Jump to bottom

447 comments
1 RadicalModerate  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:02:21pm

Sorry.

Watching Cosmos here.

2 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:05:07pm

Kids got the Hockey Game on.

Just finished dinner —ravioli, sausage and garlic bread.

The wonderful thing about living in a major metropolitan area is that if you don’t have time, or don’t want to make ravioli, is that you can buy locally made frozen at the grocery store.

mmmmmmmmm

3 lawhawk  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:05:20pm

Been binging on Cosmos, and watching the new episode. TD will be on On Demand.

4 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:06:55pm

Whoa…. what an opening.

5 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:08:41pm

“Tell me about Grandpa.”

6 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:12:24pm

The yellow king.

7 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:13:15pm
8 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:14:59pm

re: #7 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Alice in Wonderland?

9 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:16:15pm

That was one of the creepiest opening segments I’ve seen in quite some time.

10 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:23:01pm

TD on PVR watching Cosmos

11 PhillyPretzel  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:26:03pm

Mr Selfridge. Not bad. I like Downtown Abbey better.

12 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:28:28pm

I have Cosmos set up to record in EyeTV. But this episode of True Detective is riveting.

13 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:29:08pm

The gospel of infinity your God is too small.

14 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:33:58pm

Cats are watching basketball while I read a few other blogs.

15 The War TARDIS  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:34:37pm

re: #13 jhrhv

The greatest killer of faith are those who constrained Allah’s infinite creation.

16 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:35:00pm

I had never seen this site before today edx.org. Looks very interesting.

17 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:35:06pm

18 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:36:26pm

re: #15 The War TARDIS

The greatest killer of faith are those who constrained Allah’s infinite creation.

A quote worthy of mind altering substances.

/

19 boredtechindenver  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:38:27pm

This is Carcosa

20 Dr Lizardo  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:41:14pm

re: #15 The War TARDIS

The greatest killer of faith are those who constrained Allah’s infinite creation.

Sounds very much like Sufism; something I’d expect to hear my old Sheikh in Berlin say.

And he’d be right, at least in my opinion.

21 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:41:53pm

re: #19 boredtechindenver

This is Carcosa

Hastur. Hastur. Hastur.

22 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:42:39pm

All this creation led to Sarah Palin. Where did it go wrong?

23 Varek Raith  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:44:05pm

re: #22 jhrhv

All this creation led to Sarah Palin. Where did it go wrong?

24 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:44:28pm

re: #22 jhrhv

All this creation led to Sarah Palin. Where did it go wrong?

With the assumption that it has a goal?

25 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:47:46pm

Bitcoin King Pt. II: Mt. Gox’s Dictator Karpelès Proves Tragically Flawed

Interesting in-depth article on Mt.Gox and its CEO. I don’t usually link to DailyTech as it harbors AGW deniers but this is a decent article from them.

26 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:49:43pm

re: #23 Varek Raith

I’m a fan of this one.

evolution

27 RealityBasedSteve  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:50:19pm

re: #23 Varek Raith

[Embedded image]

Sometimes, evolution sucks

RBS

28 Charles Johnson  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:50:29pm

“All around us. Before you were born and after you die.”

29 Floral Giraffe  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:50:43pm

B. Sharp??? My nic is blue for you…

30 Varek Raith  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:51:57pm

re: #27 RealityBasedSteve

Sometimes, evolution sucks

RBS

Yeah, they got cheated on that one.

31 Amory Blaine  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:53:00pm

Awesome visuals on Cosmos.

32 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:53:37pm
33 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:56:26pm

re: #31 Amory Blaine

I think it was a great start to what will likely be a great series. Far more enjoyable to me than the Oscars the Mrs. had on last weekend at this time.

34 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 6:59:01pm

Opening music is haunting and awesome.

35 The War TARDIS  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:00:48pm

re: #20 Dr Lizardo

What is interesting is how Christianity has more or less wiped out any mystical tradition within it. Sufi Islam still lives.

36 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:03:10pm
37 FemNaziBitch  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:04:25pm

bbl

38 RealityBasedSteve  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:08:28pm

re: #30 Varek Raith

Yeah, they got cheated on that one.

I can imagine the Kiwi bird thinking “I coulda been a T-Rex. I coulda been an apex predator, instead of a snack, which is what I am, let’s face it. It was you, Charles Darwin”.

RBS

39 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:12:31pm

This is the STUPIDEST WINGNUT MEME I have seen all day:

40 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:13:40pm

re: #1 RadicalModerate

Sorry.

Watching Cosmos here.

Just finished watching Cosmos. Loved it. Can’t wait to see the rest.

The original Cosmos series gave me a lifelong love of science, even if I never wanted to spend my life in a lab. I’m glad a whole new generation of people will get to see it.

41 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:14:02pm

Hmm. Also: totally Photoshopped.
Also: sixonesixband is a white supremacist.

42 CuriousLurker  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:15:49pm

re: #20 Dr Lizardo

Sounds very much like Sufism; something I’d expect to hear my old Sheikh in Berlin say.

And he’d be right, at least in my opinion.

Speaking of faith & Sufism and all that, I was thinking of something recently. My birthday is coming up later this month as is the one-year anniversary of my aneurysm at the end of April, so my mortality has been on my mind a lot lately.

When I was thinking about it the other day I also remembered how in Islam sleep is compared to death and is sometimes described as “the little death”, which in turn made me remember that the period I was unconscious after the aneurysm was decidedly not sleep-like—it was basically an empty black hole.

That’s odd for me because I dream vividly every night, though when I wake up I can’t always remember exactly what I was dreaming about. But this wasn’t like that at all. I remember being at the hospital with that horrible headache and feeling nauseated & dizzy, then… nothing… zero, zilch, nada… an utterly silent black hole until a day and a half later when I woke up and the world came back into existence for me.

So where was I during that time? I mean me as in CL, the conscious me, my nafs (ego), or whatever? I clearly wasn’t dead, but I wasn’t “here” either.

Weird. (No, I don’t expect you to have an answer for that, I’m just thinking out loud when I should actually be getting ready for tomorrow instead of engaging in self-absorbed navel-gazing.)

43 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:16:56pm

Geographic restrictions prevent me from watching Cosmos live. I’ll have to wait for the copyright-violated Chinese internet version in a few more days.

44 Pie-onist Overlord  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:17:19pm

re: #42 CuriousLurker

When I was thinking about it the other day I also remembered how in Islam sleep is compared to death and is sometimes described as “the little death”,

Le petit mort refers to something else altogether. :)

45 CuriousLurker  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:17:52pm

re: #44 Pie-onist Overlord

Le petit mort refers to something else altogether. :)

LOL—not that!

46 sunnygal  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:19:16pm

We’ll be watching TD On Demand tomorrow morning as we no longer have HBO. It is one of best series I have ever seen and the acting is magnificent. Love the music, too.

47 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:19:53pm
48 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:21:17pm

re: #42 CuriousLurker

(No, I don’t expect you to have an answer for that, I’m just thinking out loud when I should actually be getting ready for tomorrow instead of engaging in self-absorbed navel-gazing.)

A friend used to say the life not examined isn’t worth living.

49 CuriousLurker  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:23:16pm

re: #48 jhrhv

A friend used to say the life not examined isn’t worth living.

True that, as long as you examine it honestly.

50 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:24:23pm

51 sagehen  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:26:56pm

re: #42 CuriousLurker

When I was thinking about it the other day I also remembered how in Islam sleep is compared to death and is sometimes described as “the little death”, which in turn made me remember that the period I was unconscious after the aneurysm was decidedly not sleep-like—it was basically an empty black hole.

In French, orgasm is described as “the little death”.

52 jaunte  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:27:55pm

re: #50 NJDhockeyfan

Vimeo

53 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:28:04pm

re: #40 Lidane

I was hoping it would be a little more weighty. Still I can appreciate the way they laid down the basics and how it would appeal to a younger audience possibly for generation or two.

From that perspective job well done.

54 Varek Raith  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:28:53pm

re: #50 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded image]

I dunno man, looks painful.

55 blueraven  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:31:04pm

I DVR’d Cosmos. Off to watch. D’ont tell me how it ends. //

56 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:32:09pm

re: #49 CuriousLurker

Any other way would be a waste of time. Though sometimes internal honesty is I think hard to achieve. You likely need to get the opinions of others. Getting others to be honest with you and being able to deal with that honesty is not easy.

I have someone in my life that pulls no punches with me. At times it isn’t easy. In the end it’s the only way for me anyway.

57 Single-handed sailor  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:33:17pm

re: #39 Pie-onist Overlord

This is the STUPIDEST WINGNUT MEME I have seen all day:

[Embedded content]

Someone should reply, “That’s because you won’t fund birth control” or something similar.

58 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:35:37pm

re: #53 jhrhv

I was hoping it would be a little more weighty. Still I can appreciate the way they laid down the basics and how it would appeal to a younger audience possibly for generation or two.

From that perspective job well done.

Let’s face it — even what they have shown so far is absolutely going to get the derp flowing. The whole story of Giordano Bruno, the universe being billions of years old, the Big Bang theory, pointing out we evolved, etc. The basics of real science are enough to get people talking.

59 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:37:44pm

re: #58 Lidane

In another time not so long ago that show would have got Neil deGrasse Tyson living the rest of his life in a tower shackled to the floor.

60 CuriousLurker  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:37:50pm

re: #51 sagehen

In French, orgasm is described as “the little death”.

Heh, yep, as VB reminded me right away.

61 Skip Intro  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:42:13pm

re: #59 jhrhv

In another time not so long ago that show would have got Neil deGrasse Tyson living the rest of his life in tower shackled to the floor.

I haven’t checked (and won’t), but you might want to see what the FReepers are saying about this. I imagine that they’re really pissed off at Fox for having aired this blasphemy.

Or you could just wait for Bryan Fisher to start tweeting about it tomorrow.

62 CuriousLurker  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:43:19pm

re: #56 jhrhv

Any other way would be a waste of time. Though sometimes internal honesty is I think hard to achieve. You likely need to get the opinions of others. Getting others to be honest with you and being able to deal with that honesty is not easy.

I have someone in my life that pulls no punches with me. At times it isn’t easy. In the end it’s the only way for me anyway.

That’s pretty much what I was thinking right after I answered you. I can be more adept at lying to myself than anyone I know. Other times I’ve thought I being honest, but was actually making assumptions about things I couldn’t possibly know. Then sometimes when we screw up we get overly critical, which doesn’t really help either.

It can be difficult to maintain a healthy balance.

63 RealityBasedSteve  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:50:07pm

Well gang, I’m off to bed. Gotta get up early to catch the express bus. (Makes for a bit longer day, but not driving 100 miles round trip to work makes it worth it.)

Don’t take any wooden nickels.

RBS

64 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:50:51pm
65 allegro  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:55:18pm

re: #61 Skip Intro

I haven’t checked (and won’t), but you might want to see what the FReepers are saying about this. I imagine that they’re really pissed off at Fox for having aired this blasphemy.

Or you could just wait for Bryan Fisher to start tweeting about it tomorrow.

You think any of them actually watched a science program? Hahaha!

66 Political Atheist  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:56:10pm

What can you learn from True Detective for a traffic jam?

“Let’s make this car a place of silent reflection”

67 Belafon  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 7:56:20pm

re: #53 jhrhv

When the original Cosmos came out, we were in the middle of a science heyday. Now, we’re in a battle with those that would have little trouble with how Bruno was being treated. Both shows were influenced by their times as much as their topics, and Tyson seems to think that ignorance encouraged by religion (and no, not religion itself, which is why I think he focused on Bruno’s infinite universe idea) is something he has to take on.

68 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:01:04pm

re: #62 CuriousLurker

I think at times it has to be good enough to know at least you’re paying attention. Another saying from that friend I mentioned.

Who’s driving the bus?

Just doing the “navel gazing” and asking the questions puts you in a different group from probably 80% of the people we share this planet with that are on autopilot. Not saying it makes you better but at least you’re trying to steer the bus.

69 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:01:30pm

re: #61 Skip Intro

I haven’t checked (and won’t), but you might want to see what the FReepers are saying about this. I imagine that they’re really pissed off at Fox for having aired this blasphemy.

They’re too busy derping about POTUS introducing Cosmos and sneering about how no doubt the whole show will focus on how the universe revolves around Obama. They’re also whining about Seth MacFarlane being a filthy librul atheist and saying they’re going to avoid the show at all costs.

70 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:02:23pm
71 b_sharp  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:03:52pm

re: #29 Floral Giraffe

B. Sharp??? My nic is blue for you…

It isn’t working.
What’s up?

72 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:07:14pm

Sad really that in an age when we all walk around with devices basically better than the Star Trek communicators in our pockets that have instant wireless access to the sum knowledge of all of mankind we still have to deal with people that deny the reality that smacks them in the face.

73 Floral Giraffe  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:08:47pm

re: #71 b_sharp

Will try again!

74 AntonSirius  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:09:33pm

re: #53 jhrhv

I was hoping it would be a little more weighty. Still I can appreciate the way they laid down the basics and how it would appeal to a younger audience possibly for generation or two.

I have to admit, I revised my expectations way downward on the new Cosmos when I noticed Seth McFarlane was producing it.

75 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:12:10pm

Just watched. Wow what an ending.

76 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:13:45pm

How was Cosmos though? So many shows, so little time as I watch Shameless at 9 and DVR TD.

77 Skip Intro  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:14:07pm

re: #74 AntonSirius

I have to admit, I revised my expectations way downward on the new Cosmos when I noticed Seth McFarlane was producing it.

I really like Tyson; the cartoons, not so much.

78 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:20:57pm

re: #74 AntonSirius

I’ll give it a 7 out of 10. The graphics and presentation were great. The science excellent but kind of beginner stuff. It did cover a lot though if you aren’t a nerd who knows the material.

I’m very willing to give it a few more episodes before I give it a pass or fail. I will say I don’t think they are doing the grand presentation the way Carl did. It’s early hours though. I really did like the POTUS starting it and how much they praised Sagan for the original.

I think the series holds a lot of promise. I won’t be at all surprised as they go forward if they really knock it out of the park.

79 AntonSirius  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:23:38pm

re: #78 jhrhv

I’ll give it a 7 out of 10. The graphics and presentation were great. The science excellent but kind of beginner stuff.

That was exactly my fear. I admit I’m not their target demo for the show though.

80 Floral Giraffe  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:26:12pm

re: #71 b_sharp

Thoughts for your son….

81 klys  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:27:33pm

re: #79 AntonSirius

That was exactly my fear. I admit I’m not their target demo for the show though.

