”
-Commander of the general’s first assault battalion

(Quoted by TR Fehrenbach in This Kind of War)

258 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:13:38pm

re: #252 Sol Berdinowitz

They were rushed into combat without testing to be on time for the big offensive. Later turned out to be one of the best tanks of the war

Yeah, that’s the hilarious irony of it all, the operation had been delayed time and time again because Hitler wanted the tanks to take part, believing in part that they would be what ultimately tipped the balance. But they were still effectively rushed to the front lines, and so suffering horrendous losses due to bugs that would otherwise have been worked out in stress testing. Not that such things would have helped in the end, as the German answer of slapping ever increasing amounts of armor on their tanks were making even Maybach’s legendary diesel engines explode with alarming regularity.

259 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:14:13pm

re: #255 Dark_Falcon

No, the Panther was ordered into production before its mechanical problems could be solved. As a result, the early ‘D’ model Panthers had severe problems. The subsequent Panthers A and G cured some of those problems, but the Panther remained severely problematic mechanically for its entire service life.

When engineering has to start working on wood burning engines for your tanks, you’re going to have some problems.

260 sagehen  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:15:49pm

re: #220 Vicious Babushka

Crisco shortening products are trans fat free.

I kind of panicked for a minute because I use Crisco in pie crust.

I use it to fry latkes.

261 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:17:05pm

re: #254 Varek Raith

Lolwhut.

That’s nothing.

The Landkruezer P. 1500 Monster:

Image: 4414043191_1a2c19bb85.jpg

Weight: 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons)
Length: 42 metres (138 ft)
Width: 7 metres (23 ft)
Height: 18 metres (59 ft)
Crew: 100+
Armor: 250 millimetres (9.8 in) (hull front)
Main armament: 1x 800 mm K (E) gun
Secondary armament : 2x 15cm sFH 18/1 L/30 (howitzer)+ Multiple 15 mmMG151/15
Engine: Four MAN M9v 40/46 U-boat diesels 2,200 hp
Operational range: Unknown
Speed : 15 km/h (9.3 mph)

262 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:18:00pm

You might have the greatest weapon in the world, winning the fight 99 times out of 100.

The problem begins when the enemy starts rolling in the next 100.

263 sagehen  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:18:16pm

re: #242 ericblair

The backstory behind the joke in case some were wondering is that Reagan (supposedly) said that Russian has no word for “freedom”. Because the language of Dostoyevskiy and Gogol would be missing key literary and philosophical concepts, I suppose.

BTW, I did a quick Google search and can’t find a direct reference of Reagan saying this, just Hitchens saying that Reagan said it.

I think it’s right up there with dubya’s “the French have no word for entrepreneur.”

264 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:18:45pm

Another Kursk Fun Fact: The massive Ferdinand (Elefant) Tank Destroyer (Panzerjager in German) was actually a hybrid. It used a gasoline-electric engine.

265 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:19:21pm

re: #262 Kragar

You might have the greatest weapon in the world, winning the fight 99 times out of 100.

The problem begins when the enemy starts rolling in the next 100.

Quantity has a quality all of its own.

266 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:19:47pm

re: #261 Dr Lizardo

That’s nothing.

The Landkruzer P. 1500 Monster:

Image: 4414043191_1a2c19bb85.jpg

Weight: 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons)
Length: 42 metres (138 ft)
Width: 7 metres (23 ft)
Height: 18 metres (59 ft)
Crew: 100+
Armor: 250 millimetres (9.8 in) (hull front)
Main armament: 1x 800 mm K (E) gun
Secondary armament : 2x 15cm sFH 18/1 L/30 (howitzer)+ Multiple 15 mmMG151/15
Engine: Four MAN M9v 40/46 U-boat diesels 2,200 hp
Operational range: Unknown
Speed : 15 km/h (9.3 mph)

Lol 800mm gun.

267 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:20:44pm

Hahahahahah.
Image: File:80cm_Gustav_shell.jpg

268 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:20:46pm

re: #254 Varek Raith

Lolwhut.

And here’s a fun one for you as well;

Image: 4703008+_f229b89eb43e76b4fe27bb02d7cc91fb.jpg

The KV-VI Land Battleship.

269 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:05pm

re: #261 Dr Lizardo

That’s nothing.

The Landkruzer P. 1500 Monster:

Image: 4414043191_1a2c19bb85.jpg

Weight: 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons)
Length: 42 metres (138 ft)
Width: 7 metres (23 ft)
Height: 18 metres (59 ft)
Crew: 100+
Armor: 250 millimetres (9.8 in) (hull front)
Main armament: 1x 800 mm K (E) gun
Secondary armament : 2x 15cm sFH 18/1 L/30 (howitzer)+ Multiple 15 mmMG151/15
Engine: Four MAN M9v 40/46 U-boat diesels 2,200 hp
Operational range: Unknown
Speed : 15 km/h (9.3 mph)

One of those projects even Speer looked at and went “Are you fucking kidding me?!”

270 jaunte  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:18pm

re: #261 Dr Lizardo

Weight: 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons)

Bravely sinks into the ground out of sight before the enemy can engage.

271 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:19pm

re: #265 Targetpractice

Quantity has a quality all of its own.

Ask any Imperial Guard player.

272 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:32pm

re: #258 Targetpractice

re: #264 Dark_Falcon

Another Kursk Fun Fact: The massive Ferdinand (Elefant) Tank Destroyer (Panzerjager in German) was actually a hybrid. It used a gasoline-electric engine.

except they forgot to put a machine gun on it, the Soviets let it overrun their trenches separated it from thei infantry and then attacked it from behind with grenades and flamethrowers.

