And don't forget the vitamin C.

So how do you tell the good ideas from the bad ones?

So the worst idea I ever had...

A. Shortcut through North Philly at 1am on a Saturday night
B. I think I can get this ladder to extend one more rung if I don't use the rope and pulley.
C. I'll pay that electric bill tomor

re: #2 stevemcg

So how do you tell the good ideas from the bad ones?

That is probably more important than having the ideas in the first place.

re: #2 stevemcg

Maybe the number and duration of the protests.

D. Maybe that's something I can help you with, honey.

Ritchie Valens - La Bamba

re: #6 SteveMcG

D. Maybe that's something I can help you with, honey.

That's how the fight started...

The Killers - All These Things That I've Done

Five For Fighting - World

James Blunt - Cry

@FrumForum
Pope Exonerates Jews of Jesus’ Death: Pope Exonerates Jews of Deicide [Link: bit.ly...] #tcot

Glenn Miller Orchestra - Tuxedo Junction

Glenn MIller - Pennsylvania 6-5000

The worst idea I ever had was getting my BA in two years! Should have opted for three.

Something I didn't know about the removal of those Iowa Supreme Court judges last fall:

GINGRICH WOOS EVANGELICALS AS HE EYES PRESIDENTIAL BID

[...]

About 60% of Iowa caucus voters describe themselves as evangelical Christians. Their prominence helped former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, win the GOP caucuses there in 2008.

This year, several potential presidential candidates are vying for attention among religious conservatives. But only Gingrich was instrumental in the most heralded event of recent Christian political activism: The effort last fall to remove the Iowa judges.

“It wouldn’t have happened without Newt,” said David Lane, executive director of Iowa for Freedom, the organization that led the campaign. “Newt provided strategic advice and arranged the initial seed money, about $200,000, which is what got everything started.”

The money came from an anonymous donor whose contribution was arranged by Gingrich, Lane said.

Robert L. Vander Plaats, chief spokesman for the judicial campaign, said the former speaker provided key strategic advice.

He said Gingrich had won over pastors in the state with his “open and transparent” approach.

[...]

There is probably not a second in any given day in which Gingrich isn't scheming of some way to chart his future political success. In this case he laid groundwork in Iowa for his likely next election bid well in advance of any announcement.

This morning's golden oldie is from the 1964 top 100, one of the most popular tunes of that year, by none other than the Ray Charles Singers:

I had an idea once; it died of loneliness.

re: #16 freetoken

Something I didn't know about the removal of those Iowa Supreme Court judges last fall:

GINGRICH WOOS EVANGELICALS AS HE EYES PRESIDENTIAL BID

There is probably not a second in any given day in which Gingrich isn't scheming of some way to chart his future political success. In this case he laid groundwork in Iowa for his likely next election bid well in advance of any announcement.

Yet getting Obama to reverse himself on DOMA was like pulling teeth. Gingrich is nuts but we're still making the deal with the devil with Democrats. GITMO is still open and we're still pouring in trillions into the military-industrial complex in Afghanistan and Iraq. We also never got a public option on health care and instead decided to force people to buy health care from multi-national health insurance corporations who are only still raising their healthcare premiums. Now. While I agree that Gingrich and his ilk are even worse. The alternative, i.e. Democrats, aren't much better.

Or here. Let me put it this way. The asshole corporation that now owns the store I've been going to for the past 10 years is a Democratic Party contributor and a move and shaker in Denver. Bottom line is that he and his ilk are gentrifying neighborhoods and raising rents. In the long run he will close down that store and replace it with some upscale gentrified set of stores that will only sell overpriced goods to an increasingly upscale metropolitan neighborhood due to increasing rents. And this is common in "liberal" metropolitan locations. You think that's something to be happy about? So we don't get Gingrich but instead we get the same old pseudo liberal yuppie bullshit. Pardon me for not giving two shits about this fake alternative of gentrification and a continuing war in Afghanistan.

re: #19 Gus 802

Perhaps an analogy might help...

Imagine yourself rowing in a large boat with many other people on board, most of whom are also rowing, not unlike the old Roman galleys.

Now, whether that galley went left, right, or straight ahead depends upon: a rudder, the wind/sails, and all of those rowing.

Any given rower may suddenly realize that the ship is heading in the wrong direction. Yet he alone can't change the direction much, say by stop rowing or accelerating his rowing. It depends upon everyone else rowing on the boat, not to mention the wind and rudder.

So what is he to do if he wants to effect change? Three things: convince other rowers that the have to change too, convince the sail master to lower (or raise) sails, and convince the pilot at the helm to point the rudder in a different direction.

It's never simple, especially since the rudder may be none existent and the boat motion be totally dependent up the direction of the wind and the whatever muscle with which the rowers are endowed.

So change is difficult. And, at times can seem impossible.

re: #2 stevemcg

So how do you tell the good ideas from the bad ones?

1. Trial and error.

2. Tell your wife all your ideas; she'll tell you which are good ones.

Morning, all

re: #2 stevemcg

So how do you tell the good ideas from the bad ones?

You need someone like Winston Churchill's Lord Alanbrooke, his chief of staff. he was good at sorting out the wheat from the chaff, implementing Churchill's brilliant ideas and derailing his disastrous ones.

Morning All.

Careful what comments you leave on the 'nets:

Star must identify anonymous posters to website, judge rules
[Link: www.indystar.com...]

A Marion County judge has ruled, for the first time in Indiana, that news media outlets can be ordered by the court to reveal identifying information about posters to their online forums.

In rulings this week and last week, Marion Superior Court Judge S.K. Reid became the first judge in Indiana to rule on whether the state journalism shield law protects media outlets from being forced to disclose names of anonymous posters on their websites or other identifying information about those posters, said Kevin Betz, an attorney for Jeffrey Miller, former chief executive of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana.

The rulings came in a defamation lawsuit Miller filed last year. He is seeking to broaden the list of defendants in his case to include people who criticized him anonymously last year on websites run by The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Business Journal and WRTV (Channel 6).

The case is among a growing number of defamation claims nationally that target anonymous Internet posters to websites operated by news media and other owners.

re: #26 RogueOne

Requiring anonymous posters to reveal their names is like asking peopole to sign the graffiti they leave on toilet stalls...

Point is that the information they leave is equally useless.

Android hit by rogue app viruses
[Link: www.bbc.co.uk...]

More than 50 applications available via the official Android Marketplace have been found to contain a virus.

Analysis suggests that the booby-trapped apps may have been downloaded up to 200,000 times.

re: #28 RogueOne

Thanos put up a page:
[Link: littlegreenfootballs.com...]

re: #20 Gus 802

Or here. Let me put it this way. The asshole corporation that now owns the store I've been going to for the past 10 years is a Democratic Party contributor and a move and shaker in Denver. Bottom line is that he and his ilk are gentrifying neighborhoods and raising rents. In the long run he will close down that store and replace it with some upscale gentrified set of stores that will only sell overpriced goods to an increasingly upscale metropolitan neighborhood due to increasing rents. And this is common in "liberal" metropolitan locations. You think that's something to be happy about? So we don't get Gingrich but instead we get the same old pseudo liberal yuppie bullshit. Pardon me for not giving two shits about this fake alternative of gentrification and a continuing war in Afghanistan.

Morning all.

Gus, I am sorry that you are frustrated, but if you thought BHO was going to stop gentrificiation (in Denver or anywhere), you were doomed to be disappointed. So long as property values can rise or fall (as they must in a free market economy) you will have the effects of those changes translate into land use outcomes. I'm sure it is no fun to be in the middle of all that, but the alternative would be even less pretty.

As for Afghanistan, I'm frustrated about it, too, but I don't have any better answers for what to do there. I don't think we can walk away from that place. We know what would happen if we did, and none of it would be good. I agree that this was an avoidable mess, in that the diversion of resources away from Afghanistan to Iraq was a mistake that was obvious at the time, but it is what it is. There's a job there we have to finish.

This is almost a week old but I hadn't seen it referenced anywhere:

‘Illegal Psyop’ Neither Illegal Nor Psyop, General’s Lawyer Ruled
[Link: www.wired.com...]

The accusation was explosive and unambiguous: A top general in Afghanistan used illegal “information operations” to influence visiting U.S. Senators. But military documents obtained by Danger Room show that at least one Army lawyer deemed the work legal. What’s more, the alleged information operator’s bosses repeatedly told him that he was just another communications staffer, not some bender of minds.
......
According to Holmes, Lt. Gen. William Caldwell — the general in charge of training Afghanistan security forces — had him “playing with people’s heads.” And not just any people; Holmes was allegedly ordered to use his information operations, or IO, skills on senators and congressmen visiting Afghanistan. So in March, Holmes contacted a military lawyer in the United States who told him “IO doesn’t do that.” American law forbids the government from targeting propaganda at American citizens.

A second legal review came to the opposite conclusion, however. On March 30, 2010, a lawyer within Caldwell’s chain of command, Maj. Tami Miller, wrote that Holmes had been given “a lawful order,” according to a copy of her assessment acquired by Danger Room. After all, Holmes was simply told “to collect, analyze and share ‘publicly available’ information” about the VIPs. No brainwashing was requested.

From the story it seems the LTC has a very high opinion of his role and got himself into a pissing match with a 3-Star and lost.

