Patterico's Pontifications

Was it “My work here are dun”?

Colonel Haiku (58463f) — 1/17/2014 @ 8:25 am

“Is you is or is you ain’t my constituency?”

– Gov. Kris Krispy

Colonel Haiku (58463f) — 1/17/2014 @ 8:31 am

The troll simply linked to Puffington Host articles saying, misleadingly, what Abcarian already said in the article Patrick fisked, namely, “Progressive groups were flagged TOO! so SHUT UP!” Nothing in the articles newly troll-linked points out, however, what Patrick did: The scrutiny fell far more often on conservative groups than on progressive ones.

We are now officially arguing in circles. Only a true troll-idiot, and Abcarian herself (who RTd him), could think that REPEATING YOUR INITIAL, ALREADY DESTROYED STATEMENTS somehow undoes their destruction. It’s like arguing with a 3 year old.

Mitch (341ca0) — 1/17/2014 @ 8:48 am

CDR Salamander has a worthwhile thought on today’s Fullbore Friday post. As indeed he usually does.

I don’t think he’d mind if I copied it in full. But I won’t.

http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/

I’m not going to put much commentary here, but just a note to consider if not the man Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, but his family.

…To endure that long in captivity, or to wake up every day knowing your son is in such bondage. To ponder, indeed; fullbore.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 8:54 am

How we’re not busy killing people I don’t understand. But then I’m not the smartest woman in the world or a wise latina or the most sophisticated consumer of intelligence on the planet.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 8:58 am

Here’s a thought; the people we’re fighting aren’t Ivy League either.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:10 am

We could swap KSM for him.

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:13 am

When I want to learn about the Arab street, my first thought is to ask a former editor of the Harvard Law to ‘splain it to me.

Cuz if anybody has a finger on the pulse of the thought leaders in Cairo, it has to be an alumnus of the Punahou school in Honolulu.

Next up, I query the editors of Food Network for tips on porting and polishing the small block Chevy head. Right after I try out the recipes for calamari in garlic sauce the writers at Aviation Week forwarded me.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:18 am

7. We could swap KSM for him.

Comment by nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:13 am

We could do a lot of things. I’m just wondering why we’re not doing any of the things listed in the first three chapters of my playbook.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:21 am

WHITE HOUSE: Obama didn’t know extent of surveillance…

and that’s… unexpected?

Colonel Haiku (762d18) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:28 am

What? The most sophisticated consumer of intelligence on the planet EVAH didn’t know the extent of surveillance?

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:30 am

teh Rot runs deep and teh fish stinks from its empty head.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:35 am

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/marc-thiessen-obama-alone-this-president-does-not-need-intel-briefers/2012/09/13/c11e1a52-fda5-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html

Vietor’s reply is quite revealing. It is apparently a point of pride in the White House that Obama’s PDB is “not briefed to him.” In the eyes of this administration, it is a virtue that the president does not meet every day with senior intelligence officials. This president, you see, does not need briefers. He can forgo his daily intelligence meeting because he is, in Vietor’s words, “among the most sophisticated consumers of intelligence on the planet.”

The Preezy who isn’t fornicating you would appreciate it if you’d pass the KY jelly. No reason, really.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:37 am

12. …teh fish stinks from its empty head.

Comment by Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:35 am

If it were me I wouldn’t scream at the top of my lungs about how empty my head is. That’s just me.

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:39 am

yes, Steve, Rumsfeld would have a real challenge putting Obamerta under scrutiny for his “unknowns”.

meanwhile back at the ranch… teh head explodes when contemplating St. Bobby Kennedy locked in a sweaty horizontal mambo embrace with Rudolf Nureyev.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:42 am

11. Comment by Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:30 am

The most sophisticated consumer of intelligence on the planet EVAH didn’t know the extent of surveillance?

If they don’t tell him, if they don’t spell it out for him, how’s he gonna know?

13. I explained that.

You can learn more in a shorter time by reading than by voice, so it was a point of pride in the White House that Obama read the briefing papers, rather than have someone brief him orally.

Where do you learn more? From listening to the radio or television, or from a newspaper??

Obama never thought of briefings as a 2-way street.

He always voted at his party’s call,

And never thought of thinking for himself at all!

That could only create a conflict with his conscience.

I should, though, maybe get on to other topics.

There are a number of interesting things I saw besides this and the New Jersey mystery, and the Obamacare failure news of the day. The thing is, starting from scratch it takes longer to write.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:05 am

mentioned the Vitamin E and Alzheimer’s study.

http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/31/alzheimers/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

The scientists seem confused. I think I could straighten them out.

By the way, the same new development was reported 16 years before:

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/24/us/alzheimer-s-progression-may-be-eased-by-vitamin-e.html

Here’s the Fox story.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/01/01/researchers-say-vitamin-e-may-slow-spread-mild-to-moderate-alzheimer-disease/

Now if somebody starts talking about it, that’ll maybe get me going.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:08 am

“If they don’t tell him, if they don’t spell it out for him, how’s he gonna know?”

If you really believe that is the way things operate, Sammy, you are way out there, daddy! Totally gonesville, wackeydoodle. Yer wiggin’.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:12 am

Well now we know why President Obama keeps finding out about all of his scandals and mistakes only when they are covered by the MSM…he doesn’t talk to anybody all day…he just sits in the oval office all day by himself reading.

gahrie (d91116) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:25 am

Yesterday on my way to and from work I got to knowingly, courtesy of the Weather Channel, blizzard conditions: Blue sky, winds to 22 mph, visibility 3-7 miles, IOW the horizon and no precipitation.

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2014/01/17/Steyn-Members-of-Congress-Voting-for-Bipartisan-Budget-Voted-for-America-to-Exit-the-First-World

This is pro forma government. As Steyn observes, these are not legislators legislating, even a ‘wonk’ like Ryan really has no clue until his staff distills the result for him next fiscal year–basically after the November election–what he has voted into Law.

Giving him a ring, sending him letters, emails, is utterly pointless, the reply will be at 3 degrees of separation.

OTOH, Tom Coburn is resigning by the end of the year, so there’s that.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:27 am

18.“If they don’t tell him, if they don’t spell it out for him, how’s he gonna know?”

Comment by Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:12 am

If you really believe that is the way things operate, Sammy, you are way out there, daddy! Totally gonesville, wackeydoodle. Yer wiggin’

I think that’s the way things operate in the Obama Administration.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:31 am

20. Yes, that’s true. It’s also true for Ryan etc.

They almost never investigate facts for themselves. They’re too scared of being wrong, and too convinced of their own ignorance.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:32 am

David Ekhart, the victim of an involuntary twelve-hour anal exam, was awarded $1.6M by Hidalgo County, N.M. Ekhart was stopped for a minor traffic violation, and the “peace officers” who stopped him got it in their minds that he had stowed away some drugs in that place where the sun don’t shine. Some senile county judge issued them a warrant to search same, and after an hour or two of clinic shopping, these officers found a hospital in another county that was willing to do the dirty work. The whole affair ended with an unauthorized colonoscopy just past midnight that yielded nothing. Mr. Ekhart, despite his protestations over all the procedures, was billed $6000 for the colonoscopy. The three enemas were gratis. The county wisely decided not to fight the the law suit. Not sure what the hospital is going to do.

This coinicides approximately in time with the Federal Prosecutor’s rape of India’s Deputy Consul to New York over an alleged visa fraud.

We are blazing new paths in our protection of individual freedoms and the presumption of innocence. Simply being arrested today results in treatment that would have been regarded a cruel and unusual punishment of convicted felons in more civilized times.

Also, legalization of marijuna is having an unintended consequence in Colorado as various weed retailers are reporting threats from underworld gangs who resent having their livelihoods threatened. I wonder what happened in the transition period at the end of prohibition? There is an enormous elephant in every city that seems to be invisible to all the good people (who enjoy partaking of that elephant’s droppings.) So even legalization of drugs will involve further violence for at least a while.

bobathome (c0c2b5) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:37 am

19. Comment by gahrie (d91116) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:25 am

Well now we know why President Obama keeps finding out about all of his scandals and mistakes only when they are covered by the MSM…he doesn’t talk to anybody all day…he just sits in the oval office all day by himself reading.

No, the reading is mostly after hours.

He has meetings with people. Besides the ceremonial ones – well actually that’s true of the ceremonial ones as well – other people pick the topics, and what to tell him.

He probably spends most of his time listening and doesn’t ask many questions, except to clarify what he is being told.

Obama expects to get answers, not questions, from his appointees.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:40 am

And in the Obama Administration, people can get in trouble for a speech, or what they say in an interview, but not for how badly they do their job. Obama can’t tell anyway that something has been badly until he reads it in the newspapers.

Case in point: healthcare.gov. Or the general unsoundness of Obamacare.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:41 am

I may have been precipitate in describing Hewitt as ‘Republican’ in the ossified sense. He said he was “ashamed”. Perhaps I should take him at his word, that his disposition might result in change.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:43 am

23. Excellent work, bobathome. I’ll admit it, your recent adventures under the influence led me to expect less from you.

I stand corrected.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:48 am

Dude!

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/01/15/Iranian-Man-Does-Not-Wash-For-Sixty-Years-and-Smokes-Animal-Feces

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:53 am

David Horowitz:

If you think that merely electing six more Republican senators of any persuasion – without rebuilding the party from the ground-up – will change this dynamic, you haven’t been paying attention.

“Go and catch a falling star”

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:11 am

23: Gary, Less is better.

There’s also the issue of the Federal Reserve Bank’s failure to repatriate some of the gold reserves that Germany foolishly gave to us for “safe keeping” during the Cold War. I’ve heard that 99.99% pure bullion deposited by the U. K. was returned as 91% alloy … suitable for jewelry and coins no doubt. But just because Rome and every other empire despoiled their currency is no reason to think that this could become a problem for us. After all, HteWon has declared an end to history. Everything will be just grand in a few more years. And of course gold is of no importance in today’s modern economies, except, perhaps, for providing collateral for foreign exchange. And one bar of 91% gold looks somewhat similar to pure gold depending on the alloying material, so what’s the problem if the Feds are transforming 10 bars of pure gold into 11 bars of alloy. It will just go that much farther in reassuring our trading partners. And if gold isn’t available, we can always rely on the trust of our close allies, right? We have worked so hard to keep their respect these last few years.

bobathome (c0c2b5) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:19 am

RIP: Hiroo Onoda. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wwii-soldier-who-hid-in-jungle-for-29-years-dies-at-91/

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:21 am

Of course.

http://twitchy.com/2014/01/17/what-the-fark-gop-operative-donors-say-i-think-we-need-mitt-back/

Via SondraK

if you hear the dog whistle…you’re the dog—Mark Steyn

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:33 am

what Obama likes to use his skills on, is making a better argument, but he never ponders whether something is correct in the first place. He accepts what he is told.

He sometimes falls flat on his face when he tries to make a better, clearer, argument.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:48 am

30. Another excellent line of inquiry.

Finland let it out in December, that they had “leased” the nation’s gold. Evidently for the purpose of slamming the price into a ‘lousy’ investment relative to fiat.

We have given Germany notice that it will take us, very likely, to the end of the decade to fully repatriate their gold. Presumably because, like Finland, we don’t have it on us. China and India have taken possession.

Just how low the price needs to go in order that they be persuaded to sell, say ahead of their rare earths, is anyone’s guess.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:49 am

RIP (last week)

White House spokesman, Larry Speakes. He was 74, and was born at the start of World War II, in September, 1939.

He had Alzheimer’s.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:50 am

“Dude!

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/01/15/Iranian-Man-Does-Not-Wash-For-Sixty-Years-and-Smokes-Animal-Feces”

Musta been some good sh*t!

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:56 am

Here’s a report to talk about that involves my least favorite Republican:

Obama to Dems: Boehner will pass immigration reform in 2014.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:58 am

This isn’t the first report that says Boehner plans to take on immigration reform this year. Here’s one from earlier this month. There are also anecdotal reports like this.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:03 pm

Or Google “Boehner+immigration+amnesty.”

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:05 pm

Boehner probably will get something passed, but the bill won’t be good enough to help the Republicans, and it may actually hurt Republicans among Hispanics, Asians and other immigrant groups. (because it may take away, or try to take away, the ability of ome people to immigrate legally.)

They are still stuck in a logic trap.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:08 pm

Madness takes its toll: Please have exact change ready.

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:11 pm

Patterico: For example, since I was a kid during Watergate, I admit I didn’t realize precisely how Ford became President. I knew he was Nixon’s vice president and took over after Nixon’s resignation, of course — but I didn’t realize that he was appointed by Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned under the threat of prosecution for taking bribes as a governor .

How is that? wouldn’t it come up later, too? I mean you’d know Ford was not acandidate in the 1972 election.

It is like Rush Limbaugh says – people don’t know anything that happened before they were born. I would say maybe ten yesars before they were born. Maybe it is more like before they were 10 or 12 years old.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:12 pm

…or we can discuss how it’s now accepted fashion to *not* read bills of any kind – no matter that it’s our money being spent.

http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/barbara-boland/who-read-1582-page-11t-spending-bill-congressman-nobody-did

Dana (a0013d) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:13 pm

37. The talk this week is we may, provided blowback from the hinterland, is that we may dodge Amnesty prior to 2014 elections but not thereafter.

If things do not go smoothly for the Mensheviks, they will just make lemonade.

By blowback I assume they mean something like local US Chamber of Commerce offices hit by RPGs.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:15 pm

41. ROTF.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:16 pm

stolen from Ron Crawford’s FB feed (IIRC, he poasts here on occasion)

http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2014/01/16/muslim-nurses-no-longer-required-to-wash-hands-before-medical-procedures/

what could possibly go wrong with this?

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:17 pm

hmmm… looking for a link back to an original source. no joi so far. kindly put “outrage” on hold.

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:20 pm

Waylon Jennings for President!… oh, wait…

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:22 pm

41. Comment by redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:11 pm

Madness takes its toll: Please have exact change ready

That’s what happened at the George Washington bridge in the week leading up to Yom Kippur.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/emails-link-chris-christie-aides-bridge-lane-closures-article-1.1569740

SEPT 10: Mayor Mark Sokolich text to Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni: Presently we have four very busy traffic lanes merging into only one toll booth. The bigger problem is getting kids to school. Help please. It is maddening.

There was only one toll booth and they needed exact change.

Indeed, madness took its toll and they needed exact change..

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:23 pm

Billy Joe Shaver is one helluva songwriter.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:23 pm

It is plain as day that there are moles in the U.S. government and it is causing mistake after mistake in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=62798

“One of the reasons I’m going to Saudi Arabia is that Saudi Arabia’s initiative holds out the prospect that if the parties could arrive at a peaceful resolution, you could instantaneously have peace between the 22
Arab nations and 35 Muslim nations, all of whom have said they will recognize Israel if peace is achieved.”

– Secretary of State John Kerry, Jerusalem, January 5, 2014.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:26 pm

the Saudi peace plan, by the way, calls for Israeli withdrawal not only from what you might think, but “the remaining occupied Lebanese territories in the south of Lebanon”.

