A Spectacular Fiery Dance Video: Stardust

Dance into the fire
Arts • Views: 34,243

Vimeo

High Definition & headphone for better experience.

Directed by Adrien Servadio
With : Fanny Sage
Director of photography: Baptiste Chesnais
Editing: Elodie Sempere
Music: Alban Sautour
SFX: Benoit Talenton Flam & Co
VFX : Adrien Servadio

Production: Why Us?
Producer: Christophe Starkman -Frederic Fleurier - Rudy Tasimovicz
Dir production: Bruno Vignier
Production assistant: Helene le Gourrierec
Camera: Picseyes
Stage manager: Alexandre Luu
Make up: Maelle Billard - Paris Berlin
Phantom Operator: Jean Michel Poulichot
Operator assistant: Benjamin Denoyer - Fanny Soulabaille
Gaffer: Baptiste Brousse
Set manager: Sebatien Grasso
Electrician: Romain Merlhe - Adrien L’Hommedé
Ast SFX: Guillaume Puthod - Ronan Charadia - Arthur Grandet
Sound design: Alban Sautour

Studios: Studios d’Aubervillier
Camera accesory: Vantage
Machinery: Next Shot
DOP agent: Kinou Conseil - Kinou & Anne-Lise

www.adrienservadio.com
http://www.premiere-heure.fr/labels/why-us
www.picseyes.com
www.phantom-flex.com

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329 comments
1 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 2, 2015 8:54:19pm

Just stunning. Any fire dancers dream.

2 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:03:29pm

Bulldog dancing?

3 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:07:28pm

Can I live here?

4 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:08:16pm

re: #2 FemNaziBitch

Bulldog dancing?

[Embedded content]

You know, if your bulldog really likes that stuff, more power to him/her. But if you’re just throwing an animal on random stuff to try to make a meme, fuck that noise.
/mini-rant

5 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 2, 2015 9:09:37pm

re: #2 FemNaziBitch

Bulldog dancing?

[Embedded content]

Skeet!
6 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:11:33pm
7 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:12:25pm

re: #4 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

You know, if your bulldog really likes that stuff, more power to him/her. But if you’re just throwing an animal on random stuff to try to make a meme, fuck that noise.
/mini-rant

He seems to know what he is doing —not just bouncing around.

8 b_sharp  Jan 2, 2015 9:13:42pm

re: #7 FemNaziBitch

He seems to know what he is doing —not just bouncing around.

He’s having fun.

Those weren’t accidental rolls.

9 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:17:08pm
10 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:17:31pm

re: #7 FemNaziBitch

re: #8 b_sharp

I honestly didn’t watch the video, because I’ve seen enough humorous animal tricks for this week, but I often wonder about those. A reason I could never watch America’s Funniest Home Videos all those years. My cats do really funny stuff, but my skepticon radar hums when people put that stuff on the internet or TV. :)

11 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:19:19pm
12 b_sharp  Jan 2, 2015 9:19:32pm

re: #10 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

I honestly didn’t watch the video, because I’ve seen enough humorous animal tricks for this week, but I often wonder about those. A reason I could never watch America’s Funniest Home Videos all those years. My cats do really funny stuff, but my skepticon radar hums when people put that stuff on the internet or TV. :)

There are a lot of setups alright. I see them on AFV all the time.

In this video the dog is having a good time IMNSHO

13 retired cynic  Jan 2, 2015 9:20:14pm

re: #10 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

I honestly didn’t watch the video, because I’ve seen enough humorous animal tricks for this week, but I often wonder about those. A reason I could never watch America’s Funniest Home Videos all those years. My cats do really funny stuff, but my skepticon radar hums when people put that stuff on the internet or TV. :)

It’s just a GIF….

14 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:24:17pm
15 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:25:16pm

I wouldn’t post the Bulldog if I didn’t think it was a happy video.

16 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:26:42pm

It’s Frogs, not turtles, all the way down …

17 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:26:51pm

re: #12 b_sharp

There are a lot of setups alright. I see them on AFV all the time.

In this video the dog is having a good time IMNSHO

The ones that always bothered me was when the subject of the video ran into something, or fell, or was obviously in a painful situation. I watched the bulldog on the trampoline, and I could see how that would be fun for him/her. Just always careful. I’ve posted photos of the cats doing stuff like sitting in boxes before online, so I guess I’m a hypocrite.

18 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:28:22pm

re: #15 FemNaziBitch

I wouldn’t post the Bulldog if I didn’t think it was a happy video.

And thanks for that. I watched several dog and cat documentaries over the last few days while I was sick that helped lift my spirits.

19 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:29:25pm
20 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:29:59pm

re: #17 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

The ones that always bothered me was when the subject of the video ran into something, or fell, or was obviously in a painful situation. I watched the bulldog on the trampoline, and I could see how that would be fun for him/her. Just always careful. I’ve posted photos of the cats doing stuff like sitting in boxes before online, so I guess I’m a hypocrite.

Cats seem to like sitting in boxes.

21 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:30:49pm

re: #20 FemNaziBitch

Cats seem to like sitting in boxes.

It’s really strange. I have one cat who does, and the other cat doesn’t. She wants to play fetch, thinks she’s a dog, apparently. lol. Cats are weird. :)

22 b_sharp  Jan 2, 2015 9:30:57pm

re: #20 FemNaziBitch

Cats seem to like sitting in boxes.

And briefcases. And clothes baskets.

23 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:31:11pm

Last one, For Floral Giraffe.

24 b_sharp  Jan 2, 2015 9:31:31pm

re: #21 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

It’s really strange. I have one cat who does, and the other cat doesn’t. She wants to play fetch, thinks she’s a dog, apparently. lol. Cats are weird. :)

Remy likes playing fetch too. We use a balled up fuzzy sock.

25 William Barnett-Lewis  Jan 2, 2015 9:31:34pm

re: #19 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

Good for the parrot - tropical birds and winter do not mix well.

26 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:31:42pm

re: #21 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

It’s really strange. I have one cat who does, and the other cat doesn’t. She wants to play fetch, thinks she’s a dog, apparently. lol. Cats are weird. :)

Cats are as near to perfect as a being can be.

(feline overlord looking over my shoulder)

27 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:32:06pm

re: #25 William Barnett-Lewis

Good for the parrot - tropical birds and winter do not mix well.

Wonder if he got it on-line or went to REI?

It’s a good “red” for him.

28 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:32:20pm

re: #22 b_sharp

And briefcases. And clothes baskets.

and suitcases, and on top of boxes that haven’t been opened yet, and record players … :D

29 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 9:32:45pm

This is a good link.

30 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:33:59pm

re: #24 b_sharp

Remy likes playing fetch too. We use a balled up fuzzy sock.

Tulpen still uses some fuzzy toys she got. She’ll jump up on the bed with one in her mouth and drop it down next to me and look at me like “well?”

The other won’t even do the laser pointer anymore. She’s past that. lol

31 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 2, 2015 9:34:34pm

re: #28 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

and suitcases, and on top of boxes that haven’t been opened yet, and record players … :D

Now where did you get that outlandish idea?
32 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:35:43pm

Ok, really, really last one.

33 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 2, 2015 9:36:26pm

re: #32 FemNaziBitch

Ok, really, really last one.

[Embedded content]

The human probably had vegetable breath.

34 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:36:31pm

re: #31 Feline Fearless Leader

They used to love sitting in guitar cases, but I discovered quickly how that could lead to disaster with a white cat and a black fuzzy case interior. All the cases are closed now, they just gather on top of them.

35 #FergusonFireside  Jan 2, 2015 9:37:13pm

re: #29 teleskiguy

This is a good link.

Those were good.

36 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 2, 2015 9:38:30pm

re: #34 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

They used to love sitting in guitar cases, but I discovered quickly how that could lead to disaster with a white cat and a black fuzzy case interior. All the cases are closed now, they just gather on top of them.

The one I pictured is the climber. Wants to gain a good spot for room surveillance. Or simply get there in order to knock thing off of it if insufficient attention is being paid to her. Unless there is a nice bag or box sitting around to climb into and take a nap for awhile.

37 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:38:44pm

re: #30 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

Tulpen still uses some fuzzy toys she got. She’ll jump up on the bed with one in her mouth and drop it down next to me and look at me like “well?”

The other won’t even do the laser pointer anymore. She’s past that. lol

My fo (at 15 years) is only interested in dog toys (live ones).

38 Jenner7  Jan 2, 2015 9:40:55pm

re: #29 teleskiguy

The Sarah Palin quote, is that real??

39 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:41:15pm

re: #36 Feline Fearless Leader

The other one (not the fetch cat) is a “shoulder cat,” so named because at any moment, she may jump up on your shoulder to perch, even if you’re doing something like cooking supper. I’m not sure that she’s just a climber, because most of the time she’s near the ground, but she’ll even come up and sprawl across your chest for purring and kneading dough purposes, and stay there for a long time.

40 #FergusonFireside  Jan 2, 2015 9:41:43pm

re: #38 Jenner7

The Sarah Plain quote, is that real??

I don’t think it is. It’s way too outrageous.

Even for her.

41 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 9:42:01pm

Evening Lizards.

It’s been a busy and I’m now realizing stressing holiday season for teleskiguy. I worked (except on Mondays and Tuesdays, my chosen days off) at the ski shop. Busiest I’ve seen it since I moved back to the mountains from Denver five years ago. Tonight and the next couple of nights is rental/demo return. In other words, us techs get swamped with skis to be tuned. Tonight the job turned into that menial factory work where you do the same thing over and over again for hours on end. Fortunately it’s only temporary. Nice thing is we’ve been getting snowed on, so the skis are coming back largely undamaged, which makes my job easier.

Happy New Year, folks!

42 Jenner7  Jan 2, 2015 9:42:44pm

re: #40 #FergusonFireside

That’s what I thought, because I think I’d remember that one.

43 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 2, 2015 9:44:56pm

Good night everyone. Stay scaly!

44 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 9:45:41pm

re: #38 Jenner7

The Sarah Plain quote, is that real??

To tell you the truth I don’t know. I looked at it again, seems fake.

45 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:45:46pm

On to architecture:

46 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:48:10pm
47 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:49:03pm

This is one hell of a selfie:

48 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 9:49:34pm

re: #45 FemNaziBitch

The most fearless skiers in the world are from Chamonix. Glen Plake has called Chamonix home for a couple of decades now.

Plake. He’s had the same hairstyle for three decades.
49 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:50:25pm
50 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 9:50:48pm

re: #48 teleskiguy

The most fearless skiers in the world are from Chamonix. Glen Plake has called Chamonix home for a couple of decades now.

[Embedded content]

Do the top feathers help with steering?

51 retired cynic  Jan 2, 2015 9:51:36pm

re: #47 FemNaziBitch

No. Absolutely not!

52 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 9:52:24pm

re: #50 FemNaziBitch

Do the top feathers help with steering?

Nah, It’s mostly for aerodynamics. :-D

53 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:52:37pm

re: #49 FemNaziBitch

The night photos, when they light that thing up, are brilliant.

54 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 2, 2015 9:59:09pm

Alright, bedtime Lizards. Hang in there!

55 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 2, 2015 10:02:12pm

He knows where MH370 is!!

Then the medium author cited says:

56 Eclectic Cyborg  Jan 2, 2015 10:16:34pm

From the Twitter FAQ regarding verified accounts:

What kinds of accounts get verified?

Twitter verifies accounts on an ongoing basis to make it easier for users to find who they’re looking for. We concentrate on highly sought users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas. We are constantly updating our requirements for verification. Note, verification does not factor in follower count or Tweet count.

Honestly, I find it pretty funny that Chucky is so butthurt by the fact Twitter doesn’t consider him relevant or worthy enough to be verified.

57 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:18:45pm

re: #55 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

I saw this morning that UpChuck put a padlock on his Twitter account for a time. I can see him on TweetDeck now.

I saw this while the padlock was on and laughed.

Kragar got in on the fun too.

58 #FergusonFireside  Jan 2, 2015 10:19:29pm

Gotta crash. Carpet cleaner coming tomorrow morning & I need to clear the area. Tomorrow. Morning. Before they arrive.

59 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 2, 2015 10:20:19pm

re: #57 teleskiguy

Yeah, he was talking about cleaning out his “fake followers,” whatever that means.

60 Kragar  Jan 2, 2015 10:21:09pm

Made the perfect sandwich for everyone’s dinner tonight

Lightly toasted wheat bread.
coarse ground dijon mustard on one slice, ranch on the other
cajun turkey breast
crispy smoked pepper bacon
sharp cheddar cheese.
shredded iceberg lettuce

served with homemade french fries.

61 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:24:42pm

re: #60 Kragar

Made the perfect sandwich for everyone’s dinner tonight

Lightly toasted wheat bread.
coarse ground dijon mustard on one slice, ranch on the other
cajun turkey breast
crispy smoked pepper bacon
sharp cheddar cheese.
shredded iceberg lettuce

served with homemade french fries.

Kragar, the Sandwich God.

62 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:26:03pm
63 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:27:02pm

re: #60 Kragar

Made the perfect sandwich for everyone’s dinner tonight

Lightly toasted wheat bread.
coarse ground dijon mustard on one slice, ranch on the other
cajun turkey breast
crispy smoked pepper bacon
sharp cheddar cheese.
shredded iceberg lettuce

served with homemade french fries.

No tomatoes? No onions? No salt/pepper? What’s wrong with a sliced banana pepper here and there?

All kidding aside, that sounds like the perfect sammich.

64 Kragar  Jan 2, 2015 10:27:22pm

re: #61 FemNaziBitch

Kragar, the Sandwich God.

My eldest “I don’t want mustard or lettuce on mine.”
Me: “Okay.”
She got the same one as everyone else, whined about the lettuce, never even noticed the mustard.

65 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:27:54pm

where is this???????

66 Kragar  Jan 2, 2015 10:29:13pm

re: #63 teleskiguy

No tomatoes? No onions? No salt/pepper? What’s wrong with a sliced banana pepper here and there?

