Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) Dumps Loony Right Wing Hate-Blogger After Outcry

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Politics • Views: 18,789

Remember my post about New Mexico GOP Rep. Steve Pearce hiring a completely whacked-out insane right wing blogger as his press secretary? Only yesterday Pearce was pretending he would stick by Rebekah Stevens despite the voluminous evidence of her extremism, racism and hate speech — which he knew about before hiring her.

Well, looks like things were getting a little too hot for Steve to handle: Rep. Steve Pearce’s New Press Secretary Resigns Amid Controversy.

Just four days after announcing Rebekah Stevens as his new press secretary, Rep. Steve Pearce has accepted her resignation. Stevens was affiliated with the PolitixFireball website that had made inflammatory remarks about Jews, Muslims and others - including many journalists in New Mexico.

“I am proud to hire passionate, hardworking, and dedicated congressional staff out of New Mexico,” Pearce said in a statement this morning. “When I hired Miss Stevens, I hoped she could transition from activist to become an asset to the people of New Mexico. It is now clear that major obstacles will prevent this. I asked for and accepted her resignation this morning. I hold myself and my staff to the highest level of accountability, and any distractions that hinder my service to New Mexicans must always be addressed.”

Oh man, the Tea Partiers are going to be very upset with our Steve.

Jump to bottom

455 comments
1 Justanotherhuman  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:42:12pm

Oh, goody! I love it when these reactionaries are forced to back off from their decisions like this. : )

2 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:43:35pm

I heard this was coming.

Now, it seems the Republican congressman - who is the midst of what could be his toughest re-election campaign - has had a change of heart and decided he doesn’t need the distraction.

That’s even better news. I gave his opponent $5 yesterday.

3 GeneJockey  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:47:15pm

I thought he WAS a loony right wing hate blogger!

4 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:50:21pm

Steve Pearce is every bit as crazed as Rebekah Stevens. He just hides it a little bit better.

5 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:53:12pm

I added his twitter handle so he’ll see it.

6 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:55:07pm

RINO!

7 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:55:23pm

re: #4 Charles Johnson

Steve Pearce is every bit as crazed as Rebekah Stevens. He just hides it a little bit better.

Indeed. To go with an analogy from Greek mythology, this is like removing five grams of horse crap from the Augean stables.

The GOP has an immense amount of work to do to become a party with which it is possible to respectfully disagree.

8 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:56:27pm
9 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 5:58:28pm
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced its first wave of “Red to Blue” U.S. House contenders for the midterm elections Monday, picking mostly women for a program meant to highlight the best recruits from around the country.

Rocky Lara is on the list. This means the committee thinks she can win. Past opponents of Pearce were pretty weak because he was not seen as beatable.

10 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:03:15pm
11 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:05:01pm

From the not really OT department, an excerpt from “The Rights and Duties of Masters”, an 1850 sermon by the Rev. James Henry Thornwell:books.google.com

These are the mighty questions which are shaking thrones to their centres—upheaving the masses like an earthquake and rocking the solid pillars of this Union. The parties in this conflict are not merely abolitionists and slaveholders—they are atheists, socialists, communists, red republicans, jacobins, on the one side, and the friends of order and regulated freedom on the other. In one word, the world is the battle ground—Christianity and Atheism the combatants; and the progress of humanity the stake. One party seems to regard Society, with all its complicated interests, its divisions and sub-divisions, as the machinery of man—which, as it has been invented and arranged by his ingenuity and skill, may be taken to pieces, re-constructed, altered or repaired, as experience shall indicate defects or confusion in the original plan. The other party beholds in it the ordinance of God; and contemplates “this little scene of human life,” as placed in the middle of a scheme whose beginnings must be traced to the unfathomable depths of the past, and whose development and completion must be sought in the still more unfathomable depths of the future—a scheme, as Butler expresses it, “not fixed, but progressive—every way incomprehensible”—in which, consequently, irregularity is the confession of our ignorance—disorder the proof of our blindness, and with which it is as awful temerity to tamper as to sport with the name of God.

This kind of ‘reasoning’ remains typical of the US right to this very day, and even seem to be gaining ground within the GOP.

12 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:08:58pm

Louvenia Baggs is a bot, set up to retweet me for some reason. I’d love to know who’s doing this kind of shit.

13 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:10:15pm

@baggs_maple

14 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:11:25pm

There’s a fairly young guy running for the nomination to run against Susana Martinez for governor. I spent some time trying to find out whether he’s pro-choice (not a given for Dems around here). Yesterday a campaign staffer told me he is, and that he’s going to be endorsed by Wendy Davis. More good news. Still waiting to see it in print and on his website, though.

15 nines09  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:12:47pm

Apparently Rep. Steve Pearce thought he could walk a sewer rat through the crowd and no stink would rise off the rodent. Caught. He liked her. Loved her work. Peas in a pod. Caught.

16 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:13:05pm

Derp.

17 wrenchwench  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:15:22pm

Later, lizards.

18 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:16:35pm

Putin reaches out to Obama as Russian troops continue to mass on Ukraine border (warning:Stupid autoplay video)

The increase is due to the continued arrival of logistical units - for instance, field hospitals - that would be needed to sustain operations. The intent of the buildup is still not known but the Russians have assembled “all the elements of combat power” needed to invade, according to officials.

Analysts have come up with four potential scenarios that could unfold, Martin reports. First, the Russians could cut all the way across Ukraine to the pro-Russian enclave of Transdniester in Moldova; second, they could try to take Kiev; third, they could take the predominantly Russian-speaking cities of southeastern Ukraine; and finally, they could take the cities necessary to establish a land corridor to Crimea.

Russia has the forces to execute any of these scenarios, Martin reports, and they are ready to go with little or no notice. As with all buildups, a military force can only sustain a peak level of readiness for so long before it starts to decay - the old “use it or lose it” syndrome. They could use it by invading, conducting an exercise or standing down.

That would fit with Putin’s mention of the blockade of Transdniester in the phone call today. Damn, sweeping all the way across southern Ukraine would be quite a bold move.

19 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:17:36pm
20 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:18:25pm

re: #18 Killgore Trout

Just remember, he might not.

21 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:20:19pm

re: #16 Gus

Derp.

Now fixed. In case you were wondering.

22 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:21:50pm

re: #19 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Only The Mighty Greenwald can get away with that!

23 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:23:21pm

re: #21 Gus

Now fixed. In case you were wondering.

[Embedded content]

Still wondering. What gives?

24 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:23:58pm

re: #23 Decatur Deb

Still wondering. What gives?

Walker. Waters. Walker. Waters…

25 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:24:16pm

re: #21 Gus

Now fixed. In case you were wondering.

[Embedded content]

Ya, you had me going on that one… I didn’t notice the typo(s) in with the name.

RBS

26 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:24:46pm

re: #23 Decatur Deb

Still wondering. What gives?

Alice Walker is also a noted Juice hater.

27 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:24:48pm

re: #24 Gus

Walker. Waters. Walker. Waters…

One’s obviously a cook. What is the other?

28 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:26:39pm

re: #27 Decatur Deb

One’s obviously a cook. What is the other?

Author of “The Color Purple”

RBS

29 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:26:49pm

re: #26 Gus

Alice Walker is also a noted Juice hater.

Ah. She’s not world-famous in Alabama. (Too common a name, and they’re pushing the cook.)

30 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:27:53pm

re: #28 RealityBasedSteve

Author of “The Color Purple”

RBS

And David Icke admirer.

31 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:28:45pm

The Telegraph’s US editor tries to come up with an explanation of our fundamentalism lunacy:

Good reasons why so many Americans believe in Noah and his flood

His conclusion:

[…]

But viewed in a historical context, asking the faithful to defend the Bible, and the literal truth of the Genesis creation story and Noachian flood is a rational response to the rising tide of scientific reason that brought in all kinds of morally questionable flotsam and jetsam.

Rational and - up until now, at least - remarkably effective.

32 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:31:36pm
33 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:32:05pm
34 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:32:29pm

re: #32 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

They still at it? Had enough. Really.

35 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:37:12pm

So many fundamentalists (both Christian and Muslims) up in arms about Noah.

Apparently Hollywood is blaspheming something or other.

Now, for your historical lesson of the day, a non-Biblical Bible story, courtesy of Hollywood:

Youtube Video

36 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:37:15pm

re: #11 EPR-radar

Following up from earlier, we also have this choice nugget of steaming bullshit from the 1850 sermon:

It is the great law of providential education, that to every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. In this way the reign of universal justice is promoted, and wherever that obtains, the development of the individual, which is the great end of all social and political institutions, must infallibly take place.

In other words, taking from the poor to give to the rich promotes universal justice.

The GOP is acting on this identical platform all over the country 164 years later. Conservatism truly does not change at all.

37 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:38:17pm

Apparently the movie Noah is a documentary and Colbert’s character is real. Welcome to America.

38 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:38:34pm

re: #34 Gus

They still at it? Had enough. Really.

It’ll drag on for another day or two. But somebody else will say something outrageous and it’ll start all over again. Colbert is safe but the next victim might not be.

39 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:39:05pm

Apparently there were canned sardines on the Ark.

That’s what Hollywood tells me.

40 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:39:37pm

re: #34 Gus

They still at it? Had enough. Really.

You probably shouldn’t read this, then: We Want to #CancelColbert | TIME.com.

Yes, TIME magazine is promoting this whargarbl.

41 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:39:50pm

re: #39 freetoken

And the worst bilge in history.

42 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:42:59pm

Any fundies worried that Hollywood had any motive to film this biblical story beyond, “well crap ran out of comic books” may be over thinking this.

43 thedopefishlives  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:43:42pm

re: #33 Gus

Heh!

And given the way the Twins are shaping up this year, there’s going to be a lot of those getting sold. Well, selling a lot of them to a few customers, that is.

44 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:44:02pm

Here’s a complete, and higher quality, version of that Disney classic:

Youtube Video

45 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:45:20pm

re: #39 freetoken

Apparently there were canned sardines on the Ark.

That’s what Hollywood tells me.

Apparently. :D

46 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:46:32pm

It’s been eighty years since Disney made that animated special.

Finally Hollywood decided to make a full length featured presentation about the same subject.

And now people haz a mad.

47 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:47:02pm

re: #39 freetoken

Youtube Video

48 Bear  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:47:30pm

re: #39 freetoken

Any indication as to the brand?

49 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:48:34pm

50 nines09  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:49:20pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

You probably shouldn’t read this, then: We Want to #CancelColbert | TIME.com.

Yes, TIME magazine is promoting this whargarbl.

TIME used to be a magazine. Now they are one step above tabloids.

51 BongCrodny  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:49:57pm

re: #46 freetoken

It’s been >eighty years since Disney made that animated special.

Finally Hollywood decided to make a full length featured presentation about the same subject.

And now people haz a mad.

You’d think a 600-year-old man would have more than three sons, y’know?

52 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:50:22pm

Those are some rather fancy canned sardines.

53 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:50:49pm

re: #52 Gus

Those are some rather fancy canned sardines.

You have expensive tastes.

54 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:51:23pm

re: #52 Gus

Those are some rather fancy canned sardines.

sanitized for your protection.

RBS

55 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:52:18pm

re: #53 freetoken

You have expensive tastes.

Yep. What with my 20,000 SF mansion, smoking jacket, Niles the butler and the Bentley limousine.

56 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:53:50pm

Oh jeez. Now we have a Noah protest burbling.

57 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:54:14pm

58 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:54:45pm

Awfully clean gloves on Noah after 40 days.

59 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:54:53pm

#CancelNoah!

60 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:55:12pm

#CancelColbert!

61 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:55:18pm

#CancelCOSMOS!

62 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:56:07pm

re: #58 jaunte

Awfully clean gloves on Noah after 40 days.

After the flood, the angels that had pooper-scooper duties on the ark requested a transfer to Hell.

63 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:56:35pm

re: #62 EPR-radar

“It’s a dry heat.”

64 De Kolta Chair  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:58:02pm

Dang, and I was working on the greatest red clay/redneck pun of all time. ;-(

65 BongCrodny  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:59:42pm

re: #58 jaunte

Awfully clean gloves on Noah after 40 days.

I guess they haven’t been able to find Noah’s Ark because they haven’t been looking in trees.

66 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 6:59:57pm

Looks like the play-to-the-religious-theme gambit will pay off:

Box Office: ‘Noah’ Winning Over Faith-Based Moviegoers

Darren Aronofsky’s controversial biblical epic Noah is winning over faith-based moviegoers at the Friday box office, ending weeks of speculation as to whether the filmmaker’s darker take on the story of Noah and his Ark would be a turnoff, according to early returns.

The Paramount and New Regency movie is also doing pleasing business among mainstream audiences. And now that Christian consumers are turning out in force, Noah has a strong shot at approaching, or crossing, $40 million for the weekend.

According to those with access to grosses, half of the theaters doing the most matinee business on Friday are in cities traditionally considered faith-based markets, including Salt Lake City, Reno, Tulsa, Mobile, Ala., Houston, San Antonio, and Orlando. Hispanics, many of whom are Catholic, are helping to fuel the film. (Hispanics are the most avid moviegoers in the U.S.)

[…]

Perhaps Hollywood will move to more Bible movies, to replace the almost-played-out Marvel and DC comics franchises.

67 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:00:51pm

First!

//

68 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:02:47pm

Black Flag - Six Pack

Youtube Video

69 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:03:14pm

Sodom and Gomorra certainly are worthy of a full length Hollywood spectacular.

The last big Hollywood Bible epic I can think of was the David movie a few years back, but I think that was more panned than found success.

Another story that should get the make-over is that of Ruth. In the right hands it could make for one of those big cast, major leading woman type of flicks.

70 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:06:03pm
71 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:07:16pm

re: #70 Charles Johnson

The teeth on a T. Rex are clearly those of an herbivore. /// to infinity and beyond

72 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:07:54pm

re: #52 Gus

Those are some rather fancy canned sardines.

I was noticing that. Never seen them all facing the same way like that.

73 thedopefishlives  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:08:49pm

re: #70 Charles Johnson

It’s one thing I have to admit I’m always impressed by. They do have an answer for everything. It’s almost always the wrong answer, and sometimes hilariously so, but at least they’ve thought it out well enough to know what’s going to be asked and at least have something prepared.

74 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:08:50pm

Sort of speaking of movies, the 12 year old boy discovered the movie “The Hunt For Red October” & loved it. So we’re now looking for good sub movies for him. The one I immediately thought of “Run Silent, Run Deep” is not available for streaming on Netflix. What other good sub flicks are out there?

75 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:10:11pm

re: #61 Gus

#CancelCOSMOS!

Cancel everything! Once everything is cancelled we can’t possibly be offended. Zen!

76 jamesfirecat  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:10:24pm

re: #74 William Barnett-Lewis

Sort of speaking of movies, the 12 year old boy discovered the movie “The Hunt For Red October” & loved it. So we’re now looking for good sub movies for him. The one I immediately thought of “Run Silent, Run Deep” is not available for streaming on Netflix. What other good sub flicks are out there?

Das Boot.

Also if you want one that is more comedy than serious Down Periscope with Kelsey Grammer.

77 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:10:51pm

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Cancel everything! Once everything is cancelled we can’t possibly be offended. Zen!

Non-materialism baby. Follow Ariana Huffington and Oprah’s lead. //

78 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:11:09pm

re: #71 EPR-radar

“Some folks may ask why we haven’t found fossils of dinosaurs and people together.
Well, we haven’t found fossils of humans and a whole host of other creatures either. Odds are that people avoided hanging around dinosaurs. It’s pretty unlikely we would find these fossils together.
But that doesn’t mean they didn’t live at the same time. The truth is we don’t know very much about dinosaur behavior.
Now…there is evidence that dinosaurs and humans could have lived at the same time. There is evidence that dinosaurs lived into modern times.
There are even two descriptions of dinosaurs in the Bible.”
understanding-creationism.com

79 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:11:38pm
Odds are that people avoided hanging around dinosaurs.

Yes.

80 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:12:16pm

re: #74 William Barnett-Lewis

Sort of speaking of movies, the 12 year old boy discovered the movie “The Hunt For Red October” & loved it. So we’re now looking for good sub movies for him. The one I immediately thought of “Run Silent, Run Deep” is not available for streaming on Netflix. What other good sub flicks are out there?

Das Boot! Get the subtitled version. Much better and get the kid used to foreign movies.
Alaaaarm!
Youtube Video

81 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:12:19pm
82 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:13:35pm

re: #80 Killgore Trout

Das Boot! Get the subtitled version. Much better and get the kid used to foreign movies.
Alaaaarm!
[Embedded content]

Ooops, Content warning: Naked Nazi ass

83 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:14:36pm

84 BongCrodny  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:14:42pm

re: #78 jaunte

I’d like to see that guy with some square pegs and round holes.

