Prince Is Dead, VW Settles with Justice Dept., Ukraine Bans Russian Movies: P.M. Links

• 

  Credit: Penner, Flickr

  R.I.P. Prince, dead at 57. The entirety of Generation X just stopped in its tracks.

• Pioneering former professional wrestler Joanie "Chyna" Laurer has also died, at age 45.
• The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Volkswagen over the emissions-concealing scandal with its diesel vehicles. It includes a buyback offer and could end up costing the company more than $10 billion.
• Two students are suing Kansas State University for civil rights violations for failing to investigate rape allegations at off-campus fraternities.
• Ukraine's president has banned any Russian movies produced after 2014 (when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula) from being shown in theaters in his country.
• Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel says he'll institute some reforms in how police misconduct is investigated, but will not disband the police review agency that many complain has helped shield officers from accountability.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

R.I.P. Prince, dead at 57.

First Vanity, now Prince? WHO'S NEXT?

[PBR Streetgang]

Maybe Morris Daye will be

*dons sunglasses*

out of Time

[Juvenile Bluster]

Morris Day and The TIme react. They has a sad.

(TW: Facebook link)

[Rich]

First *Scalia*, now Prince?

[A Cynic's Guide to Zen]

The Jurist Formerly Known as Scalia

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Hello.

"R.I.P. Prince, dead at 57. The entirety of Generation X just stopped in its tracks."

Er, no.

I have to work.

[yet another dave]

No shit, being old Gen x... the artist formerly known as prince sounded too much like disco... While we were busy killing disco. No need to thank me... I always asume the Dire Straights tune money for nuthin referenced him the best.

[Wizard with a Woodchipper]

Dire Straits lyrics were referencing mostly Sting and the Police I think.

[Lord Humungus]

yeah count me as not a Prince fan. I'll groove to an occasional "When Doves Cry" during 80s night, but I don't own any of his records.

[Wizard with a Woodchipper]

Raspberry Beret for me.

'In through the out door, out door...."

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I was informed Kirby Puckett went years ago. So there are no more black people in Minnesota.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

You didn't know that?

/flashes 'L' across forehead.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

You didn't know that?

/flashes 'L' across forehead.

There are two things in this world I don't follow:

1. Baseball.

2. Baseball in Minnesota.

[Libertymike]

Here's hoping the ghosts of Lyman Bostock and Harmon Killibrew haunt you.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I thought their first album was better.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Never been to Minneapolis, eh?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Sounds as though Thor and Olin are real people over there.

And they slap pucks around.

Speaking of pucks. I had the idea of Puck-O's. Chunks of clusters married with pucks and teeth made of marshmallow. Get it?

Would you eat it?

/dials up General Mills.

[bacon-magic]

Canadian humor, Eh? Kids in the Hall was funny...

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

IT'S MY HUMOR.

[Agammamon]

Humo*u*r.

[Chipwooder]

What about Karl-Anthony Towns?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Pioneering former professional wrestler Joanie "Chyna" Laurer has also died at age 45.

I guess Chyna was next.

[Rhombus Parallelogram, Jr.]

I guess Chyna...

(dons sunglasses)

...has just gone to Nixon.

YEEAAAAAAAH!!!

[Fist of Etiquette]

What's going on here?

[Rich]

Not bad.

*And* disrespectful.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Two students are suing Kansas State University for civil rights violations for failing to investigate rape allegations at off-campus fraternities.

First colleges are expected to police sexual behavior on campus. Now it's off campus? Is there a radius, or does the school get jurisdiction over their students anywhere in the world?

[Playa Manhattan.]

"prosecutors declined to file charges related to Weckhorst's allegations"

Uh huh.

[Raven Nation]

I assume they're making the claim because the alleged rape took place at a fraternity house.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

What about Alumni?

Schools should definitely be blamed for what their graduates do in the future.

This is all Harvard's fault.

[Agammamon]

Sure, why not. The USG gets jurisdiction over you anywhere in the world, claims taxes on your earnings anywhere in the world.

[Playa Manhattan.]

"The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Volkswagen over the emissions-concealing scandal with its diesel vehicles"

How much of that settlement will go to the actual victims?

[Rich]

Now, *that* is funny!

[Tonio]

It says the settlement includes buy-backs, so that goes all to the customers. But the fines disappear into the vast maw of the US Government.

[Playa Manhattan.]

10 to 1 the government is at the front of the line.

[Playa Manhattan.]

And, from Road and Track:

"In a report filed before today's court update, The New York Times estimated that a buyback could cost Volkswagen as much as $7 billion. The automaker also faces potential U.S. regulatory fines of up to $18 billion"

[HeteroPatriarch]

What actual victims?