273 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:42pm

re: #256 lawhawk

Except that the Luftwaffe was limited because of logistics - it was lacking petrol, oil, lubricants, and replacement parts for aircraft for a sustained fight. Meanwhile, the Soviets were cramming sending aircraft and tanks right out of the factory into battle - that’s how close the fighting got.

So, while the Germans thought that they had a plan in place to close the Kursk salient and shorten their lines and deal with repairing the logistics to their overextended lines, the Soviets had advantages of time, space, and Enigma cracking the German codes. The Brits had shared intel on the pending invasion, so the Soviets prepositioned forces and shifted assets to prepare for a counter offensive, which had devastating results for the Germans.

The Luftwaffe also began to see its single engine fighters removed from the Eastern Front and transferred back to Germany for home defense as the US 8th Air Force’s daylight bombing campaign started to hit Germany harder.

274 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:21:52pm

Wow. A voicemail, LinkedIn connection, AND email from the same recruiter, all within the span of about 30 minutes for a marcom producer contract gig.

OTOH, there’s a business intel software company here doing open interviews in a few days for a bunch of open sales/account management positions. I even downloaded the free trial of their software to learn it before the interviews.

Hmm.

275 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:22:44pm

re: #254 Varek Raith

Lolwhut.

The P.1000 reportedly had an armored garage for two BMW motorcycles. These would no doubt have served for a hasty escape when allied aircraft homed in on the monster.

276 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:23:34pm

re: #272 Sol Berdinowitz

except they forgot to put a machine gun on it, the Soviets let it overrun their trenches separated it from thei infantry and then attacked it from behind with grenades and flamethrowers.

I was just showing how some the ideas that get hailed as ‘new’ today are sometimes quite old.

277 makeitstop  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:24:08pm

re: #227 The Ghost of a Flea

Do you have a link or a book about that?

I’m not doubting you, I just find the subject of deception in war very interesting.

You’d love the story of the Ghost Army, then. PBS had a documentary on about them a few months ago. Pretty cool story.

278 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:25:47pm

re: #268 Dr Lizardo

And here’s a fun one for you as well;

Image: 4703008+_f229b89eb43e76b4fe27bb02d7cc91fb.jpg

The KV-VI Land Battleship.

Yeah, I remember reading the story about the KV-2 that just parked itself on a road and held up an entire German division for the better part of a day. Didn’t have the maneuver, didn’t have back-up, just sat there and blasted anything that came within range. The German general had to sacrifice some of his tanks to distract the KV-2 while he moved 88s into range and finally took it out.

279 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:26:27pm

IIRC, The Aussies designed a tank in the early days of WWII which was basically a tractor with some armor plating and some machine guns bolted onto it. The problem was the machine guns required the gunner to lie down directly next to the engine, which heated the compartment up like an oven after a few minutes of operation.

280 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:27:12pm

starwars.wikia.com

281 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:28:21pm

re: #278 Targetpractice

Yeah, I remember reading the story about the KV-2 that just parked itself on a road and held up an entire German division for the better part of a day. Didn’t have the maneuver, didn’t have back-up, just sat there and blasted anything that came within range. The German general had to sacrifice some of his tanks to distract the KV-2 while he moved 88s into range and finally took it out.

Some of those weapons ideas that folks come up with are just wild. Personally, I loved this one:

Image: tnkhist3.jpg

LOLOLOL

282 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:29:11pm

re: #279 Kragar

IIRC, The Aussies designed a tank in the early days of WWII which was basically a tractor with some armor plating and some machine guns bolted onto it. The problem was the machine guns required the gunner to lie down directly next to the engine, which heated the compartment up like an oven after a few minutes of operation.

You’re right about the tank, but it was the Kiwis that designed it.

283 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:29:56pm

And you think the NSA is sloppy?

Porn-viewing bosses infect corporate networks

money.cnn.com

284 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:30:27pm

Generally, the American forces managed to avoid the giantism bug. The largest US armored vehicle was this pipsqueak, the T-28 Super Heavy Tank (actually an SP gun), weighing a paltry 95 tons.
Only 2 were built, one survives to this day as a museum display at Fort Benning.

285 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:30:48pm

re: #281 Dr Lizardo

Some of those weapons ideas that folks come up with are just wild. Personally, I loved this one:

Image: tnkhist3.jpg

LOLOLOL

Well, that was a French idea. A French ‘land battleship’ would indeed need a mast so it could raise a white flag upon contact with the enemy.

///

286 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:31:59pm

Found a book a few years back, called My Tank Is Fight, which is a look at some of the craziest ideas from all sides in WWII. Germans were working on all sorts of crazy ideas, from the “Landkruezers” to IR scopes for assault rifles, tilt-rotor transport planes, and even rumored to have tested an atomic bomb before war’s end.

287 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:32:32pm

re: #285 Dark_Falcon

Well, that was a French idea. A French ‘land battleship’ would indeed need a mast so it could raise a white flag upon contact with the enemy.

///

Heh. It looks like something H.G. Wells might’ve dreamed up after one too many absinths.

288 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:33:16pm

re: #280 Varek Raith

starwars.wikia.com

BANEBLADE

Because “Screw you Bitch, its BANEBLADE TIME!”

Image: Baneblade_00.png

289 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:33:57pm

re: #284 Shiplord Kirel

Generally, the American forces managed to avoid the giantism bug. The largest US armored vehicle was this pipsqueak, the T-28 Super Heavy Tank (actually an SP gun), weighing a paltry 95 tons.

The UK had the same idea, but unlike other nations theirs was at least mechanically reliable. Appropriately. it was called the Tortoise.

290 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:33:58pm

Speaking of tanks
Onion Video

291 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:35:07pm

re: #286 Targetpractice

Found a book a few years back, called My Tank Is Fight, which is a look at some of the craziest ideas from all sides in WWII. Germans were working on all sorts of crazy ideas, from the “Landkruezers” to IR scopes for assault rifles, tilt-rotor transport planes, and even rumored to have tested an atomic bomb before war’s end.