In a statement directed to a subsequent investigation into Holmes’ behavior in traveling off-base in civilian clothes and using Facebook — also obtained by Danger Room — Breazile noted that he had a hard time getting Holmes and his subordinate, Maj. Laural Levine “to do other duties beyond teaching STRATCOM [strategic communications] to the Afghans.”

I would also have to question the professionalism of a senior officer who uses Facebook to air grievances.

Louisiana politics will never change: Bobby Jindal's wife's foundation has become very popular with companies that want things from the State of La:

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

Here's a really good question:

How much should the banks that made such a mess out of the mortgage marketplace be punished for that, and what exactly should we be trying to accomplish with that punishment: structural reforms, better process, a simple financial penalty, or what?

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

The lead paragraph:

Even as state attorneys general and regulators in Washington approach the end of their investigation into abuses by the nation’s biggest mortgage companies, deep disputes are emerging over how much to punish the banks as well as exactly who should benefit from a settlement.

re: #30 garhighway

Morning all.

Gus, I am sorry that you are frustrated, but if you thought BHO was going to stop gentrificiation (in Denver or anywhere), you were doomed to be disappointed. So long as property values can rise or fall (as they must in a free market economy) you will have the effects of those changes translate into land use outcomes. I'm sure it is no fun to be in the middle of all that, but the alternative would be even less pretty.

As for Afghanistan, I'm frustrated about it, too, but I don't have any better answers for what to do there. I don't think we can walk away from that place. We know what would happen if we did, and none of it would be good. I agree that this was an avoidable mess, in that the diversion of resources away from Afghanistan to Iraq was a mistake that was obvious at the time, but it is what it is. There's a job there we have to finish.

You are correct that rising and falling property values will result in changes of land use outcomes.

But Gus is absolutely spot on about the pseudo-liberal yuppie bullshit - those who talk the talk about helping those in need, but when it suits their own purpose and contributes to their own wealth, doing things that create a situation where those in need are hurt, not helped. But some folks see a problem with it when the person doing it is known to be a conservative, but no problem if the person is a liberal.

re: #33 garhighway

Here's a really good question:

How much should the banks that made such a mess out of the mortgage marketplace be punished for that, and what exactly should we be trying to accomplish with that punishment: structural reforms, better process, a simple financial penalty, or what?

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

The lead paragraph:

Even as state attorneys general and regulators in Washington approach the end of their investigation into abuses by the nation’s biggest mortgage companies, deep disputes are emerging over how much to punish the banks as well as exactly who should benefit from a settlement.

We need to make sure that banks are never again in the position to blackmail the government out of a bailout in order to keep the economy from tanking.

i.e., if it is Too Big to Fail, it is Too Big to be Unregulated.

And if that means more government regulation, then that is a cheaper and better alternative to what we did in 2008 and 2009.

Frankfurt airport shooting: Focus on terror theory

[Link: www.bbc.co.uk...]

"Prosecutors in Germany say they suspect Islamic militancy as the motive for a gun attack on US airmen at Frankfurt Airport, in which two died."

Reported by Captain Obvious...

re: #35 ralphieboy

We need to make sure that banks are never again in the position to blackmail the government out of a bailout in order to keep the economy from tanking.

i.e., if it is Too Big to Fail, it is Too Big to be Unregulated.

And if that means more government regulation, then that is a cheaper and better alternative to what we did in 2008 and 2009.

I'm no fan of Too Big To Fail, either. (Great book, though.) But it looks to me like that boat has sailed: if there wasn't going to be sufficient consensus to fix that back in 2009, then the moment has passed.

re: #37 garhighway

Yes, and it is going to repeat it self over and over again, these fellows have found an endless fountain of wealth.

re: #34 reine.de.tout

You are correct that rising and falling property values will result in changes of land use outcomes.

But Gus is absolutely spot on about the pseudo-liberal yuppie bullshit - those who talk the talk about helping those in need, but when it suits their own purpose and contributes to their own wealth, doing things that create a situation where those in need are hurt, not helped. But some folks see a problem with it when the person doing it is known to be a conservative, but no problem if the person is a liberal.

So liberals shouldn't buy nice apartments? What precise conduct of theirs do you want to change?

re: #32 garhighway

Louisiana politics will never change: Bobby Jindal's wife's foundation has become very popular with companies that want things from the State of La:

[Link: www.nytimes.com...]

Not limited to Louisiana. Further in that story:

In recent years, foundations linked to more than a dozen members of Congress have routinely accepted donations from businesses seeking to influence them. In some instances, the lawmakers have intervened with federal agencies or taken up legislation on dono

Now, don't take that to think I mean that this foundation and Jindal's ties to it are a good thing, because I don't.

Contracts with governmental jurisdictions is BIG business, and ripe for corruption. But of course, to resolve budget issues, does ANY governmental jurisdiction look at contracts first? Oh, no. They freeze or reduce salaries of government employees. The contractors (Friends of Governmental Officials) still get theirs.

re: #21 freetoken

Perhaps an analogy might help...

Imagine yourself rowing in a large boat with many other people on board, most of whom are also rowing, not unlike the old

re: #41 rwdflynavy

Dammit!

Try again...

"We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well...and live!"

re: #39 garhighway

So liberals shouldn't buy nice apartments? What precise conduct of theirs do you want to change?

I don't want to change anybody's behavior. Did I say I did?

I get Gus' frustration; but it is what it is, and will always be.

What I have a problem with is people who yell and scream when a conservative does something to make a profit, but have no problem when someone known to be a "DEM", as Gus clearly specified, does it.

Some people scream when liberals commit a moral blunder but are full of forgiveness and understanding when a "family values Christian" does it.

re: #39 garhighway

So liberals shouldn't buy nice apartments? What precise conduct of theirs do you want to change?

By the way - it would be greatly appreicated if you would simply read what I said, and don't make assumptions and twist my words (without quoting them, which would make it clear to others that I did NOT say that) because of some preconceived bias you have about what I must be thinking.

A sliver of hope for My Man Mitch:

Right grapples with social 'truce'
[Link: www.politico.com...]

Social conservative leaders in the Republican Party are coming to grips with a new reality ahead of the 2012 presidential primary:

It’s not all about them.

For the first time in three decades, a wide-open Republican presidential primary is unfolding in the shadow of an economic recession. That means even in the heavily socially conservative GOP, voters are more focused on the pocketbook than the Good Book.

A host of leaders on the cultural right told POLITICO they don’t intend to fight it.

re: #45 reine.de.tout

By the way - it would be greatly appreicated if you would simply read what I said, and don't make assumptions and twist my words (without quoting them, which would make it clear to others that I did NOT say that) because of some preconceived bias you have about what I must be thinking.

OOPS, my bad. You did quote me, apologies for my error.

But again, please read what I said, not what you think I must have meant.

It's the theology, stupid!

re: #44 ralphieboy

Some people scream when liberals commit a moral blunder but are full of forgiveness and understanding when a "family values Christian" does it.

They're called "the Republican party". It's been that way for decades.

re: #44 ralphieboy

Some people scream when liberals commit a moral blunder but are full of forgiveness and understanding when a "family values Christian" does it.

Some people scream when a conservative or a Christian commit a moral blunder, but are full of forgiveness and understanding if the person doing it is identified as a liberal.

They're called "the Democratic Party". It's been that way for decades.

And almost everybody calls for understanding when they themselves commit a moral blunder...

..it's called human nature and it's been that way for eons.

Good morning lizards!

re: #51 ralphieboy

And almost everybody calls for understanding when they themselves commit a moral blunder...

I commit moral blunders quite often.

Do I want "understanding"? No, there is nothing to understand, it's a failure on my part.

Do I ask for forgiveness? Yes. The person can do what they want with that request.

Good morning, lizards. Feel the tiger blood in your veins...you're WINNING!

Okay, I have to say I've been ignoring Charlie Sheen, but I do like that pic for some reason.

Chris Christie: 'I love collective bargaining'
[Link: www.politico.com...]

It's on his list of favorite things! Well after donuts but right before testicular cancer.

Morning, all. Fully engaged, I see.

Reine--is this triggered by the former LA gov coming into the field? Is he to be trusted with the till?

[Link: www.google.com...]

re: #57 Decatur Deb

I'm watching his appearance on Morning Joe.

re: #54 reine.de.tout

I commit moral blunders quite often.

Do I want "understanding"? No, there is nothing to understand, it's a failure on my part.

Do I ask for forgiveness? Yes. The person can do what they want with that request.

It's easier to simply redefine "good" to match my behavior. Lying is about the only sin left.

re: #57 Decatur Deb

Morning, all. Fully engaged, I see.

Reine--is this triggered by the former LA gov coming into the field? Is he to be trusted with the till?

[Link: www.google.com...]

I might trust him with glacial till, but I don't think Louisiana has any recent experience with that.

re: #60 oaktree

I might trust him with glacial till, but I don't think Louisiana has any recent experience with that.

So he's just another moraine?

Rahm Emanuel Meets His Imposter
[Link: www.politico.com...]

The real Rahm Emanuel met the fake Rahm Emanuel in person on Wednesday to conduct a bit of unfinished business. And, no, there wasn't any cursing — just an exchange of $5,000 to fulfill a promise Emanuel made to get his Twitter impersonator to finally reveal himself.

Just a week after Emanuel won the Chicago mayoral race, Dan Sinker (aka @mayoremanuel) did indeed come forward.

So, Emanuel, the former White House chief of staff, kept his word and donated the money (per Sinker's request) to "Young Chicago Authors," a program which encourages children in Chicago public schools to do more creative writing.

re: #59 Decatur Deb

It's easier to simply redefine "good" to match my behavior. Lying is about the only sin left.

Depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is...

re: #63 RogueOne

Depends on what the meaning of the word "is" is...

My man bill can eat crap for that until the day he dies--he earned it. Still voted for him twice, though.

re: #62 RogueOne

Rahm Emanuel Meets His Imposter
[Link: www.politico.com...]

That turned out better than might have been expected.

re: #64 Decatur Deb

My man bill can eat crap for that until the day he dies--he earned it. Still voted for him twice, though.

I don't have a lot of respect for someone who doesn't understand the importance of their office well enough to know they should keep their pants on around interns but I loved the "is is" argument.... partly because I've used variations of it since I was a teen.

Q'Daffy is pushing his luck....
3 Dutch Navy crew held in Libya, Netherlands says

re: #65 Decatur Deb

That turned out better than might have been expected.

His feed was funny and Rahm obviously has a sense of humor about it. The imposter is just lucky he didn't get the Massa treatment.....

re: #64 Decatur Deb

My man bill can eat crap for that until the day he dies--he earned it. Still voted for him twice, though.

I don't regret voting for Bill twice. I'd do it all over again. Still, the "is is" argument was really fucking stupid.

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Q'Daffy is pushing his luck...
3 Dutch Navy crew held in Libya, Netherlands says

I read that as "O'Daffy" and thought, "Why are they giving that idiot an Irish nickname?" though it does seem to fit.

re: #42 rwdflynavy

Dammit!

Try again...

"We keep you alive to serve this ship. So row well...and live!"

[Video]

What a magnificent ship...

Image: whites%2013.jpg

re: #57 Decatur Deb

Morning, all. Fully engaged, I see.

Reine--is this triggered by the former LA gov coming into the field? Is he to be trusted with the till?

[Link: www.google.com...]

Roemer is, in my most humble opinion, crazy as a loon.

His dad worked for Edwin Edwards (just recently released from prison for all sorts of shenanigans involving illegally enriching himself AND his family while in office).

re: #50 reine.de.tout

Some people scream when a conservative or a Christian commit a moral blunder, but are full of forgiveness and understanding if the person doing it is identified as a liberal.

That's a fair point. But I think there is an important point to be made here:

I tend to criticize people who do things that lie outside their stated moral framework. If you're a person who believes that people screw up but generally deserve second chances, I'm going to look a lot more kindly on your peccadilloes than if you're a "one strike and you're out, throw away the key" type of person.

To put it another way: if you're really into the "defense of marriage", you're going to look like an enormous tool when you're found to be screwing your campaign manager's wife.

New Zombie-Ant Fungi Found

The world just got a little weirder: Scientists have identified four new species of brain-controlling fungi that turn ants into zombies that do the parasite's bidding before it kills them.

Identified from samples collected at two sites in Brazil's tropical rain forest, each of the four species specializes in controlling a different species of carpenter ant.

...Once it infects an ant, the fungus uses as-yet-unidentified chemicals to control the ant's behavior, Hughes told LiveScience. It directs the ant to leave its colony (a very un-ant-like thing to do) and bite down on the underside of a leaf — the ant's soon-to-be resting place. Once it is killed by the fungus, the ant remains anchored in place, thanks to its death grip on the leaf.

Ultimately, the fungus produces a long stalk that protrudes from the ant's head, shooting spores out in the hopes of infecting other ants. Two of the four newly discovered species also sprouted smaller stalks elsewhere, including from the victim's feet and lower leg joints – the equivalent of knees.

re: #59 Decatur Deb

It's easier to simply redefine "good" to match my behavior. Lying is about the only sin left.

He ws just helping me with my luggage!

re: #59 Decatur Deb

It's easier to simply redefine "good" to match my behavior. Lying is about the only sin left.

Do you know, people do that quite often?

I learned that lesson early on. A friend of mine was allowed to see Elvis movies IF she went to confession afterward.

I was not allowed to see Elvis movies, so I thought that was a GREAT way to handle things, and suggested it to my mom.

She thought it was QUITE ridiculous to use the sacrament of confession as a "license to sin", and made that crystal clear to me very quickly; as well as making it crystal clear to me that we should NOT, as you put it, redefine "good" to match our own behavior. I had a good Mom.

re: #73 iossarian

That's a fair point. But I think there is an important point to be made here:

I tend to criticize people who do things that lie outside their stated moral framework. If you're a person who believes that people screw up but generally deserve second chances, I'm going to look a lot more kindly on your peccadilloes than if you're a "one strike and you're out, throw away the key" type of person.

To put it another way: if you're really into the "defense of marriage", you're going to look like an enormous tool when you're found to be screwing your campaign manager's wife.

I actually would hold anyone to be an "enormous tool" if they make it appear to have a good and solid marriage, and then are found not to have such, whether they are into "defense of marriage" or not. Think: John Edwards. An enormous tool of the highest degree, IMO. And that whole business of denying the affair and even worse, DENYING HIS OWN CHILD - *spit*. What a dirtbag.

re: #76 reine.de.tout

But sending someone to the cornfield is *always* a good thing, isn't it?

;)

Prosecutor: Islamic Extremism Suspected in US Airmen Shooting

German federal prosecutors say they suspect Wednesday's fatal shooting of two U.S. airmen at Frankfurt airport was motivated by Islamic extremism.

The suspected gunman, 21-year-old Arif Uka from Kosovo, opened fire on a bus transporting U.S. Air Force members at the airport.

He is expected to appear before a judge Thursday in Germany.

Additional note to #78.

Defining/espousing actions as "good" or "bad" because a very large, and essentially arbitrary, hammer is hanging over your head. Is such behavior enlightened self-preservation, simple fear, or something else?

(Yes, there are a lot of implications here regarding religion. I'll leave them explicitly untouched.)

re: #79 NJDhockeyfan

Prosecutor: Islamic Extremism Suspected in US Airmen Shooting

Yesterday they weren't so sure. I wonder what their first clue was?

re: #77 reine.de.tout

I actually would hold anyone to be an "enormous tool" if they make it appear to have a good and solid marriage, and then are found not to have such, whether they are into "defense of marriage" or not. Think: John Edwards. An enormous tool of the highest degree, IMO. And that whole business of denying the affair and even worse, DENYING HIS OWN CHILD - *spit*. What a dirtbag.

Completely agree on Edwards. The guy is a dickhead.

But I disagree on the broader point. If two fathers (for example) sought divorce, and one had been a lifelong castigator of single mothers as the bane of society, while the other had refrained from such condemnation, I would say that the former was at fault while the second was not.

Divorce is sad to the extent that it demonstrates the breakdown of a relationship but I don't think there's anything particularly sinful about it.

< previous post next post >
New Bible Updates Language; 'Booty' Falls By Wayside

Here are some of the swaps included in the new Bible:

* "booty" is now "spoils of war" — for presumably obvious reasons.
* "virgin" becomes "young woman" — especially where the original uses the Hebrew word "almah."
* "holocaust" will become "burnt offerings" - scholars say that was closer to the original meaning, before "holocaust" came to be identified with the genocide of World War II.
* "cereal"— now co-opted by General Mills and Post, becomes "grain."

re: #81 RogueOne

Yesterday they weren't so sure. I wonder what their first clue was?

It just goes to show you how bigotry and Islamophobia has infiltrated the German federal justice system. He's really just a misunderstood yute.
//

re: #83 Lidane

< previous post next post >
New Bible Updates Language; 'Booty' Falls By Wayside

In memoriam:

re: #82 iossarian

Completely agree on Edwards. The guy is a dickhead.

But I disagree on the broader point. If two fathers (for example) sought divorce, and one had been a lifelong castigator of single mothers as the bane of society, while the other had refrained from such condemnation, I would say that the former was at fault while the second was not.

Divorce is sad to the extent that it demonstrates the breakdown of a relationship but I don't think there's anything particularly sinful about it.

Well, we weren't talking about the breakdown of a relationship leading to divorce. We were talking, I thought, about those who hold up an appearance of a solid relationship, when it isn't. There is no good to be had within a family when two people try to maintain a facade that a relationship is solid and good when it isn't. None.

re: #83 Lidane

< previous post next post >
New Bible Updates Language; 'Booty' Falls By Wayside

Somehow I don't recall Luke 7:12-13 reading:

And Jesus said unto the apostles,
"Shake, shake, shake
shake, shake, shake,
shake your spoils of war,
shake your spoils of war."

I hate revisionist mythology.

re: #83 Lidane

< previous post next post >
New Bible Updates Language; 'Booty' Falls By Wayside

IIRC, the roots of 'holocaust' mean "burnt entire'. The Decatur Deb became a private holocaust over Magdeburg.

re: #80 oaktree

Additional note to #78.

Defining/espousing actions as "good" or "bad" because a very large, and essentially arbitrary, hammer is hanging over your head. Is such behavior enlightened self-preservation, simple fear, or something else?

(Yes, there are a lot of implications here regarding religion. I'll leave them explicitly untouched.)

Societal constructs. Don't put me in your little box Mr. Man.

re: #87 darthstar

And Jesus said unto the apostles,
"Shake, shake, shake
shake, shake, shake,
shake your spoils of war,
shake your spoils of war."

re: #74 NJDhockeyfan

New Zombie-Ant Fungi Found

How long until that's a Saturday night SyFy Channel movie?

re: #80 oaktree

Additional note to #78.

