Obama Takes His Speech Indoors, Clint Made an Impression, Even the Dead Are Represented in Nicaragua: P.M. Links

• With rough weather in the forecast, President Obama's Thursday speech accepting the Democratic nomination will be moved from a 74,000-seat outdoor football stadium to a 20,000-seat arena. And if you turn off the sound, you should be ble to enjoy tonight's DNC appearances by Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Kerry Washington.

• Clint Eastwood's conversation with an Obama stand-in chair is rated as the highlight of the Republican convention by those polled after the fact.
• Former Senator Chris Dodd is in town for the Democratic convention — as a lobbyist for the MPAA. Hey Chris, I hear you can kill some time on Pirate Bay …
• The government of Honduras authorized the construction of three privately run cities that will operate with their own tax and legal systems. This could be interesting …
• The European Central Bank's latest scheme for solving the euro crisis is to buy unlimited quantities of government debt. All of Europe seems on-board with the plan, with the exception of Germany's Bundesbank, Gee … I wonder why.
• Nicaragua's Sandinistas must be having trouble attracting supporters for three puppet parties "competing" in the election; it turns out that many of the parties' candidates have been recruited from cemeteries.
• When 40-year-old Diego Lerma suffered a seizure at a department store, last year, Nogales, Arizona police promptly responded — by tasering him. Yes, he's suing.
• Last week, the sun shot a — in technical terms — humongous solar flare into space.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

And if you turn off the sound, you should be ble to enjoy tonight's DNC appearances by Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Kerry Washington.

REASON'S WAR ON WOMEN!

[$park?]

I'm with JD on this one. ScarJo is amazingly hot but if I had to listen to her lame political ideals I would be completely turned off forever. I don't think I can handle that right now.

[Palin's Buttplug]

She did Tom Waits cover album so she obviously has great taste.

[Randian]

You aren't even right about music.

[Palin's Buttplug]

You sound like a Lee Greenwood fan.

[Randian]

it triez moar harder

[Brett L]

That's harsh. Even for a sockpuppet.

[John]

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2.....aying.html

Michelle Obama asks donors to skip pizza night and send money to Obama.

[The Hammer]

To be fair, she didn't ask anyone to skip eating in order to donate to Obama, she just told a story about someone who did and not-so-subtly implied that that person is better than you.

[John]

True enough.

[Pro Libertate]

I intend to eat more pizza, thus depriving the Obamas of more money they can't fucking have.

[Juice]

But when Obamacare kicks in that pizza will cost 11 to 14 cents more, so they'll have the last laugh after all.

[Brett L]

Pizza night tonight for the start of the NFL at the L house.

[Rich]

I hear that Gabby Douglas skipped dinner at McDonald's and sent the money to Romney.

[Xenocles]

I'm sending the campaign a bill for my grass-fed meat.

[Episiarch]

I said this in the other thread:

I'm having a little trouble processing the incredibly presumptuously arrogant yet strangely, deeply pathetic begging that the Obama campaign is engaging in. I've just never seen anything like it, and it creeps me the fuck out.

[$park?]

This must be seriously sick to creep out someone whose done the things you have with Warty and SugarFree.

[Episiarch]

Those things were done for love, so it made them even more sick, yet less sick at the same time. It's complicated.

Regardless, no begging was involved. Except by NutraSweet.

[SugarFree]

That's a half-truth at best.

[Episiarch]

Fine. Sobbing, not begging, per se. Per se!

[John]

It is just bizarre. Part of it is that the Obama campaign wastes more money than any campaign in history. They have this giant staff of do nothing idiot sons and daughters of big donors in Chicago. It is like they have taken their governing philosophy and applied it to their campaign.

[Restoras]

It's not that bizarre to me. Personal sacrifice in the name of national goals is perfectly in keeping with all other statist demagogues throughout history. That is the driving force of the modern American left.

[Palin's Buttplug]

You shouldn't have signed up for his e-mail.

I didn't and have never been solicited.

[Randian]

Seriously, if you aren't a little bit disturbed at Michelle Obama asking families to skip pizza night and send the money to the campaign, you have no soul.

[Episiarch]

It's a sockpuppet, dude. There are no souls involved.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I pay no attention to first ladies. Laura Bush seemed like a nice person and I don't give a damn what her FL pet cause was. I don't remember and don't care.

[Citizen Nothing]

Hillary is why you should never ignore First Ladies.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Laura's should have been drunk driving considering the ticket she supported.

[rac3rx]

And the not paying attention to first ladies lasted all of what? 9 minutes? As a former librarian, her "pet cause" was literacy, you goon.

[Brett L]

Soviet leaders giving themselves dachas and keeping mistresses while driving by 100 deep food lines in (admittedly shitty, Russian made) limos? That's the vibe I get. Suffering is the lot of the prole until the valiant vanguard can uplift them. (And that takes money, tovarich!)

[Pro Libertate]

I wonder what pizza-line pizza will taste like?

[Restoras]

Probably like the pizza that was served to you in school.

[Pro Libertate]

Soggy bread product? I might rebel over that.

[Christina]

Remember "french bread pizza?" Geez, was that a scam! Not thin, not deep dish; just bread with cheese sprinkled on top.

[Pro Libertate]

It's pita pizza, these days.

[Fluffy]

I used to like Stouffer's frozen French bread pizza.

You know what I also liked? English muffin pizzas.

You make those by splitting English muffins, putting Ragu sauce on them (it has to be Ragu and it has to be their regular pasta sauce, not their pizza sauce) and you put a single slice of American cheese on top (no, not shredded cheese and definitely not mozzarella cheese). You then put them in the oven at 400, directly on the oven tray (do NOT use a cookie sheet).

Mmmmmm English muffin pizzas. Damn, I wish I had about a dozen of those right now.

[Pro Libertate]

I'd be less appalled if you had told me you used to have sex with English muffins.

[Ska]

It's the American cheese that killed it for me. You know what, a couple of bowl packs and five of those wouldn't be half bad. But not with American cheese.

[Pro Libertate]

English muffins have two purposes: McMuffins and Eggs Benedict. Neither of those allows for pizza.

[Fluffy]

English muffins have another purpose: if you lightly toast them, you can use them as the bun for a crab cake sandwich. Mmmmmmmmm crab cake sandwich.

[Episiarch]

English muffins are also a key component of NYC diners' Greek burger, which is a burger with feta cheese and onions on an English muffin. And they're delicious.

[Fluffy]

Mmmmmmm feta cheese burger.

[Whahappan?]

Or pork roll.

[Tejicano]

Of course he had sex with them. Whadda ya think he did, eat them?

Hey, wait.. EEEwwwww!

[Christina]

I just threw up a little in my mouth. EVERYTHING about the "English Muffin pizzas" you describe is reminiscent of Tyler Cowen's chief complaint with American food: that it is too kid-oriented.

[Fluffy]

No, really, you guys, these things are DELICIOUS.

I probably haven't had them in 30 years, but I am sitting here right now SLOBBERING just thinking about them.

I should go out and buy the ingredients right now.

You know what else is secretly delicious? Stouffer's frozen macaroni and beef with tomatoes. Mmmmmmmm. I should buy some of those and have an elementary school double feature later.

[Pro Libertate]

Are you human or a very talented monkey?

[The Hammer]

There's a reason you haven't had them in 30 years, Fluffy.

[Ted S.]

We made those when we went camping when I was a kid, except that it was over a campfire since there was no oven.

[Brett L]

"Did I get the box or the pizza?"

[Pro Libertate]

I, too, will re-comment:

Ye gods. Please, those of you who have budgets that are limited to the point that you have to skip eating out in order to donate, give us your fucking money before we kill you.

[VG Zaytsev]

"Please...give up your food so I can have another four years of opulent vacations at taxpayer expense."

[Generic Stranger]

Let them eat cake!

[Rich]

This is entirely consistent with the climax of her speech last night. She more-or-less equated voting for Obama with fighting in the Revolutionary War.

[JW]

JW --

I know your life is full -- with work, or school, or turning tricks-- and yet you still find the time to help out when you can.

You may have a tight budget, but you will give more than you can afford.

A woman recently sold her children to medical research so that she could make a difference in this election.

That is the commitment that drives this campaign.