It’s less shocking when you read about how much of a manchild the Fuhrer was. Promising more dakka, regardless of how ridiculous the plan, could get you a lot of Reichsmarks.

292 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:36:04pm

re: #284 Shiplord Kirel

Generally, the American forces managed to avoid the giantism bug. The largest US armored vehicle was this pipsqueak, the T-28 Super Heavy Tank (actually an SP gun), weighing a paltry 95 tons.

Not totally out of choice. The size of the Grant and thus Sherman tank had nothing to do with operational design and everything to do with the fact that it had to be narrow enough to fit on a transport train car. By the time reports started filtering back that the guns were too weak, the armor inadequate, and the tanks prone to exploding if hit, there was already too much inertia to keep the design on the production line.

293 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:37:00pm

re: #286 Targetpractice

Found a book a few years back, called My Tank Is Fight, which is a look at some of the craziest ideas from all sides in WWII. Germans were working on all sorts of crazy ideas, from the “Landkruezers” to IR scopes for assault rifles, tilt-rotor transport planes, and even rumored to have tested an atomic bomb before war’s end.

The Germans actually did manage to develop a workable IR system for the Panther and this was deployed on some Panthers during the Ardennes offensive. The IR system was known as ‘Uhu’, which is German for ‘owl’.

294 Eclectic Cyborg  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:37:40pm

re: #237 sagehen

Canada, Australia and New Zealand, too.

Canada lost 60,000 in WWI, when the country’s entire population was 8 million.

For scale — we lost 50,000 in Vietnam, when our population was 250 million.

At the time, Canada had virtually no autonomy of its own so when Britain declared war on Germany, we were by default at war as well. But WWI was also one of the first wars where Canadians made major accomplishments in battle.

295 Varek Raith  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:38:18pm

re: #288 Kragar

BANEBLADE

Because “Screw you Bitch, its BANEBLADE TIME!”

Image: Baneblade_00.png

How cute!

296 Sol Berdinowitz  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:38:36pm

re: #287 Dr Lizardo

Heh. It looks like something H.G. Wells might’ve dreamed up after one too many absinths.

I recall it from an old National Lampoon

297 Eclectic Cyborg  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:38:47pm

re: #261 Dr Lizardo

That’s nothing.

The Landkruezer P. 1500 Monster:

Image: 4414043191_1a2c19bb85.jpg

Weight: 1,500 t (1,700 short tons; 1,500 long tons)
Length: 42 metres (138 ft)
Width: 7 metres (23 ft)
Height: 18 metres (59 ft)
Crew: 100+
Armor: 250 millimetres (9.8 in) (hull front)
Main armament: 1x 800 mm K (E) gun
Secondary armament : 2x 15cm sFH 18/1 L/30 (howitzer)+ Multiple 15 mmMG151/15
Engine: Four MAN M9v 40/46 U-boat diesels 2,200 hp
Operational range: Unknown
Speed : 15 km/h (9.3 mph)

Is that a LEGO model?

298 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:40:07pm

re: #295 Varek Raith

How cute!

Because we are talking about tanks after all.

299 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:44:42pm

re: #297 Eclectic Cyborg

Is that a LEGO model?

I think it is.

300 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:44:56pm

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

Did you just wave your tcot flag? That’s so cute!

301 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:46:10pm

re: #219 Justanotherhuman

Amazon has already suspended the e-book.

[Embedded content]

If he’d only strapped a magazine full of .223 ammunition to each book, the 2nd Amendment would protect him.

302 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:47:48pm
303 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:47:58pm

re: #301 darthstar

If he’d only strapped a magazine full of .223 ammunition to each book, the 2nd Amendment would protect him.

But here in CA, if you could detach them, it would make the book illegal.
//////////

304 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:48:55pm

re: #302 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I see Sir Ian likes his beer dark and chewy, like I do.

305 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:48:58pm

Rut-roh.

Guardian editor to face MPs over NSA leaks

bbc.co.uk

Has GG gone into hiding yet?

306 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:49:24pm

re: #134 Dark_Falcon

Explain what you mean by the funds being time-limited? Eventually, states would be responsible for 10% of the costs. Now, they’re going to be responsible for 100% of the costs of those uninsured people as they go to emergency rooms, go bankrupt, etc. Yay.

307 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:50:53pm

CBS News Exec Apologizes For Phony Benghazi Story: ‘We Made A Mistake’

The chairman of CBS News and executive producer of “60 Minutes” on Friday apologized for airing a discredited story on last year’s attack in Benghazi, Libya that has since been retracted.

“Everyone in the news business knows that you can make a mistake, and there are people out there looking to deceive reporters. In this case, he was a very good one,” Jeff Fager told Variety in an interview.

“We like to think we are perfect as much as we can be. In this case, we were not,” he added. “The most important thing now is that we own it: We made a mistake. We are sorry.”

A correction to the story will air on Sunday’s program. CBS said it was misled by the source who provided the account, and publication has been halted for a book about the night on Sept. 11, 2012.

“A very good one”? Faux News knew something was fishy when he started begging for coin.

308 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:51:12pm

re: #306 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut

Explain what you mean by the funds being time-limited? Eventually, states would be responsible for 10% of the costs. Now, they’re going to be responsible for 100% of the costs of those uninsured people as they go to emergency rooms, go bankrupt, etc. Yay.

But at least they didn’t go along with Obamacare! And those working poor people should be proud to be sacrificed for Kenneth’s Bobby’s political ambitions

309 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:51:52pm

re: #294 Eclectic Cyborg

At the time, Canada had virtually no autonomy of its own so when Britain declared war on Germany, we were by default at war as well. But WWI was also one of the first wars where Canadians made major accomplishments in battle.

