Behind the Curtain: Who’s Really Sponsoring CPAC

He who has the money controls the agenda
Politics • Views: 18,228

Getty Image

CPAC is currently having its annual shindig in Maryland. CPAC is run by the American Conservative Union, and the event needs lots of money to happen. But it’s not grassroots organizations that are funding this event. It’s heavy hitters and deep pockets.

Who’s really sponsoring CPAC?

It’s big energy companies, tobacco, and the NRA.

Rarely seen and previously unreported tax filings for the ACU and ACU Foundation, the group responsible for staging CPAC, reveal that in the 2010 tax year, the National Rifle Association provided $225,000 of the ACU Foundation’s overall revenue. In 2010 the ACU Foundation reported $288,670 in grant revenue and $1,063,103 in “program service revenue.” The NRA’s executive vice president and CEO, Wayne LaPierre, has been a regular featured speaker at past CPAC events and he again spoke at the gathering on Thursday. The 2013 CPAC included an event titled “NRA University” at which CPAC attendees could “learn more about NRA, Second Amendment, gun control debate.” It even offered participants “a FREE one-year NRA membership,” according to the conference schedule. The NRA is a “presenting sponsor” at the 2014 conference—a sponsorship level requiring a $110,000 contribution.

In 2010 the billionaire Koch brothers’ companies contributed a total of $50,000 to the ACU and the ACU Foundation. In the same year, cigarette giant Altria contributed $25,000 to the ACU, and the conservative Anschutz Foundation contributed $25,000 to the ACU Foundation.

So, if you’ve wondered why Wayne LaPierre gets to scowl and complain and cajole the audience to buy guns before the President takes them away, it’s because the NRA paid for the spot.

Here’s the list of other sponsors, and lots of familiar names.

Presenting sponsors require a contribution of $110,000 or more. They include: the NRA, One America News Network, Tea Party Patriots, Townhall Media/Regnery Publishing, and the Washington Times.

Associate Sponsors, which require $60,000 contributions are Koch Industries and a movie scheduled to come out May 9, 2014 “Persecuted”.

Supporting Sponsors require $25,000 contributions, and include: Citizen Link (Focus on the Family), Heritage Foundation, How Money Walks, Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Liberty Alliance, MPAA, National Review, Red Alert Politics, and Tea Party News Network.

Contributing Sponsors, who pony up $18,000 include: The Blaze, Citizens United 25th Anniversary, Leadership Institute, Run Ben Run, and Red Card Guest Worker Permit.

Participating Sponsors, which is the lowest tier at $9,000, include: Americans for Prosperity, chooseenergy.org, Ashbrook Ashland University, Sarah Palin’s new tv show, AECR, 60 Plus, BDMR, College Republicans National Committee, Christians United for Israel, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, Eagle Forum, Eberle Associates, Empower Action Group, Fabrizio Lee, Facebook, Gravis Marketing, Convert! Integrated Marketing, GWU Graduate School of Political Management, Freedom Alliance, Let Freedom Ring, Policy Issues Institute, Justice Fellowship, TMA Direct, Turning Point USA, unfairmovie.com (aka the anti-IRS movie), 780 WAVA 105.1, 1260 WRC talk radio, and Young America’s Foundation.

Sponsorship levels are here.. Sponsors by level are here.

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239 comments
1 nines09  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 2:46:25pm

Facebook? Think about that. Facebook and all the info people hand out on that predatory site.

2 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 2:47:30pm

Whew that’s some pricey sponsorship!

It’s a damn sad state of affairs when you so keenly feel the fail of “your” advocate. By that I mean the NRA that was for universal registration, and about the shooters and safety/skills training. I really detest LaPierres leadership. jeer if you want but Charlton Heston had a far better grasp of what that organization should spend it’s time and money on. And then of course we have what has happened to the GOP and the theft of the conservative movement by the Tea Party. By analogy? It’s as if PETA took over the ASPCA.

So much has rotted from within. Remember when libertarians were just republicans that liked to smoke cannabis?

Moderate modern conservatives are nearly politically homeless. Even a bunch of the blue dog dems are socon/T.P. fans. Ah well this too will change in good time.

3 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:24:26pm

Grassroots so grassy that you can smell the gunpowder, oil, and tobacco on them.

4 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:24:48pm

I was actually going to post something about this but I got involved in some coding and you beat me to it, so you get the promotion! Nice job.

5 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:27:04pm

There goes my “every year they sacrifice a welfare mom by running her over with a Cadillac, and then some eldritch abomination shits gold bullion to reward them” theory about CPAC funding….

6 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:28:13pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

Thanks.

And there’s another layer to address, relating to who funds the various PACs, like the Tea Party Patriots, Run Ben Run, and other entities. I didn’t have time to run some of that down, but that could be done in a future post.

7 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:28:55pm

Added a Getty image of Wayne LaPierre to the post.

8 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:31:08pm

So, apparently Ted Cruz said something at CPAC yesterday that got McCain pissed off.

McCain and Dole Scorch Cruz for CPAC Comments

9 bubba zanetti  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:33:26pm

Grifters gonna grift…

10 Lidane  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:35:48pm

re: #9 bubba zanetti

Grifters gonna grift…

Related:


I normally like Seitz-Wald, but he’s clearly trolling here. It doesn’t matter if “Draft Ben Carson!” groups have outraised groups trying to draft Hillary Clinton to run. Ben Carson would never get out of the GOP primaries. The GOP simply will not nominate anyone that isn’t a rich white guy.

11 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:38:58pm

re: #6 lawhawk

Thanks.

And there’s another layer to address, relating to who funds the various PACs, like the Tea Party Patriots, Run Ben Run, and other entities. I didn’t have time to run some of that down, but that could be done in a future post.

I think we sort of “know” instinctively who funds them. : )

12 sagehen  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:48:32pm

re: #6 lawhawk

Thanks.

And there’s another layer to address, relating to who funds the various PACs, like the Tea Party Patriots, Run Ben Run, and other entities. I didn’t have time to run some of that down, but that could be done in a future post.

Let me save you some time: no matter how many pass-throughs and cut-outs are used to obscure the money’s origin and path… it all comes from the Kochs.

13 Petero1818  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:52:36pm

I just looked up the movie Persecuted, and its pretty much what you would expect, but with a bigger budget than you might have expected. What a farce. Gretchen Carlson is making her acting debut ….wait for it….she is playing a news achor. Which seems appropriate since she has pretended to be a news anchor for years. I bet she still fucks it up though.

14 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 3:58:55pm

re: #13 Petero1818

I just looked up the movie Persecuted, and its pretty much what you would expect, but with a bigger budget than you might have expected. What a farce. Gretchen Carlson is making her acting debut ….wait for it….she is playing a news achor. Which seems appropriate since she has pretended to be a news anchor for years. I bet she still fucks it up though.

“If we sink enough money into, it has to be better!”

15 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:00:05pm

As you can see, a lot of money is spent on raising money. This is the Draft Ben Carson for President campaign fund which is headquartered in Farmington, CT, Vernon L. Robinson, Treasurer. Whatever is raised is usually spent to raise more money, leaving little in the treasury. This will continue up to whatever point Carson survives.

fec.gov

Oh wait, just put in Ben Carson in the name section and it will come up. You can do that with anything you’re trying to find, TP, any of it; if there’s a PAC or fundraising outfit, it should be there.

16 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:01:17pm
17 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:02:38pm

Persecuted (I) (2014)

plot summary

Nationally acclaimed evangelist John Luther is the last obstacle in the way of sweeping religious reform in the States. When a U.S. Senator and Luther’s own supporters abduct and frame him in the murder of an innocent teenage girl, an unprecedented era of persecution is unleashed. Out on personal recognizance, Luther escapes police surveillance in search of the truth. And suddenly, a once-normal life is targeted by a team of ex-military operatives who wage a relentless campaign to eliminate the incriminating evidence. As evangelist turned fugitive, Luther vows to expose anyone involved with or profiting from the girl’s murder; a mission that brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution that will threaten the entire Christian community in America.

Good lord, the argle-bargle in that is amazing

18 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:05:07pm

if koch has alla that dough, how come he looks so unhealthy?

19 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:06:14pm

re: #18 dog philosopher

if koch has alla that dough, how come he looks so unhealthy?

The Dark Side has its draw backs.

20 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:07:07pm

re: #7 Charles Johnson

Charles, I know it’s bad form to drag spats from elsewhere into the main thread, but I’m not doing this on my own behalf, so I hope you’ll forgive me.

As you know, palmerskiss (bostonhousekitten) recently became active again and had been posting tons of very interesting & well-sourced Pages on a wide range of topics, but rosiee is starting to troll her now and that sucks.

On one of her Pages he said she’s a “left wing extremist”, and in the first comment on another one he called her a “schmuck”, then said she was “obtuse” for stating a fact he didn’t like, and finally went on to call her a “creep” (which he later changed to “moral relativist”).

I know she’s a grown woman and can defend herself as well as her Pages, but she hasn’t been rude to rosiee—or to anyone for that matter—and I don’t think it’s fair that she has abuse heaped on her in a manner & with a frequency which could eventually drive her away.

