Overnight Jam: Johnnyswim at NPR Music

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Once you’re able to see this three-song set by the band Johnnyswim, NPR Music will have published exactly 350 Tiny Desk Concerts — so we’ve developed a pretty good sense of when a set will stick in our memories for a while. We intuited, for example, that Adele was about to become a dominant force shortly after she breezed into our offices. (Okay, that didn’t exactly require psychic powers, but still.) In the case of Johnnyswim, the prevailing sense boiled down to, “Boy, we haven’t heard the last of them.”

Impossibly telegenic and charming, husband and wife Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano — who formed their band in Nashville before relocating to L.A. — have the booming voices of great street buskers, but also the polished sparkle of natural-born stage performers. Sudano is the daughter of the late Donna Summer, with whom she used to sing backup, but Johnnyswim’s story isn’t one of nepotism or overnight success; the two have been at this together for nearly a decade, and they’ve got the grandiose impeccability to prove it.

In this set, the lovely ballad “Falling for Me” is bookended by songs that could be airdropped onto half the shows on television; if you’re hearing them here for the first time, don’t be surprised if it’s your first exposure of many. Johnnyswim opens this session with “Home” — a sweet rouser that could easily follow in the footsteps of other recent hits with that title — and closes it with a full-band reading of what promises to be its signature song, the title track from the new Diamonds. As Sudano notes here, the song has morphed into “an anthem to ourselves to keep ourselves encouraged.” For Johnnyswim, such pep talks won’t likely be necessary for long. —STEPHEN THOMPSON

Set List

“Home”
“Falling For Me”
“Diamonds”

Credits

Producers: Bob Boilen, Denise DeBelius; Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait; Videographers: Denise DeBelius, Faith Masi, Olivia Merrion; photo by Jim Tuttle/NPR

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436 comments
1 freetoken  Apr 28, 2014 8:08:53pm

And now, for the Creationist Jam of the day:

Well known creationist, SC state senator Mike Fair, is getting his way it appears:

SC board wants students to question evolution

South Carolina’s Education Oversight Committee wants high school students to question evolution.

The independent agency’s board voted 7-4 Monday on biology standards that would require students to use scientific evidence to both support and discredit Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

The recommendation pushed by Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, will return to the state Board of Education for consideration. The committee and board must agree upon any change as part of the state’s required review of teaching standards. The two were at an impasse over the same issue in 2006.

Fair introduced the amendment in response to new language in the standards requiring the teaching of evolution. He blocked passage of the biology standards in February.

Fair told the committee he is concerned that Darwinism is being taught as fact to students and not as a “disproven theory” as he argued in a presentation titled, “The (Lack of) Science of Evolution.”

[…]

2 klys  Apr 28, 2014 8:09:47pm

I do not advocate trying to film while driving at all, but here is the Louisville tornado from earlier today:

Youtube Video

3 Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 28, 2014 8:12:45pm

Storms have arrived here with much thunder, lightning and rain.
Shutting things down, now.

4 klys  Apr 28, 2014 8:13:27pm

re: #3 Backwoods_Sleuth

Storms have arrived here with much thunder, lightning and rain.
Shutting things down, now.

[Embedded content]

Be safe.

5 Belafon  Apr 28, 2014 8:15:51pm

re: #1 freetoken

“Teacher, every time I try to disprove the theory of evolution, the results keep coming back that match it’s predictions.”

“Jimmy, you’re thinking too hard. Pretend to be Senator Fair.”

“I don’t want to have to remember to breathe.”

6 GeneJockey  Apr 28, 2014 8:29:14pm

Well, of course, the very nature of Science is to try and disprove what you think you know. But when you fail to do so, you grudgingly accept that you just might be right, and try to add to it something new that you then also try to disprove. If you continue failing, you’re probably onto something.

But I am sure as I’m sure that I’m sure that my name isn’t Willow, Tit-Willow, Tit-Willow, that he’s not suggesting students do an intensive study of the Theory and determine what testable predictions it make, and then test them.

No, he’s probably one of those assholes who thinks the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics prohibits Evolution, while ignoring the energy pouring down onto every inch of the Earth’ surface for some part of the year if not every damned day.

7 Kragar  Apr 28, 2014 8:34:27pm

I just heard my daughter call someone a Douche for the first time.

8 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 8:34:55pm

The Intercept adds yet another dudebro.

9 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 8:56:36pm

10 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 8:57:01pm

11 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:03:01pm

12 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:04:22pm

13 Single-handed sailor  Apr 28, 2014 9:09:37pm

re: #7 Kragar

I just heard my daughter call someone a Douche for the first time.

Your job here is done.

14 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:11:20pm
15 Dark_Falcon  Apr 28, 2014 9:17:33pm

re: #10 Gus

[Embedded image]

How about “SnowjobBay”?

16 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:21:29pm

re: #15 Dark_Falcon

How about “SnowjobBay”?

17 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:27:53pm
18 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:28:05pm
19 Political Atheist  Apr 28, 2014 9:32:43pm
Impossibly telegenic and charming, husband and wife Abner Ramirez and Amanda Sudano

Ya think~!

Last time I saw that kind of on camera chemistry was maybe Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.

20 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:36:37pm
21 Kragar  Apr 28, 2014 9:40:49pm

re: #13 Single-handed sailor

Your job here is done.

“GAH! This guy is such a DOUCHE!”

“Do you even know what that means?”

“No, but I like the way it sounds. Douche douche De Douche Douchey Douche!”

22 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:41:11pm
23 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:41:20pm
24 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:44:34pm
25 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 28, 2014 9:45:14pm

re: #6 GeneJockey

point is, these people have achieved a critical mass in a national political, at least at state level, enough to pass and promulgate laws and educational guidelines.

26 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:47:41pm
27 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:57:19pm
28 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:58:59pm

Looks like Birmingham is good to go. Bessemer however got hit. Reports still coming in.

29 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 9:59:58pm
30 Kragar  Apr 28, 2014 10:00:29pm

re: #27 Gus

[Embedded content]

Please ignore the ridiculous music

Youtube Video

31 dog philosopher  Apr 28, 2014 10:21:30pm

“Reports that Secretary Kerry has suggested Israel is becoming an apartheid state are extremely disappointing,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who is Jewish, said in a statement

gah

32 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 10:31:58pm

re: #31 dog philosopher

“Reports that Secretary Kerry has suggested Israel is becoming an apartheid state are extremely disappointing,” House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, who is Jewish, said in a statement

gah

Yep, that’s what he said. //

33 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 10:33:57pm
34 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 10:41:04pm
35 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 10:53:31pm

And someone links to PressTV to some article by that nutcase Gordon Duff to slam Sheldon Adelson. Gawd these Tweeps. Derp.

36 Odie Hugh Manatee  Apr 28, 2014 11:06:43pm

I’m in Oregon and today I received a newsletter from the crazy teabagger RNC chair, Art Robinson, asking for a urine donation from my family and myself. I also received a Jeebus prayer rug (it’s actually paper, I guess they ran out of rug) that I’m supposed to use and send back to the church for someone else to use. I’m thinking about printing out a Raptor Jesus “prayer rug” and sending it back instead. Maybe put “He Went Extinct For Your Sins” on it just to spice it up a bit.

I’m trying to figure out what to do with Art Robinson’s flyer but I’m sure something will come to me.

37 Single-handed sailor  Apr 28, 2014 11:10:08pm
38 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 11:12:16pm

Speaking of which, and, additionally. Apparently Buzzfeed is an AIPAC/Sheldon Adelson conspiracy according to electronicintifada.

39 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 11:21:59pm

re: #37 Single-handed sailor

what?

I know, right.

40 Lidane  Apr 28, 2014 11:44:26pm
41 Gus  Apr 28, 2014 11:47:42pm

Fucked up.

42 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 12:01:20am
43 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 12:27:28am
44 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 12:55:30am

Carl Sagan - You Are Here

Youtube Video

45 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 1:37:45am
46 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 1:47:20am

re: #42 Gus

[Embedded content]

I wonder if any billionaires went by in their Rolls Royces and honked?

47 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 2:20:50am

re: #42 Gus

Remember “redistribution” to them means “taking away the fruits of someone’s hard-earned labor and giving it to moochers and deadbeats” instead of “asking people to pay for the infrastructure, education and services that allowed them to make money in the first place”…like using federal property as grazing land.

48 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 2:33:02am

re: #36 Odie Hugh Manatee

Urine??
Or is it a clever metaphor for the concept of donating money to the GOP, to wit, ‘pissing it away’?

49 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 2:45:06am

re: #40 Lidane

[Embedded content]

What about a gun w/a chip that could be enabled from your cell phone instead? If the original chip was removed, it would permanently disable the gun also. So even if the gun were stolen, no one could operate it without the code you enter on your cell phone and they couldn’t “re-program” it, either, because the seller’s info would be w/the mfgr and the gun would be non-transferable to another party, and, in effect, a non-operable weapon once out of the owner’s possession.

It’s going to be a tough row to hoe, in fact, to use technology to make guns safer because of those in the gun lobbies and the NRA who want guns to be freely sold and traded to anyone with the money, even those not legally with the right to own one.

50 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 3:11:00am

re: #49 Justanotherhuman

It’s going to be a tough row to hoe, in fact, to use technology to make guns safer because of those in the gun lobbies and the NRA who want guns to be freely sold and traded to anyone with the money, even those not legally with the right to own one.

It would be seen as unnecessary government interference in a Constitutional Right.

51 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 3:28:24am

re: #50 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

It would be seen as unnecessary government interference in a Constitutional Right.

Not so much a “Constitutional Right” to own a gun (since some don’t have that, such as convicted felons), but an infringement on the “free market”, another RWNJ myth of gigantic proportions when vulture capitalism is being practiced world wide.

These people will play off “rights” one against the other as it suits them, along with their misinterpretation of same, such as the “right” to form “militias”, or being able to sell something for 100x what it’s worth, or charging usury interest rates (which are always regulated, even at the state level). Pure horseshit. These people are, at heart, anti-social bigots who foster a tribal existence way out of line with today’s modern society.

52 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 3:34:05am

re: #51 Justanotherhuman

Nothing in the Constitution about installing chips in guns.

53 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 3:36:54am

re: #52 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Nothing in the Constitution about installing chips in guns.

Nothing in the Constitution about spreading lies and disinformation over the internet, either.

54 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 3:40:04am

re: #53 Justanotherhuman

Nothing in the Constitution about spreading lies and disinformation over Internet either.

And nothing about multiple-round clips

55 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 3:48:16am

These poor people…

ETA: This is in TN.

56 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 4:04:31am

Trilateral commission update: John Kerry recorded talking about recording conversations between Ukrainian separatists and their Russian handlers

U.S. Taped Moscow’s Calls to Its Ukraine Spies

“Intel is producing taped conversations of intelligence operatives taking their orders from Moscow and everybody can tell the difference in the accents, in the idioms, in the language. We know exactly who’s giving those orders, we know where they are coming from,” Kerry said at a private meeting of the Trilateral Commission in Washington. A recording of Kerry’s remarks was obtained by The Daily Beast.

Kerry didn’t name specific Russian officials implicated in the recordings. But he claimed that the intercepts provided proof of the Russians deliberately fomenting unrest in Eastern Ukraine—and lying about it to U.S. officials and the public.

57 andres  Apr 29, 2014 4:06:52am

re: #56 Killgore Trout

O.M.G.!!! The US has spies that can record what other countries do? Where are my clutching pearls?

58 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 4:10:48am

re: #56 Killgore Trout

Trilateral commission update: John Kerry recorded talking about recording conversations between Ukrainian separatists and their Russian handlers

U.S. Taped Moscow’s Calls to Its Ukraine Spies

THE WRATH OF THE GLENN GREENWALD WILL SOON FALL UPON THEM!!

59 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 4:10:50am

Daily Beast should sneak into Trilateral Commission meetings more often. Probably the best reporting of administration thinking we’ve seen in quite some time.

60 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 4:11:41am

re: #58 Dr Lizardo

THE WRATH OF THE GLENN GREENWALD WILL SOON FALL UPON THEM!!

I’m just happy that we still have the capability to intercept the calls.

61 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 4:12:54am

re: #59 Killgore Trout

So leaking intel on US intelligence programs is a good thing now?

Jesus.

62 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 4:28:00am

Last night my son in Alabama texted:

Mookie (his daughter) is very confused. If G-D is making the tornadoes, how is he also protecting us? So glad she is growing up to be an atheist like me.

Sirens going off now.

He’s not really an atheist (he’s a Rabbi!) but sometimes he says he is.

63 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 4:32:22am

re: #62 Pie-onist Overlord

A rabbi friend of mine once observed that Judaism is the easiest religion to be an atheist in. You can follow and observe mitzvah without belief in a diety, and it still counts.

64 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 4:36:06am

re: #63 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

A rabbi friend of mine once observed that Judaism is the easiest religion to be an atheist in. You can follow and observe mitzvah without belief in a diety, and it still counts.

Rambam said being an atheist does not exempt you from performing all the other mitzvot. Also visiting your mother on the holidays.

65 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 4:36:25am

OT, but here in the Czech Republic, train service in southeast Prague (Uhříněves District) has been disrupted after the well-known singer Iveta Bartošová decided to celebrate her 48th birthday by throwing herself under a passenger train.

Yeesh.

The cause of death is definitively suicide. Bartošová had been in and out of mental hospitals here for quite some time; depression, addiction to anti-depressants, alcoholism, etc.

A very sad end for a troubled star. The news is in Czech, but you can run it through Google Translate.

novinky.cz

66 AntonSirius  Apr 29, 2014 4:50:35am

re: #64 Pie-onist Overlord

Also visiting your mother on the holidays.

And would it kill you to maybe call once in a while?

67 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 4:51:16am

re: #65 Dr Lizardo

Sadly, she also left an 18 yr old son. Evidently, some people simply cannot handle the demands of fame without medicating themselves against the pressures. It’s a cruel end for too many. There is some interesting stuff on wiki about her fame and people seeing her as an object of the tabloids, which wouldn’t stop exploiting her mental illness, as here:

lidovky.cz

(Google translation) “It s the Iveta Bartosova must stop. She is a human being and you’re like a vulture with a chuckle watching her last campaign . But for you, it happened by . This is irrefutable fact. Cannon would be many things, but nothing of what we witnessed last week , tabloid newspapers and commercial television are fighting for their lives , so averse to anything , do not stop , they will continue to take this helpless puppet stage with her still more extreme theatrical pieces. It’s up to you : how long are you gonna let the fun?”

68 ObserverArt  Apr 29, 2014 4:59:20am

re: #62 Pie-onist Overlord

Last night my son in Alabama texted:

He’s not really an atheist (he’s a Rabbi!) but sometimes he says he is.

Reminds me of a guy I went to (Catholic) school with. In the 8th grade, he went on to seminary school to study to become a RC priest.

About 6 years later, I was working during the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years at college in a factory my one brother was a foreman at doing summer maintenance and odd jobs. One day my brother gathers the workers up to introduce a new worker. It was Greg the one who had left to become a priest.

So, we got to talking, and I got around to asking him what happened with the whole becoming a priest thing? He told me. A lot. His seminary experience was not good.

Oh, and he also told me he was now a confirmed atheist.

Funny how things work sometimes.

69 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 5:07:35am

Six shot, all being treated in the hospital, shooter not caught yet…

70 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 5:13:19am

re: #69 NJDhockeyfan

Six shot, all being treated in the hospital, shooter not caught yet…

[Embedded content]

FedEx warehouse…

71 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 5:15:25am

TCOT is on it.

72 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 5:15:53am

re: #67 Justanotherhuman

Sadly, she also left an 18 yr old son. Evidently, some people simply cannot handle the demands of fame without medicating themselves against the pressures. It’s a cruel end for too many. There is some interesting stuff on wiki about her fame and people seeing her as an object of the tabloids, which wouldn’t stop exploiting her mental illness, as here:

lidovky.cz

(Google translation) “It s the Iveta Bartosova must stop. She is a human being and you’re like a vulture with a chuckle watching her last campaign . But for you, it happened by . This is irrefutable fact. Cannon would be many things, but nothing of what we witnessed last week , tabloid newspapers and commercial television are fighting for their lives , so averse to anything , do not stop , they will continue to take this helpless puppet stage with her still more extreme theatrical pieces. It’s up to you : how long are you gonna let the fun?”