Defining/espousing actions as "good" or "bad" because a very large, and essentially arbitrary, hammer is hanging over your head. Is such behavior enlightened self-preservation, simple fear, or something else?

(Yes, there are a lot of implications here regarding religion. I'll leave them explicitly untouched.)

That is why it's important, IMO, to reflect upon an action before you take it, to try to figure out your motives and reasons for it. Often, my own failures are the result of making a knee-jerk quick reaction that I haven't thought through, and I regret later.

re: #91 sagehen

How long until that's a Saturday night SyFy Channel movie?

They'll have that shot and edited by July, August at the latest.

re: #91 sagehen

How long until that's a Saturday night SyFy Channel movie?

That would be cool. Arnold Schwarzenegger could restart his movie career with that one.

Ivory Coast: Women 'shot during pro-Ouattara march'

[Link: www.bbc.co.uk...]

"Security forces in Ivory Coast have shot dead at least five women marching in support of Alassane Ouattara in the main city of Abidjan, witnesses say.

Mr Ouattara is recognised by the UN as the winner of November's election, but incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo has refused to concede that he lost."

Gbagbo has shown no inclination to step down. His forces still control the country. Another nation ripe for civil war...

Questions Remain on Libyan Mustard Agent Stockpile

The U.S. intelligence community is uncertain of the exact location of Libya's remaining chemical warfare materials, though officials say besieged dictator Muammar Qadhafi has moved to bolster the security surrounding the primary cache of mustard blister agent, Reuters reported yesterday.

...An informed official yesterday said the United States had recently received information that defenses around the chief chemical agent stockpile had been "upgraded." No other specifics were provided on the matter.

A different U.S. official, however, said "it was not entirely clear that the Libyan government is in full control of all the remaining stockpiles."

Unidentified U.S. sources said the Obama administration is not wholly assured of the defenses of every one of the chemical agent sites because some caches could be housed in facilities that have escaped notice by intelligence agencies.

Reports on the number and location of the stockpiles differ, though the complex at Rabta, located approximately 50 miles south of Tripoli, has been raised as a likely location.

Does this qualify as ironic?

Face of Heart Attack Grill Dies at Age 29, 572 Pounds
[Link: www.myfoxphoenix.com...]

CHANDLER - A 29-year-old valley man who served as spokesman for the ultra unhealthy eatery Heart Attack Grill has died.

At 6'8", 572 lbs., River gained attention from around the globe after signing on to be the larger-than-life spokesman for Chandler's Heart Attack Grill last fall. There, servers are dressed like nurses and the owner wears a doctor's lab coat, but the menu is the opposite of health-conscious.

re: #92 reine.de.tout

That is why it's important, IMO, to reflect upon an action before you take it, to try to figure out your motives and reasons for it. Often, my own failures are the result of making a knee-jerk quick reaction that I haven't thought through, and I regret later.

Example: My neighbor is an elderly lady who lives alone, and her family is busy and they don't visit often.

The other day I was at her house for something or other, and she had just finished making herself lunch and asked me if I liked red beans and rice (I'm thinking she was going to invite me to lunch), which of course I do but I can't eat them.

Anyhow - I was stressed and had a lot to do, and I was anxious to get away and but she kept chattering on about this and that, and I FINALLY got away.

Later it occurred to me that she was sitting there having lunch alone, like she does EVERY DAY, and was probably very lonely, and it would not have killed me to sit down and chat with her for 5 or 10 minutes. So next time I will. And I hope the Lord forgives me for being so caught up in my own world that I did not show her a bit of kindness that day.

re: #97 RogueOne

Does this qualify as ironic?

Face of Heart Attack Grill Dies at Age 29, 572 Pounds
[Link: www.myfoxphoenix.com...]

His life may not have been long, but at least it was unhealthy.

re: #86 reine.de.tout

Well, we weren't talking about the breakdown of a relationship leading to divorce. We were talking, I thought, about those who hold up an appearance of a solid relationship, when it isn't. There is no good to be had within a family when two people try to maintain a facade that a relationship is solid and good when it isn't. None.

Well, I don't want to talk at cross-purposes. Relationships are complex things that change over time. I can also imagine that, as a public figure, there may be times when you need to present a facade in order to protect the other person as much as anything else.

CNN Crew Narrowly Escapes Bomb Attack in Libya (Video)

A CNN crew had a close call in the oil-rich town of Brega, Libya Wednesday.

As CNN's Ben Wedeman explained on Eliot Spitzer Wednesday night, the Libyan military dropped bombs about "100 feet from where we were standing." Footage showed the bomb going off, and then a large crater in the ground.

Wedeman, who serves as the network's senior international correspondent, said there were no injuries.

In another incident, "the Libyan crew flew right over our heads," dropping a bomb on a group of people, he adds, but a "line of cars" absorbed most of the impact. "We rushed out of the area, afraid the plane would come around again and drop yet another bomb." This time, several people were injured and taken to the hospital on stretchers.

"It was a little too close for comfort," he told Spitzer.

He's a winner, at least by Guinness standards:

Charlie Sheen Sets New Guinness World Record for Twitter

re: #98 reine.de.tout

Off-topic, but this reminded me of one of the better commercials I've seen (and I've seen plenty):

re: #102 Lidane

He's a winner, at least by Guinness standards:

Charlie Sheen Sets New Guinness World Record for Twitter

His daddy must be proud.

Seattle detective in 'stomping' incident likely to keep his job
[Link: www.king5.com...]

SEATTLE - After a video of two Seattle police officers stomping on a Latino man hit the airwaves last May, there was widespread agreement that Officer Shandy Cobane crossed the line with his racially charged language.

Let me see if I have this right....The stomping isn't a problem but using a racial slur while stomping a minority crosses the line of good conduct. Maybe that's why they always yell "Stop resisting!" while beating people who are already on the ground cuffed.

re: #105 RogueOne

Seattle detective in 'stomping' incident likely to keep his job
[Link: www.king5.com...]

Let me see if I have this right...The stomping isn't a problem but using a racial slur while stomping a minority crosses the line of good conduct. Maybe that's why they always yell "Stop resisting!" while beating people who are already on the ground cuffed.

From the same article:

Internal investigations had an outside forensic expert review the video close-up, sources say. The conclusion was that Cobane did not strike the suspect's head. Instead, it appeared Cobane was trying to keep the man, who was later released without charges, from moving his arms in case he had a weapon.

I'm not a big fan of police brutality, but it sounds like they at least have a moderately-sized fig leaf here.

re: #106 iossarian

Watching the video the guy wasn't moving when he got stomped on and he was picked up for being hispanic and released without being charged because being hispanic isn't a crime, at least in Seattle it isn't...

More on the original story:

[Link: www.king5.com...]

The incident occurred as Seattle police were responding to an armed robbery call near a nightclub in Seattle's Westlake neighborhood on April 17. Patrons had called police and described the suspects as Hispanic.

The video -- shot by a freelance videographer -- shows a group of officers surrounding several men lying on the ground.

At one point, an officer approaches one of the men and can be heard saying: "You got me? I'm going to beat the (expletive) Mexican (expletive) out of you homey. You feel me?"

re: #50 reine.de.tout

Some people scream when a conservative or a Christian commit a moral blunder, but are full of forgiveness and understanding if the person doing it is identified as a liberal.

They're called "the Democratic Party". It's been that way for decades.

It's easy for me.
I scream at everyone!

Morning!

re: #108 Varek Raith

It's easy for me.
I scream at everyone!

Morning!

Mornin', Varek!

Yes, it's quite easy when everyone is suspect, eh?

re: #109 reine.de.tout

Mornin', Varek!

Yes, it's quite easy when everyone is suspect, eh?

Exactly!
Win, freaking win!
:)

re: #109 reine.de.tout

Mornin', Varek!

Yes, it's quite easy when everyone is suspect, eh?

Everyone is guilty until proven innocent. Don't you use the Code Napoleon?

Pizza shop owner arraigned for ‘terrorism by mice’ (With Video)

UPPER DARBY – The pizza shop owner facing charges for allegedly planting mice in two of his competitors' shops was arraigned on multiple misdemeanor charges Tuesday morning.

...Monday, the owner of Nina’s Bella Pizzeria in Upper Darby, 8445 West Chester Pike, was charged with putting mice in two of his competitors’ pizza shops.

“It’s terrorism by mice,” said Upper Darby police Superintendent Michael Chitwood. “I’ve never had to deal with mice as an instrument of crime before, but mice multiply. They spread disease. This really could have caused a lot of damage.”

re: #112 NJDhockeyfan

Pizza shop owner arraigned for ‘terrorism by mice’ (With Video)

That's a hate crime against pizza.
That poor pizza...

Underdog: Hundreds seek Okla. pup back from 'dead'
[Link: www.wishtv.com...]

The puppy was one of five stray dogs that Sulphur animal control officer Scott Prall put to sleep Friday — or so he thought. Prall found one of the dogs alive Saturday in a trash bin set aside for dead animals and took it to veterinarian technician Amanda Kloski.

"He was prancing around. He heard me drive up, and he looked up and saw me," Prall said Wednesday.

He said he initially found the stray dog near the animal shelter Friday and tried to kill it by injecting the dog with two lethal doses of a sedative in a foreleg and the heart. Each dose should have been enough to kill the dog, and the second injection was meant to ensure it worked.

I wish people would stop dropping off pups at the local animal control. This asshat didn't even try to get it adopted out instead opting to kill it on the day it was found.

