A.M. Links: Economists Say Sequestration is Unavoidable, Nikki Haley Baffled by D.C.'s Unwillingness To Cut, Beretta May Ditch Maryland Over Gun Laws

• A survey of economists finds that a majority believes sequestration is unavoidable. Americans may just have to bite the bullet and suffer a slightly smaller increase in federal spending than politicians wanted.

• After reporters were ejected from a private meeting between governors and the president, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley emerged to immediately tear into both Obama and Congress for failing to develop a serious plan for cuts in federal spending.
• Beretta's U.S. headquarters is in Maryland, but with the state legislature considering legislation that would make many of the firm's guns illegal for sale to civilians, the company may move its operations elsewhere. The last time Maryland passed gun restrictions, Beretta shifted its warehouse to Virginia.
• A Justice Department official admited to congressional staffers that the Aaron Swartz prosecution was pursued with such fervor, at least in part, to justify targeting the activist.
• Italy's latest election concluded in stalemate, as a center-left coalition took bare control of the lower house and conservatives gained the most seats in the Senate.
• After stepping down, Benedict will be known as "Emeritus Pope," which means he'll probably hang around the place, nagging the new guy.
• Atheists have it rough in many countries, says the International Humanist and Ethical Union. Atheism is illegal in many places and even subject to the death penalty. So, it apparently gets a bit worse than Christmas displays on the courthouse lawn.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

Atheism is illegal in many places and even subject to the death penalty.

WHERE ISN'T YOUR GOD NOW?

[LTC(ret) John]

I'll have you know, that trying to laugh whilst scarfing down scrambled eggs is ... painful.

[Jerry on the boat]

North Korea must be an atheist paradise.

[Tonio]

How very clever and original.

[Tonio]

This is like a statist saying "ROADZ!!1!" and thinking he's said something clever or meaningful.

[LTC(ret) John]

Touched a nerve, did he?

[$park?]

Tonio is very sensitive about his atheism. For some strange reason.

[Way Of The Crane]

Everyone gets defensive when people start poking fun at their religion.

[$park?]

poking fun at their religion

I see you're one of "those" people.

[Way Of The Crane]

If you mean one of "these" people, then yes.

The Holy Colander be with you.

RAmen

[Bobarian]

By "these" people, you mean someone who SF's their link?

[Way Of The Crane]

My humble apologies: FSM be with you.

[Tonio]

Atheism is illegal in many places and even subject to the death penalty.

All that needs to be said.

[Kaptious Kristen]

SOMALIAZ!! Libertopia!!

[Zeb]

Derp.

[Rights-Minimalist Autocrat]

Saudi Arabia must be a theist paradise.

[Tonio]

^This. Excellent Pwnage.

[generic Brand]

That's not a proper contra-positive.

[Zeb]

No, but good parallel absurdity.

[Anonymous Coward]

"Extensive discrimination by governments against atheists, humanists and the non-religious occurs worldwide," said the union, which has 120 member bodies in 45 countries.

Cato has a more robust membership roster than that.

A number of these governments "prosecute people who express their religious doubt or dissent, regardless of whether those dissenters identify as atheist", the IHEU document said.

MartyrdomPimpin' ain't easy.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

But it's necessary.

[Zeb]

Er, I think that "member bodies" means smaller sub-groups, not individual members.

You think it's OK to prosecute people because of what they believe? This seems like a legitimate problem.

[LTC(ret) John]

I think he was making a joke on "martyrdo" what would someone who suffers or dies for unbelief be called, when a religious person would be labeled a martyr?

[Anonymous Coward]

You think it's OK to prosecute people because of what they believe? This seems like a legitimate problem.

Is it too early for humor? Or did I just reach Seth MacFarlane levels of unfunny overnight?

[Zeb]

Probably too early.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Strangely, there is an important adjective missing from these reports; that adjective is "Muslim".

In Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan "atheists can face the death penalty on the grounds of their belief", in violation of UN human rights accords, the IHEU said in a document submitted to the UN human rights council.

There is no government on Earth that imprisions or executes the irreligious, except if that state has a majority Muslim population. There is no Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, or Christian state that imposes the death penalty for "blasphemy" or "apostasy".

Of course, to acknowledge the existence of the 330-pound henna-dyed beard and prayer-cap wearing gorilla will be met with shrill cries of "Islamophic fear-monering". (Hi, Josh!)

This is to be expected, as we have beent told, "the future doesn't belong" to Atheists.

[Chris Mallory]

Of course Reason wants to keep importing them to the United States. Because culture doesn't matter or something.

[Tonio]

Freedom of religion, Christopher. Also, millions of moderate Muslims in Turkey, Albania, and former Yugoslavia.

[Rhywun]

millions of moderate Muslims in Turkey, Albania, and former Yugoslavia

And in the US too.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Some of 'em even have U.S. government security clearances!!!! ZOMGZ!

[Enough About Palin]

And one of them is my piece of shit US congressman, only my problem with Keith Ellison has nothing to do with his religion and everything to do with him being a racist who swindles the poor.

[Heroic Mulatto]

And yet, the Turkish government is at the forefront in seeking to establish "blasphemy" as a crime with an international jurisdiction.

And again, please note that I am talking about governments and not individuals.

[Stormy Dragon]

There is no government on Earth that imprisions or executes the irreligious, except if that state has a majority Muslim population.

Sanal Edamaruku begs to differ.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Considering the history of India's "hate speech" and "religious conversion" laws and which groups lobbied for them, you'd see that the case of Mr. Edamaruku only solidifies my point.

[Stormy Dragon]

I didn't realize the Anglican Church was muslim.

[Stormy Dragon]

Just to be clear: HM is arguing that when a Hindu majority country prosecutes someone for blaspheming the Catholic church on the basis of a law created in 1860 by British Colonialist, that's the fault of the mooooooosssslims.

[Cytotoxic]

I'm not sure about this particular case, but India's hate speech laws are usually tools for Muslim interests.

[Corneliusm]

India's blasphemy laws were created with Muslims in mind, primarily since they happen to have a large (and often violent) muslim population in the northwest ready to join forces with Pakistan. In order to [attempt to] placate this population, they passed very vague and overreaching blasphemy laws, which prosecutors are more than happy to extend fairly to other faiths- even if it wasn't the original intent of the legislation (sound familiar?).

tl;dr version: prosecutors demonstrate law of unintended consequences, outside of America. News at 11.

[Heroic Mulatto]

Just to be clear: Stormy's profound knowledge of Indian history consists of a quick glance at an Wikipedia article, and Anthropomorphic Elephant Furry Porn.

Firstly, both Hinduism and Buddhism have no concept of blasphemy. Secondly, the East India Company, and later the British Raj had a close, almost incestuous relationship with the Mughal rulers of Northern India. The Mughal hegemony of Northern India was threatened by increased Hindu nationalism. The Mughals pushed the colonial authorities to pass laws against religious conversion and blasphemy as a way to prevent the spread of Hindu revivalism movements.

Further more, around the same time the Deobandi movement was established. I'm sure a noted Indologist, like Prof. Dragon already understands how they fits into the picture.

[Tonio]

There is no government on Earth that currently imprisions or executes the irreligious, except if that state has a majority Muslim population.

FTFY. History hasn't been kind to religious minorities. While there is a general tendency towards openness and acceptance, that's subject to change.

[Heroic Mulatto]

While an acknowledgment of historical treatment of religious minorities is somewhat german, I frankly don't see the West devolving into theocracy anytime soon.

Indeed, one could point to all the governments that have a policy of State Atheism, (e.g. China) that imprision, torture, and execute people who openly profess certain religious belifes. However, that says nothing about Atheism, per se.

My point is about the nexus of state power and religious ideology. The Salafists of Saudi Arabia wouldn't be able to enforce their draconian ideology on the greater populous without the full cooperation of the state, in this case, the House of Sa'ud.

[Enough About Palin]

I believe german (sic) is supposed to begin with a capital G.

[Heroic Mulatto]

And just how is the capitalization of proper nouns germane to the discussion?

[Don Mynack]

Yeah, the extreme Mohammedan countries seem to frown on the whole tolerance thing.