85 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:15:01pm

re: #81 Charles Johnson

More significantly, the use of faith-based assertion of ludicrous propositions has infected all GOP policy positions. The days when the Right would try to use real evidence to support its positions are over, most likely because no such evidence is to be had.

86 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:15:49pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

You probably shouldn’t read this, then: We Want to #CancelColbert | TIME.com.

Yes, TIME magazine is promoting this whargarbl.

What’s amazing is the sheer intractability of their position. I can excuse the humorlessness, the initial taking of offense and never finding what Colbert did funny. That’s all normal and perfectly valid subjective experience. However context matters, because it just has to. This is the same guy who runs the 1-888-OOPS-JEW phone hotline just so Jews can call and apologize to him for Yom Kippur. That level of arrogant cluelessness is an established part of the joke, built into the persona. So when @suey_park tweets shit like this:

I have to wonder what her excuse is, or whether she’s just another kind of professional troll playacting the patronizing, arrogant buffoon. Same with her claim in the article that the only people who got the joke were racists. That’s not just lazy, insulting and ridiculously dismissive, it’s the very kind of thoughtless, categorical dehumanization she’s accusing Colbert of perpetrating.

87 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:16:03pm

re: #84 BongCrodny

I’d like to see that guy with some square pegs and round holes.

He seems highly qualified for the “Playing with blocks and brightly colored bits of string” olympics.

88 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:16:35pm

re: #86 goddamnedfrank

What’s amazing is the sheer intractability of their position. I can excuse the humorlessness, the initial taking of offense and never finding what Colbert did funny. That’s all normal and perfectly valid subjective experience. However context matters, because it just has to. This is the same guy who runs the 1-888-OOPS-JEW phone hotline just so Jews can call and apologize to him for Yom Kippur. That level of arrogant cluelessness is an established part of the joke, built into the persona. So when @suey_park tweets shit like this:

[Embedded content]

I have to wonder what her excuse is, or whether she’s just another kind of professional troll playacting the patronizing, arrogant buffoon. Same with her claim in the article that the only people who got the joke were racists. That’s not just lazy, insulting and ridiculously dismissive, it’s the very kind of thoughtless, categorical dehumanization she’s accusing Colbert of perpetrating.

I blocked her. Filtered her out on Tweetdeck.

89 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:18:54pm

re: #78 jaunte

“Some folks may ask why we haven’t found fossils of dinosaurs and people together.
Well, we haven’t found fossils of humans and a whole host of other creatures either. Odds are that people avoided hanging around dinosaurs. It’s pretty unlikely we would find these fossils together.
But that doesn’t mean they didn’t live at the same time. The truth is we don’t know very much about dinosaur behavior.

This picture tells me everything I need to know about Dinosaurs. You can’t argue with this…

Palin & Jesus Riding Dinosaurs.

RBS

90 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:19:54pm

This has been one of those days on Twitter that makes me want to guzzle 151 rum. Or maybe do some heroin. Anybody got any heroin?

I’m kidding, of course. I don’t drink 151 rum.

91 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:20:17pm
92 bratwurst  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:20:29pm

re: #76 jamesfirecat

Das Boot.

Every time this movie comes up I feel compelled to point out the Lt. Werner (Herbert Grönemeyer) went on to become the biggest selling German language pop singer in history.

Youtube Video

93 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:20:35pm

Yogscast got an advance copy of Goat Sim
(Goat Sim Part 1)
yogscast.com

94 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:20:47pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

This has been one of those days on Twitter that makes me want to guzzle 151 rum. Or maybe do some heroin. Anybody got any heroin?

I’m kidding, of course. I don’t drink 151 rum.

Down a bottle of Thorazine and wash it down with a quart of Everclear.

95 BongCrodny  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:21:50pm

re: #87 EPR-radar

He seems highly qualified for the “Playing with blocks and brightly colored bits of string” olympics.

There are times when I wish I was still smoking weed.

Reading that guy’s theories is one of them.

96 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:22:29pm

Richard Pryor - Chinese Resturant

Youtube Video

CONTENT WARNING:

“This show contains scenes that some viewers may find disturbing”.
“Viewer discretion advised.”
“Intended for mature audiences only.” (Mature takes on a double meaning.)
“Contains scenes of a sexual nature.” (Namely, explicit, bare-breasted sex on a kitchen table, to give but one example)
“This programme contains strong language.”
Or the more foolish version “This programme contains language.” Or “mild language,” even.
An example of a program using the “language” variant.
“Strong, bloody violence.”
“Mild peril.”

97 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:22:42pm

Coming soon on the wingnut blogs: CHARLES JOHNSON ADMITS HE’S A HEROIN ADDICT!!!!!!1

98 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:25:25pm

99 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:26:13pm

Richard Pryor - White People Eat Quiet

Youtube Video

100 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:28:32pm

re: #98 Gus

[Embedded image]

I miss Mr.Zappa

101 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:28:54pm

Lenny Bruce - The Meaning Of Obscenity

Youtube Video

102 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:28:59pm

Speaking of right wing loons, theocrat and racist Chuck Baldwin’s latest column:

Institutionalized Tyranny

[…]

I tell you the truth: many Christians in America are already slaves. To talk to them about freedom is a complete waste of time. The chains of tyranny are already clamped around their hearts. Why should it matter to them if chains are clamped around their necks? When they talk about “defending the faith,” they are talking about defending the institution. They are slaves to the institution. And the same is true for many unchurched Americans.

What is more important: liberty, or the government that is supposed to secure liberty? […]

Our Declaration of Independence states, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [the God-given rights of life, liberty, etc.], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

[…]

What difference does it make if we have a 50-State Union or not? There is a bill in the California legislature that would divide that State into six states. Five counties in Western Maryland are trying to secede from Baltimore. Ten northern counties in Colorado are trying to secede from Denver. If a State refuses to secure the liberties of the people of that State, they have every right under God to separate. The State is not nearly as important as the liberties of the people within the State.

The spirit of secession is actually growing like wildfire all over the world. In recent history, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Kosovo all separated from Yugoslavia. Transnistria broke free from Moldova. Abkhazia and South Ossetia fought free from Georgia. The Slovaks seceded from Czechoslovakia. And now Crimea is separating from Ukraine.

To be sure, not every country that secedes from another country is motivated purely by the love of liberty. But for those of us in America, the issue that has propelled the desire to separate from one country or one State has always been liberty. It was the love of liberty that created the United States and that created the free and independent states of Maine, Vermont, Kentucky, and West Virginia—all of which seceded from existing U.S. states.

Furthermore, what difference does it make if Washington, D.C., is our federal capital, or, if say, Helena, Montana, would become the federal capital of a mountain state confederation of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Northern Colorado, eastern Washington and Oregon, the Dakotas, Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and Alaska? Or if Austin was the federal capital of an independent Republic of Texas? Preserving some sort of political union (especially if it is a forced and coerced union) is not nearly as important as preserving liberty.

[…]

Secede And Be Free, Just Like Crimea!

103 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:30:35pm

re: #102 freetoken

Whoa.

104 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:31:03pm

This is the first time I am using my iPhone on LGF. I am taking Charles’ suggestion and using spy mode.

105 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:31:13pm

Lenny Bruce

106 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:32:34pm

re: #102 freetoken

Chuck Baldwin’s views remind me of something…. Yes, the pro-slavery sermon from 1850 that I quoted in #11 and #36 of this thread.

Edited to add: I really didn’t expect to see a confirmation of the unchanging nature of what passes for thought among conservatives so soon.

107 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:35:02pm

Thank you, both of you, for your recommendation. Not 100% sure he’s ready for it (Das Boot) but it will paint probably the most realistic picture of what it was like in those steel coffins.

And, yes, subtitled would be the only way to watch it with him. He’s good on them thanks to some anime - most recently “Girls Und Panzer”.

And Down Periscope sounds like a hoot. Thanks for that one too.

108 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:35:21pm

re: #106 EPR-radar

Chuck Baldwin’s views remind me of something…. Yes, the pro-slavery sermon from >1850 that I quoted in #11 and #36 of this thread.

You can approximate his rant by assembling every 12th word of any day’s Free Republic thread.

109 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:35:49pm

Lenny Bruce was known for voicing his opinion.

110 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:36:27pm

re: #108 Decatur Deb

You can approximate his rant by assembling every 12th word of any day’s Free Republic thread.

The preacher from 1850 was more coherent than Freepers. Kind of like WFB in a way.

111 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:38:46pm

re: #106 EPR-radar

Chuck Baldwin’s views remind me of something…

A rolling goat, blowing itself.

112 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:39:21pm

1850 preacher had more education than today’s Tea Partiers.

113 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:42:37pm
“Now let’s take up the minorities in our civilisation, shall we? Bigger the population, the more minorities. Don’t step on the toes of the dog-lovers, the cat-lovers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, chiefs, Mormons, Baptists, Unitarians, second-generation Chinese, Swedes, Italians, Germans, Texans, Brooklynites, Irishmen, people from Oregon or Mexico. The people in this book, this play, this TV serial are not meant to represent any actual painters, cartographers, mechanics anywhere. The bigger your market, Montag, the less you handle controversy, remember that!”

#CancelBradbury

114 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:44:43pm

115 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:45:33pm

re: #102 freetoken

More Chuck Baldwin

The Pharisees also enjoyed a cozy relationship with the moneychangers. The moneychangers were descended from a long line of corrupt banking interests that dated all the way back to the Edomites. We are not talking about your friendly local banker here. These were highly organized, well-positioned money-manipulators. Jesus was so incensed with their manipulation and theft within in the Temple that he used physical violence to remove them from the property. He is recorded as doing this twice in the Gospel narratives. Note that after the second time in which it is recorded that He drove out the moneychangers (with a whip, no less), the Pharisees soon had Jesus crucified. There is no question that one of the reasons Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged with a whip was in direct retaliation for the manner in which Jesus whipped the moneychangers. Remember, the moneychangers were from a very well-ensconced, elitist national (and even international) organization.

And lest you think all of this is irrelevant to today, the moneychangers are still very much with us. The Rothschilds, Rockefellers, and other members of the international banking elite, are the direct descendants of the moneychangers of Jesus’ day. And if you ever have an opportunity to ask one of them about it, they will proudly admit it.

An anti-Semitic rolling goat, blowing itself…

116 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:45:42pm

Lol

117 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:47:13pm

118 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:48:26pm

Possible future Bible-theme blockbusters from Hollywood:

Tubal-Cain: ‘Full Bronze Jacket’

Ham in The African King

119 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:48:59pm

re: #117 Gus

That looks like that old Mac commercial from years ago.

120 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:49:38pm

re: #115 EPR-radar

Yeah, the whole Rothschild thing going on there - it’s sort of goes with the territory.

121 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:51:55pm

re: #120 freetoken

Yeah, the whole Rothschild thing going on there - it’s sort of goes with the territory.

Puts in an escape hatch, though, with the Rockefellers.

122 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:52:08pm

re: #120 freetoken

Yeah, the whole Rothschild thing going on there - it’s sort of goes with the territory.

Even a cursory look at RW crap will usually turn this kind of stuff up. E.g., that business about ‘direct descendants’ of the moneylenders. I bet he was so happy he thought of a way to express himself without explicitly raving about TEH JOOOSSS.

123 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:52:08pm

124 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:52:48pm

125 EPR-radar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:53:35pm

re: #121 Decatur Deb

Puts in an escape hatch, though, with the Rockefellers.

Not much of an escape hatch with ‘direct descendent’ in there.

126 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:54:17pm

re: #124 Gus

[Embedded image]

I can haz matches?

127 bratwurst  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:54:25pm

re: #119 PhillyPretzel

That looks like that old Mac commercial from years ago.

Actually it is from the John Hurt/Richard Burton version (made in the year 1984!) with the Eurythmics soundtrack.

imdb.com

128 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:58:02pm

re: #127 bratwurst

Actually it is from the John Hurt/Richard Burton version (made in the year 1984!) with the Eurythmics soundtrack.

imdb.com

A lot of movies from that era didn’t hold up well over time but I think that one was an exception.

129 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 7:58:32pm

re: #127 bratwurst

Thanks.

130 PhillyPretzel  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:01:05pm

I am now back on my MacBook Pro. The iPhone is okay as a back up but it does not come close to using a desktop or a notebook computer.

131 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:03:23pm

You Are Obsolete!

132 RealityBasedSteve  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:05:51pm

Well, I’m outta here. Here’s a picture of a little bitty baby turtle I took a year or two ago while out for a bike ride.

Catch ya Later…Itty Bitty Turtle

RBS

133 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:07:51pm

134 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:11:25pm

re: #114 Gus

@IrishBaby: #CancelSwift

135 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:12:23pm

re: #134 jaunte

@IrishBaby: #CancelSwift

What’s Swift? Talyor Swift?

136 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:14:35pm

re: #134 jaunte

@IrishBaby: #CancelSwift

Heh. I was wondering if they still teach Swift in school. They probably do but people unlearn as adults like with the social contract or scientific theory.

137 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:14:43pm
138 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:17:52pm

re: #136 Killgore Trout

Heh. I was wondering if they still teach Swift in school. They probably do but people unlearn as adults like with the social contract or scientific theory.

Everything you will remember 5 years after graduation…

Youtube Video

139 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:19:35pm

An episode that challenges many.

140 freetoken  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:20:13pm

re: #139 Gus

An episode that challenges many.

You are obsolete.

141 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:23:44pm
142 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:25:05pm

re: #135 Gus

What’s Swift? Talyor Swift?

Jonathan Swift - a Modest Proposal

143 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:25:48pm

re: #142 Charles Johnson

Jonathan Swift - a Modest Proposal

Thanks.

144 jaunte  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:26:26pm

re: #142 Charles Johnson

“I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.”

145 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:26:56pm

re: #141 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

If you find yourself that close to a big cat in the wild, then you are in serious trouble.

146 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:32:10pm
147 Decatur Deb  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:33:40pm

re: #146 Gus

[Embedded content]

Franco is still dead, but not Federico Garcia Lorca.

I want to sleep awhile,
awhile, a minute, a century;
but all must know that I have not died;
that there is a stable of gold in my lips;
that I am the small friend of the West wind;
that I am the intense shadows of my tears.

148 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:36:29pm

OMG HE’S READING FROM THE BIBLE!!11ty

149 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:37:14pm
150 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:41:46pm

Saving Private Ryan (5/7) Movie CLIP - Private Jackson (1998)

Youtube Video

151 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:45:32pm
152 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:45:49pm

The Beatles - We Can Work It Out

Youtube Video

153 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:46:18pm

I hate the Beatles!
— Someone on Twitter

154 Rev_Arthur_Belling  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:47:37pm

re: #107 William Barnett-Lewis

There’s a documentary on youtube about the class of russian submarine that inspired the Hunt for Red October submarine. It’s at the bottom of this post:

foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com

really in-depth, and all the russian submariners speech is translated on screen, so no need for subtitles. obviously not fiction, but if he’s really interested, it’s a good look.

155 palomino  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:47:41pm

re: #149 Gus

[Embedded content]

But remember, history “will exonerate Bush, and the Iraq War will be remembered as a huge success.”

I used to hear a lot of that. From Republican politicians, pundits, commenters, etc. But now it seems like even most of the GOP doesn’t want to try making that argument. Pretty much a dead end for everyone (except a few, like Rumsfeld and Cheney and some aging right wing pundits, whose legacies depend on a revisionist history of Iraq.)

156 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:53:38pm

re: #146 Gus

[Embedded content]

Franco, Pinochet, Reagan & Thatcher, good lord willing, all are roommates in Gehenna.

157 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 8:55:18pm

re: #147 Decatur Deb

Franco is still dead “Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead”, but not Federico Garcia Lorca.

I want to sleep awhile,
awhile, a minute, a century;
but all must know that I have not died;
that there is a stable of gold in my lips;
that I am the small friend of the West wind;
that I am the intense shadows of my tears.

Lorca will never be dead.

158 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:05:42pm

re: #156 William Barnett-Lewis

To equate Reagan & Thatcher with those two is serious moral confusion. They deserve respect instead, for steering their nations through the danger-filled penultimate phase of the Cold War. That the United States and United Kingdom emerged from the 1980’s intact and with their wealth and power increased was due in large part to the wise leadership of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

159 teleskiguy  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:08:36pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

This has been one of those days on Twitter that makes me want to guzzle 151 rum. Or maybe do some heroin. Anybody got any heroin?

I’m kidding, of course. I don’t drink 151 rum.

I call this “Jazz Musician Humor.” I think it’s funny, while at the same time I’m clenching my jaw and biting my nails thinking “Is that really funny, or not?”

I’ve had a couple of jazz aficionado roommates over the years, and I totally see those dudes saying something like this.