[Playa Manhattan.]

The consumers who were defrauded?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Count me in on as one of those people who completely doesn't give a shit about miles per gallon and emissions figures when buying a car. I tune out and gloss over when they go over garbage like that.

I just need it to vroom-vroom and boom-boom (when needed).

[Playa Manhattan.]

I don't care either, but the people who bought those cars certainly do. They were lied to, and the cars they bought are now worthless.

[Mr. Flanders]

I woulda' been pissed. I almost bought a VW in 2014.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

You think? I'm not so sure but I do agree (in addition to the parasitical government looking for a shake down) they should be compensated - particularly those who bought and not leased. It was a cheap trick and they have to account - though those numbers you provided via R&T seem steep to me.

I bought a Golf Sportswagon TDI. They gave me $1000 in pre-paid cards.

Still don't give a shit.

Plus, I'm pretty sure there's plenty of hanky-panky going around.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Make that a company lease.

[DaveSs]

What would make me care is if the only option was a fix and that fix seriously messed with power and fuel economy.

Had mine in the mountains last year on vacation. Even at over 11,000 feet that thing wasn't lacking for get up and go, and it was still getting over 35MPG. My old 4cy gasser would lug around like I was dragging an pair of anchors any time I took it over 9,000 ft.

When you consider that even while violating EPA rules its still putting out about 85-95% less NOX and other nastiness than a comparable diesel engine from the 80s or 90s I would still consider it a pretty damn clean engine.

That said, I'm not gonna turn anything down that they offer assuming I find it more valuable than my present condition.

[Mad Scientist]

Altitude barely matters when you have forced induction.

[invisible finger]

No, they were not lied to. GOVERNMENT was lied to, the consumers actually got a car that was more efficient than what the claims were. The only problem with the increased efficiency is that it actually fails government's phony-baloney tests.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I don't care either, but the people who bought those cars certainly do. They were lied to, and the cars they bought are now worthless.

I'm not sure they're worthless.

[Sevo]

"The consumers who were defrauded?"

They were, but at 100,000 miles, I'm guessing the monetary damages are, oh, $2K or so, and they should be compensated.
But I'll bet the biggest whine is the loss of Gaia-cred for failing to own the greenest car of the lot.

[Sevo]

"They were lied to, and the cars they bought are now worthless.'

OK, point taken.
They were defrauded in that regard and should receive the difference in value.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

He's right about the value. That has to be made whole.

[Sevo]

Woulda' been decent if "60 Minutes" had made my then GF whole after they lied and trashed the value of her Audi 5000.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

60 Minutes are assholes.

[Bubba Jones]

The consumers who got higher mpg than advertised? None of them give a fuck about NOx

[Tonio]

Fraud is a problem. But having said that, it was not a truly free market where they could have said "fuck that, we're making the best car we can even if it doesn't meet arbitrary government diktats."

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Fun fact, Europe is now thinking of employing the same diktats as the U.S. government, because it appears that VW didn't really break any European laws. So laws to be broken must get passed.

[Ted S.]

There were no victims.

[Playa Manhattan.]

No victims? Go buy a TDI at blue book. Then try and sell it.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Don't worry, Bluebook will catch up quickly.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Does this mean I can get a sweet deal on a Golf GTI? Cuz I have always wanted a hot hatch and could give a shit about the emissions kerfuffle.

[Playa Manhattan.]

I don't think they can be resold until a retrofit.

[invisible finger]

No victims? Go buy a TDI at blue book. Then try and sell it.

Go ahead, I'll wait.

No different than ANY other car. You want some kid of government guarantee of resale value? Go take your socialism elsewhere.

[Playa Manhattan.]

No different than any other car, EXCEPT FOR THE FRAUD.

Yawn. Troll better.

[invisible finger]

Again, what consumer fraud?

If government convinces enough consumers they were defrauded by VW, which then artificially changes the supply/demand government, does that mean the consumer was actually defrauded?

I'm sorry you bought into government propaganda on this one, Playa. Calling me names won't change that fact even if it does make you feel superior.

[Playa Manhattan.]

Volkswagen made claims about their cars that were materially false. And these weren't subjective claims like "this car is a pussy magnet". They said "this car puts out X amount of performance with Y amount of emissions". It said so right on the window sticker of each car on the dealer lot. They knew that the claims were untrue when they built the cars, and they knew the claims were untrue when they sold the cars to consumers.. It can be proven beyond a doubt that the deceit was intentional and that they cheated on the tests.