She was definitely hounded by the tabloid media here; no doubt about that. Czech tabloid media is pretty ruthless and frankly, a bunch of jackals. They brutally exploited her mental state to sell papers, and having lived here for the last 13 years, their conclusion won’t be “Jeez….maybe we should be a little more responsible”.

It’ll be “Who’s next?”

73 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 5:18:22am

Right, yet the failing peace talks are all Israel’s fault…

“Our people, people of Gaza, Gaza of resolve, of nobleness and struggle: Your freedom is near. Our prisoners’ freedom and your freedom are also near, Allah willing. You will return to the bosom of legitimacy, to the bosom of the homeland, which is represented by [the] Gaza [Strip] and the [West] Bank, by Palestine — all of Palestine, from its [Jordan] River to its [Mediterranean] Sea. This is our goal; this is the lantern that lights our way; these are our principles in the Fatah Movement: Palestine — [the] Gaza [Strip] is part of it; the [West] Bank is part of it; and it is Haifa, Jaffa, Acre, and it is all of Palestine, which will be an independent state for us, Allah willing.”

74 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 5:18:27am

Wingnuts are still Derping HURR HURR STERLING IS A DEMOCRAT!!!!!

75 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 5:22:21am

Haha, I’ve said a lot of this stuff, too. : )

Shit Jewish Mothers Say - Episode 1

Youtube Video

76 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 5:24:33am

re: #73 NJDhockeyfan

Right, yet the failing peace talks are all Israel’s fault…

[Embedded content]

Who’s saying the failing peace talks are all Israel’s fault?

77 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 5:27:02am

re: #71 Pie-onist Overlord

please spare us this shit. we are aware that there are #tcot idiots out there ready to mouth off their talking points at the next shooting.

78 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 5:27:27am

re: #77 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

By ‘us’ do you mean ‘me’?

79 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 5:29:38am

re: #78 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

By ‘us’ do you mean ‘me’?

Royally, yes…We are not amused. Or informed by such Neanderthal rants.

Really. Spare us this shit. There is too much of it out there in the Internet without spilling it over into here

80 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 5:34:05am

re: #79 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Really, stop saying ‘we’ when you mean ‘me’. I’m fine with her posting that ‘shit’. It’s obvious that no matter how much you complain about it, it’s not going to stop. You can scroll past, just like kittens.

81 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 5:35:43am

Good morning Lizards.

Looking back a thread I see that it was a good thing I decided to read a book rather than LGF after coming back from playing cards last night. And it looks as well like some of the testiness is leaking into this thread this morning.

And Pittsburgh pulled out their series against Columbus last night. Hard fought, and Columbus made it a game. Better luck to them next year - as long as they’re not playing Pittsburgh again! :)

Off to get more coffee.

82 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 5:35:47am

re: #76 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Who’s saying the failing peace talks are all Israel’s fault?

Who hasn’t? For as long as I can remember Israel is always blamed when peace talks fail by the Palestians (of course), the ME, the UN, etc.

83 Iwouldprefernotto  Apr 29, 2014 5:39:38am

re: #80 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Really, stop saying ‘we’ when you mean ‘me’. I’m fine with her posting that ‘shit’. It’s obvious that no matter how much you complain about it, it’s not going to stop. You can scroll past, just like kittens.

No one can scroll past kittens.

84 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 5:41:39am

Israeli politicians seek to bypass talks, set own boundaries

With Middle East peace talks frozen and expectations of a negotiated deal at an all-time low, a growing number of Israeli politicians believe it is time for the government to set the nation’s own borders unilaterally.

Some seek the annexation of most of the occupied West Bank, others say only the big Jewish settlement blocs should be brought under Israeli sovereignty, while a third group calls for a partial pullout to create a de facto Palestinian state.

Such actions would break the dynamics of the U.S.-driven peace process, which has been bogged down by years of failure and recrimination. By the same token, it would likely unleash a firestorm of protest at home and abroad.

There are various versions of the idea kicking around. None of them mainstream and it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. But it’s possible that sometime down the road the Israelis will take unilateral action if peace negotiations with the Palestinians continue to be worthless.

85 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 5:42:39am

re: #80 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Really, stop saying we’ when you mean ‘me’. I’m fine with her posting that ‘shit’. It’s obvious that no matter how much you complain about it, it’s not going to stop. You can scroll past, just like kittens.

You keep posting, I keep whining, just like dead kittens.

86 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 5:44:34am

re: #29 Gus

[Embedded content]

I halfway expected to see the ground some distance beneath them when the video cleared.

In the words of Marcus Kincaid, “I’m never doing that again.”

87 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 5:45:23am

re: #84 Killgore Trout

Israeli politicians seek to bypass talks, set own boundaries

There are various versions of the idea kicking around. None of them mainstream and it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. But it’s possible that sometime down the road the Israelis will take unilateral action if peace negotiations with the Palestinians continue to be worthless.

Who’s pushing this?

“I think an era has ended and a new era has begun,” said Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, a hawkish, hi-tech tycoon and head of the nationalist Jewish Home party, which has always opposed negotiations with the Palestinians.

“Bennett said Palestinians should be given “autonomy on steroids” in areas of the West Bank where they already exert some control, while the remaining 62 percent of the territory should be gradually annexed to Israel.

“I know this is not as sexy as the perfect two-state solution, but this is realistic,” he said on Sunday.”

The Israeli wingnuts, of course.

88 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 5:46:20am

re: #40 Lidane

[Embedded content]

I’m betting it’s because the people opposing the idea hate that a machine is smarter than they are.

89 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 5:49:15am

re: #69 NJDhockeyfan

Six shot, all being treated in the hospital, shooter not caught yet…

[Embedded content]

Ah, yes. Kennesaw GA where everyone is required by law to own a gun. Sure helped this morning …

en.wikipedia.org

90 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 5:50:48am

Eyewitness tells Mashable that the male shooter was an employee and is still at large in the FedEx facility in Kennesaw, Ga.

mashable.com

Not yet confirmed by LE.

91 A Mom Anon  Apr 29, 2014 5:51:10am

re: #69 NJDhockeyfan

This is right down the street from where The Husband works, less than half a mile. Sirens started at 6:30 this morning and there are cops from Cobb County, Kennesaw, Marietta, Kennesaw State University and the GA State Patrol on the scene. I just heard ANOTHER cop car fly by here. On the news reports I counted no less than 30 cop cars lined up with lights flashing. One poor guy being interviewed can’t reach his wife and can’t find any info. They’ve got cops searching the place with dogs, and so far not a word about catching the shooter. So that’s comforting.

I’m so sick of guns and death.

92 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 5:52:27am
93 A Mom Anon  Apr 29, 2014 5:54:00am

re: #89 William Barnett-Lewis

That’s only inside the city limits, which is actually quite small. You can have a Kennesaw address and not be in the city.

(added) This isn’t the first workplace shooting in that general area. A few years ago someone walked into a truck rental place and shot a bunch of people.

I have no issue with guns, but there just seem to be no damned rules anymore. Like the dude down here in Forsyth county who just menaced a ballpark full of people there for a Little League game. Cops couldn’t do a damned thing because of the law just signed by our idiot governor allows guns damned near anywhere. I don’t know what the answer is, but it sure as fuck isn’t more goddamned guns in the hands of fools and assholes.

94 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 5:58:04am

re: #82 NJDhockeyfan

Who hasn’t?

For example, John Kerry, the US state department, Barack Obama.

Can you find an example of the UN blaming Israel unilaterally for the failure of the peace talks?

95 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 6:00:00am

re: #87 Justanotherhuman

Who’s pushing this?

“I think an era has ended and a new era has begun,” said Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, a hawkish, hi-tech tycoon and head of the nationalist Jewish Home party, which has always opposed negotiations with the Palestinians.

“Bennett said Palestinians should be given “autonomy on steroids” in areas of the West Bank where they already exert some control, while the remaining 62 percent of the territory should be gradually annexed to Israel.

“I know this is not as sexy as the perfect two-state solution, but this is realistic,” he said on Sunday.”

The Israeli wingnuts, of course.

For now it’s mostly a fringe idea but it may gain wider acceptance as time goes by without a peace deal. Israelis are desperate to get out of the occupation business and they’re exploring solutions that don’t involve endless negotiations with the Palestinians that never go anywhere. It’s something to keep an eye on.

96 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Apr 29, 2014 6:00:47am

re: #95 Killgore Trout

For now it’s mostly a fringe idea but it may gain wider acceptance as time goes by without a peace deal. Israelis are desperate to get out of the occupation business and they’re exploring solutions that don’t involve endless negotiations with the Palestinians that never go anywhere. It’s something to keep an eye on.

That ‘solution’ wouldn’t be ‘getting out of the occupation business’, though.

You don’t even understand what’s being proposed.

97 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 6:01:09am

re: #29 Gus

That’s absolutely insane video. Long duration tornado, and then halfway into the video you can see all kinds of debris swirling past - looks like shrubs, trees, and it’s going incredibly fast, and then there’s something that strikes against the windshield and sparks up. They got incredibly lucky that they didn’t get hurt in all that.

98 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 6:01:25am
99 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 6:05:16am

re: #71 Pie-onist Overlord

What is this I don’t even…? I’m trying to parse what they’re trying to mock, and I’m drawing blanks.

100 Lidane  Apr 29, 2014 6:08:09am
101 Timothy Watson  Apr 29, 2014 6:09:43am

re: #100 Lidane

[Embedded content]

BECAUSE GOD IS THE PUNISHER!

102 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 6:10:50am

Another Dem doesn’t like Kerry’s apartheid comment.

103 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 6:13:58am
104 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:14:55am

re: #99 GunstarGreen

What is this I don’t even…? I’m trying to parse what they’re trying to mock, and I’m drawing blanks.

Maybe you should see a doctor!!

no,,wait,, that’s if you’re shooting blanks

nevahmind!!!

105 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 6:17:31am

Pro-Russia activists seize Luhansk HQ

A large crowd of pro-Russian activists has stormed the regional administration’s headquarters in the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk.

A few dozen men, some reportedly armed with metal bars, smashed windows and doors to break into the building.

Activists shouting “Referendum Russia” later flew a Russian flag over it.

106 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 6:17:51am

re: #95 Killgore Trout

Consider too that parts of the West Bank is under PA civil administrative control with three zones (A, B, C) with varying degrees of autonomy.

The Oslo Accords, along with the Wye agreements and subsequent agreements all laid out the civil administrative responsibilities for the Palestinian Authority. There’s a buffer area where Israel maintains security responsibilities, but there are parts of the West Bank essentially run by Palestinians with no Israeli responsibilities.

The land areas aren’t contiguous and there have been numerous setbacks due to Palestinian terrorism causing additional shifts from Israeli control to PA control to be indefinitely delayed, but there is shared responsibility in the West Bank. It’s not statehood by any stretch, but it’s something less than occupation.

These proposals have been floating around since even before Sharon disengaged from Gaza. The NYT ran a oped about the various maps a few years back too. It’s not exactly breaking new ground.

There are additional maps and proposals floating around too. Any number of them are plausible if there were parties willing to entertain any kind of deal. And that’s simply not present.

Israel also isn’t in the mood to unilaterally disengage from the West Bank, or any part of it. Gaza was a far easier task, since the historical ties to the land there weren’t as strong. West Bank is a different tale entirely, especially with the knowledge of what happened in Gaza and how the radicals took advantage of the situation. Many of the most important religious and historical sites are located in the West Bank (not counting greater Jerusalem, which would need to be dealt with separately). Israelis aren’t going to go down a unilateral withdrawal when there is a different scale of Israelis living in the West Bank as compared to Gaza. Something like 7000 versus several hundred thousand people. Even removing a handful of housing developments in the West Bank would essentially thrown the Israeli government into an impossible bind and perhaps allow for a successful vote of no confidence resulting in new elections being called.

107 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 6:18:58am

re: #98 Justanotherhuman

Yanukovych took $32 billion to Russia, financing separatism in Ukraine

Defense 1: it is all Western propaganda

Defense 2: We have proof that Western powers are financing Euromaidan

108 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:18:59am

re: #105 Killgore Trout

A few dozen men,,

I guess they’ll be hit with economic sanctions soon!!!

109 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:20:34am

re: #107 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Defense 1: it is all Western propaganda

Defense 2: We have proof that Western powers are financing Euromaidan

I wonder what type of luggage he used to carry 32 billion with him!!

“No thanks bellman,, I’ll carry my own!!!”

110 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 6:22:56am

re: #109 sattv4u2

A laptop, it was all in Bitcoins

111 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 6:23:51am

I don’t really want to page this, but I simply wanted to share this with my fellow Lizards.

In 1987, a silly and innocuous Czechoslovak movie, a teen romantic comedy, was released and became a big hit. But more than that, the soundtrack - and one song in particular - became an anthem for Czech teens living under the Communist system.

When I first came here, I never understood why this song, a rather cheesy Communist-era pop tune, was so insanely popular and it wasn’t until my Czech was good enough to understand the lyrics that I finally realized why.

The song is called “Nonstop” and it’s from the movie Discopříbeh, or ‘Disco story’.

Here’s the song, and below is the lyrics in Czech.

Youtube Video

Tátovi nesmím zkřížit krok,
pro něj jsem pouhej diskocvok,
pro mámu pořád jen dítě jsem.
Brácha ten hlídá jen svůj džob,
stal se z něj velkej pán a snob,
kdo jsem já, to nemaj ponětí.

Nemůžou znát mý nápady,
ty pěkně v sejfu mám,
jen tobě můžu vážně říct,
jsem vítr hurikán, já chci žít

(chorus): Nonstop, krásně a nonstop a s tím, co přijde mám chuť se rvát.
Nonstop, já chci žít nonstop a s tím, co přijde mám chuť se rvát.

Život je senza k dívání, jenom៮ dá to koumání, vymyslet,
jak by se zmáknout dal.
Nejsem už dítě mejdanů, teď jsem svůj, tím už zůstanu,
jenom៮ to právě jen ty víš.

Už nejsem dítě mejdanů, už nejsem módní hit,
láká mě vůně príma dnů a chci jen nonstop žít, já chci žít

(r): Nonstop, krásně a nonstop a s tím, co přijde mám chuť se rvát.
Nonstop, já chci žít nonstop a s tím, co přijde mám chuť se rvát. (3x)

The kicker is in the translation.

Dad can’t step out of line,
For him, I’m just a disco weirdo,
For Mom, I’m still wet behind the ears.
My brother, who is armed with your job,
became a big overlord, a snob,
And you say I haven’t a clue.

They can not know my ideas
You think you have it all nice and safe,
Only thing I can really say
I’m like the wind in a hurricane, and I want to live

(chorus): Nonstop, beautifully and nonstop with whatever comes, I will fight it.
Nonstop, I want to live nonstop with whatever comes I’ll fight it.

Life is too sensational looking for, only to be a stone, a device,
How could he stumble through.
I’m not a child of parties, but the longer I stay, the more I belong,
But it is, how it is.

I’m not a child of parties, I’m not a fashion hit,
the scent of better days attracts me and I just want to live nonstop, I want to live

Nonstop, beautifully and nonstop with whatever comes, I will fight it.
Nonstop, I want to live nonstop with whatever comes I’ll fight it.
(3x)

The lyrics are an oblique slam at the Communist Party and its desire to control every aspect of life; this is why the song became a youth anthem. And because it was a cheesy pop tune in an otherwise silly and innocuous teenybobber film, it went completely over the heads over the Communist authorities.

It still stands as a uniquely Czech form of protest.

Enjoy.

112 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 6:25:26am

A Mom Anon posted:

This is right down the street from where The Husband works, less than half a mile.

Glad to hear you’re safe. (And that the shooter is apparently dead).

113 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:25:32am

re: #110 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

A laptop, it was all in Bitcoins

I didn’t know you could purchase an uprising on E-Bay!

114 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 6:26:44am

re: #113 sattv4u2

I didn’t know you could purchase an uprising on E-Bay!