160 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:10:49pm

Lil shaker there still rolling

161 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:11:13pm

re: #158 Dark_Falcon

To equate Reagan & Thatcher with those two is serious moral confusion. They deserve respect instead, for steering their nations through the danger-filled penultimate phase of the Cold War. That the United States and United Kingdom emerged from the 1980’s intact and with their wealth and power increased was due in large part to the wise leadership of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

No it’s not. If either had had the ability they’d have lined up union people against the wall. They both lucked out that the Russians ran out of money before they totally destroyed our economies with their “trickle down” ignorance. As it was we are still suffering the damage done to the US economy by that &^%$$$$^&*&*^%$$ Reagan.

162 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:15:26pm

re: #160 Political Atheist

Lil shaker there still rolling

You, and DF too, may appreciate this. Found myself an online bargain the other day. A scruffy (70% finish left) but mechanically sound S&W Model 10 4” barrel revolver for $250… Even with shipping and FFL transfer fee, that’s as cheap for a high quality police service revolver as it gets. Just waiting for it to arrive at my FFL & then Wisconsin has a 48 hour hold after the NICS check. But with luck, a week from tomorrow should see me at the range.

163 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:17:22pm

Kind of a big shaker here!
YIKES!

164 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:17:37pm

And in F-35 news, despite some possible software delays Lockheed Martin received an order that is part of the production of 57 Joint Strike Fighters in three models:

42 F-35As, of which the US Air Force (USAF) will receive 26, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) will receive 7, the Norwegian Air Force will receive 6, The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) will receive 2, and the Italian Air Force will receive 1.

13 F-35Bs, of which the US Marine Corps (USMC) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) will each receive 6, and the Italian Navy will receive 1.

2 F-35Cs, both for the US Navy (USN).

All are to be delivered by May of next year.

Additional details here.

165 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:17:39pm

re: #162 William Barnett-Lewis

Thats what I paid for a S&W .357 15 years ago. Good deal.

166 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:18:42pm

re: #163 Floral Giraffe

Kind of a big shaker here!
YIKES!

I just barely felt it here. You ok?

167 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:19:33pm
168 The War TARDIS  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:19:41pm

re: #163 Floral Giraffe

Here being where?

169 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:19:44pm

re: #166 Political Atheist

Well, nothing fell….and you or I have no cell coverage!
CalTech site is down..

170 BillinGlendaleCA  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:20:05pm

re: #166 Political Atheist

Good shake here in Beautiful Downtown Glendale, it lasted a long time.

171 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:20:54pm

re: #168 The War TARDIS

1/2 way between Los Angeles & San DIego. We rocked…

172 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:20:54pm

re: #169 Floral Giraffe

Well, nothing fell….and you or I have no cell coverage!
CalTech site is down..

re: #168 The War TARDIS

Here being where?

La Habra epicenter 5.1 and shallow as hell. 1.2 mi.

173 BillinGlendaleCA  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:20:54pm

re: #169 Floral Giraffe

5.4 in La Habra, 1.9km depth via USGS.

174 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:21:44pm

re: #170 BillinGlendaleCA

Good shake here in Beautiful Downtown Glendale, it lasted a long time.

It was a long one. You’re much closer to it than I am.

175 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:23:19pm

re: #174 Floral Giraffe

30 miles from me felt like a long roll. No initial jump or P wave.

176 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:24:23pm

re: #175 Political Atheist

We rolled & rattled. Spooked me.
I was very close to the center of the Northridge quake.

177 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:24:27pm

re: #161 William Barnett-Lewis

Reagan wasn’t a union hater, he wasn’t. Thatcher was, but to be fair in Britain the unions had behaved far worse than occurred within the US at the same time.

It’s a shame you weren’t here last week when the subject of the 1981 PATCO strike came up. Because what I’ve learned about that turning point between Ronald Reagan and organized labor was that the strike was really more PATCO’s Tragedy (in the Greek sense) than it was about Reagan. But after Reagan fired those air traffic controllers who would not return to work (in my judgement the ‘least-worst’ of three bad options Reagan had to choose from), there was an un-closeable breech between the Reagan Administration and organized labor.

178 teleskiguy  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:24:42pm
179 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:25:00pm

180 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:25:19pm

re: #163 Floral Giraffe

Kind of a big shaker here!
YIKES!

Earthquake?

181 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:26:37pm

Didn’t feel that strong here, but it went on for quite a while - long enough to be a little scary

182 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:28:08pm

I thought this was interesting, and thanks to the Lizards for the Quake info!

The Northridge earthquake led to a number of legislative changes. Due to the large amount lost by insurance companies because of the earthquake, most insurance companies either stopped offering or severely restricted earthquake insurance in California (and elsewhere). In response, the California Legislature created the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), which is a publicly managed but privately funded organization that offers minimal coverage

Oh, and CEA is totally cheap!

183 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:29:42pm
184 darthstar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:30:04pm

How will Steve Pearce ever find another press secretary with the qualifications (racist, bigot, homophobe, asshole) who shares his values?

185 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:30:56pm

re: #181 Charles Johnson

I notice that they feel a lot sharper close to the epicenter. That one felt distant, just the rolling motion. Kinds like what Whittier Narrows felt like up here.

186 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:31:32pm
187 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:33:28pm

If anything got damaged the 90 freeway might have some. Practically right on top of the epicenter at the Harbor blvd ramps.

188 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:34:14pm
189 Floral Giraffe  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:34:30pm

re: #185 Political Atheist

I haven’t been in this house for a Quake before. I did live less than 20 miles from the Northridge epicenter. And there’s lots of glass here. Nothing broken, but I was kinda spooked.

190 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:37:05pm

3.6 2km SE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:30:51 UTC0.1 km deep
3.4 2km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:11:53 UTC0.1 km deep
5.1 2km E of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:09:41 UTC1.9 km deep
3.6 1km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 03:03:39 UTC6.8 km deep

191 darthstar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:37:46pm

re: #188 Gus

But no Autism!!!

howdovaccinescauseautism.com

192 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:38:26pm

re: #189 Floral Giraffe

I haven’t been in this house for a Quake before. I did live less than 20 miles from the Northridge epicenter. And there’s lots of glass here. Nothing broken, but I was kinda spooked.

That would be spooky. We have been here a long time. Let’s see Landers, Whittier Narrows, Northridge, I was here in the valley for Sylmar where i grew up. And oddly enough in south SF for that one in 1989.

193 darthstar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:39:31pm

Kum ba yah, motherfuckers…Kum ba yah.

194 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:40:48pm
195 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:41:45pm

re: #188 Gus

Orange County confirms 21 cases of measles

Thanks, Jenny!

/dripping

196 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:41:49pm

re: #177 Dark_Falcon

I read what you posted then. I chose not to respond at that time.

I will work from the presumption that it is correct and still say that even if PATCO did not self destruct from hubris, he would have found some other way to advance the union breaking agenda. Unions - the idea that the powerless can gather together and have more power together than apart (as Franklin said “We must all hang together or we shall surely hang apart”) is anathema to the right wing where the labor must be powerless. Unions are the only thing that give the common person any leverage against the concentration of power that is wealth in America.

I am not willing to be a serf. I am even less willing to let my son be a serf.

197 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:42:11pm

Cat murders pre-murdered fish.

//

198 darthstar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:42:31pm
199 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:44:02pm

God hates Los Angeles.

//

200 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:45:37pm

re: #189 Floral Giraffe

I haven’t been in this house for a Quake before. I did live less than 20 miles from the Northridge epicenter. And there’s lots of glass here. Nothing broken, but I was kinda spooked.

My first earthquake was in 2011 in Virginia. 5.8 and was felt all the way up to Toronto. Definitely a mighty strange feeling.

201 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:47:20pm

Christie Says NJ Traffic Scandal Won’t Deter White House Bid
Great, if he gets the nomination we’re looking at another 2 1/2 years of constant Bridgegate coverage.

202 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:48:02pm

re: #199 Gus

God hates Los Angeles.

//

Politifact: Mostly true

203 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:49:08pm

My mom called, said the quake lasted something like 15 seconds in Pasadena, the pets were freaking out.

204 Political Atheist  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:49:52pm

re: #201 Killgore Trout

That and Vince Foster. Hmmm I wonder if Canada could use a gold metallurgist for the duration of the campaign. //

205 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:51:14pm
206 palomino  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:53:15pm

re: #202 Killgore Trout

Politifact: Mostly true

But he gave us great weather.

207 teleskiguy  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:54:53pm

I have a friend from the primary school days who’s a nurse in an L.A. hospital and she put this on Facebook just now:

Little earthquakes are good. They are not a precursor to “The Big One”. The smaller ones are releasing pressure so there isn’t a Big One. There are no “pre-shocks.” Be happy for the little ones.

Right? I mean, I know Bill Hicks made a nice joke out of L.A. plunging into the sea (Arizona Bay), but there’s still a bunch of humans there and earth-caused calamities bum me out.

208 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:54:55pm

2.9 2km NNW of Brea, California2014-03-29 04:47:13 UTC5.3 km deep
2.7 2km N of Brea, California2014-03-29 04:45:37 UTC1.3 km deep
3.6 2km SE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:30:51 UTC0.1 km deep
3.4 2km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:11:53 UTC0.1 km deep
5.1 2km E of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:09:41 UTC1.9 km deep
3.6 1km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 03:03:39 UTC6.8 km deep

209 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:55:07pm

re: #204 Political Atheist

That and Vince Foster. Hmmm I wonder if Canada could use a gold metallurgist for the duration of the campaign. //

I wonder if they’ve made any advancements in cryogenic hibernation or time travel. I’d like to skip it if I can.

210 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:55:12pm

re: #196 William Barnett-Lewis

I think you reading in things that weren’t there. Ronald Reagan didn’t want to break organized labor, but he did want to break its marriage to the Democratic party. He didn’t think he could convert most unions into a Republican constituency, but he did think he could gain support for him personally and convert some unions into a swing constituency. That was what he was trying to do by getting PATCO’s endorsement and then offering substantial concessions to the union.

In that goal Ronald Reagan failed, but not because of anyone’s malice or bad faith. Both PATCO leaders and the Reagan Administration bargained in good faith, but the union’s membership honestly believed that they could gain more of what they needed by holding out and striking if needed. But as I noted last week, a House investigation largely eliminated the administration’s ability to offer further concessions and that put Reagan on the horns of a dilemma, and we know how he ultimately decided to handle that dilemma.

But it was not about anyone’s malice, it really wasn’t. But I think that may be why a tragic interpretation of the PATCO strike will never take hold in America’s political mythology. America is not found of tragedies, and the idea of a story without any villains and with no great hero is not a story our nation wishes to hear.

211 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:56:16pm

re: #206 palomino

But he gave us great weather.

I do kinda like So Cal. I was born there but I don’t know if I could live there again.

212 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:57:38pm

re: #204 Political Atheist

That and Vince Foster. Hmmm I wonder if Canada could use a gold metallurgist for the duration of the campaign. //

Hmm… Gotta have a 4.25” barrel for a handgun up there. Alas, none of mine are legal. I’ll have to tolerate the idiots until Hillary looses the primaries again. At least then it’ll be fun to work to help Senator Gillibrand stomp on Santorum (hey, he came in 2nd last time. I see no reason to believe they won’t _make_ him the candidate.).

213 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 9:58:54pm

2.7 2km NNW of Brea, California2014-03-29 04:53:57 UTC1.3 km deep
2.9 2km NNW of Brea, California2014-03-29 04:47:13 UTC5.3 km deep
2.7 2km N of Brea, California2014-03-29 04:45:37 UTC1.3 km deep
3.6 2km SE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:30:51 UTC0.1 km deep
3.4 2km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:11:53 UTC0.1 km deep
5.1 2km E of La Habra, California2014-03-29 04:09:41 UTC1.9 km deep
3.6 1km ESE of La Habra, California2014-03-29 03:03:39 UTC6.8 km deep

214 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:00:25pm

Growing up in LA county, you could always tell the locals from the tourists after a quake.

The tourists would be freaking out.

The locals were “Meh, its over. Time to clean up.”

215 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:01:03pm
216 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:01:36pm

Sorry, I had to run out on the last thread.

did I miss anything?

217 BeenHereAwhile  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:01:38pm

re: #107 William Barnett-Lewis

Thank you, both of you, for your recommendation. Not 100% sure he’s ready for it (Das Boot) but it will paint probably the most realistic picture of what it was like in those steel coffins.

And, yes, subtitled would be the only way to watch it with him. He’s good on them thanks to some anime - most recently “Girls Und Panzer”.

And Down Periscope sounds like a hoot. Thanks for that one too.

“Operation Petticoat”

imdb.com

218 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:01:50pm

re: #214 Kragar

Growing up in LA county, you could always tell the locals from the tourists after a quake.

The tourists would be freaking out.

The locals were “Meh, its over. Time to clean up.”

219 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:02:39pm
220 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:02:50pm
221 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:03:38pm

Yep. It’s funny. Laugh at warnings.

222 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:03:58pm

re: #218 Gus

[Embedded content]

Or there might not.

Freaking out won’t stop it, so you get ready for it, clean up your place and get back to business.

223 Ming  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:04:34pm

re: #212 William Barnett-Lewis

Kirsten Gillibrand or Elizabeth Warren: I’d vote for either in 2016, with great enthusiasm.

Hillary Clinton? Let’s just say I’m not enthusiastic. The Republicans are so crazy and destructive that I may have to force myself to vote for her. But I may have to leave the Presidential vote blank in 2016.

224 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:05:21pm

re: #222 Kragar

Or there might not.

Freaking out won’t stop it, so you get ready for it, clean up your place and get back to business.

Paying attention and heading warning does not equal freaking out.

225 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:10:31pm

re: #224 Gus

Paying attention and heading warning does not equal freaking out.

Good things to do:

Check your emergency water and food supplies. Are they up to date? Do you have enough water for three days for both you, your family, and your pets?
Do you remember where your emergency gas shutoff switch is? The wrench?
Is your emergency plan up to date?
Are there spare shoes stored in the bedroom so you can hopefully get out without cutting your feet if the windows shatter?

Bad things to do:

Scream we’re all going to die, run around like a chicken with your head cut off, watch CNN coverage.

226 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:11:53pm

re: #223 Ming

I’ve never been a fan of Ms. Clinton except in her work as SoS. I would be… happy … if she let that be her final legacy.

227 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:15:03pm

re: #226 William Barnett-Lewis

I’ve never been a fan of Ms. Clinton except in her work as SoS. I would be… happy … if she let that be her final legacy.

I’ve actually come to think fondly of Hillary. She can do the job of POTUS. I have no doubt. I think she also has the best chance winning the nomination of all the women mentioned.

228 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:16:02pm

re: #207 teleskiguy

I have a friend from the primary school days who’s a nurse in an L.A. hospital and she put this on Facebook just now:

Right? I mean, I know Bill Hicks made a nice joke out of L.A. plunging into the sea (Arizona Bay), but there’s still a bunch of humans there and earth-caused calamities bum me out.

Not to burst her bubble, but…

The 9.0 magnitude (MW) undersea megathrust earthquake occurred on 11 March 2011 at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) in the north-western Pacific Ocean at a relatively shallow depth of 32 km (19.9 mi),[37] with its epicenter approximately 72 km (45 mi) east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku, Japan, lasting approximately six minutes.[1][2] The earthquake was initially reported as 7.9 MW by the USGS before it was quickly upgraded to 8.8 MW, then to 8.9 MW,[38] and then finally to 9.0 MW.[3][39] Sendai was the nearest major city to the earthquake, 130 km (81 mi) from the epicenter; the earthquake occurred 373 km (232 mi) from Tokyo.[2]
The main earthquake was preceded by a number of large foreshocks, with hundreds of aftershocks reported. The first major foreshock was a 7.2 MW event on 9 March, approximately 40 km (25 mi) from the epicenter of the 11 March earthquake, with another three on the same day in excess of 6.0 MW.[2][40] Following the main earthquake on 11 March, a 7.0 MW aftershock was reported at 15:06 JST (6:06 UTC), succeeded by a 7.4 MW at 15:15 JST (6:16 UTC) and a 7.2 MW at 15:26 JST (6:26 UTC).[41] Over eight hundred aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 MW or greater have occurred since the initial quake,[42] including one on 26 October 2013 (local time) of magnitude 7.3.[43] Aftershocks follow Omori’s Law, which states that the rate of aftershocks declines with the reciprocal of the time since the main quake. The aftershocks will thus taper off in time, but could continue for years.[44]

229 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:16:36pm
230 Dark_Falcon  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:20:27pm

Good talk, all, and good night.

231 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:20:40pm
232 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:21:29pm

re: #231 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

I’m sure both are Obama’s fault.

/

233 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:21:45pm

re: #182 Floral Giraffe

I thought this was interesting, and thanks to the Lizards for the Quake info!

Oh, and CEA is totally cheap!