Given the apparent level of science education in the general public these days, that falls in line with what I expect and, honestly, what most people need.

82 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:33:56pm

re: #81 klys

Given the apparent level of science education in the general public these days, that falls in line with what I expect and, honestly, what most people need.

THIS.

We live in a country where a substantial percentage of the population believe in a Young Earth and deny that the universe is billions of years old. They think that a scientific theory is just a hunch. Explaining the “simple rules” of science and giving a sense of scale for the universe at large and how it’s amazing that we’re even here at all is a good start.

83 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:37:52pm

re: #82 Lidane

THIS.

We live in a country where a substantial percentage of the population believe in a Young Earth and deny that the universe is billions of years old. They think that a scientific theory is just a hunch. Explaining the “simple rules” of science and giving a sense of scale for the universe at large and how it’s amazing that we’re even here at all is a good start.

As a country, the US has become more fundamentalist and/or dumber than it was when the first Cosmos aired. The new Cosmos has to re-educate a whole new generation of viewers.

84 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:38:45pm

buzzfeed.com
Here’s more rebranding from the party of Lincoln
*Increasingly sounding like the party of Lincoln Rockwell

85 psddluva4evah  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:38:53pm

Alright I liked COSMOS. I especially liked the end where Neil deGrasse Tyson talked about how Carl Sagan encouraged him. As a person of color myself, and a life long science geek it really makes the case to show the importance of encouraging our youth to embrace the sciences! I have a friend who’s a HS science teacher in one of the public school system in DFW and she’s seriously thinking about using the show as a way to get her kids motivated by maybe requiring them to watch an episode. Who knows she could be encouraging the next Neil deGrasse Tysons of a new generation.

ICYMI, President Obama’s introduction to the premier of Cosmos tonight. My local Fox station cut into the clip so I found the complete version.

COSMOS: Presidential introduction

86 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:39:25pm

re: #83 wheat-dogghazi

As a country, the US has become more fundamentalist and/or dumber than it was when the first Cosmos aired. The new Cosmos has to re-educate a whole new generation of viewers.

The fundamentalist revival was really one of the worst parts of the 80’s.

87 b_sharp  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:39:58pm

re: #73 Floral Giraffe

Will try again!

It may be my browser.
Just email me at b_sharp at beadtothebone dot ca

88 b_sharp  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:40:43pm

re: #80 Floral Giraffe

Thoughts for your son….

I thought it might be.

Thanks for your thoughts Floral.

89 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:41:23pm

re: #82 Lidane

THIS.

We live in a country where a substantial percentage of the population believe in a Young Earth and deny that the universe is billions of years old. They think that a scientific theory is just a hunch. Explaining the “simple rules” of science and giving a sense of scale for the universe at large and how it’s amazing that we’re even here at all is a good start.

All too true at even the higher levels.

I’m taking the Coursera Human Evolution course (week 7 of 8) and it’s a solid 100 ~ 200 (~ maybe 300 in places) level college course. Reasonably challenging for a bright undergrad without too much previous exposure to the topic. Still we have crap like the “Aquatic Ape” theory come up in the class forums. Even people who are reasonably well educated can still fall for the silliest shit imaginable.

But I’ve gotten my hands on a great textbook, some amazing video lectures and pdfs of some of the most important papers in the field for my efforts and I’m happy as a clam :) That directory is getting pretty big!

90 RadicalModerate  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:43:24pm

re: #78 jhrhv

I’ll give it a 7 out of 10. The graphics and presentation were great. The science excellent but kind of beginner stuff. It did cover a lot though if you aren’t a nerd who knows the material.

I’m very willing to give it a few more episodes before I give it a pass or fail. I will say I don’t think they are doing the grand presentation the way Carl did. It’s early hours though. I really did like the POTUS starting it and how much they praised Sagan for the original.

I think the series holds a lot of promise. I won’t be at all surprised as they go forward if they really knock it out of the park.

I’m around a 7.5/10 here. The material was very good, and Tyson’s was passable. Really, the only major issue that I have with it is that NDT had a rather subdued delivery of the material. I’ve watched some of his other interviews and presentations, and in those, there was a palpable passion for science, which seemed to be scaled back a LOT during this first show - it appeared like he was wanting to imitate Sagan’s near-poetic delivery in the original Cosmos. There were some nice callbacks to Carl Sagan, both at the beginning, where his original opening was used to introduce the new show, and at the very end, where Tyson gives a short tribute to his mentor. Also, I do miss the inclusion of the rather iconic soundtrack that accompanied the 1980 series.

91 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:43:28pm

If this show gets even some young people thinking more about science then it’s doing its job. We need more intellectual curiousity about the world around us. The fundamentalist world view I think encourages lazy and simplistic thinking where the answer is simply God did it because the Bible says so. It’s a fascinating world we live in and scientific knowledge enhances its beauty not minimizes it despite what zealots like Ken Ham believe.

92 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:44:35pm

So now the Mexican military is coming across the border?

93 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:45:12pm

re: #86 HappyWarrior

The fundamentalist revival was really one of the worst parts of the 80’s.

Saint Ronnie opened the doors to the fundies, and they came in droves to the GOP (God’s Own Party). That’s an entire generation accustomed to the notion that religious belief must necessarily dictate scientific research, political expediency and federal, state and local legislation.

Giant leaps backwards.

94 Floral Giraffe  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:46:31pm

re: #88 b_sharp

Sent!

95 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:46:38pm

re: #91 HappyWarrior

If this show gets even some young people thinking more about science then it’s doing its job. We need more intellectual curiousity about the world around us. The fundamentalist world view I think encourages lazy and simplistic thinking where the answer is simply God did it because the Bible says so. It’s a fascinating world we live in and scientific knowledge enhances its beauty not minimizes it despite what zealots like Ken Ham believe.

Both of my 11 yo daughter want to watch it so I recorded it for them. They love the science channel and one of them wants to be an engineer. I’m one proud papa.

96 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:47:18pm

re: #93 wheat-dogghazi

Saint Ronnie opened the doors to the fundies, and they came in droves to the GOP (God’s Own Party). That’s an entire generation accustomed to the notion that religious belief must necessarily dictate scientific research, political expediency and federal, state and local legislation.

Giant leaps backwards.

Yep and it’s something I’ll never forgive Reagan for. He gave the RR an air of political legitimacy that they lacked until then.

97 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:48:19pm

re: #95 NJDhockeyfan

Both of my 11 yo daughter want to watch it so I recorded it for them. They love the science channel and one of them wants to be an engineer. I’m one proud papa.

Yeah we DVRed it for my 12 year old brother who had baseball camp tonight. Kid wants to be a vet. He’s much more smart and intellectually curious than his brother. Got him a copy of Darwin’s Origins of Species for Christmas and he loved it.

98 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:49:29pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

Don’t forget that the Zetas have military origins. They grew their initial ranks from military officers and recruits and also from police. They’re not just a bunch of cholos standing on a street corner. In some cases the cartels are pretty damn organized and highly trained.

99 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:50:22pm

re: #89 William Barnett-Lewis

I haven’t got around to thanking you for the heads up on that course. I signed up for it and have faithfully watched all the video lectures and done all but one of the activities so far. I haven’t found the time or energy to participate in the discussions (other than the God v. science thread, which devolved pretty quickly into the SOS), or to delve deeper into the extra resources.

I’ve learned a lot. For example, the genetic evidence for the migration of humans into the Americas pretty much blows the “Solutrean hypothesis” out of the water.

100 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:51:11pm

re: #98 Lidane

Don’t forget that the Zetas have military origins. They grew their initial ranks from military officers and recruits and also from police. They’re not just a bunch of cholos standing on a street corner. In some cases the cartels are pretty damn organized and highly trained.

Reminds me of the film Traffic where the general that Benico Del Toro and the other guy(forget his name) dealt with ended up being in cahoots with the cartel.

101 b_sharp  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:52:25pm

re: #94 Floral Giraffe

Sent!

I sent a reply.

102 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:54:42pm

re: #98 Lidane

Don’t forget that the Zetas have military origins. They grew their initial ranks from military officers and recruits and also from police. They’re not just a bunch of cholos standing on a street corner. In some cases the cartels are pretty damn organized and highly trained.

We all know about the drug cartel problems along the border but I wasn’t expecting the Mexican military to take such bold moves like that. I’m curious to see if the State Dept has anything to say about it.

103 jhrhv  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 8:56:27pm

re: #90 RadicalModerate

My wife said the same thing about his delivery. I mostly agree. I think at points he was going for a bit of a humors delivery which he often does. He didn’t pull that off either.

It isn’t an easy role to do. He must feel a lot weight on his shoulders. The best thing he could do is be himself. He’s the perfect person for the show just the way he always delivers science.

104 sagehen  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:05:37pm

I’ve now watched.

I find the conclusion satifying.

Spoiler

“You’re right, we didn’t get them all. But we got *ours*.”

Also, I’m glad they both lived; for awhile I wasn’t sure they would.

105 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:09:44pm

re: #99 wheat-dogghazi

I haven’t got around to thanking you for the heads up on that course. I signed up for it and have faithfully watched all the video lectures and done all but one of the activities so far. I haven’t found the time or energy to participate in the discussions (other than the God v. science thread, which devolved pretty quickly into the SOS), or to delve deeper into the extra resources.

I’ve learned a lot. For example, the genetic evidence for the migration of humans into the Americas pretty much blows the “Solutrean hypothesis” out of the water.

Heh. I’m in that mess of a thread too since I’m a good anglican/episcopalian (no trouble with religion & science since they talk of two utterly separate truths.) but I’ve only read it mostly. Silly thread, thinking is better.

I’ve learned a whole lot from it. I’m really concentrating on the earlier end - I’m really fascinated by the whole Ardipithecus to Australopithecus evolutionary transition because that’s where the real arc to what is us today began. Where Australopithecus shades into Homo is another fascinating question to me - I’ve taken to referring to Australopithecus Habilis for example… yet the eyebrow ridges are so Homo Erectus on so many of the type fossils… O_o I do love the course.

106 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:11:11pm

One thing that I keep aware of is that the YEC assault on science is not just on biology (via attacking evolution), but also has to carry over into the other sciences since many of them have underlying sort of universal theories or mechanisms that do not fit the YEC world view.

Geology is one of them since an old Earth is pretty important for the theories and models that we use. That’s one reason that I was glad that the 45 minute talk I attended today started off with the presenter mentioning that plate tectonics underlies a lot of what she was going to show. And her initial 7-8 slides essentially were showing the various continental plates sliding around across the various geological periods. (Which was sort of key to the talk since the local rocks are metamorphic and massively folded in places.)

107 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:13:11pm

Is that a show on the TeeVee box?

/

(SRSLY, I haven’t been watching it. Is it on basic cable? Maybe I can catch-up, by demand. You folks seem to this is good, and I saw a mention of the King in Yellow… Kinda went to “vague scanning” to minimize spoilers/expectations.)

108 freetoken  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:14:02pm

re: #106 Feline Fearless Leader

It isn’t science which concerns me.

Rather, it is the revisionist history, biased social studies, and very skewed government classes.

109 HappyWarrior  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:14:58pm

re: #108 freetoken

It isn’t science which concerns me.

Rather, it is the revisionist history, biased social studies, and very skewed government classes.

Yeah I’m with you there. I’ve read about some of the stuff that these guys want or have already gotten in history classes. I’m also concerned with how they approach literature too.

110 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:14:58pm

re: #108 freetoken

It isn’t science which concerns me.

Rather, it is the revisionist history, biased social studies, and very skewed government classes.

They still teach government and civics classes?!?
/ (sorta)

111 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:15:39pm

re: #109 HappyWarrior

Yeah I’m with you there. I’ve read about some of the stuff that these guys want or have already gotten in history classes. I’m also concerned with how they approach literature too.

Limited to Jesus in the original English only.
////

112 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:16:51pm

re: #39 Pie-onist Overlord

This is the STUPIDEST WINGNUT MEME I have seen all day:

[Embedded content]

Amazing, the trompe l’oeil effect on the stomach logo that makes it look like it was Photoshopped on later.

That tattoo artist is a genius!

/

113 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:17:35pm

re: #41 Pie-onist Overlord

Hmm. Also: totally Photoshopped.
Also: sixonesixband is a white supremacist.

Scooped, of course!

114 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:18:11pm

re: #108 freetoken

It isn’t science which concerns me.

Rather, it is the revisionist history, biased social studies, and very skewed government classes.

On a serious note the political discussions I keep having with a libertarian “Pox on both their houses” friend about education generally end with me telling him he should be more concerned about it than me since he’s the one with the 5-year-old daughter that is about to be submitted to the public education system.

115 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:21:15pm

re: #55 blueraven

I DVR’d Cosmos. Off to watch. D’ont tell me how it ends. //

The part where Sagan fights the Balrog is pretty cool.

116 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:21:15pm

re: #106 Feline Fearless Leader

One thing that I keep aware of is that the YEC assault on science is not just on biology (via attacking evolution), but also has to carry over into the other sciences since many of them have underlying sort of universal theories or mechanisms that do not fit the YEC world view.

Geology is one of them since an old Earth is pretty important for the theories and models that we use. That’s one reason that I was glad that the 45 minute talk I attended to started off with the presenter mentioning that plate tectonics underlies a lot of what she was going to show. And her initial 7-8 slides essentially were showing the various continental plates sliding around across the various geological periods. (Which was sort of key to the talk since the local rocks are metamorphic and massively folded in places.)

I’m about halfway through a book about William Smith, the “father” of modern geology. Smith was entirely self-educated, and deduced from his work as a surveyor and hydrologist in the British Isles that there was a pattern to the rock layers there. Not only that, he realized that the fossils contained in those layers could be used as a reliable cross-reference to verify that layers in different parts of Britain were laid down at the same time. He noted that the fossil record changed over time, without fully understanding why or how.

It’s a pretty good read. Amazon: The Map That Changed the World.

117 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:24:49pm

Exquisite book. Mr. Smith should be as well remembered as the the other Mr. Smith (Adam) who is so misunderstood by the Teahadi.

118 Feline Fearless Leader  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:24:52pm

re: #116 wheat-dogghazi

I’m about halfway through a book about William Smith, the “father” of modern geology. Smith was entirely self-educated, and deduced from his work as a surveyor and hydrologist in the British Isles that there was a pattern to the rock layers there. Not only that, he realized that the fossils contained in those layers could be used as a reliable cross-reference to verify that layers in different parts of Britain were laid down at the same time. He noted that the fossil record changed over time, without fully understanding why or how.

It’s a pretty good read. Amazon: The Map That Changed the World.