21 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:08:06pm

re: #17 Kragar

Persecuted (I) (2014)

Good lord, the argle-bargle in that is amazing

And in real life, this happened in Ohio:

Fake Arrests of Ohio Ministers Designed to Sell Christian Persecution Myth

Because there is no actual footage of Christians being persecuted in this country - you know, because no Christians are actually BEING persecuted in this country - a group of Ohio ministers had to stage some arrests, employing actual cops to help them.

…the Beacon Journal points out, “most parishioners were unaware that the arrests were fake.”

22 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:09:04pm

re: #21 Backwoods_Sleuth

And in real life, this happened in Ohio:

Fake Arrests of Ohio Ministers Designed to Sell Christian Persecution Myth

Message Boards
Persecuted (2014) (I) : Unrealistic premise

Howdy folks, this movie seems to have a wildly unrealistic premise. Given that the US has a majority of the population identifies as some sort of Christian, that the 1st Amendment guarantees our governments can’t curtail of compel any religious speech, and given that its unlikely that the voters of the US would vote in radical Senators Representatives and a President who would want to persecute a majority of the population, this has to count as the most speculative of fiction. A Communist or Nazi or Theocratic takeover of the US would be more likely. I can see that some right-wing Evangelical Christians may feel frightened or threatened by the social liberalization of US society in recent years, where being gay has become almost acceptable, gay rights, including marriage rights have been recognized by some states, and divorce has become easier legally (though the divorce rate has dropped since the 1970s). But none of this curtailing of intolerance actually causes persecution of Christians. Christians are not being thrown in jail, beat up, lynched or thrown to the lions. There is just so little danger of Christians being actually harmed or persecuted in the US that “Persecuted” (2014) is likely to be as laughable viewing as “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”

23 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:09:13pm

re: #19 Kragar

The Dark Side has its draw backs.

Yeah. Think what Emperor Palpatine looked like. Yeesh.

24 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:10:46pm

Persecution: The realization that the people you have been demonizing and oppressing for generations are actually entitled to the same rights as you.

25 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:12:00pm

re: #16 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Another Snowden-like hero!

26 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:13:52pm

So now I know what all the wingnut sites will be offering as a “Free DVD” for contributions when the midterms elections kick into high gear.

27 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:14:50pm

This is very concerning. Marking houses? WTF?

28 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:17:06pm

Release Date: May 9th

Coming out between Spiderman, Godzilla, X-Men, and Maleficent.

I’m sure the only reason it tanks will be because of damn Hollywood liberals

29 The War TARDIS  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:17:10pm

re: #27 NJDhockeyfan

Yep, they are going for genocide.

Russia is going to have an massive problem here soon with a large chunk of the Muslim World jumping on their ass. Plus, probable uprisings in the Caucasus Region.

Let Russia deal with it.

30 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:17:13pm

re: #24 Kragar

Persecution: The realization that the people you have been demonizing and oppressing for generations are actually entitled to the same rights as you.

Short form: When others DON’T do unto you as you have done unto others….

RBS

31 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:19:12pm

re: #14 Kragar

“If we sink enough money into, it has to be better!”

hey it worked so well for Ishtar and WaterWorld didn’t it?

RBS

32 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:20:03pm

re: #8 Backwoods_Sleuth

So, apparently Ted Cruz said something at CPAC yesterday that got McCain pissed off.

McCain and Dole Scorch Cruz for CPAC Comments

For that I hope Cruz is the nominee and has to deal with future Ted Cruzes claiming he wasn’t really a conservative. And you know it’s bound ot happen.

33 Lidane  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:20:57pm

re: #28 Kragar

Release Date: May 9th

Coming out between Spiderman, Godzilla, X-Men, and Maleficent.

I’m sure the only reason it tanks will be because of damn Hollywood liberals

Captain America might still be in the theaters then, too.

34 Amory Blaine  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:22:55pm

Enlightening (at least for one man) segment from The Daily Show last night.

35 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:23:59pm

re: #5 The Ghost of a Flea

There goes my “every year they sacrifice a welfare mom by running her over with a Cadillac, and then some eldritch abomination shits gold bullion to reward them” theory about CPAC funding….

why do you hate moloch??

36 jaunte  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:24:20pm
“…Associate Sponsors, which require $60,000 contributions are Koch Industries and a movie scheduled to come out May 9, 2014 “Persecuted”.

Not this persecuted stuff/meme/bs again.

Lusco’s “Persecuted” stars James Remar and Dean Stockwell and includes guest appearances by Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson (in her film debut!) and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson.
rightwingwatch.org

37 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:25:17pm

re: #36 jaunte

Not this persecuted stuff/meme/bs again.

Fred Thompson? I was looking for the cure ot my insomnia.

38 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:28:16pm

re: #17 Kragar

re: #21 Backwoods_Sleuth

*snort* Check out the slideshow for Persecuted. The cast includes failed presidential candidate Fred Thompson and—oh goody!—Gretchen Carlson makes her acting debut.

39 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:29:01pm

re: #37 HappyWarrior

Doesn’t he have a reverse mortgage to shill?

40 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:30:13pm

ot.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed 55 years of life, and am rewarding myself with a nice flat iron steak, frenched green beans, rice with cheese and broccoli. If I knew I was going to be around this long, I’d have popped for the extended protection plan.

So far this week I’ve ridden 55 miles on the bicycles, so I’m not feeling guilty about dinner tonight at all.

RBS
I now return you to your regularly scheduled discourse.

41 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:31:52pm

re: #39 lawhawk

Doesn’t he have a reverse mortgage to shill?

Have no idea really. More of a mocking of the conservatives in 2008 who told me and others that we on the left should be scared of Fred Thompson. The whole scared thing I always thought was stupid even for candidates I like and second of all the guy has about as much charisma as a used car salesman in the bad side of town.

42 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:31:58pm

re: #36 jaunte

Not this persecuted stuff/meme/bs again.

I wonder if the villains are:

A. Liberal
B. Atheist
C. Gay
D. Immigrants
E. Muslim
F. All of the above

43 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:32:12pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

ot.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed 55 years of life, and am rewarding myself with a nice flat iron steak, frenched green beans, rice with cheese and broccoli. If I knew I was going to be around this long, I’d have popped for the extended protection plan.

So far this week I’ve ridden 55 miles on the bicycles, so I’m not feeling guilty about dinner tonight at all.

RBS
I now return you to your regularly scheduled discourse.

Well happy birthday.

44 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:33:08pm

re: #42 CuriousLurker

I wonder if the villains are:

A. Liberal
B. Atheist
C. Gay
D. Immigrants
E. Muslim
F. All of the above

LAGIM! You forgot to mention Hispanic though. The “persecuted” really get pissy whenever they hear Spanish spoken.

45 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:33:51pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

Happy Birthday! Here’s hoping you have many more.

46 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:35:46pm

Well movie of the night is Nebraska. Saw Gravity last Friday with the brother and sister in law. This one looks good too.

47 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:36:02pm

re: #41 HappyWarrior

Youtube Video

48 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:37:13pm

re: #47 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Gotta pay the bills somehow. I guess it beats Rick Santorum wearing a sweater vest and blaming all the world’s problems on Gay.

49 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:38:33pm

re: #47 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

When I go down to Florida to visit my Dad (Port Charlotte area), I swear that ad would run 4 times an hour or more. I’d switch channels to see what else would be on, it would be that ad on a different channel. ARRGH

RBS

50 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:38:38pm

re: #44 HappyWarrior

LAGIM! You forgot to mention Hispanic though. The “persecuted” really get pissy whenever they hear Spanish spoken.

I figured immigrants covered Hispanic ‘cause, y’know, all Hispanics are illegal immigrant drug mules with calves like cantaloupes. Except for the ones who were here long before the U.S. even existed, but we don’t wanna talk about them.

51 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:40:50pm

re: #38 CuriousLurker

*snort* Check out the slideshow for Persecuted. The cast includes failed presidential candidate Fred Thompson and—oh goody!—Gretchen Carlson makes her acting debut.

Hahahaha, there are 2 “Persecuted” movies…

Christian Victimhood Is the Subject of Two Movies Called ‘Persecuted,’ but Only One Features Gretchen Carlson

patheos.com

52 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:40:51pm

re: #50 CuriousLurker

I figured immigrants covered Hispanic ‘cause, y’know, all Hispanics are illegal immigrant drug mules with calves like cantaloupes. Except for the ones who were here long before the U.S. even existed, but we don’t wanna talk about them.

Yeah true. But yeah I love that they get pissy about Spanish being spoken even though Spanish in many parts of this country was spoken long before English. Wouldn’t be surprised if some of my SiL’s relatives have been on the continent longer than my family.

53 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:41:33pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

ot.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed 55 years of life, and am rewarding myself with a nice flat iron steak, frenched green beans, rice with cheese and broccoli. If I knew I was going to be around this long, I’d have popped for the extended protection plan.

So far this week I’ve ridden 55 miles on the bicycles, so I’m not feeling guilty about dinner tonight at all.

RBS
I now return you to your regularly scheduled discourse.

