Top NSA Official Ridicules Trump’s Conspiracy Theory That Britain Spied on Trump

“Just crazy”
Politics • Views: 34,736

The deputy director of the National Security Agency minced no words today in an interview with the BBC about Donald Trump’s claim that Britain helped President Obama spy on him during the campaign; he called Trump’s accusation “arrant nonsense.”

And that’s not all he said.

President Trump has stood by unproven claims that the Obama administration tapped his phones during the 2016 White House race. On Thursday his spokesman cited a media report that Britain’s GCHQ was behind the surveillance.

Richard Ledgett, deputy director of the NSA, told BBC News the idea that Britain had a hand in spying on Trump was “just crazy”.

“It belies a complete lack of understanding of how the relationship works between the intel community agencies, it completely ignores the political reality of ‘would the UK government agree to do that?’”, Ledgett said.

There would be no advantage for Britain’s government in spying on Trump, given the potential cost, he said.

“It would be epically stupid,” said Ledgett, who is due to retire shortly.

That last line is a kicker. You better believe he’ll be retiring shortly.

Also see

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271 comments
1
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:38:30am
2
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:41:45am

Look at this type.

3
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:45:10am

re: #2 Nyet

What the what!?!?

4
Belafon  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:47:20am

re: #2 Nyet

Look at this type.

[Embedded content]

So, if we torture Mr. Downs, as long as we couch it in a scientific experiment, like how long will a person live if you cut off all their fingers and let them bleed, then it’s ok?

5
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:47:44am

re: #3 JordanRules

He left out stylish lampshades made of human skin.

6
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:48:49am

re: #5 Skip Intro

He left out stylish lampshades made of human skin.

Well, that’s more of a myth.

7
Timothy Watson  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:49:15am

re: #2 Nyet

Look at this type.

[Embedded content]

Bayer had developed Aspirin by 1899…

8
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:55:08am

re: #4 Belafon

So, if we torture Mr. Downs, as long as we couch it in a scientific experiment, like how long will a person live if you cut off all their fingers and let them bleed, then it’s ok?

The ultimate in “the end justifies the means”, apparently. How Randian.

9
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 11:59:42am

South African Christian, husband, gamer and flash fiction/short story/novelette author.

Apparently he is not a Nazi, just, how to put it better, myopic to the point of stupidity.

10
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:02:00pm
11
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:04:42pm

re: #9 Nyet

Every cloud has its silver lining. Even if the “cloud” in question is the wholesale extermination of ~6 million people.

12
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:06:05pm

re: #11 thedopefishlives

Every cloud has its silver lining. Even if the “cloud” in question is the wholesale extermination of ~6 million people.

Hitler murdered far more than that.

13
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:06:33pm

re: #12 Nyet

Hitler murdered far more than that.

Right. I think the full figure of the Holocaust, as I remember it, was, what, 10-11 million? Besides the soldiers killed during the actual war itself.

14
PhillyPretzel  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:11:19pm

Considering this was constructed over many years I would rather give Germany the credit than you know who.
en.wikipedia.org

15
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:13:02pm

re: #13 thedopefishlives

Right. I think the full figure of the Holocaust, as I remember it, was, what, 10-11 million? Besides the soldiers killed during the actual war itself.

11 million is an ahistorical invention by Simon Wiesenthal. The actual number is between 12 and 14 million (5 to 6 million Jews, 7 to 8 million non-Jews).

16
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:13:32pm

re: #15 Nyet

11 million is an ahistorical invention by Simon Wiesenthal. The actual number is between 12 and 14 million (5 to 6 million Jews, 7 to 8 million non-Jews).

Thank you. I’ve read your articles (of course), but my exact recall was lacking.

17
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:14:58pm

re: #16 thedopefishlives

Thank you. I’ve read your articles (of course), but my exact recall was lacking.

Those are by Roberto Muehlenkamp, not me. :)

18
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:15:50pm

re: #17 Nyet

Those are by Roberto Muehlenkamp, not me. :)

That’s the collective “you”, as I think I went through the whole Holocaust Controversies blog from top to bottom at one point.

19
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:18:35pm

Still trying to process this read.

20
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:18:43pm

re: #15 Nyet

11 million is an ahistorical invention by Simon Wiesenthal. The actual number is between 12 and 14 million (5 to 6 million Jews, 7 to 8 million non-Jews).

Deborah Lipstadt castigated Wiesenthal for his invention. An article well worth reading, as is Tom Segev’s objective biography of the man.

21
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:24:00pm

re: #20 Nyet

Deborah Lipstadt castigated Wiesenthal for his invention. An article well worth reading, as is Tom Segev’s objective biography of the man.

Well, yeah. “Making shit up” tends to be frowned upon in the field of historical research.

22
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:36:24pm

This thread is really good.

23
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:39:52pm

Not to leave this hanging, here is a very short story of the Nazi human lampshades.

Like with the human soap story there is a small core of truth around which the layers of hype have gathered with time.

The story goes that in the Nazi concentration camps lampshades were made out of skin of people murdered for this purpose. Specifically such accusations against Ilse Koch are pretty (in)famous.

There is no credible evidence that Ilse Koch was engaged in such activities, nor is there credible evidence of such activities in the Nazi camps.

However, there is evidence that one such lampshade was made in 1941 for Karl-Otto Koch from the tattooed pieces of skin from Buchenwald’s pathology department. Since pieces of tattooed skin were routinely gathered in Buchenwald from the corpses of all prisoners (apparently for a proposed museum of criminality) there is no indication that they were specifically killed for this lampshade. The object was lost (probably destroyed) long before the end of the war. Karl-Otto Koch was prosecuted and then executed by the Nazis themselves.

buchenwald.de

24
ObserverArt  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:47:22pm

re: #20 Nyet

Deborah Lipstadt castigated Wiesenthal for his invention. An article well worth reading, as is Tom Segev’s objective biography of the man.

Thanks for that link.

It reconnected me to a name that I sometimes have a hard time to remember, but I remember the man. Elie Wiesel.

I need to do some reading on him, because I remember him in an interview a long time ago where he discussed all the machinations it took to create the whole allowance of the Nazis to rise and then gain power in Germany.

From what I remember of the interview, much of what he discussed would fit in with the politics of today and the race hatred in the world and the election of Trump.

Already bookmarking some stuff. Any recommendations appreciated.

25
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:47:40pm
26
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:50:28pm

re: #23 Nyet

Not that I ever researched it, but I never heard that they were murdered for that purpose. I knew about it when I was very young so I have no idea about the source or sources that informed me. It also just fit that they were doing sick things with the murdered bodies which is a general sentiment I had absorbed.

27
BeachDem  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:52:14pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Apparently so, as they also tweeted them from the potus account.

28
Dragonomics  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:53:57pm

I guess Trump wants Germany to raise a vast army, develop a nuclear weapons program and defend themselves. I thought there was some reason the world didn’t want that, but whatever it is is escaping me at the moment.

29
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:54:13pm

re: #24 ObserverArt

Thanks for that link.

It reconnected me to a name that I sometimes have a hard time to remember, but I remember the man. Elie Wiesel.

I need to do some reading on him, because I remember him in an interview a long time ago where he discussed all the machinations it took to create the whole allowance of the Nazis to rise and then gain power in Germany.

From what I remember of the interview, much of what he discussed would fit in with the politics of today and the race hatred in the world and the election of Trump.

Already bookmarking some stuff. Any recommendations appreciated.

The bitter irony here is that Elie Wiesel was on the board of advisors of the execrable Gatestone Institute.

30
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:54:39pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

He had staff tweet (iPhone) verbatim on @POTUS around same time

31
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:55:16pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

He’s just so tough and serious! ///

He’s probably proud of himself for making it thru yesterday. He was so uncomfortable, insecure and out of his league.

32
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:57:12pm

re: #26 JordanRules

The popular story went, Ilse Koch would go through the rows of inmates or ride through the camp and select those with tattoos to be made into lampshades.

33
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 12:59:55pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

He’s probably tweeting that shit because he didn’t have the balls to talk to Merkel about it to her face. He thinks she’s going to cower because he’s making demands in a public forum. He’s so self-deluded.

34
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:03:20pm

re: #22 JordanRules

This thread is really good.

[Embedded content]

It is.

Sadly, it reminds me of my wingnut cousin from WV, who told me thought electing Obama - much as he hated that it happened - would at least take race off the table.

It’s amazing the diametric opposition of what wingnuts thought the meaning of Obama’s election should be to black people, and what it actually meant to them.

Black people: “Maybe now they’ll listen to us about what it’s like being black in America!”

Wingnuts (and a lot of non-wingnuts, sadly): “Maybe now they’ll shut up!”

35
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:05:27pm
36
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:05:45pm

re: #32 Nyet

Ahhh okay.

37
Stanley Sea  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:05:49pm

re: #22 JordanRules

This thread is really good.

[Embedded content]

From the Atlantic article

One day, one of my professors came into the classroom with a chauffer’s cap. He set the hat down and asked what historical significance it had.

Now, the obvious answer was that blacks were denied many opportunities, and chauffeuring was one of the few jobs open to them. But that was not the right answer. He told us that a lot of professional middle-class blacks in those days always traveled with a chauffer’s hat. The reason: If they were driving a nice new car through a small southern town, they didn’t want police officers, or any other whites, to know the car belonged to them.