I’ve read it. And the UK is geologically complex enough that it gave him quite a puzzle to work with and also made the results of his work economically valuable to the country.

One of the slides today was essentially of the modern equivalent of that map, but showing eastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York and New Jersey.

119 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:26:46pm

re: #89 William Barnett-Lewis

I’m taking the Coursera Human Evolution course (week 7 of 8) and it’s a solid 100 ~ 200 (~ maybe 300 in places) level college course. Reasonably challenging for a bright undergrad without too much previous exposure to the topic. Still we have crap like the “Aquatic Ape” theory come up in the class forums. Even people who are reasonably well educated can still fall for the silliest shit imaginable.

Awww, Aquatic Ape is fun, though.

Anyone have a good refutation of it, by the way?

I’ve only been exposed to the theory itself, and would like a point-by-point analysis of it, other than “you have no idea of the amount of time it would take for this to work evolutionarily, this is pretty bollocks anyway, and have you met my friend Lamarck?”

120 Political Atheist  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:31:02pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

Cartel paramilitary more likely.

121 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:35:45pm
122 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:36:13pm

For your ponderation:
Assuming everyone always projects their opinions about themselves onto their opponents, what does say about conservatives? What does it say about liberals? And what does it say about the extremist versions of both: the wingnut and the moonbat, respectively?

123 Snarknado!  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:36:58pm

re: #119 chadu

Awww, Aquatic Ape is fun, though.

Anyone have a good refutation of it, by the way?

I’ve only been exposed to the theory itself, and would like a point-by-point analysis of it, other than “you have no idea of the amount of time it would take for this to work evolutionarily, this is pretty bollocks anyway, and have you met my friend Lamarck?”

Wikipedia is a pretty good starting point for objections to the theory.

124 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:38:39pm

re: #119 chadu

Heh. Several of the “digging deeper” readings were chapters from Lewin & Foley’s textbook “Principles of Human Evolution” 2nd edition. I was impressed enough I bought myself a copy from Amazon (not too bad used). This is their take on the topic:

The issue: the idea that human evolution was
triggered by an aquatic phase is widely supported
and discussed outside the mainstream of
paleoanthropology, but is dismissed by most
scientists working in the field. How do we
determine what models are reasonable and
plausible, and which ones are worthy of serious
scientific study?

Paleoanthropology has a reputation for
controversies and arguments, with major
disagreements about who is who, and who
is related to whom, among the fossil
hominins. However, although there is
considerable debate about the details, there
is nonetheless remarkable consensus about
the major aspects of human evolution -
that our ancestors were derived from a
population of African apes, adapting
in increasingly open and savannah
environments to the changing conditions.
Most features, especially bipedalism, are
seen as related to this change.

There is, though, a vociferous minority
on the margins of the discipline who argue
something completely different: that the
hominin lineage went through an aquatic
phase, and it was during this time that the
key characteristics of humanity -
bipedalism, hairlessness, language, tool
making, etc. - all evolved. Rather than
our features being adaptations to drier
terrestrial environments, they are
adaptations to living in water. The key
figure in this model is Elaine Morgan, who
has written a number of highly persuasive
books making these claims, and who has a
strong following on the web and in the
more popular literature. She has, however,
failed to make many if any converts among
the mainstream of the discipline, so that to
the uninitiated it might appear that there
are two models of human evolution “out
there,” talking past each other.

Indeed, it is one of Elaine Morgan’s
complaints that her ideas have been
ignored rather than criticized or dismissed,
and that this is a case of “normal science,”
in the terms of philosopher of science
Thomas Kuhn, ignoring the radical
alternative paradigm rather than engaging
with it. In fact there have been a number
of serious examinations of the theory,
most of which have failed to find support
for it, but it is certainly the case that most
textbooks on human evolution - this one
included - simply ignore the aquatic ape
model.

This model is one among many
“alternative theories” of human origins,
and indeed in that light is one of the most
cogent and best argued. Others posit visitors
from outer space, or strange racial theories
of events deep under ice (for a survey of
these theories see Strange Creations by
Donna Kossy [Feral House, 2001]).

The existence of such models does raise
the question of what it is that distinguishes
a plausible model from an implausible one.
What is it that makes it reasonable to
discuss one model and to dismiss another
out of hand? Is the aquatic ape hypothesis a
reasonable explanation for many unique
features of humanity, and ignored because
it is a challenge to scientific orthodoxy, or is
it a crackpot theory? If it is the latter, then
should the scientific community spend time
and resources refuting it? If it is the former,
how can it become accepted as a good
model?

Hope this helps.

125 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:41:22pm

re: #123 Snarknado!

Wikipedia is a pretty good starting point for objections to the theory.

Ah, if it were a snake it woulda bit me.

Danke!

126 freetoken  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:41:49pm

Getty Image

127 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:41:56pm

re: #124 William Barnett-Lewis

Heh. Several of the “digging deeper” readings were chapters from Lewin & Foley’s textbook “Principles of Human Evolution” 2nd edition. I was impressed enough I bought myself a copy from Amazon (not too bad used). This is their take on the topic:

Hope this helps.

Awesome! Thank you!

128 chadu  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:44:37pm

re: #124 William Barnett-Lewis

This model is one among many “alternative theories” of human origins, and indeed in that light is one of the most cogent and best argued. Others posit visitors from outer space, or strange racial theories of events deep under ice (for a survey of these theories see Strange Creations by
Donna Kossy [Feral House, 2001]).

I’d say that’s 91% “damning with faint praise” rather than “praising with faint damns.”

129 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:48:46pm
130 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:51:30pm

re: #128 chadu

I’d say that’s 91% “damning with faint praise” rather than “praising with faint damns.”

True. Yet it also shows why it still persists despite the utterly crushing reality of the fossil and dna evidence in favor of the savanna hypothesis.

Speaking of this, there was a _very_ good NPR article the other day on the Savanna hypothesis that actually made me cough up the money to download and print a paper on this topic that wasn’t available to our class.

npr.org

Far better conversation than most in the comments section. You’d almost think it was someplace sane rather than a news site… O_o

131 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:51:58pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

So now the Mexican military is coming across the border now?

[Embedded content]

HEY! I thought we were the only ones whose LE was allowed to cross the border!
///

132 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:56:18pm

Holy crap. I never want to go to Carcosa.

Wow.

133 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 9:56:56pm

re: #131 Kragar

HEY! I thought we were the only ones whose LE was allowed to cross the border!
///

OH MY GOD! IT’S PONCHO VILLA!!!! JUST LIKE 1916!!!!!!

Oh, wait, it’s just some cops.

NEVER..mind…

134 William Barnett-Lewis  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:07:07pm

Gotta crash. Take care all.

135 piratedan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:10:45pm

re: #131 Kragar

a quick check of azstarnet.com shows bupkis on this…. now this could be a failing on behalf of the local rag/website but I would think that if there was an incursion, I’d see something…… again, it is Sunday night but I would assume that there’s somebody watching the store….

136 NJDhockeyfan  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:17:19pm

This is odd. Don’t those black boxes send out signals after crashes? They still haven’t found any debris either. The plane has vanished.

137 freetoken  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:19:27pm

Hermaphroditic sex:

Getty Image

138 Floral Giraffe  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:22:39pm

re: #137 freetoken

Nudibranchs rock!

139 dog philosopher  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:36:55pm

re: #138 Floral Giraffe

Nudibranchs rock!

also ctenaphores

140 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:37:28pm

re: #105 William Barnett-Lewis

Heh. I’m in that mess of a thread too since I’m a good anglican/episcopalian (no trouble with religion & science since they talk of two utterly separate truths.) but I’ve only read it mostly. Silly thread, thinking is better.

I went to a service at the Episcopal church downtown once. I grew up Catholic so I figured it wouldn’t be that far off. It was neat. I liked it. Don’t know that I’ll give up my heathen ways, but if I had to pick a church, they’d be a good one.

141 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:43:37pm
142 darthstar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:45:12pm

Holy crap. Magnitude 6.9 quake off Eureka 20 minutes ago. 25 miles off shore.

143 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:49:07pm

re: #142 darthstar

Holy crap. Magnitude 6.9 quake off Eureka 20 minutes ago. 25 miles off shore.

Ruh roh.

144 Kragar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:49:23pm

re: #142 darthstar

Holy crap. Magnitude 6.9 quake off Eureka 20 minutes ago. 25 miles off shore.

Chance of tsunamis?

145 darthstar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:49:24pm

re: #142 darthstar

Holy crap. Magnitude 6.9 quake off Eureka 20 minutes ago. 25 miles off shore.

No Tsunami alerts. NOAA has it at 7.0 though.

146 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:49:54pm

re: #141 Kragar

Grifters gotta grift. He needs some kind of delusional quest so he can fundraise from the rubes.

147 darthstar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:50:10pm

re: #144 Kragar

Chance of tsunamis?

000
WEHW42 PHEB 100527
TIBHWX
HIZ001>003-005>009-012>014-016>021-023>026-100727-

TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 1
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
727 PM HST SUN MAR 09 2014

TO - CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT

THIS STATEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NO ACTION REQUIRED.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0718 PM HST 09 MAR 2014
COORDINATES - 40.8 NORTH 124.9 WEST
LOCATION - OFF THE COAST OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MAGNITUDE - 7.0 MOMENT

EVALUATION

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS
NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. REPEAT. A
DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO
TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.

THIS WILL BE THE ONLY STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.

148 darthstar  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:50:44pm

I fucking love the internet for shit like this. And kittens.

149 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:51:16pm

I think it’s in too deep water, maybe the wrong movement too.

150 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 10:52:26pm

I just upgraded to a Galaxy Note from an iPhone 4. Holy smokes.

151 A Mom Anon  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:00:26pm

Watched Cosmos, loved it. I also liked that Nat Geo ran a marathon of the original. I hope lots of people saw both.

Haven’t seen True Detective yet, it’s on the DVR. This is going to be a hell of a series if this first story they’re doing is any indication.

And finally, be warned people. I just got a notification from my bank (Bank of America) that my debit card was used in Malta for charges from a company called BLS WebLearn. It’s a scam, apparently they charge small amounts, hoping you won’t notice, in my case it was 12 bucks and some change. And of course, I get this message a couple hours ago and there’s no one to take the call until 7 am. And all this comes as the Husband is about to leave town for a couple days, hopefully we won’t need new debit cards issued, but I have a feeling that’s the case. Check your accounts, this is happening to a lot of people.

152 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:04:08pm

We just got charged $7 from a company in Hong Kong. Got an email.

We cancelled our card immediately.

Sound like the same scam: charge a little, see if it gets noticed.

153 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:07:36pm

re: #151 A Mom Anon

Thanks for the heads up. Just checked my account. Nothing, but I’ll be sure to keep an eye on it.

154 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:12:32pm

re: #152 Ryan King

We just got charged $7 from a company in Hong Kong. Got an email.

We cancelled our card immediately.

Sound like the same scam: charge a little, see if it gets noticed.

I got a hefty charge from a company in Cyprus. Turns out the company handles billing for a genealogy website I subscribe to, and the charge was legit. But it took me a while to put two and two together.

155 wheat-dogghazi  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:13:31pm

re: #151 A Mom Anon

re: #152 Ryan King

Have you been shopping at Target lately?

156 Ryan King  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:21:51pm

re: #155 wheat-dogghazi

Have you been shopping at Target lately?

I don’t. Wifey does…. I’ll be back. LOL

157 Aqua Obama  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:34:12pm

re: #92 NJDhockeyfan

The Facebook comments on that are… something else.

Two guys in camo with guns enter our country illegally. Why were they even approached? If you’re defending our borders against such an obvious invasion no matter how small it is you shoot first ask questions later or you’re not doing your job correctly. Were they waiting for something violent to happen before shooting? Entering our country illegally is an act of war especially when you do it while holding a gun and wearing camo.

Bomb runs on Mexico City begin within the hour.

The USA should mine the border, with cameras pointing towards the mines, so we can watch illegal crossers getting gibbed on the internet.

Let’s ask Steven Seagal for a second opinion

158 Lidane  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:43:17pm

re: #157 Aqua Obama

The USA should mine the border, with cameras pointing towards the mines, so we can watch illegal crossers getting gibbed on the internet.

So basically he wants torture porn to jerk off to. Asshole.

159 jonhendry  Sun, Mar 9, 2014 11:47:25pm

Is True Detective going to be (non-HBO Go) streamable or iTunes-able at any point?

160 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 12:27:43am

re: #157 Aqua Obama

The Facebook comments on that are… something else.

Bomb runs on Mexico City begin within the hour.

Let’s ask Steven Seagal for a second opinion

These clowns don’t understand that closing the border is not as easy as shutting a door. Build a wall, people will tunnel under it. Fortify it with gun towers, people will take out the towers. The cartels have enough money to get whatever they want to make their deliveries, including homemade submarines. There’s a point where the ROI does not justify the additional expense.

Paid for with your tax dollars. They never think about who has to pay for their crazy-ass schemes of border protection.

161 Kragar  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 12:33:04am

More on some of the symbolism:

Carcosa


The King in Yellow

For fans of the Cthulhu mythos, the King in Yellow is tied to:

The Yellow Sign

and is considered an avatar of Hastur.

162 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 12:47:38am

Infographic: International sea and air assets looking for missing Flight MN370.

nst.com.my

163 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 12:59:36am

re: #160 wheat-dogghazi

These clowns don’t understand that closing the border is not as easy as shutting a door…There’s a point where the ROI does not justify the additional expense.

Paid for with your tax dollars. They never think about who has to pay for their crazy-ass schemes of border protection.

Not to mention paying $7.00 for that head of lettuce picked by non-immigrants…

164 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 1:11:44am

re: #160 wheat-dogghazi

I have also pointed out that a national ID card system, one which you would need to present as a citizen in order to vote, or as a legal resident to obtain a driver’s license, open a bank account, sign an employment or rental contract, or register children for school, would make it a lot easier to deal with illegal aliens residing here.

Any takers on that one?

I’m going out for a few beers, call me when you realize what a simple and effective idea that would be…

165 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 1:13:27am

re: #164 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

I have also pointed out that a national ID card system, one which you would need to present as a citizen or legal resident in order to vote, obtain a driver’s license, open a bank account, sign an employment or rental contract, or register children for school, would make it a lot easier to deal with illegal aliens residing here.

Any takers on that one?

I’m going out for a few beers, call me when you realize what a simple and effective idea that would be…

Oh, no! It would make it too easy for Obama’s jackbooted thugs to find people and haul them away to FEMA camps for indoctrination or processing into soylent green!