[Drake]

Why not just lie and say you are lousy Muslim or Christian? Not like you'll go to hell. (Or you are going either way)

[KDN]

Seriously. Jews have been doing it for centuries.

[NeonCat]

Not to mention Druze, who are specifically instructed by their religion to lie about it if necessary.

[Sevo]

KDN| 2.26.13 @ 9:50AM |#
"Seriously. Jews have been doing it for centuries."

Really effective, too.

[Tonio]

Honesty. Integrity. Freedom. Stupid shit like that.

[Rhywun]

Some religions are probably easier to fake your way through than others.

[Stormy Dragon]

I'm reminded of P. J. O'Rourkes remarks that Bosnia was only a religious war in the sense that the people who weren't bothering to go church were trying to kill the people who weren't bothering to go to mosque.

[Corneliusm]

I think it was more an ethnic/racial conflict between two parties who just happened to be of a different religion.

[Longtorso]

Man Breaks Into Lingerie Store, Gets Very Freaky
Cops: 325-pound burglar filmed wearing garments, using sex toys

Bloods Gang Member Found With 100 Bags Of Heroin Hidden In His Anus (Which Appears To Be A New Record)

[Brett L]

Cops: 325-pound burglar filmed wearing garments, using sex toys

Which one of you preverts is commenting from an Iowa jail today?

[kinnath]

Not me

[Corneliusm]

Has anyone seen Warty commenting this morning?

[Bee Tagger]

"Perales proceeded to try on female lingerie and experiment with sex toys for approximately two hours,"

His wife wanted him to take more of an interest in buying gifts for her.

[Ted S.]

John would bang it.

[Rich]

Then, in what will surely repulse Dr. John's staffers, Perales ... "began to please himself anally on the manager's desk and futon/couch."

NOOO!! Not the DESK!!

[BakedPenguin]

I bet they make sure to lock their doors from now on.

[AlmightyJB]

I'm not clicking either of those links

[deified]

What, what, in the butt?

[Way Of The Crane]

9-year-old rapper's adult-themed videos prompt state probe.

The child, Luie Rivera Jr., whose stage name is "Lil Poopy," is seen in videos posted online, including on YouTube, smacking a woman's backside, flashing wads of cash, riding in a Ferrari and rapping about how "coke is not a bad word."

Lil Poopy? What will this kid have to do later in life in order to earn enough street cred to live down that name?

[LTC(ret) John]

Shoot 37 people. In the face.

[jesse.in.mb]

What will the 37 people shot in the face by "Lil Poopy have to do to live that down?

[LTC(ret) John]

Live.

[jesse.in.mb]

Harry Whittington begs to differ.

[Corneliusm]

You'd be amazed how easy it is to survive a .25ACP round to the face.

[Citizen Nothing]

Back in my crime reporter days, whenever the police scanner broadcast something like "subject shot in head at close range, transported to hospital, treated and released," I'd know the round in question was a .25

[Bobarian]

And become Big ol Poopy?

[Fist of Etiquette]

...coke is not a bad word.

That's a shot at Bloomberg.

[Teaching Student]

Well there's the problem. Everything else is A-OK!

[Heroic Mulatto]

The Brockton, Massachusetts, police department contacted the state's Department of Children and Families after receiving a call from a "concerned citizen" who saw the boy in videos featuring sexual themes and drug references. The state agency is brought in when there is suspicion of physical, mental, or emotional abuse of a child, according to Brockton police Lt. Robert Sergio.

Strangely, when Will Ferrel did something similar with his daughter, no authorities visited his house to investigate.

I wonder what the difference is?

[Way Of The Crane]

I wonder what the difference is?

No one cares what happens to little girls, but Lil Poopy must be saved at all costs!

[Heroic Mulatto]

Ah, PATRIARCHY!

I understand now.

[Juice]

Lil Poopy, feat. MC Pee Pants

[Longtorso]

Hansen Busted Again, Turning A Cooling Trend Into A Warming Trend
In 1999, he showed that most of the US cooled from 1950-1998...

...But that simply wasn't going to scare anyone, so he got rid of all US cooling in his recent maps. Note too that he eliminated all cooling in South America and Africa, and turned them into warming....

NCAR 1974 : Global Cooling And Extreme Weather Is The New Normal

[DJF]

The science is settled so all science must be adjusted to agree with settled science.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

That's unpossible! Al told me, personally, that the world is doomed. DOOOOOMED!

[Restoras]

It is doomed, just not by weather.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Climate isn't weather. Except when it fits the narrative, then it is. Jeez, don't you read?

[Brett L]

CPAC Says: No fatties.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), who has fallen out of favor with some conservatives in recent months, is not being invited to the Conservative Political Action Conference, according to someone close to CPAC who was not authorized to speak publicly.

[Palin's Buttplug]

AM redneck radio has turned on Christie. He is finished in the national GOP.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

I wonder if blowing Obama and sucking up to gun banners had anything to do with it.

[LTC(ret) John]

Nah, in Trollworld, it all comes back to AM radio. I think he can hear it in his sleep - maybe his dental fillings pick it up?

[Palin's Buttplug]

This is not Free Republic. A true libertarian doesn't give a fuck about who is not invited to CPAC.

But I am sure you care.

[LTC(ret) John]

"But I am sure you care."

You are the one belching and squeaking about it.

[Tonio]

But it's different when proggies do it, Col.

[Way Of The Crane]

A true libertarian doesn't give a fuck about who is not invited to CPAC.

What the fuck would you know about "True libertarians"?

[Marshall Gill]

Shriek is a "true Libertarian" who believes in ginormous amounts of government regulation and inflationary monetary expansion. He also believes that sucking Obama's cock 24/7 and saying "christfag" a lot makes one a "true Libertarian".

[Redmanfms]

What the fuck would you know about "True libertarians"?

He has a 90+ percent on his self-administered libertarian purity test, but then so does George Soros, so uh, yeah.

[Bobarian]

maybe his dental fillings pick it up?

You know, PB, a foil hat or a metal collander will help you get a better nights sleep.

[and help those around you recognize what they're dealing with]

[VG Zaytsev]

A true libertarian doesn't give a fuck about who is not invited to CPAC.

Who brought it up?

[mad libertarian guy]

No.

It has to be our ringmasters on AM radio. That is the only explanation.

[LTC(ret) John]

Hell, I haven't made a decision for myself since I first turned the radio to an AM station - its like some wierd combo of the "Manchurian Candidate" and "Telefon"

[T]

Jim Rome is your leader, huh?

Oh, does he not mean AM sports talk radio?

[LTC(ret) John]

Clones, attack!

[Enough About Palin]

Why don't you stop being a Moore-bot? What is it about that fat fuck Michael Moore that keeps you under his spell? Just stop watching his films. Just. Stop.

[Ted S.]

It's not as if he's "conservative" anyway.

[Palin's Buttplug]

To many here conservative = libertarian.

[Way Of The Crane]

To many here Palin's Buttplug conservative = libertarian.

FIFY

[Invisible Finger]

"Many" refers to the voices in shrike's head.

[Enough About Palin]

And they are legion.

[Fist of Etiquette]

...Benedict will be known as "Emeritus Pope," which means he'll probably hang around the place, nagging the new guy.

Some lobby firm will probably pay him a fat check to peddle influence.

[LTC(ret) John]

What is Latin for "K Street Lobbyist"?

[Tonio]

"Emeritus" TFIBHAW

[Rich]

"TFIBHAW"? Guess I need more coffee.

[$park?]

The fag in back has a woody?

[mad libertarian guy]

I L'dOL.

[Tonio]

Thanks Folks I'll Be Here All Week.

And good effort, Sparks, I lol'd.

[T]

I was so hoping for Pontifex Minimus.

[LTC(ret) John]

Pontifex Duco?

[Pro Libertate]

I worked with a guy at Ohio State who was a professor emeritus (he was famous in his field and old, which helps get you that title). It struck me as a very nice gig. He was an interesting and friendly guy, so I didn't begrudge him the sinecure.

[sarcasmic]

It's good to be Bobby Flay.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....-Flay.html

[LTC(ret) John]

Yes. Yes it is.

