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769 comments
1 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 5:59:07pm

Youtube Video

2 Charles Johnson  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:11:02pm

David Ossman (Firesign Theater) - How Time Flys (1973) (Complete Album)

Youtube Video

3 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:11:41pm

My parents called me on my mobile last night - asked if my land line had been disconnected. I picked it up - no dial tone - told them I didn’t know what was going on but I’d check it. This morning, I go online, and sure enough, my account is up to date and autopay is keeping AT&T happy. When I get home from work I look at the phone, sitting lonely in the corner, and go to pick it up again, when I see that I’d unplugged it (about a month and a half ago because I was pissed at robo-callers) and forgotten I’d done that. The only other people who call me on the land line are my parents…so, begrudgingly, I’ve plugged the phone back in. Come on, telemarketers, ask me if my carpets are clean!

4 lawhawk  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:12:07pm

Time keeps on slipping [slipping] in to the future….

5 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:16:08pm

re: #4 lawhawk

Time keeps on slipping [slipping] in to the future….

My favorite lines from that song:

Feed the children, who don’t have food to eat,
Shoe the people, with no shoes on their feet.

(I think that’s the order…writing from memory)

6 RadicalModerate  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:17:42pm

Attempting to not make a Morris Day reference.

Dammit. I failed, didn’t I?

7 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:19:46pm
8 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:21:00pm

I had to stop reading Max Blumenthal’s Tweets for my mental health.

9 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:22:22pm

Making this Pilaf tonight (I’ve made it before, it’s FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE!)…I highly suggest you try it.

Sweet-scented Pilaf: Masala Pulao
Lacto-vegetarian (vegan if you use oil); gluten-free

Perfuming oils with whole spices has been classic to north Indian cuisine for thousands of years (no, I am not exaggerating). Western cultures call it blooming but we call it tadka. Whatever the nomenclature for this technique, the results play a pleasing game of how- much-can-you-eat-without-stopping with your palate. Give in and savor it as a side to any main dish, salad, soup, or even a starter.

Ingredients
1 cup white Indian or Pakistani basmati rice
2 tablespoons Ghee (homemade or store-purchased) or canola oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
6 green or white cardamom pods
2 fresh or dried bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks (each 3-inches long)
1 small red onion, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt

Full recipe here: splendidtable.org

10 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:23:56pm

Serious question: Does the gaping hole he’s getting from the continued reaming by Rachel Maddow make Christie’s ass look big or what?

11 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:24:14pm

Okay, maybe that wasn’t all that serious after all.

12 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:30:22pm

re: #8 Pie-onist Overlord

I had to stop reading Max Blumenthal’s Tweets for my mental health.

Absolutely. I think he’s just another dude of our time that has found out that hate sells. He’s making money off this.

I think he had some reasonable left wing commentary a few years back, but then he went nuts. You make more $ if you are nuts/inflammatory. Plenty of crazed people followed him = benefits all around.

I add him to my list of those to check up on in 20 years.

13 Kragar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:31:36pm

Youtube Video

14 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:32:28pm

re: #9 darthstar

Curry deviled eggs tonight.

I love the Splendid Table. Is it Lynn Neery? Her voice is velvet.

15 Kragar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:34:26pm

Youtube Video

16 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:36:59pm

re: #14 Stanley Sea

Curry deviled eggs tonight.

I love the Splendid Table. Is it Lynn Neery? Her voice is velvet.

Lynne Rossetto Kasper…we’ve got the cookbook by Raghavan Iyer with the rice recipe, but I couldn’t find it (we have a lot of cookbooks throughout the house), so I googled the recipe (like a fucking savage).

17 freetoken  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:37:17pm

Not sure where time comes from… but money, on the other hand…

Funding after evolution debate spurs ark project

The founder of a Bible-themed museum who recently debated evolution with TV’s “Science Guy” Bill Nye says fundraising after the widely watched event helped to revive stalled plans to build a 510-foot replica of Noah’s Ark.

Creation Museum founder Ken Ham said a municipal bond offering has raised enough money to begin construction on the wooden ark, estimated to cost about $73 million. Groundbreaking is planned for May and the ark is expected to be finished by the summer of 2016.

Ham said in a news release that the “high-profile debate helped encourage more of our ministry friends to get involved in the past few weeks.”

[…]


Ham’s ministry and the Creation Museum enjoyed an avalanche of news media attention during the Feb. 4 debate with Nye on evolution and the Bible, which was streamed live on the Web. Answers in Genesis said millions around the world watched the event, and it was followed by numerous national news reports and TV talk show discussions.

[…]

“It was a challenging time, one that on a human level required a miracle to overcome,” he said in the release.

Ham has said the debate with Nye introduced to a wider audience his ministry’s views that the Bible’s creation story is a true historical account.

[…]

Bottom line is this: Nye’s ego is bigger than his ability to change creationists’ minds.

18 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:39:06pm

Stanley - refresh - close, but wrong Lynn/Lynne

19 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:41:39pm
20 jaunte  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:43:32pm

re: #19 darthstar

I think the changes to the navigation tools in Google maps has made it harder to use.

21 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:43:36pm

Hey, klys, you around? I remember a few days back you mentioned a class project in assembler. I was curious what one they foist on students these days. Motorola or DEC ones were never too bad - with bad being defined by x86. ;) I liked VAX & 68k. Others? Not so much…

22 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:43:48pm

Fuck it…I’m stoking the flames.

23 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:44:29pm

re: #20 jaunte

I think the changes to the navigation tools in Google maps has made it harder to use.

It’s now the WHERE THE FUCK AM I? app in my opinion. I can’t wait until they fuck my phone up with those updates.

24 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:45:40pm

re: #19 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Not quite. They haven’t bottomed out with their equivalent of BOB - an OS designed to make Clippy the most intellectual thing available.

25 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:46:08pm
26 dog philosopher  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:49:05pm

re: #23 darthstar

It’s now the WHERE THE FUCK AM I? app in my opinion. I can’t wait until they fuck my phone up with those updates.

i refuse to be updated

if they force me i will have to unleash my cuneiform phone

27 bratwurst  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:49:50pm

re: #20 jaunte

I think the changes to the navigation tools in Google maps has made it harder to use.

Totally agree. I switched back to the old version for that very reason.

28 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:51:47pm

re: #23 darthstar

It’s now the WHERE THE FUCK AM I? app in my opinion. I can’t wait until they fuck my phone up with those updates.

WAZE is the best map app.

29 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:53:32pm

5° here. It hasn’t been this cold since New Year’s week, and I was in California then.

30 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 6:58:59pm

re: #20 jaunte

I think the changes to the navigation tools in Google maps has made it harder to use.

DITTO. I hit the X to get that big blocking thing off my map and it kicks you out!

WTF. Still trying to figure it out.

Going on road trip through Florida, GA & SC. Ha, yes, Got my Obama beanie at the ready you fucks!

But have gone to the AAA site for success.

31 klys  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:02:23pm

re: #21 William Barnett-Lewis

Hey, klys, you around? I remember a few days back you mentioned a class project in assembler. I was curious what one they foist on students these days. Motorola or DEC ones were never too bad - with bad being defined by x86. ;) I liked VAX & 68k. Others? Not so much…

The assignment in question was this (link should work). You can browse to see what else we’ve done too.

I haven’t started the next one, but I have late days I can and will use since we’re going to be out of town this weekend.

32 Mentis Fugit  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:03:05pm

re: #7 darthstar

[Embedded content]

You can’t accuse Microsoft of censoring their search results.
Good Guy Microsoft

33 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:04:36pm

re: #28 Pie-onist Overlord

WAZE is the best map app.

Good for maps, but now that its popular I don’t know how to stop the 5K wazers reporting the accident.

Used to be just 3. I’m kinda frustrated with it.

34 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:08:02pm

I have returned from the Land of the Obituaries.

35 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:08:58pm

re: #3 darthstar

Come on, telemarketers, ask me if my carpets are clean!

That’s gotta be a euphemism for something nasty.

36 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:15:27pm

re: #31 klys

The assignment in question was this (link should work). You can browse to see what else we’ve done too.

I haven’t started the next one, but I have late days I can and will use since we’re going to be out of town this weekend.

Ah, x86. You have my sincere sympathy.

37 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:18:20pm

Egg salad (curry. cumin, Cayenne, Dijon & mayo) on pita w/butter lettuce and tomato.

Swear this is a 15.00 restaurant item.

AHHHH

38 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:19:10pm

Need some wicked fries.

39 Interesting Times  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:21:08pm

re: #38 Stanley Sea

Need some wicked fries.

Image: mcd-fries.jpg

40 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:21:09pm

Report: Armed men take airport in Ukraine’s Crimea

Witnesses told the Interfax news agency that the 50 or so men were wearing the same gear as the ones who seized government buildings in the city, Simferopol, on Thursday and raised the Russian flag.

The report said the men with “Russian Navy ensigns” first surrounded the Simferopol Airport’s domestic flights terminal.

The report could not be immediately confirmed.

41 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:21:38pm

re: #38 Stanley Sea

Need some wicked fries.

Don’t know about wicked, my favorite is 2 or 3 unpeeled spuds sliced, tossed in olive oil & rosemary then baked at 400 for an hour, tossing every 20 minutes.

42 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:22:28pm

re: #41 William Barnett-Lewis

Don’t know about wicked, my favorite is 2 or 3 unpeeled spuds sliced, tossed in olive oil & rosemary then baked at 400 for an hour, tossing every 20 minutes.

oh yeah.

43 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:23:16pm

re: #41 William Barnett-Lewis

Don’t know about wicked, my favorite is 2 or 3 unpeeled spuds sliced, tossed in olive oil & rosemary then baked at 400 for an hour, tossing every 20 minutes.

My favorite is sweet potatoes, split, and prepared as above.

44 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:24:59pm

O/T

Y’know, I don’t necessarily want Hillary Clinton to run for President.

I’d much rather see her on the Supreme Court.

Just an odd thought, tonight.

45 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:26:09pm

re: #44 chadu

O/T

Y’know, I don’t necessarily want Hillary Clinton to run for President.

I’d much rather see her on the Supreme Court.

Just an odd thought, tonight.

I would much rather see Elizabeth Warren as POTUS than Hillary. Joe Biden, even.

46 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:27:22pm

re: #43 Pie-onist Overlord

My favorite is sweet potatoes, split, and prepared as above.

Sweets work, but I’m just one of those northern boys so I like my irish potatoes better ;)

47 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:28:20pm

re: #44 chadu

O/T

Y’know, I don’t necessarily want Hillary Clinton to run for President.

I’d much rather see her on the Supreme Court.

Just an odd thought, tonight.

I’ve never thought she’d be a good president. But can you imagine her & Barak _both_ ending up on the court?

48 SteveMcGazi  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:28:35pm

There is something I have a problem with in the opening seconds of the video. The speaker says that a second is the time it takes for nine billion… cycles of a Cesium atom. How is that counted in just a second? One, two, three, shoot start over. How do they really know the atom did whatever it was supposed to do exactly nine billion and whatever times?

49 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:28:53pm

re: #45 Pie-onist Overlord

I would much rather see Elizabeth Warren as POTUS than Hillary. Joe Biden, even.

I’d like to see a Warren/Biden ticket.

Seriously.

I think Unca Joe is a helluva VP.

Shirtless Biden Washes Trans Am In White House Driveway
theonion.com

50 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:30:33pm

re: #49 chadu

I’d like to see a Warren/Biden ticket.

Seriously.

I think Unca Joe is a helluva VP.

>Shirtless Biden Washes Trans Am In White House Driveway
theonion.com

As Wonkette calls him, “Handsome Joe”

51 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:35:34pm

re: #41 William Barnett-Lewis

Don’t know about wicked, my favorite is 2 or 3 unpeeled spuds sliced, tossed in olive oil & rosemary then baked at 400 for an hour, tossing every 20 minutes.

I mandoline sliced 3-4 small white potatoes tonight and then slow cooked them in a skillet with onions, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and a little butter. Plus a little dollop of bacon grease for flavor. ;)

52 Stanley Sea  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:36:17pm

re: #47 William Barnett-Lewis

I’ve never thought she’d be a good president. But can you imagine her & Barak _both_ ending up on the court?

OH YEAH.

53 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:38:42pm

re: #47 William Barnett-Lewis

I’ve never thought she’d be a good president. But can you imagine her & Barak _both_ ending up on the court?

Especially if the Hil gets to be Chief Justice.

She’s the former Secretary of State and the Chief Justice, he’s a Justice who doesn’t play by the rules — THEY FIGHT CRIME!

(Buck Rogers theme — sans opening voice over, start at 0.34 at link — starts playing*)

Youtube Video

* No, I don’t know why, that’s just the music that started in my head when I wrote that lede.

54 Dr. Matt  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:46:08pm

Worst fucking analogy to justify the now vetoed Arizona bill.

Huh?

55 chadu  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:47:37pm

re: #54 Dr. Matt

Worst fucking analogy to justify the now vetoed Arizona bill.

Huh?

Call me when that case goes to court, Clarence Darrow.

56 TedStriker  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:48:38pm

re: #44 chadu

O/T

Y’know, I don’t necessarily want Hillary Clinton to run for President.

I’d much rather see her on the Supreme Court.

Just an odd thought, tonight.

re: #47 William Barnett-Lewis

I’ve never thought she’d be a good president. But can you imagine her & Barak _both_ ending up on the court?

re: #52 Stanley Sea

OH YEAH.

HRC would make a good SC justice, but that’s fraught with the same problems another presidential run for her has: she’ll be 67 this October. Hell, she may live and be completely fine for another 20 years, but there’s just as much of a chance that she may keel over in a year or two.

No slight intended against Hillary, but for a SC seat, I’d much rather see a younger jurist like Sonomayor get a nod (but even Sonomayor is not that much younger than Hillary).

57 Ryan King  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:50:09pm

re: #54 Dr. Matt

I’m going to sue Barry for being such an idiot it made my head hurt.

58 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:50:37pm

UN leaps into action
Exclusive: U.N. nuclear agency opted against sensitive Iran report

The U.N. nuclear watchdog planned a major report on Iran that might have revealed more of its suspected atomic bomb research, but held off as Tehran’s relations with the outside world thawed, sources familiar with the matter said.

Such a report - to have been prepared last year - would almost certainly have angered Iran and complicated efforts to settle a decade-old dispute over its atomic aspirations, moves which accelerated after pragmatic President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.

According to the sources, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has apparently dropped the idea of a new report, at least for the time being.

59 Lidane  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:55:31pm

Taking their Pinochet fandom to its logical conclusion:

60 Charles Johnson  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:58:42pm
61 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 7:59:03pm

re: #59 Lidane

Taking their Pinochet fandom to its logical conclusion:

[Embedded content]

Please proceed…

63 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:08:39pm
64 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:09:41pm

Just asked my Libertarian Acquaintance what she thinks of State Nullification. This ought to be good.

65 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:12:30pm

Also, can someone explain to me what is going on in regards to the Flag decision in California?

66 dr. luba  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:16:41pm
Bernard-Henri Levy:

Here we have a country—Russia—where hunting for gays and for northern Caucasian facial features is becoming a national sport.

Here we have a country where, on April 20, Adolf Hitler’s birthday, “non-Slavs” are invited to stay home lest something terrible happen to them.

Here we have a country where, when a thousand young people take to the streets in 2006 to protest a bill before the Duma to ban Jewish groups suspected of having made a “pact with the devil,” they donned masks for fear of finding their faces on the Facebook page of a “white patrol” hit-man who would come and bust their head.

And here we find that that country, through the voice of its president, while berating Germany, France, and the United States, has the unbelievable nerve to declare that the Ukrainian revolution marks the return of fascism to Europe.

The whole thing would be laughable if so many women and men had not paid with their lives for the right of those who survive not to hear such obscenities—and if there were not, in the West, such a large number of feeble, credulous minds willing to tell themselves, “Hey, where there’s smoke there’s fire. After all, are these Ukrainians really so squeaky clean? Isn’t it possible that the West, with its tendency to romanticize the barricades, have been taken in by a revolution that isn’t what it seems?”And so on.

Come on, people!

Good article. “Ukraine’s Revolutionaries Are Not Fascists”

67 kirkspencer  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:17:05pm

re: #58 Killgore Trout

I’m sorry, but I have no trust of anonymous sources on pretty much anything anymore. That’s especially true when extraordinary claims are being made by these anonymous sources.

Supporting proof or it’s propaganda; the drums of war beating again.

68 Belafon  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:21:05pm

re: #65 The War TARDIS

I’m guessing this: Bill bans Confederate flag sale on California property.

Not sure why they’re trying. As much as I hate the Confederate flag, I see it here all the time in Texas, it’s a First Amendment issue.

69 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:28:00pm

re: #68 Belafon

It was something to do with a school.

70 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:29:18pm

re: #66 dr. luba

Really, nothing to say here, other than he has crafted the point to perfection.

71 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:35:51pm

re: #54 Dr. Matt

Worst fucking analogy to justify the now vetoed Arizona bill.

Huh?

This small business owner may think he has the right to refuse anyone based on his thoughts or feelings.

He is, of course, wrong. Public accommodations can’t discriminate based on race or religion due to the 64 Civil Rights Act and lots of other legislation that came along later. I don’t think a lot of Americans understand this distinction…that it actually is illegal to deny service based on race/religion, it’s not just a custom we developed because we learned in the 60’s that segregation is bad. It’s actually part of our law.

72 darthstar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:36:38pm

Squirrel-Horse Hybrids! OMG!

73 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:38:54pm

re: #67 kirkspencer

I’m sorry, but I have no trust of anonymous sources on pretty much anything anymore. That’s especially true when extraordinary claims are being made by these anonymous sources.

Supporting proof or it’s propaganda; the drums of war beating again.

The 2011 report had enough damning information in it. Iran was working on triggers, detonators and megaton yield math for a bomb. I don’t think there’s much doubt they were working on a bomb. They may have stopped or slowed down for a while.

74 The Mountain That Blogs  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:39:57pm

Anybody else get the last week or so of LGF front page articles showing up in their RSS feed all at once?

75 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:42:40pm

re: #73 Killgore Trout

The 2011 report had enough damning information in it. Iran was working on triggers, detonators and megaton yield math for a bomb. I don’t think there’s much doubt they were working on a bomb. They may have stopped or slowed down for a while.

Who in the mainstream West claims that Iran hasn’t worked on a nuclear weapon? This is pretty much common knowledge that they have. Which is why so many countries joined a deal with Iran to get them to stop.

76 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:43:19pm

re: #67 kirkspencer

I’m sorry, but I have no trust of anonymous sources on pretty much anything anymore. That’s especially true when extraordinary claims are being made by these anonymous sources.

Supporting proof or it’s propaganda; the drums of war beating again.

Proof? We don’t need no stinking proof!

77 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:44:13pm

re: #67 kirkspencer

I’m sorry, but I have no trust of anonymous sources on pretty much anything anymore. That’s especially true when extraordinary claims are being made by these anonymous sources.

Supporting proof or it’s propaganda; the drums of war beating again.

Hey, we haven’t had a new war in 10 years. Don’t you think it’s time to once again give war, especially nation-building war, another chance? It’s worked so well for us over the last half-century.

78 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:44:41pm

re: #40 Killgore Trout

Report: Armed men take airport in Ukraine’s Crimea

Sevastopol’s airport was also attacked today…

79 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:47:04pm

…and then they left.

80 Kragar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:48:14pm

re: #78 NJDhockeyfan

Sevastopol’s airport was also attacked today…

[Embedded content]

I expect the free world to stand up and bravely say “Heeeyyyy…” while doing absolutely nothing.

81 Charles Johnson  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:48:20pm
82 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:48:36pm

re: #79 NJDhockeyfan

…and then they left.

[Embedded content]

Odd.

83 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:50:37pm

re: #80 Kragar

I expect the free world to stand up and bravely say “Heeeyyyy…” while doing absolutely nothing.

We’ll do something but not too much and nothing too hard. We won’t do it for too long, just enough to say “hey, we did something”.

84 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:50:42pm

re: #80 Kragar

I expect the free world to stand up and bravely say “Heeeyyyy…” while doing absolutely nothing.

The UN will provide the strongly worded letters.

85 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:53:01pm

Meanwhile Yanuk got special escort treatment on the flight inside Russia.

86 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:55:02pm

re: #80 Kragar

I expect the free world to stand up and bravely say “Heeeyyyy…” while doing absolutely nothing.

Russia, like China, is too big to fail. At over 10 times the size of Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re also too big to invade and nation build. Plus they have nukes. What exactly do you want us to do? We’re stretched a bit thin as it is.

87 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:55:30pm

re: #85 NJDhockeyfan

Meanwhile Yanuk got special escort treatment on the flight inside Russia.

[Embedded content]

He must be desperate for friends. He really fucked over Putin, I think he might be safer in a Ukrainian jail.

88 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:56:05pm

re: #84 NJDhockeyfan

The UN will provide the strongly worded letters.

Maybe we should get rid of the UN. Cuz the world was such a safe and stable place beforehand, right?

89 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:56:26pm

re: #86 palomino

Russia, like China, is too big to fail. At over 10 times the size of Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re also too big to invade and nation build. Plus they have nukes. What exactly do you want us to do? We’re stretched a bit thin as it is.

We could send Jimmy Carter.

90 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 8:58:29pm

re: #89 Killgore Trout

We could send Jimmy Carter.

Did you recently suffer a traumatic brain injury?

91 Kragar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:00:20pm

re: #86 palomino

Russia, like China, is too big to fail. At over 10 times the size of Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re also too big to invade and nation build. Plus they have nukes. What exactly do you want us to do? We’re stretched a bit thin as it is.

Yeah, I can’t think of any reason why Europe or other nations around the world might show any concern. Its all on us.

92 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:01:10pm

re: #88 palomino

Maybe we should get rid of the UN. Cuz the world was such a safe and stable place beforehand, right?

Why? They’ve done such a great job with Syria, Egypt, and Iran we should keep them around much longer. I know the Israelis just loves how fair they’ve been with Israel .

93 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:02:04pm

re: #90 palomino

Did you recently suffer a traumatic brain injury?

Nah, just his usual attempt at trolling here.

94 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:02:12pm

re: #89 Killgore Trout

We could send Jimmy Carter.

Isn’t he headed to Venezuela? He may be busy for a while.

95 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:04:25pm

re: #94 NJDhockeyfan

Isn’t he headed to Venezuela? He may be busy for a while.

Oh. My. How witty.

{golf clap}

96 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:04:47pm
97 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:05:43pm

re: #91 Kragar

Yeah, I can’t think of any reason why Europe or other nations around the world might show any concern. Its all on us.

That’s my point. We’re all tapped out for now. Let someone else, maybe not on the opposite side of the globe, deal with the Ukraine.

I think the last 10 years have proven the folly of the idea that America has the ability to create its own reality in terms of foreign policy.

98 klys  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:05:45pm

re: #93 William Barnett-Lewis

Nah, just his usual attempt at trolling here.

At this point, it’s not worth it tonight. Or really any time it gets like this. I figure I have better things I can do with my time.

It’s a shame, because normally the comments/community are really great.

99 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:09:39pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

Why? They’ve done such a great job with Syria, Egypt, and Iran we should keep them around much longer. I know the Israelis just loves how fair they’ve been with Israel .

You actually think we’d be better off with no international organization like the UN?

Of course not everything they do will be great, they’re filled with people from all over the world who disagree. The purpose though makes sense: world powers staying in diplomatic contact, in the hopes we can avoid the next world war. And maybe do some humanitarian work along the way.

100 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:10:41pm

re: #97 palomino

That’s my point. We’re all tapped out for now. Let someone else, maybe not on the opposite side of the globe, deal with the Ukraine.

I think the last 10 years have proven the folly of the idea that America has the ability to create its own reality in terms of foreign policy.

I think that’s the way it’s going to be for a while. I have a hard time imagining Obama engaging in any new military adventures, and the next president (regardless of party) might not be any more interested.
For better or worse we’re done being the world’s police for a while.

101 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:11:11pm

re: #94 NJDhockeyfan

Isn’t he headed to Venezuela? He may be busy for a while.