We do pay our CEA premium.

I remain unconvinced we will get much out of it if the big one hits, though.

234 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:22:24pm

Oh man, @Suey_Park ‘s big bag of crazy goes way the fuck back.

235 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:23:49pm

re: #234 goddamnedfrank

Oh man, @Suey_Park ‘s big bag of crazy goes way the fuck back.

My life is so much better for not getting into any of this shit on Twitter.

236 Ming  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:25:37pm

re: #226 William Barnett-Lewis

I’ve never been a fan of Ms. Clinton except in her work as SoS. I would be… happy … if she let that be her final legacy.

I’ll agree with you there. It seems like being SecState was a great experience for her. She certainly knows a lot about the government, at the very highest levels. I think she’d be great at advising and educating others, e.g. in a university setting.

She has a lot of knowledge and a lot to contribute, but I’d rather see the Democrats nominate someone else in 2016.

Well, that’s how I feel about Ms. Clinton. I would like to add, I’m not sure what specific achievements she had as SecState. What did she do as SecState that would cause someone to say: wow, that’s very admirable, quite an accomplishment? For that matter, what SPECIFIC things did she accomplish as a Senator, or as First Lady?

237 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:26:12pm

I’ve personally experienced 3 tornadoes that turned structures a few hundred feet away into toothpicks while leaving everything else almost entirely untouched. I’ve seen first-hand big-rig trailers thrown through the air like plastic bags. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those… moments… will be lost in time, like [small cough] tears… in… rain. Time… to die…

But I have never experienced even a minor earthquake, and can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Honestly, I would like to experience a major earthquake, if I could do so without having to worry about buildings and bridges and what-not collapsing on top of me.

238 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:26:52pm
239 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:27:24pm

Meaning 95% of the time, after it hits, you’re done for a while

240 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:27:40pm

re: #237 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

I’ve personally experienced 3 tornadoes that turned structures a few hundred feet away into toothpicks while leaving everything else almost entirely untouched. I’ve seen first-hand big-rig trailers thrown through the air like plastic bags. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those… moments… will be lost in time, like [small cough] tears… in… rain. Time… to die…

But I have never experienced even a minor earthquake, and can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Honestly, I would like to experience a major earthquake, if I could do so without having to worry about buildings and bridges and what-not collapsing on top of me.

They’re certainly something else.
;)

241 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:29:19pm

Same guy wrote this yesterday
Turkey Planned Fake Al-Qaeda Attack in Syria to Justify Invasion
I have no idea how accurate those transcripts are but it sure looks like information the Kremlin is happy to disseminate.

242 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:30:51pm
243 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:31:30pm

re: #234 goddamnedfrank

Oh man, @Suey_Park ‘s big bag of crazy goes way the fuck back.

WTF? If Rush had said it everyone would be all over his shit.

Colbert was over the line.

244 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:32:04pm

re: #237 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

I’ve personally experienced 3 tornadoes that turned structures a few hundred feet away into toothpicks while leaving everything else almost entirely untouched. I’ve seen first-hand big-rig trailers thrown through the air like plastic bags. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those… moments… will be lost in time, like [small cough] tears… in… rain. Time… to die…

But I have never experienced even a minor earthquake, and can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Honestly, I would like to experience a major earthquake, if I could do so without having to worry about buildings and bridges and what-not collapsing on top of me.

My first (and really, only one greater than 3.0) was on the 5th floor of an 8-story building. Felt like being on a train, honestly, and took a few seconds to process that no, I wasn’t on a train.

Was getting ready to heal a Headless Horseman pull. Only time I have gotten to use “brb, earthquake” in an MMO.

245 Varek Raith  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:33:27pm

re: #244 klys

5.8 for me.
en.wikipedia.org

246 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:38:04pm

re: #245 Varek Raith

I apparently serve as earthquake repellent, because I was in MD until 2007 when I moved to CA (just in time for my 5.4) after which it has been dead silent here.

Which, honestly, is not a great thing. But our house survived Loma Prieta, even if we didn’t own it then, and I will just panic if the big one occurs while he is at the office (it’s built on fill). Our emergency water gets changed out once per year and we have enough for us and the cats for a week, the canned food supply gets rotated and used, and the trailer can probably get pulled out of the garage if something happens to the house and will be inhabitable for a time until stuff gets settled.

If civilization totally collapses, we’ll have bigger problems, but at that rate we might not survive the quake anyway. I have debated trying to do the citizen first responder backup thing but none of the course timings have worked out so far.

247 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:39:00pm
248 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:39:23pm

re: #241 Killgore Trout

[Embedded content]

Same guy wrote this yesterday
Turkey Planned Fake Al-Qaeda Attack in Syria to Justify Invasion
I have no idea how accurate those transcripts are but it sure looks like information the Kremlin is happy to disseminate.

You watching me!

249 Gus  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:39:59pm

re: #247 Gus

[Embedded content]

At the end of this skit Colbert sings a homophobic song. Where was the outrage then? Hmm.

250 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:43:14pm

re: #247 Gus

—> 2:08 PM - 24 Apr 2013

I am profoundly offended by this unabashed time-ism.

251 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:44:17pm
Even with the hashtag trending fiercely Thursday night, it was and remains wildly unlikely that #CancelColbert will actually get “The Colbert Report” taken off the air. And like many others who have weighed in on the issue, I like a lot of Stephen Colbert’s work and have seen his show hit its intended targets much better than it did this week in its attempt to critique Dan Snyder’s racism. But that’s not a reason to ignore a call to take a hard look at where the show failed, or how we failed with it.

I mean, Colbert’s writing staff still looks like this. We need to talk about that. Why are we so mad when someone asks us to talk about that?

252 klys  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:48:37pm

It’s a slow Friday night and it’s been a while since:

my last update

So I give you:

tonight’s starting point.

253 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:50:24pm

What really kind of irks me about the Colbert outrage is how quickly he tried to distance himself from it. Blaming the official account not run by him. It was a joke he delivered on his show, the network is probably going to stand behind him, he should stand up to it. It got a laugh from the studio audience when he delivered it. I get that he’s afraid for his career but people need to start standing up for this sort of thing.

254 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:50:43pm

I just realized it is actually Saturday morning.

nytol.

255 Killgore Trout  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:51:24pm

re: #248 Gus

You watching me!

Shhh! The NSA will hear you.

256 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:52:20pm

re: #253 Killgore Trout

What really kind of irks me about the Colbert outrage is how quickly he tried to distance himself from it. Blaming the official account not run by him. It was a joke he delivered on his show, the network is probably going to stand behind him, he should stand up to it. It got a laugh from the studio audience when he delivered it. I get that he’s afraid for his career but people need to start standing up for this sort of thing.

There is nothing wrong with saying, “Hey, I thought it was a good line, obviously a great number of my audience didn’t think so. I apologize and next time I think it thru and ask for feedback.”

257 FemNaziBitch  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:52:39pm

re: #256 FemNaziBitch

There is nothing wrong with saying, “Hey, I thought it was a good line, obviously a great number of my audience didn’t think so. I apologize and next time I think it thru and ask for feedback.”

nytol, again.

258 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:56:28pm

re: #243 FemNaziBitch

WTF? If Rush had said it everyone would be all over his shit.

Colbert was over the line.

Are you aware that Stephen Colbert didn’t post that tweet?

259 William Barnett-Lewis  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:57:43pm

re: #227 FemNaziBitch

I’ve actually come to think fondly of Hillary. She can do the job of POTUS. I have no doubt. I think she also has the best chance winning the nomination of all the women mentioned.

Could? Easily.

Should? Not so sure.

260 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 10:59:27pm
261 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:06:33pm

re: #258 Charles Johnson

Are you aware that Stephen Colbert didn’t post that tweet?

To me it doesn’t much matter. Sure, by itself, divorced from all context the Tweet was offensive, like most satire is. People have a right to get offended, to not find it funny, but the entire #CancelColbert trend is built on not caring what the context and intent was. And that’s a problem, intent always matters, it may not excuse everything, obviously, but goddamn if knowing it isn’t important.

Crucial actually, you can’t fight racism with reductivism. Strict attention to terms instead of meaning actually undermines communication, tolerance, and multi-culturalism. Humorlessness is excusable, deliberate ignorance isn’t.

262 Single-handed sailor  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:16:35pm

Redskins

263 Charles Johnson  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:18:04pm

re: #261 goddamnedfrank

Agreed - it’s very disturbing to see so many people giving in to a knee-jerk reaction and going ballistic, as if the context is meaningless.

This kind of satire is what Colbert has been doing for 10 years. This misplaced anger should be directed at Dan Snyder, who was the target of the joke, not at Colbert. The people who are freaking out over this are playing into the hands of the right wing and twitchy.com. It’s a total shit show.

264 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:21:47pm
265 Kragar  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:28:18pm

LOL I love “Bible Facts!”

266 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:45:10pm

re: #263 Charles Johnson

Agreed - it’s very disturbing to see so many people giving in to a knee-jerk reaction and going ballistic, as if the context is meaningless.

Knee-jerk reactions are kind of normal, I’m used to that. What’s fucked up here is the buy in, it’s weird. These people found themselves occupying a completely untenable position, and then instead of acknowledging reality and moving on they started digging entrenched fortifications, hoping that sheer pedantry would carry the day.

267 goddamnedfrank  Fri, Mar 28, 2014 11:49:23pm

re: #265 Kragar

LOL I love “Bible Facts!”

[Embedded content]

LOL, I got a nice Coffee Talk flashback off that.

I’m a little verklempt.

268 freetoken  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:03:11am

Tonight’s featured presentation - follows on from last night.

After the early films from the 40’s, the military started up the production values of their films.

In 1955 there were produced various films, clips from which have appeared in many films and tv shows since then. Here is one of the films first released in the 50’s, complete with a female POV “reporter”:

Youtube Video

269 goddamnedfrank  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:07:11am
270 Kragar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:08:26am

re: #268 freetoken

Somewhere out there, there is a USMC training video about troop welfare where I play “Concerned NCO” when another Marine gets pissed off on the phone.

I’m still mad because I was originally slated to be “pissed off Marine”, but the Staff Sgt couldn’t make it in and I was the only other NCO available when the film crew was there.

271 dell*nix  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:08:28am

re: #141 NJDhockeyfan

Ever get that someone reading over your shoulder feeling?

272 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:28:04am
273 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:46:41am

Fracker nuts are trying to blame tonight’s earthquake on fracking. Well, at least they’re not blaming it on GMOs and Fukushima yet.

274 klys  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 1:29:30am

re: #273 Gus

Fracker nuts are trying to blame tonight’s earthquake on fracking. Well, at least they’re not blaming it on GMOs and Fukushima yet.

Dude, it was totally the radiation for Fukushima arriving, duh.

//// (need I?)

275 klys  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 1:35:38am

Dear Youtube:

Thank you so much for BBC documentaries about avalanches narrated with a Scottish accent.

I am a happy stitcher. Even if some of the science makes me cringe with the simplifications. (Common documentary hazard.)

Youtube Video

276 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 1:53:31am

re: #102 freetoken

Speaking of right wing loons, theocrat and racist Chuck Baldwin’s latest column:

Institutionalized Tyranny

Secede And Be Free, Just Like Crimea!

Page it!

277 klys  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 1:57:20am

re: #276 Justanotherhuman

Not related, but multiple observations have led me to conclude that you are a morning person.

Either that or it is the only time you get to yourself.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I lived with lots of morning people in college. It was an interesting dichotomy. One would get up at 4;30 to do her chemistry homework and then miss our 8:30am class because she got distracted/work through it. I teased her because I needed 3 alarms to make it to class but I had a better attendance record.

278 klys  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 1:59:12am

re: #277 klys

I should note, I am not a morning person.

I’ll go to bed at some point.

279 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 2:02:46am

re: #277 klys

Not related, but multiple observations have led me to conclude that you are a morning person.

Either that or it is the only time you get to yourself.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. I lived with lots of morning people in college. It was an interesting dichotomy. One would get up at 4;30 to do her chemistry homework and then miss our 8:30am class because she got distracted/work through it. I teased her because I needed 3 alarms to make it to class but I had a better attendance record.

Yes, I’ve always been a lark. : ) And have always gotten by on 5-6 hrs of sleep. Now, though, at 73 I can take a nap if I want to. : )

Loved your work above, BTW; it’s beautiful!

280 klys  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 2:08:22am

re: #279 Justanotherhuman

I am jealous on the 5-6 hours of sleep bit; I need my 8 but at least the husband can work a shifted work schedule that allows us to sleep at a more natural schedule for us.

Thank you! This particular piece has been in progress for *years* but has seen its most substantial progress since I defended my dissertation. I’ve at least finished a few other things at the same time, but I’m hopeful that this piece will finally be done this year. There’s a few more major cross stitch sections and then lots of specialty work (beading/thread) but …definitely doable.

281 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 2:17:52am

Probably the worst tragedy of LaHabra Quake 2014.

282 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 2:20:39am

Terrorist attacks on election day.

283 Kragar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 3:20:11am
284 freetoken  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 3:32:00am

re: #276 Justanotherhuman

Page it!

Baldwin is well known, having run for President and all, and being friends of Ron Paul.

The White-Right is full of people like him, all Godly and such in their atavism.

The problem I see is that few people in the major media outlets really want to tackle the connection between people like Baldwin and elected politicians like Rand Paul. The systemic issue of religio-nationalism in America is not high on the to-do list of corporate media, even though the connection between religion and nationalism and identity-dynamics (such as racism) lie beneath so much we do as a society that do make the headlines (like the wars we choose to execute.) Despite the claims of Baldwin and his ilk, the media doesn’t want much to do with them. It’s not a field of inquiry that gets eyes-on-product. Sure, Bill Moyers might do an episode on PBS, but that’s about it.

During the run-up to an election a few specialty programs, like Rachel Maddow, will look at the loony-right in this country, but don’t expect too much from the outlets which the other 98% of Americans are watching/reading.

Even though Congressional deadlock is due in part to the entrenched immobility in the GOP about making decisions on national merit, as so many of the GOP candidates find themselves in the business of courting the fringe in their own districts, pretty much what is covered is the GOP big name funders (e.g., the Kochs), but not the foot-soldiers in the districts, all too many of whom buy in the various atavistic beliefs out there.

285 freetoken  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:04:09am

Looking back at what I have written, I suppose it’s time I should start my Manifesto.

286 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:11:07am

So, that earthquake in La Habra; that was on the Peunte Hills thrust fault - isn’t that the fault that geologists have some concerns about? I dimly remember a geologist referring to it as “the fault that could eat Los Angeles”, but that was about a decade ago.

287 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:16:06am

re: #284 freetoken

Right now, I’m trying to study tribalism, which I think is behind the divisions not just in this country, but around the world. If you look any any country’s internal politics, you’ll find those divisions weaving in and out of various political positions, but there nonetheless in all their viciousness, even when a country is a fairly homogeneous entity and there aren’t many racial or ethnic divisions.

The worst barrier to equality, though, in my view is not so much the factors we generally attribute to divisions within communities, but that of the tremendous income gaps and class divisions we seem to be seeing more of than we were 50 yrs ago, once you adjust for things like race, sex, etc. One of the more tribalistic memes from the ’80s when a lot of Wall St. engineering was going on among traders, investment bankers, etc which changed the face of the stock market itself in modern terms, was “The guy who dies with the most toys wins.” And that “guy” is the one who funds the think tanks, the political campaigns, the media, etc, either directly or indirectly. We’d just better hope he or she is on “our side” in our own personal struggles.

This doesn’t mean that I support “communism” (whatever that means anymore), statism, etc. The basic flaw in Marxist thought is that there will ever be “proletarian rule”. Substituting one kind of “rule” for another isn’t good and we’ve seen the kind of praxis that developed in countries that tried it. Greed, for lack of a better word (and to paraphrase), takes over no matter what the political system is named.

288 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:20:45am

re: #287 Justanotherhuman

Tribalism certainly seems to be back with a vengeance, but what’s causing it? Is it a reaction to globalization? Or something more complex?

Tribalism has always been with us, but certainly over the course of my 44-year stay on the planet thus far, it’s been under the surface. But now it’s becoming increasingly out in the open, and I admit I’m curious as to why that is.

289 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:32:55am

re: #288 Dr Lizardo

Tribalism certainly seems to be back with a vengeance, but what’s causing it? Is it a reaction to globalization? Or something more complex?

Tribalism has always been with us, but certainly over the course of my 44-year stay on the planet thus far, it’s been under the surface. But now it’s becoming increasingly out in the open, and I admit I’m curious as to why that is.

Identity-ism? Being just a little bitty fish in the vast ocean of humanity isn’t easy, particularly when you have an outsized ego or a boatload of “confidence” that doesn’t match your talents or skills. You might be a “big cheese” of sorts in a town of 10,000, but you’re a nobody in NYC or London. Still, you have “it” within your own circle, you control it, you’re known, etc. Ever notice how the internet has made not just a few of those yahoos “famous” for 15 seconds? The crazier, the better.