[Rich]

"Throwdown!"

[AlmightyJB]

Saw her in one of his shows. In addition to kooing fine she genuinely seems like a total sweetheart as well.

[Bobarian]

"kooing fine"

Am I having trouble keeping up with you kids and all your new sayings?

[Bee Tagger]

Americans may just have to bite the bullet and suffer a slightly smaller increase in federal spending than politicians wanted.

And right after we all got together and mandated they increase spending as much as they want!

[sarcasmic]

Detroit school suspends thirty students for having fun.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....sting.html

[Way Of The Crane]

How much do you want to bet that white kid in the Superman costume and Obama mask is what's really pissing the school off?

[Heroic Mulatto]

Yep.

The group violated several rules in the student code of conduct, including: vulgarity, indecency and the use of racial slurs, Root said.

NB: Harlem Shake meme videos have no spoken dialog.

[Alack]

The beginning says "Con los terroristas", although you often only hear "-ristas". But that's the closest I can think of.

[Ted S.]

Stupid internet memes are stupid.

They should not, however, get you suspended.

[Alack]

Not even Gallon Smashing?

[Enough About Palin]

That is fucking funny.

[Drax the Destroyer]

In related news, 30 students have seen an inexplicable IQ increase.

[a better weapon]

A suburban Detroit school suspends thirty students for having fun

Just wanted to make sure nobody else gets thrown off by all the white kids. First thing I thought was "No way this is in Detroit."

[Matrix]

wait... there are white people in Detroit?

[DRM]

Highland Township is not even in the same county as Detroit.

[sarcasmic]

Robin dies.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-book.html
Batman puts an ad into Craigslist.

[Way Of The Crane]

Batman puts an ad into Craigslist.

In the Strictly Platonic or Casual Encounters section?

[Jerry on the boat]

"Candidates must be willing to slide into the batcave."

[AlmightyJB]

Then of course there's oiling up the bat pole and doing batgirls hair.

[Brett L]

Missed Connections:

"Me, the hardbody in the batsuit, swooping through the sky. You, a young man with the body of a gymnast. We made eye contact and I felt a spark. Interested? Come to the same bat place at the same bat time."

[SugarFree]

Morrison has a tendency to kill off the characters he introduced into an on-going continuity rather than let other writers turn them into complete crap.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Every time I read Morrison, I have to send my beer to the lab to make sure someone didn't sneak LSD into it. I have no idea what that guy is doing.

[SugarFree]

I dig it, but some is much worse than others. I still have no fucking clue what SeaGuy is about.

[Drax the Destroyer]

His run on Doom Patrol still is fucking with my head. I'm afraid to even look at the cover of Flex Mentallo.

That guy exists in a realm completely different from me...

That's not to say he's necessarily bad or anything...I just have no idea what is going on in what he writes.

[Bobarian]

'Shade, the Changing Man' was completely fucking weird, but kind of compulsive...

[Drake]

Of Aids?

[DRM]

Oh, my, another dead character in a comic.

No one in comics stays dead except for Bucky, Jason Todd, and Uncle Ben, and that's probably just a matter of time anyway.

[Brett L]

Tell me the Uncle Sy and Morrisey green room tapes wouldn't be epic. I am disapoint.

[Kaptious Kristen]

That would have been epic! Love the DD boys (especially the hot younger ones)

[Virginian]

I know The Man They Call Jayne is your favorite, but do you ever watch Castle? I have a totally heterosexual man crush on Fillion, and his daughter is an adorable little thing. To say nothing of Stana Katic. But last week the bad guys kidnapped the daughter, so Fillion got to get the angry Mal Reynolds voice out.

I think I need to go watch Firefly again.

[Kaptious Kristen]

I like Fillion, but I think he's just so-so on the few minutes of Castle I have watched. I'm glad he's had a successful and long-running TV show, though.

[mad libertarian guy]

The Man They Call Jayne!

[Brett L]

his daughter is an adorable little thing

I think she's legal IRL now. You don't have to euphemise. Yep.

[Virginian]

Oh is she? Well then. I'll be in my bunk.

[Way Of The Crane]

I have a totally heterosexual man crush on Fillion...

Is it just me or has he gotten fat since his return to Earth?

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Writing books is far less hard work than misbehaving.

[Way Of The Crane]

I have a totally heterosexual man crush on Fillion...

Is it just me or has he gotten fat since his return to Earth?

[generic Brand]

Apparently it's not just you

[Bobarian]

Yes, it appears you are in complete agreemen with yourself.

[Bobarian]

+t

[sarcasmic]

Google Street View whores.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-View.html

[generic Brand]

What's the big deal? I just see a lot of lovely ladies out for a stroll. The one in the woods is clearly taking a quick stretch break from hunting.

[Ted S.]

When Google Street View hit Finland, there were stories in the Finnish media about how it caught pictures of street drunks.

[LTC(ret) John]

So in other words, normal Finnish street scenes?

[Virginian]

I thought a normal Finnish street scene was badass men on skis slaughtering entire armies of Soviet soldiers.

[T]

Yes, while drunk.

[LTC(ret) John]

With Suomi submachine guns.

[robc]

Suomi is the only noun in the Finnish language.

Well, not quite, but it is multipurpose.

It refers to the people (well, some, some Finns are Swedes or Lapp) the language and the gun.

[Virginian]

I think my favorite Finnish word is sisu.

[sarcasmic]

Starbucks hires illiterates.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....fails.html

[Brett L]

Right. Because 17 year olds would never fuck with their co-workers by making them shout "Anus?"

[Juice]

Oh yes, these are all clearly mistakes.

[Fist of Etiquette]

A Justice Department official admited to congressional staffers that the Aaron Swartz prosecution was pursued with such fervor, at least in part, to justify targeting the activist.

The admission suggests it's business as usual and not something expect punishment for.

[R C Dean]

Isn't that tautological: "We targeted the activist in order to target the activist"?

[John]

No. What he is saying is that they didn't have a case and brought charges anyway. Once charges were brought and it was obvious they didn't have a case, their solution was to bring more charges in an attempt to justify their original mistake.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

So, pretty much SOP for the government in general.

[John]

For US Attorneys anyway.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Oh, I don't think "Sure, we intervened and now things are bad, but that's only because we didn't go far enough" is limited to US Attorneys.

[Pro Libertate]

Seriously, we need to figure out a way to disentangle prosecution from politics. Because it's total bullshit.

[Emmerson Biggins]

tar and feathers?

that's the best idea I can come up with.

[Rich]

"He must have been dangerous to society. Just look at all the effort the authorities put into killing him!"

Doomed.

[sarcasmic]

Chicago cops publish racist brochure.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....ggums.html
Nothing else happens.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

North Chicago. We are totally not racist in actual, Cook County Chicago.

[mad libertarian guy]

You mean besides the pols who perpetually keep poor blacks from being able to defend themselves with a gun?

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

That and things like people dropping out of congressional races so that the "community" won't have to worry about dividing its votes.

[mad libertarian guy]

That is a disgusting article. Can you imagine if white republicans rigged an election to ensure a white person would win the vote?

[sarcasmic]

Shepherds and Sheep By Thomas Sowell - February 26, 2013
http://www.realclearpolitics.c.....17152.html

[$park?]

John Stuart Mill's classic essay "On Liberty" gives reasons why some people should not be taking over other people's decisions about their own lives.

As I understand it, libertarians don't give no thought to that fancy pants philosophy stuff.

[Marshall Gill]

Implicit in the wide range of efforts on the left to get government to take over more of our decisions for us is the assumption that there is some superior class of people who are either wiser or nobler than the rest of us.

As we say here on H&R: Top. Men.

[sarcasmic]

New Bowie tune doesn't totally suck.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs.....night.html

[Palin's Buttplug]

I ignored Bowie his whole career and then bought his 2-disc greatest hits for a cross country drive. Great stuff.

[John]

They let you drive?

[Anonymous Coward]

Shriek's caretaker let him listen it after they strapped him into the adult safety seat.

[Citizen Nothing]

10 minutes 'till Wapner.