So now Jimmy Carter is a communist who believes in totalitarian governments?

102 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:12:54pm

re: #100 Killgore Trout

I think that’s the way it’s going to be for a while. I have a hard time imagining Obama engaging in any new military adventures, and the next president (regardless of party) might not be any more interested.
For better or worse we’re done being the world’s police for a while.

Good. We can’t afford it indefinitely. It’s just one of the many mistakes that has brought other superpowers low. Maybe we can try to avoid that in the future.

It’s a cute idea to think that America can run the entire world. But we can’t, so it’s better to face up to it. Doesn’t mean our mililtary goes into mothballs, just more judiciously used.

103 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:14:31pm

re: #98 klys

At this point, it’s not worth it tonight. Or really any time it gets like this. I figure I have better things I can do with my time.

It’s a shame, because normally the comments/community are really great.

Yet another thread shit on and destroyed by KT. But he has “history” …

104 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:16:31pm

re: #100 Killgore Trout

Only until it’s the authoritarians you like.

105 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:16:51pm

LOL!

106 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:18:51pm

re: #101 palomino

So now Jimmy Carter is a communist who believes in totalitarian governments?

So Jimmy Carter is a commie because he’s trying to make a peace deal in Venezuela. Brilliant! How progressive!

Lol

107 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:18:55pm

re: #102 palomino

Good. We can’t afford it indefinitely. It’s just one of the many mistakes that has brought other superpowers low. Maybe we can try to avoid that in the future.

Well, it might be good for us as we sit around safely buying gadgets eating unlimited cheap food and generally consuming. It may not be so good for those living under oppressive dictators or in a country ravaged by civil war. What’s “good” is a matter of perspective.

108 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:23:38pm

re: #106 NJDhockeyfan

So Jimmy Carter is a commie because he’s trying to make a peace deal in Venezuela. Brilliant! How progressive!

Lol

So then Nixon, Ford and Reagan were all commies for negotiating with communist countries?

What are you even talking about? If Carter can mediate in any way that prevents a civil war, he should try. What about that do you object to?

109 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:25:25pm

It’s getting very weird in here.

110 Petero1818  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:27:20pm

re: #107 Killgore Trout

Well, it might be good for us as we sit around safely buying gadgets eating unlimited cheap food and generally consuming. It may not be so good for those living under oppressive dictators or in a country ravaged by civil war. What’s “good” is a matter of perspective.

I am pretty confident that the US and Russia fighting a war over Ukraine would be pretty “bad” for everyone, especially the Ukranians. This is Russia’s sphere of influence, and Putin would never stand for any real intervention from Europe or America there. Its a non starter. We are talking about Russia not Iraq. About the most we can do is make sure Europe puts economic pressure, and of course we should boycott the paralympics.// So yes, ultimately there is no play here for America other than quiet support for the pro-Euro opposition.

111 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:27:34pm

re: #109 NJDhockeyfan

It’s getting very weird in here.

Let’s go back to talking about penis cakes …

112 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:27:57pm

re: #108 palomino

So then Nixon, Ford and Reagan were all commies for negotiating with communist countries?

What are you even talking about? If Carter can mediate in any way that prevents a civil war, he should try. What about that do you object to?

You suggested Carter was a communist for going to Venezuela so whatever floats your boat.

o_O

113 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:28:44pm

re: #107 Killgore Trout

Well, it might be good for us as we sit around safely buying gadgets eating unlimited cheap food and generally consuming. It may not be so good for those living under oppressive dictators or in a country ravaged by civil war. What’s “good” is a matter of perspective.

I’m talking about “good” in the sense of not starting costly new nation building adventures that go on forever because there was never an end game to begin with.

It’s not the responsibility of the US military to stop all oppressive dictators or civil wars. More importantly, it CAN’T be our responsibility. We don’t have the resources or the will to continue the charade that we can run the world.

114 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:29:00pm

re: #111 wheat-dogghazi

Let’s go back to talking about penis cakes …

Heh. I missed that discussion. I’m glad I did, I think.

115 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:29:23pm

re: #109 NJDhockeyfan

It’s getting very weird in here.

smh

116 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:31:17pm

re: #112 NJDhockeyfan

You suggested Carter was a communist for going to Venezuela so whatever floats your boat.

o_O

Wow, you really have no sense of sarcasm or irony whatsoever. The ? at the end of the sentence is a cue that I don’t actually believe what I’m saying.

117 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:32:03pm

re: #110 Petero1818

I am pretty confident that the US and Russia fighting a war over Ukraine would be pretty “bad” for everyone, especially the Ukranians. This is Russia’s sphere of influence, and Putin would never stand for any real intervention from Europe or America there. Its a non starter. We are talking about Russia not Iraq. About the most we can do is make sure Europe puts economic pressure, and of course we should boycott the paralympics.// So yes, ultimately there is no play here for America other than quiet support for the pro-Euro opposition.

Agreed. If Russia really wants Ukraine bad enough they can just take it. I think it’s very unlikely the US or NATO would do much to stop it.

118 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:32:23pm

re: #116 palomino

Wow, you really have no sense of sarcasm or irony whatsoever. The ? at the end of the sentence is a cue that I don’t actually believe what I’m saying.

Ok, if you say so.

119 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:33:31pm

re: #109 NJDhockeyfan

It’s getting very weird in here.

What’s weird? People disagree with each other on comment boards a million times a minute. So what?

120 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:35:00pm

re: #118 NJDhockeyfan

Ok, if you say so.

That’s how someone with no sense of irony, sarcasm or imagination would respond.

I notice you said nothing substantive about Carter or anything else. But that’s typical.

121 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:36:44pm

re: #117 Killgore Trout

Agreed. If Russia really wants Ukraine bad enough they can just take it. I think it’s very unlikely the US or NATO would do much to stop it.

There would be a bunch of outrage from the West but nothing will come out of it. Would the EU and US put some sort of sanctions on Russia? Doubtful.

122 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:37:48pm

re: #119 palomino

What’s weird? People disagree with each other on comment boards a million times a minute. So what?

You aren’t playing his game. Therefore it’s weird.

Nothing new. Move along…

123 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:38:41pm

re: #114 NJDhockeyfan

Heh. I missed that discussion. I’m glad I did, I think.

It was amusing. Some RWNJ is appalled by Brewer’s veto, and predicts that bakeries will be forced to bake penis-shaped cakes for gay couples and photogs will be forced to shoot naked gay weddings. Lizards took it from there.

There are vagina cakes, too.

124 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:39:08pm

re: #122 William Barnett-Lewis

You aren’t playing his game. Therefore it’s weird.

Nothing new. Move along…

I can’t even figure out his game. Maybe even he can’t.

Either way it’s even more boring than curling.

125 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:39:16pm

re: #120 palomino

That’s how someone with no sense of irony, sarcasm or imagination would respond.

I notice you said nothing substantive about Carter or anything else. But that’s typical.

He’s headed to Venezuela. What do you want, a complete report?

126 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:40:27pm

re: #121 NJDhockeyfan

There would be a bunch of outrage from the West but nothing will come out of it. Would the EU and US put some sort of sanctions on Russia? Doubtful.

Agreed. We couldn’t even maintain sanctions again Iran so Russia is out of the question. There’s money to be made.

127 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:40:27pm

re: #124 palomino

I can’t even figure out his game. Maybe even he can’t.

Either way it’s even more boring than curling.

Could be worse: it’s not cricket.


(let’s see if they get that one… ;)

128 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:41:03pm

re: #125 NJDhockeyfan

He’s headed to Venezuela. What do you want, a complete report?

Just an acknowledgment that if he can help prevent a civil war, and more bloodshed, then it’s not totally fucked up that he’s going.

129 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:41:10pm

re: #123 wheat-dogghazi

It was amusing. Some RWNJ is appalled by Brewer’s veto, and predicts that bakeries will be forced to bake penis-shaped cakes for gay couples and photogs will be forced to shoot naked gay weddings. Lizards took it from there.

There are vagina cakes, too.

I’ve been to a few parties that had both plus boob cupcakes. Is there anything you can’t create with cakes and icing?

130 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:42:12pm

re: #128 palomino

Just an acknowledgment that if he can help prevent a civil war, and more bloodshed, then it’s not totally fucked up that he’s going.

Who said its fucked up he’s going there?

131 blueraven  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:42:25pm

re: #107 Killgore Trout

we sit around safely buying gadgets eating unlimited cheap food and generally consuming.

That sounds like some OWS anti-consumerism sentiment.

132 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:42:50pm

Did someone spike the punch?

133 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:43:13pm

re: #123 wheat-dogghazi

It was amusing. Some RWNJ is appalled by Brewer’s veto, and predicts that bakeries will be forced to bake penis-shaped cakes for gay couples and photogs will be forced to shoot naked gay weddings. Lizards took it from there.

There are vagina cakes, too.

Which is a totally absurd hypothetical. I seriously doubt that a baker will run afoul of civil rights laws if he says, “I don’t feel comfortable making sexually explicit cakes.” And I’m just about positive that a photog can safely say, “I don’t want to take pornographic photos.”

134 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:43:52pm

re: #132 NJDhockeyfan

Did someone spike the punch?

Depends. Is KT & you pissing in it the same as spiking it?

135 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:44:21pm

re: #130 NJDhockeyfan

Who said its fucked up he’s going there?

I thought you did.

Now that I know you support his attempts at preventing bloodshed in Venezuela, I stand corrected.

136 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:46:32pm

re: #133 palomino

Which is a totally absurd hypothetical. I seriously doubt that a baker will run afoul of civil rights laws if he says, “I don’t feel comfortable making sexually explicit cakes.” And I’m just about positive that a photog can safely say, “I don’t want to take pornographic photos.”

Well, sure. But in RWNJ logic, vetoing a law that would make it OK for a shopkeeper to refuse to serve LGBT customers is the same as forcing a shopkeeper to do anything the customers want.

137 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:47:10pm

re: #135 palomino

I thought you did.

Now that I know you don’t object to his attempts at preventing bloodshed in Venezuela, I stand corrected.

You thought I did? Where? Are you high?

138 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:48:29pm

We have some breaking news coming out of Ukraine…

139 Lidane  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:49:25pm
140 blueraven  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:50:23pm

re: #137 NJDhockeyfan

You thought I did? Where? Are you high?

We all know how much you admire Jimmy Carter.

141 palomino  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 9:59:00pm

re: #137 NJDhockeyfan

You thought I did? Where? Are you high?

Yes, I am high. But tomorrow I won’t be.

You, on the other hand, will still be a moron.

142 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:05:59pm

re: #131 blueraven

That sounds like some OWS anti-consumerism sentiment.

Sure is. Unfortunately the message of changing how we live doesn’t have the same mass appeal as populist rhetoric blaming wealthy elites and bankers.

143 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:07:52pm

re: #141 palomino

Yes, I am high. But tomorrow I won’t be.

You, on the other hand, will still be a moron.

A personal attack, very nice.

144 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:11:03pm

re: #140 blueraven

We all know how much you admire Jimmy Carter.

For someone who is very supportive of terrorists what’s not to like?

145 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:15:38pm

Uh oh, this ain’t good.

146 NJDhockeyfan  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:21:26pm

Time for bed. Have a great night lizards! Thanks for the entertainment tonight :)

147 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:21:58pm

re: #145 NJDhockeyfan

Oh, fucking great.

148 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:23:38pm

re: #145 NJDhockeyfan

Uh oh, this ain’t good.

[Embedded content]

Reuters is just running an all caps headline with no text
UKRAINE: MILITARY AIRPORT AT SEVASTOPOL IN UKRAINE’S CRIMEA SEIZED BY RUSSIAN SERVICEMEN -INTERFAX

149 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:25:38pm

It seems we have consensus here that the US and Nato won’t do much. What’s Putin’s move? Just take eastern Ukraine or does he go for the whole thing and maybe put Yanuk back in charge? I guess he can do whatever he wants.

150 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:31:15pm

re: #149 Killgore Trout

Russia can try, but doing that would likely put it into yet another Afghanistan-esque situation.

Ukraine would likely be restive beyond measure, and because of the Tatars, every radical Muslim not involved with Afghanistan and Syria would cluster there.

151 Lidane  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:31:41pm

What realistic military options does the United States have here? We’re not going to fire on Russia and we’re certainly not going to put boots on the ground.

The best we can do is offer aid to Ukraine and encourage a quick, peaceful resolution. Anything involving actual military responses would be a terrible idea.

152 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:34:26pm

re: #151 Lidane

What realistic military options does the United States have here? We’re not going to fire on Russia and we’re certainly not going to put boots on the ground.

The best we can do is offer aid to Ukraine and encourage a quick, peaceful resolution. Anything involving actual military responses would be a terrible idea.

I hope we haven’t transferred the promised bailout money yet. We might not get that back.

153 freetoken  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:37:43pm

re: #149 Killgore Trout

It seems we have consensus here that the US and Nato won’t do much. What’s Putin’s move? Just take eastern Ukraine or does he go for the whole thing and maybe put Yanuk back in charge? I guess he can do whatever he wants.

There is little we ought to do, in my opinion.

This is really not our fight. I don’t know why people want to make it so.

154 Lidane  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:40:06pm

re: #153 freetoken

This is really not our fight. I don’t know why people want to make it so.

Because World Cop and Pax Americana, don’tcha know.’

We can’t do much because in the end, it’s really not our fight. We can offer to help Ukraine financially, but we can’t intervene more than that. Ukraine has to fight for their own future.

155 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:43:34pm

No worries, It’s just The People’s Militia greeting passengers with smiles

jpost.com

A Reuters eyewitness at the scene said the men, dressed in full battle gear and carrying assault rifles and machine guns, were moving freely in an out of the control tower.

A man, who said he was a volunteer helping the group, said: “I’m with the People’s Militia of Crimea. We’re simple people, volunteers … We’re here at the airport to maintain order. We’ll meet the planes with a nice smile - the airport is working as normal.”

156 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:45:20pm

re: #155 Killgore Trout

Ukraine needs to speed up the aliyah of Tatars from Uzbekistan and Russia back to Crimea.

157 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:46:38pm

So what’s with the airport takeovers? Looking for places to land troop transports?

158 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:49:28pm

re: #156 The War TARDIS

Ukraine needs to speed up the aliyah of Tatars from Uzbekistan and Russia back to Crimea.

I’m pretty sure Ukraine can’t do shit right now. New government hasn’t consolidated power and the military just flipped last week form supporting Yanuk to the opposition. I don’t think there’s enough cohesion to put up a fight against the Russians. Even under normal circumstances they get crushed.

159 jonhendry  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:52:13pm

re: #17 freetoken

“Bottom line is this: Nye’s ego is bigger than his ability to change creationists’ minds.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t much reality to that report about money coming in for the ark project. It might be an attempt to create an appearance of momentum, in order to pull in additional money.

160 jonhendry  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:53:12pm

re: #21 William Barnett-Lewis

Re: assembler

ARM would be useful these days.

161 Killgore Trout  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:54:26pm

We’ve gotta try to keep our heads until this peace craze blows over!

162 The War TARDIS  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 10:55:31pm

re: #158 Killgore Trout

No, I don’t mean militarily, I mean demographically.

The Crimean Peninsula is likely only just majority Russian. It has been 13 years since the last census in the Ukraine showed the Russian Population there had fallen from 67.1% in 1989, to 57.3% that year.

The Russian Population there is falling at 6% a year, with the Tatar population rising at 9% a year. The Russians are likely now only the barest of majorities there.

I am saying Ukraine needs to pull in more Tatars wanting to go home. Accelerate the trend even farther.

163 jonhendry  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:01:10pm

re: #57 Ryan King

I’m going to sue Barry for being such an idiot it made my head hurt.

That wasn’t Barry Petchesky, it was all “ilyai”

164 jonhendry  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:24:32pm

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, on the BBC promoting a new airship company, in which he is an investor.

bbc.com

All of which will be welcome news to one of the project’s high-profile investors, Bruce Dickinson.

He is one of those people who can’t stop achieving stuff.

As if being the lead singer of one of the world’s most successful and enduring rock bands, Iron Maiden, was not enough, he is also an airline pilot, businessman, and is investing in this project.

“The airship has always been with us, it’s just been waiting for the technology to catch up”

“It’s a game changer, in terms of things we can have in the air and things we can do,” he says.

“The airship has always been with us, it’s just been waiting for the technology to catch up.”

He wants to sell them and he’ll be very good at it. As we chat in the hangar, he goes through its credentials.

It is 70% greener than a cargo plane, he says. It doesn’t need a runway, just two crew. And it can plonk 50 tonnes anywhere in the world you like, which is 50 times more than a helicopter.

165 Lidane  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:36:44pm

Hahaha awesome:

166 Kragar  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:40:05pm

re: #164 jonhendry

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, on the BBC promoting a new airship company, in which he is an investor.

bbc.com

Why he hasn’t been knighted yet is a mystery.

167 dr. luba  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:49:13pm

re: #153 freetoken

There is little we ought to do, in my opinion.

This is really not our fight. I don’t know why people want to make it so.

Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances

168 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Thu, Feb 27, 2014 11:57:04pm

re: #155 Killgore Trout

No worries, It’s just The People’s Militia greeting passengers with smiles

jpost.com

Nothing like a well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free State…

169 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:02:05am

re: #164 jonhendry

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, on the BBC promoting a new airship company, in which he is an investor.

bbc.com

They tried to get an airship company off the ground in Germany, Government subsidzed. It went down in flames, so to speak. (Zeppelyindra?). They had even built an enormous hangar for it, which has since been reconverted into an enormous tropical indoor recreation park.

170 jonhendry  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:13:31am

re: #166 Kragar

I love the video on YouTube of Bruce singing “Locomotive Breath” with Ian Anderson, at a cathedral. When he gets to the bit “Has got him by the balls”, he doesn’t sing the word “balls”, he mimes a juggling motion. Presumably because he’s in a church.

171 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:20:08am

re: #170 jonhendry

I love the video on YouTube of Bruce singing “Locomotive Breath” with Ian Anderson, at a cathedral. When he gets to the bit “Has got him by the balls”, he doesn’t sing the word “balls”, he mimes a juggling motion. Presumably because he’s in a church.

Seen them in concert twice.

Youtube Video

172 Single-handed sailor  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:41:34am

Oh no, Fox News says , “Intel committee chairman poised to recall ex-CIA chief Morell over Benghazi testimony, weighing same for Petraeus”. What could this mean??!!!

//

173 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:59:18am

re: #172 Single-handed sailor

Oh no, Fox News says , “Intel committee chairman poised to recall ex-CIA chief Morell over Benghazi testimony, weighing same for Petraeus”. What could this mean??!!!

//

I saw that horse’s eyelash twitch, get out the bludgeon again!

174 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 1:37:46am

re: #166 Kragar

Why he hasn’t been knighted yet is a mystery.

Indeed. It’s one of the great mysteries of our time.

175 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 1:40:50am
176 freetoken  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 1:58:11am

Some Tomas Luis de Victoria:

MP3 Audio

177 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:08:27am
178 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:12:43am

re: #177 Lidane

Mt Gox Ceo Karpeles Blames System Weakness For Loss Of Bitcoins

I blame mental weakness for the very existence of bitcoins…

179 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:16:26am

re: #178 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

I blame mental weakness for the very existence of bitcoins…

I think it’s precious that the libertarian CEO of a Bitcoin exchange is blaming internal weaknesses in the system for their bankruptcy. That’s hilarious.

180 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:30:55am

re: #179 Lidane

I think it’s precious that the libertarian CEO of a Bitcoin exchange is blaming internal weaknesses in the system for their bankruptcy. That’s hilarious.

“You fucked up! You trusted us!”

181 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:43:50am

re: #180 Targetpractice

The CEO of a bitcoin exchange that began as a Magic the Gathering card exchange.

That’s exactly like how the NYSE got its start!

182 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:47:06am

Every currency is based on belief and trust to a certain extent. But the bitcoin was born of a combination of belief, ideology and outright gullibility: the notion that an annonymous, unanswerable entity will maintain the value and integrity of a currency.

183 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:52:38am

re: #182 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Every currency is based on belief and trust to a certain extent. But the bitcoin was born of a combination of belief, ideology and outright gullibility: the notion that an annonymous, unanswerable entity will maintain the value and integrity of a currency.

Bitcoin’s appeal is its potential, that’s what is really driving the price of it. The idea that an “anonymous” form of currency, uncontrolled by major governments, can be traded openly across international lines and be divorced from the sorts of dangers that currencies like the dollar or yuan are. Thing is, as we’re now learning with Mt.Gox, most of that “potential” is being built upon a very rickety foundation.

If nothing else, the whole deal is giving dudebros and wingnuts alike a hard lesson in why we have the Federal Reserve in the first place.

184 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 2:55:51am

re: #181 Rev_Arthur_Belling

The CEO of a bitcoin exchange that began as a Magic the Gathering card exchange.

That’s exactly like how the NYSE got its start!

185 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:03:26am

According to WSJ, the current value of the numbers of bitcoins “stolen” from Mt.Gox’s servers amounts to roughly $473 million. Ouch.

186 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:06:22am

re: #185 Targetpractice

According to WSJ, the current value of the numbers of bitcoins “stolen” from Mt.Gox’s servers amounts to roughly >$473 million. Ouch.

And without any regulation or oversight, that money is gone. Investors will never see it again and as far as I know, they don’t have any recourse to get it back. Oops.

187 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:06:35am
188 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:09:27am

re: #186 Lidane

And without any regulation or oversight, that money is gone. Investors will never see it again and as far as I know, they don’t have any recourse to get it back. Oops.

Yep, we’re not talking a bank whose stolen assets have some form of insurance or protection and so account holders will be reimbursed. As far as the system’s concerned, that money is gone and the people who owned those bitcoins are SOL.

189 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:13:03am

re: #186 Lidane

And without any regulation or oversight, that money is gone. Investors will never see it again and as far as I know, they don’t have any recourse to get it back. Oops.

Where did the “full faith and credit” of who or what originate with bitcoins anyway?

Some dudebro’s “word”?

I just substitute “snake oil salesman” for “dudebro” It was never backed by anything substantive or any govt anyway. You pay with real money to purchase these amorphous funds (just as you do any other commodity) and you just wait around to get rich?

Bwahahahaha!

190 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:16:53am

re: #189 Justanotherhuman

Where did the “full faith and credit” of who or what originate with bitcoins anyway?

Some dudebro’s “word”?

I just substitute “snake oil salesman” for “dudebro” It was never backed by anything substantive or any govt anyway. You pay with real money to purchase these amorphous funds (just as you do any other commodity) and you just wait around to get rich?

Bwahahahaha!

This ETrade parody from a few years back really sums up how the folks who just lost their asses in bitcoins must feel right now:

Youtube Video

191 jonhendry  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:18:50am

re: #189 Justanotherhuman

“Where did the “full faith and credit” of who or what originate with bitcoins anyway?”

Cryptographic algorithms, man.

192 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:21:35am

Well, here’s a bit of good news about those fleeing kleptocrats from Ukraine.


Meanwhile, rumors of Russians’ involvement in Crimea here

Maxim Eristavi ‏@MaximEristavi 27m

Russian military took over Crimea air traffic control - @blackseanews blackseanews.net

and here

193 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:21:59am

“I’ll put thousands of dollars into a fictional currency whose only protection from counterfeiting is algorithms that surely never can be cracked and exchanges/banks whose framework is built out of sponge cake and Elmer’s glue. Surely no hacker will want to steal millions of dollars or print out counterfeit coins!”

194 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:34:53am

Another thing to keep in mind is that, prior to Mt.Gox’s filing for bankruptcy, news about it losing bitcoins to theft was treated as rumor, with most folks just assuming that it was another bout of technical issues that have plagued the site up til now. But losing $473 million due to theft and keeping it hushed up right until the day you show up in bankruptcy court? Yeah, that has the chance to undermine the entire currency.

195 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:38:31am

re: #194 Targetpractice

Another thing to keep in mind is that, prior to Mt.Gox’s filing for bankruptcy, news about it losing bitcoins to theft was treated as rumor, with most folks just assuming that it was another bout of technical issues that have plagued the site up til now. But losing $473 million due to theft and keeping it hushed up right until the day you show up in bankruptcy court? Yeah, that has the chance to undermine the entire currency.