All kidding aside, that sounds like the perfect sammich.

Tomatoes only belong in sauces. I will never pollute a recipe with sliced tomatoes.

We were out of red onions, and the bacon was peppered.

67 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:29:56pm
68 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:31:00pm

re: #66 Kragar

Tomatoes only belong in sauces. I will never pollute a recipe with sliced tomatoes.

We were out of red onions, and the bacon was peppered.

Fair enough. I happen to enjoy raw tomatoes. I must be weird.

I also enjoy a nice slice of pizza with ham and pineapple (and the occasional sliced jalapeno). Yeah, I guess I’m weird.

:-P

heavily EDITED

69 retired cynic  Jan 2, 2015 10:32:37pm

re: #68 teleskiguy

No, you’re not! Those (really ripe and warm from the sun) with salt and pepper, are the absolute best!

70 Kragar  Jan 2, 2015 10:36:39pm

re: #69 retired cynic

No, you’re not! Those (really ripe and warm from the sun) with salt and pepper, are the absolute best!

SCREAM!! (Invasion of the Body Snatchers - Donald Sutherland)

71 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:36:41pm

Abandoned and Scary Places Around the World

72 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 10:36:45pm

re: #55 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

He knows where MH370 is!!

[Embedded content]

Well, of course he does. His extensive background in aviation forensics makes it so.

What a pitiful wanker.

73 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:40:40pm
74 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:41:39pm

re: #72 austin_blue

What a pitiful wanker.

A pitiful wanker that is recognized as a trusted source by Rush Limbaugh, Matt Drudge, Erick Erickson…

At least UpChuck is hated by John Podhoretz.

*spit*

75 FemNaziBitch  Jan 2, 2015 10:44:58pm

Off to listen to my current audiobook.

bbl

76 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 2, 2015 10:48:57pm

re: #72 austin_blue

Well, of course he does. His extensive background in aviation forensics makes it so.

What a pitiful wanker.

His MO is to interject into any news stream anywhere, I suppose to attract people to his site to get MOAR CLIX. But it just gets tiresome. Now he’s got an interview with Jessica Chambers’ ex-BF about her and her family issues up on his website, a kind of posthumous doxxing of the victim.

77 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 10:57:45pm

re: #76 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

His MO is to interject into any news stream anywhere, I suppose to attract people to his site to get MOAR CLIX. But it just gets tiresome. Now he’s got an interview with Jessica Chambers’ ex-BF about her and her family issues up on his website, a kind of posthumous doxxing of the victim.

Is it time to give a collective “meh” and move on? In reality, the little putz is beneath contempt.

78 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 10:58:12pm

What in the ever loving fuck is this?!? UpChuck fucking sucks brah!

79 Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 2, 2015 11:01:43pm

re: #76 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

His MO is to interject into any news stream anywhere, I suppose to attract people to his site to get MOAR CLIX. But it just gets tiresome. Now he’s got an interview with Jessica Chambers’ ex-BF about her and her family issues up on his website, a kind of posthumous doxxing of the victim.

I had to check who Jessica Chambers was - I had forgotten about that case. Apparently she’s a cause celebre in the undeclared War Against The Negro, because google result summaries for conservative websites contain phrases like “certain blacks“…. Seriously… Town hall and conservative news are both using that bit of phrasing… I wish they’d just come out openly in favor of race war and get it over with.

80 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:03:57pm

re: #78 teleskiguy

What in the ever loving fuck is this?!? UpChuck fucking sucks brah!

[Embedded content]

Now that’s exactly what I’m talking about. He’s going to do what to Neil Tyson? CCJ can no more expose Tyson as a lying fraud than he can defy gravity, the speed of light, the weak force, and the strong force in modern physics.

Oh, and it’s raining in Austin. Praise jeebuz.

81 BeachDem  Jan 2, 2015 11:04:54pm

re: #78 teleskiguy

What in the ever loving fuck is this?!? UpChuck fucking sucks brah!

[Embedded content]

I’ll bet Neil is just trembling in his boots with fear of what upchuck has to say. I’m sure his career will be in tatters once the AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST exposes him for fraud. Um hum.

Upchuck is like an annoying gnat. And I wish somebody would squash the little twit already so he would just shut the fuck up and stop bothering people. Jeez. What. An. Asshole.

82 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:07:22pm

re: #81 BeachDem

I’ll bet Neil is just trembling in his boots with fear of what upchuck has to say. I’m sure his career will be in tatters once the AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST exposes him for fraud. Um hum.

Upchuck is like an annoying gnat. And I wish somebody would squash the little twit already so he would just shut the fuck up and stop bothering people. Jeez. What. An. Asshole.

In his defense, he’s an Award Winning Asshole.

And that’s the finest kind.

83 Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 2, 2015 11:08:11pm

re: #78 teleskiguy

Dumbshit can’t even spell the names right.

It’s a bit like watching somebody playing Russian roulette. Go ahead, poopsie, let’s see if the hammer falls this time… BANG, lawsuit for libel! One can hope.

I really can’t think of anything that’s dishonest, fraudulent, or even questionable about NdGT… Carl Sagan liked to smoke a bit of dope, as we’ve all heard by now, but really, find me a scientist who hasn’t at least tried the stuff… I’ve never heard anything similar about Tyson, but wouldn’t really care if he did anyway.

I imagine we can make outrageous bunk claims about Tyson and turn him into a meme like Chuck Norris or The Stig.

84 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:11:35pm

re: #83 Pawn of the Oppressor

Dumbshit can’t even spell the names right.

It’s a bit like watching somebody playing Russian roulette. Go ahead, poopsie, let’s see if the hammer falls this time… BANG, lawsuit for libel! One can hope.

I really can’t think of anything that’s dishonest, fraudulent, or even questionable about NdGT… Carl Sagan liked to smoke a bit of dope, as we’ve all heard by now, but really, find me a scientist who hasn’t at least tried the stuff… I’ve never heard anything similar about Tyson, but wouldn’t really care if he did anyway.

I imagine we can make outrageous bunk claims about Tyson and turn him into a meme like Chuck Norris or The Stig.

Hey, hey, don’t fuck with The Stig. The Stig is the ultimate badass wheel man.

85 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 11:14:17pm

re: #83 Pawn of the Oppressor

Carl Sagan liked to smoke a bit of dope, as we’ve all heard by now, but really, find me a scientist who hasn’t at least tried the stuff…

From the Onion News Network:

86 Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 2, 2015 11:15:43pm

Not that I care to think about PoopHobbit too much, but is there an economic force behind his style of trolling? Does he get increased revenue from traffic spikes? “Follow the money” as the saying goes:

His MO is to threaten something revealing about a famous public figure or news story. He includes a couple of hashtags to dredge the appropriate audience, and then what… People check his site out in the morning hoping for a story? Does the eyeballs-on-ads model still work on websites? Is there a metric he can increase (even temporarily) with his trolling that brings in more money?

Maybe he doesn’t have to post squat, because with some structured trolling, just the extra eyeballs looking at goatfucker news tomorrow, hoping in vain for something of substance, will net him beer money for the week.

87 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:16:05pm

re: #85 teleskiguy

From the Onion News Network:

Embedded Image

Hells yes! Us Professional Geoscientists are all about research!

88 Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 2, 2015 11:18:23pm

re: #84 austin_blue

Hey, hey, don’t fuck with The Stig. The Stig is the ultimate badass wheel man.

Some say he knows only two facts about ducks, and they’re both wrong…

“Neil Tyson once punched a Pluto supporter in the face in a bar fight.” Hashtag TysonFacts. See? Except people will have to think of something funnier, because I’m creatively tapped out for the evening. :P

89 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:24:25pm

re: #86 Pawn of the Oppressor

Not that I care to think about PoopHobbit too much, but is there an economic force behind his style of trolling? Does he get increased revenue from traffic spikes? “Follow the money” as the saying goes:

His MO is to threaten something revealing about a famous public figure or news story. He includes a couple of hashtags to dredge the appropriate audience, and then what… People check his site out in the morning hoping for a story? Does the eyeballs-on-ads model still work on websites? Is there a metric he can increase (even temporarily) with his trolling that brings in more money?

Maybe he doesn’t have to post squat, because with some structured trolling, just the extra eyeballs looking at goatfucker news tomorrow, hoping in vain for something of substance, will net him beer money for the week.

It’s not just beer money. His relentless craptastic output is like a shotgun blast. If even 5% of his hits result in an ad click, he’s in high cotton. And the more traffic, the more money. He’s not an idiot, he’s just a click whore.

Hell of a business model, if you think about it. Cynical as all get out, but a hell of a model. Drudge is the Alpha case.

90 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:28:10pm

re: #88 Pawn of the Oppressor

Some say he knows only two facts about ducks, and they’re both wrong…

“Neil Tyson once punched a Pluto supporter in the face in a bar fight.” Hashtag TysonFacts. See? Except people will have to think of something funnier, because I’m creatively tapped out for the evening. :P

Good god, man, what does NdGt have against a Disney Cartoon dog? He must be un-American!

91 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 2, 2015 11:37:20pm

re: #89 austin_blue

It’s not just beer money. His relentless craptastic output is like a shotgun blast. If even 5% of his hits result in an ad click, he’s in high cotton. And the more traffic, the more money. He’s not an idiot, he’s just a click whore.

Hell of a business model, if you think about it. Cynical as all get out, but a hell of a model. Drudge is the Alpha case.

Thing is, I don’t see any ads on his GotNews site. He’s only got the PayPal donation buttons. So, I don’t know how the clickbaiting is helping his bottom line.

92 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:40:38pm

re: #91 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Thing is, I don’t see any ads on his GotNews site. He’s only got the PayPal donation buttons. So, I don’t know how the clickbaiting is helping his bottom line.

Every HTML link to other sites makes him a little vig. It’s all about the NEWS, man.

93 William Barnett-Lewis  Jan 2, 2015 11:44:48pm

Given how he has next to nothing for the pitiful bribes he offers, I don’t think so either. I think he does what he does out of the most pure of motives: spite, hate, and envy. Those are his virtues, such as they are.

94 BeachDem  Jan 2, 2015 11:47:36pm

One of his idiotic tweets about Tyson says Tyson’s lying about his relationship with Carl Sagan. I think the fact that Sagan’s widow was a writer/director/producer on Tyson’s Cosmos series pretty much puts to rest that there were any problems in his relationship with Sagan (unless the ginger smurf is implying something spurious.)

And who the hell would care anyway? Tyson has made his career by being a scientist, by being smart, and by not really giving a flying fuck what dweebs like upchuck think.

95 austin_blue  Jan 2, 2015 11:53:21pm

re: #93 William Barnett-Lewis

Given how he has next to nothing for the pitiful bribes he offers, I don’t think so either. I think he does what he does out of the most pure of motives: spite, hate, and envy. Those are his virtues, such as they are.

Maybe, but eating ramen in mom’s basement gets old.

He’s not stupid, per se. I have no doubt he is trying to parley this whole thing into a moneymaking operation. But he’s an amateur and his grandiosity (maybe not the right word- self importance?) makes him incompetent.

Like I said, earlier. Wanker.

96 teleskiguy  Jan 2, 2015 11:59:28pm

re: #94 BeachDem

Tyson has made his career by being a scientist, by being smart, and by not really giving a flying fuck what dweebs like upchuck think.

So glad UpChuck is becoming nomenclature!

:)

97 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 12:03:51am

re: #16 FemNaziBitch

It’s Frogs, not turtles, all the way down …

[Embedded content]

“So nat’ralists observe, a flea
Has smaller fleas that on him prey;
And these have smaller fleas to bite ‘em.
And so proceeds Ad infinitum.”

-

“Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite ‘em,
And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.
And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on,
While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on.”

98 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 12:03:59am

re: #95 austin_blue

Maybe, but eating ramen in mom’s basement gets old.

He’s not stupid, per se. I have no doubt he is trying to parley this whole thing into a moneymaking operation. But he’s an amateur and his grandiosity (maybe not the right word- self importance?) makes him incompetent.

Like I said, earlier. Wanker.

He’s got this pie-in-the-sky idea that his constant banging his own drum will somehow lead him to fame and fortune. Once in a blue moon, he gets something right, but most of his site is garbage.

Pompous is the word you’re looking for. He’s an expert in everything,, and everyone else is an idiot.

99 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 12:05:40am

re: #73 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

Ewwww.

100 austin_blue  Jan 3, 2015 12:09:16am

Oh, and by the way-

I’ve been out of pocket for the last couple of days and didn’t get get the chance to wish everyone here a happy and prosperous New Year (based on the Gregorian Calendar). I’ll be wishing everyone gung how fat choy in February. Multicultarally correct, and all that.

I’m for the rack. Night all. Sweet scaly dreams.

101 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 12:09:18am

re: #78 teleskiguy

So, let’s see if I’ve got this one straight - CCJ is going to bring down Tyson?

102 teleskiguy  Jan 3, 2015 12:09:20am

re: #99 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Ewwww.

The full recipe, my friend! Courtesy of BuzzFeed.

103 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 12:10:25am

re: #101 freetoken

So, let’s see if I’ve got this one straight - CCJ is going to bring down Tyson?

Grind him into dust, I’ll bet.

104 austin_blue  Jan 3, 2015 12:10:29am

re: #98 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

He’s got this pie-in-the-sky idea that his constant banging his own drum will somehow lead him to fame and fortune. Once in a blue moon, he gets something right, but most of his site is garbage.

Pompous is the word you’re looking for. He’s an expert in everything,, and everyone else is an idiot.

Pomposity. That’s exactly right.

Pomposity and arrogance. Bingo.

105 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 12:13:28am

re: #104 austin_blue

Pomposity. That’s exactly right.

Pomposity and arrogance. Bingo.

Were I an AWJ™ like CCJ, I would try to get an interview with his ex-girlfriend to see if she’d spill the beans about him. She’s the classmate who accused him of harassment, then he managed to turn the tables on her somehow. Or so he says.

She works at Mediaite now, AFAIK.