38
Jay C  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:06:52pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

To be fair*, the issue of the relative size of military contributions to NATO (especially wrt to affluent Germany) is one that way predates Trump: although, IIRC, prior Administrations tended to back-burner the issue, or tried low-key negotiations to deal with it.

Of course with President Donald Trump disgracing the Oval Office, it’s only to be expected that the subject would be brought up in as misguided, self-righteous and crudely insulting a manner as possible.

* Hate to say it, but (and putting partisanship aside) when it comes to Donald Trump, thinking about using the term “fair” seem to be quite inappropriate. Hella thing to think about the POTUS, but gthere we are…

39
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:11:51pm

re: #34 Blind Frog Belly White

And now they want to effectively erase his Presidency. So it’s like, we ‘gave’ you that to stop the ‘race thing’ but much like our long complicated history together in this country, we’re going to renege and not face the truth.

I also thought the thread was fascinating from an advertising standpoint. The things we have to sell in order to sell the actual product. Again, super complex racial dynamics - the hate and the comfort.

40
ObserverArt  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:13:36pm

re: #29 Nyet

The bitter irony here is that Elie Wiesel was on the board of advisors of the execrable Gatestone Institute.

Yeesh.

I admit I don’t know a lot about Wiesel.

I just remember the one interview that for me at the time made me think a lot more about the environment in German society, politics, business, law and the like that helped make a Hitler instead of just looking at Hitler’s part.

Humans are complicated.

41
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:13:55pm

re: #35 Charles Johnson

He wouldn’t apologize for the birther conspiracy and won’t apologize for this. Ever.

42
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:19:32pm

re: #37 Stanley Sea

Thanks for linking the Atlantic piece, I had missed that.

Whoa! The chauffeur survival tactic reminds me of so many examples that still exist today. A less extreme personal example, if I wear my hair in a bun or slicked back pony, I wear a specific type of durag/wave cap/head scarf to get the look I want. I remove it in certain parts of town as did my stepdad when we lived in the Detroit suburbs.

43
A Cranky One  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:21:51pm

re: #41 JordanRules

He wouldn’t apologize for the birther conspiracy and won’t apologize for this. Ever.

Oh, agreed. However, demanding that he apologize will make him extremely uncomfortable and perhaps convince Twitler to be a little more careful about throwing about conspiracy theories.

Or not. He is a narcissistic weasel shit with no redeeming qualities after all.

44
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:27:44pm

re: #43 A Cranky One

Yeah, I think we can rely on the narcissism here. He’s already pushed blame onto someone else.

Pushing his buttons regarding being Putin’s puppet and his wealth might be the only areas where we can get him squirmy.

45
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:30:06pm

Hoooo boy!

46
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:36:30pm

re: #41 JordanRules

He wouldn’t apologize for the birther conspiracy and won’t apologize for this. Ever.

And, like birtherism, now that it’s been debunked, the media will decide there’s no longer any worth in continuing to follow the story and allow it to fade into the background noise.

47
Major Tom  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:38:21pm

I AM important.

48
Stanley Sea  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:40:25pm

re: #47 Major Tom

[Embedded content]

49
wrenchwench  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:47:35pm
50
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:47:39pm
51
wrenchwench  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:50:43pm

Bear will upding anything with more than two legs. Doesn’t matter how many more than two. Two’s probably OK, too, if accompanied by feathers.

52
I cannot.  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:52:10pm

re: #50 freetoken

Other species?

53
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:55:24pm

re: #50 freetoken

That’s from 2009, yes?

[Embedded content]

“Other species”? Look pal, I’m not interested in talking about your relatives. Last I checked, everybody in my family tree is human.

54
retired cynic  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:55:59pm

re: #52 I cannot.

Other species?

[Embedded content]

I do see the resemblance.

55
goddamnedfrank  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:56:08pm
56
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:56:24pm

re: #52 I cannot.

re: #53 Targetpractice

Fox and Friends is the bottom of the barrel in network TV, part of the profitable business of bigotry that Big Daddy knows all too well.

57
goddamnedfrank  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:57:29pm

It’s just flagrant now.

58
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:57:50pm

True, Kilmeade’s wife married a cockroach once.

half-/

59
Nyet  Mar 18, 2017 • 1:58:44pm

re: #57 goddamnedfrank

It’s just flagrant now.

[Embedded content]

Now is since 2009.

60
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:01:07pm

re: #55 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

Maybe we can get Frank Luntz to write it. Or send Bernie and Chris Hayes out to interview them without anyone ever saying, “Did it ever occur to you that a man who went bankrupt 4-6 times, and has a history of stiffing investors, creditors, and contractors might just be bullshitting you?”

61
jaunte  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:02:13pm

“…The legal disputes are both interesting and important. But this meta-legal question strikes us, at least, as far more important and far-reaching. And we think the answer lies in judicial suspicion of Trump’s oath. The question goes to the manner in which we can expect the judiciary to interact with President Trump on this and other issues throughout his presidency. It goes, not to put too fine a point on it, to the question of whether the judiciary means to actually treat Trump as a real president or, conversely, as some kind of accident—a person who somehow ended up in the office but is not quite the President of the United States in the sense that we would previously have recognized.”

62
goddamnedfrank  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:02:24pm

re: #59 Nyet

Now is since 2009.

Good catch. Someone should tell Steve King and the GOP that times have changed.

63
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:05:04pm

re: #50 freetoken

It appears so. Thanks.

Fox has been feeding them this stuff for decades. It’s so dangerous.

64
jaunte  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:05:32pm

“…Imagine a world in which other actors have no expectation of civic virtue from the President and thus no concept of deference to him. Imagine a world in which the words of the President are not presumed to carry any weight. Imagine a world in which far more judicial review of presidential conduct is de novo, and in which the executive has to find highly coercive means of enforcing message discipline on its staff because it can’t depend on loyalty. That’s a very different presidency than the one we have come to expect.

It’s actually a presidency without the principle that we separate the man from the office. It’s a presidency in which we owe nothing to the office institutionally and make individual decisions about how to interact with it based on how much we trust, like, or hate its occupant.”
lawfareblog.com

65
electrotek  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:09:28pm
66
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:15:17pm
67
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:17:35pm
68
Major Tom  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:17:58pm

Can’t wait for the next Jon McNaughton.

69
electrotek  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:19:38pm

This Canadian idiot

Facebook Post

70
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:21:05pm

Good reminder from Sarah.

71
I cannot.  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:21:31pm

re: #64 jaunte

I would argue that it doesn’t matter how much we like or hate the occupant of the office, and, in normal circumstances, how much we trust them. Politicians do tell partial truths, use hyperbole, and even lie.

I didn’t trust GWB as far as I could throw him, on legislative issues. I could trust him to not be a nutty conspiracy theorist, not hate immigrants or Muslims (and every other minority as well), I could trust him not to be a willing, even eager agent of a foreign power, I could trust him not to be advised by a coterie of raving lunatics.

President Asterisk the Second, however, doesn’t even get that level of trust…because he has repeatedly proven himself unworthy of that trust. In other words, in normal times, your level of trust in the person who is President doesn’t matter, but times aren’t normal, and they won’t be for a long time.

72
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:27:18pm

We can be thankful it’s not another 2AM launch.

Facebook Post

73
scottslemmons  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:27:28pm

re: #68 Major Tom

[Embedded content]

Can’t wait for the next Jon McNaughton.

The most beautiful McNaughton piece.

74
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:28:42pm

Pretty much all I can do is try to poke my relatives in Trump-land.

Here, all my political leaders are already against the bigotry-fueled deconstruction form Bannon et. al. so there’s really no one left in politics for me to convince. At most perhaps I can lend some help to those over in Issa’s district, in the hopes of unseating him.

It’s really up to all you living with Republican Senators or Reps - to flip those seats, or at least convince your incumbents to at least listen to your pleas.

The likes of Ryan and other Republicans have no need to listen to one iota of anything I might say - they are not beholden to me.

Commenting on blogs/twitter/facebook - I find mostly gets me nowhere. There isn’t really much of a conversation. At best one can make someone else angry.

75
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:32:23pm

Argh.

76
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:33:25pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

This is America.

This is why Trump won.

77
Pawn of the Oppressor  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:33:54pm

re: #72 FormerDirtDart

We can be thankful it’s not another 2AM launch.

[Embedded content]

Oh nice, I didn’t know there was a launch today. It’s clear and warm here in the low country, I can nip down to the beach and see it. I need to go outside anyway…

78
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:34:20pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Oh geeez. SMDH

79
Jay C  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:35:30pm

re: #68 Major Tom

You think this hack might get an exception to the “no government support for the arts” cuts? Basically a better-executed political cartoon (and not even a good one) - but just the sort of crap the Trumprrhoids would think should be hung in schoolrooms all over the country….

80
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:36:25pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Argh.

[Embedded content]

C’mon, Hayden. I know you’re smarter than that.

81
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:38:02pm

re: #80 makeitstop

C’mon, Hayden. I know you’re assumed you were smarter than that.

FTFY

82
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:38:29pm

So, Trump wanted no talk of climate change, so that was dropped.