To me, it’s tantamount to taking your life savings and asking your ex-con BIL to keep it under his mattress since you don’t trust putting it in US savings bonds because you don’t like “banks”.

196 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:39:17am

re: #183 Targetpractice

If nothing else, the whole deal is giving dudebros and wingnuts alike a hard lesson in why we have the Federal Reserve in the first place.

I just lost my ass due to the fake virtual currency I invested all my savings into getting stolen. There should be a way for me to get my money back!

Why won’t the government step in to protect Bitcoin investors?

197 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:44:58am


Yet, yet…

198 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:47:07am

re: #196 Lidane

I think the idea was to rip people off in the first place. Call me cynical, but I just don’t see how this was ever supposed to succeed in being an alternative to the monetary system we have that’s recognized the world over. Someone cooked this up to steal from gullible dipshits who think they’re in a cool club.

199 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:49:11am

re: #198 A Mom Anon

B-b-b-b-but! Dudebros!

200 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:52:35am

re: #183 Targetpractice

Bitcoin’s appeal is its potential, that’s what is really driving the price of it. The idea that an “anonymous” form of currency, uncontrolled by major governments, can be traded openly across international lines and be divorced from the sorts of dangers that currencies like the dollar or yuan are. Thing is, as we’re now learning with Mt.Gox, most of that “potential” is being built upon a very rickety foundation.

If nothing else, the whole deal is giving dudebros and wingnuts alike a hard lesson in why we have the Federal Reserve in the first place.

It’s also making them look not like geniuses, but like total idiotic fools.

201 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:56:39am

re: #127 William Barnett-Lewis

Could be worse: it’s not cricket.

(let’s see if they get that one… ;)

I see no one has responded yet, so I will offer this:

Cricket is merely a way to fill time in between many cups of tea.

202 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 3:58:33am

re: #197 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

I don’t think Russia’s gonna concern itself with whether a quorum existed or not. It’s going to annex the Crimea and then dare the international community to do something about it. It’s like South Ossetia all over again: “Yeah, so we stole it, what are you gonna do about it?”

203 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:02:05am

re: #202 Targetpractice

I don’t think Russia’s gonna concern itself with whether a quorum existed or not. It’s going to annex the Crimea and then dare the international community to do something about it. It’s like South Ossetia all over again: “Yeah, so we stole it, what are you gonna do about it?”

Yes. Of course. The Russian Bear back on its hind legs where Crimea is concerned. Bullying the Ukraine—again. Making Crimea an autonomous region was genius on the part of Russia when the SU broke up; it preserved the Black Sea ports for exactly something like this.

204 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:02:44am

re: #200 Justanotherhuman

libertarians don’t ever seem to plan anything beyond the “we don’t need anything from anyone, so let’s build a tree fort and only let us in”. Yeah, no government, no financial regulation, no regulation of anything, let the “market” decide, blah, blah. Because history shows us that works SO well.

I also get kinda weirded out by the notion of “The Market” being some living entity with feelings and thoughts. Um. No.

205 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:10:02am

re: #204 A Mom Anon

I also get kinda weirded out by the notion of “The Market” being some living entity with feelings and thoughts. Um. No.

That concept is the ideolgical linchpin between libertarians and other supply-side conservatives…to them the Market is an ideology unto itself, not simply a mechanism for balancing supply and demand and directing capital to where it benefits the most.

They also refuse to recognize the fact that the market requires an infrastucture: a physical as well as a regulatory/legislative one, in order to function. And we cannot entrust care and maintenance of that infrastructure to the hands of those who are active participate in the market. That is what elected governments are for.

206 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:11:52am

re: #204 A Mom Anon

libertarians don’t ever seem to plan anything beyond the “we don’t need anything from anyone, so let’s build a tree fort and only let us in”. Yeah, no government, no financial regulation, no regulation of anything, let the “market” decide, blah, blah. Because history shows us that works SO well.

I also get kinda weirded out by the notion of “The Market” being some living entity with feelings and thoughts. Um. No.

Yeah, that “invisible hand” BS. Creepy. : )

Adam Smith actually was naive enough to think the “market place” would self-regulate. After all, his “here and now” was coming out of an age of royal rule, serfdom, and mercantilism was flourishing. If he thought that markets would automatically channel “self-interest toward socially desirable ends”, he had no idea of how capitalism itself would change over time, nor how much blood, sweat and tears of ordinary people, and the sacrifice of their health and bodies, would contribute to that “wealth” the seekers of capital were after.

207 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:17:01am

Adam Smith was coming out against Mercantilism, in which governments were active particpants in the market, distorting its function by restricting trade and granting monoplies.

That is different than advocating laissez-faire, in which the government has no role whatsoever in the market.

208 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:19:30am

I’d love for the dudebros to go ahead and build their Galt’s Gulch. If they’re going to be independent, how are they gonna build it? And let’s say they do? Who’s gonna fix the toilets if they clog, or the roof if it leaks? I could be wrong, but most of these people are strictly white collar, they wouldn’t have the first clue.

And I would laugh and laugh….

209 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:22:40am

re: #207 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

I didn’t say that Smith advocated either mercantilism or laissez-faire. I said that mercantilism existed at that time.

I’m not saying that Smith wasn’t a decent thinker, either; he was brilliant for his time. But it’s 250+ yrs later and the world has changed tremendously, as has the concept of capitalism itself. And the world will continue to change.

210 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:23:50am

re: #208 A Mom Anon

I’d love for the dudebros to go ahead and build their Galt’s Gulch. If they’re going to be independent, how are they gonna build it? And let’s say they do? Who’s gonna fix the toilets if they clog, or the roof if it leaks? I could be wrong, but most of these people are strictly white collar, they wouldn’t have the first clue.

And I would laugh and laugh….

But they’d have all the money! They could use their slaves for all the dirty work.

211 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:24:04am

re: #208 A Mom Anon

I’d love for the dudebros to go ahead and build their Galt’s Gulch. If they’re going to be independent, how are they gonna build it? And let’s say they do? Who’s gonna fix the toilets if they clog, or the roof if it leaks? I could be wrong, but most of these people are strictly white collar, they wouldn’t have the first clue.

And I would laugh and laugh….

Wasn’t Glenn Beck telling folks about a year back that he had this whole idea for a libertarian utopia, but was just waiting on the funding? And we heard about those communes out in BFE that would refuse to abide by federal laws?

212 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:31:40am

re: #209 Justanotherhuman

Laissez-faire is often attributed to Adam Smith, but that came much later, he advocated an active role for government in assuring that markets work to the benefit of all, not just the producers and sellers.

213 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:38:17am

What a way to end the week, and just in time for the next winter storm!

Fire In Underground Vault Causes Outage, Restricts Downtown Streets

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A fire in an underground vault belonging to American Electric Power caused a number of manhole covers to be blown open early Friday morning in the area of the Renaissance and Chase buildings in downtown Columbus.

Columbus police officers responded to the downtown area after receiving reports of two explosions in the downtown area at about 1 a.m. Friday.

According to AEP Ohio officials, the fire in the underground vault in the area of the Renaissance and Chase buildings caused an outage to several buildings in the downtown area. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured.

214 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:43:35am

re: #212 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Laissez-faire is often attributed to Adam Smith, but that came much later, he advocated an active role for government in assuring that markets work to the benefit of all, not just the producers and sellers.

This might interest you.

Is the “Invisible Hand” Still Relevant?

Stephen LeRoy

“The single most important proposition in economic theory, first stated by Adam Smith, is that competitive markets do a good job allocating resources. Vilfredo Pareto’s later formulation was more precise than Smith’s, and also highlighted the dependence of Smith’s proposition on assumptions that may not be satisfied in the real world. The financial crisis has spurred a debate about the proper balance between markets and government and prompted some scholars to question whether the conditions assumed by Smith and Pareto are accurate for modern economies. “

frbsf.org

215 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:49:00am

Yanuk’s presser imminent.

216 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:50:17am

Poonami: South London flooded with sewer water after water main break.

A major road was closed by the emergency services after homes were flooded as a result of a burst main.

A series of pictures and video were posted on Twitter showing the murky deluge down Clapham Road in Kennington, south London.

There were reports that residents were being evacuated from their homes after being trapped by the filthy water although Thames Water dismissed reports that it was sewage.

217 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:55:30am

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.”

218 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 4:59:48am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.”

[Embedded content]

That might be the most absurd thing he’s said so far.

Not bloody? Not the point of a “sword”?

219 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:01:25am

Bryan insults Jan Brewer with a racist analogy. What a peach.

220 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:05:36am

re: #3 darthstar

My parents called me on my mobile last night - asked if my land line had been disconnected. I picked it up - no dial tone - told them I didn’t know what was going on but I’d check it. This morning, I go online, and sure enough, my account is up to date and autopay is keeping AT&T happy. When I get home from work I look at the phone, sitting lonely in the corner, and go to pick it up again, when I see that I’d unplugged it (about a month and a half ago because I was pissed at robo-callers) and forgotten I’d done that. The only other people who call me on the land line are my parents…so, begrudgingly, I’ve plugged the phone back in. Come on, telemarketers, ask me if my carpets are clean!

we gave-up our land line in favor of an addition cell ($9.99/mo on our plan) for exactly those reasons.

Hasn’t been a problem at all.

221 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:05:52am

What did I say?

222 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:06:21am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.”

[Embedded content]

an admission?

223 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:07:18am

Not. Good. At. All.

224 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:07:48am

re: #204 A Mom Anon

libertarians don’t ever seem to plan anything beyond the “we don’t need anything from anyone, so let’s build a tree fort and only let us in”. Yeah, no government, no financial regulation, no regulation of anything, let the “market” decide, blah, blah. Because history shows us that works SO well.

I also get kinda weirded out by the notion of “The Market” being some living entity with feelings and thoughts. Um. No.

Are these the same people who tout “I, Pencil” as their mantra?

225 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:07:53am

re: #219 Pie-onist Overlord

Bryan insults Jan Brewer with a racist analogy. What a peach.

[Embedded content]

“Stand for liberty”? I’m pretty sure that’s what segregationists thought they were “standing” for as well, Bryan.

226 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:08:38am

It’s morning. and cold in my part of the world.

you?

227 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:10:14am

re: #213 Backwoods_Sleuth

What a way to end the week, and just in time for the next winter storm!

Fire In Underground Vault Causes Outage, Restricts Downtown Streets

Wow. And here I sit in Columbus, but I have not heard this yet…and I get the news from someone in Kentucky. Only on the innnertubes.

Of course, you have the ‘electrical connection’ thing going on!

: )

228 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:10:27am

re: #223 Justanotherhuman

Not. Good. At. All.

[Embedded content]

All we’re waiting for at this point is Kremlin announcing that they will support the Crimean “secession” and the troops they’re moving in are simply there to “keep the peace” and ensure not “insurgents” attempt to undermine the “will of the people.”

229 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:10:56am

re: #226 FemNaziBitch

It’s morning. and cold in my part of the world.

you?

0° here.
This is the coldest it’s been here since New Year’s week, which I missed because I was in California.

230 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:11:10am

re: #226 FemNaziBitch

It’s morning. and cold in my part of the world.

you?

Glad to get Feb behind us. Cold today (not above 50), and the weekend looks warmer but not coming in like a lion… We start planting gardens in March, sometimes in late Feb, depending.

231 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:12:16am
232 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:13:53am

re: #229 Pie-onist Overlord

re: #230 Justanotherhuman

I’ve decided I live in the Great White North and it’s never going to be warm again.

233 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:14:00am

Yanuk presser, but I can’t understand a thing.

vesti.ru

234 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:14:06am

re: #205 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

That concept is the ideolgical linchpin between libertarians and other supply-side conservatives…to them the Market is an ideology unto itself, not simply a mechanism for balancing supply and demand and directing capital to where it benefits the most.

They also refuse to recognize the fact that the market requires an infrastucture: a physical as well as a regulatory/legislative one, in order to function. And we cannot entrust care and maintenance of that infrastructure to the hands of those who are active participate in the market. That is what elected governments are for.

Full disclosure. I hold some Bitcoin, but not ever at Mt. Gox. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and I could see that three months ago. The reason Mt. Gox is bankrupt is not because of the Bitcoin system, but the sloppy ways Mt. Gox implemented their exchange, including using custom-written code that was not fully vetted. The CEO may have been the author of the code. They also apparently did not keep enough currency in reserve, or those reserves were unavailable somehow, so that they had to restrict withdrawals just to stay afloat — for a while. As soon as Mt Gox announced that withdrawals were restricted and then shut off, it was just a matter of time before it collapsed.

For sure, it’s a wake-up call to the naive dudebros, who believed in the magic of computer code to protect their pet project. Libertarians in general have no sense of how ruthless and greedy some human beings are — very John Galtish, IMO — and those kind of people took advantage of Mt. Gox’s myriad weaknesses.

Now, the Bitcoin community is looking at the other exchanges more closely, to verify those exchanges are being run more responsibly than Mt Gox.

235 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:15:18am

re: #226 FemNaziBitch

It’s morning. and cold in my part of the world.

you?

5° here…and yes, that is cold, and I’m getting sick of it!

By the way. Remember a few weeks back when Bryan Fischer wasn’t tweeting?

Those were the days!

Oh yeah…good, but cold, morning all.

236 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:16:10am

Really? You could have fooled me—guess they were masquerading as middle aged people?

237 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:16:50am

re: #234 wheat-dogghazi

Everything I’ve heard is that is not actually possible to transfer any substantial amount of bitcoins to actual money.

238 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:17:59am

re: #237 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

How ya’ doin’ Obdi?

239 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:18:24am

Dear winter,
GTFO.

240 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:19:07am

Hahahaha…


Yanuk is really playing the victim…

241 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:19:12am

re: #238 FemNaziBitch

How ya’ doin’ Obdi?

Frequency and intensity of migraines has reduced but they’re still there, still have a bad funky mood a lot of the time, sleeping like 2X what I normally do.

So better but still highly imperfect.

242 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:20:27am

re: #241 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Frequency and intensity of migraines has reduced but they’re still there, still have a bad funky mood a lot of the time, sleeping like 2X what I normally do.

So better but still highly imperfect.

(((((((Obdi))))))))

243 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:20:37am

re: #213 Backwoods_Sleuth

This was on the news down here in Atlanta. They referred to Columbus as “a small town in Ohio”. The state Capitol? Lordy.

244 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:20:50am

Sounds like Yanuk is more interested in doing stand-up…

245 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:21:29am

re: #240 Justanotherhuman

Only Yanukovich can save Ukraine from Russian threat? Is that his gambit?

246 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:22:03am

re: #223 Justanotherhuman

Not. Good. At. All.

[Embedded content]

It’s just a training exersize!
//

247 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:22:09am

re: #240 Justanotherhuman

Hahahaha…

[Embedded content]


Yanuk is really playing the victim…

Yes, early election in December, but he wants to returned to power immediately because we can be sure that he won’t try to use his thugs again to stamp out any dissent and ensure his “reelection.”

248 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:24:32am

re: #245 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Only Yanukovich can save Ukraine from Russian threat? Is that his gambit?

Not if he’s broadcasting from Russia…

249 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:26:18am

re: #237 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Everything I’ve heard is that is not actually possible to transfer any substantial amount of bitcoins to actual money.

Depends on how much $ you’re talking about. On a well run exchange like Bitstamp or a payment processor like Coinbase, you can sell bitcoins for fiat currency (aka dollars, euros, etc.) and have the proceeds deposited in your bank account within a few days. Some exchanges will also arrange for bank wires or Western Union. But really large amounts, say over $10,000, will attract the attention of the feds, and some banks will flat out refuse large deposits. Then you’re up a creek with no paddle — Bitcoin rich and cash poor.

250 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:26:40am
251 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:26:46am

What about Teh Muslims Bryan? Are they your allies in TEH GREAT WAR AGAINST TEH GHEY?

252 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:27:34am

Teehee! Sorry you robbed the country blind? I didn’t think so.

253 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:28:22am

re: #251 Pie-onist Overlord

What about Teh Muslims Bryan? Are they your allies in TEH GREAT WAR AGAINST TEH GHEY?

[Embedded content]

“Special rights”? Bryan, you’ve already lost this battle, there is no right that straight people can possess that they can deny to gay people without putting themselves in violation of the 14th amendment. And before you say that marriage isn’t a right, I advise you to reread Loving.

254 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:29:37am

re: #243 A Mom Anon

This was on the news down here in Atlanta. They referred to Columbus as “a small town in Ohio”. The state Capitol? Lordy.

America’s biggest small town…only 15th in population. A lot of people do not even realize Columbus is larger than Cleveland and Cincinnati now as far as actual city size/population.

And as I commented on here before…the metro area is gaining too. I think we are 32nd largest metro area now. Back in the 70s, even through the early 80s it was called a cowtown. Well, that is what happens when the city is in the middle of great farming lands. Now the metro area takes 5 counties and it is all new…1970 on. Many of the other metro areas have been around forever.

255 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:29:42am

re: #253 Targetpractice

“Special rights”? Bryan, you’ve already lost this battle, there is no right that straight people can possess that they can deny to gay people without putting themselves in violation of the 14th amendment. And before you say that marriage isn’t a right, I advise you to reread Loving.

Remember this is the same guy who believes that 1st Amendment rights do not apply to non-Christians.

256 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:30:08am

Bryan wants to be President of Gilead.

257 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:30:57am

More bullshit from Yanuk:

Christopher Miller ‏@ChristopherJM 2m

#Yanukovych: When arrived in Kharkiv, state security service started to receive info that radical groups are arriving in Kharkiv.

Christopher Miller ‏@ChristopherJM 3m

#Yanukovych: I wanted to meet activists of party of regions and civic organizations at forum that was supposed to be held in kharkiv

Christopher Miller ‏@ChristopherJM 3m

#Yanukovych: I didn’t run from Kyiv, I moved to Kharkiv. During move I was shot at with automatic weapons. My car took fire from all sides.

258 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:32:01am

UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIAN MARINES RING COAST GUARD BASE

SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service says about 30 Russian marines had taken positions outside its Coast Guard base in the Sevastopol.

The agency on Friday quoted the marines from the 810th brigade of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet as saying they were there to prevent any weapons at the base from being seized by extremists.

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry had no comment.

259 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:32:34am
260 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:33:12am

Later. Errands to run.

261 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:33:20am

re: #259 Justanotherhuman

a legacy to be left to the Ukrainian people like Versailles or Sans Souci

262 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:34:15am

re: #258 NJDhockeyfan

UKRAINE SAYS RUSSIAN MARINES RING COAST GUARD BASE

You mean the weapons that Russians are moving in with alarming speed? Yeah, I’m sure that the military buildup is purely there to ensure that “extremists” don’t break in.

263 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:34:37am

re: #249 wheat-dogghazi

Depends on how much $ you’re talking about. On a well run exchange like Bitstamp or a payment processor like Coinbase, you can sell bitcoins for fiat currency (aka dollars, euros, etc.) and have the proceeds deposited in your bank account within a few days. Some exchanges will also arrange for bank wires or Western Union. But really large amounts, say over $10,000, will attract the attention of the feds, and some banks will flat out refuse large deposits. Then you’re up a creek with no paddle — Bitcoin rich and cash poor.

I’ve heard that amounts over, say, $1,000 aren’t really possible on those exchanges, and specifically that Coinbase reaches its ‘maximum number of buys’ (not even sells, but buys) within a few hours every day.

It’s hard to understand if the well-rune exchanges were actually providing fast and good bitcoin-to-fiat transfers, how Mtgox existed at all, much less was one of the largest exchanges.

264 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:37:54am

Bitcoiners are already turning on themselves. This is Mark Karpeles, CEO of Mt Gox, making a statement on Japanese TV. The translation is snark.

Mt. Gox Mark Karpeles facing the public

265 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:38:30am

re: #262 Targetpractice

You mean the weapons that Russians are moving in with alarming speed? Yeah, I’m sure that the military buildup is purely there to ensure that “extremists” don’t break in.

Nothing strange going on. Look, they are smiling!
//

266 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:39:06am

re: #264 wheat-dogghazi

Bitcoiners are already turning on themselves. This is Mark Karpeles, CEO of Mt Gox, making a statement on Japanese TV. The translation is snark.

Mt. Gox Mark Karpeles facing the public

He looks like the epitome of a douche.

267 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:41:07am

re: #266 Pie-onist Overlord

He looks like the epitome of a douche.

There is trash talk on the Bitcoin subreddit that Karpeles has an overinflated sense of his prowess as a coder.

268 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:41:11am

re: #265 NJDhockeyfan

Nothing strange going on. Look, they are smiling!
//

I imagine folks in Georgia right now are watching this all unfold and going “This seems awfully familiar…”

269 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:41:47am

re: #266 Pie-onist Overlord

He looks like the epitome of a douche.

In a douche suite

270 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:43:19am

So, what seems so not unusual for the rest of the world …

How would American’s react if our Military were to surround certain airports?

271 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:43:26am

re: #267 wheat-dogghazi

There is trash talk on the Bitcoin subreddit that Karpeles has an overinflated sense of his prowess as a coder.

Because he didn’t want to pay some Chinese or Indian programmer $10/hr? In bitcoins?

272 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:43:54am
273 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:44:45am

re: #254 ObserverArt

I went to school in Gahanna, at that time the area was considered “the country” once you got off Hamilton Rd and went away from the city. We lived out toward Blacklick. I haven’t been back up there in 15 yrs, I bet it’s changed a bunch.

I still can’t get over the idiots here not realizing Columbus is Ohio’s capitol.

274 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:46:45am

re: #270 FemNaziBitch

So, what seems so not unusual for the rest of the world …

How would American’s react if our Military were to surround certain airports?

More like how would Americans react if the Mexican military surrounded airports along the border states?

275 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:49:44am

A live feed of the press conference with english translations.

rt.com

276 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:50:50am

re: #271 Pie-onist Overlord

Because he didn’t want to pay some Chinese or Indian programmer $10/hr? In bitcoins?

I have no idea. He did call attention several days to a transaction flaw in the Bitcoin code, which may or may have allowed hackers to steal undetected from Mt. Gox over the course of months. At first, Bitcoiners scoffed, but in fact he was correct. But, Mt. Gox was run in a very sloppy way, apparently with no concept of basic accounting and fiduciary responsibility. It seems they co-mingled customer accounts with company accounts, a big no-no, resulting in losses from all accounts.

Mt. Gox has filed for bankruptcy protection, which Japanese law provides, so that they can try to recover their losses and regroup. It’s impossible to say whether all those customers will ever get their coin back, though.

277 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:51:18am
278 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:54:45am

re: #277 Pie-onist Overlord

that bare chest is bullet-proof!

279 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:57:54am
Today in 1922, the Supreme Court defended the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, thereby unanimously affirming women’s right to vote!

19th amendment

280 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:58:05am

re: #73 Killgore Trout

The 2011 report had enough damning information in it. Iran was working on triggers, detonators and megaton yield math for a bomb. I don’t think there’s much doubt they were working on a bomb. They may have stopped or slowed down for a while.

And there’s no way to force Iran to get rid of the knowledge its accumulated on those topics. Preventing the building of an assembly point for nukes might be possible with good intell and keeping Iran from having enough highly-enriched uranium or plutonium to build a nuke is likely doable. But their research on detonators and triggers? We’re not going to be able to get rid of that.

That might have one bright spot, though: If Iran does actually build a nuke, then a properly designed trigger and detonator will at least mean the nuke won’t be set off by accident and can’t be set off by some lone nut.

281 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:59:10am

re: #189 Justanotherhuman

Where did the “full faith and credit” of who or what originate with bitcoins anyway?

Some dudebro’s “word”?

I just substitute “snake oil salesman” for “dudebro” It was never backed by anything substantive or any govt anyway. You pay with real money to purchase these amorphous funds (just as you do any other commodity) and you just wait around to get rich?

Bwahahahaha!

Shoulda put their money into commemorative coin replicas from the Franklin Mint.