You will support Barack with a donation today, and please know that if you don't, Mitt Romney will kill and eat your dog. When we win, I promise you, we will crush the Republican's bones in to dust....

Thanks,

Michelle

[John]

+ the internets.

[Fatty Bolger]

Noice.

[RPR2]

not enough info. was it deep dish?

[John]

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_new.....-jail?lite

A South Florida woman who is accused of injecting people with Fix-a-Flat and other substances in a black market buttock-enhancing business was released on bond Friday.

Oneal Morris, 31, posted $25,000 bond and walked out of the Broward County Main Jail.

[JW]

The only thing that will make this story better is that he gets nabbed skipping out on bail, is when he gets a flat tire.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The government of Honduras authorized the construction of three privately run cities that will operate with their own tax and legal systems.

They won't build that.

[John]

Anonymous group claims to have hacked a copy of Romney's tax returns.

http://nosilencehere.com/?p=2398

[Palin's Buttplug]

PWC is a liberal front group of auditors and tax accountants.

[The Hammer]

PWC is a bunch of CPA's, people who benefit directly from government protection of their cartel and byzantine tax codes. Why wouldn't they tend toward liberal?

[Randian]

Old school hacking, eh?

[VG Zaytsev]

I'm surprised that it took this long for some hack at the IRS to release them.

[rac3rx]

Historically, the only way Obama has been able to win elections was to get "sealed" and "confidential" records released on his opposition and then create scandal out of them. This surprises me not one bit.

[RedDragon6009]

Romney's 1040 tax returns were taken from the PWC office 8/25/2012 by gaining access to the third floor via a gentleman working on the 3rd floor of the building. Once on the 3rd floor, the team moved down the stairs to the 2nd floor and setup shop in an empty office room. During the night, suite 260 was entered, and all available 1040 tax forms for Romney were copied.

I'm trying to figure out how anything was hacked here. It looks more like a simple case of burglary.

[Palin's Buttplug]

PWC issued PR denying it.

Truth or CYA? Who knows?

[Mo]

Why would a PWC office in TN (where Romney doesn't live or pay taxes) have signed copies (only the IRS would have that) of Romney's taxes. Smells like pure b.s.

[John]

maybe they are his accounting firm and that is where they keep their archives.

[Mo]

It doesn't explain why they would have signed copies. I don't have signed copies of my tax returns and neither does my accountant.

[John]

I do. I file electronically and sign electronically. But beyond that, maybe when they say "signed copies" they mean "copies of the signed originals".

[Mo]

They say they have a "signature image". Electronically signed returns would not have a signature image for Mitt Romney.

[RedDragon6009]

I think we should wait and see how this pans out. Should be interesting either way.

[Randian]

I'm trying to figure out how anything was hacked here. It looks more like a simple case of burglary.

It depends on your definition of hacking, actually.

Here's an illustrative comic.

[Fatty Bolger]

THAT LINK GAVE ME A VIRUS!! YOU CLEVER BASTARD!!

(Not really - but you did SF it)

[Randian]

Ehn, can't get it to work. Just plug into google, I guess.

[Alack]

SMBC uses ampersands in the URLs, so it's a no-go on HyR. Just put one between "comics" and "id" after clicking the SF'd link and you'll go to the right page.

[The Hammer]

It's been a long time since I've seen Sugarfree Sugarfree a link. Maybe it's time to change the name?

[John]

Straight up burglary yes. But that is okay. When you have an entire party of demonic retards like Shrike, that is what you would expect.

[Pip]

PWCgate, anyone? Really, how is this any different?

[db]

That was my thought.

[Ted S.]

Oh God, not the fucking -gate suffix again.

[Somalian Road Corporation]

Going to call this here: these will be fake but make Romney look bad in an attempt to get him to hand over his real tax returns, which will be boring and on the level.

[Pip]

The documents are fake but accurate.

/Damn Rather

[Fatty Bolger]

This was an interesting update on Instapundit:

In the comments, a suggestion that this is just a cover story: "As many observers have noted, there's little question the Obama campaign has Romney's tax returns. That's illegal, though?they had to have been obtained from the government, which indeed is Nixon territory?so there will have to be some cover story when they are inevitably leaked prior to the election. The Reid nonsense was a start, maybe this is the vehicle."

[Mo]

I doubt Obama would do that know. He's polling with the lead and if it came out that they were involved (and it will), he'll get smoked. A move like this is a Hail Mary play when you're way down, not a salt the clock play in a close game.

[Mo]

Argh

* I doubt Obama would do that now

[John]

Maybe he is down more than the media is letting on. Or maybe he is just that stupid?

[Fatty Bolger]

Maybe, but they sure don't act like they are in the lead.

[Ska]

I'm imagining someone trying to get into my office, accessing a computer, figuring out where to look for copies of tax returns, accessing that, and getting their hands on a copy of a return. It just sounds like complete and utter bullshit.

[VG Zaytsev]

Yep.

Axelrod already stole them from the IRS with some inside help and they're just trying to figure out a way to leak them with plausible deniability.

[John]

God I feel sorry for kids today

Despite the cognitive and social benefits of recess, principals still hate it: In the scholarship on recess, they inevitably describe their recess periods as total chaos. In Chicago, recess has been out of the schools so long that principals are nervous about having it back.

That's the twist in this rebirth-of-recess narrative: In part because of these fears, recess in many schools is now a very different beast. It's more structured and sports-focused, less dreamy and aimless. Whether it leads to the same cognitive and social benefits is an open question. The nonprofit organization Playworks puts full-time "recess coaches" in low-income schools?currently they're in 387 schools in 23 cities?who teach children how to play: They organize games; they model how to resolve disputes (rock-paper-scissors); they try to get kids more active and engaged. (A recent study found that schools with Playworks reported less bullying and better behavior.)

http://www.slate.com/articles/.....dren_.html

[$park?]

Behold the future of our country. People that have to be told how to do it right*.

*right according the smart people in charge.

[Rich]

I checked out playworks.com to try to see if I qualify as a "recess coach".

It's password protected.

[Alack]

Welp, that's fucked up.

[mad libertarian guy]

The nonprofit organization Playworks puts full-time "recess coaches" in low-income schools?currently they're in 387 schools in 23 cities?who teach children how to play

Since when the fuck do kids need to be taught how to fucking play.

Get the fuck out that shit. Send those little fuckers outside and leave them the fuck alone.

[Anonymous Coward]

Recess coaches? Kids have to be told how to play?,

Fuck it, I'm going to Fiji.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Last week, the sun shot a ? in technical terms ? humongous solar flare into space.

It caught a glimpse of Proxima Centauri in a skimpy - you guessed it - sun dress.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

But what was John Wayne wearing? I heard he was naked? Zat true?

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

The European Central Bank's latest scheme for solving the euro crisis is to buy unlimited quantities of government debt.

Fucking GENIUS! Why didn't someone think of this before!! Get the President on the line...

[o3]

sorry gop, clint was no good, bad, and ugly.

now get off my lawn!

[John]

Sorry Orin. People loved it. He destroyed Obama and left Democrats with the task of insulting an American icon. Just admit how bad he hurt Obama and move on.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I thought people didn't listen to great actors.

At least wingnuts say that when Redford, Newman, DeNiro and others are mentioned.

[A Serious Man]

Like Clint said in his speech, there are a lot of conservatives in the movie industry, they just aren't as loudmouthed and insufferable about it like that pinko fuck Sean Penn and others like him.

[John]

They apparently made an exception.

[Fatty Bolger]

great actors

Redford?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

[Brutus]

It's like legal tender, Shriek, the more in circulation, the less each one is worth. To my knowledge, aside from his tenure as mayor of Carmel, Clint's never spoken up on politics, so when he does, people listen.

Redford et alia can't fucking shut up about it, so it's just so much background noise.

[A Serious Man]

The government of Honduras authorized the construction of three privately run cities that will operate with their own tax and legal systems. This could be interesting

Yes, by 2016 President Obama will be declaring war on these cities that tempt Americans away from their patriotic economic duty to the state.

[Episiarch]

Of course, there is no way in hell the Honduran government is going to actually leave those places alone.

[Rich]

*** rising intonation ***

What about the privately run armies?

[mad libertarian guy]

Nope. As soon as they see that there is money to be stolen, they'll move right on in and take it.