Speaking of yuppies...

In the past we years my city has had an issue with these types.
First they moved near the race track. Knowing it was a freaking race track. Then complained about the noise and demanded it be shut down. It was not.

Then they started moving near the small air port. Same as above.

Srsly?
*Shakes head*

re: #113 Varek Raith

That's a hate crime against pizza.
That poor pizza...

It could have been worse, he could have put pineapples on those pizzas.

re: #111 Decatur Deb

Everyone is guilty until proven innocent. Don't you use the Code Napoleon?

Here's a Roemer move. This happened years and years ago, but I can recall it easily.

In Louisiana, if you are running for office and collect donations, and then you drop out of the race, there is a process by which you can convert those donations to your own private use - I'm sure it involves declaring it as income and paying taxes, etc.

Roemer's mom was having some financial problems, and was about to lose her home.

So, there was a local race coming up, and they signed her up to run for office. Then they had some fund-raisers. Then she dropped out of the race, and took the donations and converted it to personal income, and got out of her financial dilemma.

Again, this was years and years ago, the details are a bit hazy. But I do recall that there were many many people who believed that she never had any real intention of running for office, and that this was known by all those who made donations to her "campaign", and that the whole thing was a set-up to be able to get money to her to help her out of her financial problems.

re: #115 Varek Raith

Speaking of yuppies...

In the past few years my city has had an issue with these types.
First they moved near the race track. Knowing it was a freaking race track. Then complained about the noise and demanded it be shut down. It was not.

Then they started moving near the small air port. Same as above.

Srsly?
*Shakes head*

Speeling iz fun!
/

BBQ competitions in Texas are serious business:

[Link: www.chron.com...]

A veteran Houston police officer participating with a cooking team at the Houston rodeo's Bar-B-Que cook-off has been relieved of duty for reportedly tossing a tear gas canister at booth opponents during the popular event, apparently sickening several patrons.

re: #115 Varek Raith

Speaking of yuppies...

In the past we years my city has had an issue with these types.
First they moved near the race track. Knowing it was a freaking race track. Then complained about the noise and demanded it be shut down. It was not.

Then they started moving near the small air port. Same as above.

Srsly?
*Shakes head*

Puppies, Varek, puppies. The story was about euthanizing puppies.

Here in Israel, all is calm. I just wanted to note that yesterday I went to a clinic in Jerusalem for a blood test and the woman who took my blood was an Arab. The other women working there were Jewish. There was a clear esprit de corps among the women as they were laughed and chatted with each other. Arabs and Jews get along just fine in Jerusalem. We work side by side in many businesses. Thousands of Arabs attend Israeli universities and become doctors, engineers, and lawyers. If only the politicians would just all go away there would be peace in the Middle East.

re: #74 NJDhockeyfan
Nature is chock full of thingies that act like a deep space nightmare it seems. I remember thinking that maybe the launch of Voyager I was like sending out directions to a drive through restaurant.
I was always thankful that gnats were small.

re: #117 reine.de.tout

Here's a Roemer move. This happened years and years ago, but I can recall it easily.

In Louisiana, if you are running for office and collect donations, and then you drop out of the race, there is a process by which you can convert those donations to your own private use - I'm sure it involves declaring it as income and paying taxes, etc.

Roemer's mom was having some financial problems, and was about to lose her home.

So, there was a local race coming up, and they signed her up to run for office. Then they had some fund-raisers. Then she dropped out of the race, and took the donations and converted it to personal income, and got out of her financial dilemma.

Again, this was years and years ago, the details are a bit hazy. But I do recall that there were many many people who believed that she never had any real intention of running for office, and that this was known by all those who made donations to her "campaign", and that the whole thing was a set-up to be able to get money to her to help her out of her financial problems.

I thought Christine O'Donnell invented that.

re: #117 reine.de.tout

Here's a Roemer move. This happened years and years ago, but I can recall it easily.

In Louisiana, if you are running for office and collect donations, and then you drop out of the race, there is a process by which you can convert those donations to your own private use - I'm sure it involves declaring it as income and paying taxes, etc.

Roemer's mom was having some financial problems, and was about to lose her home.

So, there was a local race coming up, and they signed her up to run for office. Then they had some fund-raisers. Then she dropped out of the race, and took the donations and converted it to personal income, and got out of her financial dilemma.

Again, this was years and years ago, the details are a bit hazy. But I do recall that there were many many people who believed that she never had any real intention of running for office, and that this was known by all those who made donations to her "campaign", and that the whole thing was a set-up to be able to get money to her to help her out of her financial problems.

I would like to add that this was all perfectly LEGAL; ethical, though? That's the question in my mind.

Three Dutch marines captured by Gaddafi forces

The Dutch Defense Ministry announced that three of its marines have been captured in Libya by troops loyal to Moammar Gaddafi, while participating in an operation to help evacuate foreigners out of the country.

The government said that it is in "intensive" negotiations to free the soldiers.

The marines were reportedly based on the Dutch warship Tromp just off the Libyan coast. They had landed their Lynx near the port of Sirte (a Gaddafi stronghold) on Sunday.

The defense ministry noted it was in contact with the marines, who are "doing well under the circumstances.”

"We hope they will be released as quickly as possible," a spokesman told the Associated Press.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said news of the capture was kept secret in order to allow for talks on their release.

Gaddafi bombs oil areas, Arabs study peace plan

The rebels, armed with rocket launchers, anti-aircraft guns and tanks, called on Wednesday for U.N.-backed air strikes on foreign mercenaries it said were fighting for Gaddafi.

Opposition activists called for a no-fly zone, echoing a demand by Libya's deputy U.N. envoy, who now opposes Gaddafi.

"Bring Bush! Make a no fly zone, bomb the planes," shouted soldier-turned-rebel Nasr Ali, referring to a no-fly zone imposed on Iraq in 1991 by then President George Bush.

re: #126 RogueOne

link:
[Link: www.reuters.com...]

re: #115 Varek Raith

Speaking of yuppies...

In the past we years my city has had an issue with these types.
First they moved near the race track. Knowing it was a freaking race track. Then complained about the noise and demanded it be shut down. It was not.

Then they started moving near the small air port. Same as above.

Srsly?
*Shakes head*

A similar thing happens in farm country. Folks buy their country la la foo foo quaint dream estate smack in the middle of working farm ville. Then said folks start complaining about all things 'farm.' "Wot, wot you mean at certain times of the year the air smells 'pooey'? Wot wot you mean big machines travel around and spray 'poo' on the fields? Outrage!!' You mean that cattle operation next to me sends over wafts of non flowerly stink when the wind blows from the south? SHUT ER DOWN or sumthing. Country life is supposed to be all purty and Disney like. "

re: #128 Jadespring

That happens quite a bit around Indiana. People surprised that a pig farm down the road might smell bad. There's a gun club that has been out in the boonies for 40 years. 10 years ago they started building million dollar homes down the street. Now the gun club has been fighting to stay open after dozens of lawsuits from their new neighbors.

Daytime stuff. BBL

re: #128 Jadespring

Along similar lines. I found out through the grapevine that one of my weekend country 'neighbors' does not like the sound of roosters crowing. I have roosters. Hates them to the point that he looked into what could be done about it. He apparently got told that I live on property zoned 'farm' ergo...farm stuff can happen on it, including roosters.
Probably one of the reasons he's so damn standoffish whenever I wave hi. That and he manicures his hedges and has a professional gardener and I don't. I also have weeds in my lawn.

Sucks to him I guess.

re: #131 Jadespring

I love roosters, thems good eatin'!

Bad news for wingnuts.....
Unemployment aid requests fall to near 3-year low

Dow +151

Soldier in WikiLeaks case charged with aiding the enemy

The Army has charged Pfc. Bradley Manning, the soldier suspected of leaking thousands of documents published by WikiLeaks, with aiding and giving intelligence to the enemy, a significant escalation of the government's prosecution of the junior intelligence analyst.

As part of 22 additional counts filed against Manning, Army prosecutors said he "wrongfully and wantonly" caused intelligence to be published on the Internet, with the knowledge that it would be "accessible to the enemy."

Aiding the enemy is a capital offense, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, but the Army said in a statement Wednesday that prosecutors did not intend to recommend that Manning receive the death penalty if convicted. Even so, he could face life in prison.

They should.

re: #134 RogueOne

Forgot the link again:
[Link: www.latimes.com...]

re: #129 RogueOne

That happens quite a bit around Indiana. People surprised that a pig farm down the road might smell bad. There's a gun club that has been out in the boonies for 40 years. 10 years ago they started building million dollar homes down the street. Now the gun club has been fighting to stay open after dozens of lawsuits from their new neighbors.

This sort of stuff really, really bugs me. And some people wonder why theirs sometimes this generic annomosity from rural folk against city folk. This sort of stuff is why. It's annoying as heck and has nothing to do with anything political. To me it's simply...look people you move here and it's not the people who have lived here for fricken ages job to create this illusionary Disney version of country life for you.

And no of course not everyone is like this and most people get it and are respectful. It only takes a few jerks though to make waves and set the stage for the stereotype.

re: #134 RogueOne

Nope.

What's funny about the yuppies in my city is that we're only twenty five miles outside of DC. Lol, do they think this is the countryside???
XD

re: #136 Jadespring

I'm a city boy that was transplanted into the middle of a corn field in Indiana when I started HS. That location has gone from farm country to an upscale 'burb in less than 2 decades. It was one fight after another between the farmers and the new developments. The farmers either sold out or lost.

re: #137 Sergey Romanov

Nope.