The problem is that’s claimed by Syria and was treated as part of Syria in 1967, and it’s just made up by Hezbollah as an excuse.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:28 pm

http://www.wral.com/revenue-department-pulls-plug-on-computer-system-upgrade/13301442/

(by the same folks who brouyght you healthcare.gov)

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:33 pm

http://youtu.be/9bBOe7PM9sE

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:40 pm

The plague of Nullification spreads to NY.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2014/01/local-opposition-stymies-ny-safe-act-gun-law/

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:42 pm

even better… http://youtu.be/9zDyN5SC8Ls

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:44 pm

51. French speaker has hearing restored:

http://www.sondrakistan.com/2014/01/16/oh-now-who-hasnt-wanted-to-do-this/

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:51 pm

I never knew the Irish did ballet.

mg (31009b) — 1/17/2014 @ 12:59 pm

Allapundit is The.Most.Ignorant.Sap on the Internets, bar none and present company included:

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/17/tom-coburn-everyone-wants-washington-to-change-and-that-means-changing-everyone-in-washington/

“Replacing” in actual practice means nothing more than shuffling seating assignments.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:07 pm

Here’s my existential question of the moment-
my daughter is having some friends from school over tonight. the peanut butter has been put away because 2 of them are reportedly allergic to it.
Now, when I was growing up in the last millennium, we had peanut butter sandwiches with honey and raisins in them for lunch in school.
All my years growing up I never even heard of peanut butter allergy, let alone knew someone with it.
When did the universe change, and how, and why, that people became allergic to peanuts and peanut butter?
I will not wait for the answer as I have things to do (other than pretending to be David Lindley), but I will check back later.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:21 pm

I don’t know. Something is causing it, like something is causing autism. We seem to have alot of these bad target immune system diseses.

I should research this. I think it is something I could find out, or could come up with a good theory about. I certainly could find out when the world changed.

It seems to be related to children getting exposed to fewer bacteria, so their immune system is not varied enough. Then maybe if they have the wrong HLAs and get the wrong vaccine, this starts up.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:30 pm

Its probably nothing.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-01-17/imf-warns-these-4-european-nations-are-potentially-destabilizing-global-economy

Christine, just last week, promised to upgrade the Global Economy in her forecast.

How does that jibe with “The healthy are terminally ill”?

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:31 pm

Another thing about peanuts. Peanut oil used to e considered Kosher for Passover.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:31 pm

60. Above my pay grade, but if anyone around here is likely to know, we’re need to find SaraW feeling better.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:33 pm

Allergies – Autism – Etc.

We are not eating enough dirt.

For example, in Israel, the most common teething cookie is a brand called ‘Bamba’ (and here’s a recipe for them at http://talherman.blogspot.com/2010/04/bamba-cookies.html).

And Israel has a nonexistent level of peanut allergies, because all kids are exposed at a young age in a natural way.

Similarly, US kids don’t play outside enough and take too many antibiotics. They don’t develop a natural spectrum of proper intestinal bacteria. It makes them unable to fight off various opportune organisms who get in there and cause problems – C. diff, for example.

Amish kids, Memmonite kids, farm kids in general don’t show these problems as a population because they play in the dirt and around animals.

luagha (5cbe06) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:40 pm

61. I know an immunologist but she is so overworked I’m not going to ask. The learning curve is too steep.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:47 pm

65. I hesitate to share(we have no peanut allergies at my house) but around her first birthday my daughter brought me an old, desiccated hairball.

The look across her lips lead me to believe she’d gotten her dose of cat antigens.

I work here is done.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 1:53 pm

the Bourne films gave me an unwarranted confidence in their abilities;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/17/american-spies-snowden-deserves-to-die/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/17/2014 @ 2:07 pm

shirley they can’t be serious;

http://www.buzzfeed.com/katenocera/obamacare-enrollee-who-didnt-enroll-is-really-going-to-the-s

narciso (3fec35) — 1/17/2014 @ 2:16 pm

68. Yeah, like what have they done for us lately?

Valerie was an anti-American agent. Arlen Specter died of natural causes. Colin Powell lives and breathes,..

Come on, help me out here.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/17/2014 @ 2:21 pm

I don’t know if it’s interesting, but the strikes by fast food workers last year are working out about as well as anyone might imagine.

http://fastfoodforward.org/

It does have a certain Soviet ring to it. Or is it Maoist?

I wish I could find some of the articles that profiled some of these fast food workers. It was pathetically comical how these reporters would try to gin up sympathy for these strikers, only to have the opposite effect. I remember thinking, “High school dropout? Check. Single mom? Check. Making a career out of working at a minimum wage job? Check. Can’t afford to raise two kids on that minimum wage paycheck? No kidding!”

There are reasons why it’s not a smart move to get pregnant in high school.

Naturally, not all those striking fast food workers were single moms. Dudes who made some poor choices were heavily represented as well. But one thing all those people holding up signs proclaiming “We are worth more” had in common was, they aren’t worth more.

So, nature is taking its course. Mr. feets’ gourmet burrito vending machine is just the tip of the iceberg:

http://momentummachines.com/

Two can play at throwing around that Soviet-style lingo.

OUR TECHNOLOGY WILL DEMOCRATIZE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY FOOD MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO THE MASSES

…Our alpha machine frees up all of the hamburger line cooks in a restaurant.

It does everything employees can do except better:

The nice thing about machines is that they never have their roommate call in to let you know their bud may be able to make it in to work tomorrow if he can make bail.

http://www.letspizza.it/index-en.html

Let’s Pizza is the only machine able to create pizza by kneading it on the spot and adding only fresh ingredients; water, flour, tomatoes, mozzarella and various toppings…

Steve57 (648e1f) — 1/17/2014 @ 3:01 pm

It’s the Bill and Ted mindset, sans the rock band,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/17/2014 @ 3:11 pm

Come on, help me out here.

Create a plausible backdrop for a number of forgettable Hollywood action movies? – That’s not quite right.

Create a real world analog of a plausible backdrop for a number of forgettable Hollywood action movies.

Yeah.

papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/17/2014 @ 3:19 pm

Or we could go Max Von Sydow in ‘Condor;

narciso (3fec35) — 1/17/2014 @ 3:43 pm

9th Circuit: Freedom of the Press Applies to Bloggers.

http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2014/01/17/12-35238.pdf

Diane Feinstein won’t be happy.

sclawyer (c949f7) — 1/17/2014 @ 4:38 pm

34: Gary, Leasing gold is a fascinating concept. One must wonder what can be done with “leased” gold. Did Finland yield physical possession of the gold to the leasee? If so, said leasee could be playing with it in his bathtub (or hot tub, depending.) Alternatively, the gold could still be in a vault somewhere (hopefully in Finland, but more likely in New York,) and the leasee just has a certificate indicating some ephemoral rights to the gold.

Now the bathtub idea is fun to think about (Walt Disney got a lot of mileage out this,) but it is quite painful to dive into a bathtub of gold, let alone a huge vault, or so my engineering and (modest) rugby background would attest. So we really need to look elsewhere if we are to understand the possible uses of leased gold that has been physically delivered. Could this “leased” gold have been used to cover a naked short with a purchaser in the options market, if only for the moment?

The Chinese are taking possession of physical gold at a rate that varies between 190,000 and 750,000 Troy oz. a day (in Shanghai this January.) So they are a prototypical long in the gold market. It is not unreasonable to consider what this might portend in the future. If the gold is still in a vault in Finland, then the Chinese will need to ask Finland to ship the “leased” gold to Shanghai. If the leased gold was delivered to the leasee, and the gold is now in China somewhere, then at the conclusion of the term of lease, Finland will need to ask the leasee to return the gold.

In either case, this is where it gets interesting. Agreed?

PS- Gold production, at average spot prices of $1500/oz over the last 3 years say, is around 100 million oz. a year.

PPS- If the leasee was one of our “too big to fail” financial institutions, who is responsible for delivering the gold, either to Finland or to China, when the lease expires? The U. S. taxpayer?

Just asking.

bobathome (c0c2b5) — 1/17/2014 @ 5:58 pm

“I can handle things! I’m dumb! Not like everybody says… like smart… I’m dumb and I want respect!”

– President Fredo 0bama

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 5:59 pm

“Sun gone to sleep”; “Solar lulls coincide with bitterly cold winters”; “Scientists baffled”.

And, wait for it … “It’s better to get as far away from a nuclear blast as you can”.

Sigh.

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:04 pm

That was Timmah, in the tweet stream?

narciso (3fec35) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:08 pm

So it’s duck, cover, and then run nk?

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:48 pm

American spies are stupid fat-ass pimply momos what sit around eating hot pockets and listening to recorded phone calls involving girls what they once fancied from afar…

back in high school

whereas Mr. Snowden throws their lunch in their faces and laughs at their fat asses and then goes and bangs hot chicks in exotic locations

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:51 pm

Link. http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/01/16/research-shows-its-better-to-run-away-from-nuclear-detonation-blast/

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:52 pm

a lil caveat here

in LA “running away” means “running into the
desert”

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:54 pm

I suppose if we need to be told not to take the lid off a cup of hot coffee we’re holding between our legs as we’re driving ….

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 6:59 pm

You’ll like this, happyfeet. http://www.saysuncle.com/2014/01/17/for-the-laughs/

nk (dbc370) — 1/17/2014 @ 7:01 pm

it makes me so sad

this whole fascism thing

but I have to be strong

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/17/2014 @ 7:12 pm

If – God forbid – we ever suffered a nuclear attack, the lucky ones would’ve been killed in the blast.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 7:20 pm

you can’t think that way Mr. Colonel

as everyone knows who watches CW dramas

you always have a choice

you can’t give up on yourself

everybody needs somebody

if you have truth on your side you don’t have to need anyone… not anymore

Things change, Dawson, people change.

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/17/2014 @ 7:28 pm

Sammy, I was born in 1968. If you knew why Agnew resigned, bully for you. I didn’t.

Patterico (afaf96) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:13 pm

Agnew gave up on himself

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:28 pm

I don’t know what to do any more.

I’ve written, emailed, and called my Congressmen.

I’ve emailed Schmucker -I mean, Speaker- Boehner time after time after time.

But now the Repubs have gone “bipartisan” on this 2800-page budget bill that –unexpectedly!!– NOBODY HAS READ — *AGAIN* !

I remain committed to my view that “voting to pass ANY bill without having read it” ought to be cause for summary execution.

Now I’m reading that Obumhertz is assuring his team that Boehner will cave on amnesty (which seems like a good bet based on ol’ Weepy’s history of roll-over-play-dead when the going gets tough).

I simply cannot vote for any of these GOP clowns any more. Third-party, or nothing. I will *NOT* vote for anyone or anything endorsed by these Establishment-Republican collaborators.

A_Nonny_Mouse (23cb27) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:35 pm

Link. http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/01/16/research-shows-its-better-to-run-away-from-nuclear-detonation-blast/

Why in the hell did the numbskulls at CBS Sacramento include a picture of the San Onofre nuclear plant in a piece about a nuclear detonation? Boiling water nuclear generating facilities like San Onofre aren’t going to blow up when they fail.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque (bff3f0) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:52 pm

Agnew was a loud-mouthed shakedown artist.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/17/2014 @ 9:58 pm

It’s like arguing with a 3 year old.

Actually, no. Someday, the 3yo may well grow up…

Smock Puppet, Gadfly, Racist-Sexist Thug, and Bon Vivant All In One Package (225d0d) — 1/17/2014 @ 10:55 pm

Sammy, I was born in 1968. If you knew why Agnew resigned, bully for you. I didn’t.

LOL, you’re kidding?

Gad, I knew the schools were bad NOW, but I didn’t know they’d gotten that much worse only 9 years behind me… Cripes, I was only 5 in 1964, but even I knew, by the time I was 20, why and how Goldwater lost (A: The media supported the dissemination of a false meme that painted him as a warmongering lunatic. Are we surprised?)

Smock Puppet, Gadfly, Racist-Sexist Thug, and Bon Vivant All In One Package (225d0d) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:08 pm

Nattering nabobs of negativity!

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/17/2014 @ 11:25 pm

Remember the Dorner Manhunt?

http://tinyurl.com/lgtp962
Link to Fox-LA

rd (8c8a6e) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:46 am

If the police want the support of the public then they’re going to have to stop clearing themselves of wrongdoing in these incestuous investigations of theirs.

Anybody else would have been charged for shooting at a white guy in a Honda Ridgeline when the suspect was a black guy in a Nissan Titan.

Any police officers are welcome to try and defend this. But this “shoot first and ask questions later” crap has got to stop.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 2:05 am

How can team republican sleep at night?
Traitorous f sticks, Boehner and McConnell are going to hell.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:27 am

R.I.P. Russell Johnson, “The Professor” on Gilligan’s Island
R.I.P. Dave Madden, “Reuben” on The Partridge Family

Icy (efd962) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:54 am

@89. Egad Pat! I voted for that pair. [Disclaimer– it seemed like a good idea then and also, the choices were limited.]

Spiro was about to be indicted for some shenanigans he participated in while governor (I seem to recall he actually was, and convicted). He resigned the vice-presidency and Ford was appointed. This was all after the re-election in ’72.

gramps, the original (64b8ca) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:45 am

I have a surmise why he did it,

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/01/17/trespasser-freed-from-pipe-at-united-water-plant-in-new-jersey-faces-criminal-charges/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:13 am

Yes, Agnew was a crook, but McGovern was a dangerous fool, of course all of Hollywood voted for the latter,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:19 am

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/01/how-harry-reid-is-destroying-the-senate.php

Excellent short course on how Reid has ruined the Senate by Jeff Sessions.

Ragspierre (f9b6f5) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:21 am

what do you expect from someone who tried to stiff Tony Spilotro.

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:32 am

I remember the 1968 Chicago riots well. I was twelve. They preempted Cowboy in Africa to televise the convention and to show the Chicago cops beating up the hippies.

“The police are not here to create disorder, they are here to preserve disorder.” — The (real) Boss

The 1968 election season was a major turning point in American politics. The Republicans had their share of infighting, notably the “Anybody But Nixon” clique who hoped for a brokered convention and the nomination of Ronald Reagan. That would make an interesting alternative history — if Reagan had been elected instead of Nixon.

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:42 am

My mind is still reeling from that clip of Richard Simmons and the Obamacare dance-off.

It was unspeakably awful.

How much did we spend on that?

Patricia (be0117) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:44 am

California Gov. Grandpa Simpson will soon be hosting weekly rain dances at teh state capitol… film at eleventyyyyyy!

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:58 am

It’s like a bizarre episode of Back to the Future, Colonel, Jerry Brown back again, I thought your state had banished him, like Beetlejuice

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:03 am

Of course, that Schuler fellow would be the first to take advantage;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/18/9th-circuit-first-amendment-media-protections-apply-to-bloggers-too/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:05 am

==That would make an interesting alternative history — if Reagan had been elected instead of Nixon.==

Yes. 1968 was quite a tumultuous and horrible year and the war was raging and tearing America apart. But sometimes in politics things turn out/happen for the best. I think it’s quite likely that Reagan’s personality and unique skills were much more effective and needed and situation compatible in his actual presidential time than would have been in the late ’60’s early 70’s.

elissa (865bd1) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:07 am

Of the two, I’d prefer to have Dorner back over officer Brian McGee.
At least Dorner wasn’t spraying bullets at the public indiscriminately.

