The Hit & Run B Team Breaks Out

News bulletin: Dr. Thoreau, a regular in the Hit & Run comment threads, is currently guest-blogging over at Jim Henley's excellent and popular site Unqualified Offerings. So is Mona, who old-timers may recall as the woman who regularly threatened to stop reading Reason because so many of its staffers opposed the invasion of Iraq, and who has more recently done a 180 on the war and its Republican sponsors. Jennifer the Feral Genius is rumored to be preparing posts as well.

Update: Another regular, Alan Vanneman, writes:

If you're going to plug Hit & Run commenters who also work blogs, give me a plug, because I'm part of Bright Lights After Dark, the blog that accompanies the Bright Lights Film Journal where I'm a regular contributor.

My response: Vanneman is a sharp and entertaining film critic, and all of you should be reading his stuff. And while I'm at it, frequent commenter S.M. Koppelman is a sharp and entertaining food critic, and all of you should be reading his stuff too. Finally, apropos of nothing, I'm glad to see the kids today are still listening to Henry Mancini. That is all.

Comments

[Ruthless]

"B Team"
You could be in deep doo doo.

[Dr. T.]

No worries, Ruthless. The A Team has Mr. T. The B Team has Dr. T.

I pity the fool who can't tell the difference.

[Jennifer]

I was going to post last night, truly I was, but a bunch of stupid real-world stuff got in the way.

Stuff sucks.

[Number 6]

And soon* some of the B team and grylliade types will be launching an online rag known as Dead Libertarians. Then the fun** will really begin.

*When I get around to designing the page.
** Discussion of ancient philosophers, endless disections of anarchism vs. minarchism, book reviews, and, of course, furries.

[joshua corning]

does B-team = poeple who have other jobs or poeple who would be A team but refuse to actually say who they are or people who now agree with Walker on the war.

[Number 6]

Joshua Corning- The B team, so far as I can tell, refers to a particular subset of H&R regulars who often have something interesting and coherent to say.

[Jesse Walker]

B Team = each and every one of you who make these comment threads such a special place, even if you hold heretical, non-Walkerian views on Iraq.

[shecky]

I dig the way Jennifer cocks her head for photos.

[Jennifer]

Shecky, every non-dwarf on Earth who is more than ten years old is taller than me. And I refuse on general principles to tilt my head way back to talk to people, because that makes my neck hurt and also makes me feel like a little kid. So that photo is what I actually look like when I'm talking to you!

Except I make more hand motions. Very emphatic, I am.

By the way, since I couldn't do any posts at all last night (stuff sucks) I'm mildly annoyed by the fact that the top couple of posts aren't exactly the best I've ever done. So I changed the address on my name here, to lead to my personal all-time favorite/best post to date. Whackjob survivalists totally rule. And don't call me a poet.

[Dr. T.]

The B Team is an elite group of Hit and Run commenters assembled by Jim Henley. Unable to post on the Hit and Run main page, we make our reputations by posting elsewhere. If you have a thread idea, and nobody else can help, maybe you can send it to the B Team.

(Cue music.)

[joshua corning]

B Team = each and every one of you who make these comment threads such a special place, even if you hold heretical, non-Walkerian views on Iraq.

Oh yeah well us on the C and D teams are a bit upset that we can't give the the B team a good ribbing without A team paternalism getting into the mix.

And what hell number 6, it is not as if I didn't go and read their articles.

I shall withhold my comments about jennifer's picture

[Timothy]

Man, the B-team sounds awesome! How can I join? I'm working on a post about a working paper on kleptocracy, but I haven't had a chance to work all the way through the paper yet. Is the B-Team anything like the League of Awesomeness?

[Russ 2000]

I'm proud to say I'm apparently the only Hit & Run poster without a blog. Lucky you!

[Jennifer]

By the way, when you try to post a comment on Jim's blog, it goes through.

Every time.

This is my second attempt to make this post.

[Stevo Darkly]

I dig the way Jennifer cocks her head for photos.