106 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 12:16:39am

re: #103 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Grind him into dust, I’ll bet.

MP3 Audio

107 teleskiguy  Jan 3, 2015 12:18:56am

re: #101 freetoken

So, let’s see if I’ve got this one straight - CCJ is going to bring down Tyson?

UpChuck is, how shall we say? Cuckoo. Not right in the head. I like the one word description, delusional.

108 goddamnedfrank  Jan 3, 2015 12:19:22am

I love this kind of racism. “Blacks are too lazy to burn people to death.”

109 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 12:20:58am

re: #96 teleskiguy

So glad UpChuck is becoming nomenclature!

:)

I refuse to capitalize upchuck—he’s so common, I think his name should be as well.

110 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 12:22:31am

re: #108 goddamnedfrank

CCJ, to his credit, is in a tweet-to-the-death convo with these people. But he’s talked to one person, Jessica’s BF from two years ago, and he acts like he’s got all the answers now.

They’re all just shooting in the dark.

111 teleskiguy  Jan 3, 2015 12:24:39am

re: #109 BeachDem

I refuse to capitalize upchuck—he’s so common, I think his name should be as well.

I fully understand your reasoning and it makes perfect sense. I use the capitals strictly in the context of LGF. And I fuckin’ never mention UpChuck in all my cool internet social avenues, unless I’m doggin’ on him ‘cause he’s such a dumbass,

:-D

112 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 12:34:44am

re: #111 teleskiguy

I fully understand your reasoning and it makes perfect sense. I use the capitals strictly in the context of LGF. And I fuckin’ never mention UpChuck in all my cool internet social avenues, unless I’m doggin’ on him ‘cause he’s such a dumbass,

:-D

I find it amusing that, with all the noise he makes and all the mentions he’s gotten recently in various media, he still averages about 5-10 retweets on his best day. (I’ll point out that Neil deGrasse Tyson gets upward of 80,000 on some of his!)

And, I do believe that other than political internet junkies like ourselves, nobody has even heard of the little twerp. I know my political friends have no clue who the little fucker is—never heard of him.

He’s basically a fart in a rainstorm—not to say people shouldn’t be keeping an eye on him, as he really likes to stir up trouble, but, other than being a legend in his own mind, he’s pretty much a total nobody.

113 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 12:37:14am

re: #102 teleskiguy

The full recipe, my friend! Courtesy of BuzzFeed.

[Embedded content]

I don’t get the thick crust pizza in the first place, but a stack of them? Eww.

114 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 12:46:00am
Along the streets Big Elephant was led,
To show him off, most likely.
Since Elephants are not a common thing to see
A crowd of gapers followed on his heels.
All of a sudden Pug springs up in front of them.
And seeing Elephant, it raises a great rumpus,
It lunges, barks and howls
And does its best to pick a quarrel.
“Hey neighbor, stop the fuss,”
A mutt intones, “You? Deal with Elephant?
Look at you barking yourself hoarse, and he just strolls
Nonplussed
And doesn’t care one bit about your noise.”
“Ho ho!” Pug says,
“That’s just what I enjoy,
Since I can be a real tough guy
Without a single blow or bruise.
That way, the other dogs will say:
“To bark at Elephant this Pug
Must be a real strong mug!”
115 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 12:47:39am

re: #114 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

And like the pug, UpChuck is all bark and no bite.

116 A Cranky One  Jan 3, 2015 12:51:56am

BREAKING - UpChuck’s “inside source” Revealed!
The notnews.com team has uncovered the identity of UpChuck’s “inside source”. UpChuck Jr, best known for his role as Mr. Hanky on South Park, has been revealed as the “inside source” by our crack reporting team. One stool pigeon provided an extensive document dump…….more on notnews.com

117 KingKenrod  Jan 3, 2015 1:13:07am

re: #94 BeachDem

One of his idiotic tweets about Tyson says Tyson’s lying about his relationship with Carl Sagan. I think the fact that Sagan’s widow was a writer/director/producer on Tyson’s Cosmos series pretty much puts to rest that there were any problems in his relationship with Sagan (unless the ginger smurf is implying something spurious.)

And who the hell would care anyway? Tyson has made his career by being a scientist, by being smart, and by not really giving a flying fuck what dweebs like upchuck think.

A few months ago, maybe just after Cosmos had finished airing, I read some criticism (probably from a winger) of Tyson regarding a story that he had retold several times over the years, but minor details kept changing. The criticism was this was evidence Tyson was making the story up.

I’m sure what Chuck has dug up is some inconsistency about Tyson’s well-known story of meeting Sagan when he was young. Because in Chuck’s world his “batting average” is good enough to make him an award-winning journalist, but everyone else is DEBUNKED and DISCREDITED for the slightest mistake. What a shithead.

118 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 1:15:18am

A schism is brewing in LNR. LNR “officials” wanted to arrest a certain Aleksandr Bednov (“Batman”) and his group, who were a part of the “rebels” and are widely seen in LNR/DNR as “heroes” of the anti-Ukrainian resistance. One of the official accusations against them was using torture (as if the LNR “officials” don’t use it). Here’s a confession of one of the arrested that he used to beat people in a certain infamous cellar.

So, as I was saying, the LNR “prosecutor’s office” allegedly wanted to arrest these people but they ended up killing them, they were actually burned alive in their car (RPG…), and there’s a suspicion that the killing was actually premediated - that it’s the head of LNR, Plotnitsky, trying to get rid of the unruly field commanders that challenged his power.

Most of the “online supporters” of the separatists are outraged, Strelkov-Girkin has already condemned this as murder, though he warned against any rash anti-govt actions.

Interesting things are going on in this vipers’ nest.

119 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 1:16:14am

re: #117 KingKenrod

A few months ago, maybe just after Cosmos had finished airing, I read some criticism (probably from a winger) of Tyson regarding a story that he had retold several times over the years, but minor details kept changing. The criticism was this was evidence Tyson was making the story up.

I’m sure what Chuck has dug up is some inconsistency about Tyson’s well-known story of meeting Sagan when he was young. Because in Chuck’s world his “batting average” is good enough to make him an award-winning journalist, but everyone else is DEBUNKED and DISCREDITED for the slightest mistake. What a shithead.

Likewise, he scoffs at Paul Carr for suggesting Mark Ames’ Meditations on Misogyny is satire, but UpChuck himself pulls out the satire card whenever someone calls him out for tweeting something really offensive.

DARVO

120 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 1:23:15am

Interestingly, one of the accusations against Plotnitsky is that he’s allegedly Jewish. Here’s a typical antisemitic cartoon with Plotnitsky.

121 goddamnedfrank  Jan 3, 2015 2:49:26am

What’s fucked up is that this actually counts as progress so far as CCJ’s timeline is concerned, a stereotype being used to exclude a minority from suspicion.

Black Guys Drive a Car Like This - Simpsons clip

122 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 3:03:45am

re: #121 goddamnedfrank

What’s fucked up is that this actually counts as progress so far as CCJ’s timeline is concerned, a stereotype being used to exclude a minority from suspicion.

[Embedded content]

He’s now convinced (he says) that the girl drove off the road by accident, presumably hitting a tree or something, causing the car to burst into flames.

Grasping at straws yet again.

123 goddamnedfrank  Jan 3, 2015 3:14:19am

re: #122 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

He’s now convinced (he says) that the girl drove off the road by accident, presumably hitting a tree or something, causing the car to burst into flames.

Grasping at straws yet again.

Why can’t people just say they don’t know shit when they don’t know shit?

124 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 3:17:43am

re: #123 goddamnedfrank

Why can’t people just say they don’t know shit when they don’t know shit?

It’s the CNN model of news coverage.

125 Ace-o-aces  Jan 3, 2015 3:39:10am
126 Ace-o-aces  Jan 3, 2015 3:48:20am
127 Ace-o-aces  Jan 3, 2015 3:53:08am
128 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 3:54:20am

Dugin in desperation: Putin “is a real Yanukovych-2”. Heh.

129 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 3:56:37am

Eyeroll.

130 Bubblehead II  Jan 3, 2015 3:56:57am

re: #126 Ace-o-aces

131 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 4:06:34am

re: #128 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Dugin in desperation: Putin “is a real Yanukovych-2”. Heh.

Heh. Dugin must be crying into his chai watching his dreams come crumbling down.

132 Bubblehead II  Jan 3, 2015 4:10:24am

Well, time to head out the door and go to work. See you Lizards this evening.

133 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 4:10:56am

re: #131 Dr Lizardo

Heh. Dugin must be crying into his chai watching his dreams come crumbling down.

I’ve just listened to this 40-min whine.

ÐлекÑандр Дугин: РоÑÑÐ¸Ñ Ð¾Ð±Ñзана принÑÑ‚ÑŒ вызов Запада

Those tears of unfathomable sadness are so sweet. Even if he’s just a Chicken Little type and Putin is going nowhere.

A Jewish man was riding on the subway reading an Arab newspaper. A friend of his, who happened to be riding in the same subway car, noticed this strange phenomenon. Very upset, he approached the newspaper reader: “Moshe, have you lost your mind? Why are you reading an Arab newspaper?” Moshe replied: “I used to read the Jewish newspaper, but what did I find? Jews being persecuted, Israel being attacked, Jews disappearing through assimilation and intermarriage, Jews living in poverty. So I switched to the Arab newspaper. Now what do I find? Jews own all the banks, Jews control the media, Jews are all rich and powerful, Jews rule the world. The news is much better!”

134 Maggie's Pa  Jan 3, 2015 5:25:06am

It saddens me that people earn money from the suffering of other people. Italy has rescued 140,000 migrants, many from Syria and Libya, in the last 14 months.

More than 170,000 people have been rescued at sea by Italy in the last 14 months, and hundreds, possibly thousands, have perished trying to make the crossing.

The migrants are almost invariably under the control of ruthless traffickers who earn thousands of dollars for every person they put to sea from Libya and other departure points in North Africa.

Increasingly, the traffickers appear to be abandoning their human cargo at sea, with more now using bigger vessels than the converted fishing boats and other craft they previously favoured.

A new tactic is that the smugglers put the ships on auto-pilot before abandoning ship.

135 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 5:41:28am

re: #133 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Yeah, Dugin sounds mighty butthurt in that video, from what I could understand of it. He’s quite displeased.

136 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 5:44:20am

re: #134 Maggie’s Pa

It saddens me that people earn money from the suffering of other people. Italy has rescued 140,000 migrants, many from Syria and Libya, in the last 14 months.

A new tactic is that the smugglers put the ships on auto-pilot before abandoning ship.

I’m gonna guess here, and figure they’re putting the ship on autopilot, perhaps disabling the radio, and then when the respective coast guard or navy goes out to investigate why the ship appearing on their radar isn’t responding to being hailed, lo and behold, they find a ship full of people.

One of these days, one of those ships is gonna capsize in rough seas and there’s going to be a lot of dead people washing up on shore.

It’s a despicable tactic.

137 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 5:47:45am

re: #123 goddamnedfrank

The 3 most knowing words in the English language:

I don’t know.

138 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 5:50:58am

re: #94 BeachDem

NdGT is a master of the space-time continuum.

NdGT knows when Schrodinger’s cat is alive and dead.

139 Maggie's Pa  Jan 3, 2015 5:55:38am

Researches have come up with a new way to teach robots, by using YouTube. We are so screwed.

The demonstration is the latest impressive use of a type of artificial intelligence called deep learning. A hot area for acquisitions as of late, deep learning entails training systems called artificial neural networks on lots of information derived from audio, images, and other inputs, and then presenting the systems with new information and receiving inferences about it in response.

140 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 5:58:49am

re: #139 Maggie’s Pa

Researches have come up with a new way to teach robots, by using YouTube. We are so screwed.

It’s a little known fact that Skynet got its start by exchanging cat photos among its nodes. From there, it was just a matter of time before it realized cats were superior to humans, who often neglected to change the litter box and feed them what and when they wanted.

141 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:01:56am

In case anyone is interested in the far-right Whacko version of things:

What the Chicago Magazine article fails to discuss is Cardinal Bernardin’s relationship with Saul Alinsky (famous Rules For Radicals author who dedicated his book to the first radical known to man “who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom — Lucifer.”)

…

Through this confusion, the radicals within the American Catholic Church hierarchy have been able to funnel millions upon millions of dollars that were given by faithful parishioners through the mandate of tithing to organizations that support outright Marxism, environmental justice, confounded versions of social justice, population control, so-called gay marriage, alternative family structures and labor organizations like the SEIU. With that money, those organizations continue to expand their agendas and propagate the message that Catholic teachings are out of step with American values.

So disturbed by the successes of groups including the NCCC in marrying organized labor and Marxist theory to the Catholic Church under the tutelage of an atheist and Marxist who was openly smitten with Satan (although, I’m not certain how you can find Satan’s rebellion inspiring while at the same time denying the existence of God) then-Cardinal Ratzinger on behalf of the Pope John Paul II published The Ratzinger Report in 1985 clarifying the true objective of Vatican II and instructing lay Catholics that organizations promoting the Seamless Garment and other non-Canonical values have no authority over official Catholic teachings.

“keep your enemies closer”

142 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:04:24am

re: #123 goddamnedfrank

Why can’t people just say they don’t know shit when they don’t know shit?

It’s a Man Box thing.

Don’t show weakness.

143 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:15:14am
144 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 6:17:01am
145 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:17:43am

re: #138 lawhawk

NdGT is a master of the space-time continuum.

NdGT knows when Schrodinger’s cat is alive and dead.

None of that matters to UpChuck because he’s UpChuck’s disignated ‘pivot’. It looks to me as if Chuckles has realized that the death of Jessica Chambers isn’t going to provide him with the ‘get lots of attention story’ that he craves, so he’s trying to label it an accident and move on. He might even be right about that but saying that risks costing him racists fans who really want to believe Chambers was murdered by black men (the better to justify their racism).