Just add them to the list of people who are allowed to kill me without any sort of negative repercussion.
Women. Professional atheletes. And police officers anticipating a rogue cop who might deal out instant justice to them.

papertiger (c2d6da) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:13 am

Apparently she’s had enough of him, too.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/194615-rep-graysons-wife-files-for-divorce

elissa (865bd1) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:13 am

Well one was calculating, one was careless, of course who did the media rally toward.

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:18 am

Tigers won the World Series in 1968.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 10:51 am

A Tulsa County district court clerk is appealing a judgment against her concerning Oklahoma’s marriage laws.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/200606873/14-5003-4

Michael Ejercito (906585) — 1/18/2014 @ 10:59 am

Black Power Salute by John Carlos and Tommie Smith on the Medal Stand at the 1968 Olympics, could have been the sports story of the year.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:06 am

“Yes, Agnew was a crook, but McGovern was a dangerous fool, of course all of Hollywood voted for the latter”

What can one expect from a people who’s way of life is pretending to be this or that?

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:06 am

About stay puft’s more recent accusers,

http://www.politickernj.com/tags/dawn-zimmer

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:16 am

I found Governor Cuomo publicly announcing who is not welcome in New York State, pro-lifers, gun owners, and people not in favor of gay marriage, among others, to be interesting.

That famous liberal tolerance and understanding strikes again.

Maybe he can convince Obama to let him use the NSA to root out the undesirables.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:28 am

He’s safe from me. I have no intention to set foot in New York, city or state.

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:30 am

teh Grandpa Gubner is like a bad penny, narciso… like a toothache that you can’t get rid of.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:33 am

As someone who lived through 1968, I have no wish to see such a year again. But I expect we will. If things go as they are and the gloves come off this thuggish regime, we are going to see some major crap/fan action indeed.

Kevin M (536c5d) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:38 am

we’re gonna need a theme song

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:39 am

I tell ya, the crazy kids these days—

http://nypost.com/2014/01/18/teens-malware-eyed-in-target-data-breach/

elissa (865bd1) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:39 am

Mr. Feets – Theme song for you and Hillary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9nE2spOw_o

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:48 am

LOVE that song

i hate Hillary though it sucks that Team R is busy apologizing for corn dog soprano’s thuggy antics instead of finding a non-thuggy non-socially backwards candidate what can beat her

clearly they have to pick the socially backwards candidate with the best record

that’s probably Scott Walker?

Thank God it’s not my problem

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:53 am

Maybe this has already been said a million times, but this third party non governmeent repository Obama is suggesting for stuff scarfed up by the NSA… is going to be run by?
CGI? Google?

That section of his speech sounded like it got pulled out of Joe Biden’s @$$

steveg (794291) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:55 am

I found Governor Cuomo publicly announcing who is not welcome in New York State, pro-lifers, gun owners, and people not in favor of gay marriage, among others, to be interesting.

The whole Cuomo Crime Family is bad trash. I kind of hope that Andy the A**hole tries for higher office so that we can maybe learn more about their reported ties to New York mafia families. It was almost a shame when his marriage to the Kennedy girl broke up; those two families deserved each other.

JVW (709bc7) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:07 pm

That section of his speech sounded like it got pulled out of Joe Biden’s @$$

well, there’s no room up Barry’s a55 for anything: that’s where the press lives.

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:08 pm

Clark, the Cubs’ new “mascot” has had a terrible horrible no good first week of ridicule and disrespect from all directions.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-clark-cubs-mascot-borrelli-20140117,0,1970824.column.

elissa (865bd1) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:09 pm

JVW – Maybe Cuomo can mandate special insignia to be worn on clothing by people who do not adhere to the official state approved thought policies.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:11 pm

They could turn St. Patrick’s Cathedral into a mosque.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:13 pm

the soft, inclusive, loving face of Frisco style lieberalism…

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/01/18/actress-out-of-san-francisco-production-after-endorsing-tea-party-candidate/

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:16 pm

mas, mas musica…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RBRJVUsI48

The Suburban Lawns

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:20 pm

hf

A lot of Republicans are what you call socially backwards.
A lot of Democrats are socially at odds with large swaths of the electorate as well, but they get a pass.

You dislike Sarah Palin, but put that aside for a minute and look to see if she governed in the way the left portrayed.
The left went crazy tarting up stories about rape victims insurance getting billed for rape kits etc when although Palin clearly is very socially conservative, she didn’t mandate that others live like she believes.

I’ll repeat and thencontrast:
She (Palin) didn’t mandate that others live like she believes.
Clinton, Pelosi, Obama unabashedly do mandate that others live like they believe.

When a person of deep faith (like Palin) puts their hand on their heart and swears to uphold the law of the land… they do it, even if the law is contrary to their social leanings.
But when a person of supposed great faith like Clinton puts her hand on her heart and pledges to uphold the law, look out.

One of my big dislikes of Christie is captured in his status as Springsteen fanboy… he has seen Springsteen about 127(?) times.
Hey Chris! Springsteen only likes you when you are supplicating before Obama.
Christie would sell us all out for a backstage pass

steveg (794291) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:32 pm

Once was enough, even when I went to see Diana Krall, a few years ago,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:35 pm

Also a Gloria Stefan concert.

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:36 pm

A lot of Republicans are what you call socially backwards.

i know

this is why they have such a dickens of a time getting people to elect their weirdo nominees to the presidency

Sarah Palin is just a cable news lifestyle show host anymore I do not think she is relevant to this discussion unless she has a tasty recipe for swamp cabbage or somesuch

Springsteen is a very self-important person and he sings kinda croaky and I like Sheryl Crow more better if I had to pick out a musician to stand in as a mass market-type totem for the american musical sensibility

Christie is a disgusting jersey whore who bullied weak pathetic Rs into passing a pork-laden bill only part of which did anything at all to help his luckless soggy jerseytrash constituents. Plus he diverted a nice chunk of it to make campaign ads with.

He’s very very scummy and as well-suited to the governorship of new jersey as he is ill-suited to national office.

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:43 pm

“One of my big dislikes of Christie is captured in his status as Springsteen fanboy… he has seen Springsteen about 127(?) times.”

steveg – meh, he coulda gone B list and become a fan of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. BFD.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:44 pm

the silencing chill wind, that never shuts them up:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-iraq-war/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:47 pm

all i wanna do is have a lil fun before i die

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:49 pm

speaking of springsteen, i was born in the usa, but if you weren’t, you can still come here and receive welfare, food stamps, and in-state college tuition for your kids. or something.

Elephant Stone (6a6f37) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:55 pm

‘Your name aint Billy, or Mac or Buddy something’ by chance pikachu,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:06 pm

i don’t think mister happyfeet’s name is billy, or mac, or buddy, but i bet he likes to see the sun come up over santa monica blvd

Elephant Stone (6a6f37) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:11 pm

Springsteen made my ears hurt long ago.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:12 pm

Feets, names on who you would vote for if you could make it to the voting booth.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:17 pm

pikachu is taking us far afield;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sbhGggvCRI

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:29 pm

shut up and sing dammit

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:33 pm

Springsteen made my ears hurt long ago.

Comment by mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:12 pm

Agree Yoda does! To make ears actually bleed, listen to Bob Dylan! Warning can actually cause suicidal thoughts and uncontrolled urge to shoot device that sound is coming from, it will!

Yoda (c1890a) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:40 pm

A Bantha with a speech impediment he sounds like!

Yoda (c1890a) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:44 pm

Springsteen made my ears hurt long ago.

Comment by mg (31009b)

Agreed… only live show I ever saw where my ears hurt afterwards… actually extremely painful.

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 1:58 pm

no… THIS is feets’s song…

http://youtu.be/KgCk3bnvO5Y

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 2:01 pm

that sucks but by God it’s hilarious!

Colonel Haiku (a94ecd) — 1/18/2014 @ 2:03 pm

Mr Feets gets to watch the sun come up over Eagle Rock, more or less…

%-)

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/18/2014 @ 2:45 pm

There’s an excellent post up at Eaglespeak. Eagle One borrows from Powerline and Napoleon (with proper attribution and links) to make a point that really needs to be hammered home.

From Powerline:

Another scandal, even more important, was revealed by former Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Duty. Obama ordered an intensification of our effort in Afghanistan, while admitting privately that he expected it to fail. Approximately 80% of the fatalities our military has suffered in Afghanistan have taken place on Obama’s watch, not because he was pursuing a strategy that he sincerely believed to be in America’s interest, but because he cynically calculated that sending Americans to die in a useless campaign (as he assessed it) would benefit him politically. This is a scandal approximately a billion times more newsworthy than the Christie administration’s closing a lane on a bridge.

So, exactly how many of those who knew of this “cynical calculation” resigned rather than be a part of this debacle?

I suspect that the answer is somewhere less than 1.

…Hence it follows, that every general is culpable who undertakes the execution of a plan which he considers faulty. It is his duty to represent his reasons, to insist upon a change of plan–in short, to give in his resignation rather than allow himself to be made the instrument of his army’s ruin. Every general-in-chief who fights a battle in consequence of superior orders, with the certainty of losing it, is equally blamable.

It’s nauseatingly ironic that Gates titled his book Duty. Because that’s exactly what he didn’t do; his duty. His duty was to the troops, and he failed to be worthy of them. He had an obligation not to execute Obama’s plan. But then he wouldn’t have been in the position he was in if he wasn’t a spineless political hack. He doesn’t strike me as very bright either, as I would be embarrassed to write a book in which I demonstrate I don’t have the faintest grasp of the concepts I choose to write about.

For instance Gates says he never doubted Obama supported the troops, he just doubted Obama’s support for the mission. If you don’t support the mission because you think it will fail, then you don’t support the troops. You can’t undermine the troops and play politics with their lives and claim to support them.

I would never have done it. Those of us who left active duty but stayed in the reserves had our own motto: “We quit once, we can do it again; we have a track record.”

If for some reason I didn’t resign I wouldn’t have written a book about how I degraded myself and betrayed the troops. But I suppose it’s a good thing Gates is such a shameless opportunist who’s now cashing in. Because people need to to be fired. It’s too late to fire Gates, but there are Admirals and Generals who went along with this who need to be gone.

The kind whose concern for the troops is such that their first reaction to the Fort Hood shooting was to hope it didn’t derail their diversity initiates.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:11 pm

The link.

http://www.eaglespeak.us/2014/01/one-thing-to-ponder.html

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:11 pm

Taranto has an unfair advantage, you know facts and all;

https://twitter.com/jamestaranto

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:18 pm

150 – Yoda, I was at the Caboose in Mpls. many years ago, Savoy Brown was playing and Dylan was bleep faced on a bar-stool, they asked him to play a set with them, and his home-state booed him back to his bar-stool, and then applauded when he sat down.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 3:33 pm

Comment by steveg (794291) — 1/18/2014 @ 12:32 pm

One of my big dislikes of Christie is captured in his status as Springsteen fanboy… he has seen Springsteen about 127(?) times.

He attended a concert or something like that some number of times like that. (120)

He only met him up close three times, the last time only because of Obama.

If not for Obama, Springsteen wouldn’t have taken his phone call or given him the time of day.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:36 pm

156. Obama maybe did, but Gates didn’t believe the surge iin Afghanistan would fail.

What’s failing now is the result of promising apullout in Afghanistan. Obama wants to show Karzai he’s not bluffing – Karzai wanted him to agree U.S. troops would not be immune from local law, and he refused. He’s also refusing not stop air strikes. This is supporting the troops.

Although maybe not the mission. He’s still against the Taliban taking over Afghanistan, of course. But the Afghans would have ahard time doing it alone.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:39 pm

patterico @ 89

Sammy, I was born in 1968. If you knew why Agnew resigned, bully for you. I didn’t.

I thought you were born in 1964. Also, you said you didn’t know that Agnew resigned. I’d think you’d know, certainly by now, the kind of basic fact that Ford became president because of the 25th Amendment and he wasn’t elected Vice President.

Now the thing is, I remember reading in the New York Post in 1971, Agnew saying he was getting money, so I don’t think he thought it was criminal. And maybe it wasn’t.

Sammy Finkelman (92657d) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:45 pm

Here’s a report to talk about that involves my least favorite Republican:

Obama to Dems: Boehner will pass immigration reform in 2014.

Comment by DRJ (a83b8b)

I’ve long wondered whether Boehner’s notorious teary-eyed jags were a hint that he perhaps was infused with plenty of do-gooder ideological squish. His stance on illegal immigration seems to verify my suspicion.

There’s a saying that “demographics is destiny.” So if a growing percentage of the US populace comes to increasingly resemble the populace of countries long trapped with socio-economic mediocrity — where academic low-standing and lazy liberal politics, including the corollary of rampant corruption, is endemic — then, well, that apparently is America’s destiny.

Lucky us.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:47 pm

41. 49. Come to think of it, I think maybe people don’t need to pay exact change at the toll booth at the George Washington Brdge

That is common on buses.

I remember when it wasn’t so, and bus drivers would give change. (The fare was 15 – no 20 cents then. I didn’t pay it, but I saw.)

They stopped doing that and locked the boxes where the money was, because drivers were being held up. Now the driver could say: “I cant giive you money”

At that time buses didn’t even accept tokens I think.

This was when crime was increasing, in the 1960s.

I remember the signs in the buses by the driver saying that after Sept. 1, 1969 people woukld have to pay exact change.

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:56 pm

Boehner’s notorious teary-eyed jags

Mama used to say, “Chewing gum will keep you from crying when chopping onions. You can keep from crying in other situations by not being a little bitch”.

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 4:59 pm

Come on, Sammy. We got the token/cards/whatsises because the guy who makes the machines, and the guy who mints the tokens, and the guy who prints the cards, and the guy who programs the whatsises, bribed the mayor and the necessary city council members. Behind every turnstile there is an envelope under the table.

I also wanted to say that the lowering of hiring standards made transit employees less trustworthy with cash, but then I started laughing. When were transit workers ever that trustworthy?

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:07 pm

Sammy, this isn’t complicated. Obama refused to authorize the forces the military said they needed, and he set the timetable for the withdrawal before the surge in Afghanistan even started.

It’s very simple really, if the CinC doesn’t support the mission as Gates himself observes then the mission will not succeed. That’s just a fact; deal with it.

Oh, and more news in the “What difference, at this point, does it make” department of consequences for fecklessness.

http://thediplomat.com/2014/01/japan-mulls-aircraft-carrier-future/

According to The Japan Times, “The Maritime Self-Defense Force is considering deploying fixed-wing unmanned reconnaissance aircraft that can take off from and land on destroyers.” If the plan is approved, the MSDFs intend to research these operations extensively

By the way, this is what the Japanese government is calling “destroyers.”