How did you manage to make that sound so dirty?

And congrats to all the B-Team members who are currently spreading their wings like ... like ... something that flies all over the place doing good things.

[Rick Barton]

Jesse:

Dr. Thoreau...is currently guest-blogging over at...Unqualified Offerings.

I knew as soon as Thoreau got a PhD in physics that he'd really go places

So is Mona...who regularly threatened to stop reading Reason because so many of its staffers opposed the invasion of Iraq, and who has ...done a 180 on the war and its Republican sponsors.

I recall Mona issuing the threats as a result of pronouncements of some of us commenters as well. Mona, welcome home to your libertarian roots. But remember, don't take it out on all the Republicans, just the neocon obedient ones.

Jennifer the Feral Genius...

Feral Genius-What a smashing name for a blog!

frequent commenter S.M. Koppelman is a sharp and entertaining food critic,

Really? Well some of the things that he says about political issues make me wanna throw up.

(Nothing personal, and it's not that I'm intolerant of decidedly anti-libertarian views)

[Frank_A]

Congrats guys!

[Rick Barton and his inner mono]

I dig the way Jennifer cocks her head for photos.

Yeah, I'd sure like to cock her head.

What?? Who said that?

That was just a joke. I said it only to be funny and I mean no offense. I know that Jennifer has a boy friend, and I'm a very polite person and I'd never like force myself on a blind girl or anything...

[Paul]

I was going to post last night, truly I was, but a bunch of stupid real-world stuff got in the way.

You're such a female. And I mean that in a good way.

[NoStar]

The C-Team at H&R is made up of Counter-Punchers who while great with the witty resposte and snarky commnets lack the wherewithal for original blogging. I count myself in this group.

The D-Team comprises commenters who are just Dumb.
Others place me in this group.

[Paul]

So, I guess I'm like the Kathy Griffin of the H&R: on the 'D' list, but without the wit, looks or talent.

[Paul]

I was going to post last night, truly I was, but a bunch of stupid real-world stuff got in the way.

You know, I resemble this remark. But that's not going to stop me from trying.

[mjs]

So who exactly is the Hit & Run A-Team? Mr. T, Face, Murdoch, etc. are not it...

mjs
(usual lurker, candidate for Z-Team membership, unless Greek letters denote lower ranks)

[Paul]

I'm on crack. I'm posting and cutting and pasting to and from the wrong messages with no proofreading. Hmm, maybe I am cut out for original blogging.

[Rick Barton]

You guys!! Jesse said (well, strictly speaking, implied) that we're all on the B team. Now get your helmets on and get out there on those threads!

[jf]

The D-Team comprises commenters who are just Dumb.

I guess sadly I'd have to include myself in this group. Fortunately, in about 3-4 weeks, once my meds have kicked in, I'll either be a kick-ass commenter or completely absent.

I just got my self-diagnosis of bipolar syndrome confirmed (not that at least Evan hadn't already guessed it from a post where we sparred). I think I'm a pretty smart guy (at least from my public-school scores), so who knows?

Now, what I'd like to know is, how many HnR commenters are on meds for their brains?

[NoStar]

jf,
Bipolar is way cooler than being bicoastal.
When you're up we'll put you on the C-Team, when you're down, the D-team.

Seriously, I had a bit of that in my teens and twenties. I seemed to have out grown it, but my case was mild. Still, it felt like a rollercoaster ride that would never end.

[rox_publius]

Now, what I'd like to know is, how many HnR commenters are on meds for their brains?

that include self-medication via yeungling?

[jf]

When you're up we'll put you on the C-Team, when you're down, the D-team.

That's hilarious, but only because that's how I've learned to look at this.

At least until the Depakote finally starts doing its job. I'm hoping the brains and creativity stay while the inability to focus and outright hostility disappear.

[jf]

that include self-medication via yeungling?

Shit, I've been doing that self-medication for more years than I can count. Sadly, it hasn't done anything to really help me.