To avoid losing fans, Chuckles shifts and targets Tyson. He hopes by doing so to post something that the racists consider a “takedown”, even if the rest of us think its crap. Chuckles is just looking to go after a black man to satisfy his hateful fan base.

146 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:18:48am
147 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:21:56am

re: #141 FemNaziBitch

Anyone who thinks Alinsky’s book dedication was anything other than a bit of mild humor is so far around the bend that they are not worth reading.

148 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:22:31am
Husband, who went on to become a church minister, was in charge of the kitchens at Medomsley and would single out youths for sexual abuse, particularly those who had been in care and did not have strong family ties.
149 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:23:02am

re: #147 Dark_Falcon

Anyone who thinks Alinsky’s book dedication was anything other than a bit of mild humor is so far around the bend that they are not worth reading.

This is the viewpoint of Illinois Conservatives.

Be Aware.

150 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:27:26am

re: #149 FemNaziBitch

This is the viewpoint of Illinois Conservatives.

Be Aware.

Some of them, perhaps. What percentage actually believe that shit or have even read it is another matter entirely. Just because someone posts insanity online and calls himself ‘conservative’ doesn’t mean he has a non-fringe following.

151 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:28:33am

re: #150 Dark_Falcon

Some of them, perhaps. What percentage actually believe that shit or have even read it is another matter entirely. Just because someone posts insanity online and calls himself ‘conservative’ doesn’t mean he has a non-fringe following.

I’M LESS concerned with what people believe than with out they vote.

Many vote Conservative without knowing the truly insane beliefs of those in the Party.

This is one of them.

152 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:30:30am

This Week in Religion: Bristol Palin Decries Separation of Church and State

Does she have any clue what most churches would have done to her when she got pregnant —something which the Separation of Church and State prevents these days.

153 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 6:31:40am

bbl

154 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 6:39:52am

Not without a sense of irony:

A white prosecutor who never prosecutes cops utilizes a grand jury process that is completely different than in every other case in nation all to insure that an indictment is not handed down is as much of a kangaroo court process as anything out there.

The criminal justice system isn’t rigged. It’s fixed - to prevent prosecutions of cops who seemingly break the law in myriad ways. Prosecutors work hand in hand with law enforcement, and therefore are not likely to prosecute cops who do bad things, let alone kill people in the line of duty under suspicious circumstances.

And in this case, McCullough put on a witness who was likely to perjure themselves, all because that testimony would back the claim by Darren Wilson that he was in fear of his life; meanwhile all the other witnesses indicated that Wilson shot while Brown had his hands up in surrender.

155 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:41:04am

re: #152 FemNaziBitch

This Week in Religion: Bristol Palin Decries Separation of Church and State

Does she have any clue what most churches would have done to her when she got pregnant —something which the Separation of Church and State prevents these days.

The rules have always been different for people with enough power and influence. With her mother as governor, Bristol thinks she would have been one of those people.

re: #151 FemNaziBitch

I’M LESS concerned with what people believe than with out they vote.

Many vote Conservative without knowing the truly insane beliefs of those in the Party.

This is one of them.

And I again reply that it is irrelevant what some nutbar thinks unless he or she has actual influence. There are nuts who vote Democrat, and nuts vote Republican, but unless they can influence a notable number of other voters or influence policy making they don’t really matter.

156 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 6:43:55am

re: #145 Dark_Falcon

None of that matters to UpChuck because he’s UpChuck’s disignated ‘pivot’. It looks to me as if Chuckles has realized that the death of Jessica Chambers isn’t going to provide him with the ‘get lots of attention story’ that he craves, so he’s trying to label it an accident and move on. He might even be right about that but saying that risks costing him racists fans who really want to believe Chambers was murdered by black men (the better to justify their racism).

To avoid losing fans, Chuckles shifts and targets Tyson. He hopes by doing so to post something that the racists consider a “takedown”, even if the rest of us think its crap. Chuckles is just looking to go after a black man to satisfy his hateful fan base.

You may be on to something there. I thought his choice to pursue the Jessica Chambers death was odd, given that he tends to intrude in headline news stories. I figured his angle that it was not a black-white crime situation was partly to establish his independence from the usual RWNJs who see dark-skinned bogeymen every where, or maybe to deflect criticism that he’s a racist. Who knows what goes on inside his head?

I noticed he was exchanging tweets with several people in Mississippi, who may have convinced him it was a tragic car accident that killed the girl. He was promising further coverage, so we’ll see what his fevered brain comes up with.

157 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:44:50am

re: #154 lawhawk

Not without a sense of irony:

[Embedded content]

A white prosecutor who never prosecutes cops utilizes a grand jury process that is completely different than in every other case in nation all to insure that an indictment is not handed down is as much of a kangaroo court process as anything out there.

The criminal justice system isn’t rigged. It’s fixed - to prevent prosecutions of cops who seemingly break the law in myriad ways. Prosecutors work hand in hand with law enforcement, and therefore are not likely to prosecute cops who do bad things, let alone kill people in the line of duty under suspicious circumstances.

And in this case, McCullough put on a witness who was likely to perjure themselves, all because that testimony would back the claim by Darren Wilson that he was in fear of his life; meanwhile all the other witnesses indicated that Wilson shot while Brown had his hands up in surrender.

Not all of the other witnesses, Lawhawk. More than one said Brown was moving towards Wilson. And let’s not forget that a number of the pro-Brown witnesses were shown to be wrong as well. The grand jury was a very muddy affair.

That does not change the fact that Dim Jim is both trying to get back audience lost to UpChuck and is also still full of shit.

158 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 6:46:32am

re: #157 Dark_Falcon

Speaking of Dim Jim, now that the election cycle is over, he seems to have dropped his breathless coverage of illegal immigrants swarming over the Rio Grande disguised as children.

159 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 6:50:43am

re: #158 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Speaking of Dim Jim, now that the election cycle is over, he seems to have dropped his breathless coverage of illegal immigrants swarming over the Rio Grande disguised as children.

It was never anything more than Scaring People For Fun And Profit.

160 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 6:50:45am

The GOP attack is on the employer mandate about businesses of certain sizes being required to provide insurance to their employees.

This is about the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act. It required that companies with 50 or more employees provide health coverage to full-time workers. The mandate has been delayed—for companies with 100 or more workers it takes effect in January, while those with between 50 and 99 will have to comply in 2016. The law’s authors had to define “full-time” somehow, and they knew that if they defined it as someone working 40 hours, then employers could just cut people to 39 and deny them coverage. So they set the line at 30 hours, partly on the assumption that if an employer has a full-time employee, it would be difficult to cut them all the way down to 29 hours to declare them part time and avoid offering the coverage.

One really important thing to understand for context: almost all large employers already offer health coverage. In fact, 96 percent of firms with 50 or more workers do so, even before the mandate kicks in. Among larger firms the number is even higher. For all but a small number of firms, this provision doesn’t matter.

Republicans have always objected to the employer mandate, and they’d like to repeal it entirely. The fact that now McConnell and Boehner are suddenly talking about the question of where the line between part-time and full-time work is suggests strongly that they’re going to be introducing legislation to move that line. It takes a lot of gall to present it as some kind of pro-worker initiative, since what it actually means is, “We want to let your boss cut your hours from 40 to 39, then he’ll be able to take away your health coverage.” But they’re surely hoping that the debate will sound to the public like Republicans want to mitigate the job-killing effects of Obamacare and stand up for workers, while the President just wants government sticking its hand in everybody’s business. And who knows, they might be right.

This is about the GOP trying to repackage their anti-ACA message in terms of being pro-worker, when it is anything but.

161 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 6:55:59am

re: #157 Dark_Falcon

There’s a place for those claims to be tried and evidence weighed. A criminal jury trial. The prosecutor McCullough short-circuited the entire process to make sure it wouldn’t see the inside of a courtroom, even though it was his sworn duty as an officer of the court to see justice done. When you’ve got multiple witnesses claiming that they saw hands up, and the Wilson still shot Brown, that indicates no threat to Wilson’s life, but rather that Brown had surrendered. It indicates a lack of justification to use deadly force and that the homicide was at least a negligent homicide - a criminal charge.

Rather, McCullough used the potential officer’s justification of deadly force as the starting point for his grand jury, and fed the jury a narrative that led to that outcome. Had this been any ordinary shooting with someone other than a cop involved, the shooter would have been indicted; and the shooter would have been able to use the justifications under the law as a defense at trial (or in plea bargaining with the prosecutor).

162 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 6:57:59am

Not all viewpoints are valid. Not all people are worthy of airtime. CNN doesn’t seem to care - it’s all about eyeballs and ratings.

Therefore, they see fit to give David Duke airtime to rant about how media is biased against racists.

163 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 7:01:14am

re: #156 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

There’s only two cases that immediately spring to mind where someone was murdered by being burned to death, and in both of those cases, the perpetrators turned out to be women.

The first was a love triangle gone horribly wrong and other was a woman who burned to death a girl who was competing with her daughter for modeling or something like that.

IIRC, Ms. Chambers had lighter fluid poured down her throat as well…..that hardly sounds like a “car accident”. I think maybe UpChuck’s just trying to be contrarian.

164 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 7:06:48am

re: #155 Dark_Falcon

The rules have always been different for people with enough power and influence. With her mother as governor, Bristol thinks she would have been one of those people.

And I again reply that it is irrelevant what some nutbar thinks unless he or she has actual influence. There are nuts who vote Democrat, and nuts vote Republican, but unless they can influence a notable number of other voters or influence policy making they don’t really matter.

And do I need to provide you a list with all the nutbars who have influence within the actual GOP?

165 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 7:07:24am

re: #162 lawhawk

David Duke is really riding this gravy train of publicity. SMH.

166 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 7:09:01am

re: #165 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

David Duke is really riding this gravy train of publicity. SMH.

2015: The year David Duke becomes respectable?

Thanks, CNN.

*flips desk*

167 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 7:10:21am

re: #163 Dr Lizardo

There’s only two cases that immediately spring to mind where someone was murdered by being burned to death, and in both of those cases, the perpetrators turned out to be women.

The first was a love triangle gone horribly wrong and other was a woman who burned to death a girl who was competing with her daughter for modeling or something like that.

IIRC, Ms. Chambers had lighter fluid poured down her throat as well…..that hardly sounds like a “car accident”. I think maybe UpChuck’s just trying to be contrarian.

Well, his research skills are not known to be top notch.

168 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 7:13:30am

re: #167 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Well, his research skills are not known to be top notch.

Chucky and “research skills” don’t even belong in the same sentence. He’s a little attention-whore. He reminds of a particularly obnoxious little brat who stuffs a carrot up his nose, stands on top of a table and yells, “Everyone look at me!!”

169 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 7:14:37am

re: #168 Dr Lizardo

Chucky and “research skills” don’t even belong in the same sentence. He’s a little attention-whore. He reminds of a particularly obnoxious little brat who stuffs a carrot up his nose, stands on top of a table and yells, “Everyone look at me!!”

I’d like to seem him stuff a carrot up his nose.

170 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 7:14:41am

I erred earlier when I said UpChuck had no ads on his site. He uses Google AdSense, which I can’t see unless I fire up the VPN, with or without AdBlockPlus running. So, he is going for traffic and clicks for financial reasons.

Now his desperation for attention becomes more clear. As this blogging is his only apparent source of personal income, he’s got to make it work or his family is going to pull the plug and tell him to get a real job.

171 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 7:20:40am

re: #170 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality

Well, he does have his book residuals for “Why Coolidge Matters.” ///

172 wheat-dogghazi-bola-trality  Jan 3, 2015 7:21:29am

re: #171 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

Well, he does have his book residuals for “Why Coolidge Matters.” ///

And a garage full of copies.

173 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 7:31:17am

re: #164 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

And do I need to provide you a list with all the nutbars who have influence within the actual GOP?

No, you don’t. But the question is “Does this specific nut have influence with Republicans in Illinois?” and I’ve seen no evidence to indicate that was the case. I was not discussing wider trends, instead I was looking into if one nutty writer and the online publication that carried his piece have influence in the GOP in my home state.

174 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 7:33:23am

re: #166 Dr Lizardo

2015: The year David Duke becomes respectable?

Thanks, CNN.

*flips desk*

Respectable, no (or at least I really hope not). But he’s always looked good on TV, and he’s fairly good at hiding his evil on camera. That’s why networks like CNN shouldn’t give him face-time.

175 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 7:35:23am

re: #173 Dark_Falcon

No, you don’t. But the question is “Does this specific nut have influence with Republicans in Illinois?” and I’ve seen no evidence to indicate that was the case. I was not discussing wider trends, instead I was looking into if one nutty writer and the online publication that carried his piece have influence in the GOP in my home state.

Were you talking about the writer of the Alternet post, or Bristol Palin? Regardless, the general idea of downplaying the separation of church and state is not something that’s unique in GOP circles, and - downstate, at least - holds a lot of sway.

176 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 7:44:36am

re: #175 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

Were you talking about the writer of the Alternet post, or Bristol Palin? Regardless, the general idea of downplaying the separation of church and state is not something that’s unique in GOP circles, and - downstate, at least - holds a lot of sway.

The GOP is working to appear more center as the 2016 election approaches. Plenty of time for apologists to rationalize their vote.

177 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 7:47:49am

re: #164 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

And do I need to provide you a list with all the nutbars who have influence within the actual GOP?

It’s the Catholic NutBars that concern me.

Let’s make a list:

Newt Gingrich
Rick Santorum
Sean Hannity
Bill O Reilly

The first that come to mind —anyone?

178 FemNaziBitch  Jan 3, 2015 7:49:06am

bbl, again.

179 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 8:03:42am

re: #175 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

Were you talking about the writer of the Alternet post, or Bristol Palin? Regardless, the general idea of downplaying the separation of church and state is not something that’s unique in GOP circles, and - downstate, at least - holds a lot of sway.

Neither. The second part of my #155 was addressing this post by GGT, more specifically her reply to my post about #141.