If you founded E-Bay you can finance your own!

115 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:28:07am

re: #114 b.d.

If you founded E-Bay you can finance your own!

I founded it

Right here on my computer!!

I just typed in E-Bay and POOF,,, here it is!!

116 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 6:28:54am
TCOT is on it.

Will someone please think of the real victims here, the gunz?

117 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 6:29:09am
118 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:29:55am

bbiab

119 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 6:31:51am

re: #117 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Over the past couple of weeks, Our Great Land of Georgiastan has had a rather curious rash of people gunning down other people and then taking the coward’s way out.

If only we had MOAR GUNZ!!1!!1!!

120 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 6:32:53am

re: #119 GunstarGreen

Over the past couple of weeks, Our Great Land of Georgiastan has had a rather curious rash of people gunning down other people and then taking the coward’s way out.

If only we had MOAR GUNZ!!1!!1!!

All it takes to end a shooting spree: a bad guy with a gun and a death wish!

/

121 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 6:33:35am
122 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 6:38:01am

ICYMI, Andrew Sullivan on Halfgov Palin’s latest derp:

Now look how far we have come from the original notion — pioneered by Charles Krauthammer and popularized by “24” — that torture should only be used in the hypothetical ticking time-bomb case. That argument — only ever hypothetical —nonetheless assumes that torture is evil and should only be used in extremis to prevent imminent catastrophe. Palin, in contrast, like her party, has long since blown past such niceties. She believes that torture should be the first resort - a sign of how America treats its foes, a badge of honor.

What can one say but that this is a bona fide fascistic sentiment. It revels in violence against individuals tied down by their hands and feet and strapped to a terrifying board in order to be suffocated hundreds of times to near-death. It is the kind of statement you might expect from the Khmer Rouge, or from the Chinese Communists who perfected “stress positions”, or from the Nazis, whose Gestapo pioneered “enhanced interrogation”, i.e. brutal torture that would leave no physical traces. Except it’s worse than that. Even totalitarian regimes have publicly denied their torture. Their reticence and lies are some small concession of vice to the appearance of virtue. Not Palin - who wants to celebrate brutal torture as the American way.

dish.andrewsullivan.com

123 ObserverArt  Apr 29, 2014 6:39:19am

re: #81 Feline Fearless Leader

Good morning Lizards.

Looking back a thread I see that it was a good thing I decided to read a book rather than LGF after coming back from playing cards last night. And it looks as well like some of the testiness is leaking into this thread this morning.

And Pittsburgh pulled out their series against Columbus last night. Hard fought, and Columbus made it a game. Better luck to them next year - as long as they’re not playing Pittsburgh again! :)

Off to get more coffee.

Sad they couldn’t take Pittsburgh to game 7 and give the Jackets a chance to win the series. But, with the fact they were down 4-0 and made the Penguins sweat the last 5 minute when they got back in the game 4-3 made me happy. Team showed its never-quit attitude.

And they will meet again.

124 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 6:42:23am

re: #105 Killgore Trout

Pro-Russia activists seize Luhansk HQ

125 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 6:43:16am

re: #111 Dr Lizardo

Michal David a Iveta Bartošová - To je naᘞ vᆼ

Youtube Video

Pop music sounds pretty much the same everywhere, eh?

126 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 6:47:16am

Trying to get a load of laundry done before the downpour…

127 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 6:49:09am

re: #125 Justanotherhuman

Yeah, often it does.

When I first heard “Nonstop”, and you still hear it quite often here on the radio, I noticed my ex-wife singing along to it and when I asked her why, she replied, “It’s a protest song”. Of course, that made me laugh, much to her annoyance. But when I understood the Czech language better, and its nuances and puns and wordplay, then I got what she meant.

And I apologized for laughing at the song as well.

128 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 6:50:20am

re: #122 Bulworth

She knows that this will get her attention and keep her in good standing with her rabid base. That is all she is able to do these days.

129 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 6:51:07am

Radio still playing in tornado-wrecked pickup.

vine.co

130 Lidane  Apr 29, 2014 6:52:16am

re: #101 Timothy Watson

BECAUSE GOD IS THE PUNISHER!

Heh.

Speaking of, I just watched a Marvel anime film featuring The Punisher and Black Widow working together. The story aimed for mediocre and missed, but the animators definitely didn’t hold back on the violence. The Punisher was brutally effective at his job, blood and all.

131 Eventual Carrion  Apr 29, 2014 6:52:26am

re: #1 freetoken

And now, for the Creationist Jam of the day:

Well known creationist, SC state senator Mike Fair, is getting his way it appears:

SC board wants students to question evolution

Fair told the committee he is concerned that Darwinism is being taught as fact to students and not as a “disproven theory” as he argued in a presentation titled, “The (Lack of) Science of Evolution.”

That statement sure makes it sound like he wants a “fair” assessment of science, as long as his religious views are taken as fact and all else taken as “disproven theory”.

132 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 6:52:51am
133 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 6:54:58am

re: #126 Justanotherhuman

Trying to get a load of laundry done before the downpour…

[Embedded content]

Just hang the dirty clothes outside and let the rain do it for you!

134 bubba zanetti  Apr 29, 2014 6:55:12am

Sometimes the comments are brilliant:

Now my ice cream truck is painted like a cheerful Panzer tank,
With a freezer full of ices and a fylfot on the flank.
And the music box is set up—hey, it’s not against the law!—
To play ‘Deutschland Uber Alles’ after ‘Turkey in the Straw.’
And although I scorn the Untermensch, the deviant, the Jew:
I tell them so politely, and I serve them ice cream too.
But so narrow-minded are they (so unethical as well!)
That they seldom come to sample the fine ice cream that I sell!
Nor even will they enter into rational debates
Scheduled daily in my ice cream truck with all my skinhead mates.
So you see, it’s rankest prejudice—as blatant as it’s shitty—
That my fine all-natural ice cream has not yet won “Best In City”.

135 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 6:57:14am

Back in the day I was a bit of a Noam Chomsky fan because the way he is able to package information (maybe as a result of his mastery of linguistics, who knows?) within his arguments, I came to thinking in the way libertarians of all stripes tend to when convenient.
No state on earth has any legitimacy when you parse terms down to the sinews and if you can undermine a state’s supposed ‘right to exist’ your next avenue of discussion against, say, a recently founded nation like Israel, more formidable.
What Chomsky tends to leave out is the consideration of individuals within a state deserving a modicum of security as guaranteed by that state, however ‘artificial’, as desirable and deserved. Especially in light of the Holocaust.
We mustn’t forget, and many here haven’t, admirably, the plight of the Palestinians who seem to have more value to their neighbours as perpetually stateless victims.
The accusations of apartheid from the left and the patronising, self-serving fellating from the right ought both to be scorned and pilloried.
The majority of Israelis and Palestinians already profit by living cheek-by-jowl in peace and the frequent interruptions only delay a permanent settlement.
The people are ready for a two-state solution, but we’re waiting on the leadership to get serious.
Thanks Lizards for this oasis of sanity.
(Well, close enough)

136 ObserverArt  Apr 29, 2014 6:59:49am

re: #94 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

For example, John Kerry, the US state department, Barack Obama.

Can you find an example of the UN blaming Israel unilaterally for the failure of the peace talks?

I think NJDhockeyfan is answering emotionally out of frustration and not really factually. Sure there are some that blame the Israelis, and there are plenty that blame the Palestinians. And there are many that blame both.

Historically the blame game seems to be the main tactic for negotiations in the entire region. It will never work until the groups involved start to either stop blaming each other, or start to find out what part of the blame they are responsible for.

However, that seems to be out of the realm of reality. Here we are…again. And with the mood of the entire world as it is, trying to get anything going is almost impossible at this time. If there was calm in the big countries there might be some pressure on them, but with Russia going all wacky it just gives cover to ‘others’ to mess around.

137 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 7:03:38am

It’s morning and I have to go to the store.

*ugh*

bbsoon

138 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 7:04:11am
She knows that this will get her attention and keep her in good standing with her rabid base. That is all she is able to do these days.

Her base is about to be small enough to drown in a bathtub. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

139 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:04:11am

re: #136 ObserverArt

Which came first, the rocket attack or targeted air strike?

Again and again and again and…

140 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:05:23am

re: #135 Alyosha

The people are ready for a two-state solution, but we’re waiting on the leadership to get serious

re: #136 ObserverArt

If there was calm in the big countries there might be some pressure on them,

We’ve been through different sets/ combinations of leaders and had long periods of “calm in the big countries” yet we see the same movie over and over

Lucy always picks up the football just as Charlie Brown is about to kick it.

I’m not sure why this is nor do I have an answer as to how to stop it. but I do know that every few years we’re told that we are ohsoclose and our diplomats are rushing to the area for high level meetings only to be back to where we started from

141 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:05:50am

re: #137 FemNaziBitch

It’s morning and I have to go to the store.

*ugh*

bbsoon

Can you get me some juice

Tropicana ,, some pulp

142 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 7:06:56am

WOW

143 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 7:10:30am

Police say they have not ‘officially identified’ the shooting suspect, only identified as a package handler - @FOX5Atlanta
end of alert

144 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:11:35am

re: #140 sattv4u2

My optimism that there can be a solution comes, ironically, from the one man I used to blame for all the ills of the second Intifada onwards. Ariel Sharon.
A man, who may have been complicit in war crimes in Lebanon. But also the PM who evacuated the Gaza Strip and who founded Kadima.
I wonder what might have been accomplished if he hadn’t had his stroke.
Maybe not much, but maybe all it will take is for the old-guards of both sides to reform or die off.

145 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 7:14:30am

How are you liking this, Eddie? Something you’re perhaps working on, and will comply with?

Russian Parliament Approves New Law Restricting the Internet

Sweeping Controls on the Internet and Blogging Will Tighten the Kremlin’s Grip on the Media

online.wsj.com

“The new measures come amid a series of steps to tighten the Kremlin’s control over media and the political system in Russia, efforts that have gained momentum as western criticism of Moscow’s behavior in Ukraine crisis has fueled official attacks on Kremlin critics inside Russia.

“The draft laws affecting the Internet, which are expected to be signed soon by President Vladimir Putin and take effect in August, have elicited unusually strong criticism from Russia’s vibrant technology sector.

“The adoption of the law will become a yet another step in increasing government control over the Internet in Russia, which will negatively impact the development of the industry,” said a spokesman for Russia’s biggest search engine Yandex. The company announced it was closing its popular blog-rating service earlier than it had planned “prompted by the recent legislative initiatives.” More

146 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 7:16:35am

And, almost on cue…

147 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:16:45am

re: #144 Alyosha

Hope springs eternal, and the people of the region deserve to live without looking over their shoulders and with security and pride of having ones own “state”. I do pray that I see it in my lifetime, but as stated above, this road has been traveled many times before and it always seems to lead to the same place, a dead end

148 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:03am

re: #140 sattv4u2


The people are ready for a two-state solution, but we’re waiting on the leadership to get serious

If there was calm in the big countries there might be some pressure on them,

We’ve been through different sets/ combinations of leaders and had long periods of “calm in the big countries” yet we see the same movie over and over

Lucy always picks up the football just as Charlie Brown is about to kick it.

I’m not sure why this is nor do I have an answer as to how to stop it. but I do know that every few years we’re told that we are ohsoclose and our diplomats are rushing to the area for high level meetings only to be back to where we started from

Because people do not give up their non-negotiables until the level of horror becomes intolerable. For decades it has been tolerable in Jericho and in Tel Aviv. Don’t bet you want to see what it will take to change that.

149 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:06am

Meanwhile, the Russian Parliament has approved new legislation restricting the internet.

The package consists of three separate bills that impose strict control over disseminating information on the Internet, online payments and toughens punishment for terrorism and extremism. The bill from the package that sparked the most concern effectively equates popular bloggers to media outlets, subjecting them to substantially greater regulation and legal liability.

The bill would require bloggers with 3,000 or more page views a day to reveal their identities, fact-check their content, not disseminate extremist information or information violating privacy of citizens, and abide by the rules of pre-election silence, among other requirements—demands, which human rights activists say bloggers are ill-equipped to fulfill. Failure to comply would be punished by fines and possibly blocking.

I wonder what Glenn Greenwald and Edward Snowden will have to say about this?

online.wsj.com

150 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:32am

re: #145 Justanotherhuman

How are you liking this, Eddie? Something you’re perhaps working on, and will comply with?

Russian Parliament Approves New Law Restricting the Internet

Sweeping Controls on the Internet and Blogging Will Tighten the Kremlin’s Grip on the Media

online.wsj.com

“The new measures come amid a series of steps to tighten the Kremlin’s control over media and the political system in Russia, efforts that have gained momentum as western criticism of Moscow’s behavior in Ukraine crisis has fueled official attacks on Kremlin critics inside Russia.

“The draft laws affecting the Internet, which are expected to be signed soon by President Vladimir Putin and take effect in August, have elicited unusually strong criticism from Russia’s vibrant technology sector.

“The adoption of the law will become a yet another step in increasing government control over the Internet in Russia, which will negatively impact the development of the industry,” said a spokesman for Russia’s biggest search engine Yandex. The company announced it was closing its popular blog-rating service earlier than it had planned “prompted by the recent legislative initiatives.” More

Heh. You beat me to it.

:)

151 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:35am

re: #138 Bulworth

Her base is about to be small enough to drown in a bathtub. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

It is very rabid and it will vote for whoever she endorses, enough to influence some local elections.

152 A Mom Anon  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:40am

re: #143 Justanotherhuman

The latest is that he was a 19 yr old kid. Loaded up “like he was going to war” according to a co-worker at the scene. Jesus.

153 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:17:57am

And sometimes even the tectonic-like movement of nations can produce earthquakes that shift perceptions.
One idea, more literature than anything, is that a threat from Iran actually brings about a solution.
War-weary people can make accomodations.
Ireland has come a ways.

154 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 7:18:00am

re: #149 Dr Lizardo

In Putin’s Russia internet surf you!
// :p

155 wrenchwench  Apr 29, 2014 7:19:16am

re: #111 Dr Lizardo

Like The Kinks on the surface, but with a soul from Woody Guthrie. I like it.

156 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:19:42am

re: #154 Feline Fearless Leader

In Putin’s Russia internet surf you!
// :p

What happens when Putin surfs

Image: Putin-the-great-white-shark-killer.jpg

157 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 7:22:16am

re: #156 sattv4u2

What happens when Putin surfs

Image: Putin-the-great-white-shark-killer.jpg

What happens when he visits North Korea and they go golfing?
//

158 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 7:22:37am

re: #155 wrenchwench

Like The Kinks on the surface, but with a soul from Woody Guthrie. I like it.

Heh.

Once I understood the meaning of the lyrics and what it’s getting at, I was surprised they got away it with. My ex explained that it was because the authorities were “….a bunch of obsolete dinosaurs for whom subtlety was unrecognizable”.

159 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 7:23:43am

There was discussion yesterday afternoon that sort of referred to human life as something minor and only mildly annoying to the Earth. It reminded me of this Pratchett quote from _Equal Rites_ I came across last week:

“It is well known that stone can think, because the whole of electronics is based on that fact, but in some universes men spend ages looking for other intelligences in the sky without once looking under their feet. That is because they’ve got the time-span all wrong. From stone’s point of view the universe is hardly created and mountain ranges are bouncing up and down like organ-stops while continents zip backward and forward in general high spirits, crashing into each other from the sheer joy of momentum and getting their rocks off. It is going to be quite some time before stone notices its disfiguring skin disease and starts to scratch, which is just as well.”

160 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:23:45am

re: #157 Feline Fearless Leader

What happens when he visits North Korea and they go golfing?
//

Kim wins, but then is never heard from again!!

161 wrenchwench  Apr 29, 2014 7:24:40am

re: #158 Dr Lizardo

Heh.

Once I understood the meaning of the lyrics and what it’s getting at, I was surprised they got away it with. My ex explained that it was because the authorities were “….a bunch of obsolete dinosaurs for whom subtlety was unrecognizable”.

Even the dog at the end pulling off the boxing glove. Either they were dense, or they didn’t want to make the song a martyr.