///

282 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 5:59:30am

Feb 27, 1897:
Britain recognizes U.S. authority over Western Hemisphere

283 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:00:04am

re: #194 Targetpractice

Another thing to keep in mind is that, prior to Mt.Gox’s filing for bankruptcy, news about it losing bitcoins to theft was treated as rumor, with most folks just assuming that it was another bout of technical issues that have plagued the site up til now. But losing $473 million due to theft and keeping it hushed up right until the day you show up in bankruptcy court? Yeah, that has the chance to undermine the entire currency.

Thanks, Obama!

284 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:02:03am

re: #183 Targetpractice

If nothing else, the whole deal is giving dudebros and wingnuts alike a hard lesson in why we have the Federal Reserve in the first place.

Unpossible! Galt knows that the Fed is teh Ebil!

285 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:04:01am

286 Political Atheist  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:04:07am

re: #277 Pie-onist Overlord

Jumped the shark, did he?

287 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:04:42am

re: #254 ObserverArt

Look what we have coming:

288 Flounder  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:04:54am

If you haven’t already, watch the video, absolutely effing fascinating. I didn’t know measured time was different the farther away you are from sea level. Thank you Charles!

289 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:05:37am

re: #204 A Mom Anon

I also get kinda weirded out by the notion of “The Market” being some living entity with feelings and thoughts. Um. No.

THE MARKET WOULD LIKE TO CARESS YOU WITH ITS INVISIBLE HAND, BABY!

…

Hurm. The similarities between the sociopathic/homophobic RWNJ Skydad and the Market are… intriguing.

290 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:06:11am

re: #273 A Mom Anon

I went to school in Gahanna, at that time the area was considered “the country” once you got off Hamilton Rd and went away from the city. We lived out toward Blacklick. I haven’t been back up there in 15 yrs, I bet it’s changed a bunch.

I still can’t get over the idiots here not realizing Columbus is Ohio’s capitol.

I remember we had discussed you living in the central Ohio area. 15 years has brought a lot of changes. You would not recognize the area at all.

I know the Blacklick area very well. I used to work on Reynoldsburg-New Albany road, just down from Blacklick. If you remember, there was a company called Hub Plastics in Blacklick. They were a client of mine for a long time.

291 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:06:33am

Reuters: U.S. Corporate Profits So High Because Wages So Low

292 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:07:15am

re: #205 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

That concept is the ideolgical linchpin between libertarians and other supply-side conservatives…to them the Market is an ideology unto itself, not simply a mechanism for balancing supply and demand and directing capital to where it benefits the most.

There is no god but the Market, and Adam Smith is its prophet.

293 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:07:36am

re: #291 FemNaziBitch

Reuters: U.S. Corporate Profits So High Because Wages So Low

The real reason why the GOP does not want to raise the minimum wage.

294 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:09:04am

re: #206 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, that “invisible hand” BS. Creepy. : )

Adam Smith actually was naive enough to think the “market place” would self-regulate. After all, his “here and now” was coming out of an age of royal rule, serfdom, and mercantilism was flourishing. If he thought that markets would automatically channel “self-interest toward socially desirable ends”, he had no idea of how capitalism itself would change over time, nor how much blood, sweat and tears of ordinary people, and the sacrifice of their health and bodies, would contribute to that “wealth” the seekers of capital were after.

Actually, that being said, Adam Smith wasn’t a complete asshole, and assumed that people with capital would use some of it for the public good, because they weren’t complete assholes either.

Ha, ha! Stoopid economist!

295 Eventual Carrion  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:10:08am

re: #188 Targetpractice

Yep, we’re not talking a bank whose stolen assets have some form of insurance or protection and so account holders will be reimbursed. As far as the system’s concerned, that money is gone and the people who owned those bitcoins are SOL.

NO FDIC FOR YOU!

296 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:10:56am

Yanukovich is so full of shit. He’s blamed the protesters for the violence and says he’s all about peace. I hope nobody is buying any of it.

297 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:11:27am

re: #250 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

That’s the Ivanovets. She’s a Tarantul-III- class corvette.

She mounts 4 SS-N-22 ‘Sunburn’ anti-ship missiles, 12 SA-16 ‘Igla’ (‘Little Guy’) SAMs, a 76mm cannon, and two AK-630 30mm Gatling guns. The Sunburn is seriously bad mojo.

298 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:13:58am

re: #208 A Mom Anon

I’d love for the dudebros to go ahead and build their Galt’s Gulch. If they’re going to be independent, how are they gonna build it? And let’s say they do? Who’s gonna fix the toilets if they clog, or the roof if it leaks? I could be wrong, but most of these people are strictly white collar, they wouldn’t have the first clue.

And I would laugh and laugh….

Hank Rearden can probably fix a toilet, being a genius engineer/science guy/railroad baron/second banana.

While reading AS, I started thinking about Galt’s Gulch, and figured Rearden would probably fix his own toilet (self-interest), Galt’s toilet (hero worship), and Taggart’s toilet (wants to get laid), and would probably not fix anyone else’s unless they paid a vasty amount of money to overcome his natural inclination to work on his own interests/projects.

So, Galt’s Gulch will have a bunch of smart, starving, filthy people building maglev trains in the wrecks of homes/workshops.

If I’m reading AS right, that is.

299 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:14:50am

re: #287 Backwoods_Sleuth

Look what we have coming:

[Embedded content]

Yeah…saw that.

Again, local weather and weather.com all have different forecasts and it sounds like Columbus is on a line as to how bad it is going to be.

Oh crap…Al on The Today Show right now as I type and is showing Columbus getting anywhere from 12 to 20” Sunday through Monday.

Damn…I hope they are wrong. The last 10” snow was bad enough.

And ice! Uggh. Hopefully all the tree limb cutting that has gone on in my neighborhood by AEP and its contractors the last few weeks will help keep the power on. Gonna go out and get some Kerosene just in case.

300 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:15:17am

re: #210 Justanotherhuman

But they’d have all the money! They could use their slaves for all the dirty work.

I also don’t recall what AS’s take on purely financial operators (hedge fund managers and such) — are they welcome in Galt’s Gulch?

I mean, they don’t actually produce anything physical.

301 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:16:18am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

The goal of Christianity is global conquest, just like Islam. But we use prayer and persuasion, they use the point of a sword.

And it is this which tells me all I really need to know about Bryan Fisher. Because the goal of Christianity as espoused by Jesus and all the writers of the New Testament is NOT WORLD CONQUEST.re: #206 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, that “invisible hand” BS. Creepy. : )

Adam Smith actually was naive enough to think the “market place” would self-regulate. After all, his “here and now” was coming out of an age of royal rule, serfdom, and mercantilism was flourishing. If he thought that markets would automatically channel “self-interest toward socially desirable ends”, he had no idea of how capitalism itself would change over time, nor how much blood, sweat and tears of ordinary people, and the sacrifice of their health and bodies, would contribute to that “wealth” the seekers of capital were after.

This suggests to me that you, like a lot of people who talk about Adam Smith, haven’t read Adam Smith.

That invisible hand? It’s mentioned once and it’s a throwaway line. He spoke much more often of the need to regulate what we call big business so as to keep things equitable.

The largest chunk of the Wealth of Nations is defending need and desirability of morality and ethics in business practices.

302 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:16:46am

re: #294 chadu

Actually, that being said, Adam Smith wasn’t a complete asshole, and assumed that people with capital would use some of it for the public good, because they weren’t complete assholes either.

Ha, ha! Stoopid economist!

Smith was willing to have a honest government step in and write fair rules for cases where self-regulation was impossible. And he believed that government would always be needed to prevent cases of actual fraud.

303 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:17:12am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.

“The goal of Christianity is global conquest, just like Islam. “

I think your Bible is broken, Bry.

304 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:19:35am

Greets and saluts from the frigid NYC metro area. Media’s already ginning up the storm warnings for a storm on Monday, where the models are predicting anything from 1 to 12+ inches across the NYC metro area. My own take on the models predicts a healthy 6+ for NYC proper, 8-12 in Bergen/Passaic, and 12+ going into Rockland/Orange, lesser amounts down the Shore and Long Island.

But that’s not what has me going this morning. It’s the stupidity on Twitter this morning.

Someone tweeted that the militia-types who have taken control of the Crimean airport/facilities have Soviet/Russian ties.


Ummm, nearly everyone military-related in the former Soviet Union republics would have ties to the Soviet military, and many would also have ties to the Russian military. That doesn’t exactly create a distinguishing factor.

Yanukovych ran to Russia and Putin. That’s not surprising. Russia has definite interests in seeing Ukraine remain in its sphere of influence. That’s been one of Russia’s guiding principles for centuries. It wants to retain a say in those countries on its borders. The Crimea is particularly important to Russian interests, including on the Black Sea. The war games are meant to show the pro-Western Ukrainians that Russia needs to be dealt with/addressed, and Putin isn’t above sending in special forces to muck things up and give him a reason to go and try to claim that he’s seizing territory to protect ethnic Russians living there (ethnic Russians were resettled all across the former Soviet Republics as a way to assert control from Moscow).

But there isn’t much that the US or the EU or anyone else can or should do militarily. The US isn’t about to send a carrier battle group into the Black Sea - and the Ukrainian government has already set up a caretaker government and elections are scheduled.

If the Crimea or ethnic Russian-majority areas in the East consider breaking away, they’re going to find themselves isolated internationally, with Russia being their sole pipeline (literal and figurative). That too has to be considered - the Russians have oil considerations in play, and that too has a way to temper things - both with the EU considering what an oil price spike might do, and the Russians if the EU considers blocking further oil shipments to hurt the Russian economy that is in worse shape than they’re willing to let on.

305 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:19:49am

re: #298 chadu

Hank Rearden can probably fix a toilet, being a genius engineer/science guy/railroad baron/second banana.

While reading AS, I started thinking about Galt’s Gulch, and figured Rearden would probably fix his own toilet (self-interest), Galt’s toilet (hero worship), and Taggart’s toilet (wants to get laid), and would probably not fix anyone else’s unless they paid a vasty amount of money to overcome his natural inclination to work on his own interests/projects.

So, Galt’s Gulch will have a bunch of smart, starving, filthy people building maglev trains in the wrecks of homes/workshops.

If I’m reading AS right, that is.

306 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:20:32am

re: #301 kirkspencer

And it is this which tells me all I really need to know about Bryan Fisher. Because the goal of Christianity as espoused by Jesus and all the writers of the New Testament is NOT WORLD CONQUEST.

The Dominionist interpretation of the NT is everyone in the whole fuckin’ world has to be Christian so that jesus will come on back, battle and defeat Satan, and take everyone up to paradise. That’s the Great Commission that drives the evangelicals to such a frenzy to convert everyone.

307 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:20:59am

re: #251 Pie-onist Overlord

What about Teh Muslims Bryan? Are they your allies in TEH GREAT WAR AGAINST TEH GHEY?

The battle over special rights for sexually deviant behavior is THE battle of our time. There is no other.

(to the tune of “Interjections!”, Schoolhouse Rock)

IT’S PRO-JECT-TION!

308 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:22:04am

re: #256 Pie-onist Overlord

Bryan wants to be President of Gilead.

Part of me wants to reread The Handmaid’s Tale, and part of me thinks doing so would want me to drink three fingers of Drano.

309 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:24:01am

re: #301 kirkspencer

The largest chunk of the Wealth of Nations is defending need and desirability of morality and ethics in business practices.

Which points back to the book he considered more important: The Theory of Moral Sentiments. It forms the backbone on his economic thought.

310 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:24:43am

re: #308 chadu

Part of me wants to reread The Handmaid’s Tale, and part of me thinks doing so would want me to drink three fingers of Drano.

I tried reading that book years ago but I couldn’t finish it.

311 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:25:13am

re: #310 Pie-onist Overlord

I tried reading that book years ago but I couldn’t finish it.

I never started it.

Sounded too horrible.

312 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:27:01am

What is so dangerous about Crimea?

313 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:27:07am
1420 GMT: In conclusion, Yanukovych speaks directly to those who have taken over Kiev. “Come back to your senses and stop this lawlessness. You will be held accountable for this. The end is obvious… Go away, don’t let this lawlessness continue, the people of Ukraine will suffer.

“I would like to address the people of Ukraine. First, I would like to apologize to you, to all people who suffer and continue to suffer. Second, I will do everything I can for the rest of my life to be with the people of Ukraine. Not with those thugs, with nationalists, with bureaucrats. No, I will be with the people of Ukraine who are so dear to me. If I were there right now, I would meet with every family, regardless of which side of the barricades they were on.

“These people don’t care about Ukraine. But truth will prevail. Truth will always prevail. Thank you.”

And with that, he left the table.

He’s the only one who can save Ukraine! Lol. The people in Ukraine watching that on TV must be laughing their asses off.

Did any of the reporters ask him about his houses and where all the missing money is?

314 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:27:36am

re: #308 chadu

Part of me wants to reread The Handmaid’s Tale, and part of me thinks doing so would want me to drink three fingers of Drano.

Just remember that even in that dystopia there was the Mayday resistance.

315 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:28:30am

re: #301 kirkspencer

[Adam Smith] spoke much more often of the need to regulate what we call big business so as to keep things equitable.

The largest chunk of the Wealth of Nations is defending need and desirability of morality and ethics in business practices.

QFT.

316 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:29:52am
The occasion many will have heard of is the Crimean War of 1853-1856, known in Britain for the Siege of Sevastopol, the Charge of the Light Brigade, and the medical advances made by Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole.

Was this the factual fauxpaus Sarah Palin made at one point?

317 Eventual Carrion  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:30:35am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.”

[Embedded content]

Doctor Tiller would like to disagree. But he can’t because your ‘prayers’ put a big fucking hole in his body.

318 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:33:36am

re: #309 William Barnett-Lewis

Which points back to the book he considered more important: The Theory of Moral Sentiments. It forms the backbone on his economic thought.

the Free Market has no room for Moral Sentiments, it’s kill or be killed…

319 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:33:45am

re: #311 FemNaziBitch

I never started it.

Sounded too horrible.

It was horrible.

320 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:36:51am

re: #310 Pie-onist Overlord

I tried reading that book years ago but I couldn’t finish it.

P.J. O’Rourke of all people wrote a good summary of WON and ToMS, worth looking into and easy to follow, And makes the key points that get overlooked whenever the Spirit of Adam Smith is invoked

321 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:39:19am
322 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:39:54am

re: #320 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

P.J. O’Rourke of all People wrote a good summary of WON and ToMSm, worth looking into and easy to follow, And makes the key points that get overllookk whenever the Spriti of Adam Smith is invoked

Yes, I enjoyed it and even understood P.J.’s version.

323 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:40:07am

Heh. Must have been some cash he had stashed under his mattress.

324 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:40:31am

re: #311 FemNaziBitch

I never started it.

Sounded too horrible.

It’s a good book. When I was a teacher, I used it as alternate reading for my Xian students who objected to Othello on religious grounds. As their parents didn’t know the book, I was able to slip it in…and their reactions to it were priceless.

325 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:41:14am

re: #288 Flounder

If you haven’t already, watch the video, absolutely effing fascinating. I didn’t know measured time was different the farther away you are from sea level. Thank you Charles!

Yep, relativity. The passage of time, as far as we humans understand the concept, varies in speed based on your proximity to a gravity well. It is for this reason that non-trivial space travel becomes really, really interesting — because people far out in space, especially those traveling at very high speeds, wind up with VERY different clocks than those stuck back on Terra.

This is one of the reasons why I love Gunbuster (a.k.a. Top wo Narae! / Aim for the Top!) so much. Aside from just being a great little OVA series in its own right, it takes the time to deal with relativistic effects. The protagonist spends most of her time in space and a good chunk of it traveling at extreme speeds, and each time she gets back to Earth for a bit she gets to see everyone she knew several years, sometimes even decades older.

326 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:41:58am

re: #324 darthstar

It’s a good book. When I was a teacher, I used it as alternate reading for my Xian students who objected to Othello on religious grounds. As their parents didn’t know the book, I was able to slip it in…and their reactions to it were priceless.

What possible objection could anyone have to Othello on “religious” grounds?

327 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:42:21am

re: #306 wheat-dogghazi

The Dominionist interpretation of the NT is everyone in the whole fuckin’ world has to be Christian so that jesus will come on back, battle and defeat Satan, and take everyone up to paradise. That’s the Great Commission that drives the evangelicals to such a frenzy to convert everyone.

If everyone’s Christian, and reasonably devout, who’s on Stan’s side?

Unless this is promulgating the idea that a decent bunch of “everyone’s Christian” includes hypocrites and apostates?

M’kaaaaaaay…

328 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:42:29am

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

You also use legislation to oppress people, Bryan. That’s what you call your “winnable war.”

[Embedded content]

Srsly. ‘Dry county’ legislation, and all of the faith-based legislation like it? That would be the point of a sword, FischFace.

329 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:42:32am

re: #314 William Barnett-Lewis

Just remember that even in that dystopia there was the Mayday resistance.

In that Alternate Universe the Soviet Union does not collapse, as I remember it. Under such circumstances, the repression and theocracy of Gilead would be a ripe target for KGB subversion. May Day is of course the Socialist Labor Day, a fact surely not lost upon Margaret Atwood.

Or am I in error?

330 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:42:48am
331 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:43:20am

re: #310 Pie-onist Overlord

I tried reading that book years ago but I couldn’t finish it.

SPOILER ALERT: Rosebud was a dude, and sank.

332 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:43:38am

Clay Aiken (yes, the former American Idol runner-up) is running for Congress in North Carolina.

The performer, a Democrat, turned in his paperwork at the State Board of Elections to seek the 2nd District seat currently held by Republican Renee Ellmers. Aiken, who lives in the Raleigh-Durham area, announced his bid three weeks ago and must first try to win the Democratic primary in less than 10 weeks.

The 2nd District, which covers all or parts of nine counties west and southwest of his native Raleigh, is considered Republican-leaning. But Aiken said the district’s voters want to choose the candidate who believes “we’re not going to have success just based on one party or the other — that we all have to work together.”

“They are enthusiastic about seeing change,” he added later.

Aiken, who finished second to Ruben Studdard in TV’s 2003 “Idol” competition, became a back-home sensation a decade ago, with supporters called “Claymates” a common sight at his concerts.

On Thursday, the 35-year-old Aiken surrounded himself with family and former teachers while speaking to reporters. While shunning the politician label, Aiken said he’s been interested in politics for a long time. He recalled how in the early 1990s he interviewed U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford for a project and invited U.S. Rep. David Price to his Raleigh school. Price is still in Congress.

- See more at: northjersey.com

333 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:44:40am

re: #312 FemNaziBitch

What is so dangerous about Crimea?

MISREAD/MISHEARD IN MY BRAINMEATS AS:

“How Do You Solve a Problem Like Crimea?”

334 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:45:40am

re: #314 William Barnett-Lewis

Just remember that even in that dystopia there was the Mayday resistance.

I did not remember that, which is odd, given the overarcing frame story.

Weird.

335 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:46:23am

Remember that “Million Truckers Drive” where about 3 trucks showed up? They want a do-over.

336 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:46:42am

re: #320 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

P.J. O’Rourke of all People wrote a good summary of WON and ToMSm, worth looking into and easy to follow, And makes the key points that get overllookk whenever the Spriti of Adam Smith is invoked

Essay or book?

337 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:47:00am

re: #285 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded image]

A President Hillary Clinton following Obama would no doubt result in seriously one of the biggest collective hysteria fits from the right. The reaction alone is worth getting her in the White House. Please,Please,Please,Please,Please,Please,oh please win…..

338 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:47:08am

I guess this time they will show up in colonial cosplay, with THERE MUSKETS.

339 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:47:34am

re: #324 darthstar

It’s a good book. When I was a teacher, I used it as alternate reading for my Xian students who objected to Othello on religious grounds. As their parents didn’t know the book, I was able to slip it in…and their reactions to it were priceless.

340 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:48:22am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

What possible objection could anyone have to Othello on “religious” grounds?

Blah people marrying wah people?

341 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:48:26am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

What possible objection could anyone have to Othello on “religious” grounds?

“Religious objection” was a common fundie excuse to get out of reading - most teachers would let them pick their own book (meaning movie) to report on.

342 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:48:58am

re: #335 Pie-onist Overlord

Remember that “Million Truckers Drive” where about 3 trucks showed up? They want a do-over.

These people must not be productive members of society because they sure have a lot of free time to attend their bitchfests protests

343 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:49:13am
344 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:49:26am

re: #341 darthstar

“Religious objection” was a common fundie excuse to get out of reading - most teachers would let them pick their own book (meaning movie) to report on.

What.
I could’ve used that excuse to get out of…
Nevermind.

345 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:49:57am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

What possible objection could anyone have to Othello on “religious” grounds?

Moor = islam = evil is the usual route I hear.

346 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:50:10am

re: #342 Dr. Matt

These people must not be productive members of society because they sure have a lot of free time to attend their bitchfests protests

While at the same time saying HURR HURR TEH ONLY REASON SO MENY PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO OCCUPY PROTEST IS BECAWS THAY RR MOOCHERS AN DONT WORK AND TAKE TEH WELFARES!!!!!!!

347 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:50:13am

re: #342 Dr. Matt

These people must not be productive members of society because they sure have a lot of free time to attend their bitchfests protests

“We’re calling on all Americans (from the tri-counties area) to join us in our cause…Fox News will do the math and make us look successful.”

348 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:50:30am

re: #345 William Barnett-Lewis

Moor = islam = evil is the usual route I hear.

Othello was Christian, a convert from Islam.

349 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:51:13am

re: #332 lawhawk

“I’m not a politician”, “We need someone who isn’t a career politician”, “People are lookin’ for change”?

Image: rentalBoilerTruckInside.jpg
Image: ikea—plate__09364_PE085853_S4.jpg

350 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:51:28am

re: #335 Pie-onist Overlord

Remember that “Million Truckers Drive” where about 3 trucks showed up? They want a do-over.

Operation American Spring!! Be there to take our country back!!

Still wondering who took their country and (given things like geography and the nature of space-time) where they’d put it.

351 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:52:11am

re: #350 chadu

Still wondering who took their country and (given things like geography and the nature of space-time) where they’d put it.

I took it.
It’s in the glove compartment.

352 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:06am
2. “Informed consent” laws to help women understand what a pregnancy is.

Paged

353 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:25am

I still remember that movie with Laurence Olivier playing Othello in blackface.

354 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:30am

re: #324 darthstar

It’s a good book. When I was a teacher, I used it as alternate reading for my Xian students who objected to Othello on religious grounds. As their parents didn’t know the book, I was able to slip it in…and their reactions to it were priceless.

WTF is wrong with Othello?

355 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:33am
356 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:42am

re: #341 darthstar

“Religious objection” was a common fundie excuse to get out of reading - most teachers would let them pick their own book (meaning movie) to report on.

(sings)

Hypocrisy!
Standing there in the moonlight!
Holy cow, these pants, they don’t fit right!
Life ain’t beautiful, then!

357 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:52am

re: #342 Dr. Matt

These people must not be productive members of society because they sure have a lot of free time to attend their bitchfests protests

Yet they fancy themselves the “producers” of our society.

Go ahead, Mr. Wendy’s Middle Manager. Go Galt. See if anybody gives a shit.

358 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:53:55am

re: #354 FemNaziBitch

WTF is wrong with Othello?

Anger management issues?

359 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:54:13am

I was involved in a club that tried to counter censorship of books in school. Wish it had gone over better but too many at that age didn’t see that censoring their reading material was in the same spirit that censoring our music, movies, and games were. Anyhow, I think it’s hilarious that many of these parents groups who are often religious in background have a problem with violent and sex in literature when their holy books aren’t exactly G rated. You’d be shocked if you saw some of the names on the most commonly challenged books.

360 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:54:14am

re: #327 chadu

If everyone’s Christian, and reasonably devout, who’s on Stan’s side?

Unless this is promulgating the idea that a decent bunch of “everyone’s Christian” includes hypocrites and apostates?

M’kaaaaaaay…

Don’t ask questions! That’s Satan speaking through you.

//

361 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:54:37am

re: #348 Pie-onist Overlord

Othello was Christian, a convert from Islam.