The role of colonial soldiers in WW1 and WW2 tends to be glossed-over.

310 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:52:27pm
311 ibob  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:53:27pm

re: #161 HappyWarrior

This is a good point that I don’t think many Americans think about when we look at why our European allies do foreign policy. You had literally in WWI whole towns of young men wiped out in some places. Just imagine that for a second.

The same thing happened to the South during the Civil War. At that time, military units frequently came from the same small town or county. Instead of it making us cautious, we just added it to our religion and became martyrs.

312 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:53:42pm

re: #304 GeneJockey

I see Sir Ian likes his beer dark and chewy, like I do.

And Stewart drinks with both hands, as I do.

313 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:53:56pm

And no surprises here:

Lindsey Graham Silent About Discredited ‘60 Minutes’ Benghazi Report That He Hyped

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) trumpeted the recent “60 Minutes” piece on last year’s attack in Benghazi perhaps louder than any other Republican, but he’s been mostly silent since CBS News retracted the report on Friday.

After TPM submitted multiple requests for comment, a spokesman for Graham finally responded with an email saying that the senator “will be a guest on CNN State of the Union discussing the latest on Benghazi and the Iranian nuclear program” this Sunday.

Graham has drawn heavy attention to the “60 Minutes” report since it first aired on Oct. 27.

314 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:55:02pm

re: #312 darthstar

And Stewart drinks with both hands, as I do.

I am so far removed from ambidextrous that if I tried to drink with both hands, the beer in the lefthand glass would probably go over my shoulder or down my chest.

315 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:55:15pm

re: #307 Targetpractice

CBS News Exec Apologizes For Phony Benghazi Story: ‘We Made A Mistake’

“A very good one”? Faux News knew something was fishy when he started begging for coin.

Who is this “we” of whom they speak? The reporter and producer who spent a year on the story? Or the entire news dept?

316 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:55:42pm

re: #310 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Bryan Fischer: running the most boring D&D campaign ever.

317 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:56:04pm

re: #315 Justanotherhuman

Who is this “we” of whom they speak? The reporter and producer who spent a year on the story? Or the entire news dept?

Considering it’s the exec who’s “apologizing,” my guess is the blame is being spread around so as to excuse nobody being held accountable.

318 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:56:41pm

Next month, Lizards.

Youtube Video

319 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:57:17pm

re: #316 The Ghost of a Flea

Bryan Fischer: running the most boring D&D campaign ever.

“You die from dysentery.”
“I’M STILL ROLLING UP MY CHARACTER!”

320 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:58:02pm

re: #317 Targetpractice

Considering it’s the exec who’s “apologizing,” my guess is the blame is being spread around so as to excuse nobody being held accountable.

That’s in keeping with the ‘Anyone would have been fooled! He’s just that good!’ approach to having been conned.

321 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:58:48pm

re: #313 Targetpractice

And no surprises here:

Lindsey Graham Silent About Discredited ‘60 Minutes’ Benghazi Report That He Hyped

Graham can’t apologize without dooming himself to removal in the primary next year as a ‘RINO’. Given South Carolina’s political climate, he has to go after Obama, and if he beclowns himself in the process he’s no worse off politically anyways.

322 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 1:59:28pm

re: #319 Kragar

“You die from dysentery.”
“I’M STILL ROLLING UP MY CHARACTER!”

Did I defeat the demon?

No, Jesus did. He gets all the XP.

Stupid DMPC.

323 RinaX  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:00:12pm

I’m honestly shocked that they actually admitted anything was wrong. That’s how little I value any of the news organizations, cable or network. I’m still not expecting anyone to be fired, though.

324 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:00:57pm

re: #323 RinaX

I’m honestly shocked that they actually admitted anything was wrong. That’s how little I value any of the news organizations, cable or network. I’m still not expecting anyone to be fired, though.

Neither am I. It seems they’ve decided that an “apology” released on Friday afternoon will be enough to mollify the masses.

325 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:01:18pm

re: #319 Kragar

“You die from dysentery.”
“I’M STILL ROLLING UP MY CHARACTER!”

I cast Magic Missile!

God strikes you down for consorting with unholy powers.

326 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:01:41pm

re: #321 Dark_Falcon

Graham can’t apologize without dooming himself to removal in the primary next year as a ‘RINO’. Given South Carolina’s political climate, he has to go after Obama, and if he beclowns himself in the process he’s no worse off politically anyways.

That’s the definition of a coward.

327 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:01:44pm

re: #321 Dark_Falcon

Graham can’t apologize without dooming himself to removal in the primary next year as a ‘RINO’. Given South Carolina’s political climate, he has to go after Obama, and if he beclowns himself in the process he’s no worse off politically anyways.

Well, after all, SC did give us Jim DeMint, whose rallying cry will be “You can have my trans fats when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers scrape them from the lumen of my cold, dead, atherosclerotic arteries!”

328 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:03:45pm

re: #325 The Ghost of a Flea

I cast Magic Missile!

God strikes you down for consorting with unholy powers.

“I give the beggar a copper.”
“You’re supposed to be a Paladin. I have to dock you XP for performing an evil act.”

329 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:04:35pm

re: #327 GeneJockey

Well, after all, SC did give us Jim DeMint, whose rallying cry will be “You can have my trans fats when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers scrape them from the lumen of my cold, dead, atherosclerotic arteries!”

If those arteries had just been armed, atherosclerosis wouldn’t have been an issue.

330 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:05:13pm

re: #326 darthstar

That’s the definition of a coward.

Then most-office holders are cowards.

331 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:06:58pm
332 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:07:14pm

re: #330 Dark_Falcon

Lindsey Graham is a man of his convictions and his convictions are whatever is the most expedient thing he can say (or stand he will adopt) that will allow him to retain his place in the Senate

333 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:08:05pm

re: #327 GeneJockey

Well, after all, SC did give us Jim DeMint, whose rallying cry will be “You can have my trans fats when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers scrape them from the lumen of my cold, dead, atherosclerotic arteries!”