162 Targetpractice  Apr 29, 2014 7:26:16am

re: #160 sattv4u2

Kim wins by, but then is never heard from again!!

“What are you in for?”

“Hoarding bread crumbs. You?”

“Won a round of golf.”

“That’s silly.”

“Against Dear Leader.”

“And you’re still breathing?!”

163 Skip Intro  Apr 29, 2014 7:29:54am

re: #117 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

So finally we have an example of a good guy with a gun taking out a bad guy with a gun.

About time.

164 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 7:30:14am

And since I’m quoting Pratchett this morning, a gem courtesy of Granny Weatherwax:

“They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance.”

165 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:30:45am

re: #148 Decatur Deb

True. No one was really thinking about peace when nightclubs and cafés were being bombed and refugee camps were literally being bulldozed. That was horrific enough.
Sixtyish years isn’t that long. A lot of people will still die, but if cool heads prevail (and I have to think eventually even ardent hatred will cool) actual negotiations will happen.
Especially if Sec. of St. Kerry’s words have as much weight as recent Israeli PMs.

166 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 7:36:14am

re: #161 wrenchwench

Even the dog at the end pulling off the boxing glove. Either they were dense, or they didn’t want to make the song a martyr.

They could be dense.

One of the most popular forms of protest in the Czech Republic is ‘Švejking’ or švejkovina.

It works like this. Your superior tells to you unload a trailer full of bananas, but be careful so the bananas don’t get bruised. Of course, your super won’t assign any help to you - you have to do it yourself.

So you carefully unload the trailer……one banana at a time. And you carefully wrap each banana in bubblewrap. And then place no more than 10 bananas in a crate, with layers of bubblewrap surrounding them.

What should take you no more than a couple of hours will now take days on end. And you are following instructions, so your supervisor can’t complain.

It’s from the book “The Good Soldier Švejk” by Jaroslav Haᘞk.

en.wikipedia.org

167 Odie Hugh Manatee  Apr 29, 2014 7:40:26am

re: #48 Alyosha

Urine??
Or is it a clever metaphor for the concept of donating money to the GOP, to wit, ‘pissing it away’?

Nope, Ol’ Crazy Art wants our urine! He sent out a flyer from his ‘Institute’, OISM, asking us to join in his “metabolic study” and it won’t cost us a penny! Never mind that he’s running for office again this fall and needs to build a list of suckers that he can milk for votes and campaign cash.

But first he wants our urine! Ya gotta start somewhere, right?

168 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:40:42am

re: #166 Dr Lizardo

Kragar must wish he had that problem.

169 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 7:41:22am

re: #167 Odie Hugh Manatee

Nope, Ol’ Crazy Art wants our urine! He sent out a flyer from his ‘Institute’, OISM, asking us to join in his “metabolic study” and it won’t cost us a penny! Never mind that he’s running for office again this fall and needs to build a list of suckers that he can milk for votes and campaign cash.

But first he wants our urine! Ya gotta start somewhere, right?

Piss on the prayer rug and send it on.

170 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 7:43:46am

re: #167 Odie Hugh Manatee

Does he need a bunch of cronies to pass drug tests, assuming you’re a straight-edged Christian who’d respond to his, ahem, indiscreet plea?

171 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 7:44:12am
Sen. Elizabeth Warren to headline Netroots Nation in Detroit

washingtonpost.com

172 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 7:45:31am

re: #141 sattv4u2

Can you get me some juice

Tropicana ,, some pulp

Sorry, I just got back and read your message and I’m NOT going out again this early.

173 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 7:45:46am

re: #142 NJDhockeyfan

WOW

[Embedded content]

So horrid!

174 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 7:46:20am

re: #146 Justanotherhuman

And, almost on cue…

[Embedded content]

Blasphemous, Glenn? At what point did Israel become a religion?

175 The War TARDIS  Apr 29, 2014 7:47:07am

re: #166 Dr Lizardo

Question. How deep is the hate towards Russia right now? If a plan were made, how many people do you think would be willing to go out and support it.

176 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 7:48:57am

A while back, while watching C-SPAN, I heard a youngish bright person from the region say that there will not be peace in the middle east. He said, because, never again will there be the combination of personalities leading those nations necessary to broker peace. He was referring to the death of Anwar Sadat.

177 iossarian  Apr 29, 2014 7:49:12am

re: #174 Romantic Heretic

Blasphemous, Glenn? At what point did Israel become a religion?

It’s just a handy shoutyword to describe how the user is feeling right now.

Straight out of the shoutywords journalism playbook.

178 iossarian  Apr 29, 2014 7:50:45am

Wow. Just had an awesome cup of coffee. My head be now all sparkels.

179 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 7:51:12am

Been up most of the night tracking Alabama weather. We are just now beginning to understand what really went through the region. We have to understand that when a storm hits smaller communities, the first bad sign is lack of reaction—the ability to survey and communicate the damage goes away. This weather blog feature on the revamped Weather Underground site is valuable:

wunderground.com

180 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:51:28am

re: #176 FemNaziBitch

A while back, while watching C-SPAN, I heard a youngish bright person from the region say that there will not be peace in the middle east. He said, because, never again will never again be the combination of personalities leading those nations necessary to broker peace. He was referring to the death of Anwar Sadat.

Kinda right but not really

the dynamics between Israel and Egypt was at the time (and still is to this day) far different than that between Israel (and whoever the leader du jour has been over the decades) and the PLO (and/or whoever is leading the negotiations from the Palestinian side at any given time)

181 NJDhockeyfan  Apr 29, 2014 7:52:27am

What kind of gun was it?

182 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:53:32am

re: #181 NJDhockeyfan

Doesn’t matter to those that were injured!

183 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 7:54:13am
“The relationship between man and God should not be based on fear or punishment and reward, but on a much loftier value — the highest, friendship..”

Anwar el-Sadat, from his book In Search of Identity — an Autobiography, Harper Collins, 1978.

184 Ian G.  Apr 29, 2014 7:55:24am

re: #179 Decatur Deb

I almost don’t want to know what happened last night. What’s chilling is that as I was scanning the tornado warnings, I realized how many towns I recognized in the warning areas (Phil Campbell, Hackleburg, Cullman) because they had been hit by monster tornadoes in the 2011 “super outbreak”, not to mention Tuscaloosa and metro Birmingham again.

If there’s one small smidgen of a silver lining from this, it’s that we won’t have to deal with verbal diarrhea from the John Hagees of the world telling us how this is god’s punishment for gay marriage.

185 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 7:57:14am

Ah well

Seeing that re: #172 FemNaziBitch didn’t get me what I needed at the store, guess I’ll go shower, check back here, then head out!!

186 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 7:57:48am

re: #175 The War TARDIS

Question. How deep is the hate towards Russia right now? If a plan were made, how many people do you think would be willing to go out and support it.

The Czechs have a different way of doing things. Like I posted earlier, for the Czechs it takes the shape of a passive resistance. The only time the Czechs really went sort of off the deep end was the expulsion of ethnic Germans at the end of WWII.

Nowadays, being part of the EU, they can’t do that, of course. But they can do little things….like for instance, reinstate property ownership laws here, which used to state that it was illegal for non-Czechs to own a house, land, or even an apartment.

That would hurt the Russians here, and it would hit them hard. In the pocketbook.

187 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 8:01:18am

re: #186 Dr Lizardo

The Czechs have a different way of doing things. Like I posted earlier, for the Czechs it takes the shape of a passive resistance. The only time the Czechs really went sort of off the deep end was the expulsion of ethnic Germans at the end of WWII.

Nowadays, being part of the EU, they can’t do that, of course. But they can do little things….like for instance, reinstate property ownership laws here, which used to state that it was illegal for non-Czechs to own a house, land, or even an apartment.

That would hurt the Russians here, and it would hit them hard. In the pocketbook.

That’s not passive. That’s the sort of thing a bunch of nuts would love to enact here in the US, or a state within the US if they could get away with it.

188 The War TARDIS  Apr 29, 2014 8:02:33am

re: #186 Dr Lizardo

I mean, if a plan was put together to hurt Russia, would there be any chance of East Europeans volunteers, like, say what some Americans did in the Spanish Civil War?

189 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 8:03:11am

re: #186 Dr Lizardo

ike for instance, reinstate property ownership laws here, which used to state that it was illegal for non-Czechs to own a house, land, or even an apartment.

That would hurt the Russians here, and it would hit them hard. In the pocketbook.

What a horrid “solution”. I’m sure there are Russians there that back whatever Putins end game is, but by the same token I’m sure there are many that are appalled by his tactic(s)

190 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:03:31am

re: #188 The War TARDIS

I mean, if a plan was put together to hurt Russia, would there be any chance of East Europeans volunteers, like, say what some Americans did in the Spanish Civil War?

Yes, there would be volunteers.

191 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 8:04:28am

re: #176 FemNaziBitch

A while back, while watching C-SPAN, I heard a youngish bright person from the region say that there will not be peace in the middle east. He said, because, never again will there be the combination of personalities leading those nations necessary to broker peace. He was referring to the death of Anwar Sadat.

Sadat’s assassination has played into the calculus of Arab/Palestinian leaders ever since. Except that it didn’t stop King Hussein of Jordan of signing a peace agreement with Israel in 1994, nor did it stop Arafat in 1993 signing Oslo.

Even Rabin’s assassination hasn’t stopped Israel from continuing to negotiate with the Palestinians.

In a larger sense though, a peace deal requires the right personalities to make it happen. They need to be able to rise above the fray and move the process along. Sharon appeared capable of taking those steps. Netenyahu isn’t as likely, mostly because of the experience with what happened after the disengagement.

Abbas doesn’t appear willing to cut a deal, and Hamas (Haniyeh or any of the other leaders) aren’t going to cut a deal when they’re still publicly calling for Israel’s destruction and refuse to assent to any deals previously agreed upon.

For any kind of deal, the signal that something is afoot will be the Palestinians shifting away from the unlimited right of return, and/or discussion about land swaps - in both English and Arabic. That would indicate that the negotiators are operating in backchannels and are working on a deal that would involve both, concessions that would be plausible.

Frankly, I’d rather see the Obama Administration go silent on ME diplomacy - let it work in the shadows and let the parties themselves sort it out, instead of trying to push a deal that neither side is willing or capable of entertaining. It’s a waste of effort by the US to cajole parties that are willing to deal with the status quo. Only when they’re ready to do something about it will they be able to work out a deal.

192 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 8:04:39am

re: #188 The War TARDIS

I mean, if a plan was put together to hurt Russia, would there be any chance of East Europeans volunteers, like, say what some Americans did in the Spanish Civil War?

I do not think so. As long as Putin contains this to the territory of the ex USSR and not the former Warsaw Pact, it is only a regional conflict that is not going to draw in any outside combatants.

193 The War TARDIS  Apr 29, 2014 8:04:48am

re: #190 Dr Lizardo

Interesting.

194 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:05:27am

re: #191 lawhawk

I get the feeling Kerry is trying to salvage his legacy.

195 Ian G.  Apr 29, 2014 8:06:36am

re: #71 Pie-onist Overlord

TCOT is on it.

[Embedded content]

I can feel my brain cells dying as I read that tweet.

197 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:07:18am

re: #189 sattv4u2

ike for instance, reinstate property ownership laws here, which used to state that it was illegal for non-Czechs to own a house, land, or even an apartment.

That would hurt the Russians here, and it would hit them hard. In the pocketbook.

What a horrid “solution”. I’m sure there are Russians there that back whatever Putins end game is, but by the same token I’m sure there are many that are appalled by his tactic(s)

The Czechs routinely grumble about the Russians owning property here; for instance, Karlovy Vary, which has become a little “Russian island” here, and the Czechs don’t like it one bit.

Oddly, they have no problem with Americans owing property here; indeed, they welcome it, along with Brits owning property here.

Germans…….eh, a little less so. And they’re pretty cool with Poles and Slovaks owning property here.

But not Russians; they’re considered “mafiosi” and their women “děvky” (whores).

198 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:07:50am

re: #184 Ian G.

I almost don’t want to know what happened last night. What’s chilling is that as I was scanning the tornado warnings, I realized how many towns I recognized in the warning areas (Phil Campbell, Hackleburg, Cullman) because they had been hit by monster tornadoes in the 2011 “super outbreak”, not to mention Tuscaloosa and metro Birmingham again.

If there’s one small smidgen of a silver lining from this, it’s that we won’t have to deal with verbal diarrhea from the John Hagees of the world telling us how this is god’s punishment for gay marriage.

The 2011 Birmingham storms destroyed houses and commercial buildings a couple hundred yards from Daughter2’s house. Last night, she was on the very edge of one of the warning polygons. Her work today will be a mess, because she manages the purchase of commercial insurance. (Knew that hurricanes suspend insurance signups in a region—apparently a tornado-swarm prediction does as well.)

199 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:09:14am

Well, I feel relieved for my part of the world and won’t complain about the rain.

200 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:09:41am

re: #190 Dr Lizardo

Yes, there would be volunteers.

I don’t like where this is headed.
Al-Jazeera featured a story on home grown militias dedicated to preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and I’m not certain they could do more than harass supply lines.
I respect the intent but in a multiple-lingual theatre in an obscure land, they’re as doomed as the International Brigades.

202 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:11:06am

re: #200 Alyosha

I don’t like where this is headed.
Al-Jazeera featured a story on home grown militias dedicated to preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and I’m not certain they could do more than harass supply lines.
I respect the intent but in a multiple-lingual theatre in an obscure land, they’re as doomed as the International Brigades.

So they’ll lose all the battles, but get all the songs.

203 Odie Hugh Manatee  Apr 29, 2014 8:11:23am

re: #169 Decatur Deb

Piss on the prayer rug and send it on.

Didn’t someone already do Piss Jesus? I’d rather be original and piss on Art himself.

Call it performance art. :)

re: #170 Alyosha

Does he need a bunch of cronies to pass drug tests, assuming you’re a straight-edged Christian who’d respond to his, ahem, indiscreet plea?

It’s probably more like he’s trying to turn liquid gold into election cash.

204 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:15:22am

re: #202 Decatur Deb

The losers ALWAYS have the best songs.

205 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:15:39am

re: #200 Alyosha

I don’t like where this is headed.
Al-Jazeera featured a story on home grown militias dedicated to preserving Ukrainian sovereignty and I’m not certain they could do more than harass supply lines.
I respect the intent but in a multiple-lingual theatre in an obscure land, they’re as doomed as the International Brigades.

Here, the appeal would be the Czechoslovak Legion; they’re lionized here as heroes who gave the Bolsheviks absolute hell on their long retreat through Siberia to Vladivostok, where they eventually were shipped back home to become the nucleus of the Czechoslovak Army of the First Republic.

en.wikipedia.org

206 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 8:16:23am

re: #201 FemNaziBitch

Florida man fires AK-47 at cops investigating traffic accident near his house

Officer Sames approached Spencer’s house to determine whether anyone there had witnessed it, he was met with “heavy fire.”
Witnesses say that Spencer fired the AK-47 from a red sport utility vehicle parked in the front yard, then fled to a shed two houses down

Will be interesting to see what’s found in the house or shed

207 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 8:17:27am

re: #201 FemNaziBitch

Florida man fires AK-47 at cops investigating traffic accident near his house

All guns are AK-47s until proven otherwise!!

//

208 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 8:18:43am

Heh… Love the Lovecraft… In a letter in 1936, H. P. criticized the Republican’s thusly:

“As for the Republicans, how can one regard seriously a frightened, greedy, nostalgic huddle of tradesmen and lucky idlers who shut their eyes to history and science, steel their emotions against decent human sympathy, cling to sordid and provincial ideals exalting sheer acquisitiveness and condoning artificial hardship for the non-materially-shrewd, dwell smugly and sentimentally in a distorted dream-cosmos of outmoded phrases and principles… Intellectually, the Republican idea deserves the tolerance and respect one gives to the dead.”

Found it on this T-shirt:

sighco.com

Found it after seeing the link to this one which is hilarious as well.

sighco.com

209 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 8:19:21am

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Welcome to the Finger-Wagging Olympics

Moral outrage is exhausting. And dangerous. The whole country has gotten a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome from the newest popular sport of Extreme Finger Wagging.