Wingnuts would claim that to be “taqiyya”.

362 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:55:08am

re: #348 Pie-onist Overlord

Othello was Christian, a convert from Islam.

Wrong, because shut up.

363 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:55:15am

re: #352 FemNaziBitch

Paged

What.

364 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:55:17am

re: #358 chadu

Anger management issues?

More like easily conned. I want someone to make a movie/modern version of The Merry Wives of Windsor. I actually found that one more humorous than a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Falstaff ftw.

365 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:55:18am

re: #359 HappyWarrior

I was involved in a club that tried to counter censorship of books in school. Wish it had gone over better but too many at that age didn’t see that censoring their reading material was in the same spirit that censoring our music, movies, and games were. Anyhow, I think it’s hilarious that many of these parents groups who are often religious in background have a problem with violent and sex in literature when their holy books aren’t exactly G rated. You’d be shocked if you saw some of the names on the most commonly challenged books.

Only the villainous fear Knowledge.

366 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:56:33am

re: #363 Varek Raith

What.

What is on 2nd.

367 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:56:39am

re: #365 GunstarGreen

Only the villainous fear Knowledge.

Yep and new ways of thinking/looking at the world. it’s the same narrow mindset behind every authoritarian.

368 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:56:50am

re: #352 FemNaziBitch

Paged

replygif.net

369 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:56:55am

re: #329 Dark_Falcon

In that Alternate Universe the Soviet Union does not collapse, as I remember it. Under such circumstances, the repression and theocracy of Gilead would be a ripe target for KGB subversion. May Day is of course the Socialist Labor Day, a fact surely not lost upon Margaret Atwood.

Or am I in error?

It was published in 1985 so there was no fall of the SU in it’s timeline. That said, I think the use of Mayday is older and a reference to the use in northern Europe of old pagan customs to adapt Christianity to the conditions and customs of the local people (ala “the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath”).

Atwood is always putting layer upon layer so the ability to come up with such alternative interpretations is no surprise.

370 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:57:37am

I need coffee.

371 Flounder  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:58:19am

re: #325 GunstarGreen

I thought time was constant. How it is measured changes with gravity.

372 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:59:06am

re: #370 Varek Raith

I need coffee.

‘ere

373 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 6:59:54am

re: #348 Pie-onist Overlord

Othello was Christian, a convert from Islam.

Yes, I know. The parents? Not so much, I’d bet.

374 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:00:19am

ala.org
Count em up and see how many you’ve read.
So many classics in the literal sense and childhood sense- I loved Alvin Schwartz’s scary stories.

375 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:00:20am

re: #331 chadu

SPOILER ALERT: Rosebud was a dude, and sank.

I thought rosebud was a sled.

376 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:01:15am

re: #369 William Barnett-Lewis

It was published in 1985 so there was no fall of the SU in it’s timeline. That said, I think the use of Mayday is older and a reference to the use in northern Europe of old pagan customs to adapt Christianity to the conditions and customs of the local people (ala “the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath”).

Atwood is always putting layer upon layer so the ability to come up with such alternative interpretations is no surprise.

Yeah, now reminded of the existence of Mayday, I believe (on one reading like 25 years ago) there was a lightly-sketched conflation of pagan feminism (if not matriarchy) and communism in the frame story.

Then again, that was the same year (not course) that I read Egalia’s Daughters and Herland, so I may be conflating a little.

377 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:01:24am


Come on, Winklevoss twins - you know you want a piece of that.

378 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:02:29am

re: #373 William Barnett-Lewis

Yes, I know. The parents? Not so much, I’d bet.

As Obama has proved, if your grandfather was a Moose-Lim, you’re a Muzzleman.
///

379 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:02:57am

re: #228 Targetpractice

All we’re waiting for at this point is Kremlin announcing that they will support the Crimean “secession” and the troops they’re moving in are simply there to “keep the peace” and ensure not “insurgents” attempt to undermine the “will of the people.”

The standard is to be there to protect Russian citizens and commercial interests. Is there a Russian fruit company with warehouses and facilities there in the Crimea?
//

380 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:03:03am

LOLWHUT

381 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:03:45am
No, because those orientations don’t challenge your worldview as much as a feminist perspective does. People’s distaste for a feminist perspective just proves their unwillingness to see women as fully human.

QFT

382 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:03:46am

re: #371 Flounder

I thought time was constant. How it is measured changes with gravity.

Time itself (the flow of time) depends on gravitation and speed. That’s what relativity tells us. But the only way we would know time is faster or slower is by comparing our time measurements to someone else’s.

383 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:04:07am

re: #376 chadu

Yeah, now reminded of the existence of Mayday, I believe (on one reading like 25 years ago) there was a lightly-sketched conflation of pagan feminism (if not matriarchy) and communism in the frame story.

Then again, that was the same year (not course) that I read Egalia’s Daughters and Herland, so I may be conflating a little.

HERLAND put me into a 6 month depression.

384 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:04:25am

re: #375 FemNaziBitch

I thought rosebud was a sled.

The sled was in Tyler Durden’s briefcase.

385 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:04:31am

re: #380 Pie-onist Overlord

LOLWHUT

[Embedded content]

Jim. ,my dear boy do you know what Planned Parenthood actually does?

386 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:05:00am

re: #375 FemNaziBitch

I thought rosebud was a sled.

Youtube Video

387 ericblair  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:07am

re: #375 FemNaziBitch

I thought rosebud was a sled.

No, he was Luke’s father.

388 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:09am

re: #381 FemNaziBitch

QFT

I think what’s frustrating especially for many women who self id as feminists is how ignorant many people especially men are in regards to what it means to be a feminist and to believe in feminism. I’ve unfortunately encountered a lot of these attitudes in the Asperger’s/Autistic community.

389 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:32am

re: #387 ericblair

No, he was Luke’s father.

who broke my heart, Fredo, broke my heart.

390 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:36am

re: #387 ericblair

No, he was Luke’s father.

No, he was a ghost all the time.

391 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:46am

re: #384 chadu

The sled was in Tyler Durden’s briefcase.

I caught that reflection of it in the mirror.

392 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:06:52am

re: #383 FemNaziBitch

HERLAND put me into a 6 month depression.

I barely remember it and ED, except for drips and drabs, but I remember being bummed out too

393 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:07:52am

re: #343 Targetpractice

Shocking. This is my shocked face. Let me show you.

The GOP has nothing but vaporware when it comes to health care policy alternatives. They’ll gin up anger and venom against the ACA, but when pressed on alternatives, they’ve got nothing.

Repeal or delay or defund. That’s been their strategy, and it shows.

Their strategy to claim that people are losing their insurance or are financially worse off doesn’t quite pass the smell test when you look at an apples to apples comparison - premiums, out of pocket costs, max costs.

And the GOP continues to try and claim that any increase in costs for insurance are due to ACA, when insurance costs have done nothing but increase for 20 years all while benefits have been curtailed by insurers looking to maximize profits and limit exposure on claims.

394 Weet  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:08:59am
395 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:09:52am

re: #369 William Barnett-Lewis

It was published in 1985 so there was no fall of the SU in it’s timeline. That said, I think the use of Mayday is older and a reference to the use in northern Europe of old pagan customs to adapt Christianity to the conditions and customs of the local people (ala “the Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath”).

Atwood is always putting layer upon layer so the ability to come up with such alternative interpretations is no surprise.

That makes sense.

396 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:10:15am

Any Transformers fans here today?

xkcd.com

397 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:10:51am

re: #377 darthstar

But remember, Bitcoin is secure, anonymous, and hack-proof.

Except that Mt.Gox showed that it isn’t secure, it isn’t hack-proof, and you can anonymously lose your shirt (though in order to carry out a transaction, you have to provide more personal details than if you were to carry out a transaction in cash).

And if you have cash, it’s still worth something. If an exchange goes belly up, your bitcoin is… well, what bitcoin? It simply vanished.

Yeah, that’s something the Winklevii would get into.

398 Weet  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:11:08am
399 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:11:42am

Japan to review lead-up to WW2 comfort women statement

Some 200,000 women in territories occupied by Japan during World War Two are estimated to have been forced to become sex slaves for troops.

…
Some conservatives in Japan have argued that the women, known euphemistically as “comfort women”, were prostitutes - claims fiercely denied by the women and Japan’s neighbours.

because prostitues aren’t people?

400 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:13:17am

re: #380 Pie-onist Overlord

LOLWHUT

[Embedded content]

At first glance (I refuse to give them any more clicks or time), it appears to be a video ‘aimed at teens’ (didn’t verify that) talking about safe practices with respect to BDSM.

Kids are going to experiment in their teens. Some of them will experiment with kink. I’d much rather they do so armed with knowledge about how to be Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Making sure our children are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep safe is a good thing.

Unless you’re a Republican.

401 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:14:36am

re: #399 FemNaziBitch

Japan to review lead-up to WW2 comfort women statement

because prostitues aren’t people?

Japan needs to come to grips with its past.

402 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:14:38am
403 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:15:20am

re: #402 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Guilty….

404 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:15:27am

re: #400 GunstarGreen

At first glance (I refuse to give them any more clicks or time), it appears to be a video ‘aimed at teens’ (didn’t verify that) talking about safe practices with respect to BDSM.

Kids are going to experiment in their teens. Some of them will experiment with kink. I’d much rather they do so armed with knowledge about how to be Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Making sure our children are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep safe is a good thing.

Unless you’re a Republican.

So it’s the same outrage that they have when sex in general comes up? Check, please.

405 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:16:05am

re: #403 Varek Raith

Guilty….

That’s a Crimea ‘gainst humanity.

406 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:20:48am
407 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:21:13am

re: #404 HappyWarrior

So it’s the same outrage that they have when sex in general comes up? Check, please.

OMG!!!!!!

someone said the “s” word

408 darthstar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:25:27am
409 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:25:46am

HuffPo, as if they couldn’t sink any lower, has a filter that auto-deletes your post if you include “Andrea Mackris”.

410 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:26:36am

re: #409 Dr. Matt

HuffPo, as if they couldn’t sink any lower, has a filter that auto-deletes your post if you include “Andrea Mackris”.

I don’t even know what that is.

411 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:27:34am

re: #410 Pie-onist Overlord

I don’t even know what that is.

HuffPo or Andrea Mackris?

412 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:28:05am

re: #407 FemNaziBitch

OMG!!!!!!

someone said the “s” word

Oh my god someone talking about sex without talking of it being sinful and disgusting.

413 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:28:36am

re: #411 Dr. Matt

HuffPo or Andrea Mackris?

I have never heard of Andrea Mackris.

414 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:29:46am

re: #413 Pie-onist Overlord

I have never heard of Andrea Mackris.

sounds like a fish

415 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:30:45am

re: #413 Pie-onist Overlord

I have never heard of Andrea Mackris.

She was a Fox employee that O’Reilly sexually harassed years ago for which he settled to a lawsuit to an undisclosed amount.

416 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:32:20am

re: #399 FemNaziBitch

Japan to review lead-up to WW2 comfort women statement

because prostitutes aren’t people?

To ultra-nationalist Japanese people foreign prostitutes are indeed not real people. This attitude towards other nations that their inhabitants could be brutalized or killed to suit Japan’s convenience has its American analog to be sure, but some in Japan turn that attitude up to ‘12’ (even wingnut will normally only go up to ‘11’) and they are quite vocal about it. When Japanese politicians do this, they manage to anger both Japan’s allies (The US, South Korea, and Taiwan) and enemies/rivals (North Korea and China) at the same time.

417 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:33:30am

re: #415 Dr. Matt

She was a Fox employee that O’Reilly sexually harassed years ago for which he settled to lawsuit to an undisclosed amount.

Yeah I remember the transcripts coming out. This wasn’t long after he went off on Ludacris and other rappers for their lyrical content in regards to women when it comes like old Bill-O was guilty of doing it himself. It was how I first found out about falafel though. Not in the way I should have granted.

418 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:35:44am

re: #336 chadu

Essay or book?

amazon.com

419 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:36:12am
420 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:37:02am

re: #417 HappyWarrior

Yeah I remember the transcripts coming out. This wasn’t long after he went off on Ludacris and other rappers for their lyrical content in regards to women when it comes like old Bill-O was guilty of doing it himself. It was how I first found out about falafel’s though. Not in the way I should have granted.

That has to be the first time I’ve seen falafel and Bill-O in a paragraph together.

421 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:37:29am

Max Blumenthal : TEH JUICE :: Bryan Fischer : TEH GHEY

422 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:37:36am

re: #419 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

because all the heterosexual people are divorcing so they can have ghey sex?

423 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:38:20am

According to my Jawbone UP, I slept like shit last night.

I’m going to take a nap now.

bbl

424 wheat-dogghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:38:21am

re: #416 Dark_Falcon

To ultra-nationalist Japanese people foreign prostitutes are indeed not real people. This attitude towards other nations that their inhabitants could be brutalized or killed to suit Japan’s convenience has its American analog to be sure, but some in Japan turn that attitude up to ‘12’ (even wingnut will normally only go up to ‘11’) and they are quite vocal about it. When Japanese politicians do this, they manage to anger both Japan’s allies (The US, South Korea, and Taiwan) and enemies/rivals (North Korea and China) at the same time.

A similar sentiment is found among ultra-nationalist Chinese, who don’t limit “not real people” to just prostitutes, but to laowai (foreigners) in general. A very old slang term for foreigner translates as “foreign devil.” I called out a student for using that term within my earshot, as it is very offensive, like the n- word in America.

425 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:39:45am

re: #417 HappyWarrior

Love him, or hate him, but it was amusing watching Olbermann pound O’Reilly on a night basis about the Mackris ordeal back in the day. O-man was even offering her $100K (his Fox severance) to come on MSNBC to tell the whole story. I imagine her settlement was much higher than $100K.

426 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:40:24am

re: #418 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

amazon.com

Wishlisted!

Much ass, grassy ass!

427 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:41:02am

re: #420 FemNaziBitch

That has to be the first time I’ve seen falafel and Bill-O in a paragraph together.

Painfully, it won’t be the last.

428 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:41:49am

re: #422 FemNaziBitch

because all the heterosexual people are divorcing so they can have ghey sex?

Of course. What else could it be.// Lively’s such a stupid fuck.

429 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:42:43am

re: #420 FemNaziBitch

That has to be the first time I’ve seen falafel and Bill-O in a paragraph together.

It was something that he said to her. That or loofah. That said, it was real painful to read. Just like hearing the drunk dials that Pat O’Brien made to that one woman requesting a threesome.

430 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:43:14am
431 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:43:49am

re: #421 Pie-onist Overlord

Max Blumenthal : TEH JUICE :: Bryan Fischer : TEH GHEY

I’m thinking that Ghey Juice would probably be a brand name for a boysenberry-gooseberry punch.

432 b.d.  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:44:04am

So Russian forces have started digging in and now all they are waiting for is winter?

433 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:45:40am

re: #432 b.d.

So Russian forces have started digging in and now all they are waiting for is winter?

They are there to protect Ukrainians from the winter vortex.

434 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:47:21am

re: #430 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

I’m still trying to figure out what they’re doing with the airports. At first I thought it might be just to get a few people out (regime politicians, suitases of cash, etc) and a few people in (special forces, commandos, etc). From the looks of things this morning it might be a staging area for occupation/invasion forces. We’ll see soon enough.

435 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:48:25am
436 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:50:44am
437 b.d.  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:50:57am

re: #433 NJDhockeyfan

They are there to protect Ukrainians from the winter vortex.

In Putin’s Russia, vortex polars you.

438 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:51:44am

re: #437 b.d.

In Putin’s Russia, vortex polars you.

In Putin’s Russia, Putin Punches Vortex.

439 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:52:19am

re: #420 FemNaziBitch

That has to be the first time I’ve seen falafel and Bill-O in a paragraph together.

And there’s also the Bill-O and luffa incident…

440 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:53:12am

re: #435 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

441 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:53:14am

BBC: Will Russia invade Ukraine?

For a start the Russian military does not need to invade - it is already there, leasing facilities from the Ukrainian authorities.

The bulk of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based in Crimea with its headquarters in Sevastopol.
…
Russian pressure in Crimea again serves Moscow’s wider purpose of reminding Ukraine’s new rulers that Moscow’s concerns must be considered in any future economic and diplomatic arrangements.

442 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:53:40am

re: #436 NJDhockeyfan

443 Jayleia  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:53:56am

re: #433 NJDhockeyfan

Our daily prize winner…where do you want your Internets delivered?

444 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:57:12am

CNN video report: A ‘responsible gun owner’ takes a photo of his infant ‘holding’ a rifle

‘Merica Rules!

445 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 7:59:05am

re: #444 Dr. Matt

CNN video report: A ‘responsible gun owner’ takes a photo of his infant ‘holding’ a rifle

‘Merica Rules!

That’s smart……..not.

446 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:00:25am

heh…

447 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:00:43am
448 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:01:18am

re: #445 HappyWarrior

That’s smart……..not.

I don’t care if the bolt is open, the ammo is locked away, the firing pin is removed, the barrel is packed with cement….doesn’t matter. This.is.not.responsible.by.any.standard.

449 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:01:18am

This is what wingnuts think is “humor”

450 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:01:28am

re: #444 Dr. Matt

CNN video report: A ‘responsible gun owner’ takes a photo of his infant ‘holding’ a rifle

‘Merica Rules!

451 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:03:58am

re: #400 GunstarGreen

At first glance (I refuse to give them any more clicks or time), it appears to be a video ‘aimed at teens’ (didn’t verify that) talking about safe practices with respect to BDSM.

Kids are going to experiment in their teens. Some of them will experiment with kink. I’d much rather they do so armed with knowledge about how to be Safe, Sane, and Consensual. Making sure our children are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep safe is a good thing.

Unless you’re a Republican.

Just look at that link to challenged books earlier in the thread. The thing most of them have in common is characters challenging the status quo and standard mores.

That “To Kill A Mockingbird” is on those lists is something I always am sort of upset about. All I can imagine for the most part is that the main plot hits too close to home with a bunch of people and makes them butthurt.

452 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:06:47am

re: #447 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Here is the video. Tell this wouldn’t scare the shit out of you if you saw this while driving down the road.

Youtube Video

453 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:07:14am

This guy has lots more photos on his TL.

454 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:07:52am

Are the EU member states actually going to do anything or are they going to stand on their own dicks? The US can’t bail them out, this is their back yard.

There hasn’t been a successful annexation of such a large chunk of land since the 1800s, and even those didn’t work out so great. Nationalist thought, right here.

455 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:09:26am

re: #454 Aqua Obama

Are the EU member states actually going to do anything or are they going to stand on their own dicks? The US can’t bail them out, this is their back yard.

There hasn’t been a successful annexation of such a large chunk of land since the 1800s, and even those didn’t work out so great. Nationalist thought, right here.

Is that counting the westward border shift by the SU at the end of WW2? Poland got the former East Prussia while the SU shifted its own border westward as well.

456 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:10:16am

re: #454 Aqua Obama

Are the EU member states actually going to do anything or are they going to stand on their own dicks? The US can’t bail them out, this is their back yard.

There hasn’t been a successful annexation of such a large chunk of land since the 1800s, and even those didn’t work out so great. Nationalist thought, right here.

Actually, I’d say the annexation of the Sudetenland by the German Reich in 1938 was perhaps the biggest in recent history.

Which is what we’re seeing again, except in Ukraine this time. The actors have changed, and the plot’s been tweaked a bit, but it’s the same story.

457 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:13:30am
458 Skip Intro  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:13:39am

re: #335 Pie-onist Overlord

Remember that “Million Truckers Drive” where about 3 trucks showed up? They want a do-over.

[Embedded content]

No need for that. Mike Zullo and Carl Gallups will be presenting blockbuster ebidence in a couple of days that will bring the regime down.

459 Bulworth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:13:59am

So the Teabag Party is 5 years old. That means it started up right around the time PBO was inaugurated, even before he’d done a damn thing. Amazing.

/////

460 Skip Intro  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:14:45am

re: #264 wheat-dogghazi

Bitcoiners are already turning on themselves. This is Mark Karpeles, CEO of Mt Gox, making a statement on Japanese TV. The translation is snark.

Mt. Gox Mark Karpeles facing the public

I’ve been told this is a buying opportunity.

461 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:15:43am

re: #455 Feline Fearless Leader

The only reason those annexations worked was ethnic cleansing and massive population transfers.

I think it’s kind of telling that there isn’t a single democratic country on Russia’s south-west flank that hasn’t been separated, manipulated, or invaded in some form. Even the Azeri oil pipeline was closed in Russia a couple of years ago.

462 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:17:45am

IS ALL CHIP CRAP BOUGHT FROM DOLLAR STORES!!!!

463 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:18:44am

re: #457 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

It’s officially on then. Say a prayer for the Ukrainians. I don’t think this is going to end right away and will be very bloody.

464 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:19:23am

re: #462 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Someone should ask him about the stolen Horch 855 Special Roadster

465 Skip Intro  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:20:52am

re: #409 Dr. Matt

HuffPo, as if they couldn’t sink any lower, has a filter that auto-deletes your post if you include “Andrea Mackris”.

I thought they hit rock bottom with their “Kardashian Story Generator” bot.

466 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:21:40am

re: #462 Pie-onist Overlord

IS ALL CHIP CRAP BOUGHT FROM DOLLAR STORES!!!!

[Embedded content]

The protesters ran up to his house with an army of interior designers and quickly decorated it for the press. Plausible looking at how ugly it is inside.

467 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:21:46am
468 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:26:22am

re: #467 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

That is an act of war. Apparently, no one in the world has the balls to tell Putin to knock it the fuck off.

469 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:27:27am

Instead of “voted off the island” they get stoned.

470 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:28:52am

re: #469 Pie-onist Overlord

Instead of “voted off the island” they get stoned.

[Embedded content]

Bible Survivor, next on Fox.

471 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:29:45am
472 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:32:07am
473 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:32:09am

re: #468 Dr Lizardo

That is an act of war. Apparently, no one in the world has the balls to tell Putin to knock it the fuck off.

Oh, you mean that Putin has just had Russia violate a treaty they signed regarding the Ukraine’s territorial integrity? Of course, with Yanuk he now has the cover story for the interference. Though I expect he will just seize and separate the Crimea into an “independent” nation with this and not actually try to put Yanuk back in charge of the whole country.

I guess the rest of the world can take this the UN Security Council where it can run afoul of a nice Russian veto. Superpower politics.

I don’t like it. But I am not surprised one iota by it. One you get into realpolitik the big boys can get away with just about anything they want, especially in their generally accepted sphere of influence.

474 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:33:48am

Probably the best thing the Ukrainians could do right now is set up their forces along the pre-1954 UkrainianSSR boarder with Crimea. Defending that and letting something historically separate go is probably all they can hope to do.

475 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:33:53am

re: #434 Killgore Trout

I’m still trying to figure out what they’re doing with the airports. At first I thought it might be just to get a few people out (regime politicians, suitases of cash, etc) and a few people in (special forces, commandos, etc). From the looks of things this morning it might be a staging area for occupation/invasion forces. We’ll see soon enough.

Seizing the Air Ports of Debarkation (APOD) is part of the modern playbook. It’s about the only job left for airborne troops. (Didn’t need airborne in this case.)

476 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:35:37am

OK Ben, I will hand it to you, that you rocked in the anti-BDS debate, but now you are back to being a dumbass again.

477 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:35:48am

re: #468 Dr Lizardo

That is an act of war. Apparently, no one in the world has the balls to tell Putin to knock it the fuck off.

It’s not really a ‘balls’ situation. It’s a ‘what are you going to back this up with’ situation. Do you think we should put American lives at risk at this point, to prevent Russia from something the Crimea?

478 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:36:12am

re: #452 NJDhockeyfan

Here is the video. Tell this wouldn’t scare the shit out of you if you saw this while driving down the road.

[Embedded content]

First thought on seeing that vid: WOLVERINES!


/OK, I’m kidding. But it does make you think of Red Dawn a little, doesn’t it?

479 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:37:47am

re: #476 Pie-onist Overlord

OK Ben, I will hand it to you, that you rocked in the anti-BDS debate, but now you are back to being a dumbass again.