Happy Birthday to You, Steve! : )

54 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:41:37pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

ot.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed 55 years of life,

Actually we’re going to need you to go back and redo ages 7, 12, 19, 25, and most of your 30s. Sorry, you should have been informed of this earlier, but y’know, paperwork.

55 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:41:49pm

re: #52 HappyWarrior

Yeah true. But yeah I love that they get pissy about Spanish being spoken even though Spanish in many parts of this country was spoken long before English. Wouldn’t be surprised if some of my SiL’s relatives have been on the continent longer than my family.

Exactly.

56 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:43:29pm

re: #55 CuriousLurker

Exactly.

Kind of amuses me how everyone on the right got all puffy about that Coke ad and one of the languages used was a Native American one. Oops!

57 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:43:33pm

re: #54 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Actually we’re going to need you to go back and redo ages 7, 12, 19, 25, and most of your 30s. Sorry, you should have been informed of this earlier, but y’know, paperwork.

Damn…. I DO get to keep my current knowledge when I go back and redo them, right… I mean, after all, it’s your mistake. Ya gotta give me that.

RBS

58 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:43:49pm

re: #46 HappyWarrior

Well movie of the night is Nebraska. Saw Gravity last Friday with the brother and sister in law. This one looks good too.

Did you like Gravity? I’m getting it from RedBox soon. Have to time it just right, so (a) all the copies won’t be gone, and (b) I won’t fall asleep before it’s over. : )

59 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:46:20pm

re: #56 HappyWarrior

Kind of amuses me how everyone on the right got all puffy about that Coke ad and one of the languages used was a Native American one. Oops!

Yep, that one made me LOL too, heh.

60 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:47:24pm

re: #58 Justanotherhuman

Did you like Gravity? I’m getting it from RedBox soon. Have to time it just right, so (a) all the copies won’t be gone, and (b) I won’t fall asleep before it’s over. : )

Yes, I did. Very deserving of the accolades and Bullock/Clooney do great considering they’re pretty much the only people in the whole film. I really want to see All Is Lost with Robert Redford too.

61 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:48:34pm

re: #59 CuriousLurker

Yep, that one made me LOL too, heh.

It really does make me LOL that they think this country was only made for English speakers. Our 8th president grew up speaking only Dutch and Van Buren was actually the first president born in what we call the United States since the first seven grew up in colonial times.

62 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:49:42pm

re: #57 RealityBasedSteve

Damn…. I DO get to keep my current knowledge when I go back and redo them, right… I mean, after all, it’s your mistake. Ya gotta give me that.

RBS

“Wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then…”

63 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:49:42pm

Happy birthday RidesBikesSteve!

64 compound_Idaho  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:51:00pm

re: #40 RealityBasedSteve

ot.

I am pleased to announce that I have successfully completed 55 years of life, and am rewarding myself with a nice flat iron steak, frenched green beans, rice with cheese and broccoli. If I knew I was going to be around this long, I’d have popped for the extended protection plan.

So far this week I’ve ridden 55 miles on the bicycles, so I’m not feeling guilty about dinner tonight at all.

RBS
I now return you to your regularly scheduled discourse.

I don’t think your should feel guilty about that meal. Well balanced, keep the portions under control. You’re good to go.

I’ve only competed 52 yrs of life, but I have already run 70 miles this week and I have a 30 mile run scheduled for tomorrow. It is a bit of an accounting gimmick (I had to move my weekly long run up one day, so I will have two long runs in the same week), but all the same; I will log 100 miles on my feet this week for the first time in my life.

Many of my “healthy/clean” eating friends (no sugar, not meat ….) can’t run to the end of the block.

PS cycling is a great great form of exercise.

PS I just wish I could get the booze under control, but I do like whiskey and beer.

65 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:51:14pm

I’m going to teach my g-grandson some basic Spanish phrases (which I can still remember from 50+ yrs ago). He is definitely going to need a second, or even third, language as he grows up. There should be some media for kids that’s available, too.

66 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:52:28pm

re: #61 HappyWarrior

It really does make me LOL that they think this country was only made for English speakers. Our 8th president grew up speaking only Dutch and Van Buren was actually the first president born in what we call the United States since the first seven grew up in colonial times.

The other historical think that makes me LOL is reading what Ben Franklin was saying about the Germans in Pennsylvania in 1755. Take out ‘German’ and ‘Germans’ and substitute ‘Spanish’ and ‘Mexicans’, and it sounds exactly like the usual TP complaint!

67 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:52:32pm
68 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:53:45pm

I can’t believe somebody didn’t see this coming and put a stop to it.

The Angels are doing their spring training at Diablo Stadium.


Take a peak at his feed for more great photos.

69 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:55:08pm

re: #67 Backwoods_Sleuth

70 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:55:25pm

re: #17 Kragar

murder of an innocent teenage girl,

Maybe this is nitpicky, but is anyone else weird-ed out by the addition of the descriptor “innocent” in this context?

As opposed to all the varieties of not-innocent fourteen year old girls?

71 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:58:18pm

re: #54 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Actually we’re going to need you to go back and redo ages 7, 12, 19, 25, and most of your 30s. Sorry, you should have been informed of this earlier, but y’know, paperwork.

I believe that is called ‘Hell’.

72 The Ghost of a Flea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:58:22pm

re: #42 CuriousLurker

I wonder if the villains are:

A. Liberal
B. Atheist
C. Gay
D. Immigrants
E. Muslim
F. All of the above

You forgot the dreaded secular humanists.

Apparently they’re totally evil. And doubly so if they’re college-educated.

73 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:58:38pm

re: #61 HappyWarrior

re: #65 Justanotherhuman

Well, definitely be hearing more languages in the future. Pew tweeted about a new book yesterday, which immediately went on my Kindle wish list:

The Next America: Boomers, Millennials, and the Looming Generational Showdown
A new book by Paul Taylor and the Pew Research Center

The America of the near future will look nothing like the America of the recent past.

America is in the throes of a demographic overhaul. Huge generation gaps have opened up in our political and social values, our economic well-being, our family structure, our racial and ethnic identity, our gender norms, our religious affiliation, and our technology use. […]

74 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:58:53pm

re: #63 wrenchwench

Happy birthday RidesBikesSteve!

re: #64 compound_Idaho

I don’t think your should feel guilty about that meal. Well balanced, keep the portions under control. You’re good to go.

I’ve only competed 52 yrs of life, but I have already run 70 miles this week and I have a 30 mile run scheduled for tomorrow. It is a bit of an accounting gimmick (I had to move my weekly long run up one day, so I will have two long runs in the same week), but all the same; I will log 100 miles on my feet this week for the first time in my life.

Many of my “healthy/clean” eating friends (no sugar, not meat ….) can’t run to the end of the block.

PS cycling is a great great form of exercise.

PS I just wish I could get the booze under control, but I do like whiskey and beer.

I am not a good runner. I have absolutly no sense of rhythm, and as a friend of mine told me, “You spend more energy doing everything BUT moving forward”. That and the army kind of took the joy out of it for me.

I love my bikes (all but 1 are recumbents), give me another 5 or 6 weeks and I’ll be right back at my usual 150 or so miles per week. Planning to do a tour called “Ride the Fault”, 400 miles in 7 days around SE Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. They carry the gear (nice change), be a lot of fun. It’s a pretty area, the roads are flat, flat and more flat. There was more climbing on one day when I did a solo tour of Kentucky than this ride has all week.

Never look back…. just cuz.

RBS

75 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 4:59:38pm

re: #74 RealityBasedSteve

I am not a good runner. I have absolutly no sense of rhythm, and as a friend of mine told me, “You spend more energy doing everything BUT moving forward”. That and the army kind of took the joy out of it for me.

I love my bikes (all but 1 are recumbents), give me another 5 or 6 weeks and I’ll be right back at my usual 150 or so miles per week. Planning to do a tour called “Ride the Fault”, 400 miles in 7 days around SE Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. They carry the gear (nice change), be a lot of fun. It’s a pretty area, the roads are flat, flat and more flat. There was more climbing on one day when I did a solo tour of Kentucky than this ride has all week.

Never look back…. just cuz.

RBS

You married your bike???

Happy bday.

76 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:01:06pm
77 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:01:47pm

Reload the page if you don’t see the Getty photo in my comment…

78 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:02:34pm

re: #77 Charles Johnson

Reload the page if you don’t see the Getty photo in my comment…

Cool, works for me.

79 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:03:36pm
80 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:03:49pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Just checking to see what happens when I reply with quote…

81 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:03:50pm

re: #70 The Ghost of a Flea

Maybe this is nitpicky, but is anyone else weird-ed out by the addition of the descriptor “innocent” in this context?

As opposed to all the varieties of not-innocent fourteen year old girls?

It depends. What was she wearing?
///

82 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:04:26pm

re: #69 Justanotherhuman

It doesn’t look good.

83 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:06:18pm

All you have to do to post a Getty photo in a comment is copy and paste their embed code into the comment. You can find the embed code by hovering over an image thumbnail, and you’ll see something like this:

84 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:06:18pm

Holy crap!

Family poisoned with LSD-laced meat

tbo.com

“Tampa police are investigating after a family of four was hospitalized this week after eating LSD-tainted meat.