What bothers me about this whole Donald Sterling affair isn’t just his racism. I’m bothered that everyone acts as if it’s a huge surprise.
….
if we’re all going to be outraged, let’s be outraged that we weren’t more outraged when his racism was first evident. Let’s be outraged that private conversations between people in an intimate relationship are recorded and publicly played. Let’s be outraged that whoever did the betraying will probably get a book deal, a sitcom, trade recipes with Hoda and Kathie Lee, and soon appear on Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars.

Let’s use this tawdry incident to remind ourselves of the old saying: “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.” Instead of being content to punish Sterling and go back to sleep, we need to be inspired to vigilantly seek out, expose, and eliminate racism at its first signs.

210 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:20:19am
We cannot separate these cases from one another because doing so allows us to ignore the fact that all these crimes have exactly the same cause: violent men, and the silence of nonviolent men.

Also Paged

211 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:20:20am

re: #204 Alyosha

The losers ALWAYS have the best songs.

Woody Guthrie agrees:

Youtube Video

212 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 8:20:30am
213 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:21:39am

neither does Bill O’Reilly. He only cares about UNmarried Teen Pregnancy.

214 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 8:22:12am

re: #209 Killgore Trout

Let’s be outraged that private conversations between people in an intimate relationship are recorded and publicly played.

Yeah,, the young lady in this story may have some legal issues to deal with

iirc, California has that law where BOTH parties have to agree to a private conversation being taped, let alone made public

DISCLAIMER,,, the above is NOT in any way shape or form meant to defend what Sterling said either in that tape or in the past

215 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:22:31am

re: #205 Dr Lizardo

Impressive. The counter-revolutionary struggle was state-sponsored for the most part. This isn’t a post-Nicolas Russia though.

216 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 8:23:39am

LOL

217 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:23:42am

re: #215 Alyosha

I mean, it is by definition. But you get my meaning.

218 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:24:02am
219 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:25:07am
220 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 8:26:40am

re: #36 Odie Hugh Manatee

I’m in Oregon and today I received a newsletter from the crazy teabagger RNC chair, Art Robinson, asking for a urine donation from my family and myself. I also received a Jeebus prayer rug (it’s actually paper, I guess they ran out of rug) that I’m supposed to use and send back to the church for someone else to use. I’m thinking about printing out a Raptor Jesus “prayer rug” and sending it back instead. Maybe put “He Went Extinct For Your Sins” on it just to spice it up a bit.

I’m trying to figure out what to do with Art Robinson’s flyer but I’m sure something will come to me.

They’re still sending out the magic prayer rugs, huh? I received one a few years back—even posted a Page about it because it was so hokey.

221 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:26:42am

I don’t understand the “untested” part. They didn’t try it to see if it would work on a test subject???? WTF?

222 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:27:03am

re: #215 Alyosha

Impressive. The counter-revolutionary struggle was state-sponsored for the most part. This isn’t a post-Nicolas Russia though.

Very true. It’s certainly entered Czech mythology though, and of course, myth has a power of its own.

Like the Long March of the Chinese Communists under Mao; in point of fact, it was one of the longest tactical retreats in military history, but how many are aware of that? I’ve met folks who think the Long March refers to the Communists taking power in 1949.

223 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 8:27:28am
Heh… Love the Lovecraft… In a letter in 1936, H. P. criticized the Republican’s thusly:

Only recently became acquainted with Lovecraft’s work. That’s the kind of world we live in, where it takes a knowledgeable, decent, hard-working person, 47 years to catch up with Lovecraft.

224 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:28:49am
225 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:29:32am
226 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 8:29:55am

BBL. Got a DOT physical as part of getting a job driving school bus.

227 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:30:52am

re: #226 William Barnett-Lewis

BBL. Got a DOT physical as part of getting a job driving school bus.

Don’t forget your sidearm.

228 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:31:53am

re: #211 Decatur Deb

The whole world is like Jarama. That brightened my day. Thank you :)

229 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 8:33:09am

re: #167 Odie Hugh Manatee

Nope, Ol’ Crazy Art wants our urine! He sent out a flyer from his ‘Institute’, OISM, asking us to join in his “metabolic study” and it won’t cost us a penny! Never mind that he’s running for office again this fall and needs to build a list of suckers that he can milk for votes and campaign cash.

But first he wants our urine! Ya gotta start somewhere, right?

What are you supposed to do? Piss in the rug?!?

They should have sent a Jesus Chalice or a baggie of freedom.

230 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:34:23am
231 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:35:40am

re: #167 Odie Hugh Manatee

Nope, Ol’ Crazy Art wants our urine! He sent out a flyer from his ‘Institute’, OISM, asking us to join in his “metabolic study” and it won’t cost us a penny! Never mind that he’s running for office again this fall and needs to build a list of suckers that he can milk for votes and campaign cash.

But first he wants our urine! Ya gotta start somewhere, right?

232 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 8:36:25am

What could possibly go wrong? Bundy militia types are setting up checkpoints and harassing those who are trying to use the roads in the vicinity of the Bundy ranch, including landowners who live near the ranch. Any number of laws are being broken by these people, and the Sheriff isn’t going after them.

A growing number of Bunkerville residents want to see the armed militiamen guarding rancher Cliven Bundy leave Nevada, according to a letter from Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., to Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie.

Horsford, whose congressional district includes Bunkerville, wrote that his constituents are concerned about Bundy supporters carrying weapons near local churches, schools and elsewhere.

Militia members flocked to Nevada to support Bundy in his fight with the government over his refusal to pay fees for his cattle to graze on federal land.

“I urge you to investigate these reports and to work with local leaders to ensure that their concerns are addressed in a manner that allows the community to move forward without incident,” Horsford wrote to Gillespie.

The letter also says militiamen have a presence on state and local roads as well as federal highways. In some areas, according to the letter, militiamen have set up checkpoints where drivers are stopped and asked to provide a proof of residency.

They’ve been seen carrying high-caliber weapons and keep a round-the-clock security detail on Bundy.

These nuts are going beyond merely protecting Bundy from law enforcement enforcing court orders and administering federal law, to actively engaging in activities that are outside the norm.

This is the sort of people that the right wing cultivates and associates with.

233 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 8:36:33am

ASSHOLE==>

234 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:37:27am

re: #223 Bulworth

Only recently became acquainted with Lovecraft’s work. That’s the kind of world we live in, where it takes a knowledgeable, decent, hard-working person, 47 years to catch up with Lovecraft.

I have a hard time staying awake during Lovecraft. I think it’s just that the stories don’t have the dramatic impact on me they have on others or to me they seem dated.

Occassionally, I am able to stay awake long enough to recognize the value of his writing style. Try as I might, I just can’t get into him.

235 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 8:38:48am

re: #221 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

I don’t understand the “untested” part. They didn’t try it to see if it would work on a test subject???? WTF?

How, exactly, would that work?
Volunteers!?!?
Short straw !?!?!?

236 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 8:38:57am

and on that note,,,,bbl

237 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:39:14am

re: #235 sattv4u2

How, exactly, would that work?
Volunteers!?!?
Short straw !?!?!?

I was wondering … .

If assisted suicide were legal …

238 FemNaziBitch  Apr 29, 2014 8:39:50am

bbl

also

239 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:39:51am

re: #222 Dr Lizardo

The Long March was one of the things I learned in high school history. The better to understand our future master, as the joking went. Maybe without quite realizing that all of the twentieth century was a long march of it’s own to economic dominance.

240 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 8:40:47am

Media Matters Employees Feel ‘Betrayed’ By Management’s Opposition To Their Union

The apparent decision by executives at Media Matters for America to oppose the unionization of their staff has left employees at the progressive media watchdog feeling stunned and betrayed, according to a statement from pro-union workers.

Media Matters management recently declined to recognize the union through the “card check” process, instead exercising its right to force a union election under National Labor Relations Board oversight. If an employer wants to keep a workplace union-free, the latter route can give it time to delay the proceedings, bring in union-busting consultants and pressure workers to vote down the union.

241 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 8:40:52am

re: #232 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

What could possibly go wrong? Bundy militia types are setting up checkpoints and harassing those who are trying to use the roads in the vicinity of the Bundy ranch, including landowners who live near the ranch. Any number of laws are being broken by these people, and the Sheriff isn’t going after them.

These nuts are going beyond merely protecting Bundy from law enforcement enforcing court orders and administering federal law, to actively engaging in activities that are outside the norm.

This is the sort of people that the right wing cultivates and associates with.

Remember when I said that letting these domestic terrorists walk away was a stupid thing to do? Because instead of ‘de-escalating’ things, as people living in fantasy-land wanted to believe, it just emboldens them with the knowledge that nothing will happen to them as long as they wave their GUNZ!!1!1!! around?

Yeah, turns out I may have had some clue what I was talking about, there.

242 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 8:46:01am

Paul Ryan’s Plan To Eliminate Poverty:

Right now, the average taxpayer, who’s stretching and working really hard, living in a suburb, when they drive by those blighted neighborhoods, they think: “It’s not my responsibility. Government will take care of it. I have enough problems of my own. I’ve got to pay my taxes, pay my bills, save for college for my kids.”

He has no plan.

243 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:49:37am

re: #239 Alyosha

The Long March was one of the things I learned in high school history. The better to understand our future master, as the joking went. Maybe without quite realizing that all of the twentieth century was a long march of it’s own to economic dominance.

I knew a Chinese lady here in the Czech Republic who viewed the 1934 Battle of Xiang River as a major Communist triumph; in fact, it was a debacle for the Communists - their First Army was reduced to some 30,000 whereas it had been 86,000 beforehand.

Yet in school in China, the Battle of Xiang River is portrayed as a victory.

244 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 8:49:39am

re: #242 Pie-onist Overlord

Rightwisconsin is run by Charlie Sykes. The Milwaukee Journals fascist gadfly.

245 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 8:50:37am

re: #244 Amory Blaine

Rightwisconsin is run by Charlie Sykes. The Milwaukee Journals fascist gadfly.

I kinda figured that if he’s promoting Ryan he’s probably a nutjob.

246 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 8:51:17am

re: #242 Pie-onist Overlord

Paul Ryan’s Plan To Eliminate Poverty:

[Embedded content]

He has no plan.

And as long as the suburban slumlords get their rents from property they barely keep standing, they know at some point, the govt will step in for them, too.

247 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:52:08am

re: #233 Pie-onist Overlord

ASSHOLE==>

[Embedded content]

Tornado and hurricane victim’s real first words: “Oh Shit.”

248 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 8:52:46am

re: #243 Dr Lizardo

I knew a Chinese lady here in the Czech Republic who viewed the 1934 Battle of Xiang River as a major Communist triumph; in fact, it was a debacle for the Communists - their First Army was reduced to some 30,000 whereas it had been 86,000 beforehand.

Yet in school in China, the Battle of Xiang River is portrayed as a victory.

Valley Forge
Tet

249 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 8:53:29am

FedEx shooting victims:

250 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 8:53:34am

re: #247 Decatur Deb

Tornado and hurricane victim’s real first words: “Oh Shit.”

I’m alive. Counting fingers and toes, and checking to see if family members survived.

Then, Oh Shit.

251 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 8:54:38am

re: #246 Justanotherhuman

And as long as the suburban slumlords get their rents from property they barely keep standing, they know at some point, the govt will step in for them, too.

And a lot of employers know that they can pay their people below a living wage and the government will step in to take up the slack with food stamps, housing and medical benefits.

252 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 8:56:01am

re: #243 Dr Lizardo

I think it’s a shibboleth of empowered regimes to paint past failures as victories-in-disguise for those of lesser faith.
According to those who knew him, Hitler in the days after his victories, spoke oftener of those times when struggle was greatest. I suppose totalitarian regimes that legitimately had to claw their way up the ladder of chaos and strife see their past defeats as tests of their collective Will.

253 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 8:56:23am

re: #248 Decatur Deb

Valley Forge
Tet

The Tet Offensive was an epic blunder on the part of the North Vietnamese; if I recall correctly, they even admitted so. What apparently surprised them was Western media portraying it as some kind of victory.

I believe it was Vo Nguyen Giap who made that observation.

254 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 8:57:00am

Get busy.

Poll finds majority of younger voters are not planning on turning up for 2014 midterm elections - @HarvardIOP
read more on harvard.edu

I mean, WTF, people?

255 Bulworth  Apr 29, 2014 8:57:38am

Tornado victims 1st words usually: “we’re alive, we’ll rebuild”. Sandy victims 1st words were usually “where’s the government”

Stay classy, #tcot

256 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 8:59:21am

re: #253 Dr Lizardo

The Tet Offensive was an epic blunder on the part of the North Vietnamese; if I recall correctly, they even admitted so. What apparently surprised them was Western media portraying it as some kind of victory.

I believe it was Vo Nguyen Giap who made that observation.

There are tactical, strategic and moral victories. The Alamo was the prime example of a moral victory, even though the defenders were totally wiped out. Pearl harbor was a great tactical victory for Japan, but a strategic and moral blunder.

And the Tet offensive served to show America that we were in a real war, not some piddling police action, at which point Americans started to realize that was not at all what we wanted.

257 Varek Raith  Apr 29, 2014 8:59:35am

re: #254 Justanotherhuman

Get busy.

Poll finds majority of younger voters are not planning on turning up for 2014 midterm elections - @HarvardIOP
read more on harvard.edu

I mean, WTF, people?

Dammit.

258 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:01:04am

re: #253 Dr Lizardo

The Tet Offensive was an epic blunder on the part of the North Vietnamese; if I recall correctly, they even admitted so. What apparently surprised them was Western media portraying it as some kind of victory.

I believe it was Vo Nguyen Giap who made that observation.

Washington, Mao, and Giap proved they were willing to out-die the enemy.

259 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:02:09am

re: #257 Varek Raith

Dammit.

Yeah, you know what that means.

Most of them can’t see beyond a presidential election, but it’s up to us to try to get them to the polls anyway.

260 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 9:02:13am

re: #240 Amory Blaine

Media Matters Employees Feel ‘Betrayed’ By Management’s Opposition To Their Union

That’s been brewing for a while. Comcast (which owns MSNBC) also has problems with unions. In a perfect world this would result in a reasonable discussion about the relationship between unions and management but it’s an overly politicized subject.

261 Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 29, 2014 9:03:04am

This morning’s list:

262 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:03:35am

Shit.

14-year-old girl charged with killing another 14-year-old girl; Chicago police say gun used was stolen from legal gun owner - @ABC7Chicago

263 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:03:48am

re: #258 Decatur Deb

Washington, Mao, and Giap proved they were willing to out-die the enemy.

I believe Giap once said, “Even if comes to only me and my revolver against the entire armed forces of the United States, even at those odds, I will win.”

264 Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 29, 2014 9:04:54am
265 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 9:05:04am

Was it Giap who said, when at the official conclusion of hostilities between the US and his soldiers, it was pointed out that American forces had never been bested on the field by his: ‘True, but irrelevant.’?

266 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:06:00am

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

267 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:06:29am

re: #265 Alyosha

Was it Giap who said, when at the official conclusion of hostilities between the US and his soldiers, it was pointed out that American forces had never been bested on the field by his: ‘True, but irrelevant.’?

Yes. He said it to General William Westmoreland many years after the end of the war.

268 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:06:40am

re: #266 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

And how is he ‘legal’?

269 Varek Raith  Apr 29, 2014 9:07:26am

re: #266 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

Idiots.

270 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:08:52am

ASSHOLE==>

271 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 9:08:55am

re: #266 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

German law is clear on that: a gun may be kept in a locked car trunk only for purposes of transport.

272 Varek Raith  Apr 29, 2014 9:09:10am

re: #240 Amory Blaine

Not really surprised by that.
Management always tends to suck.

273 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 9:09:53am

re: #263 Dr Lizardo

I believe Giap once said, “Even if comes to only me and my revolver against the entire armed forces of the United States, even at those odds, I will win.”

Haha! The man seems to have assumed Leonidas-level powers. Did he utter, ‘From my cold, dead hands.’ ?? ;)

274 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:09:54am

And where are these guys getting their automatic weapons? Rhetorical question, of course.