There's plenty of room for debate on the extent of the fraud, what the damages are (most likely in the thousands of dollars PER VEHICLE), and the validity of the EPA regulations (I think they're bullshit.)

There's also plenty of room for debate about what to do about it. 500,000 individual lawsuits? Class action? Buyback forced by the government? I don't know.

You know where there isn't room for debate? Whether or not consumer fraud occurred. It absolutely did. Every single consumer who purchased one those vehicles was knowingly and willfully defrauded.

I hope this clears thing up. I'm not interested in quoting the dictionary right now.

[paranoid android]

^ Seconded. Every word. I'm a little bowled over by the number of people just brushing it off with "Well, I don't care about the emissions of a car I drive, therefore this can't be fraud" as if that's some kind of argument.

[Bubba Jones]

I always thought the "real world" mpg claims were bullshit. Now that they have been proven true, I bet the value of an unmodified tdi will go up.

[Mr Drew]

Amen. I don't care about mpg but there are plenty who do and they were materially defrauded.

That said, I do love to see a hippie cry.

[DaveSs]

I think customers are by and large going to come out ahead in the long run.
Buyback and allegedly an additional cash payment...I saw one figure of up to 5,000

Depending on the details I may even take the deal and go for a Golf Alltrack if it ever comes with a manual trans option.
It hits several marks that my 2012 JSW fell short on.

[Agammamon]

Yo mean the people who got their cars screwed up when they took them into service and the 'engine fix' was included without being told?

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Two students are suing Kansas State University for civil rights violations for failing to investigate rape allegations at off-campus fraternities.

Law & Order, KSU.

[Sevo]

Breaking NEWS!!!!
"Firms that paid for Clinton speeches have US gov't interests"
[...]
"The AP's review of federal records, regulatory filings and correspondence showed that almost all the 82 corporations, trade associations and other groups that paid for or sponsored Clinton's speeches have actively sought to sway the government ? lobbying, bidding for contracts, commenting on federal policy and in some cases contacting State Department officials or Clinton herself during her tenure as secretary of state."
http://coloradosprings.com/fir.....eed/339985

Did AP grow a set?

[Tonio]

I'm shocked, shocked, do you hear...

[Restoras]

*hands Tonio fistfuls of cash*

Your winnings, sir.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

This will be quietly removed and the author promptly unpersonned.

[Tonio]

Phake Scandul!!!1! Teabaggerz!

[Fist of Etiquette]

And here I thought they were paying all that money just to hear her talk.

[Sevo]

I'm guessing you never heard that gasbag.

[Fist of Etiquette]

It includes a buyback offer and could end up costing the company more than $10 billion.

Adjusting data? Hiding declines? Who do they think they are?

[Tonio]

[golf clap]

[Mr Lizard]

[VW Golf Clap]

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Ukraine's president has banned any Russian movies produced after 2014 (when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula) from being shown in theaters in his country.

Now THAT'S how you fight tyranny.

[Jerry on the rocks]

No Leviathan in Ukraine!

[Sevo]

Hey, it worked for the French, right? I mean, we're all watching "The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoise" in repeats.

[Ted S.]

Directed by a Spaniard.

(And an overrated movie, too.)

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

And an overrated movie,

We assumed that at "French".

[Ted S.]

You should see "Day for Night". Or "Eyes Without a Face".

[The Last American Hero]

What about films smuggled in by the Man From High Kremlin?

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Did anyone know Kristin Tate gets creepy comments on her website?

[Playa Manhattan.]

That's amateur country.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

There are a lot of creepy comments about her over at this site too!

Bunch a perverts.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

I suspect the number of creepy comments saw a significant uptick this afternoon.

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Well, Crusty allegedly left one that's awaiting moderation, so...

[Playa Manhattan.]

Those are moderated?

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

I had the same reaction. Why are you moderating comments and letting those ones through?

[Agammamon]

Because you get desensitized? Imagine what the deleted ones were like.

Or she accepts this as the price of being a moderately (sorry - she ain't bad looking just not comment worthy looking) good looking woman in this business.

[Agammamon]

Or because her comment section would be dead if it weren't for comments on her looks.

[LynchPin1477]

God help that moderator.

[Crusty Juggler]

Allegedly? How dare you!

[bacon-magic]

She wants creepy comments, she's big L Libertarian.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

R.I.P. Prince, dead at 57. The entirety of Generation X just stopped in its tracks.

Game, blouses.

[Rhombus Parallelogram, Jr.]

R.I.P. Prince, dead at 57. The entirety of Generation X just stopped in its tracks.
Pioneering former professional wrestler Joanie "Chyna" Laurer has also died at age 45.