[DunzRunz]

Sometimes man, you jsut have to roll with those punches. I mean like wow.

http://www.NetAnon.da.bz

[LTC(ret) John]

So, what is your opinion of these other bots coming around your turf and trying to push "make big $ from home on your computer"?

[Way Of The Crane]

He thinks they should buy his privacy software too.

[LTC(ret) John]

Cross selling, FTW!

[$park?]

Cross selling? You're just lucky Jesus Jeans can't interfere.

[LTC(ret) John]

+1 IP lawsuit

[Anonymous Coward]

By His cross-stitching, we were healed.

[generic Brand]

C'mon LTC John, you know this isn't DunzRunz's turf; if H&R belongs to any bots it belongs to waaminn

[T]

tiggy foo begs to differ.

[LTC(ret) John]

LimpoSimpo 4evah!

[Jordan]

Carbman Jones, son.

[Jam]

Bloomberg: what will be the end result of the Feds irresponsibility?
Jim Grant: a gold standard
Bloomberg: why because of a currency collapse
Grant: Yup
http://www.bloomberg.com/video.....7zh4g.html

[Palin's Buttplug]

Wouldn't the Yen or Euro collapse first? And that would strengthen the dollar.

Do goldbugs ever think?

[R C Dean]

The yen, sure. It definitely going to be the first to crater

The Euro? Hard to say if it will be next.

But, it doesn't really matter. The dollar is doomed as the reserve currency. Our debts (all flavors) are too large, are being monetized now, and there is no viable exit strategy for the Fed. Its not a question of whether, only when and how fast.

So, why would anybody think that the end of the current experiment in pure debt/fiat currency (they are one and the same) ends in smoking rubble, we will replace it with . . . pure debt/fiat currency? Nah, the next thing will have some commodity base. Could be a basket including gold, could be just plain old gold.

[Palin's Buttplug]

The Fed has a myriad of tools to tighten. There are $1.6 trillion in excess reserves. The USD is king and will be for generations.

I have my bets down (currently not short gold though).

[Citizen Nothing]

I hope the plug is right. But I wouldn't bet on it.

[R C Dean]

The Fed has a myriad of tools to tighten.

Theoretically, sure. But, withdrawal of liquidity will send us straight back into the contraction/depression that the Fed has been so desperate to avoid, only worse now that we are more leveraged.

But, that's not the real problem. The real problem is that the Fed can't exit QE, much less begin unwinding what it has done, without causing interest rates to spike, destroying the balance sheets of banks, insurance companies, pension funds, etc. because they hold some low-interest debt.

Even that isn't the real real problem, which is that higher interest means higher debt service for the feds, which will completely wreck the budget. Returning to the average interest rate environment will mean debt service of $800BB or more. The Fed has to keep interest rates suppressed, and has to keep clearing Treasury auctions (that is, monetizing debt) to do so, or the federal budget and financial institutions worldwide are vaporized.

No, the Fed is trapped.

[Invisible Finger]

The next step is going back to the Fed's old ways - "QE forever but the amounts will be secret unless you want to look at the balance sheet yourself or just take John Hilsenrath's word for it."

[GW]

It wouldn't strengthen the dollar against gold.

Moron.

[Rich]

under an assault-weapons ban that advanced late last week in the Maryland General Assembly, experts say the gun would be illegal in the state where it is produced.

Let's just see what David Gregory has to say about this!

[Beretta's] iconic 9mm pistol ? carried by every U.S. soldier and scores of police departments ? would also be banned with its high capacity, 13-bullet magazine. "Why expand in a place where the people who built the gun couldn't buy it?" said Jeffrey Reh, general counsel for Beretta.

Sheesh, Jeffrey, you don't hear the people who build nuclear weapons complaining.

[John]

The dreaded 13 round magazine.

[mad libertarian guy]

It's those extra 3 rounds that make it one of the vaunted death gunz.

[Drake]

My M9 had a 15-round mag.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

My Taurus p92 holds 17 with the standard mag. Does that make it a super extra killing machine?

[T]

Well, it would if somebody other than Taurus made it.

[Redmanfms]

Well, it would if somebody other than Taurus made it.

Mwahahaha.

After seeing two brand-new Taurus knock-offs of the Model 13 dynamically disassemble themselves from firing out of time I would never, ever, ever recommend any Taurus product

[itsnotmeitsyou]

The P92 isn't a bad gun. It's stamped from the actual Beretta molds that got sold off. I've never had a problem with it that couldn't be traced to the ammo (low powder in a reload). Haven't used any other Taurus products, but seeing as it was the first gun I bought, I didn't know any better.

[Redmanfms]

It's stamped from the actual Beretta molds that got sold off.

Point of order:

The frame and slide are forged, not stamped.

The "molds" were sold to Taurus so they could make the pistol under license for the Brazilian military.

And tooling is not the sum total of what goes into making a firearm. Plenty of home bent AK receiver flat builds can attest to that.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Sorry, not knowledgeable on manufacturing. Computers are more my thing.

Anyway, I'm not disputing that Taurus makes crappy guns. I'm just saying that MY Taurus is a fantastic gun. A buddy of mine has a Beretta M9 that he paid twice as much for and has jammed several times with store bought ammo and reloads. My Taurus cycles everything (except the aforementioned light powder reloads)

[mad libertarian guy]

+1

I bought a snub nose .38 REVOLVER (the simplest of all gun designs), and the fucker NEVER worked. Even after being sent back to the factory 4 fucking times, there was a snag in the cylinder that would make it hang, and at least 1 of every 6 shot wouldn't fire because of a light hit with the firing pin.

How they can manage to make a revolver that simply cannot function, I don't know.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Yeah, I doubt if I'll ever buy another Taurus. It was my first gun, and honestly I bought it because it was cheap and I just wanted my own gun to shoot at the range. I'm a bit more discerning now and own guns for other reasons than just shooting targets.

[Josua]

Yes, 15-round (back in the nineties, at least). I had a 96F privately-owned weapon (.40 S&W version of 92F) and an issued M9. Both had 15 round magazines.

In any case, the Beretta 92/96/M9 had a vastly different trigger pull from first round (double-action) to second round (single action). Pretty gun to look at. Inferior to Glock and Springfield XD polymer frame pistols for practicality.

[NeonCat]

I thought everyone knew that if you put in a full thirty years at Pantex that you get a plutonium core upon retirement.

[$park?]

Jesus trademarked by the damned ROMANS!

The Italian jeans company that owns the trademark on the name "Jesus" in the U.S. is cracking down on apparel companies that wish to use the name in their brand.
...
Since then, Jesus Jeans has launched a crusade against at least a dozen U.S. companies selling Jesus-themed apparel, mostly start-up clothing lines. Its litigators claim the companies are appropriating the name "Jesus" without the trademark owner's blessing.
...
The company has attempted to trademark the name "Jesus" in numerous other countries around the globe, but most of the applications have been denied.

[LTC(ret) John]

But I am going to get in first and trademark "INRI wristbands".

[Rich]

The company owns the trademark just on the name "Jesus," not on the image of Christianity's central figure.

Thank God!

[Night Elf Mohawk]

"Your Honor, our jeans are pronounced 'Heysoos Jeans.' It's totally different."

[SugarFree]

They fit like a miracle. It's like my ass has been raised from the dead.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

But then a few days later they, and your ass, disappear.

[LTC(ret) John]

3 day jeans?

[SugarFree]

But the jeans promised they would return. Until then the jeans just have to live in your heart.

[Rich]

I'll never go back to swaddling clothes!

[Zeb]

I want to start making YHVH jeans.

[Bobarian]

trademark on the name "Jesus"

Do they organize public stonings for breaking trademark laws?

[Butts Wagner]

Right here, right now, Jesus Jeans owns the trademark.

[$park?]

Things you don't want to hear your doctor say: Oops, I removed the wrong ball.

The man, whose name has not been identified for privacy reasons, is 48. The doctor realized his mistake about 40 minutes into the surgery ? so he froze the healthy one and found a plastic surgeon.

However, the plastic surgeon was not able to reattach the healthy testicle.