//

166 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 1:22:13am

re: #165 wheat-dogghazi

Conversely, it would allow the evil corporate banksters to crack down on our righteous duebro plans to revamp the economy using a cooperative, decentralized currency based on home-grown bong hits…

167 Ace-o-aces  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 1:50:57am

TD ended on a much more positive note than I would have expected.

168 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 3:29:37am

Fears of Impending Change Darken Normally Lighthearted Odessa

nytimes.com

ODESSA, Ukraine — In a joke making the rounds in this city famous for its humor, wry and dark at the best of times, two condemned prisoners are talking on death row. One suggests they try to run away, but the other says, “No, that will only make things worse.”

“As Crimea prepares for a referendum on joining the Russian Federation, residents here and in other Russian-speaking areas throughout the south and the east of Ukraine find themselves swaying, to greater and lesser degrees, between east and west.

“The country’s new leaders in Kiev were ushered into power by tens of thousands of peaceful protesters in the capital, but also western Ukrainian militias, a matter of grave concern here. The prospect of direct rule by Moscow is only a little less unsettling, if that.”

169 Flounder  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:03:57am

I could get behind the President signing an Executive order to cease using Daylight Savings Time. I woke up, and this is the right time to get up. Carpe Diem!

170 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:10:48am

re: #169 Flounder

I could get behind the President signing an Executive order to cease using Daylight Savings Time. I woke up, and this is the right time to get up. Carpe Diem!

Putin has declared that it is Endless Summer throughout the entire Russian Federation.

In Arizona, where they do not change clocks, most business keep summer hours, 7am-4pm and construction workers start at 5am and work until 2.

171 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:30:57am

Well I woke up in the middle of the night and the little finger on my left hand was swollen and painful like it’s sprained or broken. What did I do while I was sleeping to do that?

I wrapped a couple of band aids around it for a splint, took a Vicodin and went back to sleep.

Now I’m wondering if I should get it xrayed.

172 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:40:48am

re: #171 Pie-onist Overlord

Well I woke up in the middle of the night and the little finger on my left hand was swollen and painful like it’s sprained or broken. What did I do while I was sleeping to do that?

I wrapped a couple of band aids around it for a splint, took a Vicodin and went back to sleep.

Now I’m wondering if I should get it xrayed.

Maybe you injured it sometime yesterday and just didn’t notice at the time? I actually smashed a door against my pinky at work 20 yrs ago, and there is really nothing they can do except splint it. They’re not going to do hand surgery or anything. I learned to live with it looking crooked. It wouldn’t hurt to have your dr look at it, though and rule out an infection and put it in a little splint.

173 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:46:00am

re: #172 Justanotherhuman

Maybe you injured it sometime yesterday and just didn’t notice at the time? I actually smashed a door against my pinky at work 20 yrs ago, and there is really nothing they can do except splint it. They’re not going to do hand surgery or anything. I learned to live with it looking crooked. It wouldn’t hurt to have your dr look at it, though and rule out an infection and put it in a little splint.

My grandmother had a crooked little finger, when I asked her about she said she got it caught in a laundry mangle.

Two thick cloth band-aids are good enough to splint, and I can haz Vicodin. :)

174 klys  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:46:14am

Attempting to grab far-too-little sleep.

See you in the (later) morning, Lizards.

175 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 4:57:57am

Now, solitary confinement is being considered “torture” by some. But hasn’t that person traded their freedom for confinement in the first place by committing crimes? There is a reason most prisoners are put into solitary confinement, and it’s normally because they have acted anti-socially or even are in danger themselves from other prisoners. Many have attacked someone, either another prisoner or prison official, showed some kind of physical aggressiveness, including actual attacks or continual disregard for rules. Solitary confinement is a “last resort” punishment to remove a prisoner from the general population, although it must be used sometimes for the prisoner’s own protection from other inmates or those on suicide watch (and even that is not total isolation, it’s generally done in a separate wing). OTOH, if solitary is simply being used on a whim by incompetents running these prisons, they should be investigated. I think we’ve learned that in too many cases those who abuse their power in prisons exist, and should be stopped. But that’s not the argument here.

Prisons also have a duty to protect those who might be in danger from others; they are responsible for their physical well-being as well as being the place people wind up paying for their crimes. Prisons must protect the vulnerable from physical attacks, rape and all kinds of criminal activities from other prisoners and short of assigning a personal guard, an impossibility, they are restricted in their movements out of necessity. The article make a great assumption that those in solitary are all suffering some sort of mental abuse, a great leap. And it’s not always mental illness that causes behavior problems, either, at least that’s not what we think at this time.

Prison is not supposed to be the Hilton, and solitude is not “torture”. 7Most prisoners are already damaged psychologically when they are incarcerated and yes, there should be more mental health care. But if society at large can’t take care of the folks left on the outside and we keep filling up the prisons, how are we to provide the kind of on-going therapy and assistance to those who have already resorted to criminal behavior? When laws are unjust, they should be changed and that’s what democratic principles maintain. People are constantly working to do this—it’s the lifeblood of many in politics and of defense attorneys in advocating for their own clients.

But are Brooks and Digby projecting their own fears onto people who, for the most part, and unless otherwise proved, deserve to be where they are, paying for their criminal activities? Would those criminals be as humane to their own victims in the first place and would they offer their victims the same “human empathy” Brooks & Digby want for those prisoners? Would Brooks and Digby accept being locked up with many of these folks? Would they even live in the same neighborhood if they knew them personally? Probably not.

176 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:09:38am
177 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:10:48am

re: #175 Justanotherhuman

Reading Glenn Greenwald for no good reason, is torture.

178 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:13:32am

re: #120 Political Atheist

Cartel paramilitary more likely.

Quite likely. Some of the Zetas groups actually do wear uniforms. What likely saved the border patrol agent in question was the knowledge by the cartel gunboys that they wear under video surveillance. They’ve already proven they’ll kill border patrol agents if they think they have to, but doing so on camera is another matter.

179 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:14:14am

re: #178 Dark_Falcon

On a lighter note:

Which “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” Character Are You?

180 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:14:45am

re: #175 Justanotherhuman

Now, solitary confinement is being considered “torture” by some. But hasn’t that person traded their freedom for confinement in the first place by committing crimes? There is a reason most prisoners are put into solitary confinement, and it’s normally because they have acted anti-socially or even are in danger themselves from other prisoners.

This really isn’t always the case. It’s often used for punishment, too.

Solitary confinement is a “last resort” punishment to remove a prisoner from the general population, although it must be used sometimes for the prisoner’s own protection from other inmates or those on suicide watch (and even that is not total isolation, it’s generally done in a separate wing). OTOH, if solitary is simply being used on a whim by incompetents running these prisons, they should be investigated. I think we’ve learned that in too many cases those who abuse their power in prisons exist, and should be stopped. But that’s not the argument here.

The real question is “Does solitary improve anything?”

Prisons also have a duty to protect those who might be in danger from others; they are responsible for their physical well-being as well as being the place people wind up paying for their crimes. Prisons must protect the vulnerable from physical attacks, rape and all kinds of criminal activities from other prisoners and short of assigning a personal guard, an impossibility, they are restricted in their movements out of necessity. The article make a great assumption that those in solitary are all suffering some sort of mental abuse, a great leap. And it’s not always mental illness that causes behavior problems, either, at least that’s not what we think at this time.

Solitary is demonstrably harmful to mental health. Do you think you wouldn’t suffer from solitary?

Prison is not supposed to be the Hilton, and solitude is not “torture”. 7Most prisoners are already damaged psychologically when they are incarcerated and yes, there should be more mental health care. But if society at large can’t take care of the folks left on the outside and we keep filling up the prisons, how are we to provide the kind of on-going therapy and assistance to those who have already resorted to criminal behavior?

We can take care of folks left on the outside, and of criminals too, we just don’t.

But are Brooks and Digby projecting their own fears onto people who, for the most part, and unless otherwise proved, deserve to be where they are, paying for their criminal activities?

Is the point of prison to make them pay, to punish them, or to rehabilitate them?

Would those criminals be as humane to their own victims in the first place and would they offer their victims the same “human empathy” Brooks & Digby want for those prisoners? Would Brooks and Digby accept being locked up with many of these folks? Would they even live in the same neighborhood if they knew them personally? Probably not.

This line of logic is that we should treat criminals the way criminals treat others. I don’t see the appeal of that line of logic.

Our prison systems are a complete mess, we do not safeguard prisoners, solitary is often used as a punishment, and we completely fail prisoners in our duty to rehabilitate them.

181 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:15:39am

re: #177 NJDhockeyfan

Reading Glenn Greenwald for no good reason, is torture.

The article isn’t by Glenn Greenwald.

182 Usually refered to as anyways  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:23:13am

Researchers have demonstrated that prolonged solitary confinement causes a persistent and heightened state of anxiety and nervousness, headaches, insomnia, lethargy or chronic tiredness, nightmares, heart palpitations, and fear of impending nervous breakdowns. Other documented effects include obsessive ruminations, confused thought processes, an oversensitivity to stimuli, irrational anger, social withdrawal, hallucinations, violent fantasies, emotional flatness, mood swings, chronic depression, feelings of overall deterioration, as well as suicidal ideation.

Link…

183 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:24:22am

Regarding that missing Malaysian airliner, the latest updates can be found here: telegraph.co.uk

Turns out that oil slick wasn’t from an airplane. And the two mystery passengers with the purloined passports were, according to the travel agent who booked them, simply looking for the cheapest route to Europe, and made no specific request to fly to China.

I think if were an act of terrorism (which I still can’t rule out) someone would have claimed responsibility for it by now. It’s fairly unusual for any terrorist group to hatch a nefarious scheme and then promptly dummy up about it when it takes place. After all, terrorists thrive on media attention - that’s the entire point of pulling off a terrorist attack.

184 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:27:11am

re: #183 Dr Lizardo

Regarding that missing Malaysian airliner, the latest updates can be found here: telegraph.co.uk

Turns out that oil slick wasn’t from an airplane. And the two mystery passengers with the purloined passports were, according to the travel agent who booked them, simply looking for the cheapest route to Europe, and made no specific request to fly to China.

I think if were an act of terrorism (which I still can’t rule out) someone would have claimed responsibility for it by now. It’s fairly unusual for any terrorist group to hatch a nefarious scheme and then promptly dummy up about it when it takes place. After all, terrorists thrive on media attention - that’s the entire point of pulling off a terrorist attack.

I’m reminded of the EgyptAir 990 for some reason, that went down in 1999. It was determined the pilot was suicidal for personal reasons that had nothing to do with terrorism.

A friend of mine was on that flight. :(

185 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:27:20am

Well, I’m going to buy a 2002 Saturn SL1 from my grandson’s friend today. It’s having a #4 cyl code showing up, he’s tuned up and replaced the ignition coil, so maybe I can live with it. If it’s misfiring, I’ll check out the plug to make sure it’s gapped right, checks the codes myself, and if that’s not it, and if it passes inspection, I’m not going to worry about it for the moment. It’s about the same 5 spd ‘97 I’m driving now, and the clutch is giving me trouble among other small stuff, and which I’m giving to the kid downstairs for $1 (he will work on it to his delight).

He wants $7-800. He’s getting $700 (practically a steal), if I have to take it to a mechanic and/or spend some money on it. It’s drivable (he drove it back and forth to work but got an Explorer) and it’s a good deal I can’t pass up. I don’t think he’s really a Saturn kind of guy, but those Saturns can give you 500K miles before they choke out totally. Love them; good basic car and the only reason GM stopped making them was that they last so long (mine is 17 yrs old already w/almost 300K mi) and GM wasn’t making a ton of money on them. Also, they don’t rust, which isn’t a big problem down south, but can be up north or at the beach.

186 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:28:29am

re: #184 Pie-onist Overlord

I’m reminded of the EgyptAir 990 for some reason, that went down in 1999. It was determined the pilot was suicidal for personal reasons that had nothing to do with terrorism.

A friend of mine was on that flight. :(

Sorry to hear that.

Yes, I remember that incident; there was another one as well where the pilot did the same thing. Silk Air, if I recall correctly.

187 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:35:12am

re: #181 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

The article isn’t by Glenn Greenwald.

No, but Putin’s Poodle is using said article to attack the US, and NJDHF was mocking Greenwald appropriately in return.

188 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:36:37am

re: #180 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Well, I didn’t say it wasn’t used for punishment. It is—as I pointed out.

As a victim, I wouldn’t have given a flying fuck if my rapists had spent the rest of their lives in solitary.

After all, I’ve had to spend a lot of my own life in solitude. But I also enjoy my own company. People who can’t live with themselves usually don’t.

All prisons are not alike. Depending on where they are, how they are run, some prisoners have TV, they have books, access to legal research, job training, education, mental health therapy—many, many opportunities to better themselves, and sometimes, it’s far easier for them to get than on the outside. Prisoners have been known to get college degrees, even master’s, something a lot of us don’t have the opportunity for out here in the real world. Any prisoner who doesn’t take advantage of those opportunities that are offered to them are working against their own selves.

189 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:37:27am

re: #187 Dark_Falcon

No, but Putin’s Poodle is using said article to attack the US, and NJDHF was mocking Greenwald appropriately in return.

I have no idea what you mean by ‘attack the US’. Can you explain?

190 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:39:29am

re: #188 Justanotherhuman

Well, I didn’t say it wasn’t used for punishment. It is—as I pointed out.

As a victim, I wouldn’t have given a flying fuck if my rapists had spent the rest of their lives in solitary.

As a victim, I would, if there was another method that was more rehabilitory.

After all, I’ve had to spend a lot of my own life in solitude. But I also enjoy my own company. People who can’t live with themselves usually don’t.

There is no comparison between someone choosing solitude outside of prison and solitary confinement.

All prisons are not alike. Depending on where they are, how they are run, some prisoners have TV, they have books, access to legal research, job training, education, mental health therapy—many, many opportunities to better themselves, and sometimes, it’s far easier for them to get than on the outside.

There are almost no prisons that match this rosy-eyed view. Almost all our prisons are overcrowded, dangerous, and with only the slightest attempts at rehabilitation, mostly focusing on punishment and containment.

You seem to feel that punishment is more important than rehabilitation. Is that correct?

191 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:40:23am

re: #189 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I have no idea what you mean by ‘attack the US’. Can you explain?

Sure. Glenn Greenwald often tweets links to articles that paint the US in a negative light. He does this at the behest of his Russian paymasters to make the US look bad to its own people and to the world.