[Embedded content]

He’s right. If a black person in 1964 happened to be in love with another black person, they could get married no problem.

480 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:37:51am

re: #473 Feline Fearless Leader

Oh, you mean that Putin has just had Russia violate a treaty they signed regarding the Ukraine’s territorial integrity? Of course, with Yanuk he now has the cover story for the interference. Though I expect he will just seize and separate the Crimea into an “independent” nation with this and not actually try to put Yanuk back in charge of the whole country.

I guess the rest of the world can take this the UN Security Council where it can run afoul of a nice Russian veto. Superpower politics.

I don’t like it. But I am not surprised one iota by it. One you get into realpolitik the big boys can get away with just about anything they want, especially in their generally accepted sphere of influence.

That’s a distinct possibility; I doubt he’d put Yanukovych back in Kyiv; most likely, he’d say “tough shit” to Yanuk as to being put back in charge.

It bothers me because this is close to how the Sudetenland Crisis played out. The Western powers could’ve stopped it, yet they failed to do so, on the dubious argument that “it’s just the Germans going into their own back garden” and other ridiculous lines of reasoning.

The lesson learned from the squalid affair was that sometimes, you have to smack down an annexationist dictator with delusions of empire.

481 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:38:34am

re: #479 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

He’s right. If a black person in 1964 happened to be in love with another black person, they could get married no problem.

Match made. Well played.

482 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:38:48am

re: #477 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

It’s not really a ‘balls’ situation. It’s a ‘what are you going to back this up with’ situation. Do you think we should put American lives at risk at this point, to prevent Russia from something the Crimea?

Not sure we should, but we seem to be signatory to assurances to the Ukraine that are far more real than anything to Syria, Libya, Egypt or Israel.

483 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:39:24am

re: #475 Decatur Deb

Seizing the Air Ports of Debarkation (APOD) is part of the modern playbook. It’s about the only job left for airborne troops. (Didn’t need airborne in this case.)

The Russians will likely use airborne units, at least in part, since its their bailiwick and because those units have the best foot soldiers Russia can deploy outside of the Spetsnaz.

484 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:40:28am

MOAR DERP

485 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:40:30am

re: #482 Decatur Deb

Not sure we should, but we seem to be signatory to assurances to the Ukraine that are far more real than anything to Syria, Libya, Egypt or Israel.

Precisely. And Russia is a signatory to the Budapest Memorandum as well, though apparently for the Russians, treaties are little more than toilet paper.

486 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:41:15am

re: #483 Dark_Falcon

The Russians will likely use airborne units, at least in part, since its their bailiwick and because those units have the best foot soldiers Russia can deploy outside of the Spetsnaz.

But unless they’re going Hollywood, they won’t jump, just ride in comfortable light armor.

487 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:41:51am

re: #480 Dr Lizardo

That’s a distinct possibility; I doubt he’d put Yanukovych back in Kyiv; most likely, he’d say “tough shit” to Yanuk as to being put back in charge.

It bothers me because this is close to how the Sudetenland Crisis played out. The Western powers could’ve stopped it, yet they failed to do so, on the dubious argument that “it’s just the Germans going into their own back garden” and other ridiculous lines of reasoning.

The lesson learned from the squalid affair was that sometimes, you have to smack down an annexationist dictator with delusions of empire.

I see more parallels to South Ossetia back in ‘08. Russia will portray this as the people of the Crimea asking to be annexed by Russia and will say that he is moving troops in to oversee the “transition” and to ensure that “insurgents” from Ukraine do not interfere or attempt to seize the government there. When it’s all said and done, the UN and EU will issue letters of condemnation, perhaps threaten sanctions, but Putin knows that as long as Russia holds a Security Council veto, there’s nothing more the West can do but scream that this is not the way things are done.

488 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:42:40am

re: #486 Decatur Deb

But unless they’re going Hollywood, they won’t jump, just ride in comfortable light armor.

Right. Why jump when you can land in a transport at the airport and march off with your equipment and unit already in order.

489 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:42:46am

re: #482 Decatur Deb

Not sure we should, but we seem to be signatory to assurances to the Ukraine that are far more real than anything to Syria, Libya, Egypt or Israel.

The problem is that Russia still has far more military power than any of those nations save Israel, and in terms of naval power and nuclear weapons Russia even puts Israel in the shade. Power matters, more than justice in international affairs.

490 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:43:20am

Thoughts…
My guess is the EU will say noting as long as the Russians stay in Crimea. They have history there & the warm water ports are critical to Russia.

If they go into the Ukraine and especially if they mess with the gas & oil flowing from Russia via the Ukraine? Then things get much messier and unlike when Georgia happened, the EU & former WP nations may well get involved. Even a ‘cut off’ by Moscow could have tremendous consequences.

491 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:44:56am

re: #484 Pie-onist Overlord

Oh please. How is he paying for it? And I don’t recall anyone suggesting forced attendance at Gay Pride events.

All the whining and crying about this just proves that these people have really easy jobs that don’t keep them at all busy. What are they so afraid of?

492 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:46:20am

re: #490 William Barnett-Lewis

Thoughts…
My guess is the EU will say noting as long as the Russians stay in Crimea. They have history there & the warm water ports are critical to Russia.

If they go into the Ukraine and especially if they mess with the gas & oil flowing from Russia via the Ukraine? Then things get much messier and unlike when Georgia happened, the EU & former WP nations may well get involved. Even a ‘cut off’ by Moscow could have tremendous consequences.

Then all we can do is keep our collective fingers crossed that Russia has no further designs beyond the Crimean Peninsula.

Many of those former Warsaw Pact nations are now NATO member states, and they will pressing most insistently for the EU and the US to do something in the event that Putin decides to eat the whole thing.

493 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:46:35am

re: #490 William Barnett-Lewis

Thoughts…
My guess is the EU will say noting as long as the Russians stay in Crimea. They have history there & the warm water ports are critical to Russia.

If they go into the Ukraine and especially if they mess with the gas & oil flowing from Russia via the Ukraine? Then things get much messier and unlike when Georgia happened, the EU & former WP nations may well get involved. Even a ‘cut off’ by Moscow could have tremendous consequences.

Especially considering that much of the EU’s gas flowing through pipes through Ukraine. No, I doubt that Moscow will be that foolish. They’ll settle for Crimea, perhaps test to see how far they can push the Ukrainian military before they get a response, but otherwise will settle for securing their Black Sea port.

494 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:46:52am

re: #488 Feline Fearless Leader

Right. Why jump when you can land in a transport at the airport and march off with your equipment and unit already in order.

To show off would be why. But that isn’t done when it would put the operation at risk. Right now Russia can land its transports normally and as long as that’s the case Russia will keep doing that.

Keep your eyes out for photos of the Russian airborne forces, though. They’ve received new armored vehicles recently, self-propelled 120mm gun-mortars and 125mm-armed TDs. Lets see if they show ‘em off.

495 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:47:10am

re: #484 Pie-onist Overlord

MOAR DERP

[Embedded content]

If you don’t want to provide a service that is legal to the public, simple don’t open a fucking bakery, prickwad.

496 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:47:45am

re: #489 Dark_Falcon

Russia’s military is shit except for a few elite units. Their economy is shambolic and couldn’t sustain actual warfare with something like the US for very long at all. As long as we didn’t invade them, the US could laugh at them while fighting. But US soldiers would still die, because even a shambolic, laughable enemy will inflict casualties. Hell, just moving people from point A to point B will.

Also, they have a bunch of nukes.

497 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:47:47am

re: #491 A Mom Anon

Oh please. How is he paying for it? And I don’t recall anyone suggesting forced attendance at Gay Pride events.

All the whining and crying about this just proves that these people have really easy jobs that don’t keep them at all busy. What are they so afraid of?

They’re afraid that they may have to deal with someone different then them. The horror.

498 Internet Tough Guy  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:47:59am

re: #480 Dr Lizardo

It bothers me because this is close to how the Sudetenland Crisis played out. The Western powers could’ve stopped it, yet they failed to do so, on the dubious argument that “it’s just the Germans going into their own back garden” and other ridiculous lines of reasoning.

Except this time the aggressor has a large nuclear arsenal.

499 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:49:38am

They’re not just hanging around the airport now.

500 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:52:14am

There’s shades of the South Ossetia conflict involved here as well. Russian intervention in territory outside the Russian border in the name of “peacekeeping” in support of local loyalists to Russia.

501 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:52:35am

re: #499 Backwoods_Sleuth

They’re not just hanging around the airport now.

[Embedded content]

cool music

502 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:52:53am

re: #499 Backwoods_Sleuth

They’re not just hanging around the airport now.

[Embedded content]

Saw that earlier but they were already there so to speak. Black Sea Fleet Naval Air Force’s HQ is in Sevastopol.

503 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:52:54am

re: #484 Pie-onist Overlord


What do teabaggers spew this “liberal tolerance” meme? I freely admit I have zero tolerance for the radical far-right fools that plaque the political landscape.

504 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:53:13am

Putin is going to find himself on the receiving end of a very strongly worded letter.

505 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:53:18am

re: #495 HappyWarrior

Or they could have a private bakey club in a treehouse with a “no icky gays allowed” sign on the front. Private clubs can make their own rules, businesses open to the public and licensed by the government have to serve the freaking PUBLIC. Willfully obtuse and stupid much? Assholes.

506 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:54:35am

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

507 Mike Lamb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:54:43am

re: #251 Pie-onist Overlord

What about Teh Muslims Bryan? Are they your allies in TEH GREAT WAR AGAINST TEH GHEY?

[Embedded content]

Ah yes, special. Where special means being treated the same as everyone else.

508 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:55:17am

re: #500 lawhawk

There’s shades of the South Ossetia conflict involved here as well. Russian intervention in territory outside the Russian border in the name of “peacekeeping” in support of local loyalists to Russia.

I think it’s the horn of Russian nationalism that they’re stuck on. The majority of Crimea is ethnically Russian. Putin has been hyping the Russian ethnic supremacy/nationalism thing for a long time now.

The Crimea isn’t even something they should want. It is not a highly developed place, it does not have a good economy, a major part of the economy was tourism which is now going to be shit. This is what is actually more worrying: this doesn’t make any rational sense, if it is an attempt to grab the Crimea, except if it’s politically necessary.

509 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:55:21am

The Russians were already in Crimea.

510 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:55:49am

re: #505 A Mom Anon

Or they could have a private bakey club in a treehouse with a “no icky gays allowed” sign on the front. Private clubs can make their own rules, businesses open to the public and licensed by the government have to serve the freaking PUBLIC. Willfully obtuse and stupid much? Assholes.

Exactly. These people are idiots anyhow for costing themselves potential customers. I wouldn’t shop at a blatantly anti gay business out of principle.

511 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:55:58am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

Oh, the wingnuts will make a lot of noise about how the President is “weak” for not confronting Putin, but if you put the question to them of sending troops to throw Russia out Crimea, they’ll quickly change the subject.

512 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:56:05am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

Depends if Obama says that they’re preparing one, in which case McCain will whine about Obama ‘telegraphing’.

513 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:56:33am

re: #503 Dr. Matt

What do teabaggers spew this “liberal tolerance” meme? I freely admit I have zero tolerance for the radical far-right fools that plaque the political landscape.

The meme is HURR HURR LIBTURDS IS TEH INTOLERANTS!!!!! IF YOU SAYS SOMETHING THEY DISAGREES WITH THEY CALLS U A RACIST & HOMOPHOBE & HURTS UR FEELINGS HURR HURR!!!!!!!

514 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:56:41am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

Is “The McCaine Mutiny” the fictional story of a POTUS candidate being forced to take up an obviously inept running mate due to a revolt of his advisors and financial backers?
///

515 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:56:55am

re: #496 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Russia’s military is shit except for a few elite units. Their economy is shambolic and couldn’t sustain actual warfare with something like the US for very long at all. As long as we didn’t invade them, the US could laugh at them while fighting. But US soldiers would still die, because even a shambolic, laughable enemy will inflict casualties. Hell, just moving people from point A to point B will.

Also, they have a bunch of nukes.

The problem is some of those elite units are in the Crimea right now. And their gunship pilots are actually well trained, and many of them have air-to-ground combat experience as well.

don’t under estimate Russia, Obdi. This close to its den The Bear is a formidable foe.

516 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:58:18am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

McCain has already started.

517 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:58:23am

re: #509 Gus

The Russians were already in Crimea.

Despite the best efforts of the Lancers.

518 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:59:23am

re: #516 Backwoods_Sleuth

McCain has already started.

[Embedded content]

Well shit. I was going to buy a Bitcoin with that fiver.

519 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:59:27am

re: #511 Targetpractice

Oh, the wingnuts will make a lot of noise about how the President is “weak” for not confronting Putin, but if you put the question to them of sending troops to throw Russia out Crimea, they’ll quickly change the subject.

It’ll be just like Libya/Syria/whatever. Yell and scream about “not stopping evil!” until the US gets involved, and then immediately switch gears about it being “Obama’s Vietnam” the moment the US does get involved.

The common thread of all GOP talk is “against whatever Obama is saying or doing”. It’s sort of like the childish annoyance game of immediately denying anything someone is saying. It’s noise, and it’s not productive.

520 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:59:31am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCain calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

Not gonna happen. He knows naval history quite well, and he knows how hard fighting that near your enemies bases and so far from your own is.

521 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 8:59:32am

Here are some HURR HURR LIBRULS IS TEH INTOLERANTS!!!!!!

522 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:00:46am

re: #515 Dark_Falcon

They’re a formidable foe because they have a bunch of nukes. The rest of the shit really doesn’t matter vs. the US, thanks to our blinkered cold-war mentality we still have a ton of forces specifically designed to fight the kind of shit Russia could bring to bear. The US’s military spending is wasteful as fuck and stupidly high, but that bloated mess of a budget buys a ton of equipment and, much more importantly, we have a much, much, much more professional military than they do—and a military that’s been continually at war for years and years and years.

There is no contest militarily between the US and Russia unless we’re trying to invade them. If it’s just blowing up shit we could blow up their shit at an immensely higher ratio than they could blow up our shit.

But where would it actually get us, what good would it actually do, what would the situation be afterwards.

And they’ve got shitloads of nukes.

523 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:01:14am

re: #506 Decatur Deb

How long before Sen McCaine calls for a US expeditionary force? I’ll put $5.00 on “10 minutes before Meet the Press”.

He won’t have to. Russia crosses into Ukraine. Poland decides it doesn’t want to be next and heads east. NATO obligations kick in & WWIII starts.

524 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:02:11am

re: #520 Dark_Falcon

Not gonna happen. He knows naval history quite well, and he knows how hard fighting that near your enemies bases and so far from your own is.

Not to mention that there is serious doubt that the USN will get permission to push a CVN group through the Bosporus. Therefore, any aviation basing will depend on air bases in NATO countries; e.g. Poland and so forth. That would be a major escalation in Russia’s eyes.

525 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:02:14am

And there is the Dudebro equivalent HURR HURR!!!!! TEH JUICE CALLS SOMEONE TEH “ANTI SEMITE” WHEN THEY ARE JUST TELLING TEH TROOF ABOUT TEH JUICE!!!! CALLING SOMEONE “ANTI SEMITE” IS WORSER THAN TEH NAZIS HURR HURR!!!!!!

526 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:02:43am

re: #523 William Barnett-Lewis

He won’t have to. Russia crosses into Ukraine. Poland decides it doesn’t want to be next and heads east. NATO obligations kick in & WWIII starts.

In your scenario, Poland decides that mounting an invasion of Russia would be its best move because…

527 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:02:50am

re: #523 William Barnett-Lewis

He won’t have to. Russia crosses into Ukraine. Poland decides it doesn’t want to be next and heads east. NATO obligations kick in & WWIII starts.

AKA Twilight 2020…

528 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:03:00am

re: #516 Backwoods_Sleuth

McCain has already started.

[Embedded content]

But note he does rule out military action.

re: #518 Decatur Deb

Well shit. I was going to buy a Bitcoin with that fiver.

Well, I could let you bet that McCain won’t use this to hammer the administrations plans for defense cuts. But I’d feel bad about taking your money, for he surely will so hammer, and he should, too.

529 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:03:56am

re: #523 William Barnett-Lewis

He won’t have to. Russia crosses into Ukraine. Poland decides it doesn’t want to be next and heads east. NATO obligations kick in & WWIII starts.

Still got your topos of the Main crossings?

530 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:04:03am

re: #521 Pie-onist Overlord

Here are some HURR HURR LIBRULS IS TEH INTOLERANTS!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

When you call homosexuals, pedophiles, damn right I’m going to call you a bigot.
When you stereotype an ethnic group, damn right I’m going to call you a bigot.
When you blame women for being raped, damn right I’m going to call you a bigot.
I could go on and on but despite what conservatives believe about liberals, we don’t call them bigots because they’re conservatives, we call them bigots because they act like bigoted assholes.

531 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:04:15am

They wll totally do that, Ben, no need to shout.

532 calochortus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:05:32am

re: #531 Pie-onist Overlord

They wll totally do that, Ben, no need to shout.

[Embedded content]

He probably thinks they should do it for free.

533 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:05:37am

re: #526 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

In your scenario, Poland decides that mounting an invasion of Russia would be its best move because…

Who said invade Russia? They want the Russians back in Russia so they’d be “helping” the Ukrainians - an independent allied nation. Escalation from there takes care of the rest rather like the chain of mobilization in the summer of 1914.

534 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:05:40am

re: #531 Pie-onist Overlord

They wll totally do that, Ben, no need to shout.

[Embedded content]

They’re not allowed to do that either little Benny, sorry if that busts your meme wide open.

535 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:05:59am

“Some major ships (including the flagship) of the Soviet and Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, August 2007”

Black Sea Fleet

The Black Sea Fleet (Russian: Черноморский Флот) is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian (and formerly Soviet) Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. Its ships are based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, while its aviation and infrastructure is based in various locations in Crimea, Ukraine and Krasnodar Krai, Russia.

It is considered to have been founded by Prince Potemkin on May 13, 1783, together with its principal base, the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine. The major shipyard is located in Mykolaiv (today in Ukraine). Expanding to the south at the end of 18th century, Russia struggled for a long time against its main rival in the region, the Ottoman Empire, with the Ottoman Navy being its main opponent in the Black Sea. The Black Sea Fleet defeated the Turks in 1790, fought the Ottomans during World War I, the Romanians during World War II, and Georgia during the 2008 South Ossetia war. The division of the fleet in 1997 became the basis of the Ukrainian Navy…

536 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:06:19am

re: #521 Pie-onist Overlord

Here are some HURR HURR LIBRULS IS TEH INTOLERANTS!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

537 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:06:22am

re: #508 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Crimea has long been a base for the Soviet and later Russian Navy on the Black Sea at Sevastopol. It holds some strategic value for the Russian Navy as a significant portion of the Russian fleet is based there.

Yushchenko had previously limited the Russian access at Sevastopol to 2015, so the Russians were looking at an alternative facility in Novorossiysk. This may be related to that. Also added to the mix is that experts were saying that the Black Sea Fleet is in real bad shape without modern replacement ships.

538 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:07:03am

re: #529 Decatur Deb

Still got your topos of the Main crossings?

Mine were all from down along the Czech boarder. Nice countryside, good for defending against channelized regimental columns.

539 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:07:09am

re: #533 William Barnett-Lewis

Who said invade Russia? They want the Russians back in Russia so they’d be “helping” the Ukrainians - an independent allied nation. Escalation from there takes care of the rest rather like the chain of mobilization in the summer of 1914.

Oh sorry, you think Poland would invade the Ukraine, unilaterally?

540 Mike Lamb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:08:11am

re: #521 Pie-onist Overlord

Discrimination against gays (Muslims, blacks, Hispanics, etc) is not “disagreeing”.

541 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:08:41am

re: #534 HappyWarrior

They’re not allowed to do that either little Benny, sorry if that busts your meme wide open.

If his group want to go into a gay-owned restaurant, sit down and order from the menu, they have that right.

If Ben & his friends start shouting slogans and harassing other patrons, the management can ask them to leave for disorderly conduct.

542 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:10:21am

re: #508 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

That majority is only by a hair now.

Mr. Lizardo, after I pointed that out yesterday, mentioned how the Russian would likely lose their majority within the Decade.

Heck, they may have already lost it.

543 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:10:41am

re: #541 Pie-onist Overlord

If his group want to go into a gay-owned restaurant, sit down and order from the menu, they have that right.

If Ben & his friends start shouting slogans and harassing other patrons, the management can ask them to leave for disorderly conduct.

Exactly. Nothing’s stopping Ben and his pals from going to a LGBT operated business and they should be served under the same protections that mandate that “Christian” businesses serve LGBT folks.

544 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:10:45am

re: #537 lawhawk

Crimea has long been a base for the Soviet and later Russian Navy on the Black Sea at Sevastopol. It holds some strategic value for the Russian Navy as a significant portion of the Russian fleet is based there.

Yushchenko had previously limited the Russian access at Sevastopol to 2015, so the Russians were looking at an alternative facility in Novorossiysk. This may be related to that. Also added to the mix is that experts were saying that the Black Sea Fleet is in real bad shape without modern replacement ships.

Russia actually just started adding new ships, the first one being a new-built Kilo-class diesel-electric sub. It just arrived at Sevastopol from its builder’s yards in St. Petersburg last month.

545 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:10:54am

I’m sure the Polish would love to have a belligerent Russia on their doorstep again for the third time in a hundred years.

Of course they’re going to do something if this turns into a full scale Ukrainian/Russian war. Is Putin that stupid? Probably not.

546 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:11:07am

re: #541 Pie-onist Overlord

If his group want to go into a gay-owned restaurant, sit down and order from the menu, they have that right.

If Ben & his friends start shouting slogans and harassing other patrons, the management can ask them to leave for disorderly conduct.

And don’t stiff the waiters.

547 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:11:12am

re: #539 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Oh sorry, you think Poland would invade the Ukraine, unilaterally?

All it takes is one official to ask for it.

You obviously think people are smarter than that.

I’m looking back almost exactly 100 years and being reminded that they’re not. Pick up “The Sleepwalkers” amazon.com or “The Guns of August” amazon.com for a good reminder of just how stupid the human animal is.

548 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:11:34am

re: #540 Mike Lamb

Discrimination against gays is not “disagreeing”.

Exactly, you can hold the belief that homosexuality is sinful, immoral, disgusting, etc all you want but if you’re operating in the public sphere of business, you have to serve gays the same way you would anyone else. To do otherwise is textbook discrimination.

549 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:12:18am

re: #539 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

No, but they could dig the old Prometheism idea out of the vaults and start promoting insurgencies in Russia, especially in the Caucasus region.

550 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:12:27am
551 cuzIsaidso  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:12:39am

sidebar: Nation Review
“this feed has errors”
Yup.

552 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:13:01am
553 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:13:07am
554 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:13:40am

Crimea TV (GTRK Krym) allegedly seized by “unknown gunmen.”

555 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:14:01am

re: #550 Gus

Hey look, nightmares made real!

556 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:14:09am

re: #550 Gus

Man wakes up inside a body bag at funeral home

Is this the beginning of a “rabbi and a barkeep” joke?

557 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:15:12am

re: #550 Gus

[Embedded content]

There was a Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode where some paralyzed guy almost gets carted away in one.

558 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:15:43am
559 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:16:26am

re: #555 The War TARDIS

Hey look, nightmares made real!

I’ll be honest. That’s one of my biggest fears- being buried alive. I know it’s practically impossible since it’s much easier with today’s medical technology to determine if someone’s dead or not but still. Scares the hell out of me.

560 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:17:06am

re: #558 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Yanouch declared himself a Brony fan. Poot thinks Twilight is cooler.

561 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:17:26am

re: #542 The War TARDIS

Unless they are willing to somehow ethnically cleanse 45-50% of the population, Russia’s hold will be tenuous.

Until the Russian Economy goes Turtle, at which point, it would break off. Likely along with the who Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia region. And possibly more.

Russia is having one hell of a time learning from history.

562 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:17:50am
563 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:18:24am

re: #547 William Barnett-Lewis

All it takes is one official to ask for it.