The 18,000 ton Hyuga class DDH (Helicopter Carrying Desstroyer):

http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Japan-Maritime-Self-Defense-Force/Destroyer/Hyuga-class.htm

And the 27,000 ton Izumo DDH:

http://cimsec.org/introducing-the-izumo/

To give a little perspective, the Hyuga is larger than the Italian Giusseppe Garibaldi, and the Izumo is almost identical in size to the Italian Navy’s Cavour. Both those ships are classed as aircraft carriers. Both can operate VSTOL fighters; currently the Harrier II, to be followed by the F-35B. If the 13,850 ton Garibaldi can embark 16 Harriers plus two SAR/ASW helos, and the 27,000 ton Cavour can embark an airwing of 20 aircraft, then it won’t be much of a problem to modify these Japanese “destroyers” to embark a meaningful airwing.

Their constitution won’t stop them. The Japanese have a history of designing ships that can be easily converted to violate international agreements. Back in the 1930s they built what they told the world were light cruisers. They were far larger than the Washington and London naval treaties allowed, but they did have guns under 6 inches.

When they were about to start their war with western powers in the Pacific, they pulled those ships into the yards and replaced the lighter guns with the major caliber guns they were originally intended to carry. Thus turning them into the treaty-violating heavy cruisers they really wanted but weren’t supposed to have.

The move to operate aircraft from surface ships is likely to spark concern and criticism from some states in the region, particularly China, which insists that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is seeking to break loose from the country’s post-WWII Pacifist constitution. As the report noted, although the MSDF currently flies helicopters from some of its ships, it has no experience flying fixed wing aircraft from its vessels because such a move could be construed as an offensive military capability, which Japan’s constitution prohibits.

Japan’s decision to only consider using (presumably unarmed) reconnaissance drones at this time was likely made, at least in part, with an eye toward deflecting the almost certain criticism that the move will provoke. By starting with unarmed aircraft, Japan could seek to gradually seek to make the region comfortable with it operating fixed wing aircraft from surface ships. Moreover, even if the Defense Ministry source is being truthful in saying that only drones and not fighter jets will be flown from Japanese ships, unmanned aircraft will become increasingly capable of being used in some of the same ways as bombers and jets in the years ahead.

I doubt the Defense Ministry source is being truthful. Japan has never been inclined to follow the niceties when they think their national interests at stake.

But this is what happens when you send your troops to die in Afghanistan because it serves your domestic political interests, and when you refuse to avenge an attack on your diplomatic facilities (after refusing to either withdraw your personnel or to secure the facility in the first place). If an administration is going to treat American lives as disposable when it comes to their domestic political calculations, then they can’t be counted on to treat their treaty obligations any more seriously.

Recently the Israeli Defense Minister dismissed Kerry’s peace plan as not worth the paper it’s written on. The Japanese have openly been questioning whether their mutual defense treaty is worth the paper its written on. The Japanese aren’t alone. The Japanese started openly wondering when they were dismayed after the Chinese humiliated the US at the UN after we sat on or hands following the NORKs attacks on the Cheonan and the Pyeongyang Islands.

That’s what difference it makes, Hillary! And if this country is stooopid enough to elect her in 2016 that’s going to be all the confirmation the Japanese and other soon-to-be-former allies are going to need to know they’re on their own.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:10 pm

Comment by gramps, the original (64b8ca) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:45 am

Spiro was about to be indicted for some shenanigans he participated in while governor (I seem to recall he actually was, and convicted).

It seems like he had taken money from contractors and given them contracts, and he continued to get money, which the prosecutor said was a continuation of the bribe and Agnew thought they did it out of patriotism, to help him do a better job, make better speeches maybe, while he was Vice President.

Agnew didn’t feel he was guilty of the crimes he was charged with. He was accused of extortion, bribery and income tax evasion for money he received while Baltimore County Executive, governor of Maryland, and after he was Governor.

His lawyer, Judah Best, made a deal where he would plead no contendre (not really a plea in the United States, and this is the first I heard of it) and the prosecutors would agree to do nothing to him besides probation if he resigned as Vice President.

http://www.reasonabledoubt.org/criminallawblog/entry/october-10-1973-vice-president-spiro-agnew-pleads-no-contest-to-tax-evasion-resigns-today-in-crime-history

On October 10, 1973 Agnew resigned the vice presidency, appeared in United States District Court in Baltimore and plead nolo contendere to a single federal count of failing to report on his income-tax return $29,500 in income that he had received in 1967, while governor of Maryland

So Agnew did not concede he did anything wrong while Vice President in accepting money from some people, and only acknowledged that some money he got while Governor could be considered income. He would not concede it was bribery.

He just chose not to dispute the question of whether or not that could be considered income, or was, in fact, as he had thought, a nontaxable gift.

I wasn’t all clear on that except for the nolo contendre, the lack of any jail time, the resignation, and Agnew’s belief that there was nothing wrong with taking the money – which was in fact not a total secret.

Agnew probably did nothing except possibly not change anything. Maybe they were used to paying politicians anyway. If you call it extortion it wss maybe to ensure he didn’t make trouble, but there are all kinds of way of bid rigging etc.

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:16 pm

166. Comment by nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:07 pm

We got the token/cards/whatsises because the guy who makes the machines, and the guy who mints the tokens, and the guy who prints the cards, and the guy who programs the whatsises, bribed the mayor and the necessary city council members. Behind every turnstile there is an envelope under the table. </i

In New York City the token was originally created in 1953, when the fare was raised from 10 cents to 15 cents, so that the fare could be paid with one coin.

They raised the fare to 20 cents in July, 1966, and when they raised it again in 1970 or 1971, they changed the token. Later the transit authority would play games with whether or not they change the token when they raised the fare so that people wouldn't hoard tokens. They changed tokens a few times by 1999.

The Metrocard – that actually does look like someone wanted a contract. They couldn't gte people really to use themm, until they included free transfers and then unlimited passes. They basically had to reduce the fare.

I also wanted to say that the lowering of hiring standards made transit employees less trustworthy with cash, but then I started laughing. When were transit workers ever that trustworthy?

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:21 pm

“He just chose not to dispute the question of whether or not that could be considered income, or was, in fact, as he had thought, a nontaxable gift.”

It’s only income if the money is given in exchange for something.

By pleading no contest in 1973, Agnew was agreeing that, with regard to the money he received while Governor, maybe the prosecutors had a point.

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:23 pm

Not to derail any conversations going on in the open thread and I know we go through this discussion nearly ever time there is an execution, but can I just say I’m sickened by the behavior of the kids of Dennis McGuire?

His son and daughter have likened his execution to torture and his daughter claimed it was disturbing to watch. I wonder how she would feel about watching the death of the eight month pregnant woman her father brutally raped and murdered. The best response to the daughter was a rare moment of common sense from a HuffPo commenter: “Get a therapist and move on sister.” Maybe I am insensitive for agreeing.

ratbeach (477e41) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:29 pm

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/01/obama-administration-dismisses-new-egyptian-constitution-that-guarantees-freedom-of-religion-womens-rights/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:38 pm

Comment by Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:10 pm

Recently the Israeli Defense Minister dismissed Kerry’s peace plan as not worth the paper it’s written on.

It isn’t even written! It’s almost like the Mishnah in the days of the Temple. There’s areason for it. nobpdy wants to be held to anything they might propose.

Daniel Pipes, in arecent column I saw in a newspaper (Yated Ne’eman) that I managed to trace back to National Review’s “The Corner”

http://www.nationalreview.com/node/368069/print

Maybe you might like it better like this:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/368069/kerry-just-not-touch-reality-daniel-pipes

….gave a few translated quotes that some Israeli politicians gave to the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. (more correctly transliterated Yisroel Yahom) They may not all come from the same person.

This is not the interview that got Yaalon in difficulty – that was given to Yediot Acharonot, where the newspaper apparently revealed his name without his permission.

Here’s one of them:

“The negotiations are currently being carried out without papers or documents passing between the sides. This is because the Arabs are refusing to present written documents. The Americans are coming with prepared proposals, they read them and do not leave documents with either side. It is all done verbally. The Netanyahu government is cooperating with Kerry’s initiative with the clear knowledge that the Arab side will not accept the agreement and ultimately [Israel] will not be required to make concessions or evacuate settlements.”

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:43 pm

“It was the most awful moment in my life to witness my dad’s execution,” she said in a statement ahead of the news conference.

Well, duh!

I can’t imagine having such a screwed up life that if a reporter asked me for my reaction to my dad’s execution I’d respond, “It was probably one of the top 10 moments in my life.”

This is not a normal experience. I bet Amber McGuire has had a few not normal experiences what with having a dad who was a rapist, murderer, and had “impaired brain function that made him prone to act impulsively.”

Boo hoo. Get over it. I bet Dennis McGuire’s passing was easier on him than he was on his victim.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:43 pm

One would think that were so,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:45 pm

…It isn’t even written!

…The Americans are coming with prepared proposals, they read them and do not leave documents with either side. It is all done verbally.

Um, Sammy, if they’re reading their prepared proposals from documents they’re not leaving with either side, it’s written.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:46 pm

171. The anti-death penealty lawyers and professional organization and teh European Union created this problem.

The European Union wouldn’t allow the usual chemicals to be exported, and now it is not made in the United States. The pharmaceutical company has prohibited sales to correctional departments although some states manage to get it on the grey market. But that sort of thing is getting harder to do.

Professionals organizations pretty much have made it impossible for people with medical education and experience to help. So states experiment without trained people.

Then the anti-death penalty lawyers want to turn around and charge “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:48 pm

Comment by Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:46 pm

if they’re reading their prepared proposals from documents they’re not leaving with either side, it’s written

But there’s no evidence that anyone – on either side really – made any proposal. You could always say, they made mistakes in their notes.

These are actually maybe really American proposals.

More from Yisroel Hayom via Daniel Pipes:

“Kerry, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and U.S. Special Envoy Martin Indyk are wandering around the country, meeting ministers, briefing journalists and creating a feeling that a peace agreement is about to be signed.”

“The conduct of the U.S. secretary of state is obsessive. There are those who say that more than wanting to advance peace, he wants to take advantage of the conflict for his political needs. According to this line of thought, Kerry seems to think his path to the White House is via the signing of a Middle East peace agreement.”

A mistake. Kerry really has no hopes. These are not the days when someone could run fro Predsident from a Cabinet position like William Howard Taft in 108 and Herbert Hoover in 1928. Eisenhower broached the subject with regard to Nicon before the 1956 election, but Nixon waned no part oof that. Cabinet members have to stay out of politics maybe because of the Hatch Act or something later. They really can’t raise money, which now needs to start maybe two years in advance. But in Israel they just may not understand this. A Vice President can run for President but there are some technical legal difficulties with a Cabinet member doing this.

“Kerry visits here a lot, but he does not display any understanding of what is happening here. The U.S. plans are superficial and not serious. There is no connection between what is said in public about the progress of the negotiations and what is actually happening. It seems that Kerry is just not in touch with reality. He is not an expert, to say the least, on the roots of the conflict, he does not know how to create real solutions and does not even demonstrate proficiency in reading maps that are presented to him.”

Kerry’s security plan for the Jordan Valley is “ridiculous and unable to withstand the test of reality.”

“Israel is forced to cooperate with the American plan, mainly out of concern that if we reject it, the U.S. will blame Israel for the failure of the negotiations.”

My guess would be, they want the U.S. to do something about Iran, so they are humoring the Obama Adminsitration.

“We believe that in return for Israel’s request to extend negotiations by a year, Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas] will ask more of Israel, such as a [settlement construction] freeze or another prisoner release, and these demands will be backed by Kerry and turned into an American demand, accompanied by a threat. This, while the Arabs have never given anything in return, from the Oslo negotiations until today.”

]

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:58 pm

In college, I heard of the Baldus study, since a frontal attack, ala Furman was unworkable, they sought another avenue re the practical implementation of same,

btw, you paid 43 million, for that piece of performance. . .

http://theoptimisticconservative.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/taxpayer-funded-covered-california-dance-off-with-richard-simmons/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:02 pm

Comment by Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 5:43 pm

The worst part was the children comparing the death of the victim to the death of their father. How is this even a comparison?

Maybe I’m being harsh. I cannot imagine having to struggle with viewing a parent as dad/mom and recognizing that that person is not only capable but actually performed such a heinous act. I imagine my comments to reporters would be full of grief. But, I would hope I would have the sense to hire a spokesperson and seek counseling knowing that most would not be mourning the death of my loved one. I most certainly would not be conflating the death of the victim to the death of the murderer. Dennis is not a victim, as hard as that is for his family members to comprehend.

ratbeach (477e41) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:10 pm

Comment by ratbeach (477e41) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:10 pm

Dennis is not a victim, as hard as that is for his family members to comprehend.

They didn’t witness the killing he was convicted of.

So he looks not guilty.

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:12 pm

ABC News reported tonight that the California drought is extremely bad, and they are having wildfires out of season. Snow didn’t fall on a mountain, Los Angeles is all right because they have a spare reservoir they keep just for emergencies, and in one place a car wash may have to shit down.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency and called on Californians to reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

This will be easy for those Californians to do who have been conserving waste all these years.

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:18 pm

* [a car wash may have to] shut down!

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:20 pm

http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2014/01/blurting-out-truth.html

Sammy Finkelman (d7b491) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:43 pm

Yeah, it was the Mogami class that was designed to accept 8 inch guns in dual mounts even though it was originally equipped with 6 inch guns in triple mounts.

http://www.combinedfleet.com/ships/mogami

I fear we are making the same mistakes we made in the past.

The Hyuga and Izumo are not insignificant ships.

http://www.jeffhead.com/worldwideaircraftcarriers/22ddh-0015.jpg

The Garibaldi has a hangar deck that measures just under 18,000 square feet. It can accommodate 10 harriers (it can carry more because not all need to be in the hangar at the same time).

The Hyuga’s hangar deck is approximately 21,000 square feet, and the Izumo’s is about 44,000. Plus as you can see from the above side-by-side comparison the Japanese moved the after elevator to the deck edge in the Izumo. Which is a far more flexible configuration for conducting flight operations.

Despite all the denials, I don’t know anybody who believes the Japanese don’t intend to operate fixed wing aircraft. The complement of aircraft is ridiculously small given the size of the flight decks and hangar facilities. The elevators, at least on the Izumo, can handle F-35Bs. The flight deck isn’t clear on the Hyuga class. That bow-mounted CIWS would be an issue but it’s a relatively minor modification.

And the Japanese have recent experience at that. Here’s the USS Midway as originally configured.

http://s528.photobucket.com/user/bdpopeye/media/US%20Navy/1-67.jpg.html

http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd324/bdpopeye/US%20Navy/2-51.jpg

Here’s how she looked after she was overhauled.

http://www.wordbench.com/ships/gifs/midway.jpg

It was the Japanese at SRF Yokosuka who maintained her. They didn’t do the refit that gave her the angle deck, removed the WWII era guns, and gave her the hurricane bow. But legend has it they advised the US naval architects she’d have serious stability problems. Legend also has it that that by the time she was decommissioned for the final time in 1992 all the blueprints were written in Japanese.

It’s not true that the Japanese have no experience since WWII with aircraft carriers. They’ve been maintaining them since the war ended. There’s a monument to the Japanese workers who’ve been doing just that for going on 70 years just inside the main gate of COMFLEACT Yokosuka.