180 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 8:09:28am

re: #175 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

I said a good bit less about Bristol Palin in large part because I tend to avoid reading Palin word salads whenever possible. Their incoherence and DERPyness raises my blood pressure. So like some others here I filed Bristol’s words in the “Grifters Gonna Grift” folder.

181 Dave In Austin  Jan 3, 2015 8:10:45am

Grifters are gonna Grift

Glad this one is getting a look-see.

182 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 8:12:47am

re: #180 Dark_Falcon

re: #181 Dave In Austin

Well, there’s another entry for the file. :)

183 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 8:13:24am

What bothers me as I just read Randall’s latest article about the newest nutters in the Congress is how Republican primary voters keep on nominating people who are genuinely nuts and more closer to what the BNP believes than what a normal center-right party should be. You’ve not only got people like Jody Hice in the House but also Joni Ernst- an actual believer in nullification in the Senate. And I know that if Virginia hadn’t had its elections in the immediate year following the presidential election that today we would be getting used to the idea of Governor elect Cuccinneli and perhaps even Lt Governor elect E.W Jackson. I see no attempts at all by people within the GOP to discover a center-right to combat the wackos.I do see a lot of panderers who like to move to the right like McCain and then act like they’re somehow “different” than the demagogues.

184 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 8:25:14am

re: #179 Dark_Falcon

Neither. The second part of my #155 was addressing this post by GGT, more specifically her reply to my post about #141.

I’ve never heard of that blog site, but I don’t travel in those circles. I don’t doubt that this person has a large megaphone in Illinois conservative politics, only because I’ve seen such dipshits up close. That may not be the conservatism of Chicago, but it sure sells downstate.

185 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 8:30:07am

re: #184 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing

I’ve never heard of that blog site, but I don’t travel in those circles. I don’t doubt that this person has a large megaphone in Illinois conservative politics, only because I’ve seen such dipshits up close. That may not be the conservatism of Chicago, but it sure sells downstate.

What proof is there of influence?

186 Rev_Arthur_Icantbreatheing  Jan 3, 2015 8:35:10am

re: #185 Dark_Falcon

according to the sitemeter on the site, over 100 million pageviews, unless I’m misreading. Now, that doesn’t speak to influence, specifically, any more than does Rush Limbaugh’s 20 million listeners, but it does speak to a megaphone.

187 Belafon  Jan 3, 2015 8:55:36am

re: #183 HappyWarrior

I see no attempts at all by people within the GOP to discover a center-right to combat the wackos.

There have been a few, from the corporate wing, but that group doesn’t have any real idea of how to control the beast they created, especially since they are more worried about Democrats taxing their upper tax bracket than teabaggers destroying the country. As long as they can get out before the ship completely sinks is what they think.

188 Lidane  Jan 3, 2015 8:57:44am

re: #181 Dave In Austin

Grifters are gonna Grift

Glad this one is getting a look-see.

Osteen is thoroughly corrupt. I’ve read a few of his books and they’re all the same Prosperity Gospel pablum. He’s nothing but smiley, used car version of Swaggart and Bakker before him.

189 Eventual Carrion  Jan 3, 2015 8:59:05am

You know you have been using your touch screen tablet too much when you try to click a button on your non-touch screen laptop with your tablet stylus.

190 Dave In Austin  Jan 3, 2015 9:01:13am

re: #188 Lidane

Osteen is thoroughly corrupt. I’ve read a few of his books and they’re all the same Prosperity Gospel pablum. He’s nothing but smiley, used car version of Swaggart and Bakker before him.

And “Victoria” is just as bad as he is…..

I’ll bet there is a Fluffy involved somewhere there.

191 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:06:04am

re: #190 Dave In Austin

And “Victoria” is just as bad as he is…..

I’ll bet there is a Fluffy involved somewhere there.

Isn’t that stereotyping? I thought we weren’t supposed to do that.

192 BigPapa  Jan 3, 2015 9:07:21am

The replies are basically ‘yeah, derp’

193 CuriousLurker  Jan 3, 2015 9:09:35am

Anyone who downplays the threat posed to our country by the far-right, which is now mainstream thanks to the GOP, can just piss off if they can’t prove that they’ve read & understood this book.

Seriously—if you’re making excuses for the GOP having allowed such malignancy into the mainstream of the country that all of us share and have to live in, then you’re an enabler and part of the problem.

194 Dave In Austin  Jan 3, 2015 9:11:18am

re: #191 Dark_Falcon

Isn’t that stereotyping? I thought we weren’t supposed to do that.

In regards to Victoria the wife, or imagined closeted activities??

;o)

195 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 9:12:15am

re: #142 FemNaziBitch

It’s a Man Box thing.

Don’t show weakness.

Are you doing a bit of stereotyping?

Not everyone fits in a box.

Is there some kind of a woman’s box where they need to have a simplistic explanation for everything to do with men so they can feel better thinking they know?

Hey, just asking questions?

///

196 Ace-o-aces  Jan 3, 2015 9:14:55am
197 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:15:55am

re: #194 Dave In Austin

In regards to Victoria the wife, or imagined closeted activities??

;o)

The latter.

198 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:21:22am

re: #193 CuriousLurker

Well, I’m not going to read that sort of hit piece. So name me as your enemy if you want.

199 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 9:21:43am

re: #183 HappyWarrior

What bothers me as I just read Randall’s latest article about the newest nutters in the Congress is how Republican primary voters keep on nominating people who are genuinely nuts and more closer to what the BNP believes than what a normal center-right party should be. You’ve not only got people like Jody Hice in the House but also Joni Ernst- an actual believer in nullification in the Senate. And I know that if Virginia hadn’t had its elections in the immediate year following the presidential election that today we would be getting used to the idea of Governor elect Cuccinneli and perhaps even Lt Governor elect E.W Jackson. I see no attempts at all by people within the GOP to discover a center-right to combat the wackos.I do see a lot of panderers who like to move to the right like McCain and then act like they’re somehow “different” than the demagogues.

Money quote in bold. That’t the problem, right there, and why I have hard time justifying supporting any Republican, regardless of how sane they appear to be on the surface.

Joni Ersnt is the gold standard for how fucked up GOP thinking is, both politician and supporter. The woman made a point of letting everyone know she’s CCW, because she was genuinely worried that the federal government might attack her.

So what does she do? Applies for a job in the same organization she thinks could murder her at any minute.

And a majority of Iowa voters thought this was a good idea. Apparently after mainlining a cocktail of LSD and cough syrup. “Yes, this woman, who is so fucking paranoid that she think the feds have marked for death, would make a perfect federal Senator!”

And let’s cut this off at the knees preemptively: her military service does not give her a pass on her batshit thought process.

200 BigPapa  Jan 3, 2015 9:25:57am

The Center Right GOP is the dead unicorn hunted to extinction by the Tricorne Taliban.

It’s dead, Jim.

201 Snarknado!  Jan 3, 2015 9:28:39am

re: #198 Dark_Falcon

Well, I’m not going to read that sort of hit piece. So name me as your enemy if you want.

Why are you calling it a hit piece? All the immediate evidence suggests otherwise. (Of course that lets you dismiss it out of hand….)

202 Lidane  Jan 3, 2015 9:29:09am

re: #200 BigPapa

The Center Right GOP is the dead unicorn hunted to extinction by the Tricorne Taliban.

It’s dead, Jim.

Yep. There is no more center right in the GOP. There are only two factions in the Republican party — the Wall Street grifter class whose sole purpose in life is to sell us down the river so their donor base will be happy, and the far right teabagger morons who get elected to dumb down the political process so that Republican voters will be too busy hating on gays and women and liberals and immigrants to notice they’re being robbed blind by the “job creators”.

203 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 9:30:23am

re: #198 Dark_Falcon

Well, I’m not going to read that sort of hit piece. So name me as your enemy if you want.

WTF???

Do you want to clarify that a bit? Why is it a hit piece?

I would think anyone that considers themselves a true conservative would be concerned about the religious extremists in this country trying to ignore the intent of the Constitution.

If you are fine with them doing it, then yes…you should be considered the enemy.

204 BigPapa  Jan 3, 2015 9:31:22am

re: #202 Lidane

There is also the God, Guns, Country Christian Taliban.

The Holy Trinity of the GOP, if you will.

205 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:31:28am

re: #199 Mattand

What she said was that she had a gun to defend herself, including from the “government in case they decide my rights are not important”. That is would only be evil if it were accompanied by a call for insurrection.

Saying “in case they decide” ≠ “since they have decided”. Thus she can justify running for the Senate as working to ensure the government never reaches such a conclusion.

206 Single-handed sailor  Jan 3, 2015 9:31:46am

CNN has changed their web format. It’s now as ugly to look at and as awkward to use as NBC’s page. It’s time to find a new “home-page” for my browser.

207 CuriousLurker  Jan 3, 2015 9:32:03am

re: #198 Dark_Falcon

Well, I’m not going to read that sort of hit piece.

You’re calling it a “hit piece” based on what, the title? Or just because you don’t like what it says (without actually having read it, mind you). Or is it because it was recommended by a liberal? I mean, after all I’ve been here going on five years, so you know me well enough—please link to pages or comments where I’ve promoted anything that could even remotely be called a “hit piece”.

So name me as your enemy if you want.

Consider it done, if that’s going to be your attitude.

208 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 9:32:27am

re: #199 Mattand

It also just occurred to me why the bolded comment about supposed center-right Republicans going to Crazytown for support bugged me: it’s a perfect description of my governor, Chris “Frequent Flyer Miles” Christie.

I can only imagine the amount of rocket scientists in this state who voted for him that are shocked; SHOCKED! that he’s spending so much time out of NJ. What’d think he was going to do, actually stay in Trenton and do his job?

209 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:33:16am

...

210 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:33:38am

re: #205 Dark_Falcon

What she said was that she had a gun to defend herself, including from the “government in case they decide my rights are not important”. That is would only be evil if it were accompanied by a call for insurrection.

Saying “in case they decide” ≠ “since they have decided”. Thus she can justify running for the Senate as working to ensure the government never reaches such a conclusion.

Oh come the fuck on. Just stop it already. Really, your party is filled with people like Ernst who think our federal government is evil, yes evil but yet want to run it. Deal with it.

211 CuriousLurker  Jan 3, 2015 9:35:00am

re: #209 Dark_Falcon

It’s a Dismissal-Out-of-Hand with Refusal-to-Address.

LOL, actually that’s a prefect description of your #198.

212 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 9:35:44am

re: #205 Dark_Falcon

What she said was that she had a gun to defend herself, including from the “government in case they decide my rights are not important”. That is would only be evil if it were accompanied by a call for insurrection.

Saying “in case they decide” ≠ “since they have decided”. Thus she can justify running for the Senate as working to ensure the government never reaches such a conclusion.

Is that the kind of paranoid, juvenile thinking you want from the Republican party? I sure as hell don’t, because when these types of people get in power, they do horrible things to my country.

213 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:36:04am

re: #208 Mattand

It also just occurred to me why the bolded comment about supposed center-right Republicans going to Crazytown for support bugged me: it’s a perfect description of my governor, Chris “Frequent Flyer Miles” Christie.

I can only imagine the amount of rocket scientists in this state who voted for him that are shocked; SHOCKED! that he’s spending so much time out of NJ. What’d think he was going to do, actually stay in Trenton and do his job?

We were led to believe that Bob McDonnell wasn’t the man who wrote all those sexist things in his thesis here in VA too and yet he was almost ready to sign the transvaginal ultrasound bill. The supposed center right Republicans I think are worse than the far righties because with the latter, you know what you have but with the former you have a bunch of cowards who will move far right in an instant if they see it beneficial to their ambitions.

214 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 9:36:35am

re: #200 BigPapa

The Center Right GOP is the dead unicorn hunted to extinction by the Tricorne Taliban.

It’s dead, Jim.

Yes. Very dead. It’s not coming back to life dead.

I just hope the people that see themselves as old-school moderate/center right Republican’s realize it and act to rid their party of the nut’s.

But if they are of the type that is party over anything, then they are allowing the nuttiness to the point they too are parts of the problem. Enablers if you will.

I just wish those that see it as their duty to conserve the Constitution would protect the damn Constitution.

215 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:37:17am

re: #211 CuriousLurker

Which is why I crossed it out. I got irrational and I felt ganged up on. don’t ask the reason because reason didn’t enter into it. I got pissed off when I shouldn’t have done so.

216 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 9:37:22am

re: #213 HappyWarrior

We were led to believe that Bob McDonnell wasn’t the man who wrote all those sexist things in his thesis here in VA too and yet he was almost ready to sign the transvaginal ultrasound bill. The supposed center right Republicans I think are worse than the far righties because with the latter, you know what you have but with the former you have a bunch of cowards who will move far right in an instant if they see it beneficial to their ambitions.

Yup. The “Waterboarding is not torture” crowd leaps to mind.

217 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:39:58am

re: #216 Mattand

Yup. The “Waterboarding is not torture” crowd leaps to mind.

Right. Really, I would love for there to be a sane center-right opposition to Obama to emerge but honestly he’s more closer to center-right than they are.That’s part of the problem I guess. The political spectrum for candidates has swung hard to the right.

218 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:45:38am

re: #212 Mattand

Is that the kind of paranoid, juvenile thinking you want from the Republican party? I sure as hell don’t, because when these types of people get in power, they do horrible things to my country.

Think about it in context: She said that after the STLCPD went out into the streets of Ferguson in combat gear and after Ron Paul had expressed great concern about police militarization. So the issue of government hostility to citizen’s rights was getting a lot of play on the right at the time. Conservative opinion did shift behind police later but that’s not where it was at the time.

Erst was essentially saying “I’m going to work to ensure government isn’t used to take away your guns or your rights!” which is somewhat DERPy, but not outside the mainstream and certainly not evil.

219 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 9:46:54am

re: #214 ObserverArt

Yes. Very dead. It’s not coming back to life dead.

I just hope the people that see themselves as old-school moderate/center right Republican’s realize it and act to rid their party of the nut’s.

But if they are of the type that is party over anything, then they are allowing the nuttiness to the point they too are parts of the problem. Enablers if you will.