“Test results received today from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the family ate meat on Monday contaminated with the hallucinogenic drug.

(snip)

“All four family members began hallucinating, police said.

“Doctors took Rosado across the street to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, where doctors induced labor and she had a healthy baby boy, Castor said.”

ETA: The meat was purchased at WalMart.

85 bratwurst  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:07:02pm
86 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:08:32pm

You don’t have to worry about the dimensions of the Getty photo — my code automagically scales it to fit the comment area.

87 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:08:35pm

re: #76 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Appears one can also tweet the picture from the comment?

88 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:08:48pm

re: #87 Backwoods_Sleuth

Appears one can also tweet the picture from the comment?

Yep.

89 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:09:07pm

re: #85 bratwurst

Louisiana Senate hopeful Rob Maness at CPAC: I would have opposed Katrina relief

Baggers gonna bag.

Oh, sure, safe to say that now. Would he have said that then?
Doubt it.

90 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:09:49pm

re: #82 lawhawk

It doesn’t look good.

Wondering if it’s one of those Dreamliners?

They’re finding cracks in ones still in production.

Boeing reports wing cracks on Dreamliners

money.cnn.com

91 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:09:52pm

re: #70 The Ghost of a Flea

Maybe this is nitpicky, but is anyone else weird-ed out by the addition of the descriptor “innocent” in this context?

As opposed to all the varieties of not-innocent fourteen year old girls?

It does seem unnecessary, but it wasn’t till you mentioned it that I thought, “Yeah, are they saying there 14 yo girls who DESERVE it?”

92 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:10:37pm
93 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:10:43pm

re: #90 Justanotherhuman

Wondering if it’s one of those Dreamliners?

They’re finding cracks in ones still in production.

Boeing reports wing cracks on Dreamliners

money.cnn.com

And people think I’m paranoid about air travel.

..
.
And elevators.

94 TedStriker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:10:45pm

re: #73 CuriousLurker

Well, definitely be hearing more languages in the future. Pew tweeted about a new book yesterday, which immediately went on my Kindle wish list:

And that has white, male “conservatives” quaking in their boots.

As a recovering white, male “conservative”, I have absolutely no problems with this, because time stops for no man (or woman).

95 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:11:21pm

re: #90 Justanotherhuman

Nope, 777-200.

96 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:11:32pm

re: #93 Varek Raith

And people think I’m paranoid about air travel.

..
.
And elevators.

If you’re doing air travel in elevators, you SHOULD be frightened.

97 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:11:32pm

re: #84 Justanotherhuman

Holy crap!

Family poisoned with LSD-laced meat

tbo.com

“Tampa police are investigating after a family of four was hospitalized this week after eating LSD-tainted meat.

“Test results received today from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the family ate meat on Monday contaminated with the hallucinogenic drug.

(snip)

“All four family members began hallucinating, police said.

“Doctors took Rosado across the street to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, where doctors induced labor and she had a healthy baby boy, Castor said.”

ETA: The meat was purchased at WalMart.

Wow. Family of four hospitalized, family of five discharged!

98 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:12:22pm

re: #90 Justanotherhuman

No, this flight was a Boeing 777-200.

Looks like it didn’t make it very far before ATC lost contact, if I’m reading it right.

flightaware.com

99 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:12:24pm

re: #96 GeneJockey

If you’re doing air travel in elevators, you SHOULD be frightened.

It’s kind of silly, but I refuse to use elevators.
XD

100 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:13:09pm

re: #96 GeneJockey

Hey, what’s wrong with the Great Glass Elevator? It can even survive Vermicious Knids!

101 TedStriker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:14:02pm

re: #100 lawhawk

Hey, what’s wrong with the Great Glass Elevator Wonkavator? It can even survive Vermicious Knids!

FTFY ;-P

102 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:14:15pm

re: #98 Dr Lizardo

No, this flight was a Boeing 777-200.

Looks like it didn’t make it very far before ATC lost contact, if I’m reading it right.

flightaware.com

It took off at12:41 am and contact was lost at 2:40 am

103 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:15:26pm
105 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:16:27pm

re: #99 Varek Raith

It’s kind of silly, but I refuse to use elevators.
XD

You don’t like our paternoster elevators of doom?

Youtube Video

Heathen!!! :)

106 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:16:55pm

re: #100 lawhawk

Hey, what’s wrong with the Great Glass Elevator? It can even survive Vermicious Knids!

Acrophobia, Agoraphobia, and Claustrophobia in one neat little package.

107 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:18:12pm

re: #105 Dr Lizardo

You don’t like our paternoster elevators of doom?

[Embedded content]

Heathen!!! :)

Oh hell no.

108 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:18:28pm

re: #105 Dr Lizardo

You don’t like our paternoster elevators of doom?

[Embedded content]

Heathen!!! :)

It just looks like such a terrible idea. A decapitation waiting to happen -

“Hey, Mister! You forgot your…” *CRUNCH!*

109 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:19:35pm

re: #107 Varek Raith

Oh hell no.

We have one here in what used to be the old City Hall; it’s still functional.

They also have those old pneumatic message delivery tubes; and they still work.

And they still use them. :)

110 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:21:00pm

Commentary is in German. Looks like EuroMaidan is ready, just in case, though.

111 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:21:58pm

re: #109 Dr Lizardo

We have one here in what used to be the old City Hall; it’s still functional.

They also have those old pneumatic message delivery tubes; and they still work.

And they still use them. :)

Yes, but they don’t TRAVEL in them.
//

BTW, the Costco near us uses them, or at least did recently, and it was only built in the last 10 or so years.

112 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:22:51pm

re: #109 Dr Lizardo

We have one here in what used to be the old City Hall; it’s still functional.

They also have those old pneumatic message delivery tubes; and they still work.

And they still use them. :)

They use those at the banks, too, at the drive-thrus that are distanced from the windows. : ) The pneumatic tubes, that is, not the elevators.

113 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:23:27pm

Getty Image

SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 07: Russian warships, part of a blockade of Ukrainian ships, is viewed in Sevastopol harbor on March 7, 2014 in Sevastopol, Ukraine. As the standoff between the Russian military and Ukrainian forces continues in Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, world leaders are pushing for a diplomatic solution to the escalating situation. Crimean citizens will vote in a referendum on 16 March on whether to become part of the Russian federation. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

114 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:23:45pm

re: #111 GeneJockey

Yes, but they don’t TRAVEL in them.
//

BTW, the Costco near us uses them, or at least did recently, and it was only built in the last 10 or so years.

I personally like the old paternoster elevators. Whenever I’m downtown, I have a fortuitous excuse - the cable company is located on the third floor, so I get to take the paternoster to get there.

Wheee!

115 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:24:16pm

re: #114 Dr Lizardo

I personally like the old paternoster elevators. Whenever I’m downtown, I have a fortuitous excuse - the cable company is located on the third floor, so I get to take the paternoster to get there.

Wheee!

You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

116 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:24:36pm

re: #112 Justanotherhuman

They use those at the banks, too, at the drive-thrus that are distanced from the windows. : ) The pneumatic tubes, that is, not the elevators.

Yeah; i’ve seen those. But it’s interesting to see them used for office work. It’s like stepping back in time.

117 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:25:33pm

Getty Image

SIMFEROPOL, UKRAINE - MARCH 07: Cossacks stand outside a local government administration building on March 7, 2014 in Simferopol, Ukraine. Russian Cossacks, some heavily armed, have taken up guard duties at road checkpoints, border crossings and other key facilities that were previously guarded by local, pro-Russian militants across Crimea in recent days. The Crimean Parliament voted yesterday to hold a referendum on March 16 to determine whether Crimea shall secede from Ukraine and join Russia. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

118 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:26:18pm

Getty Image

work for me

DENVER, CO. - APRIL 03: President Barack Obama embraces Siblings (l-r) Sue Connors and Jane Dougherty following a forum at the Denver Police Academy in Denver, CO April 03, 2013. The siblings sister, Mary Sherlach, was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary. In his first trip to Colorado since his re-election, President Obama urged Congress to act more like the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature and quickly pass stronger gun-control laws. During the meeting with law enforcement officials and community leaders, Obama praised lawmakers and Gov. John Hickenlooper for passing some of the nation’s strongest gun-control measures after the shootings in Aurora and at a Connecticut elementary school. (Photo By Craig F. Walker/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

119 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:28:01pm

re: #115 GeneJockey

You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

lol

The only elevators here they creep me out the are really old metal cage, Soviet-era ones; in some of the old, unrefurbished apartment blocks, you still see them.

Those are scary to me…..I was teaching at a building that had them; the school was on the 9th floor, and it was screeching and rattling all the way up. When it got to the top, it stopped - and dropped about six inches rather abruptly.

I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.

120 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:28:23pm

re: #84 Justanotherhuman

Holy crap!

Family poisoned with LSD-laced meat

tbo.com

“Tampa police are investigating after a family of four was hospitalized this week after eating LSD-tainted meat.

“Test results received today from the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the family ate meat on Monday contaminated with the hallucinogenic drug.

(snip)

“All four family members began hallucinating, police said.