[T]

I'm guessing part of the deal is kickbacks to the central state in some form. The Hondurans will leave them alone as long as the protection money comes in.

[Drake]

Anyone else remember "Oath of Fealty" by Niven?

http://www.amazon.com/Oath-Fea.....arry+niven

[John]

Clint Eastwood's conversation with an Obama stand-in chair is rated as the highlight of the Republican convention by those polled after the fact.

But it was a disaster I thought? He embarrassed himself. It is almost like the media had a screaming fit because it did damage to Obama or something.

[Pro Libertate]

If they'd ignored it, the whole thing would be forgotten. But they did the stupid thing, as usual.

[Brett L]

I thought they were the evil party. I get confused on the labels.

[Episiarch]

You can't insult The Dear Leader, ProL. They can't take it.

[Pro Libertate]

Like joe said, Obama is above humor.

[Episiarch]

Or below it.

[Pro Libertate]

Or is it.

I have to say, I think he's been a load of laughs.

[Palin's Buttplug]

There were no other "highlights", dumbass.

[John]

You are such angry little retard.

[sage]

Little?

[Rich]

"He has a very severe form of epilepsy it's called intractable seizure disorder."

Unfortunately, he wasn't wearing his "I'm not high on 'bath salts'" T-shirt that day.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

intractable seizure disorder

WTF? They make that up with a random word generator?

"I have 'uncontrollable poop flingingitis'. It makes you fling poop uncontrollably."

"That's nothing next to my 'spontaneous neural activity disorder'. Shit just @#R%KSDFHASKDFH!#!~rffsjd...bllrgggl!...and stuff."

[Rich]

One of my colleagues claims to have "Stress-Induced Tourette Syndrome".

[Pip]

MOTHERFUCKER!

[Rich]

Exactly.

[Pip]

I knew because I have it too.

[rac3rx]

OH ME TOO!

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

BOB SAGET!!!! SHIIIITTT!

[rts]

B.C. man shot by RCMP testifies in officer's trial

"I made sure, I made bloody sure, that he knew that I had nothing in my hands," said Gillespie [the victim].

[Generic Stranger]

I take it that The Jacket is not standard issue to all Gillespies. I heard that thing is made out of minotaur hide and is bulletproof.

[Fist of Etiquette]

When Galaz learned Lerma was suffering from a seizure she says police should've known that. "They should first investigate what's wrong with a person because he could've died after all shocks they gave him."

Or maybe it could have cured him. Don't be so close-minded toward alternative treatments.

[Randian]

With rough weather in the forecast, President Obama's Thursday speech accepting the Democratic nomination will be moved from a 74,000-seat outdoor football stadium to a 20,000-seat arena.

I hate to format it this way, but BULL. SHIT.

When they made the announcement yesterday, the forecast was a 20% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Today it was revised to 40%, still mainly in the afternoon, not the evening.

Ben LaBolt said that Obama was going to do the speech in BofA stadium "rain or shine".

I don't want to be one of those raving types, but don't repeat the lies.

[John]

There is a chance of showers pretty much every day from April to October in Charlotte. Now the chance of rain cancels this?

[Randian]

It's such a transparent load of crap.

The word was out yesterday that the DNC was worried about the optics of empty seats during tomorrow's speech. Yesterday, as I said, there was a 20% chance of rain forecast for tomorrow.

And yet I keep hearing the radio, television, and print news repeat this facially laughable claim that the weather forecast is what drove the speech indoors.

[John]

I don't blame the DNC for spinning it. That is what they do. But for the media to just repeat something that is such a blatant lie is pretty pathetic.

[Randian]

Seriously, I knew that the media were bad, but I didn't know that something that was so very obviously a lie would just be parroted as truth.

Gross. Just gross.

[Episiarch]

Uh...we've known them to parrot drug war lies, Iraq war lies, economic lies, you name it.

There's no surprise here whatsoever.

[Randian]

Still, when you're lying about the weather forecast...that just feels like a whole new low.

[Fatty Bolger]

A new low? Dude. For the MSM, there is no issue too insignificant to obviate going DEFCON 1 when Obama is threatened with embarrassment.

[Juice]

Obviously there are 30,000 to 40,000 angry and disappointed people that won't be able to fit into the new venue.

[Randian]

Excellent point. How are you going to convince those people* that they won't be part of the 20,000 allowed inside?

* people probably don't actually exist, mind.

[John]

I bet they had more than 20,000 lined up. They just couldn't fill the stadium. But it is not like those black church goers who were bused down and are now going to be told too bad are going to vote for Romney. So too bad I guess.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

And yet I keep hearing the radio, television, and print news repeat this facially laughable claim that the weather forecast is what drove the speech indoors.

Reminds me of those pro wrestling promotions that put all their fans on one side of the arena for TV tapings when their businesses were dying out in the late 80s/ early 90s.

That the Obama administration has sunk to this level is just embarrassing.

[RedDragon6009]

Can't they just have Elizabeth Warren do some sort of reverse-rain-dance and make it go away?

[Rich]

!TSICAR

[Pro Libertate]

So, either God hates Obama, or nobody wants to see a sitting president.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

I sense you doubt the purported reason for the change, Randian.

[Randian]

Just a skosh.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

+1 internet for using the word "skosh"!

[Randian]

thank you kind sir.

[NoVAHockey]

You need a ticket to get in right? how many tickets were issued? who doesn't get to go now that they've moved it to a smaller venue?

[Brett L]

Sympathies to all my Tico friends. I'll be down to stimulate the economy once y'all get cleaned up. How the shit you've only got one fatality so far, I don't know.

[Caleb Turberville]

Gran Torino is the movie I thought Hollywood was afraid to make.

[John]

I loved that movie. And Hollywood hated it. They gave the Oscar to fucking Slumdog Millionaire that year. Does anyone even watch that movie now?

[Randian]

Slumdog Millionaire was fine for what it was, but I had seen Bollywood movies before, so I didn't get the hullabaloo.

[John]

It was okay. But how it won an Oscar is beyond me.

[Pip]

I liked the film and have seen it a few times. Oscar worthy? Not so sure, but them Indian women are hot!

[Joe R.]

There are no average looking Indian women. They are either incredibly hot, or look like Indian men.

[Cdr Lytton]

Ding ding ding!

[JW]

One my favs as well. I showed it to the boy, 12, who loved it as well. I had to explain a few of the more colorful metaphors, but it was instructive for him to see some kind of representation of that generation, since none the men of that age are around in our families.

[John]

Sadly when I get old, I won't be up to being Clint in Grand Torino. I will have to settle for being Walter Slobcheck.

[Episiarch]

So you're going to be John Milius? I can think of worse things to be.

[John]

True. Sadly my wife will probably stop me from buying enough guns or pairs of sunglasses.

[JW]

I never knew the character was based on him.

[Episiarch]

Well, now you do. Maybe a revisit of the movie with your son is in order. He can learn that the Dude abides, and that rugs really tie rooms together.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Fucking dipshit with a nine-toed woman.

[SugarFree]

Rumor has it, Milius was so mad at the portrayal, he didn't speak to the Coens for a period of time. You don't get mad unless it's pretty accurate.

[T]

I dunno. I'd get mad if somebody portrayed me as a serial killer, and that's not remotely accurate.

[Brett L]

The good news is we can fix the power converter on the space station with some grease and a toothbrush. The bad news is we don't have any spare toothbrushes, so draw lots.

[Pro Libertate]

But I was going into Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!

[Brett L]

You can bullseye wamp rats later, kid.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

You can waste time with your friends when your chores are done.

[Pro Libertate]

I hate you! I hope some stormtroopers come and burn the flesh off of you!

[Fluffy]

Damn, that's so much better than Luke's actual reaction that I think you have a future in screenwriting.

[Pro Libertate]

His guilt for saying that drives him to abandon everything and learn the ways of the Force, like his father.

[A Serious Man]

The fact that Uncle Owen thinks going to Tosche Station to buy power converters is wasting time with friends leads me to conclude that Tosche Station is a brothel and "power convertors" = prostitutes.

[Caleb Turberville]

...or that George Lucas is a poor writer.

[Episiarch]

And we have a winner!

[Pro Libertate]

Or both. Definitely the one you said.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

The deleted scences.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki.....A_New_Hope

[Heroic Mulatto]

Camie Loneozner was hot.