I just wish those that see it as their duty to conserve the Constitution would protect the damn Constitution.

But their team is *winning*!
////

220 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 9:48:25am

re: #217 HappyWarrior

Right. Really, I would love for there to be a sane center-right opposition to Obama to emerge but honestly he’s more closer to center-right than they are.That’s part of the problem I guess. The political spectrum for candidates has swung hard to the right.

Which is why the whole “RINO” title came to being.

Now to be considered a Republican you almost have to be an extreme right nutjob.

I just wish people like Dark_Falcon realized the nuts are in fact making him a nut as long as he accepts the bullshit they are doing. Same goes for anyone thinking they are a moderate Republican. Your party no longer identifies with moderate anything. They really do not want you.

221 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:49:54am

re: #218 Dark_Falcon

Think about it in context: She said that after the STLCPD went out into the streets of Ferguson in combat gear and after Ron Paul had expressed great concern about police militarization. So the issue of government hostility to citizen’s rights was getting a lot of play on the right at the time. Conservative opinion did shift behind police later but that’s not where it was at the time.

Erst was essentially saying “I’m going to work to ensure government isn’t used to take away your guns or your rights!” which is somewhat DERPy, but not outside the mainstream and certainly not evil.

Yet no one including her opponent was talking about taking away gun rights. I’ll tell you what it was. It was a ploy. A cynical ploy for the same morons who post images of scantily clad women posing with firearms on twitter and use that as how they push their position on gun issues because only a “pussy libtard” would say no to a beautiful woman with a gun.

222 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 9:50:09am

re: #219 Feline Fearless Leader

But their team is *winning*!
////

While everyone else, and this country is losing!

223 Higgs Boson's Mate  Jan 3, 2015 9:50:51am

Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low

The number of people going to the movies in 2014 in North America slipped to its lowest level in two decades.

According to preliminary estimates, roughly 1.26 billion consumers purchased cinema tickets between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31. That’s the lowest number since 1.21 billion in 1995 and not that far ahead of 1994 (1.24 billion). The last time admissions fell below the 1.3 billion mark was in 2011, when only 1.28 billion people when to the movies…

No one could have anticipated that making formulaic movies and charging high ticket prices would in any way affect movie attendance.

224 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 9:52:39am

re: #221 HappyWarrior

Yet no one including her opponent was talking about taking away gun rights. I’ll tell you what it was. It was a ploy. A cynical ploy for the same morons who post images of scantily clad women posing with firearms on twitter and use that as how they push their position on gun issues because only a “pussy libtard” would say no to a beautiful woman with a gun.

I agree that’s what it was, but I also need to say that I don’t hold cynical ploys against politicians. They are a stock in trade for politicians of all stripes and they do not offend me because it is my belief that cynical ploys are required to build a governing coalition.

225 Iwouldprefernotto  Jan 3, 2015 9:52:52am

re: #223 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low

No one could have anticipated that making formulaic movies and charging high ticket prices would in any way affect movie attendance.

If lower taxes can increase revenue than higher ticket prices should increase agttendence.

226 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:52:55am

re: #220 ObserverArt

Which is why the whole “RINO” title came to being.

Now to be considered a Republican you almost have to be an extreme right nutjob.

I just wish people like Dark_Falcon realized the nuts are in fact making him a nut as long as he accepts the bullshit they are doing. Same goes for anyone thinking they are a moderate Republican. Your party no longer identifies with moderate anything. They really do not want you.

Ironically, I think he would be more aware of it if he lived in an area that wasn’t so blue. You and I live in states that went for Bush but later went for Obama. We’ve seen how the Republican party has devolved first hand over the years.

227 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 9:54:57am

re: #224 Dark_Falcon

I agree that’s what it was, but I also need to say that I don’t hold cynical ploys against politicians. They are a stock in trade for politicians of all stripes and they do not offend me because it is my belief that cynical ploys are required to build a governing coalition.

Well some cynical ploys are different than others. The shit Ernst did is far worse than others. Really the whole “You’re not a real American if you don’t love guns” is something your party does repeatedly and that shit needs to end now.

228 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 9:55:04am

re: #223 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Box Office 2014: Moviegoing Hits Two-Decade Low

No one could have anticipated that making formulaic movies and charging high ticket prices would in any way affect movie attendance.

But it works in every other consumer industry!
///

229 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 9:56:28am

re: #224 Dark_Falcon

I agree that’s what it was, but I also need to say that I don’t hold cynical ploys against politicians. They are a stock in trade for politicians of all stripes and they do not offend me because it is my belief that cynical ploys are required to build a governing coalition.

Yep. You build a coalition by constantly calling the opposition traitors.
//

230 Amory Blaine  Jan 3, 2015 9:57:16am

This is interesting, with cool sliders.

60 Years of Urban Change: Midwest

231 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 10:00:56am

re: #226 HappyWarrior

Ironically, I think he would be more aware of it if he lived in an area that wasn’t so blue. You and I live in states that went for Bush but later went for Obama. We’ve seen how the Republican party has devolved first hand over the years.

Dark isn’t stupid. He just seems to be having a real hard time understanding the party he is for is not the current party.

He needs to understand his team has him sitting the bench and the minute they can cut him from the team he will be gone. The only use Dark is to the party is they count on his vote because he is a team player. They don’t care what his vote reflects because they already ignore that part of the party…the RINOs.

A RINO vote is fine for the GOP. That is ALL they are good for.

Thank you for your vote, now get out of our way.

Hell, truthfully the RWNJs are Republicans in name only.

232 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:01:07am

I remember thinking George Allen was peak wingnut here in Va. The lesson I’ve learned and continue to learn is peak wingnut is a continuous journey. It’s a journey that allows men like Dick Black who has repeatedly minimized the horrors of rape and Bob Marshall who claimed Downs Syndrome was a God given punishment to women for abortion to be in VA’s state legislature and to be the idols of VA’s conservative movement. That’s the thing. They keep on moving further and further to the right. I guess that’s why I wasn’t too shocked to see about Scalise flirting with Duke’s movement. Louisiana is a much more right wing state than Va is.

233 BigPapa  Jan 3, 2015 10:05:17am

re: #223 Higgs Boson’s Mate

That, and movies are easily available by means other than theaters.

Things like aspect ratio changes, high power soundsystems and now 3D sound like ATMOS, plus the lush buttered up seats and popcorn, are meant to keep the experience alive. But when it comes down to it, convenience and being in your own home eventually wins.

234 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 10:06:28am

re: #232 HappyWarrior

I remember thinking George Allen was peak wingnut here in Va. The lesson I’ve learned and continue to learn is peak wingnut is a continuous journey. It’s a journey that allows men like Dick Black who has repeatedly minimized the horrors of rape and Bob Marshall who claimed Downs Syndrome was a God given punishment to women for abortion to be in VA’s state legislature and to be the idols of VA’s conservative movement. That’s the thing. They keep on moving further and further to the right. I guess that’s why I wasn’t too shocked to see about Scalise flirting with Duke’s movement. Louisiana is a much more right wing state than Va is.

Wow. I hate to think what peak wingnut actually means. There might not be a number to designate what peak is.

And in my opinion, I wouldn’t use the term peak. It should be more like the limbo bar. How low can they go? Right now, they might be tunneling to middle earth.

235 GlutenFreeJesus  Jan 3, 2015 10:07:49am

re: #205 Dark_Falcon

Yeah. Until her and her kind are in change, then your rights be dammed.

236 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:08:08am

re: #234 ObserverArt

Wow. I hate to think what peak wingnut actually means. There might not be a number to designate what peak is.

And in my opinion, I wouldn’t use the term peak. It should be more like the limbo bar. How low can they go? Right now, they might be tunneling to middle earth.

HEh good point about the limbo bar. I’ve honestly given up being shocked. I actually wasn’t too shocked about Scalise and Duke. More so that he actually thought he could claim that he had no idea who Duke was and that he didn’t know what he stood for.

237 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 10:08:21am

re: #235 GlutenFreeJesus

Yeah. Until her and her kind are in change, then your rights be dammed.

In what way?

238 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:09:49am

re: #235 GlutenFreeJesus

Yeah. Until her and her kind are in change, then your rights be dammed.

They’re the kinds who love to talk about how the government is to get your rights yet are all too happy to use the same government to limit your rights if they feel your rights don’t fit into their idea of freedom i.e. the right to choose, to marry who you love, to smoke what you want, etc. In short, right wingers like Ernst are hypocrites. They love to use the government as a boogeyman to get elected but they’re fine once elected using that same government to keep people down that they see as a threat to their power.

239 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 10:10:00am

Feline Overlords are in early-afternoon nap mode. Time to slip out in the drizzle and get a loaf of bread and some fresh vegetables for dinner.

240 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 3, 2015 10:10:23am

re: #214 ObserverArt

Yes. Very dead. It’s not coming back to life dead.

I just hope the people that see themselves as old-school moderate/center right Republican’s realize it and act to rid their party of the nut’s.

Gotta remember we are mostly already gone, as the song says.

Sane center right meet sane center left.

Almost half of us (42% IIRC Pew) are not affiliated with a party. I think most of us that dropped a party dropped the GOP. My hunch is on the moderate left it’s more a not yet affiliated millennial rather than disgruntled opposition people. Hence likely voters are the more polarized of us, leaving the sensible centrists with a double disadvantage.

I watched every President since Reagan move to the center as compared to their campaign, essentially away from party preferences in office. Reality has a severe centrist bias.

Setting aside left and right, look at what Obamas campaign proposed on Gitmo, the Patriot Act etc. The inside-ish joke about Obama was about his first big NSA/credentialed secret briefing. It was off color so not repeating it. It was illustrative if rudely. His whole demeanor of terrorism changed to something closer to the Bush era. Yes he banned torture and made some good moves. And Congress has been an obstacle on Gitmo to say the least.

Again setting aside left and right look at where Obama wound up on fiscal policy. Right from the start adopted TARP. Etc. Upset many good left leaning folks.

Reality. it bashes executives from DC to Hollywood into shape, for better or worse. Every where except apparently Wall street. Because they feed the political machine it’s insider tips and tricks it is more insulated than the White House.

But still to look the reality check in the face, compare any President six months before the vote, and six months after inauguration. Next thing is how to couple that data to our own voting patterns. We too should hew to certain realities.

241 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:10:54am

re: #237 Dark_Falcon

In what way?

Yeah Joni Ernst and her kind are totally okay with choice and gay marriage. Come on don’t play dumb. You know that conservatives like Ernst love to make hay out of the big bad government yet also think we need things like barriers to women having the right to choose and federal prohibitions on things like SSM.

242 b_sharp  Jan 3, 2015 10:12:22am

Somebody open me a bottle of beer.

243 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 10:13:56am

re: #242 b_sharp

Somebody open me a bottle of beer.

Get out of that Man Box and open it yourowndamnself!

///+GGT

244 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 10:31:48am

re: #218 Dark_Falcon

Think about it in context: She said that after the STLCPD went out into the streets of Ferguson in combat gear and after Ron Paul had expressed great concern about police militarization. So the issue of government hostility to citizen’s rights was getting a lot of play on the right at the time. Conservative opinion did shift behind police later but that’s not where it was at the time.

Erst was essentially saying “I’m going to work to ensure government isn’t used to take away your guns or your rights!” which is somewhat DERPy, but not outside the mainstream and certainly not evil.

The idea that the Second Amendment is going to somehow be crippled is so completely unmoored to the American political reality, it is beyond stupid to even contemplate. It plays to some of the worst and most paranoid instincts of conservatives in this country.

It’s that fucking “Red Dawn as documentary” mentality that Joni Ersnt sucked up to. Please do not kid yourself or anyone else there was a broader message in Ernst’s campaign.

And while I can’t find anything about her views on Ferguson one way or the other, I find it highly, highly dubious a hard core conservative like Ersnt was concerned about the militarization of police in Ferguson. Mainly because of who the cops’ weapons were being pointed out.

Which is another problem in today’s GOP, like it or not.

245 Mattand  Jan 3, 2015 10:32:59am

re: #241 HappyWarrior

Yeah Joni Ernst and her kind are totally okay with choice and gay marriage. Come on don’t play dumb. You know that conservatives like Ernst love to make hay out of the big bad government yet also think we need things like barriers to women having the right to choose and federal prohibitions on things like SSM.

Right again.

246 b_sharp  Jan 3, 2015 10:33:39am

Today is V’s and my 38th wedding anniversary. She’s sound asleep on the couch after returning from the outpatient clinic and I’m wasting time on the Internets trying to be quiet.

Our celebration is going to be a small piece of tilapia baked in butter and spices and some crackers. That will likely be followed by some expressions of love and ‘damn we are old’.

247 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 10:35:41am

re: #218 Dark_Falcon

Think about it in context: She said that after the STLCPD went out into the streets of Ferguson in combat gear and after Ron Paul had expressed great concern about police militarization. So the issue of government hostility to citizen’s rights was getting a lot of play on the right at the time. Conservative opinion did shift behind police later but that’s not where it was at the time.

Erst was essentially saying “I’m going to work to ensure government isn’t used to take away your guns or your rights!” which is somewhat DERPy, but not outside the mainstream and certainly not evil.

“I do believe in the right to carry, and I believe in the right to defend myself and my family — whether it’s from an intruder, or whether it’s from a government, should they decide that my rights are no longer important,” Ernst said in 2012, adding that she owns “a beautiful little” Smith & Wesson 9 millimeter.

248 Amory Blaine  Jan 3, 2015 10:35:52am
249 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 10:38:07am

re: #247 BeachDem

“I do believe in the right to carry, and I believe in the right to defend myself and my family — whether it’s from an intruder, or whether it’s from a government, should they decide that my rights are no longer important,” Ernst said in 2012, adding that she owns “a beautiful little” Smith & Wesson 9 millimeter.

I first heard that in August 2014, and what I read did not mention she said that in 2012. Sorry about the error.

250 Dark_Falcon  Jan 3, 2015 10:39:20am

And here’s where I run away to do my work research.