192 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:42:23am

re: #188 Justanotherhuman

After all, I’ve had to spend a lot of my own life in solitude. But I also enjoy my own company. People who can’t live with themselves usually don’t.

voluntary social seclusion and solitary confinement have nothing the fuck to do with each other. Even in seclusion, you have access to media, diversions.. pets and activities that you do not get in a bare 8x10’ cell…

193 Usually refered to as anyways  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:44:22am

re: #191 Dark_Falcon

Sure. Glenn Greenwald often tweets links to articles that paint the US in a negative light. He does this at the behest of his Russian paymasters to make the US look bad to its own people and to the world.

Got a link for that?

194 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:46:05am

re: #191 Dark_Falcon

Sure. Glenn Greenwald often tweets links to articles that paint the US in a negative light. He does this at the behest of his Russian paymasters to make the US look bad to its own people and to the world.

We really do have a severe problem with our prisons in this country, it really is a national disgrace, the article was by a ‘conservative’. No matter who points it out, it is a completely valid point to raise. If we weren’t godawful at rehabilitation, we wouldn’t be attackable for it. Instead of whining about being attacked, let’s work to improve.

195 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:46:21am

re: #191 Dark_Falcon

Sure. Glenn Greenwald often tweets links to articles that paint the US in a negative light. He does this at the behest of his Russian paymasters to make the US look bad to its own people and to the world.

That’s a rather subjective criterion: if it involves lies and falsehoods, then it is clearly an “attack”, if it involves a highly slanted, subjective approach to the facts that borders on distortion, then it simply what most people in the USA call “news”…

196 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:47:41am

re: #194 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

We really do have a severe problem with our prisons in this country, it really is a national disgrace, the article was by a ‘conservative’. No matter who points it out, it is a completely valid point to raise. If we weren’t godawful at rehabilitation, we wouldn’t be attackable for it. Instead of whining about being attacked, let’s work to improve.

We want Law and Order and we want low taxes. People like Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona and the modern state and federal prison system are the natural outcome of priorities like that.

197 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:47:45am

re: #190 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

“You seem to feel that punishment is more important than rehabilitation. Is that correct?”

No, I don’t.

And as for that solitude I spoke about, it wasn’t “self-imposed” as you try to say. Those crimes happened when rape victims themselves received no counseling, no sympathy, and were really “slut-shamed” into thinking they were completely at fault.

Have you ever been the victim of another human being’s terror against you? Have you ever had a knife held against your neck and thought you were going to be killed? No, I didn’t care afterwards what happened to those POS. I was made to feel like shit by everyone I was in contact with afterwards. And yes, I’m still angry about that, which is why I’ve worked so that other women got a better shake. You don’t ever “get over” it.

198 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:50:00am

re: #197 Justanotherhuman

“You seem to feel that punishment is more important than rehabilitation. Is that correct?”

No, I don’t.

It is difficult to tell from your posts, since you seem to be objecting to many things that are rehabilitative.

And as for that solitude I spoke about, it wasn’t “self-imposed” as you try to say. Those crimes happened when rape victims themselves received no counseling, no sympathy, and were really “slut-shamed” into thinking they were completely at fault.

Okay. There is no comparison between the two situations.

Have you ever been the victim of another human being’s terror against you?

I was repeatedly raped as an eight year old child.

199 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:51:11am
200 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:52:07am

re: #193 Usually refered to as anyways

Got a link for that?

There’s nothing definative, but I’m sure of it and after all the bullshit Glenn Greenwald has slung this past year he doesn’t get any benefit of the doubt from me.

201 Usually refered to as anyways  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:58:05am

re: #200 Dark_Falcon

There’s nothing definative, but I’m sure of it and after all the bullshit Glenn Greenwald has slung this past year he doesn’t get any benefit of the doubt from me.

Stating untruths does nothing for your credibility with me.

202 Flounder  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 5:58:42am

re: #185 Justanotherhuman

My guess, intake manifold leak. In NY, if your check engine light is on, you can’t get it to pass inspection until it is fixed. Good luck!!

203 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:02:10am

re: #201 Usually refered to as anyways

Stating untruths does nothing for your credibility with me.

It’s not an ‘untruth’ its just not confirmed. Unfortunate if if you dislike it, but that won’t stop me.

204 Usually refered to as anyways  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:02:27am

re: #201 Usually refered to as anyways

Stating untruths does nothing for your credibility with me.

At least you were honest about it…

205 palomino  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:06:24am

re: #203 Dark_Falcon

It’s not an ‘untruth’ its just not confirmed. Unfortunate if if you dislike it, but that won’t stop me.

Won’t stop you from what? Printing guesses as facts?

Greenwald is full of shit. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on Putin’s payroll. If you’ve got proof, show and tell.

206 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:07:07am

Meanwhile, in England…

207 GunstarGreen  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:08:10am

There are a lot of problems with how solitary is used in the US prison system. There are a lot of problems with the US prison system in general. But to call solitary ‘torture’ is to cheapen the word ‘torture’ and to begin a path of eliminating its usefulness as a word to describe acts that should not be committed ever.

There are (a very few) cases where solitary confinement has a legitimate, short-term use. Cases that should be very, very carefully considered before it’s employed. There are no cases where torture is justified, for any reason. I feel that it’s important to retain that distinction.

208 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:09:38am

re: #198 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

It is difficult to tell from your posts, since you seem to be objecting to many things that are rehabilitative.

Okay. There is no comparison between the two situations.

I was repeatedly raped as an eight year old child.

I’m very, very sorry to hear that. I hope your rapist was punished (yes, there’s that word), but pedophiles are never cured. My rapists never went to prison. Only a handful of people know this about me and most people close to me never wanted to discuss it at all after it happened.

I’ve had a few periods of depression and therapy (none of it connected since the therapists didn’t deal with it, either). It has not been an easy road to find happiness. No two people’s stories are ever the same. We have a lot of damaged people, probably far more than we know, some of whom never recover. I’ve had to overlook an awful lot just to be able to function normally. But—I don’t let my impoverished childhood, my lack of a mother, the treatment (or neglect) by my father or any of it be used as an excuse. I’ve always tried to treat others fairly, but I won’t allow my thoughts or actions to be controlled by anyone else while I try to “play by the rules”. That is always the trigger for my anger, but at least I recognize it and try to keep it in check.

209 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:10:46am

re: #202 Flounder

My guess, intake manifold leak. In NY, if your check engine light is on, you can’t get it to pass inspection until it is fixed. Good luck!!

Older cars here in NC can get a waiver if check engine light problem can’t be fixed. I’ve gotten them a couple of times on my current Saturn. : )

210 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:13:24am

re: #206 Backwoods_Sleuth

It is very easy to build a toad underpass, a ten-inch fence will stop them and channel them into a culvert.

211 Usually refered to as anyways  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:13:59am

re: #203 Dark_Falcon

It’s not an ‘untruth’ its just not confirmed. Unfortunate if if you dislike it, but that won’t stop me.

That’s fine its your credibility.
If you want to be known as someone who will makes stuff up that’s up to you.

212 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:16:10am

What’s he gonna say? How much Russia is right about everything Ukraine?

213 b.d.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:16:25am

re: #175 Justanotherhuman

Now, solitary confinement is being considered “torture” by some. But hasn’t that person traded their freedom for confinement in the first place by committing crimes? There is a reason most prisoners are put into solitary confinement, and it’s normally because they have acted anti-socially or even are in danger themselves from other prisoners. Many have attacked someone, either another prisoner or prison official, showed some kind of physical aggressiveness, including actual attacks or continual disregard for rules. Solitary confinement is a “last resort” punishment to remove a prisoner from the general population, although it must be used sometimes for the prisoner’s own protection from other inmates or those on suicide watch (and even that is not total isolation, it’s generally done in a separate wing). OTOH, if solitary is simply being used on a whim by incompetents running these prisons, they should be investigated. I think we’ve learned that in too many cases those who abuse their power in prisons exist, and should be stopped. But that’s not the argument here.

Prisons also have a duty to protect those who might be in danger from others; they are responsible for their physical well-being as well as being the place people wind up paying for their crimes. Prisons must protect the vulnerable from physical attacks, rape and all kinds of criminal activities from other prisoners and short of assigning a personal guard, an impossibility, they are restricted in their movements out of necessity. The article make a great assumption that those in solitary are all suffering some sort of mental abuse, a great leap. And it’s not always mental illness that causes behavior problems, either, at least that’s not what we think at this time.

Prison is not supposed to be the Hilton, and solitude is not “torture”. 7Most prisoners are already damaged psychologically when they are incarcerated and yes, there should be more mental health care. But if society at large can’t take care of the folks left on the outside and we keep filling up the prisons, how are we to provide the kind of on-going therapy and assistance to those who have already resorted to criminal behavior? When laws are unjust, they should be changed and that’s what democratic principles maintain. People are constantly working to do this—it’s the lifeblood of many in politics and of defense attorneys in advocating for their own clients.

But are Brooks and Digby projecting their own fears onto people who, for the most part, and unless otherwise proved, deserve to be where they are, paying for their criminal activities? Would those criminals be as humane to their own victims in the first place and would they offer their victims the same “human empathy” Brooks & Digby want for those prisoners? Would Brooks and Digby accept being locked up with many of these folks? Would they even live in the same neighborhood if they knew them personally? Probably not.

[Embedded content]

I am glad that the period of real torture has passed and now the eternally outraged have to look for new things to call torture.

214 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:22:09am

re: #205 palomino

Won’t stop you from what? Printing guesses as facts?

Greenwald is full of shit. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s on Putin’s payroll. If you’ve got proof, show and tell.

In my opinion its a host of facts that add up to that conclusion. I’ll stop with the ‘paymaster’ stuff, because there’s no money trail, but I’m going to keep calling Greenwald “Putin’s Poodle” because he has taken a clear pro-Russia line and that can be documented.

215 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:23:20am

re: #208 Justanotherhuman

I’m very, very sorry to hear that. I hope your rapist was punished (yes, there’s that word), but pedophiles are never cured.

I don’t hope my rapist was punished, it’s meaingless. Nothing could be done to him that would ever approach the slightest bit of what he did to me. Nor would his punishment make me feel in any way good.

And if pedophiles are never cured, it makes no sense to punish them, anyway. I don’t think pedophiles can be cured of their desire, but I absolutely believe pedophiles can choose whether or not to act on their desires—and that’s something that rehabilitation can help with.

Likewise with a lot of ‘anti-social’ criminals. I don’t think urges and desires can be changed, but we humans can control ourselves. I do not think, in our prison system, we focus at all on teaching the skills of self-control to prisoners.

216 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:24:41am

re: #207 GunstarGreen

There are a lot of problems with how solitary is used in the US prison system. There are a lot of problems with the US prison system in general. But to call solitary ‘torture’ is to cheapen the word ‘torture’ and to begin a path of eliminating its usefulness as a word to describe acts that should not be committed ever.

There are (a very few) cases where solitary confinement has a legitimate, short-term use. Cases that should be very, very carefully considered before it’s employed. There are >no cases where torture is justified, for any reason. I feel that it’s important to retain that distinction.

Very good point. This is really just the squirillness of the English language. Solitary can be used to torture someone, it can be used just to inflict pain and humiliation and damage them, and in that case it is torture, but, unlike something like waterboarding, it is not always torture. It entirely depends on the situation.

217 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:26:04am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. I’ve got to say that I totally enjoyed the reboot of Cosmos. The visuals were engaging and it carried the same kind of tone and heft of the original - right down to my inner voice doing the Sagan “billions and billions” each time Tyson uttered the word billion.

Cosmos is about introducing a wider audience to the magic and mysteries of the universe. It’s got to introduce a wide audience, from elementary school and junior high kids on up to adults who have a solid foundation on science. That means providing something for everyone.

The visuals and production values are outstanding, and it’s a far cry from the original, which used rudimentary computer tech to show how constellations we see in the sky will move over the eons (and have moved).

But it’s the concepts that are most arresting. That science is the pursuit of knowledge, and that theory is testable and sometimes hunches turn out to be right, but you need to do more than just have a hunch. Belief isn’t enough.

The story of how Tyson met Sagan for the first time was a very personal touch and connection between the past and present - and the present and the future, since that’s part of what Tyson’s job entails at the AMNH/Hayden Planeterium. Exposing a new generation to science and getting them hooked. If Sagan could connect with a kid from Harlem, that’s what Tyson want’s to do for today’s kids.

218 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:27:06am

re: #210 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

It is very easy to build a toad underpass, a ten-inch fence will stop them and channel them into a culvert.

Unless they’re the local gentry and have a motorcar. Though even then they probably end up in a culvert anyways.

en.wikipedia.org

219 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:33:07am

re: #218 Feline Fearless Leader

Unless they’re the local gentry and have a motorcar. Though even then they probably end up in a culvert anyways.

en.wikipedia.org

Clearly, Mr. Toad was a member of the Labor Party. No True Conservative would have acted as recklessly as he did.

/////////

220 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:33:22am

Just like people, technology isn’t perfect, either.

Twitter fixes ‘rare’ bug that made protected accounts readable, affecting 93,000 users

Summary: And the bug took no less than four months to fix, according to the company. Kudos to transparency, but sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

zdnet.com

221 chadu  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:45:57am

re: #198 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

(This is one of those times that I’m updinging the person rather than the content of the post; I hope you realize that, Obdi.)

222 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:51:02am

Meanwhile, George Zimmerman was out at a gun show. Signing his autograph for free. Few takers, but that there was any at all shows that some people will believe just about anything.

223 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:53:06am

re: #222 lawhawk

Meanwhile, George Zimmerman was out at a gun show. Signing his autograph for free. Few takers, but that there was any at all shows that some people will believe just about anything.

He has fans among people who do not care whether Trayvon Martin assaulted him, they think he was doing the right thing for ridding his neighborhood of a dangerous thug.

224 Dr. Matt  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 6:59:37am
225 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:02:01am

re: #224 Dr. Matt

I predict the future of journalism will be Ezra Klein & Glen Greenwald sending nothing but snarky tweets at one another.

226 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:05:13am
227 b.d.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:05:48am

re: #224 Dr. Matt

[Embedded content]

That will only last for so long, Greenwald will get pissed at Ezra over something and block him eventually.

228 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:06:46am

Uh oh

229 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:07:36am

Some are calling for a journo boycott of Yanuk presser tomorrow.

230 Dr. Matt  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:12:56am

FYI. Queen (w/ Adam Lambert) are going on tour. Tix going on sale Friday. May be the last time to see Dr. Brian May et al.

ticketmaster.com

231 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:13:20am

The Russians are putting red X’s on the doors of Tatar homes. Is genocide right around the corner?