His troops may not follow him this time, since transfats are not popular anywhere. We’ll see if those who dislike transfats hold to their beliefs, or if they blacktrack in order to oppose the president.

334 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:08:16pm

re: #331 Kragar

[Embedded content]

I wish I had a shocked face for this, but it’s all worn out from overuse…..

335 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:08:38pm

re: #332 piratedan

Lindsey Graham is a man of his convictions and his convictions are whatever is the most expedient thing he can say (or stand he will adopt) that will allow him to retain his place in the Senate

His loyalties can’t be bought.

They can be rented easily enough though.

336 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:08:49pm

re: #330 Dark_Falcon

Then most-office holders are cowards.

No, only Republicans are this craven. Also, please answer Obdicut’s question.

337 Decatur Deb  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:08:54pm

re: #289 Dark_Falcon

The UK had the same idea, but unlike other nations theirs was at least mechanically reliable. Appropriately. it was called the Tortoise.

“Nuffield Organization”. It’s a freakn’ Morris Major.

338 Killgore Trout  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:10:59pm

re: #331 Kragar

[Embedded content]

lol

339 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:12:10pm

re: #335 Kragar

His loyalties can’t be bought.

They can be rented easily enough though.

Purchase would imply permanence, which is a problem for Graham.

340 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:12:27pm

One of the Greatest Tankers to have ever tanked a tank:

Zvika Greengold

Born and raised on Kibbutz Lohamey HaGeta’ot (English: Kibbutz of the Ghetto Fighters, founded by Holocaust survivors of underground and partisan combat against the Nazis), twenty-one-year-old Lieutenant Greengold was home on leave when Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on two fronts. He was not attached to any unit as he was about to take a course for company commanders.[1][3] Once he realized war had broken out, he hitchhiked to Nafekh, a command center and important crossroads in the Golan Heights, where he initially helped with the wounded, as no tanks were available. When two damaged Centurion tanks were repaired, Greengold was put in charge of them and sent with hastily-assembled scratch crews down the Tapline Road.[1]

Greengold’s “Koah Zvika” (Zvika Force) spotted Syrian tanks belonging to the 51st Independent Tank Brigade of the Syrian Army[2] which had broken through the line and were advancing unopposed northwest along the road to Nafekh. Greengold’s two tanks engaged the opposing T-55s at 2100 hours, with Greengold destroying six.[2] Later, he had lost contact with his other tank when he spotted the advancing 452nd Tank Battalion. He engaged the enemy, taking advantage of the darkness and moving constantly to fool the Syrians into thinking the opposition was stronger than it was. Greengold destroyed or damaged ten enemy armoured vehicles before the confused Syrians withdrew, believing they were facing a sizable force.[2] Even Greengold’s superiors were deceived; as the fighting wore on, he did not dare report how weak he actually was over the radio for fear it would be intercepted; at best he could only hint “the situation isn’t good”.[4] At a time when Force Zvika was only one tank, Colonel Yitzhak Ben-Shoham, the brigade commander, assumed it to be “of at least company strength”.[5]

For the next 20 hours, he fought, sometimes alone, sometimes in conjunction with other tanks, displaying an uncanny knack for showing up again and again at the critical moment to tip the scales of a skirmish. He had to change vehicles “half a dozen times”[1] as his tanks were knocked out. He soldiered on, even after he was wounded and burned.[1] When Nafekh itself came under attack from a fresh force of T-62s, he rushed over to bolster the defense.[1] In a lull in the fighting, an exhausted Greengold got out of his latest tank and dropped to the ground, murmuring, “I can’t anymore.”[2]

Afterward, he claimed 20 enemy tanks destroyed; other estimates place his tally at 40 or more

341 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:12:33pm

Why no comment from GG about this actual journalist who was really doing some factual reporting?

Venezuelan authorities detain Miami Herald reporter

CARACAS — Jim Wyss, the Miami Herald’s Andean bureau chief, was detained by Venezuelan authorities Thursday while reporting on the country’s chronic shortages and looming municipal elections. Wyss remained in custody Friday afternoon.


According to local sources, Wyss was initially detained by the National Guard then transferred to Venezuela’s counter military intelligence, Dirección General de Inteligencia Militar (Dgim), in San Cristóbal, Táchira.

“We are very concerned,” said Aminda Marqués Gonzalez, the Herald’s executive editor. “There doesn’t seem to be any basis for his detention and we’re trying to figure out what’s going on. We are asking that Jim Wyss be released immediately.”

Read more here: miamiherald.com

342 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:12:36pm

re: #336 goddamnedfrank

No, only Republicans are this craven. Also, please answer Obdicut’s question.

I’m going to decline to answer for the time being.

343 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:13:04pm

re: #339 GeneJockey

Purchase would imply permanence, which is a problem for Graham.

I think it’s kind of like ebay…. multiple items, for multiple bids… ///

344 Lidane  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:13:23pm

re: #331 Kragar

And it ended up being a lie. This is my shocked face.

345 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:13:28pm

re: #343 piratedan

I think it’s kind of like ebay…. multiple items, for multiple bids… ///

A Dutch Auction?

346 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:14:13pm

re: #345 GeneJockey

A Dutch Auction?

perhaps Belgian?

347 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:16:28pm

re: #341 Justanotherhuman

Why no comment from GG about this actual journalist who was really doing some factual reporting?

Venezuelan authorities detain Miami Herald reporter

CARACAS — Jim Wyss, the Miami Herald’s Andean bureau chief, was detained by Venezuelan authorities Thursday while reporting on the country’s chronic shortages and looming municipal elections. Wyss remained in custody Friday afternoon.