251 nearly-headless smith25  Jan 3, 2015 10:39:48am

re: #246 b_sharp

Today is V’s and my 38th wedding anniversary. She’s sound asleep on the couch after returning from the outpatient clinic and I’m wasting time on the Internets trying to be quiet.

Our celebration is going to be a small piece of tilapia baked in butter and spices and some crackers. That will likely be followed by some expressions of love and ‘damn we are old’.

Congrats. Positive thoughts/prayers/vibes to both of you.

252 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:41:13am

re: #247 BeachDem

“I do believe in the right to carry, and I believe in the right to defend myself and my family — whether it’s from an intruder, or whether it’s from a government, should they decide that my rights are no longer important,” Ernst said in 2012, adding that she owns “a beautiful little” Smith & Wesson 9 millimeter.

It’s clear to me that she was pandering. And honestly I’d be shocked if she even really knows how to use a gun. I remember hearing that Palin for all her posing with guns really didn’t know how to use them. Guns to politicians like Ernst and Palin are nothing but political props. Frankly if I were a gun owner, I’d be offended by that even more than I am as a non-owner. Forgot about Ernst having military experience so yeah she does know how to use a gun but as I said, I still resent politicians like her using guns as political props.

253 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:41:57am

re: #246 b_sharp

Today is V’s and my 38th wedding anniversary. She’s sound asleep on the couch after returning from the outpatient clinic and I’m wasting time on the Internets trying to be quiet.

Our celebration is going to be a small piece of tilapia baked in butter and spices and some crackers. That will likely be followed by some expressions of love and ‘damn we are old’.

Happy anniversary.

254 ObserverArt  Jan 3, 2015 10:43:22am

re: #246 b_sharp

Today is V’s and my 38th wedding anniversary. She’s sound asleep on the couch after returning from the outpatient clinic and I’m wasting time on the Internets trying to be quiet.

Our celebration is going to be a small piece of tilapia baked in butter and spices and some crackers. That will likely be followed by some expressions of love and ‘damn we are old’.

Congrats!

Hopefully your wife is doing better and better too.

See you all later. Got to get to work finishing this old house’s staircase. Just about have all the old finish removed. It has been a 3-month long battle. Whatever the hell was coating the stair treads (steps) was a bitch to remove. Should be looking good when stained and varnished. Hell, it better look good for all the damn work in it.

And my hands…oh, my hands! Claws are a better description.

255 bratwurst  Jan 3, 2015 10:43:57am

Newsbreaker! Could the Huckster be throwing his hat into the 2016 ring?

256 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:46:24am

re: #255 bratwurst

Newsbreaker! Could the Huckster be throwing his hat into the 2016 ring?

[Embedded content]

Thank god for playoff football.

257 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:47:24am

Welcome to the clown car though Huckabee. The only real difference between Huckabee and Santorum is that the former thinks Catholics are hell-bound and the latter thinks Protestants are.

258 Higgs Boson's Mate  Jan 3, 2015 10:48:21am

re: #246 b_sharp

Happy anniversary! Good to hear that V is able to eat some solid food.

259 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 10:49:15am

re: #255 bratwurst

If Huckabee is throwing his hat in the ring, Imma thinking the clown car is gonna need to be expanded into a clown bus, because there’s going to a be a whole lotta wingnuts running for POTUS this time around.

260 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:50:28am

re: #259 Dr Lizardo

If Huckabee is throwing his hat in the ring, Imma thinking the clown car is gonna need to be expanded into a clown bus, because there’s going to a be a whole lotta wingnuts running for POTUS this time around.

This cast of characters is going to make 2012’s look normal.

261 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 10:54:10am

re: #252 HappyWarrior

It’s clear to me that she was pandering. And honestly I’d be shocked if she even really knows how to use a gun. I remember hearing that Palin for all her posing with guns really didn’t know how to use them. Guns to politicians like Ernst and Palin are nothing but political props. Frankly if I were a gun owner, I’d be offended by that even more than I am as a non-owner.

Her remarks came just weeks after the mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, where gunman James Holmes allegedly killed 12 people and injured dozens more on July 20, 2012. So yeah, pandering, but also probably what she thinks.

Unlike Palin, Ernst probably does know how to use a gun—as she does have a military background. She’s still a whackadoodle and I fear that, much like Cruz, she will suck a lot of air out of the room in Washington, as the GOP puts her out front to spout her lunacy on a variety of issues.

262 Higgs Boson's Mate  Jan 3, 2015 10:54:19am

re: #255 bratwurst

Newsbreaker! Could the Huckster be throwing his hat into the 2016 ring?

[Embedded content]

Oh hell yes. The GOP again has no next-in-line so the internal dimensions of the clown car are approaching infinity. For me, the fun will be watching the primary antics before JEB! becomes inevitable with the secondary fun of seeing which of the loonies he singles out as his running mate.

263 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 10:55:27am

re: #261 BeachDem

Her remarks came just weeks after the mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, where gunman James Holmes allegedly killed 12 people and injured dozens more on July 20, 2012. So yeah, pandering, but also probably what she thinks.

Unlike Palin, Ernst probably does know how to use a gun—as she does have a military background. She’s still a whackadoodle and I fear that, much like Cruz, she will suck a lot of air out of the room in Washington, as the GOP puts her out front to spout her lunacy on a variety of issues.

Oops. Had a brain fart. Forgot about her military background so yeah she certainly does. Point stands about how right wing politicians like her and Sarah use guns as political props though.

264 #FergusonFireside  Jan 3, 2015 10:57:08am

Happy Anniversary b_sharp & V!

265 Snarknado!  Jan 3, 2015 11:01:02am

Happy anniversary V and b_sharp!

266 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 11:02:53am

re: #230 Amory Blaine

This is interesting, with cool sliders.

60 Years of Urban Change: Midwest

You can really see the effect of our obsession with freeways and automobiles have wrought.

267 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 11:03:57am

Now what does trouble me now that I think about it is this. A lot of the new stars in the GOP i.e. Ernst, Gardner, and many others who are on the rise in the party are young politically. They’re all between 40 and 50 yet they’re plenty reactionary and far right. Now we haven’t seen any Gen Yers elected on a high level yet by either party but frankly I am not not optimistic after seeing the current batch of young bloods. What the GOP needs isn’t really youth. It needs a change in approaching the world and that’s not changing any time soon from what I see when it comes to candidate rhetoric and positions on issues.

268 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 11:08:29am

ignorant little angry furby wants people to believe that blocking followers means removing them, and that locking his account means nobody can see him.

269 Romantic Heretic  Jan 3, 2015 11:10:09am

re: #205 Dark_Falcon

Saying “in case they decide” ≠ “since they have decided”. Thus she can justify running for the Senate as working to ensure the government never reaches such a conclusion.

Sorry, D_F. But saying “in case they decide” means, essentially in a case like this, is “They are going to.” People that say this believe that it is only a matter of time and opportunity.

And, seriously, her problem isn’t that the government is going to take her rights. Her problem is that the wrong sort of people will do the ‘rights taking.’ If it’s her and her fellow teabaggers doing it Ms. Ernst will do all she can to help.

In her opinion ‘liberals’ have no rights at all. Not even the right to life.

270 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 11:10:31am

re: #268 Backwoods_Sleuth

ignorant little angry furby wants people to believe that blocking followers means removing them, and that locking his account means nobody can see him.

Embedded Image

Well if you want another reason why I don’t see the young up and coming conservatives as being any better than their older counterparts. You have People’s Exhibit Red right here. Guy is younger than me yet sounds the same as any angry old wingnut.

271 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 11:11:16am

re: #270 HappyWarrior

Well if you want another reason why I don’t see the young up and coming conservatives as being any better than their older counterparts. You have People’s Exhibit Red right here. Guy is younger than me yet sounds the same as any angry old wingnut.

GET OFF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW’S LAWN!!11!!!

272 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 11:13:37am

re: #268 Backwoods_Sleuth

ignorant little angry furby wants people to believe that blocking followers means removing them, and that locking his account means nobody can see him.

Embedded Image

Please explain to somebody who isn’t twitter-conversant (that would be me):

1. Why would anyone pay to have fake followers follow somebody else? (I understand wanting to pump up your own numbers, but not this.)

2. Why would having fake followers interfere with his ability to do “his work” as he’s claimed? And how do fake followers impact his “reputation/”

273 Ace-o-aces  Jan 3, 2015 11:14:37am

re: #268 Backwoods_Sleuth

ignorant little angry furby wants people to believe that blocking followers means removing them, and that locking his account means nobody can see him.

Embedded Image

Yes, his account is protected now. What a great way to promote yourself Chucky!

274 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 11:15:56am

re: #269 Romantic Heretic

Sorry, D_F. But saying “in case they decide” means, essentially in a case like this, is “They are going to.” People that say this believe that it is only a matter of time and opportunity.

And, seriously, her problem isn’t that the government is going to take her rights. Her problem is that the wrong sort of people will do the ‘rights taking.’ If it’s her and her fellow teabaggers doing it Ms. Ernst will do all she can to help.

In her opinion ‘liberals’ have no rights at all. Not even the right to life.

Right. Ernst panders to a crowd convinced that the government is coming for them and their weapons and they have been frankly for a long time now. The same paranoia that Ernst feeds is the same that I remember from the Clinton years. And what’s really sad and honestly kind of scary is that gun ownership is increasingly in this country becoming concentrated in fewer hands. More better said, whereas in the past a higher percentage of Americans may have owned firearms, today a lower percentage owns a greater amount. And a lot of that has to do with politicians like Ernst feeding paranoia. Obama’s got less of a restrictive record on guns than Reagan did yet if you ask the gun hoarder types, they’d tell you that Obama is out to get their guns.

275 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 11:18:44am

re: #272 BeachDem

Please explain to somebody who isn’t twitter-conversant (that would be me):

1. Why would anyone pay to have fake followers follow somebody else? (I understand wanting to pump up your own numbers, but not this.)

2. Why would having fake followers interfere with his ability to do “his work” as he’s claimed? And how do fake followers impact his “reputation/”

1. I have no idea, other than it’s an inexpensive way to mess with his furby brain.

2. He says he’s blocking massive numbers of people, but his follower count just keeps increasing.

2(a). He’s a drama furby martyr.

276 Romantic Heretic  Jan 3, 2015 11:21:18am

re: #232 HappyWarrior

I remember thinking George Allen was peak wingnut here in Va. The lesson I’ve learned and continue to learn is peak wingnut is a continuous journey. It’s a journey that allows men like Dick Black who has repeatedly minimized the horrors of rape and Bob Marshall who claimed Downs Syndrome was a God given punishment to women for abortion to be in VA’s state legislature and to be the idols of VA’s conservative movement. That’s the thing. They keep on moving further and further to the right the cruel. I guess that’s why I wasn’t too shocked to see about Scalise flirting with Duke’s movement. Louisiana is a much more right wing crueler state than Va is.

I think my little change reflects the actuality. The fringes of the political spectrum are always about cruelty. It’s about imposing or removing choices from those deemed unworthy because ‘The Truth™’ demands it.

The GOP has been taken over by the fringe of that part of the spectrum characterized as ‘right’ and so it has become cruel.

P.S. My wife currently lives in Louisiana and I can tell from experience how cruel that place is.

277 HappyWarrior  Jan 3, 2015 11:22:19am

re: #276 Romantic Heretic

I think my little change reflects the actuality. The fringes of the political spectrum are always about cruelty. It’s about imposing or removing choices from those deemed unworthy because ‘The TruthTM’ demands it.

The GOP has been taken over by the fringe of that part of the spectrum characterized as ‘right’ and so it has become cruel.

P.S. My wife currently lives in Louisiana and I can tell from experience how cruel that place is.

Sounds reasonable to me.

278 Romantic Heretic  Jan 3, 2015 11:23:41am

re: #246 b_sharp

Today is V’s and my 38th wedding anniversary. She’s sound asleep on the couch after returning from the outpatient clinic and I’m wasting time on the Internets trying to be quiet.

Our celebration is going to be a small piece of tilapia baked in butter and spices and some crackers. That will likely be followed by some expressions of love and ‘damn we are old’.

Happy Anniversary!

279 BeachDem  Jan 3, 2015 11:26:28am

re: #275 Backwoods_Sleuth

1. I have no idea, other than it’s an inexpensive way to mess with his furby brain.

2. He says he’s blocking massive numbers of people, but his follower count just keeps increasing.

2(a). He’s a drama furby martyr.

Thanks—so his latest diatribe about how fake followers are out to get him is the same bullshit he’s been spewing all along. Good to know.

I guess his concentration on twitter follower hysteria (smh at how ridiculous that sounds) is standing in the way of him EXPOSING Neil deGrasse Tyson as the huge fraud that upchuck claims he is!!! 11ty!

As we’ve both surmised, Tyson probably hasn’t slept a wink in days, worrying about how the ginger furby is going to destroy his career///

280 Romantic Heretic  Jan 3, 2015 11:29:04am

re: #279 BeachDem

Thanks—so his latest diatribe about how fake followers are out to get him is the same bullshit he’s been spewing all along. Good to know.

I guess his concentration on twitter follower hysteria (smh at how ridiculous that sounds) is standing in the way of him EXPOSING Neil deGrasse Tyson as the huge fraud that upchuck claims he is!!! 11ty!

As we’ve both surmised, Tyson probably hasn’t slept a wink in days, worrying about how the ginger furby is going to destroy his career///

Well, you can’t be a ‘conservative’ these days without somebody out to get you. /mostly

281 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 11:31:22am

Short but informative obit:

Remembering Donna Douglas, ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ star

282 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 11:41:04am

Because nothing says we’re almost one sixth of the way into the 21st century quite like the 19th-century-created but still #1 Protestant American denomination Southern Baptists having to make a commercial that it is Biblically ok for a white person to marry a black person:

Interracial marriage and the gospel

Living an Interracial Marriage

283 CuriousLurker  Jan 3, 2015 11:44:58am

Just stopping by to drop this off for whoever might find it useful. It’s also posted in the comments on Randall’s page.