Pro-Russian gunmen open fire with automatic weapons on police headquarters in Luhansk, Ukraine, Reuters witness says - @Reuters
end of alert

Acting Ukrainian President Turchynov says most police in east Ukraine incapable of fulfilling duties, demands dismissal of Luhansk, Donetsk commanders - @Reuters
end of alert

275 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 9:10:02am

Syria chemical weapons: the proof that Assad regime launching chlorine attacks on children

Exclusive: Scientific analysis of samples from multiple gas attacks in Syria shows Assad regime still launching chemical weapons attacks on children, The Telegraph can reveal

276 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:13:39am

re: #271 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

German law is clear on that: a gun may be kept in a locked car trunk only for purposes of transport.

It’s often not legal to leave a swimming pool gate unlocked.

277 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:13:47am

re: #220 CuriousLurker

They’re still sending out the magic prayer rugs, huh? I received one a few years back—even posted a Page about it because it was so hokey.

All I got was a spam email with PDF attachment I had to print out for a “Prayer Placemat”. (and the face looked a lot like Jamie Oliver.)

RBS

278 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 9:13:56am

re: #267 Dr Lizardo

I recall that as a snippet from a booklist of 100 greatest wartime leaders that featured Mussolini on the cover but never got around to mentioning him. Except obliquely.

279 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:14:16am

re: #273 Alyosha

Haha! The man seems to have assumed Leonidas-level powers. Did he utter, ‘From my cold, dead hands.’ ?? ;)

To the best of my knowledge, no. But Giap was a hardcore fellow, that’s for sure.

And living to be 102, well…..just damn. As a guerilla commander, he was formidable. Not so much as a conventional field commander; he was willing to take unacceptably high losses.

280 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 9:15:10am

re: #273 Alyosha

I hope not, ‘Molon Labe.’

281 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:18:47am

re: #279 Dr Lizardo

To the best of my knowledge, no. But Giap was a hardcore fellow, that’s for sure.

And living to be 102, well…..just damn. As a guerilla commander, he was formidable. Not so much as a conventional field commander; he was willing to take unacceptably high losses.

Washington, Mao and Giap all died in bed—only because the correct number of their followers did not.

282 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 9:19:30am

re: #253 Dr Lizardo

The Tet Offensive was an epic blunder on the part of the North Vietnamese; if I recall correctly, they even admitted so. What apparently surprised them was Western media portraying it as some kind of victory.

I believe it was Vo Nguyen Giap who made that observation.

This might be an apocryphal story but I heard an American officer met a Vietnamese officer after the war.

The American officer said, “You know, you never beat us on the battlefield.”

To which the Vietnamese officer said, “That is true. It is also immaterial.”

283 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:19:47am

More shit…

Editor’s note: We are seeing reports from @Reuters and @Channel4News that gunmen have stormed Libya’s parliament. We are looking for confirmation. - Grace
end of note

284 Justanotherhuman  Apr 29, 2014 9:22:06am

The gun industry must be leaping with joy at all the gun violence happening today, filling their coffers…

I’m going to take a nap and try to forget it.

285 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:24:14am

The Secret To Success!
Turn yourself into a fetus in the uterus of a billionaire’s wife!

286 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:25:10am

WTFITS

287 kirkspencer  Apr 29, 2014 9:25:38am

re: #241 GunstarGreen

Remember when I said that letting these domestic terrorists walk away was a stupid thing to do? Because instead of ‘de-escalating’ things, as people living in fantasy-land wanted to believe, it just emboldens them with the knowledge that nothing will happen to them as long as they wave their GUNZ!!1!1!! around?

Yeah, turns out I may have had some clue what I was talking about, there.

Still think it was the right thing, and that overall it has de-escalated.

Here’s the thing. At Bundy’s ranch is was concerned citizens riding to assistance - I am Spartacus. Now those ‘defenders’ are the biker or western gang that’s taken over the town and needs evicted. Their image has been tarnished.

Add to it: Notice who is asked to check into it and either solve or request assistance to solve. The sheriff, the person Bundy and the rest insist is the ‘real law’. Federal assistance comes in only if the sheriff asks for it.

No, I think they were right to back off. Hard to a martyr when everyone pictures you as Miller’s gang, and nobody likes being a citizen of Hadleyville.

288 Eventual Carrion  Apr 29, 2014 9:27:58am

re: #100 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Gods coming, look busy everyone!

289 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 9:29:19am

re: #283 Justanotherhuman

More shit…

Editor’s note: We are seeing reports from @Reuters and @Channel4News that gunmen have stormed Libya’s parliament. We are looking for confirmation. - Grace
end of note

fuck

290 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 9:30:04am

re: #248 Decatur Deb

Valley Forge
Tet

Dunkirk

291 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 9:31:12am

Parliament was meeting today to choose a new PM
Libya parliament to select new prime minister

292 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:31:25am

re: #290 Feline Fearless Leader

Dunkirk

Antietam

293 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 9:32:35am

re: #266 Justanotherhuman

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

A No True Responsible Gun Owner. Of course.
///

294 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:32:49am

re: #290 Feline Fearless Leader

Dunkirk

There is a story that Churchill issued guns to his wife and family after Dunkirk. Very consistent with this Badass sub-thread.

295 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:32:57am

re: #292 Pie-onist Overlord

Antietam

Battle of Serenity Valley

RBS

296 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:33:34am

STUPID==>

297 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 9:33:41am

re: #294 Decatur Deb

There is a story that Churchill issued guns to his wife and family after Dunkirk. Very consistent with this Badass sub-thread.

For self-defense or so that they would not be taken alive?

298 Alyosha  Apr 29, 2014 9:33:50am

re: #290 Feline Fearless Leader

Kokoda

299 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:34:06am

re: #292 Pie-onist Overlord

Antietam

Which side, Yankee?

300 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:34:37am

re: #299 Decatur Deb

Which side, Yankee?

Whoever won.

301 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:35:19am

re: #299 Decatur Deb

Which side, Yankee?

Southerners call it Sharpsburg.

302 Political Atheist  Apr 29, 2014 9:35:57am

re: #266 Justanotherhuman

[Embedded content]

Who the fuck leaves a gun in a car?

Police, security guards, CCW folks about to enter a “no gun” building.

303 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 9:36:16am

re: #270 Pie-onist Overlord

ASSHOLE==>

[Embedded content]

“Under which law(s)? Please cite the actual laws and provide legal precedence (i.e. “Treason!!1!1!1” is not sufficient, you must actually cite which law you claim that he has violated, and explain in what manner his actions actually constitute violation).”

304 Skip Intro  Apr 29, 2014 9:36:47am

re: #254 Justanotherhuman

Get busy.

Poll finds majority of younger voters are not planning on turning up for 2014 midterm elections - @HarvardIOP
read more on harvard.edu

I mean, WTF, people?

305 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 9:36:58am

re: #300 Pie-onist Overlord

Whoever won.

Nobody “won” Antietam: the Union forces threw away a chance to trap and defeat the Rebel army but hesitated because General McClellan believed the Pinkerton Agency’s over-inflated estimates of Confederate strength, allowing the Confederates to fight the Union forces to a standstill and retreat intact to fight again.

306 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 9:37:09am

re: #297 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

For self-defense or so that they could not be taken alive?

Yes.

307 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 9:38:26am

re: #305 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Nobody “won” Antietam: the Union forces threw away a chance to trap and defeat the Rebel army but hesitated because General McClellan believed the Pinkerton Agency’s over-inflated estimates of Confederate strength, allowing the Confederates to fight the Union forces to a standstill and retreat intact to fight again.

McClellan sucked as a general but after the war he became a millionaire railroad baron. Meanwhile Ulysses Grant became POTUS.

308 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 9:38:58am

re: #298 Alyosha

Kokoda

But Kokoda was an unabashed American victory - according to Gen MacArthur!
///

309 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:40:29am

re: #303 GunstarGreen

“Under which law(s)? Please cite the actual laws and provide legal precedence (i.e. “Treason!!1!1!1” is not sufficient, you must actually cite which law you claim that he has violated, and explain in what manner his actions actually constitute violation).”

There you go…. insisting that words have meaning, and that facts need to be present. You Alinskite disciple you.

RBS

310 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 9:41:14am

re: #309 RealityBasedSteve

There you go…. insisting that words have meaning, and that facts need to be present. You Alinskite disciple you.

RBS

He believes in context and nuance as well. Must be some kind of heathen socialist!
///

311 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:42:03am

re: #290 Feline Fearless Leader

Dunkirk

Dunkirk was a debacle, and not only from the British point of view.

Hitler refused to let the Wehrmacht close in and finish off what was left of the British Expeditionary Force - the story goes that Göring had assured him the Luftwaffe could handle the job.

Well, they didn’t, for a variety of reasons including bad weather. Had the Wehrmacht Generals prevailed and rolled in and capture the BEF before the evacuation could take place, Britain would have found itself in one hell of a pickle.

Of course, there’s also Rommel in North Africa - he could have rolled across the Levant and seized the British oil fields of the Middle East, and that would (most likely) have been game over for the British Empire. No oil for the military machine means it’s time to call it a day.

Rommel figured he didn’t really need a hell of a lot more than what he had to roll on through to Iraq. Maybe another a division or so and a Luftwaffe squadron. But Hitler and his High Command couldn’t see the “big picture” that Rommel was arguing for, and basically threw away a golden strategic opportunity.

Which is, to say the least, good for all of us.

312 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:42:41am

re: #310 Feline Fearless Leader

He believes in context and nuance as well. Must be some kind of heathen socialist!
///

I hear he has phonographic magazines, and his sister matriculated at a public university.

RBS

313 Eventual Carrion  Apr 29, 2014 9:42:49am

re: #145 Justanotherhuman

How are you liking this, Eddie? Something you’re perhaps working on, and will comply with?

Russian Parliament Approves New Law Restricting the Internet

Sweeping Controls on the Internet and Blogging Will Tighten the Kremlin’s Grip on the Media

online.wsj.com

[snip]

But at lest they aren’t spying.

314 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 9:43:34am

Worth the read.

Is Israel an Apartheid State?
Apr 29, 2014 11:54 AM EDT
By Jeffrey Goldberg

So, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made a mistake by thinking that a meeting of the Trilateral Commission was off-the-record. Is there anything holy in this world? What next? Will the Illuminati be giving TED talks? Are the Elders of Zion going to take questions on C-Span?

In a fit of candor, Kerry told the commissioners (if that’s what you call them) that a one-state solution (so-called) for the Israel-Palestine conundrum either leads to “an apartheid state with second-class citizens — or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state.” (A full report on Kerry’s remarks can be found at the Daily Beast, whose reporter apparently taped the remarks.)

Carefully coordinated, entirely spontaneous bursts of outrage ensued, not only from Republicans and Israelis, but also from Democrats. “Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and any linkage between Israel and apartheid is nonsensical and ridiculous,” tweeted Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California.

Continues.

315 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 9:43:51am

Yesterday Rick Perry was touting how Toyota was moving its headquarters from CA to TX all because of the business climate.

What he left out? He’s paying Toyota $40 million to do so. That’s $10,000 per full time employee who moves.

Thanks for redistributing the state’s wealth from those in need to a corporation who looks after its bottom line first and foremost.

Oh, and what does the job move do to the national employment statistics?

Nothing.

CA loses 3,000 jobs. KY loses another 1,000 in the relocation, and Texas gains 4,000. That’s ZERO net jobs created by this expenditure of $40 million in Texas job incentives for the relocation.

It wasn’t because Texas is a cheaper tax environment. It’s because Texas gave them $40 million to move.

We see this all the time. New Jersey and New York trade job losses and shifts by companies taking advantage of job creation incentives. Thomson Reuters is getting $26 million in relocating a couple hundred workers from NY to Hoboken (on top of the potential leasing savings). Other companies get money to stay in the state (Panasonic and Sharp) even though they weren’t going to move out-of-state.

Heck, Pfizer may be looking at its Astra-Zenica deal as a way of offshoring income and reducing its tax burden nearly as much as its drug pipeline.

316 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 9:44:17am

re: #304 Skip Intro

[Embedded image]

Eh, for some of ‘em. For others, it’s more of a case of “Hmm… I could go and waste my time at polls where I’m outnumbered 100-to-1 by people who can barely spell yet have very strong convictions about ‘soshulizm’… or I could do something productive with my day.”

The calculus might be different if I didn’t live in a state that STILL has “Sunday sales” laws on the books in a lot of places.

317 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:46:25am

re: #311 Dr Lizardo

Dunkirk was a debacle, and not only from the British point of view.

Hitler refused to let the Wehrmacht close in and finish off what was left of the British Expeditionary Force - the story goes that Göring had assured him the Luftwaffe could handle the job.

Well, they didn’t, for a variety of reasons including bad weather. Had the Wehrmacht Generals prevailed and rolled in and capture the BEF before the evacuation could take place, Britain would have found itself in one hell of a pickle.

Of course, there’s also Rommel in North Africa - he could have rolled across the Levant and seized the British oil fields of the Middle East, and that would (most likely) have been game over for the British Empire. No oil for the military machine means it’s time to call it a day.

Rommel figured he didn’t really need a hell of a lot more than what he had to roll on through to Iraq. Maybe another a division or so and a Luftwaffe squadron. But Hitler and his High Command couldn’t see the “big picture” that Rommel was arguing for, and basically threw away a golden strategic opportunity.

Which is, to say the least, good for all of us.

A book I re-read recently How Hitler Could Have Won WWII mentioned that Hitler at that time was still envisioning a plan where the British would stay bottled up in England, and allow him the rest of Europe. He didn’t want to destroy the English Army for fear of losing that option.

RBS

318 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 9:46:41am

Misleading Tweet.

319 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 9:47:05am

Gunmen storm Libyan parliament, stop lawmakers’ vote on next PM

Gunmen stormed Libya’s parliament on Tuesday and started shooting, forcing lawmakers to abandon a vote on the country’s next prime minister, a parliamentary spokesman said.

Spokesman Omar Hmeidan told Reuters that several people had been wounded by the shooting started by gunmen linked to one of the defeated candidates for prime minister.

Lawmakers were running away from the building, witnesses said. (Reporting by Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

320 Political Atheist  Apr 29, 2014 9:47:27am

re: #315 lawhawk

Lawhawk, how credible is Toyotas explanation? “Closer to the factories than California”. I’m thinking yup, that’s it and all else is partisan noise and fury.

321 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 9:48:18am
Alex Pareene will join Matt Taibbi’s in-development publication at First Look Media, the Pierre Omidyar-backed news organization, Capital has learned.

Taibbi declined to comment on the hire when reached on the phone this afternoon. Pareene did not respond to email requests for comment.

UPDATE: In a statement Tuesday, First Look said Pareene will be the site’s executive editor and oversee its political content.

Since 2010, Pareene has been a political blogger at Salon’s War Room blog. Prior to that, he spent five years at Gawker Media, starting out at Wonkette before moving over to the company’s namesake flagship.

capitalnewyork.com

Another Dudebro suckling on Pierre’s teat.

322 kirkspencer  Apr 29, 2014 9:48:43am

re: #318 Gus

Misleading Tweet.

[Embedded content]

thinking meta, it’s not. Failing to actually listen and going off instead on what they think (or hope) they’re hearing is one of if not the biggest factors in the mess.

323 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:49:07am

re: #317 RealityBasedSteve

A book I re-read recently How Hitler Could Have Won WWII mentioned that Hitler at that time was still envisioning a plan where the British would stay bottled up in England, and allow him the rest of Europe. He didn’t want to destroy the English Army for fear of losing that option.

RBS

That was also one of the reasons he didn’t allow the Wehrmacht to go in and take out the BEF; though it may sound bizarre, he was trying to show the Brits he was willing to accommodate - and work with - the British Empire, as long as they gave him carte blanche in Europe.

324 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 9:51:46am

re: #323 Dr Lizardo

That was also one of the reasons he didn’t allow the Wehrmacht to go in and take out the BEF; though it may sound bizarre, he was trying to show the Brits he was willing to accommodate - and work with - the British Empire, as long as they gave him carte blanche in Europe.

Which was ignoring history since the UK *never* let any one country get carte blanche in Europe. And often took steps to avoid it happening or to reverse it when it started to happen.