“Doctors took Rosado across the street to St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, where doctors induced labor and she had a healthy baby boy, Castor said.”

ETA: The meat was purchased at WalMart.

That is just beyond my words….

RBS

121 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:29:41pm

Getty Image

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Barack H. Obama holds in a crowded hallway backstage at the Capital moments before walking out to be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. (Photo by Charles Ommanney/Getty Images)

122 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:29:42pm

re: #119 Dr Lizardo

lol

The only elevators here they creep me out the are really old metal cage, Soviet-era ones; in some of the old, unrefurbished apartment blocks, you still see them.

Those are scary to me…..I was teaching at a building that had them; the school was on the 9th floor, and it was screeching and rattling all the way up. When it got to the top, it stopped - and dropped about six inches rather abruptly.

I got the hell out of there as fast as I could.

“….In former Soviet Union Warsaw Pact, Elevator pushes YOUR buttons!”

123 Dr Lizardo  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:30:14pm

re: #122 GeneJockey

“….In former Soviet Union Warsaw Pact, Elevator pushes YOUR buttons!”

Yep.

And with that, good night, Lizards.

124 Backwoods_Sleuth  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:30:52pm
125 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:31:48pm
126 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:35:26pm

re: #120 RealityBasedSteve

That is just beyond my words….

RBS

All it takes is some idiot who thinks pulling something like that would be “fun”. Something like that meat would have more than likely been packaged in the store. I just hope there are no other packages out there that have been purchased.

127 aagcobb  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:35:40pm

re: #99 Varek Raith

It’s kind of silly, but I refuse to use elevators.
XD

Absolutely nothing to fear.

Youtube Video

128 freetoken  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:37:34pm

What’s missing from the key post is names.

“Townhall” is not some mysterious organization. It’s owned by a particular group of people. Yet few people know their names because they successfully keep their names quiet.

I say name the names of the people, stop using the names of the corporate fronts.

129 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:40:08pm

re: #126 Justanotherhuman

All it takes is some idiot who thinks pulling something like that would be “fun”. Something like that meat would have more than likely been packaged in the store. I just hope there are no other packages out there that have been purchased.

I don’t know whether all WalMarts are the same, but they don’t package any meat at the local one. It happens in some facility a long way away from here.

130 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:43:44pm

re: #126 Justanotherhuman

All it takes is some idiot who thinks pulling something like that would be “fun”. Something like that meat would have more than likely been packaged in the store. I just hope there are no other packages out there that have been purchased.

As far as I know, all the WalMarts now get the meat all pre-cut and packaged. IIRC, when the butchers in some Walmarts in Texas and Florida voted to unionize, Walmart just pulled the meat cutters out of the stores. (Sams Club still had meat cutters last time I was there, but it also sell whole primal cuts). All of WalMart’s meat now is pre-packaged by the meat packing company.

Still, wouldn’t take but a second for somebody with a small syringe to inject it and put the package back.

RBS

131 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:55:16pm

Getty Image

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD - MARCH 07: Supporters of Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) are handed placards while waiting in line for a book signing with the senator at the Conservative Political Action Conference at the Gaylord International Hotel and Conference Center March 7, 2014 in National Harbor, Maryland. The CPAC annual meeting brings together conservative politicians, pundits and their supporters for speeches, panels and classes. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

132 CuriousLurker  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:57:28pm

Getty Image

Sufi whirling (or Sufi spinning) is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach the source of all perfection, or kemal. This is sought through abandoning one’s nafs, egos or personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun. As explained by Sufis:

In the symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen’s camel’s hair hat (sikke) represents the tombstone of the ego; his wide, white skirt (tennure) represents the ego’s shroud. By removing his black cloak (hırka), he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the Sema, by holding his arms crosswise, the semazen appears to represent the number one, thus testifying to God’s unity. While whirling, his arms are open: his right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive God’s beneficence; his left hand, upon which his eyes are fastened, is turned toward the earth. The semazen conveys God’s spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema. Revolving from right to left around the heart, the semazen embraces all humanity with love. The human being has been created with love in order to love. Mevlâna Jalâluddîn Rumi says, “All loves are a bridge to Divine love. Yet, those who have not had a taste of it do not know!”

en.wikipedia.org

That love of which Rumi speaks is the same one @JihadiJew was referencing in his photo last night—a love without nationality or race politics or religion, just that one precious fleeting breath of now that you hold in your hand this moment. Spend it wisely.

The Sema also mimics the great turning wheel of humanity around the axis of the Ka’aba during the Hajj, the Ka’aba also being filled with symbolism.

Getty Image

And on that note I bid you all a good night.

Getty Image

133 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:57:58pm

Getty is such a great data base. Corbis is also very good.

134 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 5:59:41pm

re: #133 DKoch

Sorry, I was messing with the code while you tried to post that. Should work now.

135 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:01:43pm

‘This is what my son and my cat do every time I vacuum. I finally got some pictures of it…’

Later, lizards.

136 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:02:55pm

re: #135 wrenchwench

LOL. Cute!

137 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:03:10pm

re: #135 wrenchwench

Heh. That image is so tall you have to open it in a new tab or window to see the whole thing at full size.

138 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:03:22pm
139 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:04:35pm

Seriously, folks - this gives you an incredible library of images to use in Pages and comments. I’m still a bit stunned that Getty Images did this.

140 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:06:18pm

As always, I coded this with security as a primary concern.

141 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:07:30pm
142 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:09:53pm

Update: EPA debunks one Bridgegate conspiracy

The Environmental Protection Agency has cleared New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration of allegations that it suspiciously shut off an air pollution monitor during last fall’s lane closings on the George Washington Bridge.

143 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:10:38pm

Getty Image

SOCHI, RUSSIA - MARCH 05: The Agitos is seen at sunset in the Olympic Park ahead of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games on March 5, 2014 in Sochi, Russia. (Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images)

144 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:11:24pm
145 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:12:54pm

re: #120 RealityBasedSteve

That is just beyond my words….

RBS

I’ve got any amount of money you can wish for, in any denomination you like, that says this story is completely bogus. Mark my words, as they say.

First of all, LSD begins to break down chemically at temperatures not far above room temperature. Unless this family was gobbling down cold, raw meat, there is no way they were experiencing the effects of LSD that had been deposited in meat that was cooked at 120F+ for any amount of time.

Secondly, LSD is not easy to synthesize, and isn’t ubiquitously available. For economic reasons alone, I am confident that nobody in possession of enough LSD to trip out a family of four would randomly waste it in such a manner when an assured financial pay-off was pretty much certain.

This sounds like a forwarded email from grandma that somehow managed to become a “news” story.

146 jaunte  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:13:42pm
147 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:14:11pm

re: #145 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Maybe it’s actually ergotamine.

148 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:15:15pm

Assad taking advantage of U.S.-Russia split over Ukraine, observers say

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s defiant response to the toppling of his ally President Viktor Yanukovych has further reinforced Assad’s conviction that he can continue to count on Russia’s unwavering support against the armed rebellion challenging his rule, said Salem Zahran, a Damascus-based journalist and analyst who has close ties to the Syrian regime.

“The regime believes the Russians now have a new and stronger reason to keep Assad in power and support him, especially after the experience of Libya, and now Ukraine,” he said. “In addition, the regime believes that any conflict in the world which distracts the attention of the Americans is a factor which eases pressure on Syria.”

I think it’s a safe assumption the Iranians have the same assurances from their Russian friends.

149 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:17:42pm

re: #144 Charles Johnson

That’s seriously cool. Blogger has that functionality as well. What does this do for your loading times? Probably not a big hit since they’re coming from Getty’s servers.

I’m still trying to figure out how Getty leverages this for revenues. They’re sitting on a huge pile of photos/images, so they know there’s value. It’s turning that value into revenue that’s going to be interesting.

150 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:17:45pm

Keeping an eye on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 situation. Doesn’t look good at all. 239 people aboard, including passengers and crew.

151 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:18:15pm

re: #147 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Maybe it’s actually ergotamine.

Right, and maybe it’s a leprechaun.

152 Bear  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:19:07pm

Please have captions along with pictures.

153 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:19:33pm

You can now embed Getty Images photos in Pages as well - just copy and paste the embed code into the editing area. You can do this either from a new Page or editing an existing one.

154 Stanley Sea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:21:18pm

re: #150 Charles Johnson

Keeping an eye on the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 situation. Doesn’t look good at all. 239 people aboard, including passengers and crew.

Just read that. Gasp.

155 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:26:38pm

Getty Image

TAL AFAR, IRAQ - JANUARY 18: Samar Hassan screams after her parents were killed by U.S. Soldiers with the 25th Infantry Division in a shooting January 18, 2005 in Tal Afar, Iraq. The troops fired on the Hassan family car when it unwittingly approached them during a dusk patrol in the tense northern Iraqi town. Parents Hussein and Camila Hassan were killed instantly, and a son Racan, 11, was seriously wounded in the abdomen. Racan, who lost the use of his legs, was treated later in the U.S. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

156 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:27:48pm

re: #155 DKoch

Why that now?