And then people turn around and worship celebrities, the rich and famous, in a kind of sad, voyeuristic orgy because they’re not that person.

Go figure.

290 freetoken  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:34:32am

re: #288 Dr Lizardo

Modern communication has made a certain panache common. Twitter is the #1 example.

The isolation created by electronic intercourse perhaps allows the greater degree of freedom to move beyond the less colorful reality of our meat world.

I wonder, then, if the hyped up identity movement is somehow becoming a positive feedback at larger social levels (e.g., nations).

This reminds me of the old addiction models, where the user needs ever increasing amounts to reach the goal of escape.

Human behavior is virulent - we work on a group level without being conscious of it, so one person can “infect” others and change their behaviors.

It’s all very primate in some way.

291 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:40:13am

re: #290 freetoken

Modern communication has made a certain panache common. Twitter is the #1 example.

The isolation created by electronic intercourse perhaps allows the greater degree of freedom to move beyond the less colorful reality of our meat world.

I wonder, then, if the hyped up identity movement is somehow becoming a positive feedback at larger social levels (e.g., nations).

This reminds me of the old addiction models, where the user needs ever increasing amounts to reach the goal of escape.

Human behavior is virulent - we work on a group level without being conscious of it, so one person can “infect” others and change their behaviors.

It’s all very primate in some way.

But most of it, I think, stems from basic insecurity and a lack of sense of self. Would those same people have the guts to talk to you like that in the meat world?

So, herd away, sheeples.

292 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:43:28am

It looks like the “Chocolate King” billionaire may be President of Ukraine (he’s leading in the polls).

293 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 4:55:55am

re: #287 Justanotherhuman

I really dislike the meme of ‘tribalism’, mostly because ‘tribes’ don’t act in the way that we’re talking about. Tribes don’t act in one particular way, anyway, there’s immense variety.

What would your actual definition of ‘tribalism’ be?

294 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:05:33am

re: #293 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I really dislike the meme of ‘tribalism’, mostly because ‘tribes’ don’t act in the way that we’re talking about. Tribes don’t act in one particular way, anyway, there’s immense variety.

What would your actual definition of ‘tribalism’ be?

Well, as I say, I’m studying the subject, but to me, it’s people with generally the same outlook, bound by a number of factors, who tend to congregate, socialize, and work for each other’s benefit, although the group is only cohesive when it’s the most uniform in its makeup, both materially and as thinkers. Even in this century, there is a tension between tribalism and globalism, but to me, tribalism is basically the more conservative types in a society who want to preserve the past and what has worked for them, with no deviations or allowances for changes in the world. I just think it’s going to be necessary for people to have a global outlook rather than a tribal one unless we want to continually engage in warfare, environmental disaster, and killing each other off.

295 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:10:23am

re: #294 Justanotherhuman

Well, as I say, I’m studying the subject, but to me, it’s people with generally the same outlook, bound by a number of factors, who tend to congregate, socialize, and work for each other’s benefit, although the group is only cohesive when it’s the most uniform in its makeup, both materially and as thinkers.

Okay. Then this doesn’t really apply to much in US culture or politics, right? There’s very few groups of people that this would describe in the US, since we all tend to have disparate groups that we’re bound to.

Even in this century, there is a tension between tribalism and globalism, but to me, tribalism is basically the more conservative types in a society who want to preserve the past and what has worked for them, with no deviations or allowances for changes in the world.

Wait, how is tribalism being conservative congruent with the definition you gave above? A union would be ‘tribalist’ from the definition you gave above (though the Tea Party, for example, would not be). Where’s the preservation of the past coming from?

Another thing that annoys me about ‘tribalist’ is that it’s got that ol’ “Civilized man vs. the ignorant savage” thing going on.

296 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:11:14am

Or let me ask a smaller question: Is ‘tribalism’ exclusive and/or exhaustive? Can you belong to multiple ‘tribes’ and does everyone belong to at least one ‘tribe’?

297 Decatur Deb  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:23:27am

re: #296 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Or let me ask a smaller question: Is ‘tribalism’ exclusive and/or exhaustive? Can you belong to multiple ‘tribes’ and does everyone belong to at least one ‘tribe’?

Man’s Rise to Civilization, As Shown by the Indians of North America from Primeval Times to the Coming of the Industrial State

amazon.com

To/?tag=littlegreenfo-20 extend the metaphor, tribesmen have extra-tribal identities, such as totem clans, and internal moieties. Thus a Freeper can be a Threeper-Oathkeeper rising to the anthem of Greater Wingnutia.

298 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:24:50am

re: #295 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Okay. Then this doesn’t really apply to much in US culture or politics, right? There’s very few groups of people that this would describe in the US, since we all tend to have disparate groups that we’re bound to.

Wait, how is tribalism being conservative congruent with the definition you gave above? A union would be ‘tribalist’ from the definition you gave above (though the Tea Party, for example, would not be). Where’s the preservation of the past coming from?

Another thing that annoys me about ‘tribalist’ is that it’s got that ol’ “Civilized man vs. the ignorant savage” thing going on.

No, a union wouldn’t be “tribalist” but a free association of people. You may have to pay dues to belong to a union, but it doesn’t require you to participate.

And just because we in the US have “disparate groups” that we’re bound to, is that true of most people? What are those “disparate groups” you speak of? Or are those simply modern equivalents of societal units held in any other era, like church, work, associations, etc? Where those are, who are in them, are also very important. Look at church going in the US, for instance: Churches, more than any other institution, are the most segregated in the country.

I’m not describing tribes as ignorant. Tribes can have very educated, very gifted people in them. That becomes meaningless when applied to the outside world. When I think of modern “tribalism”, for example, I think of Mormonism as a first example, along with certain segments of the rightwing, and even some on the left. Even though Mormons consider themselves “international”, it’s not a practice of balancing tribalism and globalism—it’s winning converts to their “tribe”.

299 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:27:45am

OK, giving over the ‘puter to the 4 yr old for lessons. : )

300 lawhawk  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:29:08am

I’m shocked. Shocked, that the Christie report glosses over details that would seem to implicate Gov. Christie in knowing the actions of his underlings and appointees.

Seriously, how anyone can take this report for anything other than a piece of flim flam? A government prosecutor would scoff at this as self-serving nonsense, except when that prosecutor turns into the same governor who ordered the report.

Besides the internal inconsistencies, you’ve got the fact that Maestro never interviewed any of the key people involved at the Port Authority or on Christie’s staff because they’re all holding out for a deal from federal or state prosecutors before talking (and implicating themselves in criminality).

301 lawhawk  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:32:50am

And while we’re on the subject of the Christie report, let’s not forget that the one person he actually fired, Bridget Kelly, is the one person who was again singled out for exposing her relationship with Bill Stepien, adding salaciousness to the scandal. Christie’s camp had no problem throwing her under the bus, and backing over her a couple of times, but everyone else involved - Stepien, Baroni, Wildstein, or Samson were all allowed to resign on their own terms.

That’s a huge distinction that shouldn’t be lost on anyone. And if I’m Kelly, I’d be looking at that and seeing that no one is going to protect her - and that’s going to drive her into cutting a deal with prosecutors. If someone is going to cut a deal before the others, I’d count on her. She’s got everything to gain from this as a central player who knows what everyone else was up to.

302 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:40:35am

re: #298 Justanotherhuman

No, a union wouldn’t be “tribalist” but a free association of people. You may have to pay dues to belong to a union, but it doesn’t require you to participate.

You didn’t mention anything about ‘require you to participate’. Tribes require you to participate?

And just because we in the US have “disparate groups” that we’re bound to, is that true of most people?

Yes.

What are those “disparate groups” you speak of? Or are those simply modern equivalents of societal units held in any other era, like church, work, associations, etc?

Well, yeah, and interest groups, families, schools we went to, cities we’re from, etc. etc.

Where those are, who are in them, are also very important. Look at church going in the US, for instance: Churches, more than any other institution, are the most segregated in the country.

Depending on what you mean by ‘instiuttion’, maybe, but what does this have to do with tribalism?

When I think of modern “tribalism”, for example, I think of Mormonism as a first example, along with certain segments of the rightwing, and even some on the left. Even though Mormons consider themselves “international”, it’s not a practice of balancing tribalism and globalism—it’s winning converts to their “tribe”.

So what about a left-wing Mormon and a Mormon who’s part of that ‘segment of the right wing’? Are they part of the same ‘tribe’?

Again, is tribalism exclusive, or not? We belong to disparate groups that don’t align perfectly, or sometimes at all, with each other.

I still am completely unclear on what you, or anyone else means, by ‘tribalist’. It generally seems to get used in two different ways: As a synonym for ‘factionalism’, when describing the groups that tend to revile and reject people who aren’t sufficiently fervent, like emoprogs who reject as insufficiently progressive anyone who supports Obama, or conservatives who reject any GOP member that’s at all nice to or works with the Democrats. And second, it gets used about very broad groups, like the Mormons, and it seems to not actually apply to the members of that group, but just to the group. There are tons of Mormons who don’t actually work to evangelize or try to get converts, that’s a function of the group, not the individuals within the group. And the group is so big that there’s no possibility that everyone in it fits your original definition.

303 A Mom Anon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:42:50am

re: #283 Kragar

The shots ARE spread out over time.

I ended up leaving a group of moms who all had kids with autism over this anti vax nonsense. I was the horrible one who made sure her kid was up to date on his shots. For one, I wanted to hopefully travel and take the kid with me at some point, you kinda need to have vaccines up to date for that. For another, I’ve actually cracked open and read more than a few medical and science books, since I was a kid, and the consensus is that vaccines are important in maintaining health WORLDWIDE, so it’s kind of a big deal. And I’m no genius to be sure. If I can get it, then nearly anyone else can.

I don’t think Trump cares a fucking whit about this. What he cares about is doing his part to make sure “the little people” don’t trust the government. These rich fucks have a vested interest in keeping us fighting among ourselves. Mostly so they can buy and/or steal what remains of our government and public commons (our schools, parks etc) while we fight among ourselves over ridiculous nonsense like this.

304 lawhawk  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:56:42am

Flight 370 “news’

MSNBC - black boxes could last years.

Just days after warning that the black boxes might not reveal anything and that the pinger would die (30 day battery), they’re not headlining that the data recorder and cockpit voice recorder could potentially survive for years underwater. Yeah, thanks for that. That’s newsy?

CNN - Malaysian official (who’s actually the Transportation Minister) gives families hope: praying for possible survivors.

Ummm… Really? Based on what evidence to date? All evidence points to a crash somewhere in the inhospitable Indian Ocean. No signs of the plane, no traces of survivors, and yet the Transport Minister thinks that this is a responsible statement to make?

The whole affair has exposed the many failings of the Malaysian government and its inability to manage a crisis, but CNN’s coverage has exposed the fact that they’re not even trying to report the news.

305 Lidane  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 5:57:28am

Heh.

306 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:07:49am
307 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:13:37am
308 NJDhockeyfan  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:15:02am
309 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:27:28am

re: #302 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You didn’t mention anything about ‘require you to participate’. Tribes require you to participate?

Yes.

Well, yeah, and interest groups, families, schools we went to, cities we’re from, etc. etc.

Depending on what you mean by ‘instiuttion’, maybe, but what does this have to do with tribalism?

So what about a left-wing Mormon and a Mormon who’s part of that ‘segment of the right wing’? Are they part of the same ‘tribe’?

Again, is tribalism exclusive, or not? We belong to disparate groups that don’t align perfectly, or sometimes at all, with each other.

I still am completely unclear on what you, or anyone else means, by ‘tribalist’. It generally seems to get used in two different ways: As a synonym for ‘factionalism’, when describing the groups that tend to revile and reject people who aren’t sufficiently fervent, like emoprogs who reject as insufficiently progressive anyone who supports Obama, or conservatives who reject any GOP member that’s at all nice to or works with the Democrats. And second, it gets used about very broad groups, like the Mormons, and it seems to not actually apply to the members of that group, but just to the group. There are tons of Mormons who don’t actually work to evangelize or try to get converts, that’s a function of the group, not the individuals within the group. And the group is so big that there’s no possibility that everyone in it fits your original definition.

Well, I did start off by saying I am studying tribalism, esp as it pertains to the 21st century and in modern thought. I never said I had any concrete definitions, those were just off the top of my head (and over which I could be proved wrong) and even your trying to pin me down on those doesn’t mean they are anything I consider final.

I wasn’t aware that “studying” a subject meant I had reached any conclusions; in fact, those could be just the opposite of what I went in with. But if you want to play that kind of game, that’s up to you. Play alone, though; for myself, I’d like to study a lot more and clear my head of any preconceived notions or those of anyone else.

310 A Mom Anon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:29:35am

re: #304 lawhawk

I wonder what would happen if liberals do what wingnuts do, flood CNN with calls and emails and show up outside their offices bitching about how lame they are in enough amounts to be disruptive and yes, intimidating. That seems to be the only thing “media” seems to understand anymore.

I know, we’re supposed to be more intellectual and fair minded. And that’s got us what exactly at this point? Protesting the government is fine and necessary, but leaving media out of it is a big error, IMO. I’ve said this since the run up to Iraq, the media was just as complicit as anyone else was/is in that mess. The tea party and gross, disgusting individuals like Bill Donohue and his Catholic League, One Million Moms etc., etc., have somehow provided this illusion that they are some sort of powerful majority that deserves large amounts of air time. Why not do the same from the other side of the divide? I think it’s long overdue.

311 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:33:25am

re: #309 Justanotherhuman

Well, I did start off by saying I am studying tribalism, esp as it pertains to the 21st century and in modern thought. I never said I had any concrete definitions, those were just off the top of my head (and over which I could be proved wrong) and even your trying to pin me down on those doesn’t mean they are anything I consider final.

I wasn’t aware that “studying” a subject meant I had reached any conclusions; in fact, those could be just the opposite of what I went in with. But if you want to play that kind of game, that’s up to you. Play alone, though; for myself, I’d like to study a lot more and clear my head of any preconceived notions or those of anyone else.

I’m not playing any sort of game at all. If you’re studying the subject, if you want to think about tribalism, I don’t get why you don’t want to have a conversation about what we might define as tribalism or problems with those definitions. That’s part of ‘study’.

Also, if we are at the stage where we can’t even define what the word means, then it seems really odd to use it in discussion as though it does have an understood meaning.

I think it’s very important and interesting to study the way that group affiliations work, the way that identity works in socialization and politics. That’s a large chunk of sociology, is the sociology of groups. The concept of thinking about this isn’t a problem for me, it’s the bit where we use ‘tribalist’ as though it’s supposed to convey meaning. I don’t know what you, or anyone else, actually means when they say tribalist.

312 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:35:06am

re: #310 A Mom Anon

But we have done that. The Wisconsin protests, for example, were that.

313 A Mom Anon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:44:37am

re: #312 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I know, so were the Iraq war protests. But it was focused on government, not media. There were HUGE protests all over the country that received little to no media coverage. What if we turned away from the government focus and turned all that energy onto the media outlets? Especially in the larger markets and on their home corporate turf (CNN is in Atlanta, FOX is in NYC, etc).

For example, this idiotic plane coverage of CNN should be turned on its head with an influx of phone calls, emails and tons of people showing up right on their damned doorstep. Make it known we’re sick of not being informed and people with no concept of journalism reporting the so called “news”. I don’t understand why you can’t get large groups of people on board with that. You can when it comes to government. Maybe it’s because of the amount of distrust of the government that’s been sown over the last couple of decades, I don’t know.

Anyway, it was just a thought.

314 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:50:47am

re: #313 A Mom Anon

I know, so were the Iraq war protests. But it was focused on government, not media. There were HUGE protests all over the country that received little to no media coverage. What if we turned away from the government focus and turned all that energy onto the media outlets?

For example, this idiotic plane coverage of CNN should be turned on its head with an influx of phone calls, emails and tons of people showing up right on their damned doorstep. Make it known we’re sick of not being informed and people with no concept of journalism reporting the so called “news”.

Their ratings shot through the roof during the shitty plane coverage.

I don’t understand why you can’t get large groups of people on board with that. You can when it comes to government. Maybe it’s because of the amount of distrust of the government that’s been sown over the last couple of decades, I don’t know.

I don’t even get what you think would then happen. Government officials respond to people showing up on their doorstep because those people represent voters—but they still take polls and stuff like that, in-person protests are effective but mainly as a way of communicating that you have a lot of support.

Media companies don’t really have a front-door—you can camp outside their building protesting them, and you know what they’ll do? They’ll cover it, and broadcast it, and enjoy the ratings from it.