These things are supposed to happen in threes. One was a tiny elf-man, the other a gargantuan Amazon. What's the third member of a group like that?

[Juvenile Bluster]

QUICK EVERYONE PROTECT PETER DINKLAGE

[Chipper Morning Wood]

He is safe, he has plot armor.

[BiMonSciFiCon]

Idk, plot armor has holes in that series.

[Ted S.]

Goldfinger director Guy Hamilton has died aged 93.

[Crusty Juggler]

*pours a little out for the man who brought us Pussy Galore*

[Ted S.]

Honor Blackman is still alive at 90.

[Tonio]

Pussy Galore was in Ian Fleming's novel.

[Crusty Juggler]

YOUR FACTS ARE STUPID

[Greg Loves His Woodchipper]

I was thinking "masculine woman" and "feminine man". But I have no idea what the 3rd one is there either.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Has anyone seen Sugarfree?

[Mad Scientist]

And lived to talk about it? Not that I'm aware.

[The Hyperbole]

an ambiguous androgyne?

[SugarFree]

I pondered this question on an earlier thread:

SugarFree|4.21.16 @ 1:26PM|#

Big girl with a big clit, a little man with a big dick... so the third is either a little woman with a big clit, a large man with a small dick or a medium-sized, medium endowed hermaphrodite.

[PBR Streetgang]

So long as Lou Reed isn't next, I think we'll be okay.

[Agammamon]

Doris Roberts.

[Playa Manhattan.]

"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel says he'll institute some reforms in how police misconduct is investigated,"

Have they figured out which officer was using the word "nigger" on the police radio? Or is that still under investigation?

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

I remember when a pilot was talking about how much he wanted to fuck his flight attendants over the radio and was fired immediately.

Apparently we can't expect cops to be held to the same standard, even when they engage in worse behavior

[Chipwooder]

That must have been a while back. It's been a long time since anyone wanted to fuck a flight attendant, probably long enough ago that it was a stewardess he wanted to fuck.

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Sorry, you're right. I just looked it up and what he actually said is "God these flight attendants are ugly cows. I wish they were hotter so I could have some damn eye candy" or something like that.

[Tonio]

Oh, Irish, I started flying commerically in the 1960's (yes, old) when the stewardesses were uniformly young and attractive.

[Playa Manhattan.]

If you're talking about the Southwest pilot, he complained about all of the "Grannies and Fags" that he had to work with.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Noice.

[Rhywun]

I've heard that "fags" is just a generic, anodyne insult - doesn't mean anything.

[Playa Manhattan.]

Even in reference to a flight attendant?

I think this was the traditional meaning.

[paranoid android]

A few months back I spent 20 hours on a mostly-empty Lufthansa flight being waited on by a Heidi Klum doppelganger, so evidently the good ones all moved to Europe.

[Libertymike]

What was she wearing?

[bacon-magic]

Khakis.

[Playa Manhattan.]

A smile.

[Playa Manhattan.]

They're still "investigating". Even though it's Motorola trunked radio and they know exactly which radio was used and who it it was issued to.

[Mad Scientist]

What they're really investigating is how long they have to wait before blowing it off.

[Tonio]

It takes time to erase all those records, Playa.

[Playa Manhattan.]

They even tried to claim that it was a pirate broadcast, but they very quickly backed off that claim.

[Rich]

I remember when a pilot was talking about how much he wanted to fuck his flight attendants over the radio and was fired immediately.

A pilot gave his greetings to the passengers but forgot to switch off. He's then heard throughout the plane: "I sure could use a blowjob and a cup of coffee right now." A flight attendant goes running toward the cockpit before anything worse is heard, but a passenger yells "Hey, don't forget his coffee!"

[Tonio]

Ha!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Two students are suing Kansas State University for civil rights violations for failing to investigate rape allegations at off-campus fraternities.

I'm suing those two students for raping the term "civil rights".

[A Cynic's Guide to Zen]

"'Non consensual heavy petting' of civil rights, at least."

[Sevo]

"Why Did Congo Offer Clinton $650,000 For Two Pics And A Speech?"
[...]
"Congo, one of the poorest nations on Earth, offered former President Bill Clinton a speaking fee of $650,000?
[...]
"What did it expect in return for its investment?"
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ri.....e21b323f11

Oh, gosh! That's a toughy! How much time do I have to figure it out?

[Playa Manhattan.]

I'm going to go with mining of some sort. I don't know much about the Congo.

[Sevo]

I don't either, but I know most foreign aid payments end up enriching the government thugs, so I'm going with a pitch to increase aid.