Now, the patient is afraid he is infertile and will not be able to have the family he wants.

[Brett L]

Right. Lots of 48 year old men looking to have families so they can pass on their ball cancer.

[wareagle]

and when you are that age and having kids, you are essentially your child's grandfather. I never got the attraction to having young 'uns later in life. Glad mine are grown and self-sufficient.

[mad libertarian guy]

No one wants to be the kid with the "old dad."

[Zeb]

Very few have any say in the matter.

[mad libertarian guy]

Agreed. But evey kid I knew who had an old dad hated that they had an old dad.

[$park?]

"My dad can beat up your dad. All he has to do is kick over his walker. HA HA!"

[Citizen Nothing]

I think my "old dad" kids are luckier than my "youngish dad" kids. That is all.

[Zeb]

If I'm ever a dad, I'll probably be an old dad. They'll just have to deal with it.

[Invisible Finger]

"old dad" beats "alcoholic dad", "junkie dad", "prison dad", "cross-dressing dad", "mom-beating dad", "deadbeat dad", etc.

[Rich]

"Damn. I can never remember if that 'X' marks the one to cut or the one to stay ...."

[Mensan]

Top DHS Checkpoint Refusals

[Rich]

Well worth viewing, from several standpoints.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Love the first guy just saying "No". "No". "No".

[Kaptious Kristen]

And the rest of it just gets more awesome.

[Marshall Gill]

Thanks, Mensan, I will remember these when the Census people show up at my door.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Will you eat their livers with some fava beans and a nice kee-an-tee?

[Juice]

Awesome. They're lucky they weren't tased, beaten, and locked up for a few hours.

[mb]

law enforcement are civilians. the md law would make it illegal for anyone but government officials to own the guns.

[Rich]

Citation needed.

[Juice]

?? Do you not think that cops are civilians? What are they? Soldiers?

[John]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....print.html

The Washington Post is actually "Libertarian". Who knew? This column is infuriating for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is his total straw man he presents as the anti-gay marriage position. But most infuriating is this bit.

Because our profession lives and dies on the First Amendment--one of the libertarian cornerstones of the Constitution--most journalists have a problem with religionists telling people what they can and cannot do. We want to write words, read books, watch movies, listen to music, and have sex and babies pretty much when, where and how we choose.

Are you kidding me? The Post is real interested in seeing people get to write the words they want, that is why they are so upset about campus speech codes and support Citizens United. And they care so much about personal autonomy as long as said person just wants to have gay sex or get an abortion. If they want to own a gun, eat trans-fats or a large soda, then not so much. What a disingenuous prick.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Everyone here in the US is libertarian to some degree. But the purity test is still a bitch when a 94 fails.

[John]

No, many people, especially those on the left are authoritarian fascists. You, or the people who control you are authoritarian fascists. Just because you occasionally tolerate behavior you approve of or the approval of which confers political advantages doesn't mean you are not an authoritarian fascist. It just means you are an authoritarian rather than a totalitarian.

[$park?]

Palin's Buttplug| 2.19.13 @ 10:11AM |#

Because I deny that healthcare is a right? It most certainly isn't.

We are governed by social contract and our rights are decided by popular vote. See Prohibition (then and now).

This right here is what a REAL Libertarian thinks, John. Shreek is as pure as they get.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I still deny that healthcare is a
"right".

It is a service that should be privately paid for. I don't see an issue here.

[$park?]

I don't see an issue here.

Because you're a dumb fuck who thinks rights are decided by popular vote.

[Palin's Buttplug]

That is correct. I say I have a right to snort cocaine but the electorate here does not.

They won (for now).

[$park?]

Let me see if I can get this right:

1. Some men say that rights come from God.
2. Shreek doesn't believe in God.
Therefore
3. Rights come from some men.

Is that how you figure it out, Shreek?

[SugarFree]

Stop arguing with the slow kid in class. Take his juice box, push him in the mud and go on about your day.

[Jordan]

Might makes right. A true progressive. It's probably why you shrug off Black Jesus's attempts at gun control.

[Palin's Buttplug]

It is not "right".

But there are issues the bogus concept of "natural rights" cannot settle.

Abortion is one. A true libertarian is pro-choice as the state has no right to force a woman into childbirth.

That is where Ron Paul gets LP Purity Test demerits. He wants the states to decide!! The States! What a Bottom Man!

[T]

I'll give you the flip side argument: abortion is murder. The state has a vested interest in protecting from force those who can't protect themselves.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, but dogmatically stating there's only one 'true' libertarian position on this issue makes you a jackass. The intelligent libertarian (i.e. not you) admits there's room for disagreement on this issue.

[Palin's Buttplug]

How should this disagreement be settled then?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Abortions allowed until higher brain function. Abortions disallowed after higher brain function.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Yep. A nation of MEN, not LAWS. Nothing wrong with that.

[sarcasmic]

I found a shirt for you.

http://www.tillys.com/tillys/v.....4AodRRUAOg

[Drax the Destroyer]

If the Post is "libertarian," its modus operandi would be to destroy the "careers" of every politician that walked into that shitty on the hill.

[Eduard van Haalen]

On that topic, the Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, has become a fascist Klansman teabagging redneck homophobe (/sarc):

http://www.firstthings.com/art.....d-adoption

[bostonaod]

most journalists have a problem with religionists telling people what they can and cannot do.

Silly John, they don't mind TOP.MEN telling people what they can and cannot do, it's those religionists that bother them so.

Statist co-religionists, not so much.

[db]

Hit&Run; engineers: see if you can identify the jaw-dropping detail hidden in plain sight in this NRC Event Report:

Number: 48782
Facility: BROWNS FERRY ...
AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO A TURBINE TRIP FROM A LOSS OF CONDENSER VACUUM

"At 1313 [CST] on 02/25/2013, the Unit 3 reactor automatically scrammed due to actuation of the Reactor Protection System from a turbine trip. Preliminary indications show the turbine tripped on low condenser vacuum. Cause of loss of condenser vacuum has been identified as Reactor Feedwater recirculation piping separation. Main Steam Isolation Valves (MSIVs) were manually closed to isolate the leak. None of the Safety Relief Valves (SRVs) automatically cycled during the transient, and one Safety Relief Valve (SRV) was manually operated to maintain Reactor Pressure due to the Main Turbine Bypass Valves unavailability because of loss of condenser vacuum. All systems responded as expected to the turbine trip.

...

"At 1415 [CST], Suppression Pool Water level exceeded -1 inch due to operation with HPCI in pressure control mode, and required entry into TS LCO 3.6.2.2 condition A to restore level within 2 hours. Efforts are being made to lower suppression pool water level within limits. At 1615 [CST], water level remains above -1 inch requiring entry into TS LCO 3.6.2.2 condition B requiring action to... be in MODE 3 in 12 hours and MODE 4 within 36 hours.

[T]

Got no clue. But this concerns me:

Reactor Feedwater recirculation piping separation

Wait, what?

[Brett L]

You mean pipes shouldn't just come apart?

[db]

You get a gold star. "Piping separation" is plant engineer speak for " a big motherfucking leak that we were barely able to control, and we are still cleaning our pants out."

[T]

Yeah, I know a little about piping. Piping separation implies a weld or material failure instead of some jackass didn't tighten the flange bolts down enough. Somebody has a problem. I wonder how much installed pipe they've got that was from the same heat or welded up at the same time? Because I'd go back and check all those lines now.

[Redmanfms]

flange bolts

Besides, I can't conceive of any scenario in which anybody would be retarded enough to to flange shit in the primary loop.

Because I'd go back and check all those lines now.

I so wish I had taken the time to get that radiographic analysis cert when I was in. I have a friend who does it for Crane and is pulling down something $170,000 (4 years ago anyway, probably more now) and only working like 5 months a year because of ALARA.

[Brett L]

None of the Safety Relief Valves (SRVs) automatically cycled during the transient, and one Safety Relief Valve (SRV) was manually operated to maintain

Uh. That's not how they taught us to design safety relief valves?

[T]

Yeah, I thought about that for a minute, but I dunno what condition the Safety valves are trying to compensate for, or what the response time is. A qucik transient won't trigger things sometimes if the response is too slow.