325 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 9:52:06am

re: #320 Political Atheist

Lawhawk, how credible is Toyotas explanation? “Closer to the factories than California”. I’m thinking yup, that’s it and all else is partisan noise and fury.

How about lower cost of living, therefore lower wages?

326 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 9:53:20am

re: #324 Feline Fearless Leader

Which was ignoring history since the UK *never* let any one country get carte blanche in Europe. And often took steps to avoid it happening or to reverse it when it started to happen.

Precisely.

That whole affair should have been a major warning sign to the German military High Command that their leader wasn’t playing with a full deck.

327 Stanley Sea  Apr 29, 2014 9:53:24am

re: #314 Gus

Worth the read.

Is Israel an Apartheid State?
Apr 29, 2014 11:54 AM EDT
By Jeffrey Goldberg

Very good.

328 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 9:54:05am

re: #323 Dr Lizardo

That was also one of the reasons he didn’t allow the Wehrmacht to go in and take out the BEF; though it may sound bizarre, he was trying to show the Brits he was willing to accommodate - and work with - the British Empire, as long as they gave him carte blanche in Europe.

I think we both know that wouldn’t have worked. The thing about the book is that it makes a very strong case that after France the best thing Hitler could have done was a strong North African campaign, sweeping through to Iran, and then the Caucuses. Britain had very few divisions there, and would have been basically a walkover.

RBS

329 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 9:55:01am

re: #320 Political Atheist

Lawhawk, how credible is Toyotas explanation? “Closer to the factories than California”. I’m thinking yup, that’s it and all else is partisan noise and fury.

It’s a good justification, as it would put them in the same general time zone, and let corporate communications to flow easier on the work day at those factories.

However, I think the bottom line is that the company saw the opportunity to boost the bottom line by $40 million in the short term, and took it. Not counting the potential lower costs for salaries/benefits in TX versus CA.

Though, on that front, there’s a higher up-front acquisitions cost (discussed this yesterday). You’re losing intellectual capital by moving from an established base in CA to TX, and some number of those working in CA wont move to TX (or have to be paid to do so).

330 kirkspencer  Apr 29, 2014 9:56:52am

re: #326 Dr Lizardo

Precisely.

That whole affair should have been a major warning sign to the German military High Command that their leader wasn’t playing with a full deck.

On the flip side, High Command answered to the leader. It was built into the design.

That’s not unique to that time and place.

331 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 10:00:16am

re: #330 kirkspencer

On the flip side, High Command answered to the leader. It was built into the design.

That’s not unique to that time and place.

I was just reading this, as I do enjoy alternative history - I enjoy those ‘What If’s’ of history. This is one I could see developing; it has a certain logic to it.

laphamsquarterly.org

332 Charles Johnson  Apr 29, 2014 10:01:02am
333 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 10:02:03am

nbcnews.com

Boehner cries that he was joking, and that Obama has to *prove* that he can be trusted. From the Speaker for the party that breaks all deals since 2009.

334 Political Atheist  Apr 29, 2014 10:03:52am

re: #325 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

How about lower cost of living, therefore lower wages?

Obviously possible but this is not Walmart. Do you have any reports that’s what’s up?

335 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 10:07:11am

re: #286 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS

[Embedded content]

It is ‘conservatives’ remaking the world so they can continue to feed their anger addiction forever.

336 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:07:50am
337 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:08:09am

re: #335 Romantic Heretic

It is ‘conservatives’ remaking the world so they can continue to feed their anger addiction forever.

“Buzz_Patriot” is a LIBRUL Dudebro.

338 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 10:09:11am

re: #334 Political Atheist

Obviously possible but this is not Walmart. Do you have any reports that’s what’s up?

Just assuming, just look at the comparison of housing costs in CA ($299K average house price) and TX ($176K)

339 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 10:11:59am

re: #311 Dr Lizardo

Dunkirk was a debacle, and not only from the British point of view.

Hitler refused to let the Wehrmacht close in and finish off what was left of the British Expeditionary Force - the story goes that Göring had assured him the Luftwaffe could handle the job.

Well, they didn’t, for a variety of reasons including bad weather. Had the Wehrmacht Generals prevailed and rolled in and capture the BEF before the evacuation could take place, Britain would have found itself in one hell of a pickle.

Of course, there’s also Rommel in North Africa - he could have rolled across the Levant and seized the British oil fields of the Middle East, and that would (most likely) have been game over for the British Empire. No oil for the military machine means it’s time to call it a day.

Rommel figured he didn’t really need a hell of a lot more than what he had to roll on through to Iraq. Maybe another a division or so and a Luftwaffe squadron. But Hitler and his High Command couldn’t see the “big picture” that Rommel was arguing for, and basically threw away a golden strategic opportunity.

Which is, to say the least, good for all of us.

I’m of the opinion that if Hitler hadn’t been a narcissistic asshole playing out his inferiority complex in public the war in Europe would probably have been a draw.

Or perhaps never have happened at all.

340 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 10:12:10am

OT: Hooray for Biblical Marriage, Old Testament style:

President Uhuru Kenyatta signs Kenya polygamy law

(feel free to page this, anyone, I do not page)

341 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  Apr 29, 2014 10:13:38am

re: #339 Romantic Heretic

I’m of the opinion that if Hitler hadn’t been a narcissistic asshole playing out his inferiority complex in public the war in Europe would probably have been a draw.

Or perhaps never have happened at all.

There is a famous thesis “If Hitler had only listened to his generals, Germany would have son the war”.

Save for the fact that if he had listened to his generals, they never would have started the war, as almost all of them were totally opposed to it, they knew that they would lose.

342 kirkspencer  Apr 29, 2014 10:13:43am

re: #331 Dr Lizardo

I was just reading this, as I do enjoy alternative history - I enjoy those ‘What If’s’ of history. This is one I could see developing; it has a certain logic to it.

laphamsquarterly.org

Me, I hit the disbelief button on the British agreeing to bottle their navy. The thing to keep in mind is that Britain was a NAVAL power.

Losing the BEF at Dunkirk would hurt and would be a morale dampener, but the armies in North Africa and India (not to mention the rest of the colonies and subjugates) still outnumbered what was lost.

It also makes defeat of Russia/Soviet Union too easy. Oh, and I notice the Japanese attack just happened to ignore the Philippines and a couple of other places US forces were stationed.

This isn’t to say pursuing the BEF at Dunkirk wouldn’t have eventually ended with an Axis victory, but it would have been far from the relative cake-walk Lapham envisions.

343 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:14:28am
344 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:16:28am
345 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:17:45am

Are you…

A. [ ] Straight and not gay.
B. [ ] Straight but gay.
C. [ ] Other _______________.

346 Romantic Heretic  Apr 29, 2014 10:17:54am

re: #337 Pie-onist Overlord

“Buzz_Patriot” is a LIBRUL Dudebro.

Oop. Sorry.

347 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:19:06am
348 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 10:19:28am

re: #345 Gus

Are you…

A. [ ] Straight and not gay.
B. [ ] Straight but gay.
C. [ ] Other _______________.

I’m Straight but not Narrow.

RBS

349 Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 29, 2014 10:19:57am

re: #342 kirkspencer

Me, I hit the disbelief button on the British agreeing to bottle their navy. The thing to keep in mind is that Britain was a NAVAL power.

Losing the BEF at Dunkirk would hurt and would be a morale dampener, but the armies in North Africa and India (not to mention the rest of the colonies and subjugates) still outnumbered what was lost.

It also makes defeat of Russia/Soviet Union too easy. Oh, and I notice the Japanese attack just happened to ignore the Philippines and a couple of other places US forces were stationed.

This isn’t to say pursuing the BEF at Dunkirk wouldn’t have eventually ended with an Axis victory, but it would have been far from the relative cake-walk Lapham envisions.

I also doubt that the UK government would have dumped Winston Churchill less than four weeks after he became PM. Chamberlain was PM up to May 10, 1940. And the Dunkirk Evacuation (in our timeline) was May 27 - June 3.

350 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 10:20:09am

re: #344 Gus

[Embedded content]

It’s really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that over 200 girls were taken, nobody seems to be bothered. I’m starting to suspect they’re gone for good.

351 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 10:20:12am

re: #343 Gus

[Embedded content]

“I’m hetero, but I do find people of my own gender very attractive…”

Mormons. /shrug.

352 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:21:45am

re: #350 Killgore Trout

It’s really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that over 200 girls were taken, nobody seems to be bothered. I’m starting to suspect they’re gone for good.

I seem to be the only guy that RT’d that. Kind of odd. Not sure of Critical Dragon’s gender.

353 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 10:21:49am

re: #345 Gus

Are you…

A. [ ] Straight and not gay.
B. [ ] Straight but gay.
C. [X] Other ______Fabulous_________.

354 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:24:14am
355 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:25:04am
356 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 10:25:23am

Boko Haram are one of the Islamist groups to fear in Africa, and their kidnapping of hundreds of young girls shows their willingness to engage in acts of depravity. The Nigerian government has been struggling to deal with the group for years, and the group uses forests to hide after carrying out their brazen attacks.

Other news reports indicate that Boko Haram members have been seen taking the kidnapped girls into neighboring Chad and Camaroon. Some may have been forced into marrying their kidnappers.

357 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:26:34am
358 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:28:59am

Dumb.

359 RealityBasedSteve  Apr 29, 2014 10:29:54am

re: #354 darthstar

[Embedded content]

MOST EXCELLENT!!!!

RBS

360 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 10:30:13am

re: #350 Killgore Trout

It’s really hard to wrap my mind around the fact that over 200 girls were taken, nobody seems to be bothered. I’m starting to suspect they’re gone for good.

People are busy worrying about more important things. //

Google search results:

  1,190,000 for nigeria abductions chibok
98,300,000 for kerry israel apartheid

How many times have you mentioned the abductions of the girls since yesterday? How many times have you mentioned Kerry’s statement?

361 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:30:14am

Country Club Princess says what?

362 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 10:30:49am

The Twittering Machine is supposed to produce monies for someone somehow?

(Reuters) - There was a time when Twitter strove not to end up like Facebook.

As the social media phenom prepared to debut in November, the last thing it wanted was a repeat of its larger rival’s rocky IPO and subsequent sell-off. Now, the one-time Wall Street darling’s inability to replicate its bigger cousin’s success in mobile and online may be what holds it back.

Wall Street remains divided over Twitter as the seven-year-old company prepares to unveil only its second set of quarterly numbers on Tuesday. Eleven of 31 investment analysts polled by Thomson Reuters rate it a “sell,” outnumbering the seven who deem it a “buy.” The rest have a hold rating or its equivalent.

reuters.com

363 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 10:33:31am

re: #226 William Barnett-Lewis

BBL. Got a DOT physical as part of getting a job driving school bus.

So. Seems there were some rule changes in January. I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea but after losing weight I didn’t need my CPAP any more plus the Docs are discovering they don’t do much good in most cases. BUT since I have been diagnosed I need either a sleep study or use it for 30 days before I can be signed off. So I use it again even though I don’t need it and I get to go back on May 29 for my card… And I can’t get my school driver learners permit without the card. Fortunately, the bus company is cool with the delay and I’ll train over the summer to be ready for school this fall :)

364 Varek Raith  Apr 29, 2014 10:33:39am

re: #360 CuriousLurker

People are busy worrying about more important things. Google search results:

  1,190,000 for nigeria abductions chibok
98,300,000 for kerry israel apartheid

How many times have you mentioned the abductions of the girls since yesterday? How many times have you mentioned Kerry’s statement?

Boom da ze.

365 Targetpractice  Apr 29, 2014 10:34:55am

re: #361 Pie-onist Overlord

Country Club Princess says what?

[Embedded content]

Janie, when the only way to “live within your means” is to apply for welfare, then there’s something wrong with the world.

366 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:35:02am

re: #355 Gus

[Embedded content]

That’s just too fucking redundant…or ‘meta’ if you want to be on-liney about it.

367 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 10:35:29am

re: #355 Gus

[Embedded content]

My first thought was, “I wonder what happened to the occupant of the Croc sandal?”

I’m bad, I know.

368 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:36:22am

re: #361 Pie-onist Overlord

Country Club Princess says what?

[Embedded content]

What happens when her husband forgets to bring home her Costco sized bottle of valium?

369 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:37:08am

re: #368 darthstar

What happens when her husband forgets to bring home her Costco sized bottle of valium?

There’s always a gallon jug of vodka in the pantry.

370 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 10:37:13am

re: #342 kirkspencer

Me, I hit the disbelief button on the British agreeing to bottle their navy. The thing to keep in mind is that Britain was a NAVAL power.

Losing the BEF at Dunkirk would hurt and would be a morale dampener, but the armies in North Africa and India (not to mention the rest of the colonies and subjugates) still outnumbered what was lost.

It also makes defeat of Russia/Soviet Union too easy. Oh, and I notice the Japanese attack just happened to ignore the Philippines and a couple of other places US forces were stationed.

This isn’t to say pursuing the BEF at Dunkirk wouldn’t have eventually ended with an Axis victory, but it would have been far from the relative cake-walk Lapham envisions.

Yeah, it wouldn’t have been a cake-walk, but capturing the BEF at Dunkirk could have been a turning point, and not in a good way, at least for us normal folks.

371 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:37:56am

Here you go. This is the person that made that pic.

Adetola Adekunle
@mrpirazzy

Creative Director, Pirazzy Konceptz! PR for Cadilly Ent.(CJ-Mama, Ucee Black, J’Lar), MMG(Blacko Blaze), Ecleftic Records(Pepenazi), Strands Events etal
Nigeria

372 Skip Intro  Apr 29, 2014 10:38:06am

re: #363 William Barnett-Lewis

So. Seems there were some rule changes in January. I had been diagnosed with sleep apnea but after losing weight I didn’t need my CPAP any more plus the Docs are discovering they don’t do much good in most cases.

I don’t know about that. Mine does a great job of keeping me from being able to sleep, so no sleep, no apnea.

Problem solved.

373 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 10:38:08am

Compare and contrast time.

MH370 disappeared with the loss of 239 people. Tens of thousands of stories have been written, and countless headlines, including all manner of breathless developing and breaking reports.

Boko Haram kidnaps 200+ girls from a school in the middle of the night in Nigeria. There’s little response from US media, which barely recognizes that Nigeria even exists, let alone a terror group kidnapped hundreds of girls.

In a just world, both would get equal amounts of news coverage, including here in the US. But it isn’t a just world, so events like the Nigeria kidnappings are essentially ignored in the US media. And that trend largely flows from general ignorance of what happens overseas, especially in Africa except when it deals with Israel or an attack on US interests in some far-flung corner of the world.

This was a huge terror attack, where the victims were kidnapped en masse. That’s like kidnapping the Beslan school, where more than 300 people were killed, including nearly 200 kids. Yet, the media ignores it here.

374 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:39:21am
375 Political Atheist  Apr 29, 2014 10:39:29am

re: #338 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)

Just assuming, just look at the comparison of housing costs in CA ($299K average house price) and TX ($176K)

Sure could be. And I’d add that’s legit. Now what the partisans seek to do is exploit it. So I’m skeptical of the political accusations that are coming out. At Toyota, it’s the accountants working this, not some political operative.

Some moments are teachable. This one is exploitable. Nissan cited taxes as a big factor when they went. Couple this with lost cinema production and well, as a California native OUCH.

376 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 10:40:24am

re: #375 Political Atheist

Left another comment up on the Page that covers this.

377 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:41:26am

Selfie.

378 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:41:33am

MORON==>

379 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:41:41am
380 blueraven  Apr 29, 2014 10:42:51am

re: #347 Gus

Oh boy, Georgia (my “home” state)

The Georgia facility is located in Kennesaw, near Atlanta, a quiet suburb unique in the U.S. for mandating every household own at least one gun. The law is not enforced, so the Kennesaw gun ownership rate hovers around 50 percent, according to its police chief. That’s still higher than the average rate of gun ownership in the U.S., estimated to be about 34 percent. When the law was enacted in 1982, Kennesaw had only 5,000 residents. Today, it has a population of 30,000.

381 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:43:50am

re: #378 Pie-onist Overlord

MORON==>

[Embedded content]

I hate Jesus freaks like this…so I responded.