Pretty sure it’d take more than one official asking for it to launch a Polish invasion of the Ukraine.

Poland has 120,000 active military.

It would also be difficult for Poland to be ‘next’ since they don’t share a border with Russia, unless you think that Russia would non-problematically occupy the Ukraine—which just nearly broke into a civil war over the issue of Russian influence—and use that to invade Poland.

These are not realistic scenarios.

564 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:18:57am

If only there was some sort of Western European military alliance to prevent Russian expansion into Europe. Somebody should put that together.

565 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:19:19am

Rich Douche John Stossel: “So what if rich people have more money? They are better than everyone else!”
Yes it’s on Fox.

What these “entrepreneurs” and “jrrb creators” fail to understand is that if people are paid less than they need to survive, there will be fewer consumers of THE STUFF that the “deserving rich” are selling.

Henry Ford was an asshole in many ways, but he understood the importance of paying workers a decent wage.

566 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:19:23am

re: #547 William Barnett-Lewis

All it takes is one official to ask for it.

You obviously think people are smarter than that.

I’m looking back almost exactly 100 years and being reminded that they’re not. Pick up “The Sleepwalkers” amazon.com or “The Guns of August” amazon.com for a good reminder of just how stupid the human animal is.

And as Putin throws more chips into the pot he gets to the point that he can’t back down since that would be the loss of face that will get him thrown out by his own supporters for being “weak”.

International politics is just like children on a playground. There is this massive illogical undercurrent of pride, boasting, bluffs, and gangs where a lot of the posturing is necessary for internal politics instead of behaving logically regarding the real situation.

567 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:19:35am

Unknown gunmen.

568 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:19:50am

re: #549 The War TARDIS

No, but they could dig the old Prometheism idea out of the vaults and start promoting insurgencies in Russia, especially in the Caucasus region.

Also worth remembering on that note is that Mary Shelly subtitled Frankenstein “The Modern Prometheus”.

569 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:20:18am

re: #562 Gus

[Embedded content]

That is cool. Looks like the set for the end of Das Boot.

570 b.d.  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:20:34am

re: #550 Gus

[Embedded content]

“Mr. Burns was admitted to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was then transferred to a better hospital where his condition was upgraded to ‘alive.’” ―Kent Brockman

571 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:21:57am

re: #570 b.d.

Clearly the second hospital was a vast improvement in base care.

572 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:22:25am

re: #564 Killgore Trout

If only there was some sort of Western European military alliance to prevent Russian expansion into Europe. Somebody should put that together.

So, to be clear, you want NATO to get into a shooting war with Russia?

573 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:30:14am

re: #564 Killgore Trout

If only there was some sort of Western European military alliance to prevent Russian expansion into Europe. Somebody should put that together.

Is the French Foeign Legion available?

574 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:31:13am

re: #573 NJDhockeyfan

Is the French Foeign Legion available?

Where are the Prussian Templars when you need them?

575 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:31:18am

re: #564 Killgore Trout

If only there was some sort of Western European military alliance to prevent Russian expansion into Europe. Somebody should put that together.

Cool it, Killgore.

576 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:31:29am

Guess if KT thinks NATO should get into a shooting war in the Ukraine that means NATO will get into a shooting war in the Ukraine. He’s all powerful like that.

//

577 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:31:42am

re: #572 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

So, to be clear, you want NATO to get into a shooting war with Russia?

Strawmen spontaneously combust, you know.

578 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:31:42am

re: #574 Decatur Deb

Where are the Prussian Templars when you need them?

Invading France.

579 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:32:09am

[Faints.]

580 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:32:32am

re: #578 Dark_Falcon

Invading France.

Or cutting a deal with Putin to partition Poland (again).
////

581 Bulworth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:33:29am

re: #570 b.d.

I don’t go to hospitals often, but when I do, I try make sure I get out of them alive.

582 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:33:41am

re: #580 Feline Fearless Leader

I’m thinking Germany will do its normal line of Defending Russia.

Because Germany has the moral backbone of a jellyfish.

583 Skip Intro  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:33:43am

re: #516 Backwoods_Sleuth

McCain has already started.

[Embedded content]

Rules out conflict with Russia? No wonder the Arizona GOP calls him a lib.

584 Bulworth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:34:19am

re: #571 Gus

If the dude wanted to wake up alive, that’s where he should have gone in the first place. //

585 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:34:34am

“I want those B-47s cocked and ready by 1200 hours!”

586 Skip Intro  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:35:58am

re: #565 Pie-onist Overlord

Rich Douche John Stossel: “So what if rich people have more money? They are better than everyone else!”
Yes it’s on Fox.

What these “entrepreneurs” and “jrrb creators” fail to understand is that if people are paid less than they need to survive, there will be fewer consumers of THE STUFF that the “deserving rich” are selling.

Henry Ford was an asshole in many ways, but he understood the importance of paying workers a decent wage.

Hey, poor people still have access to food, so STFU you goddamned commies!

587 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:36:56am

re: #585 Gus

“I want those B-47s cocked and ready by 1200 hours!”

Going to bombard Russia with penis cakes? That will destroy their morale for sure.
////

(Awaits Gus to photoshop C-130 dropping flares to now be dropping penis cakes.)

588 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:38:21am

re: #587 Feline Fearless Leader

Going to bombard Russia with penis cakes? That will destroy their morale for sure.
////

We are all penis cakes now.

589 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:39:13am
590 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:39:27am

re: #583 Skip Intro

Rules out conflict with Russia? No wonder the Arizona GOP calls him a lib.

You see, the Naval Academy made John McCain do things like learn about naval history and logistics, so he understands how dumb trying to send ships into the Black Sea to oppose Putin would be.

The most rabid of the right scoff at such “book learnin’”, unless the book in question is the Bible. And even then its only approved parts of the Bible.

591 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:39:50am

re: #587 Feline Fearless Leader

Going to bombard Russia with penis cakes? That will destroy their morale for sure.
////

командарм! There’s whipped cream everywhere!

592 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:40:52am

re: #573 NJDhockeyfan

Is the French Foeign Legion available?

I think they’re mucking around in Africa these days.

593 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:41:00am

The typewriters are getting oiled up. They may break out the high quality paper for this one.

594 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:41:54am

re: #592 Killgore Trout

I think they’re mucking around in Africa these days.

Looks like it.

595 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:41:55am

re: #565 Pie-onist Overlord

Rich Douche John Stossel: “So what if rich people have more money? They are better than everyone else!”
Yes it’s on Fox.

What these “entrepreneurs” and “jrrb creators” fail to understand is that if people are paid less than they need to survive, there will be fewer consumers of THE STUFF that the “deserving rich” are selling.

Henry Ford was an asshole in many ways, but he understood the importance of paying workers a decent wage.

Then Stossel should STFU about imaginary liberal elites then if he actually believes that wealth= better person. Sorry John just shut up.

596 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:42:23am

re: #590 Dark_Falcon

You see, the Naval Academy made John McCain do things like learn about naval history and logistics, so he understands how dumb trying to send ships into the Black Sea to oppose Putin would be.

The most rabid of the right scoff at such “book learnin’”, unless the book in question is the Bible. And even then its only approved parts of the Bible.

If God is on your side than anything is possible, isn’t that how it works? Your band alone should be able to destroy an enemy base since it worked for Joshua.
///

597 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:42:35am

OMG THIS IS THE START OF WORLD WAR THREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

598 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:42:46am


You can close the door if you want but the Russians are still inside and know what you’re talking about

599 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:43:32am

re: #590 Dark_Falcon

Isn’t their some agreement with Turkey on this?

600 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:43:32am

re: #595 HappyWarrior

Then Stossel should STFU about imaginary liberal elites then if he actually believes that wealth= better person. Sorry John just shut up.

But those are the misguided ones who should be opposed since they have obviously drifted from the proper way.
:p

601 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:43:53am

re: #598 Killgore Trout

[Embedded content]

You can close the door if you want but the Russians are still inside and know what you’re talking about

Seriously. So silly. RU is part of the UNSC and has veto power. Derp.

602 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:45:40am

50 or less is not “pouring into” Ukraine. Just a few adventuring trouble-makers with nothing much to do with themselves, no doubt. This is really a low for Daily Beast, but what else do you expect from them?

603 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:45:46am

re: #601 Gus

Seriously. So silly. RU is part of the UNSC and has veto power. Derp.

I guess it’s a symbolic ceremonial thing, I can’t think of a practical purpose for it.

604 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:45:47am

re: #599 The War TARDIS

Isn’t their some agreement with Turkey on this?

Yep, that Turkey will not permit passage of aircraft carriers through the Bosporus.

605 Decatur Deb  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:45:52am

Not a penis cake:

bforbel.com

606 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:46:07am

The French delegate should load up on a bunch of poutine and sit next to the Russian guy

607 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:46:21am
608 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:47:51am

re: #603 Killgore Trout

I guess it’s a symbolic ceremonial thing, I can’t think of a practical purpose for it.

Make-work. Job security. Look important. Etc, etc, etc. Next week they’ll announce some meeting about human rights to be held in Uganda.

609 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:48:20am

re: #601 Gus

Seriously. So silly. RU is part of the UNSC and has veto power. Derp.

Unless there is some plan in place to corner the Soviet ambassador to the UN and give him a wedgie.
//

610 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:48:22am

re: #607 Gus

[Embedded content]

I’m surprised that Max Blumenthal hasn’t retweeted the shit out of this.

Or maybe he has, I stopped reading his Twitter feed for my mental health.

611 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:49:41am

Perhaps a compromise with the Russians is possible.

They get Crimea, and in return, the rest of Ukraine ultimately becomes part of the EU and falls under NATO’s umbrella. Not an actual NATO member state, mind you; rather NATO will guarantee Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.

612 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:50:20am

re: #610 Pie-onist Overlord

I’m surprised that Max Blumenthal hasn’t retweeted the shit out of this.

Or maybe he has, I stopped reading his Twitter feed for my mental health.

Back to cooking while you await the verdict on the experimental pie?

My cooking experiment this weekend is working with some vegetable stock that I made last night. Will probably use it to make a pot of soup, or possibly get some *good* cheese this time and take another shot at risotto.

613 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:50:33am

re: #607 Gus

[Embedded content]

When in doubt, blame IsraelTEH EBIL JUICE!!1.

614 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:50:48am

re: #526 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

In your scenario, Poland decides that mounting an invasion of Russia would be its best move because…

Jumping into this late, but I just suggested this scenario on another list.

First the why: Gazprom. Oh, and Poland has already been supportive (with some suggestions of material and manpower assistance) of Euromaidan. But the latter may be part of the former. A separate Ukraine means major gas resources provided by someone other than the near-monopoly of European Russia. Oh, and the pipes are already in place.

With that in mind, then, the question becomes “is it worth it?” Rephrased, would Poland consider a unilateral entry? My guess, only if it thought the EU or the US (or both) would come to its assistance once they pulled the trigger. And bluntly I don’t know but I can’t rule it out.

615 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:50:51am

re: #604 Dark_Falcon

Not supposing we could Rules Lawyer around that and send these, could we?

616 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:50:52am

re: #610 Pie-onist Overlord

I’m surprised that Max Blumenthal hasn’t retweeted the shit out of this.

Or maybe he has, I stopped reading his Twitter feed for my mental health.

617 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:51:30am

Jen Rubin continues to prove her salary at WaPo is wasted money:

618 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:51:35am

Yahoo. Heh. I usually avoid Yahoo news at all costs for many reasons.

619 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:52:32am

re: #612 Feline Fearless Leader

Back to cooking while you await the verdict on the experimental pie?

My cooking experiment this weekend is working with some vegetable stock that I made last night. Will probably use it to make a pot of soup, or possibly get some *good* cheese this time and take another shot at risotto.

Here is the pie:

It’s an Almond Cream Pie with a chocolate brownie bottom layer instead of a crust. I will add the whipped cream topping this afternoon before we eat it.

620 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:52:50am

re: #611 Dr Lizardo

Perhaps a compromise with the Russians is possible.

They get Crimea, and in return, the rest of Ukraine ultimately becomes part of the EU and falls under NATO’s umbrella. Not an actual NATO member state, mind you; rather NATO will guarantee Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.

Right after the EU and NATO proves that they won’t do it for the sake of the Crimea.

Though I expect the partition you mention above is the most likely scenario since it’s close to fait accompli now and is least likely to escalate into a shooting war at the present time. How the Russians handle becoming a minority in the Crimea over the next decade is simply another ticking time bomb in their basket.

621 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:52:55am

re: #611 Dr Lizardo

Perhaps a compromise with the Russians is possible.

They get Crimea, and in return, the rest of Ukraine ultimately becomes part of the EU and falls under NATO’s umbrella. Not an actual NATO member state, mind you; rather NATO will guarantee Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.

Let them keep their base in Crimea until 2042. Which I think was the previous agreement.

622 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:53:06am

re: #605 Decatur Deb

Not a penis cake:

bforbel.com

The comments are pretty funny.

Deborah Elston
Too bad the penis mold is circumcised. Otherwise you could do an anteater cake.

623 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:53:20am

re: #618 Gus

Yahoo. Heh. I usually avoid Yahoo news at all costs for many reasons.

FTFY. Yahoo sucks. It has sucked for ages. It’s not worth anyone’s time.

624 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:53:21am

As if we need evidence that RT is ridiculous.
Putin needs badass bikers to deliver stuff for him?

625 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:54:19am

re: #619 Pie-onist Overlord

Here is the pie:
[Embedded image]
It’s an Almond Cream Pie with a chocolate brownie bottom layer instead of a crust. I will add the whipped cream topping this afternoon before we eat it.

kinda looks like a mood ring.

626 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:54:47am

Let them eat penis cake!

627 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:55:47am

re: #623 Lidane

FTFY. Yahoo sucks. It has sucked for ages. It’s not worth anyone’s time.

Especially since they started to include links to Ann Coulter, Daily Caller and Breitbart et al in their top news story feed.

628 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:55:53am

So apparently it’s Friday and the RWNJs are still freaking out about penis cakes.

629 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:56:16am

re: #625 Backwoods_Sleuth

kinda looks like a mood ring.

Maybe it will turn blue when I put it on the table!

630 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:56:39am

re: #628 Gus

So apparently it’s Friday and the RWNJs are still freaking out about penis cakes.

They just haz a sad because we know where to get penis cakes and they don’t.

631 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:57:52am

re: #630 Backwoods_Sleuth

They just haz a sad because we know where to get penis cakes and they don’t.

I know one thing. If I was gay and were to pick a cake for my marriage ceremony it would not be a penis cake.

632 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:59:03am

re: #620 Feline Fearless Leader

Russian would hold power over the others until the Russian economy suffers some sort of massive hiccup.

Would then revert to Ukraine.

633 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:59:12am

re: #621 Gus

Let them keep their base in Crimea until 2042. Which I think was the previous agreement.

Yes, that is per the terms of the agreement.

The Russians are engaged in empire building; that needs to be curtailed. I’m just not sure of entirely the best way to do so. Economically would be the best way.

If the Saudis and the Qataris could either increase production or lower their price, say down to $50 - $60 p/bbl, that would hurt the Russians, and badly. Their entire budget is basically predicated on oil at the $100 - $115 p/bbl level.

The Saudis may well be the only ones who could afford to do that over a sustained period, say 18 to 24 months, and I know…..OPEC would likely not go along with it.

Also, need to find a way to end Russia’s monopoly on natural gas to Europe; that would really hit them in the pocketbook.

The Russians would find it’s not so easy to build an empire when your economy is plunged into a major recession.

634 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 9:59:46am

Pick a wedding cake that is. Who the hell picks a penis shaped cake for a wedding cake anyway?

635 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:00:03am
636 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:00:31am

I am wondering if some of the LGF war hawks are ready to lead the attack against Putin and the Russian military. Some appear to be a bit unhappy that America isn’t acting more trigger happy and sending out saber rattling missives.

Maybe they can all get behind John “America is not the Policeman of the World” McCain who’ll most likely be ready to lead the whole thing due to his vast military experience in places like the middle east where all his warring has been so successful.

637 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:01:10am

re: #633 Dr Lizardo

Yes, that is per the terms of the agreement.

The Russians are engaged in empire building; that needs to be curtailed. I’m just not sure of entirely the best way to do so. Economically would be the best way.

If the Saudis and the Qataris could either increase production or lower their price, say down to $50 - $60 p/bbl, that would hurt the Russians, and badly. Their entire budget is basically predicated on oil at the $100 - $115 p/bbl level.

The Saudis may well be the only ones who could afford to do that over a sustained period, say 18 to 24 months, and I know…..OPEC would likely not go along with it.

Also, need to find a way to end Russia’s monopoly on natural gas to Europe; that would really hit them in the pocketbook.

The Russians would find it’s not so easy to build an empire when your economy is plunged into a major recession.

Yes and no. Ukraine can charge Russia “rent” for running their pipelines through the country. They’re not going to give that up. It’s a good revenue generator for Ukraine. They need the money.

638 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:01:22am

re: #634 Gus

Pick a wedding cake that is. Who the hell picks a penis shaped cake for a wedding cake anyway?

Yeah, apparently that is only for bridal showers of straight women.

HOW DO I GO BACK TO NOT KNOWING THAT.

639 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:01:53am

re: #634 Gus

Pick a wedding cake that is. Who the hell picks a penis shaped cake for a wedding cake anyway?

Someone who is very horny.

640 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:02:52am

re: #636 ObserverArt

Military action is right out.

The US and Russia both have nukes, along with Britain, and France.

Any war with Russia would have an extreme risk of going hot quickly, turning the world into a real-life version of Fallout.

However, we should find a way to undermine Russia’s economy.

641 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:05am

re: #638 Pie-onist Overlord

Yeah, apparently that is only for bridal showers of straight women.

HOW DO I GO BACK TO NOT KNOWING THAT.

Sadly, you don’t.

642 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:06am

re: #627 Backwoods_Sleuth

Especially since they started to include links to Ann Coulter, Daily Caller and Breitbart et al in their top news story feed.

Well yeah. But I don’t like them on principle. I had to kill my Yahoo account years ago when my email became overrun with ludicrous amounts of spam. I’d get hundreds of mails daily that were almost all spam. Some of them were even supposedly from my own Yahoo address.

Killing my Yahoo account and switching to Gmail was an immediate improvement. I haven’t looked back since.

643 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:10am

re: #636 ObserverArt

Read the thread and find out.

Spoiler

McCain has already ruled out military action.

644 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:31am

If I was planning a gay wedding I would want a cake that looked like this:

645 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:41am

Ukraine isn’t about to shut down those pipelines.

646 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:03:50am

re: #637 Gus

Especially after Yanukovych and his thugs stole $70 Billion.

647 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:04:17am

re: #640 The War TARDIS

Military action is right out.

The US and Russia both have nukes, along with Britain, and France.

Any war with Russia would have an extreme risk of going hot quickly, turning the world into a real-life version of Fallout.

However, we should find a way to undermine Russia’s economy.

That’s really the only way to deal with them; crash their economy. A lot of their military is pretty decrepit, and they are trying to rebuild it.

Hobbling Russia’s economy would ultimately prevent that.

648 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:05:24am

re: #635 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

649 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:05:29am

Google “Rainbow Wedding Cake” and there are so many beautiful pictures. :)

650 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:05:39am
651 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:06:02am

re: #631 Gus

I know one thing. If I was gay and were to pick a cake for my marriage ceremony it would not be a penis cake.

Especially if I were a lesbian…

652 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:06:08am

re: #646 The War TARDIS

Especially after Yanukovych and his thugs stole $70 Billion.

Better for them to generate their own revenue and avoid the IMF as much as possible. Taking on IMF loans has been a bad omen for many countries in the past.

653 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:06:30am

re: #647 Dr Lizardo

Also, start supporting seccessionists within Russia. Forgot that.

654 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:06:31am

re: #644 Pie-onist Overlord

That’s not bad, but I think this is on track to being what the inside of the cake looks like:

marthastewart.com

Preferably made using a rainbow cookie recipe though.

655 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:06:41am

re: #647 Dr Lizardo

That’s really the only way to deal with them; crash their economy. A lot of their military is pretty decrepit, and they are trying to rebuild it.

Hobbling Russia’s economy would ultimately prevent that.

The problem with that is that it could potentially put nukes as well as other weapons up for grabs. I’m not sure that’s a great idea.

656 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:07:10am
657 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:07:19am

re: #652 Gus

Oh god yes.

There needs to be a less-parasitic replacement for the IMF that isn’t obsessed with the hyper-free market ideology.

658 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:07:22am
659 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:07:28am

re: #644 Pie-onist Overlord

If I was planning a gay wedding I would want a cake that looked like this:
[Embedded image]

I don’t know. If you rotate that cake until you’re looking at the flowers straight on, do they make the shape of a penis?

660 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:08:40am

re: #659 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

Well, any multi-tiered cake will have some phallic resemblance for those who want to make that association.

661 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:10:54am

re: #655 Dark_Falcon

The problem with that is that it could potentially put nukes as well as other weapons up for grabs. I’m not sure that’s a great idea.

Fair point, and one possible unforeseen consequence; either a desperate and broke Russian state quietly starts selling nukes to the highest bidder or offers its services to whoever’s got the $$$.

I’m surprised North Korea hasn’t tried that yet - it sounds like the kind of harebrained scheme they’d try to pull off. Maybe they just manufacture for other powers/groups interested in crossing the nuclear threshold, though I think the North may want to get their own nukes all in good working order first and build up a little stockpile.

662 calochortus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:10:55am

re: #644 Pie-onist Overlord

If I was planning a gay wedding I would want a cake that looked like this:
[Embedded image]

Heck, that would be nice at any wedding-gay or straight.

663 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:10:57am

OMG! OMG! OMG! THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WWIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

664 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:11:16am

re: #654 lawhawk

That’s not bad, but I think this is on track to being what the inside of the cake looks like:

marthastewart.com

Preferably made using a rainbow cookie recipe though.

That looks nice but probably made with nasty food coloring.

It is possible to create a rainbow cake using only natural coloring. The colors will be less vibrant than red #40 but at least they will not be toxic.

RED=Beets
ORANGE=Carrots
YELLOW=Saffron
GREEN=Spinach
BLUE=Blueberries
VIOLET=Blackberries

665 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:12:22am

re: #663 Gus

OMG! OMG! OMG! THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WWIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No. It’s the beginning of the beginning of the beginning. And then we’re all Muslims and crypto Communists. /

666 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:12:36am

re: #634 Gus

No one. It’s a stupid ass bachelorette party thing. If you’re going to the trouble of having a wedding cake and a reception, then chances are you’re looking at a standard wedding cake with flowers or other such decorations. Pretty, not stupid.

But in the fevered brains of homophobic assholes, all gay men do is have sex and think about it every single moment, so everything they do is overtly sexual.

Which bolsters my thesis that homophobes are just REALLY closeted people who are pissed off that they have to sneak around or repress their sexuality.

667 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:13:52am
668 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:14:56am

re: #664 Pie-onist Overlord

That looks nice but probably made with nasty food coloring.

It is possible to create a rainbow cake using only natural coloring. The colors will be less vibrant than red #40 but at least they will not be toxic.

RED=Beets
ORANGE=Carrots
YELLOW=Saffron
GREEN=Spinach
BLUE=Blueberries
VIOLET=Blackberries

Cranberries or pomegranates instead of beets. The red in those is much brighter.

669 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:15:12am

re: #667 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

That certainly may be the case, trying to goad the Ukrainians to fire first.

670 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:15:20am

What, no vote for full repeal?

671 dog philosopher  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:15:35am

Tea Party Is 5 Years Old!

and it acts like it

672 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:15:49am

re: #666 A Mom Anon

No one. It’s a stupid ass bachelorette party thing. If you’re going to the trouble of having a wedding cake and a reception, then chances are you’re looking at a standard wedding cake with flowers or other such decorations. Pretty, not stupid.

But in the fevered brains of homophobic assholes, all gay men do is have sex and think about it every single moment, so everything they do is overtly sexual.

Which bolsters my thesis that homophobes are just REALLY closeted people who are pissed off that they have to sneak around or repress their sexuality.