According to local sources, Wyss was initially detained by the National Guard then transferred to Venezuela’s counter military intelligence, Dirección General de Inteligencia Militar (Dgim), in San Cristóbal, Táchira.

“We are very concerned,” said Aminda Marqués Gonzalez, the Herald’s executive editor. “There doesn’t seem to be any basis for his detention and we’re trying to figure out what’s going on. We are asking that Jim Wyss be released immediately.”

Read more here: miamiherald.com

The Venezuelan government detained him to use him as evidence of yet another “American Plot!!1” and to scare other reporters to prevent them from writing pieces critical of said government,

348 Weet  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:17:02pm

Most of my free time has been going to analysis of the Virginia AG race. No official association, but some of my analysis has indeed caused changes in vote counts (via crowdsourcing with bloggers and election officials).

There are many errors caused by the manual multi-step (with human data entry) process. Criminal that we don’t have this all automated in the US.

You may or may not know that in the past 24 hours they have found missing absentee votes in Fairfax County, and they are trying to iron out exactly how many there are.

Stats say they should add these two numbers 723 and 2,688 — either that or there are more absentee votes missing. For background there is this article at the link. Hard to believe nobody knows for sure how that memory card would have worked, and that there are not explicit processes to verify the counts for failures like this.

Link

Oh, and on another ‘important topic’ there is this:

349 thedopefishlives  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:18:55pm

Evening Lizardim from the cold and moist wild north country. How go things among the liardfolk?

350 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:20:11pm

There were several reports of Zvika driving his tank directly thru Syrian armored formations in the night, because he knew he wouldn’t be firing on any other Israeli tanks, and in the the resulting confusion the Syrian tankers ended up taking out a number of their own vehicles attempting to engage him.

351 Killgore Trout  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:24:32pm
“Occasions like this can be incredibly instructive,” Mapes concludes, but “it is important to be careful about what lessons you draw.”

indeed

352 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:26:13pm

Now on the other side of the battle, the Egyptians, being armed with the newest Russian RPGs and anti-tank missiles, were basically able to neutralize the Israeli armored doctrine, forcing them to use adapt to a more conventional combined arms strategy.

353 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:27:21pm

re: #349 thedopefishlives

Evening Lizardim from the cold and moist wild north country. How go things among the liardfolk?

Cold and anything but moist, and not that cold, actually, in the wild south country.

354 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:28:43pm

Of course, the battle plan the Egyptians were actually using was completely different from what they told the Syrians they were going to do. The Egyptians basically used the Syrians as a distraction and had no real intention of the grand assault the Syrians thought they were a part of.

355 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:28:56pm

On NPR earlier today, they were discussing how hot and inflated the stock market appears to be and were wondering if this was a precursor to another dot-com bubble, esp on the heels of the FB IPO and the fact that Twitter has never turned a profit in its 7 yr life.

Twitter stock falls 7 percent on second day of trading

gigaom.com

I couldn’t figure out how they could justify the price.

356 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:30:36pm

re: #353 wrenchwench

Cold and anything but moist, and not that cold, actually, in the wild south country.

Hey, humidity is 24%! That qualifies as moist around here.

357 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:30:39pm

re: #342 Dark_Falcon

I’m going to decline to answer for the time being.

It’s easier (and smarter) to just admit you were wrong. You can always blame the right-wing noise machine you listen to for misleading you into believing a right-wing talking point. We’ll understand.

Declining to answer is something Rand Paul would do…might as well call Obdi a hack and a hater while you’re at it…and challenge him to a duel.

358 thedopefishlives  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:31:28pm

re: #356 wrenchwench

Hey, humidity is 24%! That qualifies as moist around here.

I only wish it got so low up here.

359 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:31:38pm

I had never heard of this before:

“Thankful Villages”

Thankful Villages (also known as Blessed Villages) are settlements in both England and Wales from which all their then members of the armed forces survived World War I. The term Thankful Village was popularised by the writer Arthur Mee in the 1930s. In Enchanted Land (1936), the introductory volume to The King’s England series of guides, he wrote that a Thankful Village was one which had lost no men in the Great War because all those who left to serve came home again. His initial list identified 32 villages.

In an October 2013 update, researchers identified 53 civil parishes in England and Wales from which all soldiers returned. There are no settlements in Scotland or Northern Ireland that did not lose a member of the community in World War I. (emphasis added) 14 of the English and Welsh villages are considered “doubly thankful”, in that they also lost no service personnel during World War II

The French village of Thierville (current pop. 287) suffered no losses in either world war, nor in the Franco-Prussian War, the Algerian War, or the Indochina War.

360 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:34:57pm

re: #322 The Ghost of a Flea

Did I defeat the demon?

No, Jesus did. He gets all the XP.

Stupid DMPC.

Win XP is the chi-rho???

361 ObserverArt  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:38:55pm

re: #321 Dark_Falcon

Graham can’t apologize without dooming himself to removal in the primary next year as a ‘RINO’. Given South Carolina’s political climate, he has to go after Obama, and if he beclowns himself in the process he’s no worse off politically anyways.

I just have to ask. Does character in people matter at all? And that question goes out to both the individual and those that would support that individual. Or, is it all about the win politically?

All I can think of is the phrase “how do you live with yourself?”

I’m beginning to understand why zombies are so popular these days in the entertainment industry. There are alive dead people walking about and a whole hell of a lot of them seem to be Republicans.

362 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:41:57pm
363 ObserverArt  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:45:47pm

re: #342 Dark_Falcon

I’m going to decline to answer for the time being.

If you make a statement, the very least you can do is back it up. You obviously had some thought when you made it, so why not say why?

If this were a debate contest, how would that be scored?