What’s next?

G20 financial leaders acquiesce to U.S., drop free trade pledge

Trump really would like the world like it was pre-WWI - prepped for global war.

83
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:38:29pm

re: #74 freetoken

Pretty much all I can do is try to poke my relatives in Trump-land.

Here, all my political leaders are already against the bigotry-fueled deconstruction form Bannon et. al. so there’s really no one left in politics for me to convince. At most perhaps I can lend some help to those over in Issa’s district, in the hopes of unseating him.

It’s really up to all you living with Republican Senators or Reps - to flip those seats, or at least convince your incumbents to at least listen to your pleas.

The likes of Ryan and other Republicans have no need to listen to one iota of anything I might say - they are not beholden to me.

Commenting on blogs/twitter/facebook - I find mostly gets me nowhere. There isn’t really much of a conversation. At best one can make someone else angry.

I’ve been sending postcards to Ryan and various republican committee chairs anyway. It felt good to tell Ryan that I think he’s sick for thinking it’s a great idea to make healthcare disappear for 24 million people. A postcard and a stamp cost less than 60 cents.

84
A Cranky One  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:38:35pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Argh.

[Embedded content]

That’s it, mock the folks who complain about the planes spraying us with dihydrogen monoxide! Do YOU want to breathe air full of industrial solvent, that’s responsible for thousands of deaths every year?

/∞

85
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:40:20pm

re: #83 stpaulbear

I’ve been sending postcards to dems too. My reps, Pelosi, Schumer, and ranking committee members.

86
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:41:42pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Argh.

[Embedded content]

I knew what those were when I was 5. In 1958.

87
jaunte  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:42:48pm

Richardson TX — U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, faced a raucous town hall Saturday as he sought to defend the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare

“…Before taking questions, Sessions attempted to explain the GOP plan with a PowerPoint slideshow. The effort was largely unsuccessful, again due to the crowd reaction.

“You know what? I know why you’re so frustrated: You don’t know how to listen,” Sessions said amid the negative feedback, inviting a new round of boos.

“I know how to listen,” Sessions added a short time later.”
texastribune.org

88
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:43:28pm

re: #87 jaunte

Richardson TX — U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Dallas, faced a raucous town hall Saturday as he sought to defend the GOP’s plan to repeal and replace Obamacare

What a patronizing boob.

89
Shiplord Kirel  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:43:37pm

re: #75 Charles Johnson

Argh.

90
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:43:53pm

I posted earlier about the slaughter of the Somali refugees.

Sure enough, not unexpectedly, the ugly that is Breitbart surfaces like clockwork:

Calvin Abbott • 3 hours ago
I hope no one thinks shooting Somalians is a Bad thing.
1

vettehead • 4 hours ago
Send more bullets!
2

Donafugata • 5 hours ago
Who’s that white bot at the helm?
A POS from an NGO makng sure the invaders arrive safely?

One piece of lead into the rubber dinghy is all it would take.
2 •

And that is barely the beginning…

91
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:44:09pm

re: #82 freetoken

So, Trump wanted no talk of climate change, so that was dropped.

What’s next?

G20 financial leaders acquiesce to U.S., drop free trade pledge

Trump really would like the world like it was pre-WWI - prepped for global war.

Yep and everyone fearful and suspicious of each other.

92
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:44:45pm

re: #90 freetoken

I posted earlier about the slaughter of the Somali refugees.

Sure enough, not unexpectedly, the ugly that is Breitbart surfaces like clockwork:

And that is barely the beginning…

Breitbart commentors, Stormfront commentors. No real difference. Same terrible people.

93
Timothy Watson  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:46:11pm

Saw this on the road on Thursday:

94
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:46:43pm

re: #82 freetoken

So, Trump wanted no talk of climate change, so that was dropped.

What’s next?

G20 financial leaders acquiesce to U.S., drop free trade pledge

Trump really would like the world like it was pre-WWI - prepped for global war.

The other spin is that Trump is basically turning the US into a pariah state, opening the way for Russia and China to exploit our absence by creating new trade alliances. Why deal with pissants in D.C. who will not listen to any plan that does not give them all the benefits when you can work a deal with China that’s mutually beneficial?

95
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:46:49pm

re: #93 Timothy Watson

Saw this on the road on Thursday:

[Embedded content]

You probably should wipe out the license plate number.

96
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:47:26pm

re: #93 Timothy Watson

Saw this on the road on Thursday:

[Embedded content]

LOL at the “MBF” on the license plate!

97
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:47:32pm

re: #94 Targetpractice

The other spin is that Trump is basically turning the US into a pariah state, opening the way for Russia and China to exploit our absence by creating new trade alliances. Why deal with pissants in D.C. who will not listen to any plan that does not give them all the benefits when you can work a deal with China that’s mutually beneficial?

Indeed and I think that’s what those left and right who wanted no TPP at all didn’t get.

98
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:49:02pm

“America First” does not say “We’re a mature nation-state who wishes to work together with other powers,” it says “We’re a bunch of petulant brats who want all the candy!”

99
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:49:24pm

re: #94 Targetpractice

Except that we’re still the largest economy, so we are not really a pariah. Everyone has to deal with us, which means dealing with Trump.

100
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:51:13pm

re: #99 freetoken

Except that we’re still the largest economy, so we are not really a pariah. Everyone has to deal with us, which means dealing with Trump.

He’s only been there for 2 months. Give him time.

101
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:52:01pm
102
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:52:31pm

re: #99 freetoken

Except that we’re still the largest economy, so we are not really a pariah. Everyone has to deal with us, which means dealing with Trump.

We’re the largest economy part because of the intricate web of trade and mutual defense that we spent decades building and maintaining. Now we’ve got a temperamental tyrant in the White House who sees trade as one-sided and defense as being only to our benefit. It doesn’t take long for countries like Russia and China, who have far larger populations and thus bigger consumer bases, to muscle into what used to be our backyard and start spinning deals with countries looking to get out from what their own citizens see as one-sided deals.

103
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:54:11pm
104
Shiplord Kirel  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:54:27pm

Needless to say, I was skeptical of this and had to check it out:

IT’S TRUE! The superstitious barbarians really, truly did say this.
2012 Texas GOP Platform

We oppose the teaching of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) (values clarification), critical thinking skills and similar programs that are simply a relabeling of Outcome-Based Education (OBE) (mastery learning) which focus on behavior modification and have the purpose of challenging the student’s fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority”

That is, they oppose anything that would de-couple young people from fundy Houses of Superstition and the yokel authority structure.

105
BeachDem  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:54:50pm

re: #48 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Well, that story was thoroughly nauseating.

Love how he describes how his very close friends “carry his bags” and that as kids, they didn’t get to eat if they didn’t compete (uh huh) and how the ever lovely Ivanka lied about a busted chandelier and blamed poor widdle Donny.

Glad I haven’t eaten yet or I’d be projectile vomiting.

106
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:55:36pm

re: #104 Shiplord Kirel

Needless to say, I was skeptical of this and had to check it out:

[Embedded content]

IT’S TRUE! The superstitious barbarians really, truly did say this.
2012 Texas GOP Platform

That is, they oppose anything that would de-couple young people from fundy Houses of Superstition and the yokel authority structure.

They really are afraid of people eventually challenging the views they were raised on. Fucking assholes.

107
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:56:06pm

re: #102 Targetpractice

Mostly what Russia will do other than cause problems for their neighboring countries, and if Trump’s America doesn’t push back, then those countries are screwed.

The real losers are all those places in the world, like Somalia, which need a stable world order built around justice, in order for them to eek out an existence. Otherwise millions will die.

And Trump doesn’t care. Trump’s America will not care that millions die. Indeed, as those Breitbart comments show, many in America will cheer the needless death of brown people.

108
Ace Rothstein  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:58:16pm

re: #101 Backwoods_Sleuth

For the last month, my brother has been of the mindset that the Trump voters in the rust belt and Appalachia deserve whatever is coming to them. I felt he was being a little too harsh. I changed my mind, and I hope they eat dog food.

109
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 2:59:38pm

re: #107 freetoken

Mostly what Russia will do other than cause problems for their neighboring countries, and if Trump’s America doesn’t push back, then those countries are screwed.

The real losers are all those places in the world, like Somalia, which need a stable world order built around justice, in order for them to eek out an existence. Otherwise millions will die.

And Trump doesn’t care. Trump’s America will not care that millions die. Indeed, as those Breitbart comments show, many in America will cheer the needles death of brown people.

Neo-isolationism is going to bite us in the ass hard. Not only are we going to see a downgrading in our way of life as trade deals either expire or are junked because this administration doesn’t any “benefit” (read: doesn’t directly help their buddies on Wall St), but countries like Russia and China are going to step in and negotiate their own exclusive deals that will leverage their larger consumer bases. And caught in the middle will be smaller countries, many of them reliant on the post-Cold War stability, who will find themselves at the mercy of modern-day robber barons looking to exploit their natural resources and to hell with the natives.

110
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:00:07pm

re: #108 Ace Rothstein

For the last month, my brother has been of the mindset that the Trump voters in the rust belt and Appalachia deserve whatever is coming to them. I felt he was being a little too harsh. I changed my mind, and I hope they eat dog food.