157 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:28:23pm

re: #149 lawhawk

I think they must have looked at what they were spending on trying to enforce their copyrights the old-fashioned way, and compared it to the possible revenue of spreading back-links all over the Internet, and made a pragmatic choice.

And they probably made a lot of independent photographers very nervous.

158 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:33:35pm

re: #157 Charles Johnson

Yeah, at the same time, the ubiquity of smartphones and their ever-improving cameras isn’t making it any easier for photographers either, though there’s always going to be room for professionals to shoot news events.

I may have to look into what’s involved in getting photos picked up, and that’s probably also what they’re looking at - seeing the wider exposure will get people to contribute, and then selling prints/art on the back end too.

159 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:36:25pm

re: #158 lawhawk

Yeah, at the same time, the ubiquity of smartphones and their ever-improving cameras isn’t making it any easier for photographers either, though there’s always going to be room for professionals to shoot news events.

I may have to look into what’s involved in getting photos picked up, and that’s probably also what they’re looking at - seeing the wider exposure will get people to contribute, and then selling prints/art on the back end too.

The embed feature is limited and constrained in a way that benefits Getty - only web resolutions, it’s in an iframe hosted at Getty, it has lots of links to their content, they can monitor the traffic, etc. So they’re not simply giving it away. They’re mining the data, like every other web corporation. Smart move.

160 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:36:33pm

re: #156 Political Atheist

11th anniversary of the invasion is upon us. Rachel had a great document last night on how it was all about stealing oil,

Also too, with the bloody warmonger calling for confrontation in Ukraine, they should have their face rubbed in their war crimes.

161 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:37:29pm

re: #157 Charles Johnson

Yeah I’m kinda still thinking through the impact. How to compete with good quality free images. But stock images only go so far. To get specific, say a particular storefront image done in the right light or HDR they still need a photog. But yeah nervous is the word.

162 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:37:31pm

Getty Image

Frank Sinatra and John F. Kennedy on the set of Ocean’s 11.

163 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:39:50pm

re: #20 CuriousLurker

CL I recomended this to Charles. Because!

164 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:42:46pm

re: #160 DKoch

11th anniversary of the invasion is upon us. Rachel had a great document last night on how it was all about stealing oil,

Ah yes well fair point. I should not have objected. Hard shot to look at. So tragic and sad.

165 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:43:00pm

Well, I’m going to go get some stuff done this evening, here’s some Al Stewart for your pleasure… Road to Moscow (Live)

Youtube Video

RBS

166 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:44:09pm

re: #20 CuriousLurker

Charles, I know it’s bad form to drag spats from elsewhere into the main thread, but I’m not doing this on my own behalf, so I hope you’ll forgive me.

As you know, palmerskiss (bostonhousekitten) recently became active again and had been posting tons of very interesting & well-sourced Pages on a wide range of topics, but rosiee is starting to troll her now and that sucks.

On one of her Pages he said she’s a “left wing extremist”, and in the first comment on another one he called her a “schmuck”, then said she was “obtuse” for stating a fact he didn’t like, and finally went on to call her a “creep” (which he later changed to “moral relativist”).

I know she’s a grown woman and can defend herself as well as her Pages, but she hasn’t been rude to rosiee—or to anyone for that matter—and I don’t think it’s fair that she has abuse heaped on her in a manner & with a frequency which could eventually drive her away.

See: littlegreenfootballs.com

167 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:44:27pm

re: #161 Political Atheist

Yeah I’m kinda still thinking through the impact. How to compete with good quality free images. But stock images only go so far. To get specific, say a particular storefront image done in the right light or HDR they still need a photog. But yeah nervous is the word.

That’s why it’s good to be an art photographer who never quits his day job because he’ll never make any money at it… :whistles:

Make sure your drones are warmed up :)

168 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:53:48pm

Saboteurs piss me off.

169 lawhawk  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:56:36pm


Malaysian Air authorities saying MH370 still missing. This really isn’t looking good.

It’s one thing for the transponder to have a malfunction. It’s another for the radio system to stop working, but everything to go dark? That’s not good.

170 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:57:31pm

re: #167 William Barnett-Lewis

This crazy friend of mine taught me something about when the wolfpack of cheap imitators bite at the heels of the professionals or artists of creative trades is to constantly escalate the challenge.

Transformative technologies make and break whole industries. It pays to be nimble and very good at what ya do.

The friend was the guy that took precious metallurgy up a couple levels via making spring tension rings that would hold the diamond in place with no prongs. He started in 14kt gold which leaves you 41% alloy to make it a spring or 10,000 psi. That got copied. He then did it in 18kt, only 25% alloy to make it work. It got copied. the he did it in 95% platinum. That did not get copied so easily.

His observation-“F*#k ‘em I made better jewelers out of every one of those guys. They know it, I know it and i made my money at every step.”

Innovation pays.

171 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 6:57:47pm

Meanwhile…

Getty Image

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - MARCH 06: Protesters take cover from Venezuelan security forces during an anti-government demonstration on March 6, 2014 in Caracas, Venezuela. Three weeks of protests against the federal government have shaken the country as business in much of the nation has come to a standstill. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

172 DKoch  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:01:38pm

re: #171 Charles Johnson

I love how the libertarian left thinks these brave kids taking cover behind the make shift barricade are really working for the cia.

173 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:02:37pm

Okay I’d recommend Nebraska. Deserving of the hype. Total opposite of Gravity which was very technically driven while this film was driven by strong dialogue and characters. Not to say I didn’t like Gravity, i did but I definitely thought Bruce Dern and June Squibb earned their Oscar nominations for sure. Oh and I couldn’t believe watching Will Forte that he was the same guy that played Jane Krakowski’s Jenna impersonator boyfriend Paul on 30 Rock.

174 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:04:01pm

As a Getty contributor, and one that gets paid a flat fee and not royalties on resells, I don’t think I’m affected by this. I need to talk to a staffer friend of mine about his opinion on this matter.

175 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:07:20pm

Meanwhile, I always thought Appolonia was beautiful. Tragic end for her, though.

176 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:08:48pm

re: #173 HappyWarrior

I just bought Dallas Buyers Club on Blu-Ray. I can not tell you how amazing a film it is. The acting is superb.

177 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:09:52pm

re: #175 Kid A

Meanwhile, I always thought Appolonia was beautiful. Tragic end for her, though.

[Embedded content]

Always thought Appolonia’s end is where Michael really became what he became. Some say it’s when he kills McCluskey and Sollozo in Louis’ restaurant in the Bronx but I think it was losing Appolonia and I agree, she was beautiful.

178 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:10:42pm

re: #176 Kid A

I just bought Dallas Buyers Club on Blu-Ray. I can not tell you how amazing a film it is. The acting is superb.

Yeah I saw that one a few weeks back. McConaughey really is a terrific actor. I’ve been watching him on True Detective the past two months and wow man, Rust Cohle may be my new favorite character on television.

179 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:11:19pm

Lot of good ones this year. Still need to see 12 Years a Slave, Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, Philomena, and others.

180 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:12:08pm

I just reviewed rosiee’s recent comments, and you know what?

Suspended.

181 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:12:38pm

Way past the warning stage.

182 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:15:37pm

re: #180 Charles Johnson

I just reviewed rosiee’s recent comments, and you know what?

Suspended.

Make it a time-out though instead of a full on block. When you told Rosiee to knock it off she logged off instead of pushing further. I’d argue that merits some quantity of mercy.

It’s your blog though, so my opinion is just that. Having said my piece, I won’t revisit the matter.

183 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:17:09pm

re: #179 HappyWarrior

American Hustle is awesome. Amy Adams is going to marry me, she just doesn’t know it yet.

184 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:18:44pm

re: #183 Kid A

American Hustle is awesome. Amy Adams is going to marry me, she just doesn’t know it yet.

Really need to see it. Another talented and beautiful actress though. She’s got a lot of versatility. I first saw her in Doubt and then saw her in The Fighter.

185 Stanley Sea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:19:07pm

re: #168 Charles Johnson

Saboteurs piss me off.

Airplane disasters somehow wrench the gut more than other disasters. Maybe because most people know the experience of flying in a tin can. So sad/freaky/rough.

186 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:20:50pm

re: #185 Stanley Sea

Airplane disasters somehow wrench the gut more than other disasters. Maybe because most people know the experience of flying in a tin can. So sad/freaky/rough.

It’s scary. I won’t lie. I had a fear of flying for a very long time. Didn’t go on my first plane trip until I was 12.

187 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:23:31pm

re: #185 Stanley Sea

Not sure if that was about rosiee or the plane…

188 Stanley Sea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:23:46pm

re: #185 Stanley Sea

Oops, I replied to the wrong comment. Meant this one

littlegreenfootballs.com

189 Stanley Sea  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:24:09pm

re: #187 Political Atheist

Not sure if that was about rosiee or the plane…

it was a great fail.

190 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:25:10pm

I strongly suspect this is someone who’s had an account here before.

191 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:25:20pm

re: #5 rosiee

Palmerskiss is a left wing extremist.

am i a left wing extremist since i call for the overthrow of the neolithic revolution, or does that make me a reactionary?