Which is why Lucas had to cut her scenes, of course.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I didn't know she was played by Koo Stark. Yes she was hot.

[A Serious Man]

Students in Denver forbidden to wear Peyton Manning jerseys because 18 is considered a gang symbol.

[Auric Demonocles]

Damn. Beaten to it.

[Pro Libertate]

That's funny, because wearing a Tebow jersey was a protected expression of religious belief.

[John]

Damn straight it is.

[Episiarch]

Too bad Timmy couldn't pull it together for the Jets against, well, anyone in preseason.

[John]

I hate Florida football and couldn't stand Tebow as a college player. But I now root for Tebow more than any other NFL player for the single reason of wanting to see the ESPN talking heads look like asses.

[Episiarch]

I enjoy upsets and crazy, impossible plays so if Timmy wants to give me that, I'll take it. But it's not looking so good. I mean, when the Seahawks win all their preseason games, and Timmy wins none...that's not good.

[Randian]

Preseason does not now nor has it ever mattered.

Example #1: the Redskins always do well in preseason.

[John]

I am not positive about Timmy. But I can still dream of getting to watch Merrill Hodge have to eat shit on national TV as Timmy leads the Jets all the way.

[Pro Libertate]

Silly, God doesn't watch preseason games.

[Episiarch]

No, but the coaches do in deciding who plays.

And if Carroll doesn't use Russell Wilson, he's fucking retarded.

[Fluffy]

I just want to see the Jets and Ryan suffer.

A QB controversy helps that.

More suffering. MORE! MORE! STILL MORE!

[Brett L]

Fuck it. I hate the Jets worse. They need to have a Detroit/Tampa Bay level run of suckitude with Sanchez and Tebow being equally responsible.

[Episiarch]

The Jets are the Mets of football. They're the other NY team, the shitty one that no one cares about. They're to be pitied and mostly ignored, not hated.

[Killazontherun]

Why don't they just give the team to New Jersey? Even their bard celebrates being a loser as his main schtick.

[Episiarch]

The Giants already play in Jersey. No, it would be too confusing. They should give them to Connecticut. Now that would be retarded. It would be like the Whalers days!

[Whahappan?]

Uh, the Jets play in the same stadium. Have for years.

[mad libertarian guy]

Unless you're a Dolphins fan. There is an unlimited amount of hate for the Jets.

[Brett L]

Once ESPN starts treating them that way, I will, too. I swear to FSM they spent so much time this preseason talking about the Jets, I thought Jerry Jones was gonna file for breach of contract. He's supposed to have the mediocre team ESPN spends all preseason fellating.

[Killazontherun]

Jimmy Clausen even looked better than Tebow. Actually, JC's stats were straight up decent. Two TD drives the last game.

[A Serious Man]

It certainly requires faith to think he'll ever lead a team to a Super Bowl.

[Pro Libertate]

Trent Dilfer did it.

[A Serious Man]

Dilfer wasn't a bad QB, he just wasn't great. He was adequate enough so that a team with the Baltimore defense could win. Don't see Tebow doing that since he only seems to show up in the 4th quarter.

[Pro Libertate]

I'm quite disappointed Denver didn't stick with him and go whole-hog with a power running attack. Would've been interesting, especially if their defense moved up a notch.

[Red Rocks Rockin]

I'm quite disappointed Denver didn't stick with him and go whole-hog with a power running attack

I would have loved to have seen Denver bring back the single-wing with him. Get a few backup fullbacks and TEs that will block their ass off and catch a few passes, with the occasional slant, post, or RB swing pass to keep the defense honest.

It probably wouldn't work for very long, but I find the spread to be tedious and anything that's different from it I consider to be a welcome change.

[Pro Libertate]

With defenses in the NFL being weaker than ever (partially due to offense-favoring rules), I think there's a real opportunity for a power offense. Maybe not a complete throwback--the play-action is too lethal for a strong running attack to completely abandon--but something in that direction.

I also think we'll see some re-emphasis on defense again, particularly on pass-rushing.

[Virginian]

^This. Why have the Giants won two Super Bowls? Because it's all about having a great QB, and your defense has to be able to shake up the opponent's QB. Everything else is secondary really. OLine, QB, DLine and LBs....forget the run, forget the secondary. Keep your good QB up for that five seconds, and get theirs down on the ground in fewer.

[Ted S.]

The Packers had three FBs on their roster in 2010, and five TEs in 2011.

[Rich]

A spokesperson for Weld County District Six explained the policy has been around for more than three years and applies to the numbers 13, 14,18, 31, 41 and 81.

I suppose District Six has rather contrived math problems.

[A Serious Man]

4 8 15 16 23 42

[Rich]

"Stop saying the number!"

[Dr. Frankenstein]

So 4 and 20 are o.k.

[Pip]

Where the fuck is 40 and 8???

[Caleb Turberville]

Libertarian blog aggregates evening links.

[rac3rx]

They really have done a stellar job of fucking up this site, haven't they?

[Killazontherun]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/05/.....?hpt=hp_c1

Meanwhile, the jobs that have come back aren't the same ones that were lost.

According to a study released last week by the liberal-leaning National Employment Law Project, low-wage fields such as retail sales and food service are adding jobs nearly three times as fast as higher-paid occupations.

What did the leftist punditry use to call those? Mick . . er . . Macsomething? Been almost four years since I've seen the word in print, help me out here. Funny how certain words disappear completely from the lexicon when those words become inconvenient for the partisan's side.

[Almanian's Evil Twin]

McAsshole

Wait, no - that was a guy I worked with.

Mc...Mac....Mc....can't remember....

[Randian]

McDreamy, that's what.

[Palin's Buttplug]

McJobs.

After Reagan classified fast-food assembly as a manufacturing job to boost his numbers.

[John]

And we all know that Obama's economy is so much better than Reagans.

[Killazontherun]

Lol! As if the numbers needed any messaging during the 80's. What a great time to be young and looking into career paths that was. I don't envy those coming out of high school and college today with the abysmal Obama economy weighing on their backs. We had it lucky.

[Pip]

"President Obama's Thursday speech accepting the Democratic nomination will be moved from a 74,000-seat outdoor football stadium to a 20,000-seat arena."

That 74,000-seat outdoor football stadium? You didn't fill that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zdyo4vJuCU

[Randian]

Obama's Thursday address at Bank of America Stadium will go on "rain or shine," campaign manager Jim Messina said Tuesday ? at least as long as it doesn't pose a safety hazard.

Link.

[Pip]

That's why I thought of Spinal tap. Obama did Pepsi Field with huge greek columns. Now, not so much. His presidency is a lot like This is Spinaltap.

[T]

There was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf.

Replace Stonehenge monument with American economy, and there you are.

[A Serious Man]

This is interesting, the literal enslavement of one nation by a group of others: EU says Greeks should work six-day weeks in exchange for bailout.

[John]

At some point you own the bank. If the Greeks say no and threaten default, what is the EU going to do about it?

[CuriousGeorge]

uhhh go bankrupt and stop lending them money

[Auric Demonocles]

Requiring labor in exchange for money sounds more like employment than slavery.

[A Serious Man]

Yes, but as John said above how do you make this work? Are they going to bully the Greek government into enacting laws that force people to work six days?

[RedDragon6009]

Are they going to bully the Greek government into enacting laws that force people to work six days?

Sanctions damn it! Sanctions!

[Somalian Road Corporation]

"The paper printed the following extract from the letter: "Increase the number of maximum workdays to six days per week for all sectors. Increase flexibility of work schedules; set the minimum daily rest to 11 hours; delink the working hours of employees from the opening hours of the establishment; eliminate restrictions on minimum/maximum time between morning and afternoon shifts; allow the consecutive two-week leave to be taken anytime during the year in seasonal sectors."

I like the "delink the working hours of employees from the opening hours of the establishment" part. It's so cruel and oppressive to force employees to show up to work when the business is actually open and requires them.

[Fluffy]

This sounds to me like they aren't requiring 6 day work weeks, but requiring Greece to lift their current ban on 6 day work weeks. As part of a wider set of changes.

For example, "delink the working hours of employees from the opening hours of the establishment" sounds to me like Greece currently has a law preventing employers from requiring workers to come in before the store is actually open, and the EU wants them to end that foolishness.