I just find myself increasingly out of sympathy for people who would not be upset at all if these cuts were targeting communities they did not like.

111
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:00:33pm

re: #103 JordanRules

Can’t wait to see what they ‘dig up’ on Rachel Maddow. Bannon will be all over it.

112
I cannot.  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:04:38pm

re: #111 stpaulbear

I hear she…likes girls.

113
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:05:46pm

re: #112 I cannot.

I hear she…likes girls.

Oh, man. Wait until that news gets out.

//

114
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:06:37pm

re: #112 I cannot.

Prolly listens to Pussy Riot too!

115
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:07:18pm

re: #109 Targetpractice

Trump has yet to do any real change to existing agreements. The treaties like NAFTA can only be changed by further agreements. Trump keeps dumping on NAFTA, but apparently he doesn’t realize that once the Senate approves a treaty it becomes law.

The killing of TPP was probably inevitable. What comes next is anyone’s guess… but I bet that the South American agriculture exporters find a way to get into an agreement with Asian buyers that give them a step up from US ag exporters. Then all my farmer relatives in Trump-land will discover that their grain prices have to be slashed for them to dump their product on the market… and around and around it goes.

Trump has yet to enter into any real negotiation. He’s all talk. Given global momentum, he can do that for a while. A year or two of G20 meetings can come and go and unless there is a world war nothing really will change.

Long term the erosion of American buying power won’t be seen until there is a noticeable change in the world order. And that may not happen during my lifetime. As I noted -unless there is a world-scaled war, things can just bumble along, and for us here in the US we’ll just gripe, while the poor people in other lands will die.

116
Stanley Sea  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:07:31pm

Villanova lost! RIP bracket.

117
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:08:29pm

re: #112 I cannot.

I hear she…likes girls.

Hopefully she’s never spent a night in a Russian hotel.

118
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:09:46pm

Chuck Berry died.

119
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:10:26pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

gah……

120
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:11:50pm

re: #115 freetoken

While I think a large war is more possible than in a long while your point about us bumbling along is understood within the global context. Domestically though it will be really bad for a lot of people.

121
stpaulbear  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:12:45pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

[Embedded content]

Ooofff. That’s a big one. Damn.

He did make it to 90 though.

122
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:13:13pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

[Embedded content]

Damn. RIP Chuck.

123
Barefoot Grin  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:13:33pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

[Embedded content]

He was one of the important sources for the music that changed my life as kid. I’ll admit that, like many, it was filtered through the Beatles and the Stones, but later I was able to go back to the source(s) and appreciate Chuck and others for what they did.

124
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:15:55pm
125
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:16:18pm

re: #115 freetoken

Trump has yet to do any real change to existing agreements. The treaties like NAFTA can only be changed by further agreements. Trump keeps dumping on NAFTA, but apparently he doesn’t realize that once the Senate approves a treaty it becomes law.

The killing of TPP was probably inevitable. What comes next is anyone’s guess… but I bet that the South American agriculture exporters find a way to get into an agreement with Asian buyers that give them a step up from US ag exporters. Then all my farmer relatives in Trump-land will discover that their grain prices have to be slashed for them to dump their product on the market… and around and around it goes.

Trump has yet to enter into any real negotiation. He’s all talk. Given global momentum, he can do that for a while. A year or two of G20 meetings can come and go and unless there is a world war nothing really will change.

Long term the erosion of American buying power won’t be seen until there is a noticeable change in the world order. And that may not happen during my lifetime. As I noted -unless there is a world-scaled war, things can just bumble along, and for us here in the US we’ll just gripe, while the poor people in other lands will die.

Any student of history will tell you that what seems obvious in hindsight is never so when viewed from the past. So while we will not see an immediate shift in America’s power and prestige, the stage will be set as we begin abandoning our responsibilities to embrace “America First.” Already we’re seeing future scientists, engineers, and doctors seeking out friendlier nations because of the growing hostility in America towards “foreigners.” As that ratchets up, we’re going to experience a “brain drain” that will mean the next great innovations will go to rival nations. China’s already working to become the chief exporter of green/alternative energies, while we bitterly cling to fossil fuels and dub global warming a “hoax.”

126
retired cynic  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:16:20pm

re: #123 Barefoot Grin

He performed right up until recently, too, I understand.

127
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:17:42pm

re: #126 retired cynic

He performed right up until recently, too, I understand.

I remember him still playing gigs as recently as a couple years ago in his hometown of St. Louis.

128
William Lewis  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:18:37pm

Damn.

The Best of Chuck Berry.

Volume max.

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode

129
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:19:04pm
130
retired cynic  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:19:05pm

A good read from Nancy Letourneau in Washington Monthly:

washingtonmonthly.com

‘…since the election, Trump has gone completely silent about what is happening with ISIS in Mosul. Yesterday we got another report that probably explains that silence.

‘Islamic State fighters are in disarray and struggling to fend off a rapid offensive by Iraqi forces to recapture Mosul and expel the militants from their last major stronghold in the country, a top U.S. military official said.

“They’re lacking purpose motivation and direction,” Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin said in a phone interview from Baghdad. “I’ve never seen them so disorganized.”

The pace of the battle reflects dramatic improvements in Iraq’s military and its ability to coordinate operations with a U.S.-led air campaign, which is pounding the militants at a record pace.

“You’re watching ISIS be annihilated,” Martin said of the militant group.

‘In other words, everything Trump said about ISIS in Iraq and the battle to re-take Mosul was wrong.’

131
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:19:18pm

re: #112 I cannot.

I hear she…likes girls.

Something else we agree on.

132
Shiplord Kirel  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:20:26pm

I think we are headed for civil war and national disintegration, which was Russia’s goal in supporting Trump and the RW conspiracy industry in general.

Will low class dupes fight as hard for superstition and theocracy as they did for slavery 150 years ago? I suspect not, but given their self destructive voting patterns, I would rather not put it to the test.

133
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:20:57pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

[Embedded content]

When I think of the sheer impact he and Little Richard had on popular music, I still can’t wrap my brain around it. There were lots of other icons of early RnR, but those two….

134
Major Tom  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:21:15pm

re: #132 Shiplord Kirel

I’m currently writing a (fiction?) story about this now.

135
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:22:11pm

espn.com
Respect.

136
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:24:22pm

re: #132 Shiplord Kirel

We are so tightly interconnected that I can’t see us falling apart politically any time soon.

Sure, once enough years go by then anything can happen. Maybe in the year 2117, if a dystopic vision comes to pass and we don’t transition off of fossil fuels fast enough, and nuclear wars become the way for nations to try and survive. In such a Mad Max scenario then our political union can easily disintegrate.

But for now, I think we’ll just bitch among ourselves and call each other names.

137
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:24:26pm

re: #133 makeitstop

When I think of the sheer impact he and Little Richard had on popular music, I still can’t wrap my brain around it. There were lots of other icons of early RnR, but those two….

Look at how enamored and awestruck these kids are of Little Richard, who’s still kickin’ around.

138
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:25:07pm

re: #135 HappyWarrior

Good stuff Colin!

139
Stanley Sea  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:25:16pm

re: #129 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

140
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:26:06pm

re: #138 JordanRules

Good stuff Colin!

Yeah very admirable. I broke my own rule again- read the comments. Man some people fucking suck.

141
JordanRules  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:26:25pm
142
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:26:53pm

re: #137 teleskiguy

Look at how enamored and awestruck these kids are of Little Richard, who’s still kickin’ around.

[Embedded content]

I always love it when the greats get to meet their heroes. It shows they too are fans like the rest of us. Too bad Keith never met Robert Johnson. Can you imagine that jam session?

143
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:27:07pm

I guessed correctly!

Nursing

144
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:27:12pm

re: #139 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

He was busy seeing the kids, grandkids, and 100+ SS guys off for their Aspen fun. Then there was the golf game. You people ask too much.

///

145
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:28:21pm

@Gus_802 just reminded me of a tweet o’ mine from last year.

2017 finished the job. 😔

146
retired cynic  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:28:32pm

re: #136 freetoken

We are so tightly interconnected that I can’t see us falling apart politically any time soon.

Sure, once enough years go by then anything can happen. Maybe in the year 2117, if a dystopic vision comes to pass and we don’t transition off of fossil fuels fast enough, and nuclear wars become the way for nations to try and survive. In such a Mad Max scenario then our political union can easily disintegrate.

But for now, I think we’ll just bitch among ourselves and call each other names.

Mostly I think most of the big mouths are too lazy and too self-centered to put themselves in harm’s way.

147
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:28:55pm

re: #130 retired cynic

A good read from Nancy Letourneau in Washington Monthly:

washingtonmonthly.com

‘…since the election, Trump has gone completely silent about what is happening with ISIS in Mosul. Yesterday we got another report that probably explains that silence.

‘Islamic State fighters are in disarray and struggling to fend off a rapid offensive by Iraqi forces to recapture Mosul and expel the militants from their last major stronghold in the country, a top U.S. military official said.

“They’re lacking purpose motivation and direction,” Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin said in a phone interview from Baghdad. “I’ve never seen them so disorganized.”

The pace of the battle reflects dramatic improvements in Iraq’s military and its ability to coordinate operations with a U.S.-led air campaign, which is pounding the militants at a record pace.