They haven’t been operating aircraft at sea, and they haven’t been launching and recovering from them. But their association with the USN gives them a huge leg up over any of their neighbors (cough, cough, China) who may dream of acquiring carriers.

And that’s not a good development.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 6:48 pm

And if this country is stooopid enough to elect her in 2016 that’s going to be all the confirmation the Japanese and other soon-to-be-former allies are going to need to know they’re on their own.

This is a very tangential point or merely an indirect reference to your raising the subject of Japan. But one reason why I find myself growing increasingly disillusioned with the US, due in part to my residing in a very blue state like California, with its growing qualities of Mexico-type anomie and mediocrity, is that the basic niceties of a decent society — such as professional customer service (eg, the customer is still reportedly treated like kings and queens in Japan) and normative cultural customs (ie, where kids having kids still is frowned upon) — seem to be increasingly a thing of the past.

While I don’t find the past to be necessarily deserving of flat-out nostalgia, I do sense that America back when it was a more idealistic, right-leaning nation has become so bruised, clotted and thrashed in the 21st century, that the current and future trends of this nation do alarm me.

I’m not sure if I’m being too skeptical and cynical, but when I see countries like Mexico and France — not to mention a Greece and Argentina — I realize that things can spin out of control and never get truly better for years and years, decade after decade.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:02 pm

The Acting Surgeon General has determined:

…that cigarette smoking not only causes lung cancer and heart disease, as well as bladder ad cervical cancer, but also:

o diabetes

o rheumatoid arthritis

o tuberculosis

o impaired immune function in general

o vision loss

o erectile dysfunction

o colorectal cancer

o liver cancer

o ectopic pregnancy

and

o the birth defect of cleft palates in children of women who smoke.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/health/list-of-smoking-related-illnesses-grows-significantly-in-us-report.html?rref=health&module=Ribbon&version=origin&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Health&pgtype=article&_r=0

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:10 pm

It’s all lies and politics (but I repeat myself), Sammy. Don’t believe it. States have no sodium thiopental because the DEA has been seizing it, for one example. Propofol is a better anesthetic, anyway, and available everywhere, and there’s no shortage of Pavulon or sodium chloride, the quick(er) killers, for an efficient three-drug protocol. There are a lot of people opposed to the death penalty in positions where they can mess with the procedure to make it distasteful to the public and they are doing their utmost in every way even if some condemned suffer unnecessarily. Our first female President, I’d bet, is one of them but like his positions on DADT and gay marriage the bandwagon is not playing loud enough for him to jump on yet.

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:12 pm

Mark, I don’t know if my last comment about how the Japanese “destroyers” can accommodate more and different aircraft, given they size of their flight decks, hangar decks, and elevators, then they’re admitting publicly. Maybe it’s not important.

I’m not nostalgic for some bygone era. The point is it’s better for us if other countries believe we’ll keep our commitments. For a variety of reasons I am convinced a rearmed, assertive Japan is a bad thing.

I realize that isn’t on the top of anyone’s list given the concerns over the government’s various domestic spying programs and other atrocities against liberty. But still, I don’t see a reason to compound the situation. Can’t we freak out over the NSA without destroying our credibility abroad?

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:13 pm

And probably also prostate cancer (although not to two standard deviations) and maybe breast cancer as well.

Note: This is all explained by the idea of cigarette smoke being an anti-vitamin.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:13 pm

*Mark, I don’t know if my last comment about how the Japanese “destroyers” can accommodate more and different aircraft, given they size of their flight decks, hangar decks, and elevators, then they’re admitting publicly, will ever appear because I think it’s in moderation.*

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:14 pm

of people who are likely to run I *might* would vote for Rand Paul

that’s pretty much it the rest of them just stray too far afield from my personal beliefs in freedom and individual liberty

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:15 pm

And everybody who smokes gets all those diseases, and nobody who doesn’t smoke gets them, Sammy? The Acting Surgeon can go perform an act. I know smoking is bad for me. Shut up and take my $10.00 per pack in cigarette taxes.

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:24 pm

/I disagree, he’s motivated to leak operational details, rather than just technical means;

http://20committee.com/2014/01/18/the-end-of-the-snowden-operation/#comments

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:24 pm

Since it’s an open thread, maybe somebody can explain this to me.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/01/16/obama-calls-for-expanding-college-access/0TwEix1c6umiLDmvko6O5L/story.html

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama tested his persuasive powers Thursday, summoning university presidents to the White House to win their commitments to expanding access to higher education and to demonstrate a new determination to use his own presidential authority in the face of legislative roadblocks.

Obama called on an assembly of college and university presidents and leaders of nonprofit and other education groups to rally around a goal of widening opportunities for disadvantaged students.

‘‘We still have a long way to go to unlock the doors of higher education to more Americans and especially lower-income Americans,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re going to have to make sure they’re ready to walk through those doors.’’

While Obama is pouring money into supposedly shovel ready infrastructure projects, he also wants to pour money into a campaign to indoctrinate as many Americans as he can reach that they’re too good to lean on a shovel.

How is this sane?

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:28 pm

Mr. Snowden is a good egg unlike other eggs which are essentially malevolent and neo-fascist

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:28 pm

ok so…

we’re to believe convincing a bunch of America-hating neo-fascist university president whores amounts to a test of food stamp’s persuasive powers?

not really buying that me personally

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:31 pm

did the homeland heifer show up?

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:33 pm

I’m not nostalgic for some bygone era. The point is it’s better for us if other countries believe we’ll keep our commitments. For a variety of reasons I am convinced a rearmed, assertive Japan is a bad thing.

Steve57, I didn’t want your point about military matters vis-a-vie Japan and the US to be caught up in the comparatively trivial point I was making, about how social-cultural norms in this society have changed through the decades, particularly when filtering them through trends in another country.

The minor details that reflect non-purely-political trends in the US strike me as sort of like the canary in the coal mine. IOW, the dumbing down of America, with its current embrace of what I describe as Third-Worldish-type (or Argentina-lite, or France-lite) liberalism, truly worries me.

BTW, I’m far less worried about a rearmed Japan than I am about the growing saber-rattling from the People’s Republic of China. So in a way your concern about Japan seems to me like a notion that would have made more sense 40 to 50 or more years ago. But your disquiet or raised eyebrow is interesting, since Japan is one of the few normative right-leaning (meaning not in the mold of Middle-Eastern/Sharia-Law conservatism) industrialized nations in the world today. Most other major powers have become variations of an effete France or a de-balled, PC-berserk Great Britain.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:33 pm

A must-read post from Keith Koffler about how the Democrats and the Republicans made sure the Tea Party groups won’t be a factor in 2014 or 2016.

DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:36 pm

We know where Robin could go next, well besides MSNBC

http://freebeacon.com/gawker-got-literally-everything-wrong-about-floridas-new-warning-shots-bill/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:36 pm

summoning university presidents to the White House to win their commitments to expanding access to higher education

Merely the idiocy and snobbery of liberals too dumb to understand that following the formula of, for example, Germany — where technical-trade education and skills are emphasized — makes a lot more sense than throwing meaningless college degrees onto millions of people, and piling upon them the ensuing debt caused by greedy universities.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:39 pm

Well the ‘elephant in the room’ is content, and it
‘dare not speak it’s name’ for reason that have laid out before,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:44 pm

Comment by DRJ (a83b8b) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:36 pm

What I’ve heard is that there was a lot of voting without reading the bill.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else goes after this.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:14 pm

narcisso, your comment reminds me of what some Kazakh or Uzbek officer said once in a talk he gave to my class. “China is like the ocean. And right now, he ocean is calm.”

For Colonello Haika:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha9ZIcq-ujA

LOUD Escort MK2, Amazing Fiat X1/9, old VW Beetle – incl. fast Onboard Video Hillclimb Kalkara Malta

The Grimaldi Lines Hillclimb and Sprint Car Championship in Malta, 2013. You can see your Fiats at the 3:35 and 10:02 minute marks.

In the spirit of comity I will make no references to the wicked fast Ford Escorts also competing, nor will I suggest that if the Ford Fiesta ST lives up to its racing heritage which by all the accounts it does Fiat has its work cut out.

Nope. Not me.

Well, just this once.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2014-ford-fiesta-st-hatchback-first-drive-review

…The cast-aluminum, direct-injected 1.6-liter turbo is basically the same engine as offered in the Fusion sedan, meaning it’s a big motor in a small car. Here, governed by revised calibrations, it makes 197 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 214 lb-ft of torque at 3500 rpm. Peak power is made in “overboost” mode, when the turbo is squeezing in a maximum of 21 psi. To stretch the engine’s durability, Ford programmed the computer to cut pressure after 20 seconds at wide-open throttle, a situation you’re likely to encounter only at Bonneville or the Nürburgring, or when fleeing the cops. But lift just once, and the overboost timer resets.

Because some days are good, there’s only one transmission available…

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:39 pm

Well it just stands to reason, although I think Snowden is more like Boyce, then Agee, except for the money part,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:51 pm

Peak power is made in “overboost” mode, when the turbo is squeezing in a maximum of 21 psi. To stretch the engine’s durability, Ford programmed the computer to cut pressure after 20 seconds at wide-open throttle…

I resent this. In a free country it should be up to you whether or not you want to grenade your own engine. Not some programmer at the manufacturer.

Fortunately the aftermarket has been working on this.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 8:54 pm

“A must-read post from Keith Koffler about how the Democrats and the Republicans made sure the Tea Party groups won’t be a factor in 2014 or 2016.”

DRJ – That Democrat proposal was something I was referring to when I was speaking to Sammy on another thread a few days ago about how they were going to ensure that the Tea Party targeting happened again. Except this time it affects all 501c(4)’s, but excludes unions, which are typically organized under other provisions.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:00 pm

That seems arbitrary, why not 30 or 40 seconds.

narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:05 pm

Here’s the proposed regulation: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/Treasury,-IRS-Will-Issue-Proposed-Guidance-for-Tax-Exempt-Social-Welfare-Organizations

nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:09 pm

208. That seems arbitrary, why not 30 or 40 seconds.

Comment by narciso (3fec35) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:05 pm

That’s the point; it is.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:37 pm

Here ya go, Steve… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7-xT3arBrM&sns=em

Sent from my iPad

Colonel Haiku (e1386b) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:38 pm

It’s your car. Ford can always tell you up front they’ll decline to fix it under warranty.Then if you want to risk it, it should be your choice.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:39 pm

Nice cars in that hill climb!

Colonel Haiku (e1386b) — 1/18/2014 @ 9:50 pm

190- Will Paul bring his TelePrompters in tow? And would he be able to lie his way through foreign policy? If he lies will you respect him in the mourning, happyfeet?

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:12 pm

I’m a leaning towards Judge Jeanine. She would kick the crap out of the pant-suit darling.

mg (31009b) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:17 pm

Yes, they are nice.

Here’s a little Ford v. Ford action in New Zealand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgoFD0E3p2o

And a Ford Escort MkI in Switerland 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgoFD0E3p2o

And a Ford Capri in Spain, 2003.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExP3WVQ3E5w#t=12

I never got into the Italian cars. I had a couple of interesting cars when I was stationed in Japan. One that sticks out was a Nissan Bluebird with a 1.8L turbo and a five speed. That was a revelation. I have nothing against small and light, believe me, especially when you combine it with boosted engines.

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:34 pm

Sorry, this is the Escort rally car.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G39yB-jg1v8

Steve57 (0c758c) — 1/18/2014 @ 11:40 pm

Does Larry King have more viewers on rtd than he did on cnn?

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 4:25 am

Go Patriots…
Go Seattle…

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 4:29 am

An interesting note;

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/01/drugs_r_us.html

narciso (3fec35) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:04 am

Thought you might be interested in the Chicago Lyric Opera’s new production of the Ring Cycle. It sounds like it’s going to be wonderful!

Omnibus Driver (2ad6fc) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:11 am

Go 49ers!!!!!

Colonel Haiku (867cd5) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:23 am

and go Denver!

Colonel Haiku (867cd5) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:25 am

Col. – What’s the over-under, number of players carted off on a splatter platter in the niners- seattle game?

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:27 am

Donkey fans are high!!!!

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:29 am

That should be a tough game, mg. teh 9ers will have to be at their very best to beat them.

The fastest X1/9s, Steve, are the Dallaras…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7-xT3arBrM&sns=em

Sent from my iPad

Colonel Haiku (c6e7c0) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:49 am

Steve57 @ 194. maybe somebody can explain this to me

You have to look behind the (rather meaningless) rhetoric and see what he’s actually proposing.

It may be, basically…nothing.

I do think there’s actually something going on here. This is all mostly about trying to get more low income students to attend prestigious schools.

The argument being: Real success comes from the networking effects of having attended famous schools – if more minority or poor students from families and schools where nobody ever thought of these schools attended, they’d be much better off.

AND there’d be more of the kind of people scorekeepers like in high paying jobs.

And – this maybe accounts for Obama’s interest in this – there would be more people likely to contribute money to the Democratic Party in higher paying jobs.

I could say staff too, but there must be enough loyal Democrats in the country anyway.

The lead, by the way, is wrong – he’s not trying to persuade college presidents of anything. It’s mostly to help people already cmmited get some support within their colleges for special measures some colleges may be taking.

Since Obama got them together, there may be something else motivating participation – maybe the possibility of getting more (unrelated) federal dollars.

Now there actually may be nothing practical that changes.

He probably has a small grab bag of assorted, minor, proposals.

Reading further into the article, there seems to be something there about trying to get students to apply to these schools, (instead of community colleges or local schools) and about scholarships.

They also are seeking to ensure that lower-income students aren’t disadvantaged by lack of access to college advisers and inability to prepare for entrance exams like the SAT and ACT.

‘‘By coming together and stepping up what we’re doing, we can go that much further,’’ said Rebecca Blank, chancellor at University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:27 am

IOtmayalso be about expanding the number o students each college gets. But what they are talking about, is the mix.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:29 am

Who do you like in todays games, Sammy?

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:41 am

wrong link Steve… racing starts at 1:05 mark… mama mia!

http://youtu.be/2ksyesz25G8

Colonel Haiku (c6e7c0) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:02 am

Dallara, again… http://youtu.be/I-kK6O12hVA

Colonel Haiku (c6e7c0) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:03 am

we’re in the best of all possible hands;

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-md-health-exchange-folo-20140118,0,2367412.story

narciso (3fec35) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:38 am

teh 9ers will have to be at their very best to beat them.

I know you’re rooting for them, while I hope they fall on their a—-.

Part of my take is due to intra-state rivalry, part of that is San Francisco is sort of a manifestation — the epitome — of the hollow-fake-ivory-tower liberalism, symbolized by Obama, currently stinking up America. Therefore, regrettably, the 49ers probably will end up in the upcoming Super Bowl.

Bleh.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:45 am

Chicago’s own…

http://youtu.be/kBfO6RZTye8

Colonel Haiku (c6e7c0) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:50 am

229. Comment by mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:41 am

Who do you like in todays games, Sammy?

I don’t even know who’s playing.

Maybe by now twenty five or more years ago there would be people – maybe the same one(s) who would ask me about games. I would ask a few questions (who did they beat before, what their record) and I would give them an idea. Evidently I turned out to be right often enough, because they kept coming back. I think they were betting on it.