Of course, that just means the system isn't designed correctly if the transient is something you have to protect against.

[db]

Years ago I would have thought this too, but it turns out that in high pressure steam applications sucb as in power plants, there are some safety valves that are not self-actuating; i.e. they are motorized or operated by some other source of energy based on a command. The big protective safeties are still spring loaded (with BIG springs) but other important safeties need a signal to open.

[$park?]

Suppression Pool Water level exceeded -1 inch due to operation with HPCI in pressure control mode, and required entry into TS LCO 3.6.2.2 condition A to restore level within 2 hours

What do I win? Do I get to be an engineer?

[db]

This is important, as it indicates the suppression pool is being overtaxed for cooling purposes. The negative level refers to a datum point and is not an error.

[$park?]

Er, whatever you say, chief.

[Tonio]

Translation: It's a pool, so it's supposed to have water in it. The "zero" point is the optimum level of water for plant operation. Pool levels are expressed as variances from that point. So there was too little water. An inch can matter.

[db]

Actually, I think there was too much water. The datum points in the suppression and reactor don't use zero inches as the normal operaring level. I think they reference the levels to specific physical locations rather than operational parameters for some reason.

[Mensan]

Dammit, db! I'm a physiologist, not an engineer! [/McCoy]

[db]

The insides of living things gross me out. You can stump me with a question about guts of you want 🙂

[tarran]

Cause of loss of condenser vacuum has been identified as Reactor Feedwater recirculation piping separation

What! What! Whaaaaat?!?

Is that the primary loop or the secondary loop?!?

Because Reactor Feed Water sure sounds like a primary system to me. As in a primary to atmosphere leak!

one Safety Relief Valve (SRV) was manually operated to maintain Reactor Pressure due to the Main Turbine Bypass Valves unavailability because of loss of condenser vacuum

Basically they didn't want to bleed off pressure to atmosphere (the decay heat from the reactor will produce significant amounts of heat for hours after the shutdown), so they manually cycled a valve that vented into a system that wasn't cracked open.

[db]

This unit is a BWR, so by definition it is the primary loop.

[Redmanfms]

Fuck me, I need to refresh more often, you got it 11 minutes before me.

Herp-a-derp-a-doo.....

[db]

The way they cool a BWR in this kind of situation is by venting steam generated in the reactor to a huge heat sink of water (the "suppression pool"). This is because they generally don't want to have to vent from the reactor to atmosphere. A PWR can vent secondary loop steam from the steam generators to atmosphere without radioactive release, but in a BWR, there is only one steam loop and they use the suppression pool, at least until it gets too hot or too full, and they have to vent to atmo.

[Redmanfms]

Is that the primary loop or the secondary loop?!?

Looked up Browns Ferry, and all the reactors there are BWRs, so it does indeed appear that they had a primary coolant leak and a fucking major one at that.

[Tonio]

Isn't the primary loop pretty radioactive?

[db]

Not necessarily. In a BWR, as you probably know, water bouls in the reactor vessel to cool the core. This steam is separated and piped to tge turbine directly. Once condensed after driving the turbine, the water is returned to the reactor. There are cleanup loops that remove radioactive particulates, if any, from the water. If something goes real bad wrong in the core, that water can get a lot of dissolved or particulate radioactive matter in it, but it can be cleaned up by filtration and ion exchange.

[Redmanfms]

If something goes real bad wrong in the core, that water can get a lot of dissolved or particulate radioactive matter in it, but it can be cleaned up by filtration and ion exchange.

Translation: Fuel element cladding failure (too much heat) or a meltdown (way too much heat).

[tarran]

?!?

I seem to remember that primary water was chock full of short-lived (and hence very radioactive) stuff like O-18...

[db]

This is where my knowledge begins to fail. Altbough, since the primary steam drives the turbine directly in a BWR system, I would think it has to be pretty clean, otherwise all the equipment in the steeam path would be highly radioctive and hard to maintain.

[Redmanfms]

I seem to remember that primary water was chock full of short-lived (and hence very radioactive) stuff like O-18...

Huh.

When we drew samples we rarely got more than a click or two on the radiac, and we always had the sensitivity set really low, like ten-MREM max scale. This was the primary effluent test for crud bursts (i.e. sampled ahead of the IX). Even after crud-burst inducing events (like an emergency pump start) the contamination was really low and it was the longer-lived stuff you'd expect to find in crud (Fe-49 and Co-60).

[Redmanfms]

Isn't the primary loop pretty radioactive?

Eh, not really. You don't want uncontrolled venting of primary to atmosphere for numerous reasons though.

[Invisible Finger]

Why do they refuse to say AUTOMATIC SCRAM DUE TO BROKEN PIPE?

I assume they want it to sound more technical than it actually is so that more people can bill for the repair.

[db]

Well, the reactor scrammed due to the turbine trip; the turbine tripped due to loss of condenser vacuum; vacuum was lost due to piping separation. The rest waits for the root cause analysis that finds that current engineering middle management (not past engineering middle management who have since been promotoed to senior management) was to blame for improper inspection practices.

[dunkel]

Fuck a boiling water reactor, to start with.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Dude, that made me cringe.

Maybe the guy in the lingerie shop would like that, though.

[LTC(ret) John]

So we have
"Main Steam Isolation Valves (MSIVs) were manually closed to isolate the leak. None of the Safety Relief Valves (SRVs) automatically cycled during the transient, and one Safety Relief Valve (SRV) was manually operated to maintain Reactor Pressure due to the Main Turbine Bypass Valves unavailability because of loss of condenser vacuum."

but then
"All systems responded as expected to the turbine trip."

WTF?!

[db]

Well, technically, if the systems are designed in such a way as not to respond to certain stimuli, they have "responded as expected" when they don't do those things. You might say that nuclear engineers understand the Iron Law.

[robc]

Im nearly 19 years out of the field, but this sounds a lot like a simulation I ran back in the early 90s for the Swiss.

Except the "pipe separation" part. Yikes.

The sim I ran was based on a valve sticking. I cant remember if it stuck open or closed now.

[John]

http://www.nationalreview.com/.....-john-fund

Obama's $700+ billion dollars in medicare cuts arrive to no notice. If said cuts were going to pay down the deficit, it wouldn't be bad. But instead the funds are just being redirected to Obama supporters. Steal and give to your cronies. It is the Chicago way.

[Palin's Buttplug]

John Fund likes Medicare Advantage subsidies paid to private insurers.

Subsidies are GOOD, says conservative!

[John]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuGtxt84wPQ

[wareagle]

John Fund can like whatever he wants; doing so is NOT the same as controlling how public money is diverted. Stop trying to distract from The Obama's being an asshole by pointing to someone who believes something you find assholy.

[Tonio]

That's what it does, Peacedove, that's what it does. It's not a rational actor.

[Tony]

Uninsured poor people are Obama cronies?

[John]

Yes, they are called voters.

[John]

Steal from those who don't vote for you, give it to those who do.

[Eduard van Haalen]

Dogbert lives!

[Enough About Palin]

I watched my third episode of Girls, and frankly, I like the show.

[John]

It is the only show ever made that you actually want to wait to see the g rated broadcast TV reruns. Then you are spared the horror of seeing Lena Dunham naked.

[SugarFree]

Once you realize that there aren't any characters you are supposed to identify with, you just settle in for the spectacle.

[T]

If I want to watch ugly people act like childish assholes to each other, I can come to work, instead.

[John]

No kidding. At least Seinfeld had the occasional hot girlfriend and the always lovely Julia Louis Dreyfus.

[T]

It's okay, we'll only mock you a little bit. After all, your lack of taste could be genetic.

[Brett L]

Ugh. The gf just started watching. After -- literally -- 5 minutes, I so successfully predicted the rest of the episode, she shut it off in annoyance. But she's holding Justified hostage, so I'll have to watch it and shut up pretty soon.

[$park?]

After -- literally -- 5 minutes, I so successfully predicted the rest of the episode

This is why I hate watching TV. Everything is so fucking predictable now.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Yeah, my wife gets pissed when I do this, too. She'll start some mindless tv show or movie, I'll see a bit of foreshadowing and predict the whole plot.