“You’re watching ISIS be annihilated,” Martin said of the militant group.

‘In other words, everything Trump said about ISIS in Iraq and the battle to re-take Mosul was wrong.’

When the liberation of Mosul is announced, expect Trump to step up and accept the total credit for it and his “brilliant leadership.” Then totally rewrite history to say that American intervention is what led to success and not the stronger Iraqi Army, and that what we need to wipe out ISIS is not to support the locals but to have American troops do the fighting in their stead.

148
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:29:51pm

re: #125 Targetpractice

Earlier today I was reading a story about a college, in Arkansas I believe, which is renaming their Physics department as the Physics and Engineering department, to emphasize STEM and so their students with these degrees have a better chance of getting a job.

Basically, it’s an admission that an academic field like physics is something which for them is not the future. Rather, they want to turn out students who will make good minions for corporations.

This is one of my concerns about the very acronym “STEM” and the motivation behind it - viewing knowledge and people through the lens of economic function.

Anyway, this is Trump’s America - a person has value only in so far as a corporation has use for them.

So yes, in such a myopic state our true wealth, which is people, will diminish.

149
HappyWarrior  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:31:00pm

Conservatives love to rag on the liberal arts majors but I think there’s too many business majors. Entrepreneurial skills are important obviously but we need all sorts of people in society.

150
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:32:09pm

re: #148 freetoken

Earlier today I was reading a story about a college, in Arkansas I believe, which is renaming their Physics department as the Physics and Engineering department, to emphasize STEM and so their students with these degrees have a better chance of getting a job.

Basically, it’s an admission that an academic field like physics is something which for them is not the future. Rather, they want to turn out students who will make good minions for corporations.

This is one of my concerns about the very acronym “STEM” and the motivation behind it - viewing knowledge and people through the lens of economic function.

Anyway, this is Trump’s America - a person has value on in so far as a corporation has use for them.

So yes, in such a myopic state our true wealth, which is people, will diminish.

That’s why I tossed my Theology studies for the lucrative world of Cultural Anthropology.

151
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:33:30pm

re: #150 Decatur Deb

That’s why I tossed my Theology studies for the lucrative world of Cultural Anthropology.

Son of Erick would see you as a fallen one…

152
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:35:23pm

re: #151 freetoken

Son of Erick would see you as a fallen one…

My graduating class of 5 produced a Cardinal and another Archbishop. I could have been rich, I tells ya’, RICH.

153
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:35:34pm

re: #148 freetoken

Earlier today I was reading a story about a college, in Arkansas I believe, which is renaming their Physics department as the Physics and Engineering department, to emphasize STEM and so their students with these degrees have a better chance of getting a job.

Basically, it’s an admission that an academic field like physics is something which for them is not the future. Rather, they want to turn out students who will make good minions for corporations.

This is one of my concerns about the very acronym “STEM” and the motivation behind it - viewing knowledge and people through the lens of economic function.

Anyway, this is Trump’s America - a person has value on in so far as a corporation has use for them.

So yes, in such a myopic state our true wealth, which is people, will diminish.

It rather feels like the spirit of the 80s, where your only worth was what you added to the company, is making a comeback. Perhaps that’s why they felt now was the perfect time to make a sequel to Blade Runner.

154
Hecuba's daughter  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:38:43pm

re: #2 Nyet

Look at this type.

[Embedded content]

My mother was a tech sergeant in WWII, stationed in Europe, working in Medical Intelligence. Several years ago, my sister investigated the responsibilities of this unit and discovered that after VE day, they evaluated the “research” done by the Nazi doctors; their official report stated that there was nothing of merit in the Nazi medical findings.

155
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:38:54pm

Charles, I went to log in this afternoon and it said your SSL certificate is expired. Just a heads up.

156
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:38:54pm

re: #148 freetoken

Earlier today I was reading a story about a college, in Arkansas I believe, which is renaming their Physics department as the Physics and Engineering department, to emphasize STEM and so their students with these degrees have a better chance of getting a job.

Basically, it’s an admission that an academic field like physics is something which for them is not the future. Rather, they want to turn out students who will make good minions for corporations.

This is one of my concerns about the very acronym “STEM” and the motivation behind it - viewing knowledge and people through the lens of economic function.

Anyway, this is Trump’s America - a person has value only in so far as a corporation has use for them.

So yes, in such a myopic state our true wealth, which is people, will diminish.

In fairness, when students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of debt being able to earn a good living isn’t an unreasonable desire.

157
William Lewis  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:40:09pm

re: #150 Decatur Deb

That’s why I tossed my Theology studies for the lucrative world of Cultural Anthropology.

I never finished my degree though honestly, how far would an english lit/philosophy double major have really gotten me? Write a best selling novel about the life of Ludwig Wittgenstein in blank verse? LOL!

158
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:41:30pm

re: #137 teleskiguy

Look at how enamored and awestruck these kids are of Little Richard, who’s still kickin’ around.

[Embedded content]

Exactly. Without Berry and Penniman, who would the Beatles have emulated? Or Keith? Or Prince?

What a footprint. What a legacy.

159
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:41:35pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

Looks like 2017’s on track to suck just as bad as, if not worse than, 2016…

160
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:43:05pm

re: #157 William Lewis

I never finished my degree though honestly, how far would an english lit/philosophy double major have really gotten me? Write a best selling novel about the life of Ludwig Wittgenstein in blank verse? LOL!

There is a movie, Yes, about the life of an Iranian chef in London. It is (mostly) iambic pentameter.

imdb.com

Gotta stay off the high channels at 0300.

161
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:43:20pm

re: #156 allegro

In fairness, when students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of debt being able to earn a good living isn’t an unreasonable desire.

Understand. It’s pretty clear that new graduates often have way too much debt.

I went to a very large school, so the Engineering people had their own college, and the physics people were in the large science and humanities college (where it belongs.)

The school I referenced in my post just struck a nerve with me, though. Really, the physics people, if not big enough to be their own department, ought to be just lumped in with the chemists and the rest of the scientists. All science is fundamentally the same as far as an academic field. Then the college in question can just start a new department called “Engineering”, so people who want to be engineers can get engineering degrees.

162
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:43:35pm

If you’re bored and in the Los Angeles area, my favorite touring rock ‘n’ roll circus Umphrey’s McGee is playing at The Wiltern tonight and tickets are still available. They’ll probably play a Chuck Berry tune.

163
petesh  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:44:58pm

re: #137 teleskiguy

Look at how enamored and awestruck these kids are of Little Richard, who’s still kickin’ around.

[Embedded content]

The Beatles actually met Richard before they made it; he played the same strip, if not the same club, in Hamburg, and also toured Britain. He always paid his respects back in return. Though he might perhaps not admit that Paul actually matched him on Long Tall Sally.

Worth noting also, this sad day, that George damn near matched Chuck on Roll Over Beethoven. Between George and Keith, Chuck got a big boost from the Brits, which of course he assumed he thoroughly deserved. As he did. RIP.

164
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:45:23pm

re: #161 freetoken

Understand. It’s pretty clear that new graduates often have way too much debt.

I went to a very large school, so the Engineering people had their own college, and the physics people were in the large science and humanities college (where it belongs.)

The school I referenced in my post just struck a nerve with me, though. Really, the physics people, if not big enough to be their own department, ought to be just lumped in with the chemists and the rest of the scientists. All science is fundamentally the same as far as an academic field. Then the college in question can just start a new department called “Engineering”, so people who want to be engineers can get engineering degrees.

Ah, I see your point.

165
William Lewis  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:45:27pm

re: #160 Decatur Deb

There is a movie, Yes, about the life of an Iranian chef in London. It is (mostly) iambic pentameter.

imdb.com

Gotta stay off the high channels at 0300.

Heh. Thanks for the pointer, I have to find that one now.

166
ObserverArt  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:45:40pm

re: #118 teleskiguy

Chuck Berry died.

[Embedded content]

R.I.P. Chuck.

Johnie B. Goode tonight.

167
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:47:26pm

Here is a dilemma many small colleges face - they can’t support a separate physics department.

The philosophers already have gone down this path. And the historians are seeing something similar.

Put simply, so many people go to college, but ultimately most of them want to get a job and are looking for degrees that have some sort of cachet out in the “real world”, for getting a job.

That’s why there are so many business majors, and comp sci majors. Lots of jobs.

I guess this is a 21st century problem. We should not look to the past to have the answer.

168
Hecuba's daughter  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:50:38pm

re: #156 allegro

In fairness, when students are graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of debt being able to earn a good living isn’t an unreasonable desire.

If we actually had a decent President (Hillary) and a decent party in control of Congress (Democrats), we might be able to return to the days when the government funded education for hard scientists and provided careers for them. The only hope right now to prevent a return to the Dark Ages may be the Chinese who seem to be really interested in the future and not reverting to superstition.

169
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:52:47pm

re: #142 HappyWarrior

I always love it when the greats get to meet their heroes. It shows they too are fans like the rest of us. Too bad Keith never met Robert Johnson. Can you imagine that jam session?

But Keef got up close and personal with Chuck. Maybe too close for Keef…

Chuck Berry Punched Keith Richards in the Face

170
Shiplord Kirel  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:53:30pm

re: #136 freetoken

We are so tightly interconnected that I can’t see us falling apart politically any time soon.