Sorry to all if using this thread as a confessional pisses you off. I love this site, was a subscriber (and will be in the future) to the magazine, and love the interaction here on the forum. I'm just really happy that I've figured out what the fuck is wron with me, and somehow this thread brought that out.

[NoStar]

jf,
Just think how different your life would be if Evan had called you bisexual.

You would be paying for intercourse and your confession would be in the next thread: Fake Hooker: Fail the Smell Test, Lose Your Car

And the cops will have taken your car.
In which case your mode of transportation would be bipedal.

[Rich Ard]

Now, what I'd like to know is, how many HnR commenters are on meds for their brains?

Lithium, baby - it's not on patent, and works like a charm.

[jf]

NoStar, if my doctor could have ordered humor, you'd have been the prescription. Thanks.

[thoreau]

Come on, people, I need commenters! Go to http://www.highclearing.com! Now!

I need comments!

I'm curious to see if you guys like my attempt to be a libertarian science blogger.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

T, I gave you a comment, it hasn't shown up.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Oh, and when I tried it again, I got a message that my new attempt was a duplicate. Go figger.

Not who you know, who you blow regards, TWC

[thoreau]

Weird. I tried editing one of my posts, and while I don't have any problem with my interface, when I try to view the edits on the main page I still see the old version.

[thoreau]

TWC-

I left a comment on the egg donor thread without any problem. I don't see any comments awaiting moderation, so it can't be that you were flagged or something.

Weird.

Wanna try again in another thread?

[导热油]

oh,very good
happy today

[The Wine Commonsewer]

Might be because I'm using Firefox.

I'll give it a shot but no promises. I've got to get something out the door, er ah, out the email outbox tonight. But even if I don't get a chance to re-post, at least you know when I needed a change of pace I read your stuff instead of gawking at that new X-rated XP for Guys PPS that's currently on the email curcuit.

[thoreau]

I'm using Firefox as well.

Weird.

I appreciate the thought, TWC. Take it easy.

[Jennifer]

Okay, so my 5:25 comment didn't stand the test of time. Not everything on the Internet does, you know.

[kwais]

Great picture Jennifer

[s.m. koppelman]

Aw, shucks.

[D.A. Ridgely]

Well, hell, if logrolling is the name of the game, a few here might be interested in the fact that Mona and I are (so far) regular contributors to a new libertarian(ish) website started by Jon Henke, called Inactivist.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

T, it just won't take comments from me. I tried using different email addreses for a total of 5 tries now. Sorry.

Just to prove I'm not lying, here is the latest incarnation of my attempted comment on your antibiotics post.

BTW, I like the commenter friendly format on that blog. Whose software is it?

Hi T, I'm going to try this again.

But if excessive use of antibiotics, or incomplete use (once you start you should finish the full course of drugs, so that the ones that evolved only very weak resistance are killed before they evolve a stronger resistance mechanism) makes bacteria nastier for the rest of us, I have a hard time opposing a prescription regimen.

I'm inclined to see this as the same argument the government uses to justify spraying of malathion from heckicopters all over the southland at the midnight hour (cover your cars please).

It's also a bit overstated to say that no new antibiotics are bing developed. There are many, and most of the old ones still work for most things.

Pragmatically, Doctors still overprescribe and prescribe precautionary antibiotics. That is unlikely to change.

If you compare the population of Mexico, where self-medication is allowed, to the US I doubt you will find much diff in the overall rate of adapting bacteria.

Ethically & morally, I'd say Leonard is on solid ground.

[Phileleutherus Lipsiensis]

Number 6,

** Discussion of ancient philosophers, endless disections of anarchism vs. minarchism, book reviews, and, of course, furries.

My first article will concern an altar commissioned by the Roman Senate to celebrate the "Pax Augusta" - the Ara Pacis Augustae. The substance of the article will concern itself with the concept of art as political symbol.

[Rick Barton]

jf:

I just got my self-diagnosis of bipolar syndrome confirmed.

I think it's wonderful that you're sharing that with us. Thank you. Hang in there and think about and, if you can, exploit the positive aspects of your condition. You folks tend to be very creative. A quite disproportionate number of famous artists and writers have been bi-polar.