382 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:44:02am
383 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:44:07am

*SNORT*
NOT TO MENTION THE WHITE MAN PRIVILEGE!

384 Targetpractice  Apr 29, 2014 10:44:11am

re: #380 blueraven

Oh boy, Georgia (my “home” state)

And now the cries will go out to begin rigorously enforcing that law, with suggestions that it be expanded to requiring people carry guns on their persons. Won’t past constitutional muster, but that hasn’t stopped them yet.

385 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:45:29am

re: #373 lawhawk

Compare and contrast time.

MH370 disappeared with the loss of 239 people. Tens of thousands of stories have been written, and countless headlines, including all manner of breathless developing and breaking reports.

Boko Haram kidnaps 200+ girls from a school in the middle of the night in Nigeria. There’s little response from US media, which barely recognizes that Nigeria even exists, let alone a terror group kidnapped hundreds of girls.

In a just world, both would get equal amounts of news coverage, including here in the US. But it isn’t a just world, so events like the Nigeria kidnappings are essentially ignored in the US media. And that trend largely flows from general ignorance of what happens overseas, especially in Africa except when it deals with Israel or an attack on US interests in some far-flung corner of the world.

This was a huge terror attack, where the victims were kidnapped en masse. That’s like kidnapping the Beslan school, where more than 300 people were killed, including nearly 200 kids. Yet, the media ignores it here.

So basically society expends more energy on finding an aircraft of which there is no doubt all souls lost than they do looking for 200 kidnapped children.

386 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 10:45:39am

re: #382 Gus

[Embedded content]

“Hello Delta? Yes, I’d like to see if I can transfer my flight reservation to a car rental!!!”

387 Targetpractice  Apr 29, 2014 10:45:49am

re: #383 Pie-onist Overlord

*SNORT*

[Embedded content]

And let us guess, he never took anything from anyone, dragged himself up by his own bootstraps, and today is a self-made man.

388 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:46:24am
389 Varek Raith  Apr 29, 2014 10:46:36am

And some wonder why I refuse to step foot on a plane.

390 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 10:46:45am

re: #345 Gus

Are you…

A. [ ] Straight and not gay.
B. [ ] Straight but gay.
C. [=] Other Trysexual.

391 Killgore Trout  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:07am

Hamas will not be recognizing Israel, noises to the contrary as just to ensure continued US funding
Zahar: Palestinian unity deal will not make Hamas recognize Israel’s right to exist

Hamas’s elder statesman, who has had spiky relations with the group’s leadership, said Abbas was using the unity deal to put heat on Israel, but that he was also worried by a US threat to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in vital aid.

“He is seeking a guarantee that US financial support will continue,” Zahar said, speaking from his well-guarded house.

Looking to reassure Western allies, Abbas said the new government would recognize Israel and honor previous treaties. Zahar dismissed this as a hollow gesture, saying the ministers would be academics with no political authority.

“Abbas is not telling them the truth. He says ‘this is my government’. But it is not his government. It is a government of national unity. He is marketing it in this way to minimize the pressure,” said Zahar, who took part in the unity negotiations.

392 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:17am

re: #389 Varek Raith

And some wonder why I refuse to step foot on a plane.

umm,,,,, you do know you’re supposed to travel IN the plane!!

393 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:18am
394 Dr. Matt  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:20am

re: #373 lawhawk

Aaaaaaaand the current front page of CNN……

395 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:33am

re: #387 Targetpractice

And let us guess, he never took anything from anyone, dragged himself up by his own bootstraps, and today is a self-made man.

WE DIDN’T HAVE NO FOOD STAMPS SO WE HAD TO EAT POSTAGE STAMPS WHICH WE PEELED OFF ALL THE BILLS!!!!!

396 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:37am

re: #390 Amory Blaine

397 darthstar  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:48am

re: #388 Gus

But he still owns the team.

398 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 10:47:52am

re: #377 Gus

Selfie.

[Embedded content]

The coolest tiera ever!

399 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 10:48:09am

re: #373 lawhawk

Compare and contrast time.

MH370 disappeared with the loss of 239 people. Tens of thousands of stories have been written, and countless headlines, including all manner of breathless developing and breaking reports.

Boko Haram kidnaps 200+ girls from a school in the middle of the night in Nigeria. There’s little response from US media, which barely recognizes that Nigeria even exists, let alone a terror group kidnapped hundreds of girls.

In a just world, both would get equal amounts of news coverage, including here in the US. But it isn’t a just world, so events like the Nigeria kidnappings are essentially ignored in the US media. And that trend largely flows from general ignorance of what happens overseas, especially in Africa except when it deals with Israel or an attack on US interests in some far-flung corner of the world.

This was a huge terror attack, where the victims were kidnapped en masse. That’s like kidnapping the Beslan school, where more than 300 people were killed, including nearly 200 kids. Yet, the media ignores it here.

Yep, I remember the other day seeing a few reports of a terrorist attack in Iraq that killed a couple of dozen people and there was another one yesterday, a suicide bombing that killed 30 at a Kurdish political rally.

Nobody seemed to care much—it was mostly just a big *YAWN*. Imagine if it had been 30 Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Israelis, etc. There would be wall-to-wall, non-stop coverage.

400 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 10:48:20am

re: #397 darthstar

But he still owns the team.

Prediction, within a year, he won’t

401 Targetpractice  Apr 29, 2014 10:48:33am

re: #388 Gus

[Embedded content]

See, we were warned this would happen after Mozilla, but we didn’t listen!!

////

402 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:48:42am

re: #397 darthstar

But he still owns the team.

Pretty sure that would be a complicated procedure.

403 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 10:50:52am

re: #402 Gus

Pretty sure that would be a complicated procedure.

The NBA board of governors will pressure him to sell, going as far as even finding viable buyers. It won;t be like a private deal of selling a used car, but the deal will get done and by this time next year he’ll be a footnote (mentioned during next years NBA playoffs as an ‘on this date last year ,,,,,,”)

404 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 10:51:11am

re: #301 Pie-onist Overlord

Southerners call it Sharpsburg.

An interesting thing - lots of battles have two names. The Northern names tend to be water - Antietam Creek, Bull Run… Southern names for the nearest town - Sharpsburg, Manassas… Always found that fascinating.

405 lawhawk  Apr 29, 2014 10:51:20am

re: #397 darthstar

But he still owns the team.

NBA rules probably don’t let the league strip him of ownership, but the suspension might be what they think could force him to sell. Not quite the same situation as in MLB where they forced McCourt to sell the Dodgers, or for Schott to sell the Reds, but it puts the league on the same trajectory.

The fine is chump change for someone like Sterling. I’m curious as to what the suspension includes - all business activities linked to the team or league? Showing up at games? Practices? League events?

If it’s a total suspension from any team/league activity, that’s a sure attempt to force him to sell.

406 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 10:53:01am

re: #360 CuriousLurker

People are busy worrying about more important things. //

Google search results:

  1,190,000 for nigeria abductions chibok
98,300,000 for kerry israel apartheid

How many times have you mentioned the abductions of the girls since yesterday? How many times have you mentioned Kerry’s statement?

For the record, I just tried several different sets of less specific keywords to see if I could get better results. Trying nigerian schoolgirls got me the most results—a couple of million more hits (3,020,000), but still nothing close to Kerry.

407 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 10:53:29am

re: #399 CuriousLurker

We’re now immune to these bits of foreign bad news, driven numb by the continual exposure.

408 GunstarGreen  Apr 29, 2014 10:54:20am

re: #380 blueraven

Oh boy, Georgia (my “home” state)

Clearly the only solution is MOAR GUNZ!!1!11!!

It’s kind of like apple.mov, but with GUNZ!!1!1 instead of apples.

(Mildly NSFW, some language)

Youtube Video

409 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 10:54:38am

re: #407 freetoken

We’re now immune to these bits of foreign bad news, driven numb by the continual exposure.

Yep, kinda like the mass shootings here. They’ve become almost a daily event.

410 William Barnett-Lewis  Apr 29, 2014 10:55:18am

re: #360 CuriousLurker

One story trolls better than the other… Spit.

411 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:55:51am
412 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 10:55:59am

For example, tell me who really cares about what Russia is doing in Ukraine?

AUSTRIA, RUSSIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON GAS PIPELINE

Top Austrian and Russian energy conglomerates have signed an agreement expressing their commitment to building the Austrian section of a pipeline to supply Europe with natural gas while circumventing Ukraine.

The memorandum on Russia’s “South Stream” pipeline was signed Tuesday by Gerhard Roiss of Austria’s OMV and Gazprom chief Alexei Miller.

South Stream has become increasingly important to Austria and other European countries after European energy companies gave up last year on building a different pipeline to make the continent less dependent on Moscow by bringing in gas from central Asia.

[…]

413 Dr. Matt  Apr 29, 2014 10:56:14am

Look at the wall of camera’s for the Adam Silver press conference:

Adam Silver’s Press Conference

H/T: deadspin.com

414 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 10:57:05am

re: #409 CuriousLurker

Yep, kinda like the mass shootings here. They’ve become almost a daily event.

Or not

Read an interesting TIME piece about that several months back (right after the terrible navy yard incident)

ideas.time.com

415 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 10:57:23am

If I’m innocent until proven guilty, by the RWNJ logic, should a person be able to legally carry while under arrest?

416 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:57:25am

This is so dumb I just can’t even.

417 freetoken  Apr 29, 2014 10:58:15am

re: #416 Pie-onist Overlord

Walter Williams is another God-talker.

418 b.d.  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:03am

WTF is an indefinite suspension?

419 ObserverArt  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:11am

re: #385 Gus

So basically society expends more energy on finding an aircraft of which there is no doubt all souls lost than they do looking for 200 kidnapped African children.

Gus, hope you don’t mind, but that bold word I added…I felt was needed. I don’t know, I have a feeling it ads something to the reasoning why the media isn’t covering the 200 children.

420 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:12am

chocolate

About 203,000,000 results

421 Amory Blaine  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:38am

re: #418 b.d.

WTF is an indefinite suspension?

A yearlong sail around the Carribean.

422 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:49am

re: #417 freetoken

Walter Williams is another God-talker.

Wingnuts get him mixed up with Thomas Sowell all the time. Because they all look alike.
////////////////////
////////////////////

423 Timothy Watson  Apr 29, 2014 10:59:49am

re: #270 Pie-onist Overlord

ASSHOLE==>

[Embedded content]

I always enjoy throwing out this quote from Federalist Papers No. 43 (Madison):

As treason may be committed against the United States, the authority of the United States ought to be enabled to punish it. But as new-fangled and artificial treasons have been the great engines by which violent factions, the natural offspring of free Governments, have usually wreaked their alternate malignity on each other, the Convention have, with great judgment, opposed a barrier to this peculiar danger, by inserting a Constitutional definition of the crime, fixing the proof necessary for conviction of it, and restraining the Congress, even in punishing it, from extending the consequences of guilt beyond the person of its author.

424 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 11:00:09am

re: #413 Dr. Matt

Look at the wall of camera’s for the Adam Silver press conference:

Adam Silver’s Press Conference

H/T: deadspin.com

Not surprising, as there is already increased media presence due to the NBA being in the midst of their playoffs

425 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 11:01:43am
426 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 11:02:01am

Actually yeah he did.

427 sattv4u2  Apr 29, 2014 11:02:03am

re: #420 Gus

chocolate

About 203,000,000 results

only 203,000,000!?!?!?!

428 Pie-onist Overlord  Apr 29, 2014 11:04:07am
429 Gus  Apr 29, 2014 11:05:32am

re: #427 sattv4u2

only 203,000,000!?!?!?!

Sex

About 1,080,000,000 results

430 ObserverArt  Apr 29, 2014 11:08:10am

re: #422 Pie-onist Overlord

Wingnuts get him mixed up with Thomas Sowell all the time. Because they all look alike.
////////////////////
////////////////////

I know what you mean…I get Ted Cruz mixed up with Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Louie Gohmert and others.

They all look, talk and act alike!

431 kirkspencer  Apr 29, 2014 11:08:18am

re: #370 Dr Lizardo

Yeah, it wouldn’t have been a cake-walk, but capturing the BEF at Dunkirk could have been a turning point, and not in a good way, at least for us normal folks.

Agree with that. It’s just the consequences that …

One of the things I have a little fun with in these ‘what if’s are how they always seem to cascade and everything goes right (or wrong) for one side, and on top of it how the whatiffers posit one element as the only thing that matters. Dunkirk’s a great example.

‘Everyone knows’ (and Lapham repeats) that the reason for the stop was because hitler agreed air power would be enough. It completely ignores the fact that von Rundstedt and von Kluge wanted to stop to reconsolidate their forces. Quite simply the way they were going they’d go into a desperate ground situation (the Brits would fight because it was fight or die - no way to retreat) with no controls to prevent friendly fire or unintended bypass. So here’s another thing that happens:

Hitler insists they go in NOW. And the desperate brits, left with no choice, turn Dunkirk into a preview of Stalingrad. Oh yes, they’re devastated with most dead and no unwounded survivors taken as prisoners of war, but both army groups expend an inordinate amount of fuel, ammo, and more importantly time and manpower doing so. It takes a couple of weeks not only to win but to consolidate and reorganize in preparation for marching south - weeks during which the French reorganize and coordinate.

The Maginot line still sits across the significant logistical routes, and the forest through which they bypasses still constricts those supply lines. The constraints on resupply and the renewed vigor of the French army leads to the situation the German high command feared and tried to bypass with the Manstein plan.

WWII looks, for the first few months, a lot like WWI.

432 Dr Lizardo  Apr 29, 2014 11:23:23am

re: #431 kirkspencer

Agree with that. It’s just the consequences that …

One of the things I have a little fun with in these ‘what if’s are how they always seem to cascade and everything goes right (or wrong) for one side, and on top of it how the whatiffers posit one element as the only thing that matters. Dunkirk’s a great example.

‘Everyone knows’ (and Lapham repeats) that the reason for the stop was because hitler agreed air power would be enough. It completely ignores the fact that von Rundstedt and von Kluge wanted to stop to reconsolidate their forces. Quite simply the way they were going they’d go into a desperate ground situation (the Brits would fight because it was fight or die - no way to retreat) with no controls to prevent friendly fire or unintended bypass. So here’s another thing that happens:

Hitler insists they go in NOW. And the desperate brits, left with no choice, turn Dunkirk into a preview of Stalingrad. Oh yes, they’re devastated with most dead and no unwounded survivors taken as prisoners of war, but both army groups expend an inordinate amount of fuel, ammo, and more importantly time and manpower doing so. It takes a couple of weeks not only to win but to consolidate and reorganize in preparation for marching south - weeks during which the French reorganize and coordinate.

The Maginot line still sits across the significant logistical routes, and the forest through which they bypasses still constricts those supply lines. The constraints on resupply and the renewed vigor of the French army leads to the situation the German high command feared and tried to bypass with the Manstein plan.

WWII looks, for the first few months, a lot like WWI.

That’s another possible way it plays out as well, and it makes sense.

433 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 11:24:32am

re: #414 sattv4u2

Or not

Read an interesting TIME piece about that several months back (right after the terrible navy yard incident)

ideas.time.com

NPR - Study: Mass Shootings Are On The Rise Across U.S.

FBI - Active Shooter and Mass Casualty Incidents

FBI says active shooters have increased:

Youtube Video

434 CuriousLurker  Apr 29, 2014 12:18:59pm

re: #420 Gus

chocolate

About 203,000,000 results

re: #429 Gus

Sex

About 1,080,000,000 results

Phew! Good to know we humans have our priorities in order. //

435 Decatur Deb  Apr 29, 2014 1:10:16pm

re: #418 b.d.

WTF is an indefinite suspension?

Until they forget.

436 Political Atheist  Apr 29, 2014 3:59:51pm

re: #399 CuriousLurker

Sadly I think people just get attention fatigue. It’s a steady drumbeat of attacks. Eventually unless it’s close to home it just goes meh. Anything that becomes commonplace seemingly can get there.

Psych paper anyone?

Plus our news services are in such a strange dysfunctional place.
Breaking News plane is still missing etc.


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