232 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:16:02am

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

The Russians are putting red X’s on the doors of Tatar homes. Is genocide right around the corner?

[Embedded content]

Probably not, no.

It’s a long step from where we are now to genocide.

233 Ian G.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:17:12am

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

The Russians are putting red X’s on the doors of Tatar homes. Is genocide right around the corner?

[Embedded content]

Pam Geller and Robert Spencer are aroused.

234 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:17:36am

If you’re not turned off by SXSW antics yet…

Justin Bieber Dedicates SXSW Performance To Selena Gomez, Gets Upstaged By Epic Selfie

cosmopolitan.com

235 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:17:54am

re: #232 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Probably not, no.

It’s a long step from where we are now to genocide.

Why are they only marking the homes or Tatars?

236 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:20:56am

re: #235 NJDhockeyfan

Why are they only marking the homes or Tatars?

They are marking them with Crest toothpaste: Tartar control

237 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:21:04am

WTF does this mean? The “situation” that the Russians have created?

Lavrov says Russia has proposals to resolve Ukrainian “situation”

reuters.com

(Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday Russia had drawn up proposals to return the Ukrainian “situation” back to a legislative framework which would take into account all Ukrainian interests.

“At a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov also said he had invited U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to visit Russia on Monday to continue talks, but that Kerry had said on Saturday he wanted to postpone the visit.”

(That’s the entire report.)

238 Teukka  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:21:05am

re: #235 NJDhockeyfan

Why are they only marking the homes or Tatars?

I hope this is just tinfoilery on my side, but the same reason jews homes and businesses were marked 80 years ago?

239 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:24:18am

re: #238 Teukka

I hope this is just tinfoilery on my side, but the same reason jews homes and businesses were marked 80 years ago?

That’s the first thing that crossed my mind last night when I read about it. No it’s not tinfoilery.

240 Dr. Matt  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:24:20am

re: #222 lawhawk

Meanwhile, George Zimmerman was out at a gun show. Signing his autograph for free. Few takers, but that there was any at all shows that some people will believe just about anything.

If we didn’t already have proof that he’s a heartless asshole, it’s officially confirmed now. What a piece-of-shit. He’s flaunting now.

241 Ian G.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:24:35am

re: #238 Teukka

I hope this is just tinfoilery on my side, but the same reason jews homes and businesses were marked 80 years ago?

That’s what worries me. Two brutal Chechen wars makes me think the Russian military and government aren’t going to be the….friendliest to Muslim minority populations.

242 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:25:30am

re: #235 NJDhockeyfan

Why are they only marking the homes or Tatars?

Probably to harass them, dispossess them, maybe to deport them.

Why do you go straight to ‘genocide’?

243 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:25:33am

After a few days of no one claiming responsibility for #MH370, a Chinese terror group has made the unconfirmed assertion:


No sign of the plane. The oil slick isn’t from the plane. The wreckage spotted thus far isn’t from the plane. No one has spotted anything resembling the wreckage or anything having to do with the plane. It’s disappeared.

244 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:26:51am

re: #222 lawhawk

Meanwhile, George Zimmerman was out at a gun show. Signing his autograph for free. Few takers, but that there was any at all shows that some people will believe just about anything.

Haha, “Melissa and Matt” shouldn’t be too hard to identify…

And Z is shaking hands with a 10 yr old (?).

245 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:28:44am
246 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:29:20am

If this turns out to be the case, I hope everyone involved is drummed out of the service.

Judge weighs evidence of possible Pentagon meddling in Army sex case; jury dismissed for day - @AP

end of alert

247 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:30:24am

re: #245 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

“Plenty” for the oligarchs, of course. That will never change.

248 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:31:21am

re: #242 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Probably to harass them, dispossess them, maybe to deport them.

Why do you go straight to ‘genocide’?

I can’t speak for NJDHF, but I will say that what you spoke of would be bad enough. That wouldn’t be genocide, but it would be ethnic cleansing and we all know how brutal that can be.

249 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:31:22am

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

Reading the article closely, there’s a handful of cases so far, and hearsay indicating there may be several more. It isn’t clear that we’re talking about a widespread attack against Tartars, or that this is a sanctioned attack against Tartars by ethnic Russians or the Russian government.

Given the history of the region, the Tartars do have reasons to be worried. The Russians have screwed with them repeatedly, and they may yet do so again. There’s a whole lot of distrust - justifiably too.

But we’re not at that point.

And the threat of this being a situation may have the desired result/effect for the Russians too - get those who don’t want to be under Russian rule to move away to solidify support for the Russian backed “regime”.

250 Targetpractice  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:31:59am

re: #243 lawhawk

After a few days of no one claiming responsibility for #MH370, a Chinese terror group has made the unconfirmed assertion:

[Embedded content]


No sign of the plane. The oil slick isn’t from the plane. The wreckage spotted thus far isn’t from the plane. No one has spotted anything resembling the wreckage or anything having to do with the plane. It’s disappeared.

Now, I’m not saying it was aliens, but…

//

251 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:33:06am

re: #250 Targetpractice

Oceanic Flight 815. The Hatch. The Dharma Initiative. I’m just saying. ///

252 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:34:03am

re: #248 Dark_Falcon

I can’t speak for NJDHF, but I will say that what you spoke of would be bad enough. That wouldn’t be genocide, but it would be ethnic cleansing and we all know how brutal that can be.

Of course it would be bad enough. The current situation—Russia having invaded—is bad enough.

But jumping immediately to genocide is silly, especially since it sets the bar high—as long as the Russians don’t engage in genocide, they’re beating expectations.

253 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:34:27am

Those bastards…

Judge weighs new evidence in Army sex assault case

hosted.ap.org

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The judge in the case against an Army general believed to be the highest-ranking U.S. military officer to be tried on sex assault charges is considering new evidence that a top lawyer at the Pentagon may have unlawfully interfered in a decision on whether to accept a plea agreement that was ultimately rejected.

“Attorneys for Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair presented the evidence, and Judge Col. James Pohl dismissed the jury for the day Monday morning. Pohl then retired to his chambers, where he will weigh the email chain between the prosecution team at Fort Bragg and a top Pentagon lawyer.

“It is unlawful in the military justice system for senior commanders to interfere in prosecutorial decisions.”

254 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:34:59am

re: #243 lawhawk

After a few days of no one claiming responsibility for #MH370, a Chinese terror group has made the unconfirmed assertion:


No sign of the plane. The oil slick isn’t from the plane. The wreckage spotted thus far isn’t from the plane. No one has spotted anything resembling the wreckage or anything having to do with the plane. It’s disappeared.

I’m referring to The Nation’s report, which says Chinese journalists doubt the veracity of the account. It may be an effort to whip up antagonism against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
nationmultimedia.com

Malaysians are also approaching it with some doubt.

Story is also on The NY Post, IBT and Free Republic, which are probably less cautious in their conclusions.

255 Targetpractice  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:36:22am

re: #253 Justanotherhuman

Those bastards…

Judge weighs new evidence in Army sex assault case

hosted.ap.org

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The judge in the case against an Army general believed to be the highest-ranking U.S. military officer to be tried on sex assault charges is considering new evidence that a top lawyer at the Pentagon may have unlawfully interfered in a decision on whether to accept a plea agreement that was ultimately rejected.

“Attorneys for Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair presented the evidence, and Judge Col. James Pohl dismissed the jury for the day Monday morning. Pohl then retired to his chambers, where he will weigh the email chain between the prosecution team at Fort Bragg and a top Pentagon lawyer.

“It is unlawful in the military justice system for senior commanders to interfere in prosecutorial decisions.”

This rabbit hole just keeps getting deeper and deeper.

256 andres  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:36:49am

re: #242 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Probably to harass them, dispossess them, maybe to deport them.

Why do you go straight to ‘genocide’?

Because that’s our worsts fears.

Sometimes it’s good to suppress those fears, since all they do is worsen the situation. I still have some hope this is the case.

257 Teukka  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:38:21am

re: #242 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Probably to harass them, dispossess them, maybe to deport them.

Why do you go straight to ‘genocide’?

Because ethnic clensing usually devolves pretty rapidly to genocide?

What was it that Justice Robert Jackson said almost 70 years ago?

“The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant and so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored because it cannot survive their being repeated”

— Opening address for the United States prosecution at the Nuremberg Trials

258 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:39:17am

This is according to the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov.

259 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:40:34am

re: #258 Justanotherhuman

This is according to the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov.

This is very bad news. What the hell are the Russians thinking here?

260 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:41:03am

re: #252 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Of course it would be bad enough. The current situation—Russia having invaded—is bad enough.

But jumping immediately to genocide is silly, especially since it sets the bar high—as long as the Russians don’t engage in genocide, they’re beating expectations.

Sure, you can keep believing it’s just the Russians ‘harassing’ them but they themselves are worried its much much more. History would show why they are.

261 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:41:30am

re: #257 Teukka

Because ethnic clensing usually devolves pretty rapidly to genocide?

I haven’t evaluated enough cases of ethnic cleansing to say whether or not that’s true, but do you really, really think that Russia is about to murder hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tartars? That’s your actual position of what’s about to happen?

262 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:42:15am

re: #259 wheat-dogghazi

This is very bad news. What the hell are the Russians thinking here?

Ethnic cleansing, most likely. They’ll return the passports when the Tatars repatriate themselves to Ukraine proper.

263 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:42:48am

re: #258 Justanotherhuman

This is according to the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov.

[Embedded content]

It just harassment!
//

264 Teukka  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:44:26am

re: #261 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I haven’t evaluated enough cases of ethnic cleansing to say whether or not that’s true, but do you really, really think that Russia is about to murder hundreds of thousands of Crimean Tartars? That’s your actual position of what’s about to happen?

That is the last thing I want to happen. But with the knowledge base in 20th century history I have, I know that the most likely outcome of this is 40/60 ethnic clensing or genocide.

265 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:44:36am

re: #260 NJDhockeyfan

Sure, you can keep believing it’s just the Russians ‘harassing’ them but they themselves are worried its much much more. History would show why they are.

I think the most likely scenario is the Russians forcibly deporting the Tartars to Ukraine proper, expelling them, or putting them in super-ironic camps or ghettos or some such. Which is all, in case it’s not clear, really fucking awful and terrible.

I do not think that Russia is going to pointlessly murder hundreds of thousands of Tartars right now, no.

266 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:44:45am

I just got home, so I haven’t had much time to check up on this rumor of the Chinese Martyr’s Brigade bringing down the Malaysian Flight MH370. But, after checking the Chinese news, I found only one short article about it, which advises it is only a rumor and to ignore these claims of responsibility.

If it had any substance, the Chinese media would be all over it, because 150 Chinese were on that flight.

For now, I’m calling it bullshit.

267 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:45:03am

re: #264 Teukka

That is the last thing I want to happen. But with the knowledge base in 20th century history I have, I know that the most likely outcome of this is 40/60 ethnic clensing or genocide.

Can I ask for the equation you use to arrive at that calculation?

268 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:45:17am

According to previous reports, 2 female activists and 1 female journo have not been heard from since trying to enter Crimea.

269 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:45:41am

FWIW, I’ve seen a few reports about this in the last couple of hours.

Missing Malaysia Airlines plane: Duo with stolen passports not Asian-looking, ‘look like footballer Balotelli’

270 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:45:53am

re: #263 NJDhockeyfan

It just harassment!
//

Why are you lying repeatedly about what I said?

271 andres  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:46:37am

re: #262 Dr Lizardo

Ethnic cleansing, most likely. They’ll return the passports when the Tatars repatriate themselves to Ukraine proper.

Turkey is starting to look like another wildcard in this whole conflict.

Damn the fools!

272 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:47:27am
273 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:48:09am

Well, I went to the ER and got my hand xrayed. No fracture but it is very swollen and bruised so they’re thinking it’s probably sprained. No clue what caused it, maybe I punched the wall in my sleep but Zedushka fell asleep in front of the TV so he wasn’t around to see it.

So now I have a splint and a $200 ER-visit copay. Thanks Obama!

Actually not thanks to Obama but thanks to the staffing agency who negotiated the contract with the HMO.

274 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:49:05am

Oh and I can haz Vicodin.

275 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:49:09am

re: #273 Pie-onist Overlord

Have you been having kung fu dreams? //

276 iossarian  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:50:42am

re: #274 Pie-onist Overlord

Oh and I can haz Vicodin.

Suburban Grandmother in Prescription Painkiller Hell

277 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:51:55am
278 Teukka  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:53:19am

re: #267 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Can I ask for the equation you use to arrive at that calculation?

Simply noting the pattern of past genocides in the 20th century. Factoring in previous behaviors of Russians against moslem minorities in their realm. Noting the power the Orthodox Christian Right Wing as has in Russia. Wanting to forget what the latter has preached from the pulpit.

The writing on the wall is not legible at this distance on the T axis, but the general structure suggests that crimes against humanity are very likely.

And I intentionally have not factored in the presence of Serbian nationalists and Russian Nazis in the mix.

279 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:53:35am

People need to understand that genocide isn’t something you should trivialize. For example, in Italy, France, Hungary, and many other places in Europe, the murders of Roma often go mostly uninvestigated, the disappearance of Roma almost always go uninvestigated. There is a huge amount of abuse and oppression of the Roma, but there isn’t genocide. There is a long, long distance between oppressing a population and committing genocide against them.

For a long time in the US, murders of black men and women were barely investigated and the white murderers were often let off by all-white juries. This, too, did not mean that we were committing genocide against African-Americans.

280 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:55:12am

In what parallel world is what Snowjob did a “gift”?

281 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:56:56am

re: #280 Justanotherhuman

Y’know, if surveillance were completely transparent, it wouldn’t be surveillance.

282 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:58:11am

Nice picture of the beautiful USS George H. W. Bush…

283 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:58:32am

re: #279 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

There is a bit of difference between a government that is aware of systematic persecution of minorities and does not take sufficient measures to stop it, and one that actively engages in it

284 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:59:37am
285 andres  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 7:59:41am

re: #280 Justanotherhuman

In what parallel world is what Snowjob did a “gift”?

[Embedded content]

It is a gift in this world. He didn’t say for whom it was a gift.

286 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:00:03am

re: #279 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

People need to understand that genocide isn’t something you should trivialize. For example, in Italy, France, Hungary, and many other places in Europe, the murders of Roma often go mostly uninvestigated, the disappearance of Roma almost always go uninvestigated. There is a huge amount of abuse and oppression of the Roma, but there isn’t genocide. There is a long, long distance between oppressing a population and committing genocide against them.