I enthusiastically recommend the books by Kay Redfield Jamison. She's a professor of psychiatry and writer who is one of the foremost experts on bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), from which she herself suffers.

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

And now some advice if I may: Always take your medication, especially when you start to cycle. I know that the exhilarating, creative high of mania can morph into psychosis without you folks knowing it. And the depressive phase can lead to suicide.

Interestingly: Dr. Jamison cites research which suggests that 15 percent of people who could be diagnosed as manic depressive may never actually become depressed; in effect, they are permanently 'high' on life.

I know about bipolar syndrome cuz of a couple of relationships that Iv'e had with bipolar gals. It seems to me that bipolar females statistically tend to be both thin and brainy/creative. That's kinda my type as it were. I met both of em in the same bookstore here in Denver.

Lastly; if you ever find yourself terribly depressed, please remember that the chemical imbalance in your brain is distorting your perception of reality and things aren't really as bad as they seem. And it will be better when your brain chemistry is restored.

[joshua corning]

Now, what I'd like to know is, how many HnR commenters are on meds for their brains?

I am on the patch...for the last year.

plus i use an inhalor for asthma...I tried to become an alchoholic last month but after i drank 2-3 drinks a night for a week i felt sick and quit...i have tried to do this multiple times in my life and alwasy fail. Other then eating to much junk food that is it.

[The Wine Commonsewer]

meds for their brain

I'm on wine.

The down side is the calories. Quite a bit more than Prozac.

[jw]

"And the depressive phase can lead to suicide."

That is most emphatically true. I recently lost an old friend from my teen years who had struggled with bi-polar all his life long (he was fifty-two.) During an attempt to quit feeling "so god damned bad", as he often put it, he took some street drugs on top of his regular prescription medication. The combination was lethal, although I don't think he intended it to be. Be very careful when you are depressed!

[joshua corning]

As opposed to those who have had thier good minds wasted on mental disorders my healthy brain has been wasted on a dull mind.

[Mona]

Thank you Jesse Walker, and all the rest of you well-wishers -- especially thank you, Jesse, for making a big public fuss about my susbcription-cancelation hissy fits. Am I *ever* going to hear the end of that?

Jennifer, thoreau and I will have fun in Jim's sandbox for a week. And then, as D.A. Ridgely notes, you can still read me, and him and others, at the Inactivist site he linked to.

[ed]

I'm proud to say I'm apparently the only Hit & Run poster without a blog.

I don't have one either, Russ.
Not having a blog is the coolest.

[kevrob]

B.A.: I thought you said you wasn't crazy anymore.

Murdock: Only on paper.

I'm sure jf and other posters-on-medication can duke it out for the "Howlin' Mad" slot.

Unfortunately, the adventure heroes I'm starting to resemble are Nero Wolfe, Cannon and Bouncing Boy.

Kevin

[D.A. Ridgely]

Am I *ever* going to hear the end of that?

Not likely. [smile]

[kevrob]

The CIA had Team B back in the 70s.

Kevin

[The Wine Commonsewer]

not having a blog is the coolest

No doubt. That makes three of us. Mine's not right here.

[Rick Barton]

The Wine Commonsewer,

That's a very cool sitr thst you don't have there.

[Rick Barton]

I mean: That's a very cool site thst you don't have there.

[joshua corning]

The friggen liberal Kevrob wrote:

The CIA had Team B back in the 70s.

Holy shit Paul Wolfowitz was on Team B!

Ain't that a hoot.

[joshua corning]

More from team B

Team B concluded that the Soviet Union did not adhere to the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction, but rather believed it could win a nuclear war outright. This was shocking to many at the time,[1] but later, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, was proven to be at least partially true.[8]

JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!!!!!!!!

[kevrob]

.....friggen liberal Kevrob.... - joshua corning

WTF brought that on?

Kevin

[Rick Barton]

Yeah, what? Kevrob, liberal ???