The economic fulcrum of media companies is not them themselves but their advertisers and sponsors. They don’t depend on us as customers, we’re not their customers—the advertising companies are.

315 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:55:20am

re: #311 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I’m not playing any sort of game at all. If you’re studying the subject, if you want to think about tribalism, I don’t get why you don’t want to have a conversation about what we might define as tribalism or problems with those definitions. That’s part of ‘study’.

Also, if we are at the stage where we can’t even define what the word means, then it seems really odd to use it in discussion as though it does have an understood meaning.

I think it’s very important and interesting to study the way that group affiliations work, the way that identity works in socialization and politics. That’s a large chunk of sociology, is the sociology of groups. The concept of thinking about this isn’t a problem for me, it’s the bit where we use ‘tribalist’ as though it’s supposed to convey meaning. I don’t know what you, or anyone else, actually means when they say tribalist.

Well, I’m certainly not the only person thinking about it, although I wouldn’t put myself in the same league as the former Secy of Labor. He may not be looking at it through a sociological lens, per se, but he wouldn’t be the first to express it this way. People usually don’t think linearly, but in parts of a whole, so we have to consider economics, politics, even psychology when we approach this subject, not just as a sociological study.

sfgate.com

One of the reasons I mentioned Mormons, for instance, is because of the recent Romney run, and the historical beginnings of Mormonism itself, their final early settling in Utah, and their subsequent behavior as a group which, because of its religious, economic and political views, set itself apart from the rest of the country, until recently. As it was, they did, in certain ways, take good care of their own, esp when it came to money and power within their own realm.

But I think the last time “tribalism” took so great a leap in the US was the Civil War. The entire subject of race as it pertained to Black and White was not much more than tribalism, IMHO, over a united nation. And in Germany, it was wrought by the Nazis who attempted to annihilate an entire race/religion and its defenders, along with other elements that did not fit with the “Aryan” image.

316 A Mom Anon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 6:58:26am

re: #314 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

OK, bad idea, carry on then.

317 RealityBasedSteve  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:04:00am

Morning Lizards.

For what it’s worth… Jenny-o turkey sausage is quite possibly the foulest substance ever foisted off on the buying public.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

RBS

318 austin_blue  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:12:34am

re: #317 RealityBasedSteve

Morning Lizards.

For what it’s worth… Jenny-o turkey sausage is quite possibly the foulest substance ever foisted off on the buying public.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

RBS

Not to point out the obvious, but any sausage made from bird meat is fowl.

319 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:14:18am

re: #317 RealityBasedSteve

Morning Lizards.

For what it’s worth… Jenny-o turkey sausage is quite possibly the foulest substance ever foisted off on the buying public.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

RBS

The turkey burgers are great, though. : )

320 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:19:35am

Heh.

321 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:24:37am

re: #317 RealityBasedSteve

Morning Lizards.

For what it’s worth… Jenny-o turkey sausage is quite possibly the foulest substance ever foisted off on the buying public.

Now back to your regularly scheduled broadcast.

RBS

Yeah, we have sausage made from poultry here in the Czech Republic, and it’s pretty lousy to be honest. Beef sausage is good, though.

323 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:37:39am

re: #269 goddamnedfrank

So in that analogy Suey Park is Walter White and Michelle Malkin is Gus Fring.

324 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:42:05am

Morning all!

First thing…how about that B1G conference getting three teams into the final 8. And go Dayton!

I notice above in this thread a few people were talking about Hillary as a Democratic candidate and whether they would vote for her. Far from me telling anyone how to vote, but I would like to mention that sometimes a vote can mean a lot more than voting for a candidate you like or not.

Let’s say there is a chance the Republicans control the house and senate and have a good chance of taking the president’s office too. I would most likely vote for any Democrat for President just to make sure there is a way to have a check/balance to the Republicans. The way the Republican party is acting these days, it would be very dangerous for them to have total control.

We have a two party system for a reason and I think it is always best that both parties are working together or at the least working to make sure one doesn’t have all the power.

I would also vote for a Republican president or some Republican congress folks (as long as they were not a complete nutcase) if I knew the Democrats were going to control one house of congress and the presidency.

The thought of an all Republican government right now is very troubling in the current climate. So, even if you do not like Hillary at all…please consider all the players in the game and what happens even if you vote for someone not totally to your liking. Politics is about way more than one person. It is also a bit like a chess game and you want to have some players on the board or you may not even be in the game.

325 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:42:59am

re: #318 austin_blue

Not to point out the obvious, but any sausage made from bird meat is fowl.

Your comment laid an egg, Austin.

326 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:44:35am

re: #322 Varek Raith

Grayson: U.S. Should Be ‘Pleased’ With ‘Virtually Bloodless Transfer Of Power’ In Crimea
Go fuck yourself.

Alan Grayson proves once again that he’s an asshole.

327 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:46:02am

re: #326 Dark_Falcon

Alan Grayson proves once again that he’s an asshole.

Is Grayson another of Putin’s fanbois?

328 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:50:40am

re: #315 Justanotherhuman

Well, I’m certainly not the only person thinking about it, although I wouldn’t put myself in the same league as the former Secy of Labor. He may not be looking at it through a sociological lens, per se, but he wouldn’t be the first to express it this way. People usually don’t think linearly, but in parts of a whole, so we have to consider economics, politics, even psychology when we approach this subject, not just as a sociological study.

sfgate.com

Sociology considers economics, politics, and psychology. In Reich’s piece there, he also has a confusion of definitions. He starts out by saying:

In a world where everyone and everything is interconnected, the connections that matter most are again becoming more personal. Religious beliefs and affiliations, the nuances of one’s own language and culture, the daily realities of class, and the extensions of one’s family and its values all are providing people with ever greater senses of identity.

But then says:

But America’s new tribalism can be seen most distinctly in its politics. Nowadays, the members of one tribe (calling themselves liberals, progressives and Democrats) hold sharply different views and values than the members of the other (conservatives, Tea Partiers and Republicans).

Democrats and conservatives are not ‘tribes’ according to his first definition.

This bit is especially weird:

The tribes even look different. One is becoming blacker, browner and more feminine, the other, whiter and more male. (Only 2 percent of Mitt Romney’s voters were African American, for example.)

The Republicans are constricting, the Democrats are expanding in terms of identity and inclusiveness, and yet Reich treats this as the same thing. The GOP has demonstrably narrowed, and you could make some argument about ‘tribalism’ there if you really wanted (though the perfectly good word ‘partisan’ already exists), but the same thing can’t possibly apply to a group that’s expanding, becoming more diffuse and inclusive and coalition-y, and the group that’s become more exclusive, more rigid.

He also ends with this muddle:

I’m not making a claim of moral equivalence. Personally, I think the Republican right has gone off the deep end, and if polls are to be believed, a majority of Americans agrees with me.

But the fact is, the two tribes are pulling America apart, often putting tribal goals over the national interest - which is not that different from what’s happening in the rest of the world.

He says he’s not making a claim of moral equivalence, but then he claims that both ‘tribes are pulling America apart’. And nowhere in there, at all, is any hint to a solution. I’d argue that the reason for that is that the actual solution lies in what the Democrats are—imperfectly—doing, which is having a party that recognizes that we are all actually minorities, we all have minority interests.

One of the reasons I mentioned Mormons, for instance, is because of the recent Romney run, and the historical beginnings of Mormonism itself, their final early settling in Utah, and their subsequent behavior as a group which, because of its religious, economic and political views, set itself apart from the rest of the country, until recently. As it was, they did, in certain ways, take good care of their own, esp when it came to money and power within their own realm.

Okay, so historically you could say that was true, but that’s not true of Mormons now and even historically, it wasn’t true of all mormons: It was true of the group. That’s my main point, you seem to be saying that everyone in a group is committed to that group, and that’s never true except in incredibly rare situations.

But I think the last time “tribalism” took so great a leap in the US was the Civil War. The entire subject of race as it pertained to Black and White was not much more than tribalism, IMHO, over a united nation.

I’m sorry, but I really don’t know what this means. The Civil War was fought over the issue of the Southern States wanting to retain slavery, and being willing to leave the union to do it. Who were the ‘tribes’ involved?

And in Germany, it was wrought by the Nazis who attempted to annihilate an entire race/religion and its defenders, along with other elements that did not fit with the “Aryan” image.

This makes me feel like you’re saying ‘tribalist’ is always a negative thing, but your original definition: ” people with generally the same outlook, bound by a number of factors, who tend to congregate, socialize, and work for each other’s benefit, although the group is only cohesive when it’s the most uniform in its makeup, both materially and as thinkers.” Isn’t at all negative. So why is ‘enacting’ tribalism bad—is there some part of the definition of tribalism you’ve left out that’s automatically bad?

THis is a problem with the Reich piece too—he talks about both sides having their ‘version of the truth’, but passes over the fact that, on many issues—such as global warming, for an easy one—the Democrats have actual truth, not just a version of the truth.

329 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:51:52am

re: #327 wheat-dogghazi

Is Grayson another of Putin’s fanbois?

Grayson is a political opportunist. He may be sincere or not in his ideology, but his basic approach is being holier-than-thou, contrarian, and confrontational. Kind of like Killgore in politician form, but a emoprog instead of a libertarian.

330 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:52:20am

re: #327 wheat-dogghazi

Is Grayson another of Putin’s fanbois?

Not sure, but the speech he gave showed that he’s drunk Putin’s Kool-Aid when it comes to the Crimea.

331 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:52:37am

With “friends” like this, I fear for this country. Manning wasn’t a “whistleblower” either. These attempts are just meant to change the meaning of the word.

If you want change in this country, fucking work for it, don’t expect it to drop out of the sky when you steal something that isn’t yours to steal.

so tired of these idiots thinking their crimes they like to think of as “acts of conscience” don’t apply to them, because “privilege” or something.

You want to work as an enemy of this country, defect first.

docs.google.com

332 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:52:56am

re: #308 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

It’s hard to imagine Afghanistan last long after our pullout.

333 wheat-dogghazi  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:59:20am

re: #330 Dark_Falcon

Not sure, but the speech he gave showed that he’s drunk Putin’s Kool-Aid when it comes to the Crimea.

I just don’t understand why anyone in the States would like or trust Putin. I’m not an expert in Russian affairs, but I wouldn’t buy a used car from the man. The impression I get from my Ukrainian friends is that Russia has been itching to reacquire Ukraine for years, and Putin may just be the guy who will get it done.

Makes me nervous, frankly. Kim Jong-un is a wacko, but his global influence and power is limited. Ditto Mugabe. Putin and Russia still have some mojo left, or at least the belief they have mojo left.

334 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 7:59:31am

re: #332 Killgore Trout

It’s hard to imagine Afghanistan last long after our pullout.

335 austin_blue  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:00:28am

re: #325 Dark_Falcon

Your comment laid an egg, Austin.

Just stating the obvious. Sausage is made from pig, cow, or blood.

336 Decatur Deb  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:01:32am

re: #333 wheat-dogghazi

I just don’t understand why anyone in the States would like or trust Putin. …snip.

If the President were attacked by Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal and cannibalism in general would get favorable ink on the RW nut sites.

337 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:02:00am

Still not seeing much analysis of Putins call with Obama yesterday. No clue what a diplomatic settlement might look like and, aside from invading southern Ukraine, not much speculation on what steps Putin might take to secure Transnistria. Oh, well. I guess smart journalists are off for the weekend.

338 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:05:50am

A brief primer on Transnistria
Aside from Military bases and ethnic Russians the Kremlin also has some business interests there

The Sheriff chain, owned by an ex-KGB official, reaches into huge chunks of the private sector including petrol stations, supermarkets, a football team and stadium and the biggest brandy retailer, Kvint. Western governments say Transdniestria has become a “black hole” for smuggling arms, cigarettes and other contraband, something the region’s leaders deny.

339 RealityBasedSteve  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:06:23am

re: #318 austin_blue

Not to point out the obvious, but any sausage made from bird meat is fowl.

I must need to up my coffee intake… I hadn’t even noticed that I had made a pun on that one… purely unintentional.

RBS

340 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:06:48am

re: #337 Killgore Trout

Lack of media people speculating wildly is actually a nice thing. Talking just to talk, speculating just to speculate—like saying that Putin might take the rest of the Ukraine, or he might not—is exactly what’s wrong with US media. Not everything needs or is capable of immediate analysis. Smart journalists are the ones actually thinking about stuff for awhile instead of knocking over old ladies in the quest for the nearest teletype to wire home “Putin might move to secure Transnistria or he might not, Boeing 777 may be in Transnistria too.”

Weirdly, you’ve criticized Rachel Maddow for the speed of her reporting on subjects, and now you’re upset because people aren’t reporting fast enough. It’s almost as if your criticisms aren’t coherent.

341 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:09:50am

A lesser man would have buckled by now, considering the many roadblocks put in his way.

342 Decatur Deb  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:11:45am

re: #341 Justanotherhuman

A lesser man would have buckled by now, considering the many roadblocks put in his way.

[Embedded content]

Think he’s started to enjoy screwing with them.

343 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:11:55am

Haha…

344 austin_blue  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:12:41am

re: #341 Justanotherhuman

A lesser man would have buckled by now, considering the many roadblocks put in his way.

[Embedded content]

He took off his coat before entering the plane?!?!?! What arrogance!! How disrespectful of German fuel!!

(etc, etc, ad infinitum)

345 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:13:01am

re: #333 wheat-dogghazi

I just don’t understand why anyone in the States would like or trust Putin. I’m not an expert in Russian affairs, but I wouldn’t buy a used car from the man. The impression I get from my Ukrainian friends is that Russia has been itching to reacquire Ukraine for years, and Putin may just be the guy who will get it done.

Makes me nervous, frankly. Kim Jong-un is a wacko, but his global influence and power is limited. Ditto Mugabe. Putin and Russia still have some mojo left, or at least the belief they have mojo left.

My own feeling is that Grayson on some level admires Putin’s sleight-of-hand and brazenness. He also likely figures that a speech that advocates letting Putin off the hook will win him brownie points from the Blame America First crowd.

346 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:13:33am

re: #337 Killgore Trout

Still not seeing much analysis of Putins call with Obama yesterday. No clue what a diplomatic settlement might look like and, aside from invading southern Ukraine, not much speculation on what steps Putin might take to secure Transnistria. Oh, well. I guess smart journalists are off for the weekend.

Here…this will make you feel better.

347 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:14:08am

re: #342 Decatur Deb

Think he’s started to enjoy screwing with them.

Yeah, he does have a sense of humor, and he can be like a cat with a mouse—he just doesn’t suffer fools.

348 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:14:47am

re: #346 darthstar

Here…this will make you feel better.

[Embedded content]

Very retro, I don’t like it a bit.

349 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:15:26am

Thus begins another day of weirdness and outrage.

350 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:16:32am

re: #348 Dark_Falcon

Very retro, I don’t like it a bit.

Yeah, but it gives the Republicans a narrative - Putin is reaching out to Obama to be reasonable and consider joining arms against Ukraine.

351 jaunte  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:17:23am

#CancelOutrage

352 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:17:24am

re: #349 Gus

Thus begins another day of weirdness and outrage.

And squabbling!

353 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:17:52am

re: #349 Gus

Thus begins another day of weirdness and outrage.

Also another day of placidity and lying around having eaten too much at breakfast.

Buckwheat pancakes lie heavy on the soul.

354 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:19:19am

Darn, and th ex-con subset of the GOP was just starting to take hold…oh well, we have a few others out there to cheer on. (and for balance, Dems in California are getting indicted right and left for corruption…sigh)

355 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:19:38am

Well, there’s always this: Lots of garbage in the oceans, doncha know.

Editor’s note: Chinese state media is reporting that the objects found by a Chinese ship today are not related to MH370. The items were garbage in the ocean. - Aaron

end of note

356 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:20:08am

re: #332 Killgore Trout

It’s hard to imagine Afghanistan last long after our pullout.

What does this mean? Afghanistan has been around a long time, and it always seems to be going through these kinds of crazy political turns due to the turmoil from religious groups, internal political groups and of course outside influences trying to control one or the other internal groups.

Do you mean “it is hard for US of A influenced Afghanistan to last long after our pull out?” If so, I would say we never have really had any influence on Afghanistan. We have been the most recent police force trying to stabilize a country that seems to be far from being able to be stabilized.

The country will go on in some manner just as it always has. And it will stabilize when the people of that country decide they want it to be stable.

357 Decatur Deb  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:20:08am

re: #353 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Also another day of placidity and lying around having eaten too much at breakfast.

Buckwheat pancakes lie heavy on the soul.

Stuck here with salmon steaks and some cedar planks. What to do, what to do??

358 Interesting Times  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:21:49am

How fascinating. Apparently, showing concern re for-profit corporations denying women healthcare means you have to “get a grip.” 9_9 (it’s especially hilarious to see someone make these chickenshit little digs on a dead thread).