[Caleb Turberville]

Ray Comfort vs. Bill Nye

[Heroic Mulatto]

"To use the word 'evolution' and the word 'science' in the same sentence is the ultimate oxymoron," said Comfort. "There's nothing scientific about a theory that is based on blind faith."

Wow. Project much, Comfort?

[Killazontherun]

Yeah, but even if Nye got it one hundred percent right (he doesn't, there are places where he makes the layman mistake of confusing evolution with a socio-progressive ideology relying on 'inevitability' every bit as much as Calvinist do on fate. Adaptation is adaptation, there is no forward path), he would still come across as a jack ass in that video. I realize people of a certain age are fond of the guy, but I've personally never liked him at all. Too glib to be an advocate for science education. Now, Sagan, there was a giant amongst men!

[Heroic Mulatto]

Well, yes, Nye is a jackass for believing that all children should be taught the same things in the same way. But public education and public t.v. are his bread and butter. So, I'm not hating the player, just the game.

[BigT]

Nye is a warmest. F him!

[The Bearded Hobbit]

What, no love for Mr. Wizard?

... Hobbit

[Brett L]

Stop the presses! CNN fact-checks administration claim, finds it wanting!

Instead, CNN found that there has been a net increase of just 300,000 nonfarm payroll jobs since Obama took office. And if you count government jobs, there are actually 400,000 fewer people working today than in January 2009.

When Democrats use the 4.5 million jobs number, they're referring to jobs created after the economy bottomed out in January 2010, one year after Obama took office.

[Pro Libertate]

Not just dishonest, but dishonest in ways that can be easily checked.

[Episiarch]

Because it's all about lying to those who won't bother to check.

[Brett L]

So I can start measuring my average productivity this year against my least productive day ever to justify my raise, right? No matter what the net change in work done per unit time is.

[Episiarch]

If your boss won't check...yes.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Yeah, the financial disaster of 2008 and ensuing short depression should be counted against Obama - I agree.

They should say "4.5 million jobs created AFTER the Bush depression ended" to be wholly truthful.

[Randian]

The depression never ended. There was no recovery.

[Pip]

Yeah, the financial disaster of 2008 and ensuing short depression should be counted against then US Senator Obama - I agree.

Seconded.

[RedDragon6009]

Wow, CNN's not carrying water for Obama? Did their bucket spring a leak?

[Brett L]

Shit, if you're going to come in 2nd behind MSNBC in networks that worship Democrats, why not change your strategy?

[A Serious Man]

Cuba provides a shining example of economic patriotism by slapping a customs tax on everyday goods shipped from overseas. This is likely to result in a drastic drop in consumption and living standards.

[John]

How can a shithole like Cuba have a drastic drop in living standards? Don't you have to have a standard to begin with before you have a drastic drop?

[Randian]

I am thinking Haiti is a good example.

[John]

I would like to think that that would cause the people of Cuba to finally do something about the place. But they haven't before.

[A Serious Man]

One thing I've always wondered is that despite being on the same island, Haiti doesn't produce nearly as many ballplayers as the Dominican Republic.

[RedDragon6009]

One thing I've always wondered is that despite being on the same island, Haiti doesn't produce nearly as many ballplayers as the Dominican Republic.

Maybe that's because they don't have any trees to make bats. Have you ever seen a satellite image of the island? The border between the two countries is painfully obvious due to the complete deforestation of Haiti.

[John]

Because Haiti is French and French don't play baseball. There are not any players from French Guiana either

[RedDragon6009]

Are they big on cricket?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Wait, you just asked if a Francophone country was big on cricket, the most English of games?

You, sir, shall be horsewhipped until you are unconscious, for you do not deserve to be dueled for clearly you are no gentlemen, but a rogue and a villian.

[T]

Someday, you should remind one of us to explain the concept of a joke to you.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I'm 1/2 West Indian. Cricket is serious business.

Now stand aside before you taste the lash as well!

[Restoras]

Cuba is a paradise. Just ask Tony. Healthcare, educations, enough to eat - what more could you want?

[John Thacker]

Watch the video, then guess who spent 4 months in jail? The kid who got pistol whipped (with the gun going off) by the person who approached him from behind, not the assailant, of course. The assailant was a cop.

The kid was hit for leaving a convenience store after his friend was arrested for being suspicious by wearing a sky mask in February. The cops apparently got this video two days after the arrest, but didn't free the kid. The only good news is that the cop perp is now facing assault charges, and the county is facing a big civil lawsuit.

Prince George's County, of course. PGC is crazy.

[Coeus]

The only good news is that the cop perp is now facing assault charges, and the county is facing a big civil lawsuit.

And it never would have even come to light with out the video.

[John]

That is where they shot the town mayor's dog and terrorized his wife and mother in law.

[Pip]

"wearing a sky mask"

Made in Russia as opposed to Poland?

[JW]

That's my old county for ya. Makes me proud.

I ask again, has there EVER been a case where the tape backed up the cop's story?

[Coeus]

It happens a good bit. The thing is, you expect the criminals to lie. No one says "You should always trust and cooperate with criminals".

[JW]

Cite please.

[Coeus]

Here's one.

[JW]

They were bound to eventually come into contact with someone as dishonest as your average cop.

[John Thacker]

Sure. All the ones that aren't mysteriously erased or lost back up the cops.

[A Serious Man]

This convicted wife murderer's prison sex change operation?You did build that!

[Rich]

Discussed in AM links.

S/he looks like the love child of Ozzy Osbourne and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

[RedDragon6009]

Who looks better, Robert/Michelle Kosilek or Larry/Lana Wachowski?

[JW]

Jebus. Wachowski is one ugly broad.

I'm still trying to understand why people who claim to be the opposite sex, in the absence of any hermaphroditism or other genetic disorders, aren't considered barking nuts.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

I knew a guy who was going thru a sex change so that he could become a lesbian. That's when I realized that it's a fad/culture thing.

... Hobbit

[Coeus]

Amazingly, even regular Huffpo posters have a level of bullshit they won't tolerate:

Is the U.S. Better on Gender-based Violence Abroad Than at Home?

[Caleb Turberville]

Real Time with Bill Maher pulls in record viewers amid the conventions.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Best political talk show ever.

Last week had two ultra deep-fried conservatives on - Jack Kingston was one of them.

[Randian]

"[George W. Bush jokes] are now the jokes that stupid people laugh at"

Christopher Hitches on Maher's show.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Hitchens was great. He wrapped himself into a knot trying to defend the Iraq War but he was all class. Then he voted for and supported Obama.

Of course I despised the Iraq War and barely remember the Vietnam War rancor which was far hotter.

[Somalian Road Corporation]

I'd like to point out that he said that... in 2006.

[John]

The Obama campaign rolled out the red carpet this week for a former top Energy Department official who was at the center of the ill-fated government loan to Solyndra, a California solar panel firm that wound up in bankruptcy.

Steven J. Spinner joined other top fundraisers for a VIP tour of the Democratic National Convention floor in Charlotte Monday evening, posing and waving for a photographer while standing behind the podium. When he saw ABC News cameras, however, he ran for the exit.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/.....Ee-d6DdkVi

[Rich]

The page seems to have run for the exit, too.

[John]

It is the damn Reason filter. Go to the Drudge Report and it is the top left link.

[NoVAHockey]

Cherokee NC says hi to Warren.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....e=youtu.be

[Restoras]

Hi? Not "how"?

[Coeus]

Presenting:

Sheila Jackson Lee's Greatest Hits.

A few choice ones:

The Hill reported that the newly-elected congresswoman asked NASA officials whether the Mars Pathfinder photographed the American flag astronaut Neil Armstrong had planted on the surface of Mars. When it was pointed out that the flag in question was on the moon, not Mars, Jackson Lee cited bigotry. "You thought you could have fun with a black woman member of the Science Committee," her then chief of staff wrote in a letter to the editor.

And this one:

Staffers describe Jackson Lee as a hoarder. For example, she keeps over twenty boxes of the book "Black Americans in Congress" in her office, hundreds of copies in all. From time to time, she adds new copies of the same book to her collection.

And one more:

Not surprisingly, Jackson Lee has one of the highest staff turnover rates in Washington. Over the last ten years, at least 39 staffers have left within one year.