Sure, once enough years go by then anything can happen. Maybe in the year 2117, if a dystopic vision comes to pass and we don’t transition off of fossil fuels fast enough, and nuclear wars become the way for nations to try and survive. In such a Mad Max scenario then our political union can easily disintegrate.

But for now, I think we’ll just bitch among ourselves and call each other names.

What will happen is that the states will become dramatically different from each other as GOP agitation destroys federal power and more and more authority devolves to the states themselves. The differences will be in education, civil rights, and economic opportunity. We are already at the point where conservative state officials openly defy the federal courts and this can only increase as the federal executive itself undermines the courts and their authority. Some states will prosper, not least because of talented people fleeing the conservative ones, while others will stagnate and regress, with minimum wage economies, endless privilege for the rich, suppression of minorities, and theocratic propaganda in place of education.
When, and whether, this will lead to an actual political rupture is anybody’s guess, but the effect will be same. Foreigners may start distinguishing between “blue America” and “red America.” They may already be doing so.

171
Belafon  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:54:38pm

re: #70 JordanRules

Good reminder from Sarah.

[Embedded content]

We should drop fliers about that one at Republican locations. The Republican party here has a yearly party celebrating Reagan.

172
EmmaAnne  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:54:48pm

re: #154 Hecuba’s daughter

My mother was a tech sergeant in WWII, stationed in Europe, working in Medical Intelligence. Several years ago, my sister investigated the responsibilities of this unit and discovered that after VE day, they evaluated the “research” done by the Nazi doctors; their official report stated that there was nothing of merit in the Nazi medical findings.

My father in law, who was a doctor and did a lot of research into the Nazi “medical” experiments, said the same thing. They weren’t doing science - they wer just torturing people and pretending it was science.

173
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:55:06pm

re: #170 Shiplord Kirel

What will happen is that the states will become dramatically different from each other as GOP agitation destroys federal power and more and more authority devolves to the states themselves. The differences will be in education, civil rights, and economic opportunity. We are already at the point where conservative state officials openly defy the federal courts and this can only increase as the federal executive itself undermines the courts and their authority. Some states will prosper, not least because of talented people fleeing the conservative ones, while others will stagnate and regress, with minimum wage economies, endless privilege for the rich, suppression of minorities, and theocratic propaganda in place of education.
When, and whether, this will lead to an actual political rupture is anybody’s guess, but the effect will be same. Foreigners may start distinguishing between “blue America” and “red America.” They may already be doing so.

All y’all will become Alabama. You’re going to love the BBQ.

174
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:57:35pm

re: #168 Hecuba’s daughter

If we actually had a decent President (Hillary) and a decent party in control of Congress (Democrats), we might be able to return to the days when the government funded education for hard scientists and provided careers for them. The only hope right now to prevent a return to the Dark Ages may be the Chinese who seem to be really interested in the future and not reverting to superstition.

I think it isn’t just the hard sciences. We need historians, artists, actual journalists, sociologists, anthropologists, librarians, etc. We are losing them fast because of the real costs of both college degrees and the corporate culture that makes those degrees lifetimes of crushing debt without the means of repaying them. We used to, as a country, understand that a liberal arts degree had value.

175
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 3:58:17pm

re: #174 allegro

I think it isn’t just the hard sciences. We need historians, artists, actual journalists, sociologists, anthropologists, librarians, etc. We are losing them fast because of the real costs of both college degrees and the corporate culture that makes those degrees lifetimes of crushing debt without the means of repaying them. We used to, as a country, understand that a liberal arts degree had value.

BUTBUTBUT IT HAS THE WORD LIBRUL IN IT THAT MEANS IT IS EBIL!!!! AND TEH LIBRUL ARTS ARE USELESS, WE NEED MORE JERBS!!!!

176
ObserverArt  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:00:08pm

re: #173 Decatur Deb

All y’all will become Alabama. You’re going to love the BBQ.

Will it be free and state supported, then delivered by BBQ on Wheels?

177
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:01:10pm

re: #173 Decatur Deb

All y’all will become Alabama. You’re going to love the BBQ.

*perks up* Did someone say BBQ?!

178
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:01:22pm

re: #176 ObserverArt

Will it be free and state supported, then delivered by BBQ on Wheels?

Delivery is only for the Undeserving Rich.

179
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:01:25pm

re: #177 Targetpractice

*perks up* Did someone say BBQ?!

OMGWTFBRBBBQ

180
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:03:07pm
181
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:03:10pm

Damn now I want to gnaw on baby back ribs.

182
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:03:24pm

re: #168 Hecuba’s daughter

When I graduated from college, a long time ago, I had a little debt but easily managed. But I had to go to work and not grad school. Probably a major life-mistake on my part (but I did go back later for a professional Master’s degree…)

Everyone has to make choices, and they often involve money. Very few of us get inheritances that let us do whatever we want.

Anyway, when I graduated there were too many physics majors, not enough first run grad school scholarships. I could have gone to a smaller school and gotten some support (like most grad students), but living off of slave wages for 5 or 6 years with no guarantee of a job wasn’t a very good choice for me. And after 45 straight months of college (every summer - in order to pull off the double major and minor) I was burnt out. Still, even if I wanted to dive into a physics specialty, there were too many applicants at all the choice schools.

And too many Ph.D.’s being handed out at that time too.

Today, now, the field finds itself in a different predicament. While lamenting the lack of women in the field, the problem is the aging professors, which seems like an opportunity for new grads… but then the real problem becomes one of funding. If the granting mechanism was worked in part by whom one knew (it always does), one can see the problem when a well connected professor retires. He (and they are mostly men) also then stops bringing in the money to pay for the cost of educating grad students.

The post WWII emphasis on science as necessary for national survival meant large federal investments, meaning many jobs for scientists. Reagan put an end to some of that, and since then there has been a slow atrophy.

Medical fields have expanded and the bio-folk have seen a growth, but now that too will come to an end under Trump.

As I wrote before, this is a 21st century problem. Previous centuries didn’t come to his point, where we seem to collectively decide that we know enough and that would should spend less on gathering knowledge. Have we reached peak-science? I don’t know.

If I were to advise a young person anything, is this: whatever you choose, be sure to become very, very good at it. Competition will be tight for funds, and only the best will survive.

Either that, or you have to be born into money.

183
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:04:32pm

I’ve actually got four chicken breasts soaked in barbecue in the slow cooker as we speak. Gonna have some sammiches and beans and coleslaw.

184
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:05:01pm

re: #183 teleskiguy

I’ve actually got four chicken breasts soaked in barbecue in the slow cooker as we speak. Gonna have some sammiches and beans and coleslaw.

I, in the meantime, did a homemade pizza with crescent roll dough, pasta sauce, ham, and pepperoni.

185
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:05:19pm

Now are we talking vinegar or tomato-based BBQ here?

186
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:06:28pm

re: #185 Targetpractice

I’m all about the vinegar.

187
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:06:31pm

re: #185 Targetpractice

Now are we talking vinegar or tomato-based BBQ here?

Why do the craziest mofo states do the best BBQ?

188
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:10:24pm

Anybody at LGF been to a Moe’s Original Bar B Que? They got their start here in Colorado and now they have over 50 locations across the country. I’ve skied with the founders a few times.

189
Belafon  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:10:28pm

re: #101 Backwoods_Sleuth

190
allegro  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:10:29pm

Before you guys give me cravings I can’t ignore to make me go fetch BBQ, I’m gonna retreat with a glass of wine and this evening’s opera, Norma, for some druid-on-druid action. :)

191
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:11:06pm

re: #189 Belafon

[Embedded content]

Congrats, Trumpers, you played yourselves!

192
Blind Frog Belly White  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:11:50pm

re: #131 Decatur Deb

Something else we agree on.

I don’t care if Rachel bats for the other team, that woman is HAWT! Smart women are hot!

193
makeitstop  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:12:56pm

re: #188 teleskiguy

Anybody at LGF been to a Moe’s Original Bar B Que? They got their start here in Colorado and now they have over 50 locations across the country. I’ve skied with the founders a few times.

As I was reading this, Big Moe appeared on my TV in an ad for somebody’s BBQ pizza. Papa John’s, I think.

194
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:14:36pm

re: #190 allegro

Before you guys give me cravings I can’t ignore to make me go fetch BBQ, I’m gonna retreat with a glass of wine and this evening’s opera, Norma, for some druid-on-druid action. :)

Don’t need more BBQ. Spent the afternoon at (another) Alabama Democrat How-the-Fuck-Do-We-Get-Out-of-This picnic.

195
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:18:47pm
196
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:24:11pm

re: #192 Blind Frog Belly White

I don’t care if Rachel bats for the other team, that woman is HAWT! Smart women are hot!

Big brains drive me nuts…Natalie Portman and Danica McKellar also make me drool.

197
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:24:50pm

re: #193 makeitstop

As I was reading this, Big Moe appeared on my TV in an ad for somebody’s BBQ pizza. Papa John’s, I think.

Yeah, I’ve saw that ad a couple of times over the past few days.

198
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:25:37pm

re: #152 Decatur Deb

My graduating class of 5 produced a Cardinal and another Archbishop. I could have been rich, I tells ya’, RICH.