Maybe I eventually gavce a wrong prediction, because this ended. Or maybe they just stopped running into me. Or it could be theirroutine changed.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 9:53 am

A plausible circumstance, we know who’s directing him now.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/19/rep-mike-mccaul-snowden-was-cultivated-by-a-foreign-power/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:21 am

OK. Yesterday was college – basketball on CBS. I think there are football palyoffs now. There is nothing the week before the Superbowl, which is in February, but there is still one more sunday in January.

I see you have the Denver Broncos versus the New England Patriots, at 3 pm on CBS, and the San Francisco 49ers versus the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 on Fox.

The 49ers game is the NFC and the New England Patriots is AFC, or old AFL, except that none of thisd makes any difference any more.

Going by which team names sound more familiar to me, I’d say the 49ers, and the other two are both strong teams over the years..

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:31 am

Re: Snowden: More important, heer are moles in te NSa or among contractors, and the snowden Operation was launched to protect the moles, so that when we see various foreign countries changing what they do, we should ot suspect the existence of a spy or leak, but think everything came from Snowden.

More than one country is involved, or one country shared some of what hey got (as they don’t want the U.S. to gain information by spying on heir interlocutors.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:34 am

This is the 3rd NFC championship game in a row for the 49ers. It is the first time in 8 years for the Seattle Seahawks, but they are number one seed and playing at home ( a minor advantage)

They won their last 6 home postseason games and are 16-1 for the season. The 49ers lost the Superbowl last year by a small margin.

The question is: Have the Seattle Seahawks improved enough so that they are now better thn the 49ers, who may have declined somewat, and which team, if any, takes successful advantage of opportunities.

The Seahawks allowed only 231 points this year, the lowest in the NFL. So their defense is good.

The 49ers will win only if it is a low scoring game and they have the ball most of the time. The key is can they keep the ball, even though they are not advancing much? The Seahawks who do a good job of intercepting the ball – maybe because the other team frequently is on its 4th down.

And can the 49ers limit the time the Seahawks have the ball?

They played twice this year and the 49ers lost both times.

49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is quoted in ethe New York Post today as saying

…last year…what it took to get there to eat the Falcons, it took everything we had. I think we understand…what kind of football team they [the Seahawks] are. We just know what it’s going to take to get it down.

I overheard someone saying Thursday that what he liked about football was the strategy, not the teams – he didn’t even care who was playing, but he liked to watch football for that reason (rephrasing of what he said)

So there is strategy, and the 49ers have re-worked their strategy.

The 49ers by 4 or 7 points, 14 or 17 to 10 (or something in that ballpark.)

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:35 am

The Broncos have a good offense and do better in good weather, while the New England Patriots are a bad road team. The Pariots have had more injured players, although they have a better record against the Broncos.

An easy win for the Broncos, at least 24 to 13, and the Broncos may get into he 30s, after which the 49ers will win the Superbowl by about 24 to 17.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:56 am

I think the attacks on Chrisie may be about 2014 election, not the 2016 election.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:58 am

199. It’s not that Tea Party groups may be taxed -donations are not now tax deductible, and they don’t make much profit – it’s that they could be pushed into full disclosure, followed up by harassment or defamanation of contributors.

(or attempts to defame the groups, by pointing to allegedly bad contributors.)

Dsclosure is never worked to help honest people who make true deductions about corruption – it always goes nowwhere if thet’s the only evidence, but these filings are used by dishonest people to make unwarranted attacks.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:05 am

228. Last week induces me to go with coaches Carroll and Belichek.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:11 am

186. 192. Comment by nk (dbc370) — 1/18/2014 @ 7:24 pm

192.And everybody who smokes gets all those diseases, and nobody who doesn’t smoke gets them, Sammy?

No, it’s just taht if someone has these diseases, there’s a certain probability that got it because of smoking.

This is a list of diseases which smokers get more often.

Smoking actually causes more heart disease than lung cancer, but a higher fraction of lung cancer cases stem from smoking than heart disease cases stem from smoking.

The risk of smoking, it says, has been going up for lung cancer. Which can only mean the risk of others getting lung cancer has gone down.

Back in 1959, women who smoked were 2.7 times as likely as women who never smoked to develop lung cancer, but by 2010, the additional risk had jumped nearly tenfold! For men it had only doubled.

The newspaper article claims that a current smoker is 25 times as likely to develop lung cancr as someone who has never smoked.

I am not sure that 25 times figure is correct, unless the Acting Surgeon General is adjusting this figure for people who are smoking now. The Acting Surgeon General report said changes in cigarettes’ design, namely to the filter, contributed to the increased deadliness of cigarettes. (!?)

I knew or heard of 3 people who died from lung cancer – one Professor Albert Fein, was not a smoker. And another, Rabbi Philip Harris Singer, I don’t think smoked, he didn’t at least 20 years, but both lived in New York City and were before 1930, so they would have experienced heavy air pollution.

The article claims that smokers are only about 1.5 times as likely as others to develop liver cancer.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:25 am

re: Filtrs on cogarettes making them more deadly:

Wikipedia explains this as follows:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarette_filter

…As such, the inhaled smoke contains less tar and nicotine. In theory, this should make the cigarette “safer” than full flavor ones. In practice, however, the average smoker compensates by inhaling more deeply or by covering parts of the holes with fingers or lips. Because of this, smokers of light cigarettes can be exposed to equal or greater doses of carcinogens and tar than they would be with medium tar cigarettes.[7]

Of course, if this is true, and smokers aim for a constant level of nicotime, the safest “cigarette” should be an E-cigarette, but the all the anti-smoking people are against it.

If they would think a little bit oaout the implications of what the Acting Surgeon General has said, and read the small print, hey shold be FOR e-cigarettes.

Even if it makes heart disease and diabetes more likely just as much as regular cigarettes.

But no:

They insist on being idiots.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-clarence-page-e-cigarettes-chicago-band-oped-01-20140119,0,1672180.column

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:35 am

These bans and restrictions on e-cigarettes are being rushed through before people can realize the advantages of them over regular cigarettes.

They even purport to worry about second hand e-smoke!!

I don’t think they cause no harm, because the nicotine itself causes harm, unless maybe supplementary vitamins (I don’t know which ones) are taken.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:38 am

* If they would think a little bit about the implications…

You lose 100% of the tar.

Sammy Finkelman (0e1021) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:42 am

76. London and NY Reserve/JPM are the western hub of commerce in gold. The NY address of the two repositories(public and private) are across the street from each other, the repositories are suspected by the unhinged to have a common access point beneath the street.

198, 214. It is high time that a shadow government be undertaken. Not that power will devolve in due course, but that one be available in the coming pinch.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:47 am

235. Plausible certainly, but we must consider the sources, House committee chairmen.

gary gulrud (e2cef3) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:56 am

Thanks for your predictions, Sammy.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 12:08 pm

teh Broncos win by 7 and teh 49ers by a field goal.

Colonel Haiku (c18950) — 1/19/2014 @ 12:52 pm

donkeys by 20 at this point, seems like it should be 40.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 2:24 pm

Sammy, you had a couple of fatual errors in your football post.
One, Seattle actually lost 3 games during the regular season…to SAN FRANCISCO, Indianapolis, and Arizona.

The second is that the 49ers actually beat the Seahawks in one of their two games this season.

Elephant Stone (9d30f3) — 1/19/2014 @ 5:52 pm

I was interested to hear about Jennifer Lawrence complaining about her Armpit Vagina at the SAG Awards. I did not know if this represented a birth defect of which we needed to raise awareness or something else.

Nobody tells me nothing.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:40 pm

yeah it happened to my cousin too we had to put a milk jug down at the dairy queen and save up til we could get it taken care of

even then she ain’t been 100% right ever since

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:45 pm

November 2012 (much less November 2008) didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but tonight sure did!

Bye bye, Frisco and Beantown.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:53 pm

Stay classy, Seattle… teh Pot Bowl!

Colonel Haiku (59cd69) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:55 pm

I sure hope Denver punks them in the Super Bowl.

Elephant Stone (9d30f3) — 1/19/2014 @ 6:58 pm

Yep, Stones… gotta say I agree. Don’t like the politics of nearly every Seattle-area person I’ve ever come into contact with (not much different with SFers) and – with a few exceptions – most have been Class A assholes, as well.

Colonel Haiku (59cd69) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:01 pm

Colonel, I think Michael Medved and his staff are the only conservatives in Seattle. Or something.

(Cue protests from some of our ‘pure’ conservative friends who will assert that Medved is a secret liberal. Or whatever.)

Elephant Stone (9d30f3) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:04 pm

Seahawks defense will destroy manning and the donkeys.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:04 pm

Medved is on par with Springsteen, as far as making my ears hurt.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:09 pm

Colonel, I think Michael Medved and his staff are the only conservatives in Seattle. Or something.

(Cue protests from some of our ‘pure’ conservative friends who will assert that Medved is a secret liberal. Or whatever.)

Those people are sort of like the Birchers in a way. They thought Nixon was part of a communist conspiracy.

Gerald A (bfbd30) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:42 pm

Texas senator Wendy Davis is a lying pos.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:50 pm

Hope all you Boehner republicans tune into Medved.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:51 pm

Gerald A,

Yeah, last week they were saying Hugh Hewitt is a RINO.
Next week, Ronald Reagan will be their Closet Sandinista of the Week.

Elephant Stone (9d30f3) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:52 pm

Yes, that’s crazy talk, like calling Newt a Sandinista sympathizer,

narciso (3fec35) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:55 pm

Comment by Elephant Stone (9d30f3) — 1/19/2014 @ 5:52 pm

The second is that the 49ers actually beat the Seahawks in one of their two games this season.

I read both claims, that they’d split and that the Seahawks had won both games, but I couldn’t find again where it said they had split, so I could see exactly what it said, so I went with them winning both games. This was all in newspapers.

it looks like the 49ers let Seattle score later in the game, and then at the end they were down 23-17. A field goal, which would have bene very achievable wouldn’t save them, and they tried for a touchdown.

One time, maybe two times, with less than a minute remaining, but then, at 22 seconds, sure enough, there was an interception.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:57 pm

This site sure has it’s team Mitch republicans.
Wear that badge proudly.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 7:59 pm

#268

What does that mean exactly?

Gerald A (bfbd30) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:07 pm

Comment by Elephant Stone

Yeah Reagan signed a tax increase and liberalized abortion while CA Gov.

Gerald A (bfbd30) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:08 pm

If you like your party you can keep it, Gerald A.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:11 pm

Maybe team republican is leaning towards recruiting the Lena Dunham tattoo crowd.

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:15 pm

What disgusting remark towards the republican base will the know it all elites come up with next?

mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:23 pm

Wel Medved is a little naive, like Romney;

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704364004576132631175113322

narciso (3fec35) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:30 pm

Yeah Reagan signed a tax increase and liberalized abortion while CA Gov.

I didn’t know about that. I do know that he signed the biggest tax break to the rich and the biggest tax increase to the middle class as President.

You find all kinds of things when you dissect corpses, plus you guys are boring. Do you know any jokes?

nk (dbc370) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:50 pm

mg has a plan. It’s to whine like a baby every day.

Never.Gets.Old

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:00 pm

not to worry: Chris Christie will lead us to victory in 2016!!!!!!!!!

redc1c4 (abd49e) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:25 pm

Wel Medved is a little naive, like Romney;

Medved, after all, does have origins in the left, from his formative years living in West Los Angeles surrounded by other like-minded latte liberals. So, as the saying goes, you can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country (or residual liberalism) out of the boy.

amazon.com:

Right Turns: From Liberal Activist to Conservative Champion in 35 Unconventional Lessons, by Michael Medved

Nationally syndicated talk-radio host and noted film critic Michael Medved has taken an extraordinary journey from liberal activist to outspoken conservative. Along the way he has earned millions of admirers — and more than his share of enemies — with his disarming wit and slashing arguments on issues of pop culture and politics.

BTW, I’d give Medved some leeway if Obama hadn’t been a big devotee of a person who preached “goddamn America! Your chickens are coming home to roost!” Or if Medved was truly ignorant of — which I sincerely doubt — Obama’s close ties with Jeremiah Wright.

Mark (9f2747) — 1/19/2014 @ 10:39 pm

Christie-Perry in 2016!!!!!

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/19/2014 @ 11:01 pm

276- whatever daleyrocks, it’s my fault you republicans are failures. You must love it when your master boehner berates possible voters like me. I feel sorry for you, really, having to back scumbags of team republican. You can call me a whiner, As I look at you and your ilk, the problem appears to be voting for your people. Send up another loser,daleyrocks, I’m sure your surrounded by plenty.

mg (31009b) — 1/20/2014 @ 1:17 am

When will you turdpublicans be able to articulate a message that helps the cause? You clowns want to blame hard working Americans for your deliberate lack of conservatism. gfy, losers.

mg (31009b) — 1/20/2014 @ 4:10 am

I don’t remember this from the debates. http://i.imgur.com/ed4FVgJ.jpg Did it really happen?

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:10 am

c’mon c’mon feel it feel it

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:10 am

oh god school

HATE school

stupid work enrolled me in a class and it’s probably the least amusing thing I’ve encountered since that bony spicula started eating it’s way through my jawbone like an alien baby

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:13 am

*its* way I mean

happyfeet (8ce051) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:14 am

Hell hath no fury like a Pats fan. Lighten up, Francis.

Colonel Haiku (4d19f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:17 am

Yes he’ just in over his head;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/20/obama-my-low-approval-ratings-might-be-kind-of-racist-or-something/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:48 am

What disgusting remark towards the republican base will the know it all elites come up with next?

Comment by mg (31009b) — 1/19/2014 @ 8:23 pm

What are you talking about?

Gerald A (bfbd30) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:50 am

What mg said!

Icy (60ca43) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:53 am

All of the existing Congressional leadership should be replaced.

Colonel Haiku (4d19f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:59 am

Give Boehner something he can really cry about.

Colonel Haiku (4d19f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:00 am

It’s better to read the whole New Yorker piece. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/01/27/140127fa_fact_remnick?currentPage=all

I finally found something I agree with him on. Smokers know perfectly well what they’re in for.

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:23 am

the raw insight just overwhelms;

https://twitter.com/robinabcarian

narciso (3fec35) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:31 am

She’s like teh Tiger Beat of tweeting!

Colonel Haiku (4d19f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:41 am

True, but Remnick is the Belieber of the long form,
many trees were sacrificed;

narciso (3fec35) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:46 am

On to more serious things;

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/368866/strike-heart-obamacare-quin-hillyer

narciso (3fec35) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:02 am

David Remick in the New Yorker:

lower than George W. Bush’s in December of 2005, when Bush admitted that the decision to invade Iraq had been based on intelligence that “turned out to be wrong.”

I don’t think he said that.

That is, I recall he did say the intelligence about weapons of mass destruction = chemical weapons, turned out to be wrong, but he didn’t say that the decision hinged on that. I think infat he clearly satted at times it wasn’t just one thing.