[John]

You missed the good ones

Only a few on staff fought back. One of Jackson Lee's drivers became so frustrated with her abuse the person pulled the car over and demand she stop: "She's screaming and swearing. 'M.F.' everything. Finally I slammed on the brakes and told her to get the hell out of my car. I'm like 'I can't drive with you like this. Either get out, or you can calm down.' And she's like 'you need to go or get fired.' I'm like, 'that's fine. But I'm either leaving without you or you can calm down,'" the staffer said.

Later that day, a skinny young black man with his hair pulled back in a ponytail walked into Miller's office and asked Stephens for a favor. Could he borrow a knife to cut a birthday cake?

Stephens, who'd seen the man working in Jackson Lee's office, was happy to help, with only the request to "make sure you bring it back, that's our only one."

He laughed. "We would never leave a knife around when the congresswoman was here," he said. As Stephens put it, "that's when it all clicked that they are really afraid of her."

[Coeus]

The article left some out as well. Here's a bonus:

"Today, we have two Vietnams, side by side, North and South, exchanging and working. We may not agree with all that North Vietnam is doing, but they are living in peace. I would look for a better human rights record for North Vietnam, but they are living side by side."

[Trespassers W]

Um. What?

Unfortunately, she may not be the dumbest one of them.

[Pip]

"When it was pointed out that the flag in question was on the moon, not Mars, Jackson Lee cited bigotry. "You thought you could have fun with a black woman member of the Science Committee,""

O. M. F. G!

[Pro Libertate]

That's right, Neil Armstrong was a racist for not placing the flag in Martian soil.

[Palin's Buttplug]

SJL is a complete moron but at least 1/4 the House is.

Louis Gohmert is her GOP moron counterpart.

[rac3rx]

You'd like to think so, except nobody comes close to this twit.

[T]

Don't remind me. I'm probably moving into her district.

[Coeus]

They redistricted. I have no idea if I'm in it now, but I hope so. Good motivation to get my ass to the polls.

[BarryD]

Does the arena's marquee say:

Puppet Show
Spinal Tap
and
President Obama

??

[Pip]

Most likely.

[Coeus]

Whole lotta what tha fuck in here:

Witness of Detroit Princess shooting wakes up to burning cars

Richard was not on the cruise, but went to pick up her sister, who called for a ride after a fight broke out on the boat. A man involved in the fight was Michael Thomas. Shortly after, he allegedly ordered his wife, Latoiya Mitchell, to shoot into the crowd.

She allegedly did, striking six people - including Richard's sister and other family members. So Richard grabbed her registered gun and fired back, protecting her family. She struck Thomas in the back.

The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office still has not issued any charges, despite dozens of witnesses identifying the alleged shooter. There is even video, phone records, and 911 calls.

[Christina]

You left out the best part.

We've learned the prosecuting office is even asking police to submit a warrant request for Ladon Richard herself.

So the person who allegedly shot first has not been arrested, despite tons of witnesses and video. But the woman who fired back in defense will be. Awesome work on the part of the Prosecutor's Office!

[Coeus]

Yup. There is some seriously shady shit going down there.

[Coeus]

So, we're sure it's republicans who want to "redefine rape", right?

My 'Diet Caffeine-Free Rape'

I never said, "No, no, no." When I'd cry ? almost every time we had sex ? he asked if he should keep going. Keep going, I'd say. Just finish. And he would. He could.

whohainthewhatnow?

[Xenocles]

Would it be too much to suggest that that is not a "legitimate rape?"

When we had sex every other time, it hurt. But I had no way to describe what was happening in the dark, no way to talk about it, no language to explain.

How about "Hey, this hurts?" I mean, I'm not a woman so maybe I don't know, but they know how to say that, right? It's not like my wife has trouble telling me when she's uncomfortable during the act. She tells me and we change it up.

[Xenocles]

Though to be fair it is more than a little questionable to wake someone up with penetration.

[Coeus]

Though to be fair it is more than a little questionable to wake someone up with penetration.

Sure, if you're sharing a bed with a friend in a motel room. Established relationship, not so much.

[Xenocles]

I'd only do it if we had talked about it several times before - she didn't mention having done so with her boyfriend.

[Coeus]

Why several?

[Xenocles]

To be sure. I'm sensitive to these issues, so I'd want to be sure. Several times might not be necessary for you but I'd seriously question an assertion that it's just understood in a relationship that you can penetrate your partner while (s)he sleeps.

[Coeus]

To be sure. I'm sensitive to these issues, so I'd want to be sure.

Whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable, I guess.

Several times might not be necessary for you but I'd seriously question an assertion that it's just understood in a relationship that you can penetrate your partner while (s)he sleeps.

For clarity, I mean not just a relationship, but a long-term sexual relationship.If you're in a long term relationship and you haven't had a few marathon sex sessions where you lightly nap in between orgasms and whoever wakes up first initiates, I feel sorry for you.

Maybe it's different for me cause I've been known to occasionally initiate sex while I'm asleep, and I always alert a bed mate to the possibility. Maybe, but I doubt it, since all the couples I've known (known well, that is, I wouldn't have a clue otherwise) do this.

Tell you what, next time I'm drinking in a group, I'll float the question as to whether anyone had a specific conversation about it.

[Fluffy]

What she means by that is "I couldn't think of a way to decline to have sex but still remain in my relationship, and I was too cowardly and neurotic to stand up for myself if it meant I might be single, but even though I made that choice for myself based on my own private cost-benefit analysis, I was raped, donchaknow."

[Xenocles]

That's what I took from it.

[Christina]

Yes. But here's the real problem: women are not supposed to be assertive. We are supposed to smile and nod and then talk shit after the fact. This is how we are to behave with men AND women. If we truly have a major problem, we are not supposed to stand up for ourselves, we are supposed to appeal to an authority figure to intervene. Even I, the mouthy bitch that I am, had a hard time fighting off the drunken advances of a supposed friend of mine, because I didn't want to make him feel bad. I was only saved by another male friend who intervened before shit got too hectic. How fucked up is that?

[Xenocles]

"Supposed" by whom?

I mean, there's no question the guy was a total asshole just for the cheating and the not stopping to figure out what was wrong, and he probably was a rapist for the sleeping thing (not enough detail given to determine). But the entire underpinning of feminism - with which I've come to agree - is that women aren't these delicate flowers who need male protection. People like the author of that article seem to want it both ways.

[Coeus]

People like the author of that article seem to want it both ways.

You've just summed up all of modern feminism.

[Christina]

Supposed by me, until he decided to pin me to a couch and have his way. It took much crying on my part in the days following for me to realize he never considered me a friend.

And women do need protection. We are smaller, weaker, and slower. Those are undeniable facts that are unchanged by the advances of the feminist movement. One time I punched my husband as hard as I could in the jaw. It hurt him. He complained. I didn't even leave a visible bruise. One time he accidentally stepped on my foot. He broke my toe. You may have heard that domestic violence initiated by women is on the rise. But the result of that is not more men calling 911. They just retaliate and women still bear the lion's share of injuries.

To me the epitome of the state of women in America is embodied by Skyler White in Breaking Bad. Every episode my husband chuckles when I inevitably say, "you go girl!" I know she is reviled by male fans of the show, but she does what most women, including probably me, would do in her situation. She goes along with Walter only insofar as she has to, and she punishes him only in very passive-aggressive ways.

Now the solution to this seemingly intractable dilemma is beyond me. Sure, I think women should stand up for themselves, but I also know that women respond to incentives, and until women stop getting punished for being assertive, they'll carry on by being passive-aggressive.

[Coeus]

And women do need protection. We are smaller, weaker, and slower.

So are many men. They've managed to survive without special rules just for them, and so can women. A guy your size (and whatever your size is, I guarantee they exist), would simply not have punched a man your husband's size in the jaw. Is it too much of an imposition to ask women to do the same? If so, why?

[Christina]

Jesus Christ.

What special rule have I advocated? I am making the point that women are passive-aggressive for very good reasons. Many of us recognize that is a subpar situation. We would like to stand up for ourselves. But when push comes to shove, literally, we cannot defend ourselves adequately. Obviously hitting my husband was a boneheaded move. I wasn't hurt in retaliation simply because he made a decision to not hurt me. He's a good guy. But there are plenty of douchebags who don't give a fuck.