For whoever wants to learn more about the backgrounds of the new congress critters, here’s a link to Wikipedia’s list of freshman class members of the 114th United States Congress.

As for the ones in the Salon article Randall linked to, for convenience I used Wikipedia’s “Download as PDF” feature to generate files for each, and then I combined them into a single PDF. The Wiki PDFs have bookmarks, so when combined they make a handy reference.

You can download the combined PDF from here. The new wingnuts are listed in alphabetical order. It just so happens that the first two are freshman Senators and the rest (with state & district listed) are incoming freshmen to the House of Representatives.

In order to see the bookmarks you’ll need to download the PDF. You can do that by clicking on the downward pointing arrow that will be in the upper right corner of the window when viewing the file.

I figured if I was going to create this, then I might as well share it, right?

Later, lizards.

284 Pawn of the Oppressor  Jan 3, 2015 11:53:11am

re: #282 freetoken

If there were god(s), I’d thank him/she/it/them every day for not being born into a religious family. I cannot imagine living under the mind-bending, poisonous, paranoia-inducing, just plain f*cking weird psychological dictatorship that is modern American “Christianity”. Real grown adults actually worry about this kind of crap? It boggles the mind. o_O

285 Higgs Boson's Mate  Jan 3, 2015 11:53:59am

re: #283 CuriousLurker

Very well done. It’s a bit disturbing that the GOP Isn’t winning so much as indifferent voters are allowing it to win.

286 Eventual Carrion  Jan 3, 2015 11:55:28am

re: #281 freetoken

Short but informative obit:

Remembering Donna Douglas, ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ star

That is too bad. I just saw a very young her during a Twilight Zone marathon the other day. She was the “ugly” one in the episode.

287 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 11:58:26am

re: #285 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Very well done. It’s a bit disturbing that the GOP Isn’t winning so much as indifferent voters are allowing it to win.

This.

I fear way too large a fraction of our society is just checking out of their political responsibilities in vetting candidates and voting.

Of course this is not new - politics has always been about power-gamesmanship. Still, I’m struck by the paradox of how our ability to find and dissemate information has gone up tremendously but the “voter” is as absent as ever. And I mean physically absent, as well as metaphorically.

288 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:01:54pm

re: #287 freetoken

This.

I fear way too large a fraction of our society is just checking out of their political responsibilities in vetting candidates and voting.

Of course this is not new - politics has always been about power-gamesmanship. Still, I’m struck by the paradox of how our ability to find and dissemate information has gone up tremendously but the “voter” is as absent as ever. And I mean physically absent, as well as metaphorically.

One of the curious things I’ve noticed the past few years is that for the right wing, “vetting” people means digging up any dirt possible.

Yet another word (in an almost inexhaustible list of words) that doesn’t mean what they think it does.

289 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 12:10:07pm

re: #230 Amory Blaine

This is interesting, with cool sliders.

60 Years of Urban Change: Midwest

A very interesting comparison, and most of the photos show the effects of building interstates through urban areas. It’s not always a good thing. Urban cores become an increasing series of parking lots and empty spaces devoid of life after business hours.

290 Higgs Boson's Mate  Jan 3, 2015 12:22:31pm

re: #287 freetoken

This.

I fear way too large a fraction of our society is just checking out of their political responsibilities in vetting candidates and voting.

Of course this is not new - politics has always been about power-gamesmanship. Still, I’m struck by the paradox of how our ability to find and dissemate information has gone up tremendously but the “voter” is as absent as ever. And I mean physically absent, as well as metaphorically.

The indifference goes beyond the bone simple act of vetting. How many Republican governors whose policies were demonstrably running their states into the ground were re-elected anyway? When voter turnout gets low the party with the most energized core of voters wins. The GOP has welcomed fringe and one issue voters with open arms and it’s working very well for them. I believe that my party, in an effort to win over people who don’t give a fuck anyway, has so divested itself of strongly supported issues that not enough people give a damn about electing its candidates.

291 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:26:36pm

Raining and 57F here at the moment, but just looked at the extended forecast and I am totally screwed.
Winter is going to arrive tomorrow night and continue with a vengeance all freaking week.

*heavy sigh*

292 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 12:28:18pm

re: #291 Backwoods_Sleuth

We had snow - about 1 inch+ with accumulation on roads, including major highways in Northern NJ. Tomorrow? Rain and temps near 60. Woo. Just the kind of weather we need. And this week, we’re supposed to be in the low 30s with an Arctic clipper system coming through too.

293 unproven innocence  Jan 3, 2015 12:29:07pm

re: #139 Maggie’s Pa

Researches have come up with a new way to teach robots, by using YouTube. We are so screwed.

IMO, Skynet will not spring to life out of robotics-related AI, but advertising-related AI. Or military.

294 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 12:30:05pm

re: #291 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’ve been told that so far winter in the middle part of the country has been on the milder side. Even parts of Minnesota have only a shallow covering of snow.

295 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:32:47pm

re: #292 lawhawk

We had snow - about 1 inch+ with accumulation on roads, including major highways in Northern NJ. Tomorrow? Rain and temps near 60. Woo. Just the kind of weather we need. And this week, we’re supposed to be in the low 30s with an Arctic clipper system coming through too.

I’ve got a low of 4F for Wednesday night, bracketed by highs of 17 and 18 (so, I’ll be up all night in an attempt to keep the plumbing from freezing…OTOH, I’ll be able to keep company with lizards on the other side of the world that night).
Tuesday I have a high of 33, and that’s that last time we see above freezing until next Saturday when it hits 33 again.

296 freetoken  Jan 3, 2015 12:33:39pm

re: #290 Higgs Boson’s Mate

I am still convinced that what we are seeing played out in our politics is the outworking of a very slow post-Christianization of the US. It is happening much more slowly here than it happened in Europe in the 20th century, but WWI and WWII basically upended the old ideas of Christendom there.

Noticed that Mullah Mohler was on Faux and Friends last week complaining about the new Newsweek. And given Huckabee’s association with Fox, and so on, I think I’m on good ground when I say that the hotair of the rightwing is fueled with the burning fumes of an outdated belief system.

297 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:33:53pm

re: #294 freetoken

I’ve been told that so far winter in the middle part of the country has been on the milder side. Even parts of Minnesota have only a shallow covering of snow.

I don’t mind snow at all…it’s those single digit (and lower) temps that “frost” me…

298 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:37:27pm

Betty Bowers always makes me laugh:

Betty Bowers Looks at the Religious Right’s Best of 2014

If you’re sick of the Religious Right, check out this video. Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian, takes a look back at Religious Right hypocrisy in 2014. In what is a 4 minute 16 second tour de force you won’t find a lot of details but she hits all the high (or rather, low) points, from Kirk Cameron to Dick Cheney.

299 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 12:38:27pm

re: #293 unproven innocence

IMO, Skynet will not spring to life out of robotics-related AI, but advertising-related AI. Or military.

My bet is that it will be advertising on FOX or sports radio. That will provide it with the great desire to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth.
//

300 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 12:47:05pm

re: #296 freetoken

I am still convinced that what we are seeing played out in our politics is the outworking of a very slow post-Christianization of the US. It is happening much more slowly here than it happened in Europe in the 20th century, but WWI and WWII basically upended the old ideas of Christendom there.

Noticed that Mullah Mohler was on Faux and Friends last week complaining about the new Newsweek. And given Huckabee’s association with Fox, and so on, I think I’m on good ground when I say that the hotair of the rightwing is fueled with the burning fumes of an outdated belief system.

In the 17th Century, there was a Czech Archbishop complaining that Czechs (Bohemians) rarely attended religious services beyond high holy days or for family events such as weddings and baptisms.

Easy answer to that - the Thirty Years War, which devastated the Czech lands. Your point about WWI and WWII is quite right; after seeing vast swathes of Europa turned into an abattoir, a lot of Europeans simply threw in the towel as far as religion was concerned.

301 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:48:02pm
302 PhillyPretzel  Jan 3, 2015 12:49:35pm

re: #301 Backwoods_Sleuth

This is the mixed bag in the greater Philadelphia area. weather.gov

303 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:50:27pm

And in Mississippi, two tornadoes so far today:

304 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:54:44pm
305 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 3, 2015 12:55:54pm

re: #304 Backwoods_Sleuth

You got a basement?

306 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 12:56:28pm

re: #305 Rightwingconspirator

You got a basement?

No, I don’t. But fortunately I’m nowhere near Mississippi.

307 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 12:56:37pm

So, just got done watching Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, and you know…….meh, I wasn’t impressed.

Nowhere near as good as the 2005 original, mostly because the original was - visuals aside - quite a character driven film. It had occasional touches of surrealism as well and dark humor. This film, for me at least, was just lacking; it was a paycheck movie.

It just struck me as more of a straight-up action flick.

308 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 3, 2015 1:01:42pm

re: #306 Backwoods_Sleuth

heh. Well then. Ooops. Read just a lil too much between the lines.

309 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 1:02:56pm

re: #308 Rightwingconspirator

heh. Well then. Ooops. Read just a lil too much between the lines.

:D

310 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 1:04:48pm

re: #308 Rightwingconspirator

BTW, my orchid is beginning to shed its flowers. Would you, please, ask the resident expert how long after they all drop should I prune the stalk?

311 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD  Jan 3, 2015 1:06:34pm

re: #307 Dr Lizardo

Willis was pretty useless.

312 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 3, 2015 1:07:32pm

re: #310 Backwoods_Sleuth

BTW, my orchid is beginning to shed its flowers. Would you, please, ask the resident expert how long after they all drop should I prune the stalk?

D_L sez
“Wait a week and trim to the nodes as described. “

313 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 1:08:12pm

Drizzly rain and just that miserable 30s-40s damp weather I hate. Got the errands done and now sitting down with a cup of hot tea to get the cold out of my bones.

Friends in western Pennsylvania reporting a light icing that is making the local (and hilly) roads particularly hazardous. One compared getting up a hill to something like hobbits climbing Mt Doom. (No eagles available.)

314 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 1:08:12pm

re: #312 Rightwingconspirator

D_L sez
“Wait a week and trim to the nodes as described. “

Thank you! I remembered the number of nodes, but forgot the timeline.

315 Charles Johnson  Jan 3, 2015 1:11:54pm
316 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 1:12:22pm

re: #311 Prof. Backpfeifengesicht, PhD

Completely. A poor exercise in film-making, and quite a letdown from the original Sin City.

317 Backwoods_Sleuth  Jan 3, 2015 1:17:04pm

bwahahahaaa!!!!!!!!!

318 Lidane  Jan 3, 2015 1:17:09pm
319 Rightwingconspirator  Jan 3, 2015 1:18:43pm

re: #314 Backwoods_Sleuth

Thank you! I remembered the number of nodes, but forgot the timeline.

The blooms are in the details. That’s Orchids 101 in my amateur experience.

320 Charles Johnson  Jan 3, 2015 1:21:03pm
321 Feline Fearless Leader  Jan 3, 2015 1:23:30pm

Amazing how much the MUTE button improves watching football.

322 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 1:25:13pm

re: #318 Lidane

They’re just letting their freak flag fly openly nowadays, ain’t they?

*headdesk*

323 PhillyPretzel  Jan 3, 2015 1:25:57pm

re: #321 Feline Fearless Leader

And it does wonders with commercials.

324 PhillyPretzel  Jan 3, 2015 1:37:15pm

re: #323 PhillyPretzel

Another entry into Philly Pretzel’s thread killers. Darn. I was hoping to avoid that this year. ::: walks to the corner of shame :::

325 Dr Lizardo  Jan 3, 2015 1:44:40pm

Here’s my prediction for the UK General Election coming up this spring.

When all is said and done, UKIP is going to have a spoiler effect on the Conservative Party, thus denying the Tories outright victory. As a result, I predict we’re going to see a Labour minority government supported outside the framework of a formal coalition by the SNP and the Liberal Democrats (or what’s left of them, at least - I think they’re gonna get massacred at the polls).

End result? PM Ed Milliband, UKIP reviled by the Tories as the party that cost them victory, and no in/out EU referendum for the foreseeable future.

Just my political gut talking, and I admit, I’ve been wrong before, so we shall see. This prediction hangs on this - that the Tories don’t strike a deal with UKIP prior to the election. If they reach some kind of gentlemen’s agreement, all bets are off.

326 RadicalModerate  Jan 3, 2015 1:49:19pm

re: #282 freetoken

Because nothing says we’re almost one sixth of the way into the 21st century quite like the 19th-century-created but still #1 Protestant American denomination Southern Baptists having to make a commercial that it is Biblically ok for a white person to marry a black person:

Interracial marriage and the gospel

[Embedded content]

Keep in mind that the Southern Baptist Convention split from the main church in 1845 because of their endorsement of slavery. Their belief in white supremacy was a controlling factor of the church well into the 20th century - Jim Crow, segregation, and anti-miscegenation laws all have their roots with the SBC - and they didn’t publicly acknowledge, and begin to repudiate those racist beliefs until 1995. There are STILL stories of churches under their umbrella refusing to conduct mixed-race marriages in the past decade.

327 lawhawk  Jan 3, 2015 1:53:40pm

re: #315 Charles Johnson

Wouldn’t that qualify as BREAKING!!!! FLASH!!!!!

328 Eventual Carrion  Jan 3, 2015 2:23:56pm

re: #306 Backwoods_Sleuth

No, I don’t. But fortunately I’m nowhere near Mississippi.

Not many basements in MS anyway.

329 Romantic Heretic  Jan 3, 2015 7:10:45pm

re: #307 Dr Lizardo

So, just got done watching Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, and you know…….meh, I wasn’t impressed.

Nowhere near as good as the 2005 original, mostly because the original was - visuals aside - quite a character driven film. It had occasional touches of surrealism as well and dark humor. This film, for me at least, was just lacking; it was a paycheck movie.

It just struck me as more of a straight-up action flick.

Nice to see Marv again though.


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