It was based on the idea that sanctions were breaking down, or at risk of breaking down, [they did come back, under pressure, but tey could clearly fade away aagin] and Saddam Hussein was interested in weapons of mass destruction, and September 11th showed us, and him, that it was possible to do harm to the United States even withouyt a good military. And Saddam Hussein had associated with terrorists. So he was more of a danger than had been previously thought. And then Saddam Hussein refused to come clean and allow inspectors to find out if he had any weapons of mass destruction. he actged like somebody who had something to hide.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:05 am

About that, never mind;

http://hotair.com/archives/2014/01/20/nj-lt-governor-no-christie-never-threatened-sandy-relief-funds/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:12 am

That morning, while playing basketball at F.B.I. headquarters…

Obama never misses a chance to exercise?

Obama put the odds of a final accord [with Iran] at less than even,

Not only does he not believe in his own war strategy, he doesn’t believe in his own peace strategy, too!

“I don’t watch Sunday-morning shows,” he said. “That’s been a well-established rule.”

It’s a “rule” that he doesn’t watch Sunday morning interview shows? Maybe a claim he always makes.

Obama was sitting at his desk [on Air Force One] watching the Miami Dolphins–Carolina Panthers game.

He has a great deal of interest in sports. Nixon liked football, too, so much so that he was pretty instrumental in getting a law was passed minimizing hometown TV blackouts, and the NFL arranged for it almost never to happen.

“I would not let my son play pro football,” he conceded.

Obama is so theoretical here, he kind of forgot he doesn’t have a son, or maybe he forgot hisof Michelle’s age.

Obama chewed furtively on a piece of Nicorette.

That establishes he is still a nicotine addict. He probably won’t let himself be photographed, or seen by too many at one time, doing that.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:16 am

he was reading from a folder marked “Secret.”

One of his aides indicated in 2012 that it’s because of things like that that he doesn’t need oral briefings. This overlooks the fact that not everything important always gets put down on paper, and he can also ask questions in person

we’re on this planet a pretty short time, so that we cannot remake the world entirely during this little stretch that we have.”

I think ot was Jerry Brown – or maybe he also said it , or maybe it wasn’t him at all, that it’s like turning an aircraft carrier, you can only steer it a little bit. Lincoln indicated that certain times are more important than others.

Lincoln: We cannot escape history. We will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generations.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:31 am

Obama:

I actually think there was a legitimate critique of the welfare state getting bloated, and relying too much on command and control, top-down government programs to address it back in the seventies. It’s also why it’s ironic when I’m accused of being this raging socialist who wants to amass more and more power for their own government

He seems to be content with baby steps in the opposite direction. He may not realize how much command and control some things really are.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:34 am

Not only does he not believe in his own war strategy, he doesn’t believe in his own peace strategy, too!

He’s such a fool.

I wouldn’t even mind it if he pursued an isolationist-oriented foreign policy. But that would mean he’d ignore Iran instead of cajoling them with weak-kneed, pro-enabler treaties or agreements.

I actually think there was a legitimate critique of the welfare state getting bloated

That’s analogous to his originally saying that he disapproved of same-sex marriage. Or rhetoric devised to muddy the waters and is actually influenced by pure them-versus-us strategies (or, in Obama’s mind, the framework of get to know thy enemy well).

Mark (9f2747) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:50 am

299. The Lt Gov denies this but that doesn’t put it to rest. It just sets up a swearing contest.

The Mayor of Hoboken said the Lt Gov told her on May 13 (in the parking lot of the Hoboken Shoprite) that she would deny it. Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she didn’t go public before because she thought nobody would believe her, and then maybe Hoboken would be even worse off.

The Governor’s office says that Hoboken did get $70 million of Sandy money. The Hoboken mayor’s office shoots back that that was money the Governor did not control and Lt Govdagno was talking about other money.

I should noted here that I think Governor Christie still has at least one person in the Gridlock Gang in a high position in his Adminsitratin – his press Secretary Mike Drewniak.

This guy got Christie to approve a statement (in
the press secretary’s name) praising David Wildstein when he resigned, and e-mailed it to his personal account from where he forwarded it to David Wildstein, meanwhile telling Wildstein that he’d bypassed Christie’s chief counsel “Charlie” and his own deputy “Maria”

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:51 am

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer says she mentioned this in her diary, although that the photo of that excerpt was not printed in the New York Daily News.

It’s a small little tiny notepad with 19 ruled lines, although she doesn’t write on the lines. She got about 8 lines on a page and 4 words per line. It’s got very large letters for the page and the main part of it shown is how she thought Christie was different.

Photographed and also printed:

I thought he was honest. I thought he was moral – I thought he was something very different. This week I find out he’s ~~this~~ cut from the [page break] same corrupt cloth that I have been fighting for the last 3 4 yr.

I am so disappointed – it leterally brings tears to my eyes

the words “same corrupt cloth are not boldface, but underlined, but I am not sure you can do that here. The number 3 is not crossed out, but overwritten with a 4, probably in a different, darker, ink. She changed the 3 to a 4 sometime later.

The Mayor of Hoboken turned over her diary — to the U.S. Attorney, and the ink will presumbably be tested to check if maybe it was written later, although there’s not too much of a difference in time between May 2013 and January 2014.

Is it clear that Kim Guadagno is the one who said it?

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:10 am

303. I suppose you could say that Obama thinks negotiating with Iran is worth trying even if it is less than likely to work.

Latets news – the UN Secretary General has invited Iran to te Syria peace talks, over U.S> objections.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:12 am

MOre from the Maor of Hobokens diary:

I can’t read some of this.

On one page she seems to have added something later, on top and on the side. This may be where the LT Gov is named. It says “she” ao something is not shown from another page.

Anyway, one page has:

are any other towns being required to d???? in exchange (??) ~~the~~ help in the flooding, I asked.

On top, presumably added later, is what the New York Daily News transcribes as:

“I know it’s not right – these things should not be connected – but they are”

This is a quote. This continues then on sideways on the right edge of the page:

she says “if you tell anyine I said that, I will deny it.”

The Daily News has “she says” as applying to the first quote, but I think it applies to the second one.

The Rockfeller Group, which wanted to build something in Hoboken denied they knew anything about this threat. Port Authority Chairman David Samson, whose law firm reprsented the Rockefeller Group (this is supposed to be the connection to Christie) has indicated this is all news to him, and hired Michael Chertoff as his lawyer.

Samson by the way, was the third person in the Sol Wachler love triangle years ago. I don’t think hes amember of the Gridlock Gang and his name was taken in vain, as was Christie’s.

Richard E. Constable III, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
may be. If so, he was playing a double gang when he was prosecuting corruption.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:35 am

It comes out better online than in the printed paper

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/n-mayor-christie-held-sandy-aid-hostage-article-1.1584658

I think they photoshopped what it is the paper a little bit to eliminate some overwritin or double writing.

Online it is clear she overwrote some writing.

Did she origially write sometrhing like “I know it shouldn’t be corrected?” She seems to have written almost the same thing. That could be to get it on a full page.

Not everything shown in the paper may be shown online, and vice versa.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:57 am

No, I think everything in the paper is here too:

Anyway, we have:

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1584721.1390161452!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/zimmer-7.jpg

he says – considering we r @ Sandy conference & I have been doing nothing but hounding the Gov ffice for help) w/ grant $ — [page break] it is pretty clear what he means by “$ will flow.” Nice to know there really is a direct connection b# [abbreviation for between?] the Rockefeller p & Sandy funding.

p could be an abbreviation for project.

Two times she has something about someone saying something like I know these two things shoukld not be connected, but they are and if you say something I will deny it, and both times it looks like it was added later.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:10 am

Does anyone use search engines other than Google, and if so, which ones (+/- why, what situations)?

Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but it seems for awhile now that Google isn’t as productive as it once was. For example, if I ask about a type of business in Philadelphia, I typically get a page or two first of various other websites or organizations that list such things, when I would like to see Google bring up websites of hardware stores in Philadelphia.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:42 am

md @ 309 it seems for awhile now that Google isn’t as productive as it once was.

I have that same feeling and it’s really been true for qute some time. I am not sure what is better. I sometimes try Bing. And Yahoo comes up by itself when I mistype an URL on this computer.

Sometimes I search the New York Times.

I think theer are other search engines, butI am not sure how many pages they have got.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:55 am

mg – Try prune juice.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:34 am

What the Daily News webpage shows second, is clearly before the first and second JPGs from the diary. The first one should be third.

It looks like this was actually written in the middle of the day. (Her notes while it was happening.)

Now this page has extra added to it, and a line drawn off markin what is old and what is new.

This is what is before “he says” (main text)

Then I go speak on a panel ?? & intv [again added later] on TV w/ Comm. Costelle (Richard) of the DCA. On Th night) [Thursday. May 9?] (5 am Hgo (?) on Monday) [page break] we are miked up w/ other
precks (>)all around us – and probably the sound team listening & he says – I hear you are against the R project

The first page has added on top:

I know it shouldn’t be connected but it is. If you tell anyone I will deny it. [2 or 3 more words]

Continuing on in thenext JPG

I reply – I am not against the Rockfeller p – In fact I ~~think~~ want more commercial dev. in Hb — Oh really — everyone in the State House [Governor’s Office that means]

th

believes U r against it — the buzz is that u r against it — “If you make that (???) the $ would start flowing [some symbol] u he tells me.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:38 am

Also – maybe this is the first page?

I prefer thing

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:39 am

i just want pizza in the worst effing way

happyfeet (c60db2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:50 am

The symbol I think, is just the word “to’

Anyway, theer is another another page there that should be combined and go before the one before it.

This makes it sound like she did not keep any diary before. And that she wrote it on paper on a pad to keep anyone else from seeing it. She didn’t have a computer nobody ese could log into, evidently, and or didn’t keep floppy disks or USB drives around or thought it could be read on the hard drive is composed on the computer.

From Dawn Zimmer, the Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey:

I prefer thing on computer – but maybe it is time [underlined] to get back to journal writing.

— embarassed to say – I find myself breaking down [page break] last night on the plane I was watching Le’Miserable thining about my dad

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:52 am

(she goes on to say she cried then and she also cried about Christie)

….watching Le’Miserable thinking about my dad – and so I cried for him. But then I was emotional about Governor Christie.

[JPG which I think follows:]

I thought he was honest. I thought he was moral – I thought he was something very different. This week I found out he’s ~~this~~ cut from the [page break] same corrupt cloth that I have been fighting for the last 3 4 yr.

I am so disappointed – it literally brings tears to my eyes.

The words “same corrupt cloth are not boldface, but underlined, and the number 3 is not crossed out, but over written with a 4, probably in a different, darker, ink. At least heavier.

another

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:58 am

311.mg – Try prune juice.
Comment by daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:34 am

daley- thanks for clarifying your comment was to mg. I don’t know how long I would have spent trying to understand how prune juice fit in with search engines. (I guess if I drank more prune juice and kept a laptop in the bathroom, I could take care of two things at once, or something).

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:58 am

md: What you say is 311, I see as 312.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 10:59 am

MD, I’m afraid that’s how Google rolls. People pay to have their sites appear first on relevant searches. And I’m also afraid that that’s as good as it gets. Google is still much better than Yahoo in my experience, and Bing is widely derided.

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:02 am

And today is Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday. But does anybody remember? Nooo. Why?

I’m just a Poe boy, nobody loves me.
He’s just a Poe boy, from a Poe family!

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:05 am

Here’s about the Lt Gov:

sounds strange – but ac [actually?] got to go & meet the Lt. Gov.

At the end of a big [???] meeting [the words “of shoprite’ written between two lines] she’s pulled me aside w/ no one else [page break] around & says that I need to move forward w/ the Rockefeller Project. It is very important to the Guv (?)

[another JPG]

The word is that you are against it & you need to move forward or we are not going to be able to help you. [page break] Are any other towns being required to develop [that’s the word!] in exchange for ~~the~~ w/ the flooding I asked?

[possibly then added on top on the same page:}

“I know it’s not right. these things should not be connected, but they r.”

[on the side;}

she says 5 x – (If u tell anyone that I will deny it)

[sic]

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:14 am

One very interesting point:

She was NOT against the development project. (she writes)

But somebody was having all sorts of people close to the Governor approach her (two at least) and say that they heard she was against it and try to tie this to Sandy funding and threaten her.

Curiouser and curiouser. There could be triple crosses going on here.

Not only was this not connected to the Governor, but the mayor of Hoboken was not in fact causing any problems for the project!

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:20 am

Comment by nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:02 am

Google is still much better than Yahoo in my experience, and Bing is widely derided.

What can help is adding search terms.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:21 am

MD in Philly – Ima giver. 🙂

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:27 am

To summarize: The Mayor of Hoboken, Dawn Zimmer, was NOT against the development project.

Yet somebody was sending messengers to her, with the exact same message – at least twice – saying:

1) They had heard she was against it,

2) Claiming they were speaking for the Governor
who they said the project was important to.

3) Tying it to the Hurricane Sandy aid she was pushing for

4) Admitting that they knew it was not right and these two things should not be connected, but saying that they are, and

5) Saying that if she told anyone they had said it, they would deny it. In one case, maybe, if I read that right, repeated that line 5 times.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:43 am

A lot of people have been subpeonaed in New Jersey.

It will be interesting to see who doesn’t take the 5th Amendment.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:50 am

Before there was Ted Cruz … http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2542405

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 11:56 am

Now I can’t believe that Chris Christie would be very interested in this project, or corrupt.

I can’t believe that the Rockefeller Group, which is very rich and has a reputation to protect, would be interested in doing any kind of bribery to help their project along.

I can’t believe a lawyer would find it in his interest to do corrupt and complicated above and beyond the call duty things like this to help this along.

The journal (not really a diary) of Dawn Zimmer looks true, and Dawn Zimmer doesn’t have any reputationfor being oushed into this kind of dishonesty, where she might not know if the ink she used was not sold before a certain date, and you’d have to be a pretty good creative writer to have all these corrections and cross-outs, too, with even an extra puzzle, in that she did not oppose development (the problem was a commission hired by the Port Authority had recommended only the properties owned by the Rockfeker group be used.)

And it is not necessary for a fake to have all that rich character development.

It could be that the motive, in part, both here and Ft. Lee, was somebody trying to stop good redevelopment projects, so that a bad AND UNJUSTIFIED one could have a chance.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 12:28 pm

I read a book review Friday.

I didn’t know there was Class A war criminal, the only civilian in the Japanese version of the Nuremberg trials, possibly the one man most responsible for the war, who played crazy, and was let off from the trial, and later got “cured”.

It sounds like he was a little bit more successful than Rudolph Hess.

He was involved in an assassination around 1932, and drew up the ideology under which Japan should dominate Asia.

The book is by the grandson of the psychiatrist who found him crazy. It is a parallel lives biography. The reviewer liked the early background on the psychiatrist but she was not interested in his postwar career.

The diagnosis was syphilis that had finally reached the brain.

Later the man, after getting unspecified in the review treatment (antibiotics?) claimed the Americans were afraid to put him on trial because of he what he would say on the stand about “the faults of the Allied nations”

After being “cured” he managed to avoid a trial a number of ways.

The book is called “A Curious Madness,” by Eric Jaffe, the indicted Class A war criminal was Shumei Okawa and the psychiatrist who diagnosed him was Major. Daniel Jaffe, the author’s grandfather.