359 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:22:11am

re: #353 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Also another day of placidity and lying around having eaten too much at breakfast.

Buckwheat pancakes lie heavy on the soul.

Another day of lying around, scratching mah balls and burping. //

360 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:22:20am

re: #357 Decatur Deb

Stuck here with salmon steaks and some cedar planks. What to do, what to do??

Wouldn’t advise eating the cedar planks. : )

361 RealityBasedSteve  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:22:37am

re: #357 Decatur Deb

Stuck here with salmon steaks and some cedar planks. What to do, what to do??

Simple… Use the cedar planks to build a small box, put the salmon steaks inside it, seal same said box, and FED-EX Overnight to me.

Problem Solved.

RBS

362 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:23:04am

re: #358 Interesting Times

Nah, he was just recommending a “Grip Charles”, which is cajun slang for a rubberized vice grip. Everyone should have one.

/oh Ojoe and your rampant whiggishness!

363 Decatur Deb  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:23:12am

re: #360 Justanotherhuman

Wouldn’t advise eating the cedar planks. : )

Off to burn some charcoal. BBL

364 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:24:38am

re: #356 ObserverArt

What does this mean? Afghanistan has been around a long time, and it always seems to be going through these kinds of crazy political turns due to the turmoil from religious groups, internal political groups and of course outside influences trying to control one or the other internal groups.

Do you mean “it is hard for US of A influenced Afghanistan to last long after our pull out?” If so, I would say we never have really had any influence on Afghanistan. We have been the most recent police force trying to stabilize a country that seems to be far from being able to be stabilized.

The country will go on in some manner just as it always has. And it will stabilize when the people of that country decide they want it to be stable.

I agree except I bet the majority of people in Afghanistan do want the place to be stable. Unfortunately, dudes with power, guns, and money don’t want it to be stable. There is the possibility of actually helping the better guys with more guns and money to get more power, but we have a really poor track record on picking the good guys in Afghanistan. Well, in general, but especially in Afghanistan.

365 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:26:34am

re: #350 darthstar

Yeah, but it gives the Republicans a narrative - Putin is reaching out to Obama to be reasonable and consider joining arms against Ukraine.

Not gonna happen, because too many Republicans would never support it. So the game plan will be to use the Crimea Incursion to point out Obama’s weakness instead, as that unifies instead of divides Republicans.

366 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:26:36am

re: #337 Killgore Trout

Still not seeing much analysis of Putins call with Obama yesterday. No clue what a diplomatic settlement might look like and, aside from invading southern Ukraine, not much speculation on what steps Putin might take to secure Transnistria. Oh, well. I guess smart journalists are off for the weekend.

Did you wake up too early? Maybe the smart journalists and everyone else have no clue what is in those diplomatic settlement proposals.

And keee-rist on a pogo stick…how come you are asking for speculation when you would most likely call out the speculation for being speculative.

Maybe you should wait for some facts that you can actually fact check. Too early to say your normal may or may not work and everyone is just reading what has been handed to them by a staffer. Thank god not everything is accomplished on the internet!!!

367 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:27:29am

re: #365 Dark_Falcon

Not gonna happen, because too many Republicans would never support it. So the game plan will be to use the Crimea Incursion to point out Obama’s weakness instead, as that unifies instead of divides Republicans.

And you believe that shit?

368 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:27:52am

Earthquake was caused by fracking. MH370 was hijacked by aliens and taken to Pakistan. Kerry told Turkey to invade Syria. Venezuela turmoil caused by Obama’s CIA. Ukraine revolution financed by the USA. 9/11 was an inside teh job.

369 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:29:29am
370 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:29:30am

re: #368 Gus

A sewage pipe started leaking into the lobby of my apartment building—obvious Freesmasonry at work.

Seriously it was gross.

371 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:32:08am

re: #342 Decatur Deb

Think he’s started to enjoy screwing with them.

Agreed. Even if they consider you a ‘lame duck” you still have some legs to paddle around and you can still quack enough to keep things in a bit of balance. Obama is never going to tuck tail and regress into hiding until his days are over. He is too good at speech-a-fyin’ and getting political points out to those that want to buy in.

And his targets are just standing there pants down around the ankles with big old red targets pasted on their butts. Why not take some shots while still in the old shooting gallery?

372 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:33:35am

re: #349 Gus

Thus begins another day of weirdness and outrage.

Humans. What are you gonna do?

: )

373 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:34:06am

re: #367 darthstar

And you believe that shit?

Yes. There are still a good number of “Purge The RINOs!!1” folks in the GOP, but most of them do understand that siding with Putin regarding the Ukraine would cause a public break within the Republican Party that the Democrats would readily be able to exploit. Using the issue to go after Obama for being weak satisfies the need to attack Obama without crippling the GOP, so that will be the tactic adopted.

374 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:35:39am

re: #372 ObserverArt

Humans. What are you gonna do?

: )

Send them Richard Pryor videos.

375 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:38:25am

re: #374 Gus

Send them Richard Pryor videos.

Damn fine plan.

376 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:42:53am

BTW, the “Christians Pray to Deny Healthcare Coverage” with Ted Cruz pic you might have seen is a hoax.

377 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:45:28am

Oh my…

Turkey begins espionage probe after Syria leak

english.alarabiya.net

“Turkish authorities have launched an espionage investigation into a leaked audio recording in which top officials appeared discussing a possible military intervention in Syria.

(snip)

“Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had called the leak an act of espionage and an “open declaration of war against the Turkish republic.” In a statement, his office called eavesdropping on a top-secret meeting an attack on Turkey’s security and said those responsible would be severely punished.”

“Erdogan and his aides have blamed the Hizmet movement of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally whose followers have influence in the police and judiciary, of running a dirty campaign of espionage to implicate him in corruption ahead of crucial nationwide municipal elections on Sunday.” More

Is Gulen a Sufi, then, who was in tight with Erdogan at one point and now resides in the US?

378 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:51:14am

re: #377 Justanotherhuman

Gulen has vociferously denied orchestrating the leak scandal, but those close to his network have said they fear a heavy crackdown once the local elections have passed.

Does Gulen have the technology to pull off something like this off? I still suspect the Russians.

379 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:52:56am

re: #378 Killgore Trout

Does Gulen have the technology to pull off something like this off? I still suspect the Russians.

Why would Russia want to increase hostility between Syria and Turkey? Even at its height, the Syrian Army of the Assads could never have hoped to defeat the Turks.

380 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:55:13am

re: #379 Dark_Falcon

Why would Russia want to increase hostility between Syria and Turkey? Even at its height, the Syrian Army of the Assads could never have hoped to defeat the Turks.

The don’t, The Russians would want to undermine and delegitimize Turkish attempts to deal with Syria.

381 Timothy Watson  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:55:35am

re: #379 Dark_Falcon

To have Turkey more focused on Syria than standing with NATO against Russia?

382 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:57:03am

Here’s a BBC piece on Gulen from last Dec, along with a photo of his spacious digs in PA.

Profile: Fethullah Gulen’s Hizmet movement

Supporters regard the Hizmet movement inspired by US-based Turkish preacher Fethullah Gulen as the benign, modern face of Islam, but critics question its motives.

“Followers are said to donate between 5% and 20% of their income to groups affiliated with the movement.

“The movement’s schools usually boast hi-tech facilities, and many students are on scholarships funded by Gulen-inspired businessmen.

“Although the schools are secular, teachers are expected to act as role models. Smoking, drinking and divorce are frowned upon. “

bbc.com

383 darthstar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:58:06am

Warning: Time suck. You’re welcome

gabrielecirulli.github.io

384 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:59:22am

re: #380 Killgore Trout

The don’t, The Russians would want to undermine and delegitimize Turkish attempts to deal with Syria.

Doesn’t need to have that “technology” when many of Gulen’s followers still work in Turkey, millions of them, including in the govt.

385 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 8:59:26am

re: #381 Timothy Watson

To have Turkey more focused on Syria than standing with NATO against Russia?

That may be Putin’s long term strategy; To cause problems, chaos and social unrest in NATO allied areas to make the Russian sphere of influence look like a better alternative.

386 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:00:36am

Yep, blame Gülen. Sort of how they’re always trying to blame the DAP in Malaysia for something.

387 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:01:14am

re: #384 Justanotherhuman

Doesn’t need to have that “technology” when many of Gulen’s followers still work in Turkey, millions of them, including in the govt.

I guess that’s a possibility but I’m still very wary of the government’s attempts to blame domestic opposition. It gives them a pretext for a crackdown.

388 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:01:47am

re: #386 Gus

Yep, blame Gülen. Sort of how they’re always trying to blame the DAP in Malaysia for something.

Great example.

389 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:09:35am

re: #383 darthstar

Warning: Time suck. You’re welcome

gabrielecirulli.github.io

Damn you!

390 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:10:04am

Another view of Gulen and his movement.

A Guy Who Lives in Pennsylvania May Be Taking Down the Entire Turkish Government
A profile of Fetullah Gulen, the prime minister’s greatest enemy

newrepublic.com

391 Feline Fearless Leader  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:15:21am

re: #366 ObserverArt

Did you wake up too early? Maybe the smart journalists and everyone else have no clue what is in those diplomatic settlement proposals.

And keee-rist on a pogo stick…how come you are asking for speculation when you would most likely call out the speculation for being speculative.

Maybe you should wait for some facts that you can actually fact check. Too early to say your normal may or may not work and everyone is just reading what has been handed to them by a staffer. Thank god not everything is accomplished on the internet!!!

CNN owns the plane crash speculation, so KT had to settle for another area to be concerned about.

392 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:16:31am

DeSean Jackson Released By Eagles After Report Detailed Alleged Gang Ties

he Philadelphia Eagles sent shockwaves through the NFL by releasing wide receiver DeSean Jackson on Friday. The 27-year-old was coming off a career-best season, but the Eagles decided not to bring him back in 2014.

The team’s announcement came shortly after nj.com published a report by Eliot Shorr-Parks and A.J. Perez that outlined alleged connections between Jackson and suspected gang members in Los Angeles who have been connected to two homicides since 2010. Citing unnamed sources, nj.com reported that the Eagles were more concerned with Jackson’s off-field relationships and behavior than with his on-field performance.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Eagles were aware of the alleged relationships detailed in the nj.com report and opted to release Jackson rather than continue to pursue a trade because of related concerns.

“I can tell you there was absolutely concern within the Eagles organization about this and I think it got to the point where the Eagles knew not only about the revelations in that story, but they knew other information as well,” Schefter said on Friday during an appearance on SportsCenter. “And it made it such that even in a cut-throat business where you’re always trying to come out ahead and come out with a victory, the Eagles in their good conscience, could not fathom the idea of trading DeSean Jackson knowing he has some of the issues he does right now.”

The nj.com report is here.

This is likely the end of Jackson’s NFL career. In the wake of Aaron Hernandez being charged with 1st Degree Murder, NFL teams are being a great deal more concerned about the actions of players off the field. DeSean Jackson has been close enough to the Cripps that the Eagles see him as an unacceptable risk and I suspect other teams will as well.

393 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:17:55am

Nothing on the internets is lighting my fire here.

394 Feline Fearless Leader  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:18:31am

re: #392 Dark_Falcon

DeSean Jackson Released By Eagles After Report Detailed Alleged Gang Ties

The nj.com report is here.

This is likely the end of Jackson’s NFL career. In the wake of Aaron Hernandez being charged with 1st Degree Murder, NFL teams are being a great deal more concerned about the actions of players off the field. DeSean Jackson has been close enough to the Cripps that the Eagles see him as an unacceptable risk and I suspect other teams will as well.

Raiders or Jets within two weeks.

395 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:19:14am

re: #393 Gus

Nothing on the internets is lighting my fire here.

Here you go:

Youtube Video

396 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:19:25am

re: #393 Gus

Nothing on the internets is lighting my fire here.

Sometimes that’s a good thing.

397 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:20:45am

re: #396 wrenchwench

Sometimes that’s a good thing.

[Embedded image]

The day is young. I’m sure some minutia will come up. Perhaps Steven King will Tweet something outrageous later today.

398 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:21:13am

re: #397 Gus

The day is young. I’m sure some minutia will come up. Perhaps Steven King will Tweet something outrageous later today.

Greenwald sleeping in?

399 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:21:27am

Stephen.

400 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:22:00am

Steven, Stephen, whatever. This is why I don’t call myself Gustavo or Gustav.

401 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:22:09am

AZ Official Gets Slammed for Praising Fred Phelps, Linking to The Onion’s Obit

The nicest thing you could say about Fred Phelps was that the hatred he and the Westboro Baptist Church preached brought out the best in those who stood against them. But one Arizona vice mayor raised some eyebrows this week when he posted a link to an obituary for Phelps and actually said the world would benefit from more people like Phelps.

Two things, though: he really didn’t know who Fred Phelps was, and the obituary he linked to was from The Onion.

402 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:22:34am

re: #398 wrenchwench

Greenwald sleeping in?

Was thinking about checking his TL but decided against it. Don’t want to become too mental about him.

403 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:23:38am

re: #377 Justanotherhuman

Oh my…

Turkey begins espionage probe after Syria leak

english.alarabiya.net

“Turkish authorities have launched an espionage investigation into a leaked audio recording in which top officials appeared discussing a possible military intervention in Syria.

(snip)

“Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had called the leak an act of espionage and an “open declaration of war against the Turkish republic.” In a statement, his office called eavesdropping on a top-secret meeting an attack on Turkey’s security and said those responsible would be severely punished.”

“Erdogan and his aides have blamed the Hizmet movement of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally whose followers have influence in the police and judiciary, of running a dirty campaign of espionage to implicate him in corruption ahead of crucial nationwide municipal elections on Sunday.” More

Is Gulen a Sufi, then, who was in tight with Erdogan at one point and now resides in the US?

Gulen is more a student of Said Nursi (Bediuzzaman) than a Sufi himself, to the best of my knowledge. With Turkish Sufis, the big guy is Sheikh Nazim al-Qubrsi al-Haqqani.

404 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:24:48am

re: #400 Gus

Steven, Stephen, whatever. This is why I don’t call myself Gustavo or Gustav.

Pearce spells it Stevan. Weirdo. Then he hired Stevens to make up for it, then he had to fire her. He’s doomed.

405 ObserverArt  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:24:54am

re: #392 Dark_Falcon

DeSean Jackson Released By Eagles After Report Detailed Alleged Gang Ties

The nj.com report is here.

This is likely the end of Jackson’s NFL career. In the wake of Aaron Hernandez being charged with 1st Degree Murder, NFL teams are being a great deal more concerned about the actions of players off the field. DeSean Jackson has been close enough to the Cripps that the Eagles see him as an unacceptable risk and I suspect other teams will as well.

Except it is being reported up to 14 other teams may be interested. If the guy can catch the ball, and doesn’t have a police record of his own, someone will give him a shot. This is the NFL. Hell, they excuse so much other crap, they will consider him.

406 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:25:41am

re: #404 wrenchwench

Pearce spells it Stevan. Weirdo. Then he hired Stevens to make up for it, then he had to fire her. He’s doomed.

Updinged even though that’s all Greek to me.

407 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:26:50am

re: #406 Gus

Updinged even though that’s all Greek to me.

Yeah, I should go fix a bike. Or work on my taxes. I wish I could do both at once.

408 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:27:52am

re: #407 wrenchwench

Yeah, I should go fix a bike. Or work on my taxes. I wish I could do both at once.

I’m just waiting for someone to pick on on Twitter. //

409 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:31:07am

re: #408 Gus

I’m just waiting for someone to pick on on Twitter. //

You can badger this one:

410 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:32:19am

re: #408 Gus

I’m just waiting for someone to pick on on Twitter. //

This is a pretty cool essay if you’ve never read it, on whether or not it’s really more moral or ethical to save a larger vs. a smaller group of people:

tinyurl.com

I should tweet it out. Philosophy 140 characters at a time.

411 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:33:09am

Is this an aftershock?

earthquake.usgs.gov

412 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:34:46am

So I see Cali got a shake this morning. Has it slid off into the sea yet?

413 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:41:23am

re: #412 Targetpractice

So I see Cali got a shake this morning. Has it slid off into the sea yet?

Like this?

Youtube Video

414 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:42:28am

re: #413 Dr Lizardo

Like this?

[Embedded content]

Ah, so I wasn’t the only one thinking of that film.

415 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:47:30am

Unga, bunga, bunga.
— Bugs Bunny

416 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:47:49am

Another gift from Snowden
NSA Targeted German Companies: Der Spiegel

417 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:48:37am

re: #414 Targetpractice

Ah, so I wasn’t the only one thinking of that film.