That, and I can't watch TV shows that use technology like it's magic fairy dust. No, computers can't actually do that. No, that's not how the internet works. Yeah, I'm sure he just hacked the DoD mainframe in under 5 seconds...

[Loki]

I'm sure he just hacked the DoD mainframe in under 5 seconds...

Along the same lines, outdated techie jargon is probably even more irritating than futuristic sounding techno-babble. "Mainframe"? The 1980's called, they'd like their tech jargon back.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Hey, that's how McGee refers to it several times on NCIS. Along with several other more heinous affronts to tech. (i.e. typing on the same keyboard as someone else, "enhancing" horribly pixelated images to HD clarity with a few key presses, and we can never forget the psychic clicker that always displays whatever the holder wants)

[Kaptious Kristen]

I'll just leave this here

[itsnotmeitsyou]

*twitch* Thanks Kristen. Now I'm going to be a ball of rage all day. Everyone loves a raging Sys Admin. My co-workers thank you.

[Brett L]

Hell, the FLDOC was still keeping its inmate records on big iron as of 2007.

[Invisible Finger]

What do you think Apple runs their general ledger and payroll on?

[generic Brand]

Yo, fuck Girls! The only girls you want to see naked (e.g. Shoshanna, Brian Williams's daughter) never get naked, and the ones that no one would ever want to see naked (Hannah) are the ones that parade around in the nude--or worse yet, in "clothes" that leave NOTHING to the imagination--all day long.

That show contributes nothing except more reasons to regret the fact that Game of Thrones isn't on for another month and Entourage is off the air.

[CampingInYourPark]

"White House raises terror threat, warns illegals could flood borders after sequester cuts"

http://www.washingtontimes.com.....legals-co/

[John]

Aren't illegals going home now because of the wonders of the Obama economy and its high and persistent unemployment?

[Kaptious Kristen]

Yeah, because illegals love coming into countries where there are no jobs.

[LTC(ret) John]

You misspelled that - it is "jerbs".

[LTC(ret) John]

More people to line up for the amnesty - win-win!

[John]

And more people to vote D in districts that miraculously have a 100% registered voter turnout every single election. Remember election fraud is just a right wing meme.

[Zeb]

"districts that miraculously have a 100% registered voter turnout every single election"

Does this happen? I seriously don't know. I hear weirdos on both sides saying that the other party steals elections, but I haven't seen any particularly convincing evidence either way.

[John]

Yes. it happened. And those districts miraculously went 100% for Obama

http://skeptics.stackexchange......012-presid

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Couple districts here in Cleveland went 100% Obama despite the fact that I know several people in those districts that did NOT vote for him. But again, it never actually really happens.

[tarran]

There were a couple of precincts in Philadelphia where that happened. Oddly, the Republican observers were physically prevented from observing the ballot boxes for a few hours.

[Virginian]

It sure does. I think my favorite one is the time the local GOP had like 50 buses parked ready to take people to the polls. Little leftwing shits hopped the fence Monday night and slashed the tires.

[R C Dean]

Hopefully, the GOPers learned their lesson and will have some security next time.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Big fan of that meme. I have a friend who works for the elections board in Ohio. Love sending her links to all the articles of the fraud that "never ever happens"

[Anonymous Coward]

Sorry, Barry. No matter what you say, you can't make the sky fall on command.

[Zeb]

Ugh, I really hate the term "illegals". As if doing one illegal thing in your life should be your primary defining characteristic. Should everyone who has ever committed any crime or infraction be called "an illegal"?

And god are they desperate to make the sequester cuts seem significant.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

Should everyone who has ever committed any crime or infraction be called "an illegal"?

Maybe if they continue to commit the crime or infraction 24/7/365.25.

[Zeb]

I don't think just being in the country is a crime. You don't go to jail, you get deported. It's a civil matter.

Anyway, most of us are probably unknowingly committing some federal felony 24/7, so we're all illegals now, I guess.

Who else should be call "an illegal". A few examples come to mind. Anyone who regularly uses an illicit drug. Anyone with a prescription for a controlled substance who carries ti around in anything other than the pharmacy container. And if the gun-copntrollers get tehir way, a whole bunch of peopl ewho own 30 rd magazines will be.

Start calling these people "illegals" with the regularity that it is used for immigrants without proper visas and I might rethink.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

"Illegal" doesn't apply only to crimes. It also applies to violations of civil law.

"[I]mmigrants without proper visas" is far more disingenuous than the term you don't like.

[T]

Should everyone who has ever committed any crime or infraction be called "an illegal"?

No, that's when we use the word 'felon'.

[Enough About Palin]

Ugh, I really hate the term "murderer". As if doing one murderin your life should be your primary defining characteristic. Should everyone who has ever committed murder be called "a murderer"?

[Zeb]

"Illegal" is very broad, unlike "murderer".

"Illegal alien" woudl be appropriate, but just calling only illegal immigrants "illegals" is just silly and insulting. As if they are the only group that lives in a less than 100% compliant way.

[Mickey Rat]

"I really hate the term "illegals". As if doing one illegal thing in your life should be your primary defining characteristic."

So, you getting your shorts in a wad over that because you are absurdly pedantic or grossly ignorant?

[John]

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-G.....d-Buybacks

DOJ memo; gun control ineffective without forced buybacks or in other words confiscation.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Why should they even bother with the "buyback" part? Why put up with the pretense of it? The fuckers should just get out the batons and swat tanks and just wrench that shit from our hands. Fucking bastards.

[John]

Yeah, the buy back part is almost insulting.

[db]

They like to think they're following the requirements of the Fourth Amendment by compensating the owner of the property.

[R C Dean]

That memo is slowly starting to get some traction. I think people are finally figuring out what it really says.

At first, it was "leaked" as a memo "criticizing" the current gun control proposals as being ineffective.

Now, people are starting to figure out that it was just laying the groundwork for registration and seizure of weapons, currently euphemized as "forced buybacks".

But gun owners are just paranoid, right?

This is why my Senators and Reps have all been told that if one single gun control law, no matter what, passes, I will be supporting their primary opponents. Period. No matter what else they say or do or how they vote. Kill gun control, or you are useless and should be replaced.

[John]

It says what the NRA and pretty much anyone who is pro gun and has a brain has been saying all along: gun control laws are designed to fail so that their failure can justify more gun control until the desired end of registration and confiscation is reached.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Not unlike healthcare "reform."

[Rich]

Goal: Reduce access to firearms by incentivizing owners to dispose of their unwanted guns

Don't worry, John. They're only going after *unwanted* guns.

[John]

You didn't really "want" that AR 15 you paid $1500 for did you?

[Rich]

Well, I certainly didn't "need" it! 8-(

[Drax the Destroyer]

I guess the difference between wanting something or not is the difference between being left alone or threatened with decades of prison rape.

[Matrix]

Liberal media will shut you down, stab you, kill you, and fire you if you disagree with them

Juan Williams

[wareagle]

fuck Juan Williams. He does shit like this and keeps sucking the Obama cock anyway.

[Tonio]

We need useful idiots, America's Most Versatile Boat Company guy.

[Matrix]

Senator Coburn calls on the president to initiate hiring freezes and stop touring the nation to save some money

HA!

I mostly like Coburn, but I have a hard time forgiving him for voting for TARP.

[John]

To which Obama responds,

"Well Senator, you tell Michelle that she can't take four vacations this year and might have to fly commercial."

[Anonymous Coward]

"The longer these cuts are in place, the bigger the impact will become," Obama said, adding that the cuts could be turned off "with just a little bit of compromise."

If Obama disagreed with the reductions in spending increases, why did he sign them in the first place?

[John]

Because the evil Rethuglicans forced him to.

[Loki]

"Well Senator, you tell Michelle that she can't take four vacations this year and might have to fly commercial."

...but be warned it's never wise to upset a Wookie.

[John]

Past first ladies never tore people's arms out of their sockets when told they couldn't vacation in Spain this year.

[John]

Crony capitalism and stealing, its not just for Democrats.