The homophobes think more about gay sex than anyone else. They’re obsessed with it, and it’s been my experience than when people constantly talk about some particular subject, it’s because they can’t get it out of their minds.

673 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:16:12am

Well, fuck fuckety fucking fuck.

674 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:16:29am
675 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:16:52am

re: #666 A Mom Anon

Comment #666! Mark of the beast!

//

676 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:17:40am

re: #667 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

The Russians could well provoke a military response from the Ukrainians, and use that as a casus belli.

It’s the oldest trick in the book. The next oldest trick is “If you can’t provoke a response, make one up!”.

See: Gleiwitz Incident.

en.wikipedia.org

677 dog philosopher  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:17:41am

re: #674 Justanotherhuman

Putin’s Ulterior Motive

he needs an ulterior one?

678 wrenchwench  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:18:15am

re: #673 Kragar

Well, fuck fuckety fucking fuck.

Back at work?

679 GunstarGreen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:18:44am

re: #528 Dark_Falcon

But note he does rule out military action.

Well, I could let you bet that McCain won’t use this to hammer the administrations plans for defense cuts. But I’d feel bad about taking your money, for he surely will so hammer, and he should, too.

Because what we need right now, what with our AMAZINGLY AWESOME ECONOMY and all, is to be pissing away money fighting other peoples’ wars half a freaking world away.

THE DEFICIT THE DEFICIT THE DEFICIT THE DEFICIT THE DEFICIT….

680 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:18:46am

re: #673 Kragar

Well, fuck fuckety fucking fuck.

And Penis Cake, Penis Cake, Penis Cake to you, too.

681 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:19:10am

re: #678 wrenchwench

Back at work?

Well, that is part of it. I actually found out they unfucked something, so it was a pleasant surprise, then I started checking the news.

682 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:19:14am

“Airline reports Crimea airspace is closed”

683 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:20:57am
684 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:21:01am

re: #675 Gus

Oh man, that is AWESOME. I wasn’t even paying attention.

(all hail the Dark Lord, etc, etc,)

685 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:21:32am

re: #665 lawhawk

No. It’s the beginning of the beginning of the beginning. And then we’re all Muslims and crypto Communists. /

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. Nor is it the end of the beginning. But it is, perhaps, the beginning of the end of the beginning.” - Winston Churchill, never.

686 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:23:01am

Uh-oh

Bad Dance alert:

Youtube Video

687 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:23:02am

re: #683 Gus

[Embedded content]

“Some”?

688 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:23:53am

re: #666 A Mom Anon

No one. It’s a stupid ass bachelorette party thing. If you’re going to the trouble of having a wedding cake and a reception, then chances are you’re looking at a standard wedding cake with flowers or other such decorations. Pretty, not stupid.

But in the fevered brains of homophobic assholes, all gay men do is have sex and think about it every single moment, so everything they do is overtly sexual.

Which bolsters my thesis that homophobes are just REALLY closeted people who are pissed off that they have to sneak around or repress their sexuality.

Don’t be silly. Everyone knows all gays are exactly like the most extreme examples ever photographed at any Gay Pride Parade, anywhere, assless chaps and all.

689 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:24:28am

re: #687 Targetpractice

“Some”?

Well, considering the amount of ground troops RU has available it’s “some.”

690 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:25:52am

re: #689 Gus

Does anyone have that picture of a Russian soldier looking up the barrel of an AK-47? I can’t seem to find it.

691 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:27:41am

I wonder how this will affect the Rights Putin worship?

692 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:28:18am

re: #690 The War TARDIS

Does anyone have that picture of a Russian soldier looking up the barrel of an AK-47? I can’t seem to find it.

Not handy. BTW, that was from well before Sochi. Also, it’s not uncommon to inspect a rifle barrel that way from what I understand.

693 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:28:21am

re: #691 GeneJockey

I wonder how this will affect the Rights Putin worship?

“This is how a real President acts!”

694 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:28:57am

re: #692 Gus

Yeah, but it a good picture to poke fun at.

695 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:30:08am

re: #693 Kragar

“This is how a real President acts!”

They do tend to admire forceful action.

It must be time to switch from ‘Obama Is Just Like Hitler’ to ‘Obama Is Just Like Chamberlain’ again.

696 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:30:36am

re: #691 GeneJockey

I wonder how this will affect the Rights Putin worship?

As long as Putin remains anti-gay, the American RWNJs will worship at his altar.

697 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:31:25am


“I had never considered bringing a gun to work until now,” the professor said. “But since many of my students are likely to be armed, I thought it would be a good idea to even the playing field.”

Hampikian noted that the campus murder rate was currently zero, saying that guns don’t kill people - people with guns do.

“Which is why encouraging guns on campus makes so much sense,” he said. “Bad guys go where there are no guns, so by adding guns to campus more bad guys will spend their year abroad in London. Britain has incredibly restrictive laws — their cops don’t even have guns! — and gun deaths there are a tiny fraction of what they are in America. It’s a perfect place for bad guys.”

698 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:32:27am
699 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:32:40am
700 calochortus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:34:54am

re: #696 Dr. Matt

As long as Putin remains anti-gay, the American RWNJs will worship at his altar.

Not necessarily. Some of them seem pretty confused as to how to feel about Putin. They await instructions.

701 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:35:40am

re: #700 calochortus

Not necessarily. Some of them seem pretty confused as to how to feel about Putin. They await instructions.

More shirtless selfies!

702 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:35:46am

re: #700 calochortus

Not necessarily. Some of them seem pretty confused as to how to feel about Putin. They await instructions.

HE IS A REAL MANLY MAN BUT OBAMA IS A SISSY GIRL!!!!!!

703 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:37:37am

re: #699 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Explains why Canada has had that. Oh wait. Seriously, these people are fucking hysterics. Letting gays get marry won’t do a damn except ruin their already fragile egos.

704 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:38:09am

re: #701 GeneJockey

More shirtless selfies!

Those aren’t ‘selfies’, someone else took those posed photos of Putin.

705 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:38:42am

re: #704 Dark_Falcon

Those aren’t ‘selfies’, someone else took those posed photos of Putin.

Everyone’s a critic.

706 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:38:58am

re: #704 Dark_Falcon

Putin screams “closet case.”

707 wrenchwench  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:40:10am

re: #699 Lidane

[Embedded content]

The current revolution will be within the conservative movement. I don’t think it will be deadly, but there are going to be some careers cut short. And I can’t predict the winner, other than the Democrats.

708 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:40:14am

HURR HURRR!!!!

709 dog philosopher  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:40:50am

freeps

1938 all over again. If Russia can invade and take a sovereign, independent country at will, no country that was formerly in their sphere of influence is safe. Expect massive hand wringing from Obama and company
…
The situation in Ukraine is unstable. And Russia is obligated to protect not only its bases but to ensure the safety of the Russian population on the peninsula.

When there is anarchy and lawlessness in a neighboring state, you have to call out the troops to prevent further bloodshed.
…
Moscow is going to hand out Russian passports to any one on the peninsula.

The Russian State Duma is drafting a federal law allowing any region that wishes to join Russia to do so either through plebiscite or through a decision of its Parliament.

Giving the Crimea legal grounds to accede to Russia.

Putin is sitting in the catbird seat right now playing the new rulers in Kiev and those in the West for fools.
…
NO more like beginning of World War 1

I doubt Vlady give rat*** what Obama thinks
…
Never ever forget, Putin plays chess. Obama plays.

710 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:41:01am

So it’s all about the man-gasms.

711 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:42:16am

re: #708 Pie-onist Overlord

HURR HURRR!!!!

[Embedded content]

So, let me get this straight - Obama’s a pussy who’s going to take all the guns away and force “Christian” bakers to sell giant penis cakes for naked gay weddings?

712 wrenchwench  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:42:19am
Praising Brewer for vetoing Arizona’s Anti-Gay bill is like giving the Medal of Honor to your uncle Frankie for saying,”Not a good idea” to the suicide bomber on the news.

More here.

713 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:43:24am

O/T

PONDER: What if Serenity was a “combining-robot” (like Voltron)?

#fireflyanime

714 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:44:15am

Ukraine Telecom is saying Crimea’s telephone connections have been cut off

715 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:44:30am

re: #711 GeneJockey

So, let me get this straight - Obama’s a pussy who’s going to take all the guns away and force “Christian” bakers to sell giant penis cakes for naked gay weddings?

AND HE IS TOTALLY TEH MOAST HITLERY HITLER WHO EVER HITLERED!!!!!

716 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:45:06am
717 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:45:10am

re: #714 Aqua Obama

Time for sanctions.

718 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:45:25am

re: #451 Feline Fearless Leader

That “To Kill A Mockingbird” is on those lists is something I always am sort of upset about. All I can imagine for the most part is that the main plot hits too close to home with a bunch of people and makes them butthurt.

Atticus Finch is right up there with Samwise Gamgee and Reepicheep as some of my top 10 fictional heroes.

719 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:45:39am
720 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:45:58am

Spidey sense telling me that Crimea is being “annexed.”

721 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:46:56am

re: #469 Pie-onist Overlord

Instead of “voted off the island” they get stoned.

[Embedded content]

Everybody must get stoned! (/dylan)

722 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:47:31am

This must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

//

723 Pie-onist Overlord  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:47:32am

Glenn Beck gave out the spoiler to the new Liam Neeson movie and he’s telling his fans to spam it all over Twitter.

724 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:47:34am

Anyone else getting a strong whiff of bullshit/propaganda/bad reporting from all the “yoga matt” headlines?

Group warns almost 500 products contain chemical found in yoga mats

I’m all for reducing the amount of additives in food but the yoga matt meme is odd. Why do they hate yoga matts?

725 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:47:43am

In Crimea…

726 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:47:50am

re: #718 chadu

Atticus Finch is right up there with Samwise Gamgee and Reepicheep as some of my top 10 fictional heroes.

1984 also gets blacklisted a good deal, as does The Handmaid’s Tale. Generally, the reason is because of sexual content.

Personally, I think it’s because the wingnuts think, “Oh, shit! If people read this, they’ll figure out what we’re up to!”

727 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:48:17am

re: #716 Gus

Scandinavia is one of the most Anti-Russia places on the planet. Not only that but, Sweden punches way above their size.

Ex: Whiskey on the Rocks

728 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:48:56am

re: #484 Pie-onist Overlord

MOAR DERP

Yes, you have the right to boink whoever you like. But now I am forced to fund & celebrate it.

Coo, mang. I saw this cute lady at the supermaret with a “KEEP CALM AND DON’T BLINK” tee shirt, and I was planning on asking her out, so can you spot me fiddy bucks for dinner and a moobie? Tanks.

729 b.d.  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:49:10am

re: #720 Gus

Spidey sense tell me Crimea is being “annexed.”

I haven’t seen the phrase historical claims used in a while, time to polish off that old chestnut.

730 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:49:24am

re: #720 Gus

Spidey sense tell me Crimea is being “annexed.”

I wanted to use Mr. Peabody’s joke that “Crimea doesn’t pay,” but could not come up with anything humorous in the situation.

And yet again, we have one of those situations where the Right will claim that Putin did this because Obama is ‘weak’, yet if asked what they think he SHOULD do, they’ll stare at their shoes.

731 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:49:48am

re: #722 Gus

This must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

//

Peacefully, of course. Let’s not go crazy and bother them too much.

732 Kragar  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:50:09am
733 Dr. Matt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:50:26am

re: #723 Pie-onist Overlord

Glenn Beck gave out the spoiler to the new Liam Neeson movie and he’s telling his fans to spam it all over Twitter.

I’m sure Wiki already has the entire storyline published.

734 calochortus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:50:35am

re: #724 Killgore Trout

Anyone else getting a strong whiff of bullshit/propaganda/bad reporting from all the “yoga matt” headlines?

Group warns almost 500 products contain chemical found in yoga mats

I’m all for reducing the amount of additives in food but the yoga matt meme is odd. Why do they hate yoga matts?

Because no chemical that is ever used by a liberal elite should show up in your food?

735 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:50:49am

re: #729 b.d.

I haven’t seen the phrase historical claims used in a while, time to polish off that old chestnut.

Russia justs need more Lebensraum.

736 b.d.  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:51:11am

re: #722 Gus

This must be condemned in no uncertain terms.

//

Charge of the Light Brigade of Sanctions

737 sagehen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:51:24am

re: #730 GeneJockey

I wanted to use Mr. Peabody’s joke that “Crimea doesn’t pay,” but could not come up with anything humorous in the situation.

And yet again, we have one of those situations where the Right will claim that Putin did this because Obama is ‘weak’, yet if asked what they think he SHOULD do, they’ll stare at their shoes.

I’ve been trying to come up with joke about the Charge of the Light Brigade (that was Crimea, right? Or am I histoically illiterate?)… but I can’t manage to make it funny.

738 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:52:02am

re: #731 Killgore Trout

Peacefully, of course. Let’s not go crazy and bother them too much.

We could do what JFK would have done which is surround them with tactical nukes and then force a compromise.

//

739 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:52:24am

re: #737 sagehen

I’ve been trying to come up with joke about the Charge of the Light Brigade (that was Crimea, right? Or am I histoically illiterate?)… but I can’t manage to make it funny.

Yes, that was the Crimean War. The first, and ideally only Crimean War.

740 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:52:39am
741 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:52:40am

re: #734 calochortus

Because no chemical that is ever used by a liberal elite should show up in your food?

The Association of Holistic Stretchers is going to be pissed about all this anti-matt rhetoric.

742 sagehen  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:52:47am

re: #736 b.d.

Charge of the Light Brigade of Sanctions

beat my reference by 13 seconds… and you found the funny.

743 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:53:23am

So, my book is still sitting at 4 reviews on Amazon, and the publisher need 5 to fiddle with whatever promotional tools they have, and I’ve been thinking about it.

…Aaaaand I realized that before my move from VA to PA, I had promised a friend a review of one of her books*, and that fell by the wayside during the insanity of the move.

Given that what goes around, comes around, I know what I’m doing this weekend! ;)

* Cool SF about an AI “cruise director” on a spaceship. I got about halfway through it before the walls came down. Anywho, Queen of Roses —

amazon.com

short form: check it out; long form: COMING SOON!

744 Lidane  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:53:29am

re: #715 Pie-onist Overlord

I have a coffee mug somewhere that I found years ago that said “If You’re Not Completely Appalled, You’re Not Paying Attention”. I bought it during the 2004 election year along with a bunch of other political kitsch.

Funny thing is, it turned out to be an Alex Jones bit of merch. Oops. But at least it held all the loose change in my purse just fine. Heh.

745 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:54:15am

The topic of Cougars AKA Mountain Lions AKA Pumas came up earlier this week, and so I think I should post this:

11-year-old girl shoots cougar hunting her older brother

An 11-year-old girl shot dead a hungry cougar that was stalking her 14-year-old brother at their rural ranch Thursday in Twisp, Washington.

Shelby White is no stranger to hunting and when she noticed her older brother, Tanner, was in danger, she grabbed her rifle and snapped into action. Shelby, who has a permit to kill cougars, cracked off a shot as the 50-pound female cougar started following Tanner into the house, and the beast fell dead, New York Daily News reports.

Shelby has been hunting since she was eight-years-old and bags a deer every year. Her weapon of choice is her .234-caliber rifle. She favors it because of its mild recoil.

But Shelby isn’t the only one in the family with a pension for hunting. Shelby’s grandfather, 64-year-old William White, said Tanner recently bagged a 125-pound cougar after it killed one of their calves.

There are photos, but I’m not posting them. Seeing a big cat shot dead bothers me, a lot. And I know I may lose my Conservative Card for saying this, but I don’t think a Mountain Lion should be shot for killing livestock. They’re too rare for that. Attacking a person, however… That girl did the right thing.

746 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:54:38am
747 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:54:43am

re: #738 Gus

We could do what JFK would have done which is surround them with tactical nukes and then force a compromise.

//

Lies! JFK was a radical peacenik who was killed by the Military-Industrial Complex when he refused their warmongering.
/Ollie Stone

748 ObserverArt  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:55:30am

re: #643 Dark_Falcon

Read the thread and find out.

[Embedded content]

I’ve read the thread Dark, and my comment was based on it.

We already have the snickering about the UN and NATO. We have the link to where McCain is saying Putin knows America is weak.

So there can only be one option to some of that correct?

How the hell does anyone here know what is going on in the back room discussions and the communications between the US, Europe, Russia and China?

Ah yes…China. What happens if China says they back the US, Europe and want Russia to get back into Russia and shut the hell up.

War now is fought over economic power. Even Putin knows that. And as I have commented recently, Putin might not be real interested in dealing with this as he too knows he needs the economic power he hoped the Olympics would bring as far as making Russia look good to the entire world. I really don’t think he wants anyone thinking bad Vlad right now. Sure, he can send in some troops to see what a little bullying gets him, or to judge the reactions of others.

But I do have a question for you Dark, since you like McCain. What purpose does it serve for him to say anything like America is weak?

I suggest cheap political points as always with him anymore. From a military and power standpoint it serves noting and just might in fact be dangerous. McCain sickens me any more. It’s time to put his tired ol’ ass out to pasture. And I used to admire the guy.

749 GeneJockey  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:55:35am

re: #745 Dark_Falcon

The topic of Cougars AKA Mountain Lions AKA Pumas came up earlier this week, and so I think I should post this:

11-year-old girl shoots cougar hunting her older brother

There are photos, but I’m not posting them. Seeing a big cat shot dead bothers me, a lot. And I know I may lose my Conservative Card for saying this, but I don’t think a Mountain Lion should be shot for killing livestock. They’re too rare for that. Attacking a person, however… That girl did the right thing.

What makes you think they’re rare?

750 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:56:55am

re: #503 Dr. Matt

What do teabaggers spew this “liberal tolerance” meme? I freely admit I have zero tolerance for the radical far-right fools that plaque the political landscape.

I’ve been seeing “your tolerance is actually intolerance of my intolerance, HURR HURR, LIBTARD!” popping up more and more.

751 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:58:57am

re: #743 chadu

So a possibly stupid question, but why isn’t your book (amazon link) linked to your LGF nick?

752 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:59:11am

Russia currently harboring Viktor Yanukovych and Edward Snowden.

753 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 10:59:47am

re: #727 The War TARDIS

Scandinavia is one of the most Anti-Russia places on the planet. Not only that but, Sweden punches way above their size.

Ex: Whiskey on the Rocks

Sadly, the Russian Air Force seriously schooled their Swedish counterparts last year:

Russian Tu-22M Backfire bombers escorted by Su-27 Flankers simulate night attack on Sweden.

However, on Mar. 29, the two Tu-22M3 Backfire heavy bombers, capable to carry cruise missiles and nuclear weapons, and their four Su-27 Flanker fighter jets escort got dangerously close to the Swedish airspace and, at 2 AM local time, they skirted Gotland island, some 30-40 kilometers off the Swedish territorial waters.

After they carried out their mock attacks (on targets in the Stockholm area and Southern Sweden, according to Swedish military sources who talked to Svenska Dagbladet) they turned back and returned towards Russia.

The episode is similar to those Soviet Union’s exercises typical of the Cold War, when bombers carrying the typical Red Star flew quite close to the Swedish airspace boundaries and got intercepted by Swedish interceptors. Such “visits” ended in 1992 but returned in 2011 when Putin resumed the long-range flights of its strategic bombers.

Although some Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers flew over the Baltic Sea in the last year, what’s unusual in Mar. 29 incident is that the Russian activity took place at night and, above all, it found the Swedish Air Force totally unprepared.

Even if at least two JAS-39 Gripen should always be in QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) and ready for take off in case of alarm, quite surprisingly there were no interceptors ready on Good Friday night.

The Swedes are not going to be likely to bother Russia till they get their readiness problems sorted out, which may take money Sweden isn’t willing to spend.

754 A Mom Anon  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:07:09am

re: #745 Dark_Falcon

Holy moly Dark, you and I agree on something involving guns and conservancy. I won’t tell anyone though, lol. Seriously though, mountain lions are so beautiful, and if humans had not taken up lots of their hunting spaces they wouldn’t be killing cows or whatever. Same goes for wolves. But yeah, if one attacks one of my kids or grandkids or any person, I’m going to take the shot, even if it hurts me to do it.

755 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:07:09am

re: #526 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

In your scenario, Poland decides that mounting an invasion of Russia would be its best move because…

756 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:11:32am

re: #590 Dark_Falcon

You see, the Naval Academy made John McCain do things like learn about naval history and logistics, so he understands how dumb trying to send ships into the Black Sea to oppose Putin would be.

The most rabid of the right scoff at such “book learnin’”, unless the book in question is the Bible. And even then its only approved parts of the Bible.

Is there much naval warfare in the Bible?

Truly, it is the Book of Books!

757 Aqua Obama  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:16:33am

re: #753 Dark_Falcon

What did Sweden ever do to anybody?

758 Gus  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:17:04am

re: #757 Aqua Obama

What did Sweden ever do to anybody?

Heavy metal bands.

759 Teukka  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:17:28am

re: #753 Dark_Falcon

Sadly, the Russian Air Force seriously schooled their Swedish counterparts last year:

Russian Tu-22M Backfire bombers escorted by Su-27 Flankers simulate night attack on Sweden.

The Swedes are not going to be likely to bother Russia till they get their readiness problems sorted out, which may take money Sweden isn’t willing to spend.

The issue with the lack of readiness of the Swedish Air force has to do with the financial policies of the administration since ‘06. For quite some time, sources in the Swedish military forces have warned that the economical cuts are too hard, that they doubt they can hold an attacker off for more than a day.
And the military is not the only ones who have suffered, far from it.

760 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:20:05am

re: #759 Teukka

And guess what?

Right-Wing Government. Also, apparently, the hippies in the Left Party and Green Party are dead set against restoring the military.

Hoping the Next Government is a Social Democrat-Centre Govt.

761 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:22:05am

re: #756 chadu

Is there much naval warfare in the Bible?

Truly, it is the Book of Books!

Jonah and the whale is an analogy to operational use of submarines to destroy an enemy’s maritime economy.
//

762 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:25:49am

re: #743 chadu

I’m trying to grab hubby’s kindle while he’s home…

763 chadu  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:26:47am

re: #751 kirkspencer

So a possibly stupid question, but why isn’t your book (amazon link) linked to your LGF nick?

Hubba-wha?

Seriously, I’m missing a trick here.

(Not a stupid question, but probably a stupid me over here. ;) )

764 Teukka  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:28:31am

re: #760 The War TARDIS

And guess what?

Right-Wing Government. Also, apparently, the hippies in the Left Party and Green Party are dead set against restoring the military.

Hoping the Next Government is a Social Democrat-Centre Govt.

Yup. You’d be horrified at where the money to pay for the tax cuts for the rich came from here.
And I’m not so sure about a SocDem govt., things are looking like this election cycle will be the dirtiest in ages.

765 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:31:40am

re: #764 Teukka

Leaving the moonbats from the Left Party and Green out of government is a must.

766 Teukka  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:36:12am

re: #765 The War TARDIS

Leaving the moonbats from the Left Party and Green out of government is a must.

Problem is that either or both might become big enough to have a valid demand for seats.

767 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:45:03am

re: #745 Dark_Falcon

Good awareness and shooting.

Typical reporters though - that’s a .243 Winchester, not .234. Very nice chambering for anything up to deer sized game. I’ve been considering getting one for hunting the wily 300 Meter distant paper plate. Perfect for this situation as well.

768 The War TARDIS  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 11:56:20am

re: #766 Teukka

This is why I am a Social Democrat.

Go any farther to the left, and you have the freaking hippies of the Left Party, or the completely out of touch Greenies.

769 kirkspencer  Fri, Feb 28, 2014 12:00:02pm

re: #763 chadu

Hubba-wha?

Seriously, I’m missing a trick here.

(Not a stupid question, but probably a stupid me over here. ;) )

I’ve forgotten how, but you can ‘make your nickname blue’ and make it go directly to your designated home page. If you click mine, for example, it goes to my non-gaming blog. (thought it was a radio button but don’t see it.)

That way instead of two clicks (your avatar, then the link you’ve got there) it’s a single click.


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