The words of the late Roger Ebert pretty much jibe with mine, so I’ll let him say it for me:

“2012” delivers what it promises, and since no sentient being will buy a ticket expecting anything else, it will be, for its audiences, one of the most satisfactory films of the year. It even has real actors in it. Like all the best disaster movies, it’s funniest at its most hysterical. You think you’ve seen end-of-the-world movies? This one ends the world, stomps on it, grinds it up and spits it out.

The bottom line is: The movie gives you your money’s worth. Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it one of the year’s best? No. Does Emmerich hammer it together with his elbows from parts obtained from the Used Disaster Movie Store? Yes. But is it about as good as a movie in this genre can be? Yes.

rogerebert.com

418 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:49:25am

re: #412 Targetpractice

So I see Cali got a shake this morning. Has it slid off into the sea yet?

My sister in Santa Monica emailed to say she and my mom (in Fullerton) are OK. She thinks we should call her any time we hear there was an earthquake in California to check on her, even though we’ve seen the news and already know nobody died. Frickin’ world revolves around her. Or shakes under her, at least.

419 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:50:17am

re: #416 Killgore Trout

Another gift from Snowden
NSA Targeted German Companies: Der Spiegel

Got into an argument with a wingnut and dudebro yesterday, both Snowden crotch sniffers, who were adamant that our spying on other nations is wrong, with the former calling on the NSA to be dismantled and the elements of it just folded into the CIA, while the latter declared that we should be working with the rest of the world towards ending international spying altogether.

The headache I ended up with was truly epic.

420 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:55:33am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Got into an argument with a wingnut and dudebro yesterday, both Snowden crotch sniffers, who were adamant that our spying on other nations is wrong, with the former calling on the NSA to be dismantled and the elements of it just folded into the CIA, while the latter declared that we should be working with the rest of the world towards ending international spying altogether.

The headache I ended up with was truly epic.

What planet do these people live on?! Is there some alternate reality I’m unaware of, in which international espionage hasn’t been going on since the dawn of recorded human history?

*smh*

421 Political Atheist  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 9:57:24am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Got into an argument with a wingnut and dudebro yesterday, both Snowden crotch sniffers, who were adamant that our spying on other nations is wrong, with the former calling on the NSA to be dismantled and the elements of it just folded into the CIA, while the latter declared that we should be working with the rest of the world towards ending international spying altogether.

The headache I ended up with was truly epic.

Take the weekend off. You deserve it.

422 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:06:04am

re: #420 Dr Lizardo

What planet do these people live on?! Is there some alternate reality I’m unaware of, in which international espionage hasn’t been going on since the dawn of recorded human history?

*smh*

It’s an idealistic world they live in, in which all of humanity’s problems would be solved if America takes the first step. You know, the kinda folks who used to declare that if America just took the first step and started dismantling her nukes, the rest of the world would follow and swear off ever using them again.

423 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:11:24am

re: #422 Targetpractice

It’s an idealistic world they live in, in which all of humanity’s problems would be solved if America takes the first step. You know, the kinda folks who used to declare that if America just took the first step and started dismantling her nukes, the rest of the world would follow and swear off ever using them again.

I don’t know if “idealistic” is the word I’d use to describe it - more like “shockingly naïve”.

But that’s just me.

424 Political Atheist  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:11:32am

re: #418 wrenchwench

My sister in Santa Monica emailed to say she and my mom (in Fullerton) are OK. She thinks we should call her any time we hear there was an earthquake in California to check on her, even though we’ve seen the news and already know nobody died. Frickin’ world revolves around her. Or shakes under her, at least.

Gotta shake off the ones where we know we got lucky it was light.

425 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:11:54am
426 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:16:15am

re: #425 Justanotherhuman

When I lived up in the Northwest, we worried most about a megathrust earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. That would be a whopper; somewhere in the 8.0 to 9.0 magnitude range.

And that would truly suck; there would be a hell of a lot of damage and a sizeable death toll as well.

427 Political Atheist  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:20:08am

Music at breakfast
Jeff Beck-Goodbye porkpie hat

Youtube Video

428 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:20:53am

Blessed are the cartoonists

Cartoonists Protest Against Turkey’s Block Of Twitter

429 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:21:53am

re: #426 Dr Lizardo

When I lived up in the Northwest, we worried most about a megathrust earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. That would be a whopper; somewhere in the 8.0 to 9.0 magnitude range.

And that would truly suck; there would be a hell of a lot of damage and a sizeable death toll as well.

Lived in CA 1960-62 and went through a couple of light ones; I disliked CA intensely, but not because of that. We have nothing here like that, just the occasional threat of a tornado which I’ve never seen in this area of NC. Heavy winds sometimes taking down a few trees, but it’s mostly calm around here as far as natural disasters are concerned. Whew.

430 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:24:58am

re: #429 Justanotherhuman

Lived in CA 1960-62 and went through a couple of light ones; I disliked CA intensely, but not because of that. We have nothing here like that, just the occasional threat of a tornado which I’ve never seen in this area of NC. Heavy winds sometimes taking down a few trees, but it’s mostly calm around here as far as natural disasters are concerned. Whew.

Here in the Czech Republic, the major hazard is flooding, typically in the summer months. So, also….whew.

I can’t imagine a megathrust earthquake up in the NW; you’re talking about four or five minutes of nonstop 9.0 shaking. The CSZ is about 600 miles long, and if the whole thing slips, that’s several minutes of pants-filling terror.

431 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:28:32am

Say Charles, the New Comments button isn’t updating. You tweakin’ code again?

432 Charles Johnson  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:28:33am
433 RealityBasedSteve  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:29:16am

The first earthquake I ever felt was in Monterey CA. The funniest part is that I didn’t know it was an earthquake. I had just come from a year’s assignement in Egypt, on the Red Sea. We were living in what were basically mobile homes that were divided into small little single rooms. When the wind blew hard at night, sometimes they would rock a bit.

During the Earthquake, I woke up, thought, “Wow, wind must really be blowing to make this 5 story brick building rock”, and promptly fell right back to sleep. Ignorance is Bliss.

Felt a few other mild ones in CA and WA. If you’ve never experienced one, it’s a very unsettling feeling when the earth starts to shimmy a bit under your feet.

RBS

434 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:29:49am

re: #430 Dr Lizardo

Here in the Czech Republic, the major hazard is flooding, typically in the summer months. So, also….whew.

I can’t imagine a megathrust earthquake up in the NW; you’re talking about four or five minutes of nonstop 9.0 shaking. The CSZ is about 600 miles long, and if the whole thing slips, that’s several minutes of pants-filling terror.

LA Times is reporting 100 quakes now, not 60, but it’s behind a paywall.

I suppose they’d know…

435 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:33:07am

re: #434 Justanotherhuman

LA Times is reporting 100 quakes now, not 60, but it’s behind a paywall.

I suppose they’d know…

I grew up in Los Angeles, and we were all waiting for “The Big One” that would wipe L.A. off the face of the Earth.

Like in the 1974 film “Earthquake”.

Youtube Video

In my opinion, the visual effects still pretty much hold up. Good old-fashioned practical FX.

436 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:33:08am

Think you can end up with 1,000s of aftershocks. Last night’s quake was both normal, and typical with slightly above AVERAGE aftershocks at time of the presser. Nothing unusual here from the Whittier Fault.

437 makeitstop  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:36:44am

re: #392 Dark_Falcon

DeSean Jackson Released By Eagles After Report Detailed Alleged Gang Ties

The nj.com report is here.

This is likely the end of Jackson’s NFL career. In the wake of Aaron Hernandez being charged with 1st Degree Murder, NFL teams are being a great deal more concerned about the actions of players off the field. DeSean Jackson has been close enough to the Cripps that the Eagles see him as an unacceptable risk and I suspect other teams will as well.

Not a chance. Some team will take a flyer on a one-year contract.

And I heard a pretty good take on this whole ‘associated with Crips’ thing yesterday. Let’s say you grew up knowing these guys, you go and make your name in the world, then you come back home and one of them asks to take a picture with you.

What are the consequences for refusing that picture? Is your family going to have trouble, after you refuse the picture then go back to your life while your family has to live in the same neighborhood with the guy you dissed?

A picture proves nothing. Guilt by association still sucks.

438 Stanley Sea  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:39:43am

re: #425 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Waited for me to leave. In in South Carolina.

Wow

439 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:40:27am

Forget the hippies, the real influence in the “Peace at all costs” movement is the corporations
German execs criticise West for allowing tension with Russia to rise

Steelmaker ThyssenKrupp’s Chief Executive Heinrich Hiesinger told daily newspaper Die Welt that the events of the past had shown that great change could be achieved if the West cooperated with Russia rather than being confrontational.

“Now we have a situation in which Russia feels that its back is against the wall,” he said in an article published on the paper’s website on Saturday.

Russia is Germany’s 11th biggest commercial partner, with trade reaching 76.5 billion euros ($105 billion) last year, according to the trade association Ost Ausschuss.

Many companies are worried about losing out on business if further sanctions take effect. Some 300,000 German jobs are linked to business there and Europe’s biggest economy depends on Russia for 35 percent of its gas.

“Many German companies that invested in Russia last year or wanted to build production sites there have now given up their plans or put them on ice,” Bernd Hones, Economic Correspondent at economic development agency Germany Trade & Invest in Moscow, told weekly paper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung.

440 wrenchwench  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:40:42am

re: #435 Dr Lizardo

I grew up in Los Angeles, and we were all waiting for “The Big One” that would wipe L.A. off the face of the Earth.

Like in the 1974 film “Earthquake”.

[Embedded content]

In my opinion, the visual effects still pretty much hold up. Good old-fashioned practical FX.

I loved this book.

Last Days of the Late, Great State of California

Part history, but then California falls into the ocean from the San Andreas fault west, and it describes the effect on the world.

441 andres  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:45:32am

re: #237 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

I’ve personally experienced 3 tornadoes that turned structures a few hundred feet away into toothpicks while leaving everything else almost entirely untouched. I’ve seen first-hand big-rig trailers thrown through the air like plastic bags. I’ve seen attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I’ve watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those… moments… will be lost in time, like [small cough] tears… in… rain. Time… to die…

But I have never experienced even a minor earthquake, and can’t begin to imagine what it’s like. Honestly, I would like to experience a major earthquake, if I could do so without having to worry about buildings and bridges and what-not collapsing on top of me.

I know in Orlando they have a museum that features a wind tunnel where you can experience a “tornado”, IIRC. Maybe there’s something similar for earthquakes.

But it would not be the same experience to feel an unexpected earthquake. I remember feeling one, on Christmas’ Eve several years ago, where I felt like someone was tugging my chair, and I looked over my shoulder to check who the **** was messing with me.

442 Backwoods_Sleuth  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:46:02am
443 Political Atheist  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:46:03am

re: #439 Killgore Trout

Grow up hating The Man wind up being The Man.

444 thedopefishlives  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:47:30am

Afternoon Lizardim.

445 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:48:12am

re: #439 Killgore Trout

Forget the hippies, the real influence in the “Peace at all costs” movement is the corporations
German execs criticise West for allowing tension with Russia to rise

Krupp - World War II

…Krupp received its first order for 135 Panzer I tanks in 1933, and during WWII made tanks, artillery, naval guns, armor plate, munitions and other armaments for the German military. Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard launched the German cruiser Prinz Eugen, as well as many of Germany’s U-boats (130 between 1934 and 1945) using preassembled parts supplied by other Krupp factories in a process similar to the construction of the US liberty ships.

In the 1930s, Krupp developed two 800 mm railway guns, the Schwerer Gustav and the Dora. These guns were the biggest artillery pieces ever fielded by an army during wartime, and weighed almost 1,344 tons. They could fire a 7-ton shell over a distance of 37 kilometers. More crucial to the operations of the German military was Krupp’s development of the famed 88 mm anti-aircraft cannon which found use as a notoriously effective anti-tank gun.

In an address to the Hitler Youth, Adolf Hitler stated “In our eyes, the German boy of the future must be slim and slender, as fast as a greyhound, tough as leather and hard as Krupp steel” (“… der deutsche Junge der Zukunft muß schlank und rank sein, flink wie Windhunde, zäh wie Leder und hart wie Kruppstahl.”)

Krupp Industries employed workers conscripted by the Nazi regime from across Europe. These workers were initially paid, but as Nazi fortunes declined they were kept as slave workers. They were abused, beaten, and starved by the thousands, as detailed in the book The Arms of Krupp. Nazi Germany kept two million French POW’s captured in 1940 as forced laborers throughout the war. They added compulsory (and volunteer) workers from occupied nations, especially in metal factories. The shortage of volunteers led the Vichy government of France to deport workers to Germany, where, they constituted 15% of the labor force by August 1944. The largest number worked in the giant Krupp steel works in Essen. Low pay, long hours, frequent bombings, and crowded air raid shelters added to the unpleasantness of poor housing, inadequate heating, limited food, and poor medical care, all compounded by harsh Nazi discipline. They finally returned home in the summer of 1945.[7]

Krupp industries was prosecuted after the end of war for its support to the Nazi regime and use of forced labour…

446 Justanotherhuman  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:50:33am

re: #439 Killgore Trout

Forget the hippies, the real influence in the “Peace at all costs” movement is the corporations
German execs criticise West for allowing tension with Russia to rise

I don’t give a flying fuck what corporations which were former Nazi collaborators say about geo-politics. They’ll go where they make the most money.

447 Gus  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 10:51:10am

Fritz Thyseen

In 1923, Thyssen met former General Erich Ludendorff, who advised him to attend a speech given by Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party. Thyssen was impressed by Hitler and his bitter opposition to the Treaty of Versailles, and began to make large donations to the party, including 100,000 gold marks ($25,000) in 1923 to Ludendorff.[1] In this he was unusual among German business leaders, as most were traditional conservatives who regarded the Nazis with suspicion. Thyssen’s principal motive in supporting the National Socialists was his great fear of communism; he had little confidence that the various German anticommunist factions would prevent a Soviet-style revolution in Germany unless the popular appeal of communism among the lower classes was co-opted by an anticommunist alternative.[2] Postwar investigators found that he had donated 650,000 Reichsmarks to right-wing parties, mostly to the Nazis, although Thyssen himself claimed to have donated 1 million marks to the Nazi Party.[3] Thyssen remained a member of the German National People’s Party until 1932, and did not join the Nazi Party until 1933.

In November, 1932, Thyssen and Hjalmar Schacht were the main organisers of a letter to President Paul von Hindenburg urging him to appoint Hitler as Chancellor. Thyssen also persuaded the Association of German Industrialists to donate 3 million Reichsmarks to the Nazi Party for the March, 1933 Reichstag election. As a reward, he was elected a Nazi member of the Reichstag and appointed to the Council of State of Prussia, the largest German state (both purely honorary positions).

448 Killgore Trout  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:00:11am

re: #445 Gus

Krupp - World War II

Interesting. I guess we’re now seeing the flip side of the military-industrial complex. If war doesn’t increase the profit margins they aren’t interested.

449 Targetpractice  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:03:01am

re: #448 Killgore Trout

Interesting. I guess we’re now seeing the flip side of the military-industrial complex. If war doesn’t increase the profit margins they aren’t interested.

“Capitalism was reasonably content under Hitler, happy under Mussolini, very happy under Franco and delirious under General Pinochet.”

450 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:04:29am

re: #440 wrenchwench

Sounds interesting; I’ll have to check it out.

451 De Kolta Chair  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:16:55am

re: #74 William Barnett-Lewis

If its submarine flicks you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with Samuel Fuller’s 1954 widescreen cold war undersea actioner “Hell and High Water,” starring Richard Widmark and Bella Darvi.

Here be the trailer.

452 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:18:21am

re: #419 Targetpractice

Got into an argument with a wingnut and dudebro yesterday, both Snowden crotch sniffers, who were adamant that our spying on other nations is wrong, with the former calling on the NSA to be dismantled and the elements of it just folded into the CIA, while the latter declared that we should be working with the rest of the world towards ending international spying altogether.

The headache I ended up with was truly epic.

How would we know that they truly had quit unless we were to spy on them?

453 BeenHereAwhile  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:22:28am

re: #374 Gus

Send them Richard Pryor videos.

Not a video but, Richard Pryor - at his best - telling stories.

Mudbone Part 1:

Youtube Video

454 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 11:43:33am

re: #447 Gus

Fritz Thyseen

Prescott Sheldon Bush was one of his US bankers that helped move money around.

455 EPR-radar  Sat, Mar 29, 2014 12:50:08pm

re: #441 andres

I know in Orlando they have a museum that features a wind tunnel where you can experience a “tornado”, IIRC. Maybe there’s something similar for earthquakes.

But it would not be the same experience to feel an unexpected earthquake. I remember feeling one, on Christmas’ Eve several years ago, where I felt like someone was tugging my chair, and I looked over my shoulder to check who the **** was messing with me.

My first earthquake in CA was when I was in a restaurant and all of the water glasses with ice cubes in them rattled at once.


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