Spies should be hung. After a trial of course.

re: #134 RogueOne

Soldier in WikiLeaks case charged with aiding the enemy

They should.

Yeah, it's been a while since we've executed someone for espionage. What he did was so amazingly dangerous. We are lucky that the damage was fairly minimal.

re: #140 RogueOne

Nope.

re: #142 Sergey Romanov

Nope.

Not just him either. If you're charged and convicted of spying, regardless of the reasons or who they were spying for, that's treasonous enough for me to warrant a rope.

Just paged this:

CDC study finds obesity rates lower in Canada than the US

I'm interested in theories as to why this is the case, since the study authors couldn't draw any specific conclusions.

re: #144 publicityStunted

Just paged this:

CDC study finds obesity rates lower in Canada than the US

I'm interested in theories as to why this is the case, since the study authors couldn't draw any specific conclusions.

The polar bears eat the fat ones first?

Dear Alcon Entertainment:

You are hereby cordially invited to go fuck yourselves. Suggested implements include a large shard of jagged, rusty metal; a hornet nest; a 1976 El Camino, and Moamar Kadaffi.

Sincerely,
Everyone

Three reasons why nope:

1. There should be no death penalty, period.

2. Life in prison is deterrence enough for espionage.

3. Hanging "white collar" spies (or "spies") like Manning or Pollard, who did it out of apparent ideological convictions, is certainly not good for overall morale (unless one is a wingnut; also see 2).

re: #144 publicityStunted

Just paged this:

CDC study finds obesity rates lower in Canada than the US

I'm interested in theories as to why this is the case, since the study authors couldn't draw any specific conclusions.

My theory is it's a combination of gluttonous consumerism which has become the core of American culture and we eat more processed food.

re: #146 negativ

Alcon Plotting 'Blade Runner' Prequels And Sequels

No.
Just no.
DON'T RUIN IT!!!

re: #139 RogueOne

I'm a city boy that was transplanted into the middle of a corn field in Indiana when I started HS. That location has gone from farm country to an upscale 'burb in less than 2 decades. It was one fight after another between the farmers and the new developments. The farmers either sold out or lost.

I'm a city girl who now lives in the country. Before I lived here I thought differently and thought that a lot of the stereotype that country folk have a city folk wasn't based on any sort of reality.

I now understand exactly where they come from and in a lot of cases are quite warranted. Around here they're called 'citidiots'. When I first moved here I found the term quite insulting and didn't like it.

Now I find myself using the term because it just fits what I see now.

Berlusconi woos Gaddafi with ‘Danish train gift’

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has given Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi a customised Danish train, according to reports. Technology website ing.dk first published the revelations after a photograph of the Danish IC4 train on Libyan tracks appeared in an international railway magazine.

The Igenioren website claims that the train, which is adorned with a message in Arabic saying: “For 40 years’ achievement”, is a present from the scandal-shrouded Italian prime minister to Gaddafi. The inside of the coaches are also said to be lavishly decorated with large white sofas, floor lamps, carpets and curtains.

It was initially thought that the model, which is manufactured exclusively for Danish train company DSB in the Ansaldobreda factory in Italy, was sent to the North African country so it could be tested on a new stretch of railway. Ansaldobreda says that although the trains are made exclusively for the Danish company, they remain the property of the factory until delivered.

The Italian media claims the extravagant gift was paid for by Berlusconi’s government and sent to Libya in conjunction with a visit by the prime minister himself. It is thought that the train was presented to Gaddafi in the hope of securing Italy’s interest in infrastructure projects in the country which is currently experiencing a violent civil uprising.

re: #147 Sergey Romanov

Three reasons why nope:

1. There should be no death penalty, period.

2. Life in prison is deterrence enough for espionage.

3. Hanging "white collar" spies (or "spies") like Manning or Pollard, who did it out of apparent ideological convictions, is certainly not good for overall morale (unless one is a wingnut; also see 2).

#2 doesn't seem to be working out very well
#3 When you ignore multiple pledges to your nation in order to provide info to another that's treason and deserves the highest form of punishment.

#4 Rope.

So...
Does this mean Richard Armitage should be strung up?

re: #152 RogueOne

#2 doesn't seem to be working out very well

If life in prison doesn't work (and there is no evidence it doesn't work) then DP won't work.

#3 When you ignore multiple pledges to your nation in order to provide info to another that's treason and deserves the highest form of punishment.

Which should be life in prison.

#4 Rope.

Nope, and you also ignored #1.

re: #148 Killgore Trout

My theory is it's a combination of gluttonous consumerism which has become the core of American culture and we eat more processed food.

While it might be great to crow about this I can't. I think it's only a matter of time before Canada catches up to current US levels. Not sure if the study covers this at all but Canadians have been trending heavier, it's just hasn't happened as fast as it has in the US. It's enough of trend though that it is considered a big issue here and alarm bells have been ringing for a few years now.

re: #152 RogueOne

#4 Rope.

Sissy. Bring back the red-hot pokers I say.

Also, anyone caught disrespecting the king shall have his tongue torn out by the roots.

/obviously

re: #153 Varek Raith

So...
Does this mean Richard Armitage should be strung up?

Nobody should be strung up. But if one starts it, then there's no reason to ignore Armitage and anyone else involved in the Plame leak case. (Or anyone involved in torture as well.)

re: #154 Sergey Romanov

If life in prison doesn't work (and there is no evidence it doesn't work) then DP won't work.

Which should be life in prison.

Nope, and you also ignored #1.

I ignored #1 because I'm almost in agreement. Although, my beef with the death penalty isn't that it's immoral but that I don't trust a politician to do the right thing. I think we have more than enough evidence to suggest that some prosecutors will look the other way when the evidence doesn't add up. That isn't something I'm concerned about when it comes to espionage charges.

"The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas." Linus Pauling.

Yes, and likewise, if you want to increase the chance of success, increase your rate of failure.

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area.

Khadafi's still making hash out of Libya, and his thugs capturing a Dutch military aircrew who were trying to evacuate two Europeans from the chaos isn't going to help his cause any - and may go a long way to explaining why the US moved its ships closer to Libya.

Hugo Chavez is trying to inject himself into the situation, offering to mediate, although one has to wonder what kind of mediation he wants when Chavez is well known for stifling dissent in Venezuela and making attempted end runs around the legislature and the law to impose his distorted economic policies.

re: #153 Varek Raith

So...
Does this mean Richard Armitage should be strung up?

Maybe. Do you know something about the new Captain America movie the rest of us don't?

PA authorities are contemplating the death penalty for abortion doc Kermit Gosnell, whose house of horrors was revealed not after investigations into complaints about Gosnell's malpractice and engaging in illegal late-term abortions, but about an investigation into Gosnell operating a pill-mill.

It was only after the prosecutors began their search of the premises that the true nature of Gosnell's "practice" was revealed in all its horror.

Several of his employees may also face the death penalty.

Delaware has also taken to suspending two of Gosnell's associates in that state and DE investigators are continuing their investigations there (Gosnell had offices there as well).

re: #158 RogueOne

The problem with the DP is indeed not that it is allegedly immoral but that this is an "infinite" punishment in an imperfect system. If there is a mistake (or foul play), someone who gets a prison sentence still has a chance, even if after a long while. If (s)he gets a DP, there is no such chance after the sentence is carried out. Since there is no system of gradation of sentences (with some "more probable" and some "less"), there is just found guilty or not found guilty, I don't see how any cases can be excluded.

Ethel Rosenberg.

re: #155 Jadespring

While it might be great to crow about this I can't. I think it's only a matter of time before Canada catches up to current US levels. Not sure if the study covers this at all but Canadians have been trending heavier, it's just hasn't happened as fast as it has in the US. It's enough of trend though that it is considered a big issue here and alarm bells have been ringing for a few years now.

It's a global problem as the rest of the world is adopting a processed food diet. America is a little unique in that we have half of our political structure which is now actively opposed to healthy eating. In Europe (and probably in Canada) they don't have that obstacle.

David Greenglass, Ethel Rosenberg's brother and key prosecution witness, recanted his testimony about his sister's typed notes. He stated in an interview in 2001: "I don't know who typed it, frankly, and to this day I can't remember that the typing took place. I had no memory of that at all—none whatsoever."[33] He said he gave false testimony to protect himself and his wife, Ruth, and that he was encouraged by the prosecution to do so; "I would not sacrifice my wife and my children for my sister."[33] He refused to express any remorse for his decision to sacrifice his sister, saying only that he did not realize that the death penalty would be invoked.[33]

No, espionage cases are no different from the rest. Sorry.

re: #164 Sergey Romanov

Ethel Rosenberg.

Eddie Slovik.

Although I heard on a talk show, many years ago, one of Slovik's relatives claiming that he ran away because "he didn't want to fight for the Jews."

re: #163 Sergey Romanov

In this case, and the Pollard case you mentioned, we're talking about people who swore an oath to protect their nation, uphold the constitution and also swore they could be entrusted with classified information. They ignored those oaths, violated that trust, and dishonored their units and uniform. They are traitors. They are the lowest of the low in my book and deserve the harshest punishment.

re: #165 Killgore Trout

It's a global problem as the rest of the world is adopting a processed food diet. America is a little unique in that we have half of our political structure which is now actively opposed to healthy eating. In Europe (and probably in Canada) they don't have that obstacle.