For a long time in the US, murders of black men and women were barely investigated and the white murderers were often let off by all-white juries. This, too, did not mean that we were committing genocide against African-Americans.

Well, forcing those you buy and sell as slaves to adhere to the owners’ culture actually is a kind of genocide—cultural genocide. We’ve seen that over and over again, also, where natives have also been captured by colonialists and imperialists. It leaves a terrible legacy.

287 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:05:05am
288 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:07:31am

re: #283 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

There is a bit of difference between a government that is aware of systematic persecution of minorities and one that actively engages in it

Yes, but the governments of Italy, France, Hungary do engage in systemic persecution of the Roma, and the US government did engage in systematic persecution of African-Americans.

289 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:08:19am

I’m assuming “Kabanenko” is General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Vice Admiral Ihor Kabanenk. Kunitsyn is a UKR MP and Afghan vet.

uacrisis ‏@uacrisis 8m

Kunitsyn: 120K of Afghan vets in Ukraine. Are ready to get mobilized.


uacrisis ‏@uacrisis 11m

Kabanenko: 30K Russian militaries are currently present in #Crimea.


uacrisis ‏@uacrisis 12m

Kabanenko: #Crimea is just a base for Russian troops to move further.

290 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:08:55am

re: #286 Justanotherhuman

Well, forcing those you buy and sell as slaves to adhere to the owners’ culture actually is a kind of genocide—cultural genocide.

I’m not talking about slavery-time, though. Slavery was real, actual genocide, though accidental genocide—the percentage of slaves that survived the passage from Africa to the US was abysmal, and the number that survived the work they were put to cut that number down lower.

291 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:10:56am

re: #285 andres

It >is a gift in this world. He didn’t say for >whom it was a gift.

Well, maybe he did.

Barton Gellman at South by Southwest: ‘I’ve been on the paranoid side for about 7 years as a national security reporter’; ‘This is 1 of the great gifts of Edward Snowden, is the bringing of transparency of what surveillance can do’ - @usatodaytech
see original on twitter.com

292 makeitstop  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:10:56am

‘Morning, Lizards.

Something cool I learned over the weekend - how many of you knew that NASA had its own alternative rock radio station? A pretty decent alternative playlist interspersed with science!

293 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:11:09am

re: #278 Teukka

Simply noting the pattern of past genocides in the 20th century. Factoring in previous behaviors of Russians against moslem minorities in their realm. Noting the power the Orthodox Christian Right Wing as has in Russia. Wanting to forget what the latter has preached from the pulpit.
.

Russia recently invaded Georgia. Did they commit genocide against Georgians? They (and the Georgians) definitely committed war crimes against civilians, but there wasn’t actual genocide, right?

294 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:14:41am

re: #293 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Russia recently invaded Georgia. Did they commit genocide against Georgians? They (and the Georgians) definitely committed war crimes against civilians, but there wasn’t actual genocide, right?

Russia has a clear and fairly recent history of mass deportation of Crimean Tatars. Grounds enough for concern.

295 Teukka  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:15:07am

re: #293 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Russia recently invaded Georgia. Did they commit genocide against Georgians? They (and the Georgians) definitely committed war crimes against civilians, but there wasn’t actual genocide, right?

No. But the Georgians are Christians. The Tatars are not.

296 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:16:36am

Also, Mt Gox files for bankruptcy in Fed Bankruptcy Court.

Judge considers Michael Dunn sentencing delay
Defense attorney Cory Strolla asks to withdraw from case

news4jax.com

So, the State is going to retry the murder case, it appears. Is this a ploy to keep Dunn out of prison on the other charges until that is resolved?

297 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:17:08am

re: #294 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Russia has a clear and fairly recent history of mass deportation of Crimean Tatars. Grounds enough for concern.

There’s enormous grounds for concern, especially of mass deportation—and with mass deportation comes a ton of death and suffering. What I’m saying is leaping immediately to ‘genocide’ is silly, and, moreover, gives the Russians cover because if they don’t engage in genocide they’re beating expectations.

re: #295 Teukka

No. But the Georgians are Christians. The Tatars are not.

Has there been genocide of the Chechens?

298 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:18:07am

re: #295 Teukka

No. But the Georgians are Christians. The Tatars are not.

The Croatian Utasse committed what one could call genocide against the Serbs who were fellow Christians in WWIII. I don’t think anyone is denying that the Russians do plan to oppress the Tatars and there is legitimate cause for concern but Obdi is talking about genocide. I think everyone agrees there will be repression and that certainly is awful but there is a difference between that and genocide.

299 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:19:16am
300 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:20:23am

re: #299 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Only 100%? I thought turnout would be an unprecedented 177% for the dear leader 3.0.

301 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:23:37am

re: #300 HappyWarrior

NOK uses the referendum as a census. Everyone must vote, and for their own sakes, must vote for the Fearless Leader v3.0.

302 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:24:43am

re: #301 wheat-dogghazi

NOK uses the referendum as a census. Everyone must vote, and for their own sakes, must vote for the Fearless Leader v3.0.

Is this version the one with the touch-screen interface, or is that going to be v4.0?
//

303 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:27:21am

re: #302 Feline Fearless Leader

Is this version the one with the touch-screen interface, or is that going to be v4.0?
//

I hope v.4.0 comes with a better GUI. The present GUI is somewhat bloated and needs better visuals.

304 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:29:59am

Says the guy who believes in exorcisms:

305 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:30:03am

“Semyvolos” is Igor Semyvolos, director of Ukraine’s Association of Middle Eastern Studies

306 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:31:04am

re: #304 Lidane

Says the guy who believes in exorcisms:

[Embedded content]

Gawd, he’s such a resentful asshole. “I should be president! I am the most brilliant!”

307 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:31:14am

re: #304 Lidane

Says the guy who believes in exorcisms:

[Embedded content]

Or the guy that compares an AG whose sister in law was oppressed by an arch-segregationist to said arch-segregationist.

308 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:31:42am

Hey all,

Found out this morning about a local county Assistant Veterans Service Officer position. As a vet who likes seeing all vets get their hard earned benifits, the position would be perfect for me. The application deadline is close off biz today so I’m scrambling to update my resume

STAY AT HOME DAD
July 2008 - Present
Responsibilities /Achievements
Primary child care duties.
Design and implementation of household operational procedures.
Supervising, training and managing children and their needs.
Complaint resolution,
Household bookkeeping and finance management

Oy … but anyway, prayers, thoughts good vibes & the rest are requested of the lizard community. Thanks. Back after it’s turned in.

Now where is that DD-214 hidden?

309 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:32:36am

re: #308 William Barnett-Lewis

Hey all,

Found out this morning about a local county Assistant Veterans Service Officer position. As a vet who likes seeing all vets get their hard earned benifits, the position would be perfect for me. The application deadline is close off biz today so I’m scrambling to update my resume

Oy … but anyway, prayers, thoughts good vibes & the rest are requested of the lizard community. Thanks. Back after it’s turned in.

Now where is that DD-214 hidden?

Good luck. Sounds like a good fit.

310 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:32:48am

re: #308 William Barnett-Lewis

Good luck, WBL!

311 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:34:33am

re: #308 William Barnett-Lewis

Hey all,

Found out this morning about a local county Assistant Veterans Service Officer position. As a vet who likes seeing all vets get their hard earned benifits, the position would be perfect for me. The application deadline is close off biz today so I’m scrambling to update my resume

Oy … but anyway, prayers, thoughts good vibes & the rest are requested of the lizard community. Thanks. Back after it’s turned in.

Now where is that DD-214 hidden?

Wikipedia says that it was sold and then scrapped in Philadelphia in 1946.
en.wikipedia.org
;)

312 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:35:23am

re: #308 William Barnett-Lewis

Dazzle ‘em with your brilliance! Good luck!

313 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:35:59am

bwahahaaa…

314 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:36:49am
315 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:38:41am

re: #313 Backwoods_Sleuth

bwahahaaa…

[Embedded content]

Dance Darrell Revolution!

316 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:39:53am
317 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:41:14am

re: #315 HappyWarrior

Dance Darrell Revolution!

Everyone’s getting in on it.

Image: dancing-stalin-o.gif

318 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:41:20am

re: #316 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Does he think people are so stupid they wouldn’t find out anyway?

319 Bulworth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:42:13am

Well I’m glad to discover at least one other True Detective addict here at LGF. I’ve been totally hooked. The best TV I’ve seen in many years.

320 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:42:15am

re: #317 Dr Lizardo

Everyone’s getting in on it.

Image: dancing-stalin-o.gif

I think dancing with Stalin would be like being in applause at the Politburo. Stop dancing and it’s a one way trip to the Gulag.

321 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:42:48am

re: #319 Bulworth

Well I’m glad to discover at least one other True Detective addict here at LGF. I’ve been totally hooked. The best TV I’ve seen in many years.

Same, can’t wait for Season 2.

322 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:43:04am
323 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:43:41am
324 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:43:59am

re: #320 HappyWarrior

I think dancing with Stalin would be like being in applause at the Politburo. Stop dancing and it’s a one way trip to the Gulag.

“Let him go. Is old Lenin number!”

:)

325 Bulworth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:44:27am

re: #308 William Barnett-Lewis

Good luck! And how can they argue with that list of qualifications?

326 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:44:31am
327 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:44:36am
328 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:45:26am
329 wheat-dogghazi  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:45:33am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

Matt Barber needs a sign on his back that says, “I’m an asshole. Kick me.”

330 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:45:42am

re: #323 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Most likely, it’s ethnic Russians trying to “convince” the Tatars to leave.

They could also trying to provoke an incident, thereby giving the Russian personnel in Crimea an excuse to crack down. Either possibility wouldn’t surprise me.

331 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:46:48am

re: #323 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

Probably the “Cossack” thugs Russia is employing in Crimea.

332 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:47:00am

re: #330 Dr Lizardo

Most likely, it’s ethnic Russians trying to “convince” the Tatars to leave.

They could also trying to provoke an incident, thereby giving the Russian personnel in Crimea an excuse to crack down. Either possibility wouldn’t surprise me.

How many nut tweets so far about that if the Tartars had had guns none of this would be happening?
/////

333 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:48:57am

re: #331 Justanotherhuman

Probably the “Cossack” thugs Russia is employing in Crimea.

And of course, the moment someone burns down a Russian business in retaliation, the Russians are gonna scream, “OH MY GOD ITZ TEH JIHAD WE’RE BEING PERSECUTED!!”

334 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:49:01am

A conspiracy meme is born, thereby proving once again that common sense isn’t just dead, it’s been cremated and Alex Jones is smoking the ashes in his Aqua Buddha bong:

Bizarre: missing Malaysia Airlines passengers’ phones ring, but no one answers

Freeper response
Some attempt the hopeless task of explaining the obvious, you don’t really hear the phone ring when you call, but they are run over by the woo-woo bandwagon.

335 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:49:19am

Teehee. Love the little editorial comment. Same thing she said about Bieber news.

Editor’s note: Edward Snowden will speak at South by Southwest via videoconference at 12 pm ET. Alert ‘South by Southwest 2014’ for updates or mute the topic to skip it. - Stephanie

end of note

336 Skip Intro  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:49:34am

re: #332 Feline Fearless Leader

How many nut tweets so far about that if the Tartars had had guns none of this would be happening?
/////

I think the people who normally would do that are cheering the Russians for doing this (Why can’t we do that to the illegals? Damn Obama!), so probably none.

337 William Barnett-Lewis  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:50:21am

re: #311 Feline Fearless Leader

Wikipedia says that it was sold and then scrapped in Philadelphia in 1946.
en.wikipedia.org
;)

Hah. Good one!

338 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:52:38am

“these Russians are stupid as fuck”…

339 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:52:42am
340 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:53:00am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Yeah because having to provide business for the whole population is just like being a second class citizen. Matt, my dear boy, read up what actually happened to German Jews before you spout off that inane shit.

341 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:53:05am

re: #326 Pie-onist Overlord

Every time some fundie douchenozzle pulls this shit, an actual Holocaust survivor should be handed a cluebat.

342 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:54:06am

re: #334 Shiplord Kirel

A conspiracy meme is born, thereby proving once again that common sense isn’t just dead, it’s been cremated and Alex Jones is smoking the ashes in his Aqua Buddha bong:

Bizarre: missing Malaysia Airlines passengers’ phones ring, but no one answers

Freeper response
Some attempt the hopeless task of explaining the obvious, you don’t really hear the phone ring when you call, but they are run over by the woo-woo bandwagon.

Just like Alex Jones to exploit a tragedy for conspiracy theories.

343 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:54:32am
344 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:55:53am

re: #341 Lidane

Every time some fundie douchenozzle pulls this shit, an actual Holocaust survivor should be handed a cluebat.

Seriously. These people go out of their fucking way to cheapen the horrors of Nazi Germany when they say shit like this. Oh I can’t discriminate against gay people. Yeah because that was what was evil about the Nazis. Not they physically attacked and killed people for being Jewish. If anything and I hope this isn’t a violation of Godwin here but here goes, Barber and his allies mindset on gays is much more closer to what the Nazis thought of the Jews than pro-gay people and gay people want out of fundies. We just want you guys to treat them like human beings you fucks.

345 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:58:52am

re: #343 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Well, if it was terrorists, they could have threatened the crew and had them turn off communications and the transponder, so searching the area 2 hrs out would have been fruitless if that were the case.

346 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 8:59:00am

UNLESS YOUR GAY WANTING TO GET MARRIED OR WOMAN WHO WANTS ABORTION THEN WERE ALL INTRUSIVE IN UR BUSINESS!!!!

347 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:00:18am

Janie might not be the most batshit crazy wingnut but she is the leader in SHEER VOLUME OF DERP.

348 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:00:33am

re: #346 Pie-onist Overlord

UNLESS YOUR GAY WANTING TO GET MARRIED OR WOMAN WHO WANTS ABORTION THEN WERE ALL INTRUSIVE IN UR BUSINESS!!!!

[Embedded content]

Excessive and intrusive government? Oh is that why Justices Scalia, Rehnquist, and THomas voted to uphold a sodomy law. Or why Ken Cuccinnelli the Tea Party darling actually wanted to outlaw oral sex.

349 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:01:20am

re: #347 Pie-onist Overlord

Janie might not be the most batshit crazy wingnut but she is the leader in SHEER VOLUME OF DERP.

She wins the prize for Cognitive Dissonance, that’s for sure. Yeah conservatives are against intrusive government. Yep, that’s why they want the government telling consenting adults they can’t marry.

350 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:02:24am

The facemask army ready for deployment!

351 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:03:46am

So apparently Snowden’s SXSW talk is starting. My Twitter TL is filled with news about it.