192 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:26:01pm

Reading on deadspin the rape report against Darren Sharper, and I have to say it gets me even angrier at these assholes like Todd Akin who try to minimize the horrors of rape.

193 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:26:54pm

Reagan. On stilts.

Getty Image

194 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:27:56pm

re: #193 Charles Johnson

Reagan. On stilts.

[Embedded content]

That at CPAC? That kid looks like he wasn’t even around for H.W let alone Reagan.

195 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:28:03pm

If the glasses are supposed to make him look smart, it isn’t working.

Getty Image

196 sagehen  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:29:35pm

re: #179 HappyWarrior

Lot of good ones this year. Still need to see 12 Years a Slave, Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, Philomena, and others.

I can’t bring myself to see 12 Years; if their portrayal of slavery is even close to accurate, I just don’t have to stomach to see such a thing.

197 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:29:48pm

re: #195 Charles Johnson

If the glasses are supposed to make him look smart, it isn’t working.

[Embedded content]

Here he is at work;
Image: Homer+Simpson1.jpg

198 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:31:04pm

re: #196 sagehen

I can’t bring myself to see 12 Years; if their portrayal of slavery is even close to accurate, I just don’t have to stomach to see such a thing.

That’s actually why I want to see it since it’s based off an actual memoir. Really perked my eyebrow when Derbyshire complained about it and compared it negatively to Gone With the Wind which is literally the face of Lost Cause literature that romanticizes the old South.

199 Archangelus  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:32:26pm

re: #197 HappyWarrior

Here he is at work;
Image: Homer+Simpson1.jpg

Why insult Homer so badly? /KindaSortaNotReally

200 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:33:09pm

re: #186 HappyWarrior

It’s scary. I won’t lie. I had a fear of flying for a very long time. Didn’t go on my first plane trip until I was 12.

My dumbass parents took me with them on a trip to Hawaii when I was 4. They did this because they were exactly the kind of idiots who would do such a thing. I remember that several hours into the flight, I decided to march around the airplane and DELIBERATELY AWAKEN SLEEPING PASSENGERS.

If you flew from the mainland US to Hawaii in 1978 and were mercilessly harassed by an unsupervised child the whole time, that child might have been me. In any event, I apologize.

I have uncomfortably vivid memories of that flight, and they leave me unable to understand why I wasn’t thrown out of the plane, or at the very least confined to the cargo hold.

201 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:33:49pm

re: #195 Charles Johnson

If the glasses are supposed to make him look smart, it isn’t working.

[Embedded content]

I am so sorry my state produced this worthless bastard.

202 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:34:02pm

re: #199 Archangelus

Why insult Homer so badly? /KindaSortaNotReally

Heh I know it’s not fair but Rick Perry wearing glasses reminded me of that episode. I think Burns sees him and assumes that he must be smart because of the glasses. Not sure if that’s the same ep where Dan Castanella had the best mistake ever- I am so smart, s-m-r-t.

203 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:35:34pm

re: #200 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

My dumbass parents took me with them on a trip to Hawaii when I was 4. They did this because they were exactly the kind of idiots who would do such a thing. I remember that several hours into the flight, I decided to march around the airplane and DELIBERATELY AWAKEN SLEEPING PASSENGERS.

If you flew from the mainland US to Hawaii in 1978 and were mercilessly harassed by an unsupervised child the whole time, that child might have been me. In any event, I apologize.

I have uncomfortably vivid memories of that flight, and they leave me unable to understand why I wasn’t thrown out of the plane, or at the very least confined to the cargo hold.

HEY I REMEMBER THAT! Okay I am kidding since my parents hadn’t even met in 1978.

204 Kid A  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:35:46pm

I want to bottle this year’s CPAC and then if I ever have the urge to vote Republican again I can open it to remind me just how fucking off the rails these idiots are.

205 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:36:45pm

re: #195 Charles Johnson

If the glasses are supposed to make him look smart, it isn’t working.

[Embedded content]

Define “working”.

The “Texas Miracle” fraud: Turns out it involves taxing the poor to help the rich get richer

206 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:40:33pm
Texas is not actually a low-tax state. In fact, most Texans pay more taxes than most Californians. That seems strange and incorrect at first — Texas doesn’t even have an income tax! — but it’s true. Thanks to sales and property taxes, Texas is among the states with the ten most regressive tax systems. Texans in the bottom 60 percent of income distribution all pay higher effective tax rates than their Californian counterparts. Texas’ top one-percent are the ones enjoying the supposed low-tax utopia, paying an effective rate of 3.2 percent. The rate for the lowest 20 percent is 12.6 percent.
207 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:41:14pm

re: #204 Kid A

I want to bottle this year’s CPAC and then if I ever HS d the urge to vote Republican again I can open it to remind me just how fucking off the rails these idiots are.

CPAC just offers a somewhat higher concentration of all the usual right wing derpities.

Pretty much every day gives a pointed reminder or two of why nobody should vote GOP unless they are filthy rich and/or insane and/or bound by tribal loyalty.

208 jaunte  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:42:56pm

re: #206 Kragar

This has become the Conservative ideal. Punish the poor with regressive taxes.

209 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:44:02pm

re: #206 Kragar

Gets me to a point about Jim Demint of Heritage and formerly of the Senate. One of the first times I heard about him was him proposing something that would create a national sales tax of 18%. I think that shows you that guys like Demint really don’t favor low taxes at all. They want low taxes for the very wealthy and that’s it. Obama’s proposed a lot of middle class tax relief and shocker Demint and his co-ideologues rejected it.

210 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:44:07pm

re: #208 jaunte

This has become the Conservative ideal. Punish the poor with regressive taxes.

But what could be more fair than a flat tax, especially when you’re making minimum wage or on a fixed income?
///

211 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:44:31pm

re: #208 jaunte

This has become the Conservative ideal. Punish the poor with regressive taxes.

Yep Bastards.

212 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:46:17pm

re: #206 Kragar

GOP tax proposals usually amount to regressive taxation garbage of this sort. They really do want to take from the poor to give to the rich. It’s like they view that as the natural function of government.

In fact, for most of history, that was one of the main functions of governments. Government of the people, by the people and for the people is a recent development predicated on Enlightenment values which the US right now despises.

213 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:46:20pm

re: #206 Kragar

the poor get poorer and the irony gets richer

214 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:47:03pm

“Raising the minimum wage will cost jobs!”

Until you realize that if people have more disposable income, there will be a greater demand for goods and services, so businesses would actually want to hire more workers to meet the higher demand.

215 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:49:10pm

re: #214 Kragar

“Raising the minimum wage will cost jobs!”

Until you realize that if people have more disposable income, there will be a greater demand for goods and services, so business would actually want to hire more workers to meet the higher demand.

bring back slavery and we’ll have 100% employment

216 Lidane  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:49:46pm

re: #208 jaunte

This has become the Conservative ideal. Punish the poor with regressive taxes.

And it ties in neatly with the Prosperity Gospel. Funny that.

If they’re poor, they’re obviously unwashed, evil sinners that just don’t believe hard enough, so they deserve punishment. It’s interesting how the GOP tax plans function much the same way.

217 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:50:09pm

Here’s what is shit. They don’t want to increase the minimum wage and they want to somehow cut government assistance programs too. I actually did see one rare conservative make the point that by raising the minimum wage, you are reducing assistance on government.

218 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:50:31pm

re: #215 dog philosopher

bring back slavery and we’ll have 100% employment

You’ve lost that feudal feeling.

219 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:50:54pm

re: #167 William Barnett-Lewis

I found this for you:

¡No Pasarán!

I’ve been doing some reading a researching on the Spanish Civil War in preparation for an upcoming month that will be dedicated to that conflict and the arms involved in it (which include virtually everything in military use in the first half of the 20th century). One particularly interesting item just arrived last night:

Image: ascasofloorplate.jpg

It’s the magazine for an Astra 400 copy made by the Anarchists during the war - the pistol itself will be arriving shortly. Ascaso was a noted Anarchist hero (or terrorist, depending on who you ask) who died early in the war, and a factory in Tarrasa decided to name their pistol production after him. We will get more into who he was and take a look at one of the pistols later, but in the time being there is a very interesting documentary sympathetic to the Anarchist movement available on YouTube. It was filmed at least a couple decades ago, and is largely composed of interviews with folks who participated in the war (it is in Spanish, with English subtitles). I strongly recommend it for anyone interested in seeing that side of the conflict:

220 Kragar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:51:08pm

re: #216 Lidane

And it ties in neatly with the Prosperity Gospel. Funny that.

If they’re poor, they’re obviously unwashed, evil sinners that just don’t believe hard enough, so they deserve punishment. It’s interesting how the GOP tax plans function much the same way.

Its important that corporations get millions in welfare so they’ll create jobs which only exist on paper because you know how those poor people lie.

221 dog philosopher  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:55:32pm

re: #218 HappyWarrior

You’ve lost that feudal feeling.

on the other hand i do serf the internet quite a bit

222 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:57:07pm

You know what gets me is how they claim the rich are demonized but yet they want to demonize the poor and by demonize I mean actually demonize them. People’s exhibit A would be Paul Ryan claiming that parents on the free school lunch program don’t love their children. You can’t compare that to someone like me thinking the rich should swallow their pride and accept tax increases as we have to accept spending cuts. Could go on and on but I don’t want to hear about how the poor wealthy are being “demonized” from people who make people who receive government assistance out to be lazy moochers who never work a honest day.