[Coeus]

What special rule have I advocated?

Protection requires a different set of standards in regards to the protectee, does it not?

[Christina]

Not necessarily. I'm not advocating affirmative action. I'm merely saying that women are at a physical disadvantage that no amount of political rallies or legislation will solve. It takes each man actively deciding that fucking his girlfriend while she cries is pretty messed up. No, it's not rape. But it is creepy and insensitive to say the least. My hope is that persuasion and social pressure can convince more men to be empathetic toward women. I'd say the trend so far is good.

[Coeus]

My hope is that persuasion and social pressure can convince more men to be empathetic toward women. I'd say the trend so far is good.

And I'd say that it's currently experiencing a major backlash. Too many guys have seen how the opposite behavior is rewarded by the same women preaching it. The guy in the story was cheating on her as well. Most of the guys who internalize the empathy bullshit are lucky to get a girlfriend at all, much less multiple mates. Feminism, for better or worse, is going to end up with women adapting to the male way or going back to the kitchen. My generation has seen nothing but unearned advantages and accommodations given to women for no reason. As far as we're concerned, the playing field was level when we were born. We're not changing any more, and actively looking to back off some of the more bullshit "social justice" leveling that's been done in our lifetimes.

[Christina]

Most of the guys who internalize the empathy bullshit are lucky to get a girlfriend at all, much less multiple mates.

Empathy is the cornerstone of civilization as a whole and libertarianism in particular. If you think taking others' feelings into account (empathy) is bullshit then you likely have no qualms with using force and fraud as means to your own ends. To the extent that we have a 'high-trust' society is the extent to which we think to ourselves, "I'm not going to hurt that guy, because I would hate if something like that happened to me."

My generation has seen nothing but unearned advantages and accommodations given to women for no reason. As far as we're concerned, the playing field was level when we were born. We're not changing any more, and actively looking to back off some of the more bullshit "social justice" leveling that's been done in our lifetimes.

I don't know what generation you are a part of, but I straddle Generation X and the Millenial Generation. I'm not seeing that at all. Sure, there is a backlash against Affirmative Action measures, but there isn't a movement to eliminate women's suffrage, or property rights, or to chase us out of the workplace. And men are still changing. They increasingly change diapers and mind their kids. They cook and do other household cleaning chores. Their wives have equal access to communal assets. I'm not seeing a rollback.

[Coeus]

Empathy is the cornerstone of civilization as a whole and libertarianism in particular. If you think taking others' feelings into account (empathy) is bullshit then you likely have no qualms with using force and fraud as means to your own ends.

You're speaking of normal empathy. Feminism preaches empathy to the levels where it's supposed to be your dominant driving principal. Sorry, but my feelings are important as well.

I'm not seeing that at all. Sure, there is a backlash against Affirmative Action measures, but there isn't a movement to eliminate women's suffrage, or property rights, or to chase us out of the workplace.

The fact that you don't actually know of the things I'm speaking of tells me a lot. I'm not talking about eliminating suffrage or property rights, or chasing women out of the workplace.

I'm talking about rolling back men getting chased out of the workplace for perfectly normal conversation between them that happens to be overheard by a grievance monster.

I'm talking about rolling back the bullshit unconstitutional "only in rape trials" rules we've instituted, as well as the bullshit kangaroo college courts.

I'm talking about the worst parts of VAWA and IMBRA, and the fact that I can't legally carry a gun if a woman just decides to call the cops, and, with no proof, says I'm violent.

I'm talking about debtors prisons for child support and the complete lack of male reproductive rights.

[Xenocles]

I'm not even talking about physical violence. Her problem had physical elements, but it was at its root an emotional one. And when it comes to emotional matters, women have no excuse to assume a weak role.

I guess I just take Q's attitude when it comes to the world:

If you can't take a little [figurative] bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home, and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here! It's wondrous...with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross; but it's not for the timid.

As I said, my main complaint is about wanting it both ways. If women want equality, it starts with standing up for themselves.

[Christina]

Holy crap guys, are you really so clueless about women? Do you think that physical punishment is all we fear? Sure, that girl in the story was a weak-minded,neurotic fool. Undoubtedly she went along with the sex because she didn't want her boyfriend to dump her. She sucks. We all agree.

BUT, let's not forget that women are routinely punished for being assertive. I work with a woman who is very capable, competent, assertive, blah, blah, blah. She's in her 60s and, surprise, has never been married. And everyone at work hates her guts. I've had several men tell me she's a nasty bitch. You know why? Because she doesn't tolerate bullshit. She does her work and expects others to do the same. We get along well because I'm not a fuck up. But she is certainly not being rewarded for standing up for herself. Now, AFAIK, she doesn't give a shit about the fact that everyone hates her. But she is the exception that proves the rule. All the other women I work with are just as bitchy as she is, but we all do the smile-nod-talk shit routine because we fear being social outcasts.

[Coeus]

And everyone at work hates her guts. I've had several men tell me she's a nasty bitch. You know why? Because she doesn't tolerate bullshit. She does her work and expects others to do the same.

I've had a few bosses like that as well. Both were men. Everyone called them assholes. Are you really so clueless about men?

This is a common sentiment I see all the time. "Women are punished for acting as assertive as men". I don't see it. Nobody likes a tough boss. The only difference is in the sexual sphere. Men don't give her negative sexual value for assertiveness, it's a null. Rockin tits are rockin tits, regardless of how assertive the person attached to them is.

Being rewarded with sex versus not being rewarded does not a punishment make. When men say shit like that, they are rightly derided.

[Christina]

She's not a boss. She was forced out of her supervisory position for being assertive and pissing people off. She's just a no-bullshit kind of person. I work with men like that too, and only the biggest fuck-ups call them assholes. They are all supervisors. So yeah, there's a bit of disparity there.

Sure, everyone has to play the game to get ahead. But for a woman that game is more about using sexual attraction to manipulate in a passive-aggressive manner. Being straightforwardly assertive is frowned upon. There are more negative repercussions than positive ones.

I thought libertarians understand that there are both tangible and intangible incentives that drive human behavior. Losing out on sex/affection/friendship is a punishment for women. You may not think it is, because you personally wouldn't care, but women care.

The biggest mistake the feminist movement made is adopting the fallacy that women have to be more masculine in thought and deed to be considered equal. Women are fundamentally different from men, but that doesn't make us inferior humans. It makes us complementary.

[Coeus]

She's just a no-bullshit kind of person. I work with men like that too, and only the biggest fuck-ups call them assholes. They are all supervisors. So yeah, there's a bit of disparity there.

My work experience is different. Almost everyone calls them assholes. We're just gonna have to agree to disagree here.

Sure, everyone has to play the game to get ahead. But for a woman that game is more about using sexual attraction to manipulate in a passive-aggressive manner.

You've identified a tool for success that men don't posess and labeled it a deficiency. That's warped.

Losing out on sex/affection/friendship is a punishment for women. You may not think it is, because you personally wouldn't care, but women care.

Of course I like sex/affection/friendship. I'm a neurotypical human. If not providing it on demand is punishment, then it needs to be stopped. Can you think of a way to stop it without enslaving people? No one is owed sex/affection/friendship. You have to go out and get it yourself. I actually actively dislike what I have to do to get the sex/affection part regularly, but it is what it is. Bitter teenage (and adult) males are rightly mocked for that attitude. But it's central to the "female assertiveness" conceit. Double standards, much?

[Christina]

You've identified a tool for success that men don't posess and labeled it a deficiency. That's warped.

This conversation began by me saying that women are not as straightforwardly assertive and have to rely on being passive-aggressive, which is, yes, a suboptimal way to operate. Hence the boo-hooing by the author of the piece about the boyfriend who ignored her tears because she said nothing was wrong.

No one is owed sex/affection/friendship. You have to go out and get it yourself. I actually actively dislike what I have to do to get the sex/affection part regularly, but it is what it is.

And the way women "get it" is by behaving in a passive-aggressive fashion. You don't like having to pretend to empathize with women to get laid. I don't like having to pretend men are smarter than me to be liked.

[Coeus]

You don't like having to pretend to empathize with women to get laid. I don't like having to pretend men are smarter than me to be liked.

It's actually quite the opposite. I don't like pretending that I don't have any.