364 Shiplord Kirel  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:48:14pm

re: #362 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

Beautiful. There is a downside though, tulip bulbs wrecked the national economy in 1637. This is an outstanding example of the unrestrained commodity trading so dear to the hearts of libertarians.

365 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:52:26pm

re: #364 Shiplord Kirel

Beautiful. There is a downside though, tulip bulbs wrecked the national economy in 1637. This is an outstanding example of the unrestrained commodity trading so dear to the hearts of libertarians.

If there was an irrational inflation in tulip value, it’s only because the market wasn’t free enough.

…derp.

366 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:54:38pm

re: #342 Dark_Falcon

I’m going to decline to answer for the time being.

Can you try to look at this kind of response from an outside perspective? If anybody else pulled a stunt like this you’d be all over them, and rightly so, because it’s inherently impossible to respect. As darthstar points out it would be so much easier to just admit you were wrong, but this, I don’t know, it makes it look like your initial answer was intentionally misleading.

367 ObserverArt  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 2:59:05pm

re: #366 goddamnedfrank

Can you try to look at this kind of response from an outside perspective? If anybody else pulled a stunt like this you’d be all over them, and rightly so, because it’s inherently impossible to respect. As darthstar points out it would be so much easier to just admit you were wrong, but this, I don’t know, it makes it look like your initial answer was intentionally misleading.

That, or he needs to figure out a way to explain it because he doesn’t trust his own statement.

I find Dark confounding. A lot. For a guy that seems to study military history, you’d think he’d know you only shoot when you have a clear target and a good reason to do so.

368 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:00:39pm

You know, I’ve been reading about that 60 Minutes Benghazi story and the fall out from it. Hats off to Simon & Shuster for not only pulling the book from further publication, but for killing the e-book, Kindle, and for putting in a recall order to stores and asking them NOT to sell it.

Talk about taking a financial hit to protect your company’s image. That’s pretty rare these days.

369 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:00:43pm

Great perspective on doping in bicycle racing from a young man who has retired already. (I met him several years ago. One of the nicest bicycle racers I know of. They are kinda rare.)

[…]

Michael Creed, recently retired, hasn’t been shy about his decision not to take PEDs. He rode with Hesjedal in 2004 on the U.S. Postal Service team, and said that it’s difficult to view the issue with any sort of nuance. Asked if the public should still care about admissions from the EPO era, he wasn’t sure.

“That’s a good question. I think when you’re a rider, you have so much time — because there’s not a lot of secrets in cycling — you have so much time to kind of come to grips with certain things,” Creed said. “You have so much time with it that I think by the time the general public catches up you’re just more burnt out on it. You’re like, ‘yea, yea. I know.’”

When he looks back on that era, Creed isn’t angry, though he struggles to describe the exact emotion he does feel.

“It’s a really nuanced feeling I guess. In general I just feel sad — sad for everybody … it’s like an equal distribution of sad for fans, for cycling, even for Hesjedal, you know?” he said. “I don’t know it’ll ever stop, though. … I think in the end people like the intrigue and the manipulation … because that’s ultimately a more exciting storyline than a bike race. And that makes me sad — I’m a fan of cycling. I’m a fan of the whole character arc of people.”

If the recent past is any indication, there’s still plenty of rise and fall still to come.

370 thedopefishlives  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:02:01pm

re: #368 darthstar

You know, I’ve been reading about that 60 Minutes Benghazi story and the fall out from it. Hats off to Simon & Shuster for not only pulling the book from further publication, but for killing the e-book, Kindle, and for putting in a recall order to stores and asking them NOT to sell it.

Talk about taking a financial hit to protect your company’s image. That’s pretty rare these days.

Wow, those are some pretty good brakes on that train. I find it inspiring.

371 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:06:46pm

Pig-Like Beast Leads Way to Ancient Cave Drawings

i’ve had days where pig-like beasts lead me to things, but generally they are not good things

372 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:14:36pm

Sure, it’s just another kitteh, but the video production is fantastic, although the music is not what I might have chosen.

Youtube Video

373 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:22:26pm

Unbelievable. Snowden applied to 21 countries for asylum?

Statement by Sarah Harrison (Nov 6 2013)

wikileaks.org

“Aggressive tactics are being used against journalists, publishers and experts who work so courageously to bring truth to the world. Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Jacob Appelbaum are all in effective exile. Barrett Brown is indicted for reporting on unethical surveillance practices. My editor Julian Assange has asylum over US threats, but the United Kingdom refuses to allow him to fully exercise this right, violating the law. The UK government also detained David Miranda under the UK Terrorism Act for collaborating with Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald.” (my emphasis)

Wow, way to twist facts, Ms. Harrison. Try living in the real world. And stop calling a common thief a “whistle blower”. None of those you mention even come close.

374 Amory Blaine  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:24:16pm

My wife made peanut butter cookies with lard this week that were real good. They’re all gone. :/

375 ObserverArt  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:25:37pm

re: #372 wrenchwench

Sure, it’s just another kitteh, but the video production is fantastic, although the music is not what I might have chosen.

[Embedded content]

Reminds me of a little Siamese cat I met a long time ago. I was at this house and the guy that lived there never told anyone he had a cat. About 10 minutes after everyone was seated and conversing there was this sudden blur of pure speed that came from down a long hall way, flew into the air about 5 feet out from a chair where my brother was sitting, hit the upper backrest and shot to the top of the curtains. Then it proceeded to slide down the curtain until it touched the floor, turned and shot back down the hall.

Deadpan, the owner said oh, that’s my cat (name which I no longer remember) It did it one other time while we were there and then we never saw the little athlete again. Little dude was fast!

376 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:26:27pm

re: #374 Amory Blaine

My wife made peanut butter cookies with lard this week that were real good. They’re all gone. :/

This is my surprised face.

377 Kragar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:27:12pm

Greenwald also blocked me from following him on Twitter.