223 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:57:27pm

re: #221 dog philosopher

on the other hand i do serf the internet quite a bit

You’ve got chain mail.

224 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:59:42pm

Military spy chief: Have to assume Russia knows U.S. secrets

Washington (CNN) — In the world of military strategy, every contingency must be examined, especially the worst-case scenario.

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, made that clear when he told National Public Radio in an interview broadcast Friday how U.S. officials must plan for the possibility that Vladimir Putin’s Russia has access to American battle plans and other secrets possibly taken by classified leaker Edward Snowden.

“If I’m concerned about anything, I’m concerned about defense capabilities that he may have stolen from where he worked, and does that knowledge then get into the hands of our adversaries — in this case, of course, Russia,” Flynn said of the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Moscow to seek asylum.

A hero to some and traitor to others, Snowden last year disclosed details of the vast U.S. surveillance network put in place after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including how the government keeps records on billions of phone calls for possible use in terrorism investigations.

Flynn said he worried about what else Snowden knows, and how Russia — where Snowden lives now — may have access to the documents. He cited intelligence capabilities, operational capabilities, technology and weapons systems as potential subjects of so far unpublicized information Snowden — and Russia — may have.

Thanks, Snowden!

/spits

225 jaunte  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 7:59:48pm

re: #222 HappyWarrior

Paul Ryan claiming that parents on the free school lunch program don’t love their children.

Yes, it’s surprising how often these cartoon-horrible statements are delivered; most people have been exposed to them so long they’re no longer shocked.

226 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:00:19pm

Don’t talk to me about bootstraps when you want to cut off the bootstraps before I can even walk (student loans being cut, refusing to support a reasonable minimum wage by 2014 economic standards, etc). One of the greatest acts in this country’s history was the GI Bill which many benefited from. It created the modern American middle class.

227 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:00:52pm

re: #222 HappyWarrior

You know what gets me is how they claim the rich are demonized but yet they want to demonize the poor and by demonize I mean actually demonize them. People’s exhibit A would be Paul Ryan claiming that parents on the free school lunch program don’t love their children. You can’t compare that to someone like me thinking the rich should swallow their pride and accept tax increases as we have to accept spending cuts. Could go on and on but I don’t want to hear about how the poor wealthy are being “demonized” from people who make people who receive government assistance out to be lazy moochers who never work a honest day.

We know what demonizing the rich looks like —- see, e.g., old-style communist propaganda. In the entire US, there are probably at most a few hundred radicals on the left that are that far out, and they have no political power.

Pointing out issues with income/wealth concentration in the US, and suggesting remedies such as a good stiff estate tax is most certainly not demonizing the rich.

228 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:02:14pm

re: #225 jaunte

Yes, it’s surprising how often these cartoon-horrible statements are delivered; most people have been exposed to them so long they’re no longer shocked.

Yeah I stopped being shocked a long time ago myself. What shocks me though are middle class folks who continue to think that folks like Ryan have their best interests at heart. They don’t. They simply do not. Ryan had no problem using the same government programs to get himself through college that he now wants cut or in some cases gone all together. Words can’t describe how much that attitude disgusts me. Obama’s said it before, we’re not trying to give people freebies but we want to give them at least a chance to succeed and that’s at the core of what conservatism should be not this Neo-Ayn Rand crap.

229 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:03:33pm

re: #227 EPR-radar

We know what demonizing the rich looks like —- see, e.g., old-style communist propaganda. In the entire US, there are probably at most a few hundred radicals on the left that are that far out, and they have no political power.

Pointing out issues with income/wealth concentration in the US, and suggesting remedies such as a good stiff estate tax is most certainly not demonizing the rich.

Yeah I know the types and they honestly annoy me. The proof in the pudding though is they have no political influence and power. The demonize the working poor crowd though as I showed includes a former Republican vice presidential nominee and his running mate who claimed 47% of the country were moochers when he said how he really felt thinking it wouldn’t be caught on camera.

230 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:03:40pm

re: #219 Dark_Falcon

I found this for you:

¡No Pasarán!

Read that the other day. Forgotten Weapons is an exquisite blog & Ian’s posts are one of the first things I check after LGF in the morning.

Thank you for thinking of me on reading that.

BTW, did you watch the video? It is a good summary of one of the multiplicity of sides in that civil war, some of the anarchists in this case.

Must reread “Homage to Catalonia” yet again sometime soon…

231 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:04:57pm

re: #228 HappyWarrior

Yeah I stopped being shocked a long time ago myself. What shocks me though are middle class folks who continue to think that folks like Ryan have their best interests at heart. They don’t. They simply do not. Ryan had no problem using the same government programs to get himself through college that he now wants cut or in some cases gone all together. Words can’t describe how much that attitude disgusts me. Obama’s said it before, we’re not trying to give people freebies but we want to give them at least a chance to succeed and that’s at the core of what conservatism should be not this Neo-Ayn Rand crap.

Very true. I’m gay, and the so-cons want me to go off and die, with a little help from random thugs.

So the so-cons will always be at the top of my shit list. But so-called “fiscal conservatives” like Ryan really are making a mighty effort to be more evil than the so-con nuts.

232 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:05:40pm

re: #230 William Barnett-Lewis

Read that the other day. Forgotten Weapons is an exquisite blog & Ian’s posts are one of the first things I check after LGF in the morning.

Thank you for thinking of me on reading that.

BTW, did you watch the video? It is a good summary of one of the multiplicity of sides in that civil war, some of the anarchists in this case.

Must reread “Homage to Catalonia” yet again sometime soon…

Didn’t have a chance to see the vid, but I’ll make sure I do.

I’ve gonna sign off for the night now. Sleep Well, All.

233 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:07:54pm

re: #231 EPR-radar

Very true. I’m gay, and the so-cons want me to go off and die, with a little help from random thugs.

So the so-cons will always be at the top of my shit list. But so-called “fiscal conservatives” like Ryan really are making a mighty effort to be more evil than the so-con nuts.

It’s hard for me to decide who’s more evil. Certainly the so-cons drive me bonkers with the anti-gay shit especially but the Randian wing that Ryan represents bothers me too. We have a society that has succeeded because government was willing to invest in its people and they want to get rid of all that. Certainly the government shouldn’t control all economic factors and no one in mainstream liberal politics suggests that but the desire to get rid of stuff that has transformed us into the superpower we became following WWII really bothers me. I am certain that if Paul Ryan and those like him had a say following WWII, they would have complained that the G.I Bill was socialism and a plot to get veterans to vote Democratic.

234 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:15:38pm

re: #233 HappyWarrior

It’s hard for me to decide who’s more evil. Certainly the so-cons drive me bonkers with the anti-gay shit especially but the Randian wing that Ryan represents bothers me too. We have a society that has succeeded because government was willing to invest in its people and they want to get rid of all that. Certainly the government shouldn’t control all economic factors and no one in mainstream liberal politics suggests that but the desire to get rid of stuff that has transformed us into the superpower we became following WWII really bothers me. I am certain that if Paul Ryan and those like him had a say following WWII, they would have complained that the G.I Bill was socialism and a plot to get veterans to vote Democratic.

Santorum and his American Falangism is the most evil right now. He wants to cause a civil war like that of Spain because he knows he will never win at the ballot box. He won’t admit this but if you listen to his stump speeches and compare them to what was said in about 1935 in Spain the parallels are terrifying.

A close second is Ryan and his attempt to pretend to be Catholic and Randian at the same time. Though in that case I have to decide if heresy, apostasy or blasphemy is the correct description for what Ryan does to Christ’s teachings.

235 HappyWarrior  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 8:20:21pm

re: #234 William Barnett-Lewis

Santorum and his American Falangism is the most evil right now. He wants to cause a civil war like that of Spain because he knows he will never win at the ballot box. He won’t admit this but if you listen to his stump speeches and compare them to what was said in about 1935 in Spain the parallels are terrifying.

A close second is Ryan and his attempt to pretend to be Catholic and Randian at the same time. Though in that case I have to decide if heresy, apostasy or blasphemy is the correct description for what Ryan does to Christ’s teachings.

Good points. Speaking of Spain, I’m likely headed there for the first time in the summer months. I plan on re-reading Beevor’s book as well as finally reading For Whom the Bell Tolls and Homage to Catolonia.

236 Ryan King  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 10:09:36pm

re: #7 Charles Johnson

Added a Getty image of Wayne LaPierre to the post.

Supply Side Smeagol

237 Ryan King  Fri, Mar 7, 2014 10:23:15pm
238 Jayleia  Sat, Mar 8, 2014 12:05:41am

re: #234 William Barnett-Lewis

Do you have a link to a good translation of something from the Spanish Civil War and a recent Santorum speech? (I believe you, but I want to be able to confirm)

239 Green Alien  Sat, Mar 8, 2014 5:47:53pm

Pay-to-play!


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