[Coeus]

Yes. But here's the real problem: women are not supposed to be assertive. We are supposed to smile and nod and then talk shit after the fact. This is how we are to behave with men AND women. If we truly have a major problem, we are not supposed to stand up for ourselves, we are supposed to appeal to an authority figure to intervene.

So, is it your contention that only women go to public school? Cause I and all of my friends (male and female) got the same lessons.

Look, many people are not assertive. It's difficult for members of both sexes. The difference is, non-assertive men rarely get laid, while non-assertive women do. That's it. No other difference exists. Non-assertive men and women get less in every other sphere of life than their assertive counterparts. The only difference is that it's not a deficit to women in the sexual sphere, so they don't learn it.

There's no harmful, pervasive social conditioning going on here, there's simply a lack of positive reinforcement for the women.

[Christina]

The difference is, non-assertive men rarely get laid, while non-assertive women do. That's it. No other difference exists.

Oh look, you happened to note the only thing people really care about. All of life is geared towards getting more sex and affection. If you say that non-assertive women are rewarded for it with love/sex then you basically explain why women aren't assertive.

[Coeus]

If you say that non-assertive women are rewarded for it with love/sex then you basically explain why women aren't assertive.

Yes, if I'd said that. But I didn't. There is a difference between being rewarded and merely not being penalized.

[Christina]

Oh, that's why I read so many male commenters here who exclaim about the bitchiness of American women and the preferability of Asian women.

No love = a penalty, especially for women.

[Coeus]

Oh, that's why I read so many male commenters here who exclaim about the bitchiness of American women and the preferability of Asian women.

You're confusing the reason it's said. To be fair, it's not your fault, as many men are not honest when asked to explain.

This goes back the the hypergamy conversation we were having the other day. Many prefer the Asian women due to the fact that they have different sorting criteria than American women. It's closer to the male standard for achievement. Remember, you're dealing with libertarians here. Hard work and professional standing are things they respect and strive for. Asian women are more likely (or are assumed to be more likely) to value those qualities highest in a mate.

This really is the guys fault for the confusion. Guys can mean two separate things when they use the term bitchy. They can mean petty backstabbers, and they can also mean "she doesn't value me as highly as I think she should". I know many assertive women whom no one (except jilted, would-be suitors), consider a bitch.

Now to be honest, there are levels of assertiveness where it can rise to that, but men displaying the same qualities are considered assholes as well.

[Christina]

Many prefer the Asian women due to the fact that they have different sorting criteria than American women. It's closer to the male standard for achievement. Remember, you're dealing with libertarians here. Hard work and professional standing are things they respect and strive for. Asian women are more likely (or are assumed to be more likely) to value those qualities highest in a mate.

Oh, you are so wrong. Women are attracted to power. Hence why so many women get the vapors from a fugly POS like Bill Clinton. A damaged woman needs that power to be lorded over her. She accepts shabby treatment as proof that her mate is powerful. A woman at the opposite end of the spectrum wants to control that power for her own ends. She wants her mate to boss other people around, but defer to her at home. My preference is somewhere in the middle.

My husband has a special bit of contempt for American men who have a preference for Asian women. He calls them pencil-dick losers and says they aren't manly enough to handle American women. I don't know that's necessarily true, but I will say that I never ever hear about how smart or beautiful some guy's Asian wife or girlfriend is. Just that they're great cooks and housekeepers.

[Coeus]

Oh, you are so wrong. Women are attracted to power. Hence why so many women get the vapors from a fugly POS like Bill Clinton.

Sorting criteria. Go re-read that convo we had last week. If it was power, every higher-level officer in the military would have more groupies than George Cloony. It's not the power, it's the popularity. Fame. The president in this country is treated like a rock star. Nobody knows any generals' name but Petreaus. That's the major sorting criteria you've identified here.

My husband has a special bit of contempt for American men who have a preference for Asian women. He calls them pencil-dick losers and says they aren't manly enough to handle American women.

Provided that by "manly" he means "those criteria a woman finds desirable" he's not wrong (well, maybe the "pencil dick" part). I find that knowledge of those criteria to be very useful for social mimicry purposes, but I see adopting it as my own value set to be, frankly, kinda stupid.

"Handling" another person is exactly as easy as that person wants it to be. A guy with few of those qualities found desirable (whatever they may be) says bend over, and the woman laughs at him. A man who excels in those qualities says bend over and the woman bends over. Have you seen the women Vern Troyer (mini-me) gets? You think he's got power? He's got fame, which is increasingly replacing the old, male-value centric female mate selection criteria.

[Christina]

Fame and money are enable power. Fame is only wanted if it makes you powerful. Being notorious and despised conveys no power, unless you are instilling fear, of course. And then you have groupies, precisely because you are so powerful.

"First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the women."

[Christina]

*enable.

[Coeus]

Fame and money are enable power. Fame is only wanted if it makes you powerful. Being notorious and despised conveys no power,

The batman shooter has no power locked in jail, and he has groupies.

What power does mini-me wield? And how does it compare to the power wielded by an officer in the military, who can literary tell people to die for him? You've got it backwards. Power is only important as it enables fame.

"First you get the money, then you get the power, then you get the women."

Different century, different cultural dynamic, different sorting criteria.

"First you get the viral video, then you get the women".

[Christina]

The batman shooter has no power locked in jail, and he has groupies.

What power does mini-me wield? And how does it compare to the power wielded by an officer in the military, who can literary tell people to die for him? You've got it backwards. Power is only important as it enables fame.

You think power = killing people? No, power = getting others to do what you want. Verne Troyer can't order a village to be droned, but he probably can get excellent tables at fancy retaurants. Since most women would rather eat at a nice restaurant than watch a village get blow up, they go for Verne, not a General. But the fact that women universally "love a man in uniform" indicates that some power, any power, is very desirable.

[Coeus]

You think power = killing people? No, power = getting others to do what you want.

We are in agreement here. Which is why i said having people die for you (think James Earl Jones in Conan). And if it was about what the power could do for them, then groupies wouldn't be lining up to blow a rockstar. He ain't taking them to dinner.

[Coeus]

Even I, the mouthy bitch that I am, had a hard time fighting off the drunken advances of a supposed friend of mine, because I didn't want to make him feel bad.

This happens to men as well (though probably not as often). We just don't make a big deal out of it. Almost every male friend I ever asked about this has said he's tossed a few sympathy lays out there. When I ask my female friends the same question, they recoil in disgust (this even includes one who I threw a sympathy lay to). Women simply value their sexuality more than men. No mystery there, as the sexual gatekeepers, it's a source of power for them (see Lysistrata).

[Fluffy]

As long as that woman is in the world, no one is entitled to take umbrage at men who use expressions like "legitimate rape" or "rape-rape".

We plain old linguistically need a way to draw a distinction between, you know, actual legitimate rape and "I repeatedly said Yes to someone I was in a long-term relationship with, but in my head I was trying to send him telepathic messages, so that means I was raped."

[Xenocles]

I know a lot of you don't vote, but are you shitting me?

[Brett L]

Yeah. Are you fucking kidding me? The "marriage problem" is that you married a woman who thinks with her glands. Lots of them don't. (And in fairness, lots of men do, too.)

[Xenocles]

I'm not the type to go all "there ought to be a law" often, but I sort of think what she did should be illegal if it's not. It's certainly grounds for divorce - if you can't trust your wife to mail your ballot not destroy your ballot, what can you trust her with?

[Fatty Bolger]

"It was a real dilemma," says Ms. Pollak, 58 years old, a student in a doctoral program in social welfare who lives in Manhattan. "I decided to do the right thing."

Wow.

[Christina]

Holy crap, that husband got what he deserved. Why? Because he married a woman so stupid and immoral that she,

a) is wasting his money on a doctorate in "social welfare,"

b) thinks one vote matters,

c) and is willing to sacrifice her husband's trust just to suppress a single vote that probably wouldn't be counted anyway!

I can only imagine she sucks a good dick and can hook a steak up. There is no other explanation.

[Coeus]

I can only imagine she sucks a good dick and can hook a steak up. There is no other explanation.

How about "he's not assertive, and she's the best he could do"?

[Christina]

Nice! But I would say he's probably pretty assertive, since he owns a marketing company in Manhattan.

[Coeus]

Good point.

[loving]

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