True. We don't seem to have much of that particular political 'poo poo on healthy eating memes' up here.

I also think that there is likely some connection with people's average ability to access primary health care as well.

re: #147 Sergey Romanov

Three reasons why nope:

1. There should be no death penalty, period.

Bring back Old Sparky!

re: #168 RogueOne

I'm not arguing that they're not deserving the harshest punishment. I'm arguing that the harshest punishment should never be DP.

re: #171 Sergey Romanov

and on that we disagree...obviously./

I have to get back to work. Enjoy the day people!

re: #172 RogueOne

and on that we disagree...obviously./

Sure, it's a difference of opinion. Only mine has been substantiated with a rational argument tho. /

re: #173 RogueOne

I have to get back to work. Enjoy the day people!

Me too. Later gators!

re: #160 lawhawk

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Gaddafi doing that (Taking of Dutch Soldiers)would get NATO ticked off, right?

re: #174 Sergey Romanov

Sure, it's a difference of opinion. Only mine has been substantiated with a rational argument tho. /

I can be convinced to get rid of the DP, but I'd like to see our prisons become more economical through inmate work inside the prisons. Making them self-sufficient is a dream, but I think the prisoners should have to work.

Colbert Mocks Fox News For Bogus Footage Of Union Violence (VIDEO)

re: #177 rwdflynavy

I can be convinced to get rid of the DP, but I'd like to see our prisons become more economical through inmate work inside the prisons. Making them self-sufficient is a dream, but I think the prisoners should have to work.

Fulfilling work inside prisons could also be a great way to rehabilitate prisoners (my opinion only - I'm no expert on this).

It would have to be proper work rather than pointless tasks assigned as punishment though.

re: #179 iossarian

Fulfilling work inside prisons could also be a great way to rehabilitate prisoners (my opinion only - I'm no expert on this).

It would have to be proper work rather than pointless tasks assigned as punishment though.

I agree, with the caveat that prisoners might have to do soemthing they don't want (the horror!!)to do because it needs to be done, not as punishment.

re: #121 treasured people

This letter appeared in last week's Sacramento News & Review, in response to a prior letter written by someone not known for her positive views of the US or Israel. Now, I'll grant that the numbers aren't sourced in this letter, so I am unsure of their specific accuracy (they sure seem correct to me) -- but I believe that your wonderful attitude, and letters like this one, point the way toward some semblance of hope that sanity -- or, at least, some degree of objectivity -- might one day stand a chance of prevailing.

What ethnic cleansing looks like

Re “More than one violent religion” (SN&R Letters, February 10):

Maggie Coulter never tires of demonizing Israel. The latest example is her claim that “the government of Israel … is continuing its 60-plus-year-old practice of ethnically cleansing native non-Jews from what is now Israel.” As usual, her message appeals only to the ignorant, the gullible, the ideologically driven, the anti-Semitic and the editors of SN&R.

The reality is that about 156,000 Arabs lived in Israel in 1948 (after the surrounding Arab nations invaded Israel but were unsuccessful at destroying it). At the end of 2008, the Israeli Arab population had grown to 1,488,000, an increase of 854 percent!

The Christian population growth is even more remarkable since Israel is the only country in the Middle East whose Christian population is growing, rather than decreasing. (There is anti-Christian violence in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan and the West Bank.)

So, if Israel is engaging in ethnic cleansing of non-Jews, the Israelis (usually noted for their efficiency) are surely the most pathetically inept ethnic cleaners in world history.

This is not to say that there is no ethnic cleansing in the Middle East. According to the [United Nations], here’s just a few of the many examples: the Jewish population in Egypt was 75,000 in 1948, down to only 100 in 2001; in Libya it was 38,000 in 1948, down to zero in 2001; in Yemen it was 55,000 in 1948, down to only 200 in 2001; in Aden it was 8,000 in 1948, down to zero in 2001; in Iraq it was 135,000 in 1948, down to only 100 in 2001; in Algeria it was 140,000 in 1948, down to zero in 2001.

That’s what ethnic cleansing looks like!

Fred Hayward
Sacramento

re: #176 ProLifeLiberal

That it could (and should). If the Dutch call on the mutual assistance/defense provisions of the NATO treaty, it isn't a stretch to find the US or Italians or the Dutch carry out a military mission to rescue the Dutch crew.

What's so bizarre (but should be expected from Khadafi) is that Khadafi would give a pretext for the very thing he's railing about (the US invading) when going after troops from a NATO country opens the door to that very scenario.

re: #180 rwdflynavy

I agree, with the caveat that prisoners might have to do soemthing they don't want (the horror!!)to do because it needs to be done, not as punishment.

Yes - there would have to be incentives, some of which would presumably be more coercive than others.

The problem with such programs is of course that they cost money up front, and have benefits that are relatively difficult to quantify (key word: relatively). So they tend to get cut (e.g., eduction in prisons, which is technically not "productive work" in the sense that we're talking about, but fulfills some of the same goals).

re: #182 lawhawk

That would give an excuse for airstrikes, which is what some of the opposition is asking for. Let's hope the Dutch use that power then.

re: #182 lawhawk

I do not think NATO will seriously consider strong military action over this. There will be talk and letters and hand wringing, but recent history has shown NATO military performance and willingness to engage is inversely proportionate to the geographical distance from Europe and the political or geopolitical distance from the core mission of defending member nations from invasion. More likely we might see some stronger military cover for evacuation missions, but not as any kind of official NATO involvement. More like a coalition of the willing. Led again by the US, as we have the carrier and the MEU nearby.

re: #184 ProLifeLiberal

That would give an excuse for airstrikes, which is what some of the opposition is asking for. Let's hope the Dutch use that power then.

Gates response of providing 2 Amphib ships precludes a no fly or significant airstrikes (Kearsarge has Harriers, but no other strike capability) instead of Enterprise (a fixed wing carrier) speaks volumes about the US desire to keep out of Libya, even their airspace.

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

re: #184 ProLifeLiberal

That would give an excuse for airstrikes, which is what some of the opposition is asking for. Let's hope the Dutch use that power then.

I heard quite a long interview on the Ceeb last night with an opposition leader. Can't remember who it was but they did say that they can't defend against airstrikes and are fearful of chemical weapons. They would very much appreciate and an air 'curfew' (no fly zone). When the interviewer asked would that still be okay if that meant having to bomb Gadhafi's air bases he said that yes his people would be okay with that but they really don't want any direct intervention beyond what is necessary for a 'curfew'.

re: #186 rwdflynavy

I thought the Enterprise was there. Sorry for being mistaken.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

Holy shit.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

WATCH THIS PEOPLE

re: #191 Stanley Sea

WATCH THIS PEOPLE

Summarize for those of us in cubicle land.

"There is a lot of, frankly, loose talk about some of these military options. Let's just call a spade a spade. A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses. That's the way you do a no-fly zone. Then you can fly planes around the country and not worry about our guys being shot down. That is the way it starts."
-Robert Gates

re: #186 rwdflynavy

US military bases in Europe could provide the air strike capability without needing the carriers. Refueling capabilities for long range strike could come from any of the following bases, including Aviano and Incerlik. Carriers would allow for more intensive strike capabilities though, and the amphibious assault ships on station would not provide the same kind of strike capabilities.

That doesn't preclude a carrier task force from being stationed in the region as it isn't much of a stretch for a carrier to move from the Eastern Med to the coast of Libya.

But, as you note (and I've said previously), I would expect military action only if in self-defense or as to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign citizens (US, Nato-country).

re: #149 Varek Raith

No.
Just no.
DON'T RUIN IT!!!

Starring:
Matthew CcConaughey as Deckard
Justin Bieber as his wise-cracking sidekick "Twinkie"
Renee Zellweger as Rachel
Gary Busey as Dr. Tyrell
Will Farrell as Roy Batty
John Goodman as Leon
Lindsay Lohan as Zhora
Betty White as Pris

COMING SOON

re: #192 Alouette

Summarize for those of us in cubicle land.

Yes please. I can't watch it right now either.

re: #192 Alouette

Summarize for those of us in cubicle land.

A hate rally on 02/11/11 in Yorba Linda in front of a Mosque. Taunting the people going in, little girls incuded.

People yelling the most hateful things. Councilwoman at podium calling the people "pure unadulterated evil"

then

"I know quite a few marines that will be willing to help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise" To cheers.

These people were walking into a mosque.

There are subtitles.

Oh my god.

re: #197 Stanley Sea

Go Home! Take your sharia and go home.

HATE SQUARED, 70 miles north of me. Unbelievable.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.

re: #194 lawhawk

US military bases in Europe could provide the air strike capability without needing the carriers. Refueling capabilities for long range strike could come from any of the following bases, including Aviano and Incerlik. Carriers would allow for more intensive strike capabilities though, and the amphibious assault ships on station would not provide the same kind of strike capabilities.

That doesn't preclude a carrier task force from being stationed in the region as it isn't much of a stretch for a carrier to move from the Eastern Med to the coast of Libya.

But, as you note (and I've said previously), I would expect military action only if in self-defense or as to ensure the safe evacuation of foreign citizens (US, Nato-country).

All true stuff. My point is that from the Navy standpoint, we are preparing for a humanitarian mission, not no-fly zones or air strikes.

re: #197 Stanley Sea

Yes and another way to picture it:

Image: segregation-demonstration.jpg

re: #197 Stanley Sea

Like the Nazis in 1920s.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

Damn. It's a white trash woodstock. Where are the white sheets and the burning crosses? And these ignorant lowlife scum have the nerve to talk about the Constitution? Listen to them. My God what repulsive people.