Or, you could have had your choice of altar boys…

///extremely

199
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:26:11pm

re: #192 Blind Frog Belly White

I don’t care if Rachel bats for the other team, that woman is HAWT! Smart women are hot!

I like smart women, but I like smart women with spirit even more. Enter Mrs. Fish. It also brings me enjoyment to see cute nerd girls cropping up on the latest rounds of superhero shows.

200
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:26:42pm

A day late here, but there’s corned beef, cabbage, taties and carrots in the crockpot, and soda bread in the oven.

mmmmmmmmmmm

201
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:26:43pm

re: #174 allegro

We used to, as a country, understand that a liberal arts degree had value.

Yes, be we need to look at that in the light of the times.

America in the 18th century would have been mostly illiterate. Many women did not go to school, and the boys who did get schooling often only had the basic education of reading. Slaves - don’t even think about educating them.

19th century: school construction becomes more wide spread. Girls go to school. Many people get through 8th grade. By the end of the century the majority of Americans could read, at least.

Early 20th century - the gadgets produced by the industrial revolution change society. All of a sudden academic fields explode with discoveries. Being smart was “in”.

WWII - “the bomb” changes the world, and the bomb makers (physicist greatly) become mini-gods in the eyes of establishment.

Cultural revolution - the liberal arts become “liberal” in a more modern political sense and the wider American society sees colleges as the enemy.

Post cultural revolution (today) - the gullible ones in society still buy the idea that academia are the enemy because of [abortion] (plug in your favorite social warfare topic). So we elect a President who makes sure not to speak over an elementary-school level language.

I don’t know where we’ll go from here. The idiocracy looms… but I want to believe that being “smart” will come back into style.

202
ObserverArt  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:29:21pm

re: #188 teleskiguy

Anybody at LGF been to a Moe’s Original Bar B Que? They got their start here in Colorado and now they have over 50 locations across the country. I’ve skied with the founders a few times.

I see there is one in Granville Ohio, a small town just east of Columbus by about 30 miles and home to Denison University.

If I am out in that area, I’ll have to check it out.

203
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:30:21pm

re: #201 freetoken

I don’t know where we’ll go from here. The idiocracy looms… but I want to believe that being “smart” will come back into style.

204
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:30:25pm

re: #200 Backwoods_Sleuth

A day late here, but there’s corned beef, cabbage, taties and carrots in the crockpot, and soda bread in the oven.

mmmmmmmmmmm

Mrs. Fish’s mom makes a full Irish spread every year. I think she did a little bit before I moved north, but after I married into the family, she made St. Patrick’s Day a huge affair. Apparently I’m the favorite son-in-law or something.

205
William Lewis  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:30:58pm

re: #190 allegro

Before you guys give me cravings I can’t ignore to make me go fetch BBQ, I’m gonna retreat with a glass of wine and this evening’s opera, Norma, for some druid-on-druid action. :)

Why did I read that as Droid on Droid action?

206
Moebym  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:31:19pm

re: #195 teleskiguy

Betcha this guy likes to believe that women find him irresistible, but unfortunately (for him) is not even 1/1000 as charismatic, attractive, or skilled in espionage, sharpshooting, and martial arts as 007.

207
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:31:23pm
208
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:31:37pm

re: #206 Moebym

Betcha this guy thinks he’s a real ladies’ man, but unfortunately (for him) is not even 1/1000 as charismatic, attractive, or skilled in espionage and martial arts as 007.

Probably a MRA.

209
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:33:23pm
210
wrenchwench  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:33:32pm

re: #201 freetoken

Yes, be we need to look at that in the light of the times.

America in the 18th century would have been mostly illiterate. Many women did not go to school, and the boys who did get schooling often only had the basic education of reading. Slaves - don’t even think about educating them.

19th century: school construction becomes more wide spread. Girls go to school. Many people get through 8th grade. By the end of the century the majority of Americans could read, at least.

Early 20th century - the gadgets produced by the industrial revolution change society. All of a sudden academic fields explode with discoveries. Being smart was “in”.

WWII - “the bomb” changes the world, and the bomb makers (physicist greatly) become mini-gods in the eyes of establishment.

Cultural revolution - the liberal arts become “liberal” in a more modern political sense and the wider American society sees colleges as the enemy.

Post cultural revolution (today) - the gullible ones in society still buy the idea that academia are the enemy because of [abortion] (plug in your favorite social warfare topic). So we elect a President who makes sure not to speak over an elementary-school level language.

I don’t know where we’ll go from here. The idiocracy looms… but I want to believe that being “smart” will come back into style.

GI Bill—>more people not born to money go to college

Sputnik—>National Defense Student Loans

211
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:33:32pm

re: #198 TedStriker

Or, you could have had your choice of altar boys…

///extremely

Nah. My classmate, Patrick, is the one in charge of taking the fun out of altar boys.

catholicnewsagency.com

212
Eclectic Cyborg  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:33:53pm

re: #205 William Lewis

Why did I read that as Droid on Droid action?

That does not sound like the droids I am looking for…

//

213
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:34:21pm

re: #209 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Somebody has to clean up the numerous piles of excrement the President keeps leaving on the floor…

/Or his “close advisor” the Rage Furby

214
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:38:27pm

T-Minus 4 & holding (programmed hold)

LIVE Launch Broadcast: Delta IV WGS-9

215
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:39:50pm

re: #214 FormerDirtDart

T-Minus 4 & holding (programmed hold)

[Embedded content]

Go for launch, count will commence in approx. 2 minutes

216
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:39:58pm

re: #211 Decatur Deb

Nah. My classmate, Patrick, is the one in charge of taking the fun out of altar boys.

catholicnewsagency.com

Does he have clubs, bludgeons, and other assorted implements of destruction to use on the pedo-priests?

217
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:40:35pm

re: #214 FormerDirtDart

T-Minus 4 & holding (programmed hold)

[Embedded content]

Is this a Heavy?

218
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:40:40pm

One of the big problems, I think, for the future of our society, is how we treat schooling in general.

Instead of the first 12 years of schooling being high-structured baby-sitting, I’d much rather see us spend all that money on letting the students follow their hearts.

Everyone is interested in something. Let them study it, become good at it.

Even the basic tools such as reading will be enhanced if a person is following their passion. They will want to read about their passion. Etc.

Take music as an example. How many school districts are eliminating music programs?

Why not let a student study and practice music for an hour or two during the day?

Let the children blossom in whatever they are gifted. Stop trying to force them to be all alike.

219
Decatur Deb  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:40:47pm

re: #216 TedStriker

Does he have clubs, bludgeons, and other assorted implements of destruction to use on the pedo-priests?

No one expects the Boston Inquisition.

220
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:41:42pm

re: #195 teleskiguy

Why do they always load up their bios with dumbass hashtags? Man, am I ever sick of these wingnuts.

221
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:42:17pm

re: #220 Charles Johnson

Why do they always load up their bios with dumbass hashtags? Man, am I ever sick of these wingnuts.

It’s a mating call to other wingnuts. They’re asserting their alpha dominance.

222
TedStriker  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:43:04pm

re: #220 Charles Johnson

Why do they always load up their bios with dumbass hashtags? Man, am I ever sick of these wingnuts.

re: #221 thedopefishlives

It’s a mating call to other wingnuts. They’re asserting their alpha dominance.

Exactly…wingnut plumage.

223
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:43:20pm

re: #217 thedopefishlives

Is this a Heavy?

ULA Delta 4, think it’s classified as a medium system

problem with tower swing arm, hold continued

224
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:44:09pm

re: #223 FormerDirtDart

ULA Delta 4, think it’s classified as a medium system

problem with tower swing arm, hold continued

Standard Delta IV is a medium, but it comes in a Heavy variant (which I think is currently the highest-capacity lifting vehicle in active service, but I could be wrong). Just a minor curiosity.

225
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:44:34pm
226
wrenchwench  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:44:45pm

re: #218 freetoken

One of the big problems, I think, for the future of our society, is how we treat schooling in general.

Instead of the first 12 years of schooling being high-structured baby-sitting, I’d much rather see us spend all that money on letting the students follow their hearts.

Everyone is interested in something. Let them study it, become good at it.

Even the basic tools such as reading will be enhanced if a person is following their passion. They will want to read about their passion. Etc.

Take music as an example. How many school districts are eliminating music programs?

Why not let a student study and practice music for an hou or two during the day?

Let the children blossom in whatever they are gifted. Stop trying to force them to be all alike.

Agreed. One of the features of schooling that has had the worst results is channeling; forcing poor and other kids into vocational schooling and reserving the college-prep for the rich and white.

227
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:47:51pm

re: #224 thedopefishlives

Standard Delta IV is a medium, but it comes in a Heavy variant (which I think is currently the highest-capacity lifting vehicle in active service, but I could be wrong). Just a minor curiosity.

reading up, Delta IV Heavy’s use 3 common booster cores. Only one used today, so medium

228
Anymouse  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:48:08pm

re: #25 Charles Johnson

CHARLES: Programming note - I got a block from Firefox when I went tot he log-in page:

littlegreenfootballs.com uses an invalid security certificate. The certificate expired on Saturday, March 18, 2017 15:12. The current time is Saturday, March 18, 2017 17:44. Error code: SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE

229
Targetpractice  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:48:11pm

re: #209 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

This is an administration that has not moved out of campaign-mode. Everything it does it predicated not on whether it will be good or bad for the nation, but how well it polls with the base.