Youtube Video

378 piratedan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:27:53pm

re: #377 Kragar

Greenwald also blocked me from following him on Twitter.

[Embedded content]

if only he would extend that courtesy to everyone….

379 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:31:00pm

re: #372 wrenchwench

Sure, it’s just another kitteh, but the video production is fantastic, although the music is not what I might have chosen.

[Embedded content]

very cute! - it turns out 192cm is about 6 feet

ignatz am challenj ur j-cat!

380 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:32:02pm

re: #375 ObserverArt

Reminds me of a little Siamese cat I met a long time ago. I was this house and the guy that lived there never told anyone he had a cat. About 10 minutes after everyone was seated and conversing there was this sudden blur of pure speed that came from down a long hall way, flew into the air about 5 feet out from a chair where my brother was sitting, hit the upper backrest and shot to the top of the curtains. Then it proceeded to slide down the curtain until it touched the floor, turned and shot back down the hall.

Deadpan, the owner said oh, that’s my cat (name which I no longer remember) It did one other time while we were there and then we never saw the little athlete again. Little dude was fast!

I got a ball with feathers for my cats, and Schrader took it over in a most possessive way. He tosses it in the air, and ‘chases’ it around like a soccer ball. The other cat, Presta, just watches. Then I brought home a little wooly mousie, and Presta took to it immediately, growling more than he ever has before in defense of it. He tosses the mousie even more than Schrader with his feather ball.

381 darthstar  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:42:30pm

re: #378 piratedan

if only he would extend that courtesy to everyone….

Be fun to just block all of his followers…Wonder how long it would be before he noticed.

382 Targetpractice  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:43:02pm

I really should send this off to all the wingnuts I’ve heard bitch at me about Healthcare.gov’s Day One issues:

Xbox One is mostly useless without day one update

Yes, unless you can get an internet connection and succeed in getting on the limited Microsoft bandwidth, your system will effectively be useless.

383 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:45:25pm

re: #382 Targetpractice

I really should send this off to all the wingnuts I’ve heard bitch at me about Healthcare.gov’s Day One issues:

Xbox One is mostly useless without day one update

Yes, unless you can get an internet connection and succeed in getting on the limited Microsoft bandwidth, your system will effectively be useless.

If only Microsoft were in the private sector, because they NEVER have problems like this!!!
/////////////////////////

384 AlexRogan  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:45:27pm

Lookie, lookie here; it seems that our old “friend” Barrett Brown didn’t have any compunction about letting his mother hide evidence against him from the FBI…in the dishwasher:

Ars Technica: Mom helped hide laptops from FBI in dishwasher, gets 6 months probation

He’s a shithead, she should have known better.

385 dog philosopher  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:46:52pm

re: #382 Targetpractice

I really should send this off to all the wingnuts I’ve heard bitch at me about Healthcare.gov’s Day One issues:

Xbox One is mostly useless without day one update

Yes, unless you can get an internet connection and succeed in getting on the limited Microsoft bandwidth, your system will effectively be useless.

i seriously wonder if the agile development philosophy that “we don’t need QA, because the engineers will be their own QA because they will write wonderful unit test code” has anything to do with all this incompetence recently

386 wrenchwench  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 3:51:49pm

re: #384 AlexRogan

Lookie, lookie here; it seems that our old “friend” Barrett Brown didn’t have any compunction about letting his mother hide evidence against him from the FBI…in the dishwasher:

Ars Technica: Mom helped hide laptops from FBI in dishwasher, gets 6 months probation

He’s a shithead, she should have known better.

Heh. I saw that in the Spy, before you added the last line, and my thought was ‘what a shithead.’

He cares about his mom like Snowden cared about his co-workers. Full of that dudebro empathy, they are.

387 GeneJockey  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 4:36:51pm

re: #386 wrenchwench

Heh. I saw that in the Spy, before you added the last line, and my thought was ‘what a shithead.’

He cares about his mom like Snowden cared about his co-workers. Full of that dudebro empathy, they are.

[dudebro]SOME SACRIFICES NEED TO BE MADE FOR THE CAUSE!! (Not me, god knows. I’m too important. Somebody else.)[/dudebro]

388 Decatur Deb  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 4:37:53pm

re: #384 AlexRogan

Lookie, lookie here; it seems that our old “friend” Barrett Brown didn’t have any compunction about letting his mother hide evidence against him from the FBI…in the dishwasher:

Ars Technica: Mom helped hide laptops from FBI in dishwasher, gets 6 months probation

He’s a shithead, she should have known better.

“Shitheads beget shitheads.”
—Bergman, The Seventh Seal.

389 Lago  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 4:38:12pm

re: #6 Charles Johnson

He screwed over far more than his coworkers. Here’s the deal. There is a huge amount of panic within the Intelligence Community about information other agencies have shared with NSA that ended up in documents that were then stolen by Snowden.

And I am talking about information that could greatly damage our relationships with “liasons” and other entities that provide valuable data on the assumption of anonymity.

As a result, any efforts to share information with NSA are being severely damaged. The ability to get cooperation from foreign services is damaged. The entire sense of trust upon which the system is based has been destroyed. The financial and tactical implications of this are too large to yet assess.

390 dell*nix  Fri, Nov 8, 2013 6:11:48pm

re: #368 darthstar

Just move it from non-fiction to fiction.

391 Flavia  Sat, Nov 9, 2013 3:44:05pm

re: #5 ericblair

I’m guessing a lot of the time the training doesn’t get translated over to real life. “Yeah, the training said not to give your password out to anybody including SAs, but Ed says he needs it so it must be an exception.”

Exactly.

I even had someone do this to me when I worked in a freakin’ fabric store! (FTR: I got scolded, but the person who did it was a manager, & so she got in more trouble)


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 days ago
Views: 134 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1