Members of an Iowa board charged with doling out millions to lure business to the state often work for companies that benefit from the incentive programs they oversee, an Iowa Watchdog review shows.

Additionally, Iowa Economic Development Authority board members donated thousands of dollars to political campaigns, including Gov. Terry Branstad, prior to their nominations to the board. The Republican governor led the charge to create the authority when he took office in 2011 and appointed its entire board, which has to gain final approval from a majority in the Iowa Senate.

The board selected dozens of companies in the past year to receive a combined $189 million in taxpayer money and tax breaks, with the goal of luring more business to Iowa and growing its economy. An Iowa Watchdog review of state campaign donor lists, legislation and records from the authority showed a majority of the money went to fund projects at existing businesses, rather than to land out-of-state or new companies.

[John]

The review found potential conflicts of interest among board members. Specifically, it showed six companies -- John Deere, Aviva USA, Monsanto, Cargill, Brownells Inc. and Interstate Companies -- received at least $39.6 million in tax incentives and state grants and loans, despite leaders from the respective companies serving on the authority's board. In exchange, the companies promised to create 983 jobs. State documents did not show a figure for the incentives received by Brownells.

http://news.nationalreview.com.....rdmembers/

[db]

Brownell's, huh?

[T]

Gee, you mean John Deere, Cargill, and Monsanto have the fix in Iowa? There's a shock. Why isn't ADM on the list?

Brownells was kind of a surprise. I thought they were in Idaho. Appraently I'm confused again.

[Drake]

One of those big, empty, "i" states.

[T]

It snows both places, which means it all blends together in my mind into one giant frozen tundra.

[Eduard van Haalen]

"received at least $39.6 million in tax incentives and state grants and loans, *despite* leaders from the respective companies serving on the authority's board" [emphasis added]

What do you mean "despite"?

[bostonaod]

What do you mean "despite"?

lol, no kidding.

[John]

Being a straight guy and not a gay man or a housewife, I didn't watch the Oscars. Was Seth McFarland really misogynistic or are women in the media just looking for an excuse to be butt hurt?

[Rich]

Let me answer that question by posing another: Did the women cited in the song willingly expose their own breasts?

[John]

Forgive me, I didn't watch the show. What song?

[Rich]

Hier.

Peace out.

[SugarFree]

He sang a song about which actresses took their tops off in which movies while the corpse of Captain Kirk hovered in the sky.

[John]

That doesn't sound sexist, it sounds stupid. That said, if Rush Limbaugh had done such a thing on his radio show, there would be a national uproar. Being liberal means you have a pass to be as racist and sexist as you want.

[Mr Whipple]

It's sort of like, blacks using the n-word.

[Kaptious Kristen]

Wommynz can't willingly do anything! We're all victims of teh patriarchal brainwashingz.

[SugarFree]

"This our comedy club. Humor here funny in different way. It no reinforce stereotypes. It based on character and real situations, not random zaniness."

[John]

WHA???

[SugarFree]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.....n_the_Mood

[Bobarian]

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is spongy and bruised.

Best Futurama line ever.

[Loki]

are women in the media just looking for an excuse to be butt hurt?

You mean they need an excuse?

[John]

http://www.reuters.com/article.....HJ20130226

John Kerry stands up and courageously defends the entire Democratic Party and all of its voters.

[LTC(ret) John]

"My bicycle and I were best friends."

[John]

http://washington.cbslocal.com.....porations/

If you have lost Keyne West you have lost, well I don't know, reality show America?

[Way Of The Crane]

"I hate business people," said West. "Since when was making art about getting rich?" Kanye asked the crowd.

In addition to being a musician, West is a film director, fashion designer and beau of reality television star Kim Kardashian.

What a humanitarian.

I just realized that there is ONE thing I agree with Obama on: Kanye West IS a Jackass.

[John]

He hates business people, but if I am not mistaken owns his own record label.

[Sevo]

John| 2.26.13 @ 10:19AM |#
"He hates business people, but if I am not mistaken owns his own record label."

What's more is that he married someone who'd broadcast her time on the can if it made a buck or two.

[Bobarian]

There are a lot of self haters in Hollyweird...

[h3k86qc35923]

"What you think I rap for, to push a fuckin' RAV4?"

[Mr Whipple]

Nikki Haley is a handsome woman.

[John]

For a politician she is down right gorgeous. But the standard for "gorgeous" in politics means "could you sleep with the person without suffering nightmares and PTSD for the rest of your life?"

[Mr Whipple]

I'm still debating that.

[Way Of The Crane]

I wouldn't kick her out of bed for eating crackers, but I probably wouldn't call her the next day either.

[John]

The fact that you not only wouldn't run away in horror but would actually not kick her out of bed, makes her gorgeous for a politician. Would you say the same about Nancy Pelosi? Jean Carnahan?

[Way Of The Crane]

The fact that you not only wouldn't run away in horror but would actually not kick her out of bed, makes her gorgeous for a politician.

I cannot fault your logic.

Would you say the same about Nancy Pelosi? Jean Carnahan?

I wouldn't even have sex with those women using Shrieks penis and with Tony pushing.

[Enough About Palin]

"Shrieks penis and with Tony pushing."

I'm guessing this happens more often than we'd like to believe.

[AlmightyJB]

It totally hit it. Several times.

[John]

Me too. But I really like Semitic women.

[Zeb]

I thought she was Indian.

[Redmanfms]

She is.

[John]

She is Sikh. I thought she was Lebanese. I like Indian women as well.

[lap83]

http://jezebel.com/5950013/hot.....ral-ladies

"The more gender-atypical the woman, in fact, the more likely she is to vote Democrat. Simplistic? Sure. Gross? Yeah. But super fascinating"

(Surveys with unpleasant findings are "gross" to liberals. Rotting vegetable matter and disease? Not so much.)

[lap83]

btw, this was not a recent article...just one I was reminded of because of the talk of the attractiveness of Nikki Haley, the tie-in to grossness was an interesting coincidence (per the other article on perceptions of grossness)

[Matrix]

from the comments
I call this look "compliant." If a woman is doing all the things that the Patriarchy wants her to do (waxing tanning surgically-enhancing fasting bleaching straightening lengthening smiling agreeing showcasing teetering juvaderming lasering etc), even if it actually doesn't add up to a particularly "pretty" package, there's a big plurality of men out there who will declare her hot. Because she's signalling that she's compliant.

It's a Patriarchal conspiracy!

[Alack]

Ah, but that's where she's wrong. See, to know that the woman is "compliant", you have to be cognizant of and understand the full desires and workings of the Patriarchy, and everyone knows that no one recognizes the Patriarchy until they take the requisite number of Women's Studies classes. Ergo, the men probably don't find the "compliant" woman to be hugely physically attractive, but realize that she's way closer to being in their league than, say, a super-model.

[John]

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/n.....f4wS324GhN

DC Comics kills off Robin. Didn't Robin come out of the closet a few years ago?

[Matrix]

out of the closet at 10? That's really young.

[jesse.in.mb]

Haven't there been several Robins?

[generic Brand]

1986's Jason Todd called... oh wait, he didn't, because he was already killed off.

[Mickey Rat]

He's gotten better.

[Virginian]

http://radioviceonline.com/new.....-molester/

NY Gun control laws rates possession of 11 round magazines as a worse crime then child molestation.

[Loki]

After stepping down, Benedict will be known as "Emeritus Pope," which means he'll probably hang around the place, nagging the new guy.

Which I'm sure the new guy will be thrilled at that prospect.

Atheism is illegal in many places and even subject to the death penalty. So, it apparently gets a bit worse than Christmas displays on the courthouse lawn.

And yet America is still the most bigoted, intolerant country on the planet...

[John]

But the places where they are hanging and burning atheists are alive are populated by groovy brown people. So its all good and nothing like the oppression atheists are subjected to by the evil fundies here in Amerikka!!

[LTC(ret) John]

Amerikan Taliban!

[Cytotoxic]

Here is an excellent article about the CIA's overblown involvement in the liberation of Iran from the clutches of Mossadeq.

http://opinion.financialpost.c.....-cia-coup/