And...there goes my day of cheer.

Stauff, where did you see this? This totally went under the radar.

re: #201 Stauff

Yes and another way to picture it:

Image: segregation-demonstration.jpg

EXACTLY.

It's from teh CAIR!!11ty -- blah, blah, blah.

//Wingnut

re: #195 negativ

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Dick is spinning in his grave over this potential travesty. We don't need to see a prequel or sequel. This was a standalone novel and movie.

re: #204 Stanley Sea

Found it on Reddit.

re: #203 Gus 802

Damn. It's a white trash woodstock. Where are the white sheets and the burning crosses? And these ignorant lowlife scum have the nerve to talk about the Constitution? Listen to them. My God what repulsive people.

Yorba Linda (Nixon Library) is not necessarily trashy. Sure there are pockets, but I'm sure the property values are quite high.

re: #209 Stanley Sea

Yorba Linda (Nixon Library) is not necessarily trashy. Sure there are pockets, but I'm sure the property values are quite high.

I'm guessing "white trash" in this context is meant to refer to a mentality rather than socio-economic status. Rich people can have trashy outlooks in spades.

re: #209 Stanley Sea

Yorba Linda (Nixon Library) is not necessarily trashy. Sure there are pockets, but I'm sure the property values are quite high.

The rich can be white trash too. Haven't you watched any of the Real Housewives of_____ shows?//

re: #209 Stanley Sea

Yorba Linda (Nixon Library) is not necessarily trashy. Sure there are pockets, but I'm sure the property values are quite high.

Well, Yorba Linda may be upscale but those people are still white trash lowlifes.

re: #201 Stauff

Yes and another way to picture it:

Image: segregation-demonstration.jpg

It was exactly this.

BIAB. Time to hit the store.

re: #187 Stauff

That's beyond disgusting. A councilwoman?

"Go back home?"

What about the kids that were born here?

Helping them to an early grave?

Sick fucks.

On reddit it says that the reason they were at the mosque the first place was that the mosque was having a fundraiser for women's shelter and the homeless people.

Two minutes' several hours' hate, huh.

re: #187 Stauff

You really should make a page out of this, and (if you have time) try to write up a brief transcript of the most important parts. I recommended your comment as well (for those who don't know, this is the exclamation mark icon, the same one for reporting a post - after you click it, it gives you the option to "report" or "recommend").

re: #218 publicityStunted

Okay

re: #219 Stauff

Okay

Link it here when you do and we'll all upding it again too. I can't believe how horrible that video is.

re: #212 Gus 802

Well, Yorba Linda may be upscale but those people are still white trash lowlifes.

Isn't the term "trash" sufficient?

I had a parent who grew up in the deep South in the sort of socioeconomic circumstances that prompted the fine white middle-class folks around them to quite regularly use the term as an epithet, laden with scorn and derision.

Frankly, I think we need a better term. One more descriptive of the rot within their heads, not their outward appearance.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:
[Video]

Lesson not learned:

Sorry, Mr. Serling. You tried.

Hey Stanley sea, I thought your cable and internet were off?

re: #221 Slap

Isn't the term "trash" sufficient?

I had a parent who grew up in the deep South in the sort of socioeconomic circumstances that prompted the fine white middle-class folks around them to quite regularly use the term as an epithet, laden with scorn and derision.

Frankly, I think we need a better term. One more descriptive of the rot within their heads, not their outward appearance.

Flat out racists. That's it.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

WTF....
I went from feeling revulsion to anger to sadness.

Jesus wept.

I didn't even have to see it. Just hearing the shouts of "Go Back Home" And yes I hate to violate Godwin here but it sounded like something out of a Nazi rally. Really sad to see that a rabbi was among the sponsors of the protest. It's disgraceful really how bigoted people can be when it's a religion or different culture. Reminds me of the question that is asked at the end of the song, Where Have the Flowers Gone and that's "Oh when will they ever learn?"

re: #223 iceweasel

Hey Stanley sea, I thought your cable and internet were off?

I'm at my new place. Old place later. I'm going to enjoy the am!! That video kind of crimped the plan tho.

re: #227 Stanley Sea

I'm at my new place. Old place later. I'm going to enjoy the am!! That video kind of crimped the plan tho.

Yeah, when I saw it I thought uhoh for productivity!

re: #177 rwdflynavy

I can be convinced to get rid of the DP, but I'd like to see our prisons become more economical through inmate work inside the prisons. Making them self-sufficient is a dream, but I think the prisoners should have to work.

Interviews with wardens often show that work is used as a reward in prisons. There's not enough of it to go around. (Once attended a course with the Safety Director of the US Bureau of Prisons--not a good job.)

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

Ugh. Do these people think they're examples of the best America has to offer?

"Go back home"? I guess they'd want me to move back to Texas.

"Help these terrorists to an early meeting in paradise"? Seriously? Your son would like to slaughter innocent men, women & children? How does that make you different from the actual terrorists?

"On nation under God, not Allah"? Um, it's the same God. And I'm sure He's very pleased with their nasty behavior. //

"I'm proud of what we're doing." Really? REALLY?

What, vile, ignorant trash.

And it's only going to get worse.

re: #228 iceweasel

Yeah, when I saw it I thought uhoh for productivity!

Exactly. My "I'll get there in the morning" has turned into the "I'll get there by 1pm" hahaha, I HATE IT!

I just can't get over that video. If it had been a month after 9/11, maybe. But in 2011????

'Go home'? That's your neighbours and fellow citizens you're all yelling at, haters.

I wish I were surprised but I'm not. I was with a family member the other day when we drove by three Muslim women covered head to toe. She was actually angry and frightened just by the sight of three women. I was disgusted at her behavior but I've tried before and nothing can change her mind that all of Islam is evil. I would like to think that she would stop short of yelling at children though.

re: #232 iceweasel

I just can't get over that video. If it had been a month after 9/11, maybe. But in 2011???

'Go home'? That's your neighbours and fellow citizens you're all yelling at, haters.

THAT is the part I just cannot for the life of me understand.... these ignorant and hateful bastards.
At the children, they directed their hate.

I'm sending this video around.

"If they can get three or four people on the board, they can get control of a building," said resident Elaine Brown. "And then they can change the rules. This is the greatest threat to the Village we've ever seen."

They are talking about Teh Juice.

re: #235 Ericus58

THAT is the part I just cannot for the life of me understand... these ignorant and hateful bastards.
At the children, they directed their hate.

I'm sending this video around.

Me too. Those poor little girls....ugh god I hate pam geller and her sicko counterparts.

re: #234 Varek Raith

Seconded.

re: #236 Alouette

They are talking about Teh Juice.

Right, because a bunch of people praying in a private condo is a threat! Think of the property values!

That article was just what I needed to have my head hurt this afternoon.

It really does take a Jew to be a total dick to other Jews.

re: #235 Ericus58

THAT is the part I just cannot for the life of me understand... these ignorant and hateful bastards.
At the children, they directed their hate.

I'm sending this video around.

What do you tell your little girl when she asks you why those people are yelling at you for going in to your church?

re: #237 iceweasel

Me too. Those poor little girls...ugh god I hate pam geller and her sicko counterparts.

I was just thinking the exact same thing. This is the result of the "human rights" efforts of people like Geller & her ilk.

It's just shameful. It's like we've learned nothing from the past when it comes to crap like that.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

And this is what I needed to truly make my head hurt.

It's disgusting. I am so sorry for those girls.

And there was a Chabad rabbi involved in that? Is this confirmed?

shakes head in shame.

On a semi-related note, Mr. Newt Ground Zero Mosque Backers Are Nazis Gingrich is launching an exploratory committee.

The ride is about to begin, make sure your lap belt is securely fastened and hit the call button if you need the attendant to bring you another barf bag.

re: #226 HappyWarrior

I didn't even have to see it. Just hearing the shouts of "Go Back Home" And yes I hate to violate Godwin here but it sounded like something out of a Nazi rally.

Godwin is only violated when the comparison is inappropriate and hyperbolic.

re: #187 Stauff

I've never felt such disgust for my fellow Americans before:

[Video]

I hate to post and run and don't even have time to read all the comments, but I logged in just to upding the post and say:
What a totally disgusting group of "protesters". What pathetic lives they must lead that this will get them out on the street to annoy other Americans.

re: #241 CuriousLurker

I was just thinking the exact same thing. This is the result of the "human rights" efforts of people like Geller & her ilk.

Please remember that most Jews have an understanding of how bad it is to be on the receiving end of such shit.

Aberrations like the harpy and her fellow travelers are aberrations.

I am feeling truly sick.

re: #243 LudwigVanQuixote

And this is what I needed to truly make my head hurt.

It's disgusting. I am so sorry for those girls.

And there was a Chabad rabbi involved in that? Is this confirmed?

shakes head in shame.

Interesting counterpoint between the two stories on the thread.

re: #245 negativ

Godwin is only violated when the comparison is inappropriate and hyperbolic.

I know. It's just I hate comparing fellow Americans' actions to something barbaric like the Nazis but this really had a Nuremberg rally like sound to it. I tell you for me one of the most haunting scenes in Schindler's List is when a Polish kid is shouting "Goodbye Jews!". Scene has stuck with me.