I never knew about this man. I only knew about a different Japanese Ckass A war criminal who escaped prosecution. Ryochi Sasakawa, who managed to avoid trial altogether. He didn’t get indicted, and after the war was involved in motor boat gambling and the yakuza. He was involved in business in China and had flown his personal airplane to Mussolini to persuade him to join the Axis, and was very interested in Japan attacking America. Later, he was the second highest contributor to the Carter Presidential Center and Jimmy Carter became quite friendly with him.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 12:51 pm

Link:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303848104579309141530135978

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 12:51 pm

Colonello, I thought you’d enjoy seeing this. It’s a British review of the sport subcompacts built by Peugeot, Renault, and of course the Ford Fiesta ST.

Tiff Needell is an accomplished British racer who was a long-time host for the BBC’s Top Gear until they had a falling out, and since the early 2000s he’s been a host on the competing Fifth Gear along with other former BBC employees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqFp688E9WM

I haven’t seen anything but rave reviews for the Fiesta ST coming out of Europe. It is, after all, designed in Germany where they do know how to put together a driver’s car. The most consistent comment I’ve heard made about it is just how well balanced the chassis is. Sometimes the Fiesta comes off looking like second best on paper, but then when it competes against other hot hatchbacks it comes off the winner.

Of course, being somewhat of a traditionalist I’m more interested in something like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2BSSy7fxOc

The Monster Miata had Carroll Shelby’s stamp of approval. I see it as the successor to the Sunbeam Tiger II. How could you go wrong? Besides if I want practicality I’ll drive my Toyota Tacoma.

Steve57 (ad3f0c) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:24 pm

“I can’t believe that the Rockefeller Group, which is very rich and has a reputation to protect, would be interested in doing any kind of bribery to help their project along.”

Sammy – You need to get out more.

daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 1/20/2014 @ 5:34 pm

Link to the second batch of Port Authority documents released. (after Christie’s press conference)

These come I think from the official Port Authority e-mail system and include other documents, like newspaper stories.

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/full_transcript_of_gwb_bridge_documents_released.html#incart_river

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 6:07 pm

You folk here this:
…New York governor Andrew Cuomo, where the governor said that New York was no place for right wing extremists. Citing “extreme conservatives who are right-to-life, pro-gun and anti-gay,” Gov. Cuomo said that they and their extreme views were not welcome in New York, as “that’s not who New Yorkers are.”

I wonder what NY would be like if every one of those folk got up and left for a day and didn’t go to work. How many social service agencies, soup kitchens, drug rehabs, etc., would not only “shut down”, but just be non-existent.

If pro-lifers are “extreme conservatives”, do we also get to label at least late term abortion advocates as “extreme liberals”?
Probably not.

I guess NY state is trying to become as anti-Christian as San Francisco. I guess some church organizations may consider NY to be a “foreign mission filed”.

Maybe Texas or Utah will put out a “welcome” sign.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:22 pm

~~here~~ hear, sorry.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:22 pm

Upon further thought, Gov. Cuomo should hope that God disagrees with him.
Several places in Scripture there are instances where someone who does not fear God is used to give a prophecy, though they do not know it and the fulfillment is not what they meant.
Perhaps the best example is in the Gospels when the High Priest says that “It is necessary for one man to die for the nation” (paraphrase). Of course, he was thinking that Jesus needed to die to calm down the people and the risk of an uprising and retribution by the Romans, where in reality it was necessary for Him to die to save Israel and all mankind from sin and the wages of sin.
In Revelation 18, God says to His people to “Come out from Her” (Babylon). Babylon is described as the dwelling place of the “world’s great men” and merchants who have made themselves rich. Now, I am not going to get into the interpretation of the imagery of Revelation, but if you want to ask what city on earth is most known for the dwelling of “the world’s great men” and fabulously rich merchants, NYC certainly would fit the bill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4TgEuMebGc
God told Abraham that He would spare Sodom and Gomorrah if He could find 10 righteous people in it.
Contrary to the opinion of some, lifeydoodles may be good for your health, and if you kick them all out of your city, you may be inviting trouble.
Hell is a place where people who reject God go, they make the choice to go there because they don’t like the alternative. Billy Joel thought it would be boring there and people would not have as much fun.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 7:50 pm

Not fearing God really means asituation where somebody does something that he knows is wrong, or that anybody would know is seriously wrong, and he doesn’t care, and fearing God is the opposite.

when Abraham gives an explanation to Avimelech as to why he told him that Sarah was his sister (gen 20:11) he says it is because he said there is no fear of God in this place, and they may kill me to get my wife.

When Joseph lets his brothers out of prison after three days (Gen 42:18) but wants to conceal his identity, he explains his relenting by saying he fears God.

When the two midwives do not carry out the instructions of Pharoah to kill the Hebrew baby boys (Exodis 1:17) Scripture explains that by saying they feared God.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:05 pm

Governor andrew Cuomo has some religious views (on abortion, on guns (?!) and on homosexuality that are most definitely not those of the Catholic church – except for the guns, maybe – and he is almost intolerant of the opposite point of view.

He doesn’t marry the woman he is living with because he wants to remain in good standing with the Catholic church.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:09 pm

I suppose it’s Pascal’s wager with him – maybe those communion wafers really mean something.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:13 pm

almost intolerant?

“You don’t belong here, get out!” sounds a bit more than almost intolerant.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:21 pm

Cuomo is more intolerant of the idea of anyone wanting to have laws in accord with the opposing point of view than he is of the views themselves.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:23 pm

339. Governor andrew Cuomo has some religious views (on abortion, on guns (?!) and on homosexuality that are most definitely not those of the Catholic church – except for the guns, maybe – and he is almost intolerant of the opposite point of view.

Comment by Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:09 pm

His opinion against guns is certainly not more valid than those other Catholics hold who are pro-gun.

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031995_evangelium-vitae_en.html

55. This should not cause surprise: to kill a human being, in whom the image of God is present, is a particularly serious sin. Only God is the master of life! Yet from the beginning, faced with the many and often tragic cases which occur in the life of individuals and society, Christian reflection has sought a fuller and deeper understanding of what God’s commandment prohibits and prescribes. 43 There are in fact situations in which values proposed by God’s Law seem to involve a genuine paradox. This happens for example in the case of legitimate defence, in which the right to protect one’s own life and the duty not to harm someone else’s life are difficult to reconcile in practice. Certainly, the intrinsic value of life and the duty to love oneself no less than others are the basis of a true right to self-defence. The demanding commandment of love of neighbour, set forth in the Old Testament and confirmed by Jesus, itself presupposes love of oneself as the basis of comparison: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself ” (Mk 12:31). Consequently, no one can renounce the right to self-defence out of lack of love for life or for self. This can only be done in virtue of a heroic love which deepens and transfigures the love of self into a radical self-offering, according to the spirit of the Gospel Beatitudes (cf. Mt 5:38-40). The sublime example of this self-offering is the Lord Jesus himself.

Moreover, “legitimate defence can be not only a right but a grave duty for someone responsible for another’s life, the common good of the family or of the State”.44 Unfortunately it happens that the need to render the aggressor incapable of causing harm sometimes involves taking his life. In this case, the fatal outcome is attributable to the aggressor whose action brought it about, even though he may not be morally responsible because of a lack of the use of reason. 45

Catholics have never been strict pacifists. Just look at the Pope’s Swiss Guard. The right and the duty of legitimate defense of one’s own life or the lives of others, including but not restricted to those who are responsible for family members, rests on having the means to do so. To deny people who have the right and sometimes the duty to defend life the means of doing so goes against the whole teaching of the Catholic church for at least the past 1000 years.

Steve57 (ad3f0c) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:32 pm

Cuomo was probably one of those whiny toddlers who burst into tears every time his mommy did not hug him and kiss him and give him a cookie for taking off his diaper and playing with his poopoo, and he has carried that into his adult life. Everybody who does not tell him that he is good and everything he does, says, and thinks is good, is a big meanie and he should just go away before he stamps his foot and grimaces.

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:49 pm

What people like Cuomo do is conflate areas where it’s possible for Catholics to have differences of opinion to those where it’s not possible.

It would be possible to have a difference of opinion, for the sake of argument, on whether private gun ownership is contrary to or conducive to protecting innocent life. Just as it’s possible to have a debate about whether or not American-style welfare is better for the poor than other forms of charity.

People who are for welfare and gun control are wrong based upon the evidence. But the larger point is this; it is not possible for Catholics like Cuomo to be pro-abortion and call themselves Catholic.

Defending your own or some third party’s life with a gun is not intrinsically evil. Voting against a specific welfare bill is not intrinsically evil. Both can and often are the more compassionate and hence the more virtuous position to take. On the other hand abortion is always intrinsically evil. Unlike shooting someone in legitimate defense of one’s self or another, or voting against a fatally flawed government heist in the name of social welfare, there is never, ever a legitimate reason to support abortion.

Which is what nominal Catholics like Cuomo do. They try to do is muddy the waters to make their immorality appear virtuous. But there’s never any reason for anybody the least bit informed to fall for it.

Steve57 (ad3f0c) — 1/20/2014 @ 8:50 pm

Catholics have never been strict pacifists.

Heh! Bears have never been strict vegetarians, either.

nk (dbc370) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:05 pm

I have a question since we’ve all decided that marijuana should be legal: Can you smoke weed in a no smoking restaurant?

The reason I ask is because we all know tobacco is the smoke of Satan and marijuana is the gift of God, but both produce smoke.

So, if someone has a baby in a progressive restaurant where smoking weed is OK, but tobacco is off limits, what does one do when they don’t want the baby to inhale smoke regardless?

Of course, the enlightened will say that the baby has to inhale the exhaust of car exhaust, coal and conservative farts.

However, I would say that smoke is smoke and if you choose not to abort your baby, how in the world do you differentiate between nasty tobacco, life-giving pot or your chimney?

Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:28 pm

Comment by Ag80 (eb6ffa) — 1/20/2014 @ 9:28 pm

Can you smoke weed in a no smoking restaurant?

Depends on the wording of the local anti-snoking ordinance.

The reason I ask is because we all know tobacco is the smoke of Satan and marijuana is the gift of God, but both produce smoke.

And E-cigarettes don’t give off any smoke – and no more chemicals than perfume or cologne – an yet there is a big push to add them to anti-smoking regulations. It’s still tobacco.

In order to do so, it seems they have to specificaly add them, it is not automstic, so the same may apply in many places to marijuana.

Of course there are other ways of injesting marijuana, and there probably won’t be any big campaign to prohibit it any place marijuana may be, except maybe jails.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/21/2014 @ 6:37 am

Typos or errors.

It’s anti-nmoking.

and yet. specifically. automsastic.

And injgesting.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/21/2014 @ 6:41 am

My correction needs a correction: anti-snmoking

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/21/2014 @ 6:42 am

they are in very capable hands

http://www.jammiewf.com/2014/idle-de-blasio-staffers-sitting-around-playing-cards-watching-netflix-while-waiting-for-appointments/

narciso (3fec35) — 1/21/2014 @ 6:59 am

well that’s what I meant;

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/cuomo-backtracks-it-fine-be-anti-gun-control-and-anti-choice_775187.html

narciso (3fec35) — 1/21/2014 @ 7:04 am

Sammy, you remind me of that lifestyle psychologist on my stroke team who did not know how many cigarettes are in a pack, but undertook nonetheless to get me to quit smoking. Trust me, you do not know smoking, and you will not learn it on the internet.

Ag80, I know you were joking, but “No Smoking” means “No Smoking”, whether it’s cigarette, cigar, pipe tobacco, marijuana, or dried camel dung. As for places such as jails where tobacco is allowed, I imagine they will treat marijuana like they now treat alcohol and other recreational drugs.

nk (dbc370) — 1/21/2014 @ 8:36 am

It’s still tobacco.

Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about, but I don’t think it is tobacco. It’s just nicotine in solution with flavoring, I think.

But I don’t see how you can do it outside with no outlets to plug the cord into.

MD in Philly (f9371b) — 1/21/2014 @ 12:28 pm

We have another polar vortex or maybe they are not calling it that now. It will not be as cold as before.

But there will be a big snowstorm, that will reach as far south as Washington, D.C, which missed the last snow storm.

It started snowing at 8:15 am and there’s quite a lot of snow now – not really that much – although cars drive slowly, and some places are closinbg early. It was 21 degrees at 9:47 am, although it was also reported as 22 degrees about that time.

The temperature right now (3 pm) reported at 18 degrees. The high was 27 degrees, the low for the day is expected to be 10 degrees.

Tomorrow’s predicted High and low: 19 degrees and 5 degrees.

The next day: 21 degrees and 7 degrees.

Friday: 25 degrees and 19 degrees.

As usual this year, it warms up for Shabbos: 32 degrees and 14 degrees.

Or does it? The high is higher and the low is lower Saturday than Friday.

Sunday: 28 degrees and 21 degrees.

Monday: 37 degrees and 14 degrees.

Tuesday next week: 19 degrees and 12 degrees.

And this far ahead it is impossible to predict.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/21/2014 @ 12:38 pm

What the Acting Surgeon General wouldn’t say:

Women Smoking While Pregnant Could Lead Their Daughters to Become Lesbians

Well, actually it only increases the probability a little.

The newspapers persist in describing this as if it affected boys, too. It doesn’t.

http://www.krmg.com/news/news/national/scientist-claims-smoking-while-pregnant-leads-gay-/nctnZ/?xES65i?icmp=cmgcontent_internallink_relatedcontent_2013_partners3

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/21/2014 @ 12:46 pm

MD “But I don’t see how you can do it outside with no outlets to plug the cord into.”

I think it runs on batteries.

I knew someone who had them, but he couldn’t stick to e-cigarettes, I don’t know why. He also smoked marijuana and it put him into a wheelchair at about the age of 69. He also was going bankrupt and getting $34 overdraft fees from Chase from automated payments.

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/21/2014 @ 12:50 pm

Update on the bobathome Gold intrigue:

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2014-01-21/potential-exists-epic-short-squeeze-physical-gold

To no one’s shock or amazement, the Central Bank conspiracy to crush the price of paper investment in gold, the scheme has run up against the hard object of exhaustion of physical gold available for sale.

gary gulrud (05efc5) — 1/22/2014 @ 12:01 pm

Partial Weather report:

Last night at 6:12 pm 10 degrees

6:59 am this morning (before sunrise) 9 degrees

8:30 this morning: 8 degrees

9:47 this morning: 7 degrees

About 10:45 – 8 degrees.

3:03 pm: 16 degrees (probably around the high for the day)

ItThe New York Post had a big headline about he snow catching Mayor de Blasio (and the santitation department) by surprise. It snowedearlier than predicted. It was only supposed to hapen in the afternoon. In the previous snowstorm, January 2nd, it started later than predicted.

Sammy Finkelman (4227f2) — 1/22/2014 @ 12:05 pm

The things you don’t know.

http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/369137/cautionary-tale-bob-mcdonnell-jim-geraghty#!

Sammy Finkelman (d22d64) — 1/22/2014 @ 4:29 pm

1/17/2014

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