352 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:03:58am

re: #346 Pie-onist Overlord

UNLESS YOUR GAY WANTING TO GET MARRIED OR WOMAN WHO WANTS ABORTION THEN WERE ALL INTRUSIVE IN UR BUSINESS!!!!

[Embedded content]

These conservatives sell a few books and think they shouldn’t have to pay taxes on their profits. Especially if the book contains lies.

353 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:05:23am

WTF?

354 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:05:24am

Meanwhile, in Sweden, Nazis put a dude into a coma and hurt a bunch of other people.

thegreatswedishunknown.wordpress.com

355 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:05:44am

re: #351 Lidane

So apparently Snowden’s SXSW talk is starting. My Twitter TL is filled with news about it.

Live stream here in case anyone is interested.

texastribune.org

356 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:06:00am

re: #353 Backwoods_Sleuth

WTF?

[Embedded content]

He’s calling the referendum in Crimea invalid. He’s right.

357 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:06:33am

re: #356 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

He’s calling the referendum in Crimea invalid. He’s right.

He could have chosen his words much better.

358 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:07:26am

re: #357 Backwoods_Sleuth

He could have chosen his words much better.

Why, because someone people will take him at face value? I like sarcastic McCain better than lying-out-his-ass McCain, so I don’t really have a problem with him calling out the referendum and Kim Jong’s election as invalid.

359 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:07:43am

re: #354 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Meanwhile, in Sweden, Nazis put a dude into a coma and hurt a bunch of other people.

thegreatswedishunknown.wordpress.com

Yikes. Fucking Nazis.

360 Eclectic Cyborg  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:07:48am

re: #355 Justanotherhuman

Live stream here in case anyone is interested.

texastribune.org

I bet the NSA is beaming it in to all of their offices.

361 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:08:09am

Snowden speaking in front of an enlarged US Constitution. “We the People”…

362 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:10:36am
363 Kragar  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:11:08am
364 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:11:20am

They say it’s going to snow again in my part of the world. THIS WEEK!

you?

365 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:12:05am
366 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:12:48am

Gah!

367 Kid A  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:13:42am
368 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:13:50am

re: #364 FemNaziBitch

They say it’s going to snow again in my part of the world. THIS WEEK!

you?

65F here today & tomorrow…16F Wednesday night with snow.
I give up…

369 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:13:57am

re: #364 FemNaziBitch

They say it’s going to snow again in my part of the world. THIS WEEK!

you?

Pretty nice here, except colder on Thurs. In short sleeves for a few days.

forecast.weather.gov

370 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:14:27am

#AskSnowden hashtag swarmed with spambots

371 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:14:57am
372 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:15:29am

Woops, VB!

373 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:15:48am

re: #367 Kid A

[Embedded content]

Here’s a fact for you Heritage, you made Obamacare back in the 90’s when you were hating on Hillarycare.

374 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:16:25am

re: #339 Backwoods_Sleuth

That’s a seriously long ways off from where the search operations had been focusing.

375 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:16:47am

re: #374 lawhawk

That’s a seriously long ways off from where the search operations had been focusing.

yep

376 Kragar  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:17:11am
377 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:17:23am
378 HappyWarrior  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:18:58am

re: #377 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Good luck getting a straight answer on that or really an answer at all.

379 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:19:19am
380 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:20:27am
381 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:20:47am

ALL THE UPDINGS:

382 Gus  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:20:52am

This stunt at SXSW should be really good for improving Austin’s reputation for the rest of Texas.

383 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:20:52am
384 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:21:31am
385 piratedan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:21:35am

asksnowden: why didn’t you feel compelled to bring these alleged privacy abuses to a member of Congress or a Senator?

386 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:22:46am
387 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:23:27am

WTFITS

388 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:24:10am

Seven proxies?

389 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:24:37am

“Patriots” admire a KGB agent more than POTUS.
STOP CALLING YOURSELVES PATRIOTS U FUCKBAGS

390 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:25:04am

He looks like 7 kinds of douche.

391 b.d.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:25:06am

Assange’s Skype deal at SXSW was all jacked up too.

2 for 2, basic technology problems shouldn’t happening there.

392 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:26:03am

re: #382 Gus

This stunt at SXSW should be really good for improving Austin’s reputation for the rest of Texas.

Austin’s reputation in the rest of Texas is a combination of total bullshit and conservative fantasy. We don’t have hippie drum circles on every corner and the city isn’t as librul as the RWNJs want to say it is.

393 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:26:57am
394 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:27:11am
395 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:27:55am

I like Fred…

396 Kragar  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:29:06am
397 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:29:32am

*headdesk*

398 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:30:07am

ask snowmen:what is your opinion of the beatings of journalists by your host Russia in Crimea?

399 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:30:56am

re: #397 Lidane

*headdesk*

[Embedded content]

It’s utterly freaking impossible to monitor EVERYONE’S communications with current resources.

What a fucking doucheturd.

400 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:31:05am

re: #396 Kragar

401 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:33:12am

re: #364 FemNaziBitch

They say it’s going to snow again in my part of the world. THIS WEEK!

you?

Rain on Wednesday.

402 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:33:19am

Well, you didn’t think it would be Angela from Durham, NC, did you?

403 Ian G.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:33:23am

re: #387 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

Remember, kids, “KGB officer” (in occupied East Germany) is now a good thing to have on your resume, according to the wingnuts. I hesitate to go overboard on the whole “Reagan would be unwelcome in today’s GOP” thing, but this one must have the Gipper spinning in his grave.

404 b.d.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:34:39am

So many f-ing idiots out there.

405 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:34:47am

NO SECRETS! The dudebro axis will not be happy until they get our nuclear launch codes. At that point, terrorists and crazy people will launch a strike at Russia and Snowden’s hideout will be vaporized.

406 Kragar  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:35:49am
407 Ian G.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:37:09am

re: #406 Kragar

There’s also the juxtaposition of the two kinds of wingnuts out there: the unhinged lunatic, and the shameless mountebank.

408 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:37:39am
409 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:37:49am

re: #406 Kragar

typical leftist misogyny and envy that conservative women are hotter than all those liberal hags…

410 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:38:13am

So apparently this wingnut “Janie Johnson” thinks “Susie’s Lemonade Stand” is a documentary and not a stupid Verizon commercial.

411 ericblair  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:39:01am

re: #404 b.d.

So many f-ing idiots out there.

[Embedded content]

Yep, couldn’t be because of our lack of regulation of last-mile carriers leads them to have no incentive to upgrade your crappy-ass access network so you can bittorrent your Clone Wars episodes.

412 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:40:12am
413 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:40:23am

re: #387 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

ah! Choom Gang reference from the other night.

414 Dr. Matt  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:40:36am
415 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:40:57am

re: #403 Ian G.

Remember, kids, “KGB officer” (in occupied East Germany) is now a good thing to have on your resume, according to the wingnuts. I hesitate to go overboard on the whole “Reagan would be unwelcome in today’s GOP” thing, but this one must have the Gipper spinning in his grave.

They blithely ignore the Godless Communist aspects of it (after all, Putin is now a churchgoing capitalist) and see it in terms of order, discipline and respect for authoritye.

416 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:41:00am
417 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:43:27am

It’s like that whole Cold War thing never happened:

418 Shiplord Kirel  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:43:56am

re: #403 Ian G.

Remember, kids, “KGB officer” (in occupied East Germany) is now a good thing to have on your resume, according to the wingnuts. I hesitate to go overboard on the whole “Reagan would be unwelcome in today’s GOP” thing, but this one must have the Gipper spinning in his grave.

1948 Republican: “Are you now, or have you ever been, a Russian agent?”
Witness: “I refuse to answer on the grounds that doing so might tend to incriminate me.”
1948 Republican: “That’s all we need! Crucify the commie bastard!”

2014 Republican: “Are you now, or have you ever been, a Russian agent?
Witness: “Why, yes. Here’s my KGB/FSB CV right here.”
2014 Republican: “Thank God for right-thinking Christian leaders like you!”

419 FemNaziBitch  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:44:10am

so, is there any good reason not to ignore Edward Snowden?

420 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:45:19am
421 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:46:05am

Let me guess—they are selling an “NSA-proof” encryption package?

422 Internet Tough Guy  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:46:32am

re: #419 FemNaziBitch

If I didn’t know any better I would think this is a parody of YouTube teabagger video.

423 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:46:47am

Damn, is Tim Berners-Lee still asking his question?

424 Ian G.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:47:06am

re: #415 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

They blithely ignore the Godless Communist aspects of it (after all, Putin is now a churchgoing capitalist) and see it in terms of order, discipline and respect for authoritye.

Yeah, you’re probably right. The right used to have a hard-on for Pinochet, but he’s been worm food since 2006 and out of power since 1990 (and the pussy just handed power over without a fight! To soshumalists!). Putin is a far more relevant, powerful daddy figure for the right to snuggle up to.

425 Pie-onist Overlord  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:47:16am

SPELING IZ A COMUNEST PLOTT!!!!!!

426 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:47:25am

re: #421 Pie-onist Overlord

Let me guess—they are selling an “NSA-proof” encryption package?

Ignore the Cyrillic lettering on the package - there are no back doors in this product.
//

427 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:47:48am

Shorter Snowden:

428 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:48:48am

re: #425 Pie-onist Overlord

SPELING IZ A COMUNEST PLOTT!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

“Mama” can’t spell, either.

429 b.d.  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:48:54am

REMEMBER! THERE IS NO WAY PUTIN COULD HAVE LET SNOWDEN LEAVE RUSSIA BECAUSE HE DIDN’T HAVE THE CORRECT DOCUMENTS!!!1!

PUTIN’S HANDS WERE TIED!! THAT GATE ATTENDANT NEVER WOULD HAVE LET PUTIN PUT SNOWDEN ON A PLANE!!

430 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:49:55am
431 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:50:39am
432 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:51:18am

Bwahahahaha!

433 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:52:25am
434 ericblair  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:54:00am

re: #430 Lidane

Mass surveillance contributed to failures to stop bombers

Assuming this is Boston, doesn’t the argument boil down to “NSA says it doesn’t intercept domestic communications! Bombers used domestic communications to plan bombing! US Government didn’t stop the bombing! NSA failed!”

Or am I missing something here?

435 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:54:49am
436 Internet Tough Guy  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:55:48am

re: #434 ericblair

Why would you think that facts are relevant?

437 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:57:00am
438 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 9:59:50am
439 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:00:04am
440 lawhawk  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:02:32am

re: #434 ericblair

That’s exactly what’s going on here.

The NSA’s ability to conduct surveillance within the US is limited, and requires warrants and oversight via FISC.

His statements once again show how easily Greenwald and Snowden conflate terms, issues, and disparate facts to further their own goals.

441 NJDhockeyfan  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:03:54am
442 Feline Fearless Leader  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:09:30am

The Greenwald Test:
1. Does GG make money from this?
2. Does this support GG’s ego?

443 Lidane  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:19:08am

Mental health break:

444 chadu  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 10:59:35am

re: #353 Backwoods_Sleuth

WTF?

[Embedded content]

Shaddup, Uncle Mumbles. Also, you’re no good at sarcasm.

445 Not Approved By The MPAA  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 11:34:38pm

About “True Detective” — the show this open thread mentioned …

I think the characterization of Erroll Childress as simply white trash ignores his lineage and the entire point some viewers made about “Louisiana” being the perpetrator. Childress is a bastard of Louisiana royalty. He is product of externally pure, internally putrid Tuttle/Childress clan. To take an analogy from Joseph Conrad, the Tuttles are the exterior of the white sepulchre and the Childress’ (specifically Erroll) its rotten interior. The whole family is rotten and corrupt and Erroll’s morbidity serves to show that despite all the white-painted, high-tech ministry buildings, the Tuttles and the entire system is rotten to its core.

I, for one, enjoyed the ending because it gave me the one twist I wasn’t expecting: optimism. I expected either Marty or Rust or both to die. When they both took seemingly fatal wounds, I thought that was the end for them and they would die in Carcosa with Erroll never to be discovered. As much as I enjoyed the dark, nihilistic tone of the entire show… I found myself hoping that wasn’t it. Rust didn’t find peace or religion in the end, but rather horrible purpose. What he “witnessed” in “Carcosa”, what he experienced in the coma with the vision of his deceased daughter and his breakdown in the penultimate scene allowed us as viewers to realize that all of his prior certainty via his nihilistic point of view, was self-manufactured as a defensive mechanism — and now — its gone, so he has no idea how to live as he has been cocooned within that dormant state for so long, it is probably impossible for him to imagine life in any other fashion — yet — he’s still alive and he doesn’t know why, but he feels there’s a reason for it… which puts him firmly with the rest of us losers trying to find meaning in our lives and telling each other stories. What’s left to do in that situation but to look for the glimmering bits of hope against the infinite darkness? Also, look at Hart when his family (who he’s had almost no contact with in the prior two years before the shows present day setting and resolution) comes to see him in the hospital … When asked how he is, he continues to insist that he’s fine, which is beyond absurd, but it does showcase the sheer cloak of denial he has wrapped himself in for the majority of his adult life, but now, the weight of all of it and I mean ALL of it, finally breaks him and he finally, finally allows those he loves most to see him in a vulnerable place — and he is all the better for it.

This show, warts, faults and all, is one of the most brilliant examples of television I’ve ever been witness to. A cop show that wasn’t about cops. A serial killer murder mystery that really wasn’t a mystery, really wasn’t about cops, really wasn’t about a serial killer, yet engaged me far more so than anything I’ve seen dealing with any of the aforementioned subjects — cause it took the protagonists in a deadly serious, unapologetic manner and offered us a piece of work that was challenging to experience. It demanded audience involvement from the very first frame to the very last and as such, the assumption was the audience is smart enough to make connections and work out resolutions even when such things, ultimately, were not supplied by the filmmakers themselves. Each individual viewer will have their own thoughts as to what, exactly, Rust “saw” in the caves of Carcosa. Every viewer will have their own thoughts as to who or what was “The Yellow King” …

I know I do.

And that’s okay, in my book.

In the end, what I do know for certain is that I’ve witnessed and participated in eight of the most amazing hours of television yet produced. ‘Nuff said …

446 Not Approved By The MPAA  Mon, Mar 10, 2014 11:48:54pm

re: #5 Charles Johnson

“If you’re good, I’ll bring you some more water around noon …”

Creepy as f**k …!

447 Not Approved By The MPAA  Tue, Mar 11, 2014 1:11:55am

re: #12 Charles Johnson


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
2 days ago
Views: 105 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 270 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1