230
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:48:36pm

Instagram

Hail Hail Chuck Berry!!! None of us would have been here without you. Rock on brother!

231
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:48:49pm

re: #227 FormerDirtDart

reading up, Delta IV Heavy’s use 3 common booster cores. Only one used today, so medium

So we’re either not going very far, or not lifting very much. Safe travels nevertheless.

232
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:49:40pm

re: #228 Anymouse

CHARLES: Programming note - I got a block from Firefox when I went tot he log-in page:

littlegreenfootballs.com uses an invalid security certificate. The certificate expired on Saturday, March 18, 2017 15:12. The current time is Saturday, March 18, 2017 17:44. Error code: SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE

This happened to me too, using Chrome Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit).

233
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:50:12pm

re: #232 teleskiguy

This happened to me too, using Chrome Version 57.0.2987.98 (64-bit).

Yeah, I noted this upthread. Charles apparently forgot to renew his SSL certificate.

234
Belafon  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:51:28pm
235
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:51:36pm

As if I needed another reason to hate Marvel.

236
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:52:01pm

re: #233 thedopefishlives

Yeah, I noted this upthread. Charles apparently forgot to renew his SSL certificate.

It’s been happening all afternoon.

237
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:52:04pm

re: #234 Belafon

[Embedded content]

Shut up and take my money!

238
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:52:17pm

re: #228 Anymouse

CHARLES: Programming note - I got a block from Firefox when I went tot he log-in page:

littlegreenfootballs.com uses an invalid security certificate. The certificate expired on Saturday, March 18, 2017 15:12. The current time is Saturday, March 18, 2017 17:44. Error code: SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_CERTIFICATE

I’m filing a support ticket with our host about that right now.

239
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:52:49pm

re: #231 thedopefishlives

So we’re either not going very far, or not lifting very much. Safe travels nevertheless.

further reading, today’s rocket is a Delta IV M+ (5,4). 5 = 5 meter payload fairing, 4 = 4 GEM-60 solid rocket boosters

240
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:53:18pm

re: #226 wrenchwench

Agreed. One of the features of schooling that has had the worst results is channeling; forcing poor and other kids into vocational schooling and reserving the college-prep for the rich and white.

If only we were willing to let kids explore. Not everyone has to follow the same path.

Yes, we want everyone to be able to communicate with each other, so we have make sure we can read.

But beyond that there is little reason to expect any two students to have the same path through life.

One of the often passed around memes on Facebook is that one of the janitor, back-lit, pleading for the janitor to be treated with the same respect as a CEO. (The irony is it seems many Trumpers like this meme.)

Well, yes, but that begs the question of why we treat a janitor and CEO differently in the first place.

Getting people, Americans in particular, to own up to the idea that humans like to vertically structure their societies, with the people on top looking down on the people below, is hard. Trying to discuss such things will get one labeled a librul.

Getting back to the college dilemma - the reality is that in 2017 a new college student who wants to study a technical field will often find themselves in a 5 year program. They are unprepared, or more accurately underprepared, for the amount of work ahead.

For people interested in science and engineering, they really need calculus in high school, and calculus physics and chemistry courses. Those who want to be engineers probably need to be sure they will be prepared to forgo certain liberal arts requirements in college if they want get out in 4 years, meaning the “liberal arts” really ought to be part of their last year in high school.

And so on.

Time is precious and we waste the years of our youth if we don’t let them pursue what they want. Which means providing them with the institutions they need, no matter what they want to do.

241
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:54:09pm

re: #238 Charles Johnson

I’m filing a support ticket with our host about that right now.

Ah, support tickets. We had a Production deployment - coordinated between multiple teams - that went pear-shaped because Microsoft’s Azure services had an issue. We currently have a support ticket open with them to figure out how to resolve the issue so we can get all our environments back up and running. It was piss-poor timing for a Microsoft bug to occur.

242
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:54:43pm

re: #233 thedopefishlives

Our host is supposed to auto-renew it - checking on it now.

243
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:55:58pm

re: #242 Charles Johnson

Our host is supposed to auto-renew it - checking on it now.

I’m used to having to do it manually, that’s why I mentioned it. Sometimes I prefer it that way, although my memory is usually worse than an automated system’s.

244
Anymouse  Mar 18, 2017 • 4:58:53pm

re: #2 Nyet

Hitler’s regime did not invent aspirin. It was invented in 1899.

245
freetoken  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:02:30pm

Here’s treating a janitor with the same respect as the CEO: make sure the CEO is taxed sufficiently so that the janitor can get health care and his kids and get the training for whatever vocation they choose.

But putting that on Facebook will get me labeled a marxist.

246
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:03:47pm
247
goddamnedfrank  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:09:43pm
248
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:11:58pm
249
Barefoot Grin  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:12:09pm

re: #150 Decatur Deb

That’s why I tossed my Theology studies for the lucrative world of Cultural Anthropology.

Heh, that was my undergraduate major. I loved it, though.

250
goddamnedfrank  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:15:13pm
251
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:15:25pm

Hold lifted, clock is moving 8:18 PM Eastern launch

LIVE Launch Broadcast: Delta IV WGS-9

252
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:16:38pm
253
teleskiguy  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:16:42pm

re: #250 goddamnedfrank

This one’s my favorite.

254
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:17:27pm

The Hosting Matters people are checking the certificate now. Should be resolved shortly.

255
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:17:31pm

re: #252 Skip Intro

What the actual bejesusing fuck? The woman’s worse than Sarah Fuckin’ Palin.

256
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:18:27pm

re: #250 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

Not one speck of dirt on those brand new boots.

257
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:18:36pm

re: #255 thedopefishlives

What the actual bejesusing fuck? The woman’s worse than Sarah Fuckin’ Palin.

“Two plus two is four. One plus three is four”.

Alternate facts.

258
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:18:57pm

re: #256 Backwoods_Sleuth

Not one speck of dirt on those brand new boots.

the laces are so brand new, they are still stiff.

259
FormerDirtDart  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:19:06pm

VROOOOOM

260
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:20:13pm

re: #257 Skip Intro

“Two plus two is four. One plus three is four”.

Alternate facts.

Yes, but how the fuck does that equate with “Donald Trump’s inaugural victory was the biggest in Republican history”?

261
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:20:14pm

OK, the certificate’s set up again. It wasn’t expired, there was some other kind of issue going on.

262
thedopefishlives  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:21:05pm

re: #261 Charles Johnson

OK, the certificate’s set up again. It wasn’t expired, there was some other kind of issue going on.

Server time out of sync? Certificates are sensitive to timing issues.

263
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:24:15pm

re: #253 teleskiguy

The NY Times would have tried to humanize Reinhard Heydrich.

“He’s a surprisingly sensitive man who loves his being with his family and playing the violin.”

264
Charles Johnson  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:24:17pm

re: #262 thedopefishlives

They said it was a “bundle issue,” whatever that means.

265
Skip Intro  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:26:25pm

re: #260 thedopefishlives

Yes, but how the fuck does that equate with “Donald Trump’s inaugural victory was the biggest in Republican history”?

It doesn’t, but who cares? We won, you lost. We can say anything we want and the media will report it. By the time they try to correct it we’ve already called it FAKE NEWS and moved on.

266
Anymouse  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:29:52pm

My wife wants to watch a silly sci-fi movie: “Grabbers” (2012) - not about Donald Trump.

As IMDB describes it:

When an island off the coast of Ireland is invaded by bloodsucking aliens, the heroes discover that getting drunk is the only way to survive.

267
prairiefire  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:30:22pm

re: #249 Barefoot Grin

Heh, that was my undergraduate major. I loved it, though.

Love Margaret Mead.

268
Barefoot Grin  Mar 18, 2017 • 5:32:12pm

re: #169 makeitstop

But Keef got up close and personal with Chuck. Maybe too close for Keef…

[Embedded content]

Video

The great thing about this story of Chuck hitting Keith is that Bruce Springsteen remembered playing as a house band and that Chuck didn’t want to travel with his guitars and equipment. It all had to be supplied. And he wouldn’t do a lick of rehearsal with the band—just “one, two, three, four… and off we go. In B-flat because that was Johnnie Johnson’s key. Also, gotta post this great scene from Keith’s documentary about Chuck:

[I wanted to post the scene where Keith and Chuck argue about whether a solo should start with an upstroke or downstroke in rehearsal, but I can’t find it]:

Too Much Monkey Business - Chuck Berry

269
Dave In Austin  Mar 18, 2017 • 6:10:44pm

re: #264 Charles Johnson

They said it was a “bundle issue,” whatever that means.

The packets were getting bunched up sideways and they needed to inject some fiber lube.

270
John_Manyjars  Mar 18, 2017 • 7:33:35pm

re: #48 Stanley Sea

Ugh. Just read the puff piece about the animal-murdering POS.

‘Fair and Balanced’

271
Swift2991  Mar 19, 2017 • 3:34:18pm

re: #13 thedopefishlives

He started a war which killed 50 million.


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