[invisible finger]

Wasn't this an episode of Yes, Minister?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

The forecast is calling for rain.

If it turns purple I'm gonna totally freak out like it's 1999.

[bacon-magic]

Remember to wear your Raspberry Beret.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

I have to cover my Little Red Corvette though.

[Anomalous]

There will be a Cherry Moon tonight.

[Pat (PM)]

Nevermind that shit, it's Ubuntu Release Day

Canonical has announced the availability of Ubuntu 16.04. The new version of Ubuntu is a long term support release, meaning it will receive security updates for the next five years. Some of the big changes in this release include support for the "snap" package format; Snappy packages can be installed alongside traditional Deb packages. Python 2 is no longer installed by default, but can be found in the distribution's software repositories. This release is the first to feature built-in ZFS support. "Ubuntu 16.04 LTS introduces a new application format, the 'snap', which can be installed alongside traditional Deb packages. These two packaging formats live quite comfortably next to one another and enable Ubuntu to maintain its existing processes for development and updates."

Don't care much for the snap format. Keeping the userland repos on a different update cycle than the kernel and utilities would accomplish the same thing without as much drive space wasted on maintaining parallel versions of a million libraries.

But that's me.

[HeteroPatriarch]

I didn't understand any of those words.

[Medical Physics Guy]

I have been using Ubuntu for years and even I don't know what snap format means. I also thought LTS was two years not 5.

I don't find the LTS designation that useful. Inevitably Ubuntu updates start breaking packages unless one does rolling dist upgrades. It's one of the flaws in the Ubuntu-verse.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

"Unbuntu Release" sounds like a good euphemism.

[Pat (PM)]

I have been using Ubuntu for years and even I don't know what snap format means.

I haven't dug that far into all the technical details, but superficially it sounds very similar to the MS installer format and accompanying design orthodoxy of including an application and all of its libraries together as a stand-alone package. The idea being that you can upgrade certain userland programs in a LTS release without compromising the stability by breaking old libraries.

[Trshmnstr, terror of the trash]

The idea being that you can upgrade certain userland programs in a LTS release without compromising the stability by breaking old libraries.

As in every application is sandboxed from all the others??? That may be a good idea. Nothing's more fun than running into a dependency hell situation where the only fix is to edit the source of one of your programs. (Lazy coders: Don't rely on deprecated functions!!!)

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

It's ok, it's a Linux thing-- which should be relegated to your smart phone and whatever embedded appliances in your server room that have web front ends.

[KDN]

Spoken like a true operations manager.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Network admin. I try to avoid systems (servers) when possible. It's not truly possible because in my particular job there's a lot of crossover, but I still try to avoid it. Sorry, broheim, no idea why your group policy is fucked up... but my network shit? Tight as a welldigger's ass in the Klondike.

[LynchPin1477]

Aw man, I totally forgot.

Did they end up releasing a new Kubuntu? I know there was some drama with the development team...

[LynchPin1477]

I see that they have, using a volunteer team. I've noticed some little bugs since Plasma5, but I've stuck it out. We'll see how the new release is. Not really a big fan of Unity or Gnome*, though.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Ubuntu Mate is great. Have you tried? I never looked back.

[LynchPin1477]

Was never a huge fan of Gnome or it's derivatives.

[Pat (PM)]

I've been using openSuse Leap since it dropped. KDE is well integrated and I haven't had any showstoppers with Plasma5 (knock on wood).

For alternative desktops, Xubuntu and Lubuntu are also very good.

[tarran]

I'm running Kubuntu 14.10. Should I make the leap to the latest version?

[LynchPin1477]

It's slick and there are no major bugs. I'm just picky.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Meh. I was never really into Pok?mon.

[LynchPin1477]

You're so original

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Putting in a link was too much work. Figured enough people would get the reference

[John]

Prince and David Bowie are dead yet Nickleback plays on. Tell me there is not a vengeful God who punishes us for our sins.

[Rhombus Parallelogram, Jr.]

Both members of Air Supply are still alive.

[PBR Streetgang]

Look, all they need is just a little more time.

[invisible finger]

There is actually an Air Supply and Lou Reed connection. (Guitarist Dick Wagner)

[Jerry on the rocks]

In the end, Keith Richards will survive us all.

[John]

He was sent to us by God to make up for what was coming in the form of Nickleback.

[Mickey Rat]

Does undead count as surviving?

[Anomalous]

Keith Richards is indestructible.

[invisible finger]

NIckelback is God's way of showing you how badly you need salvation.

[John]

Put on a Nickelback CD and behold the wrath of an angry God.

[Medical Physics Guy]

Nickelback is putting on an arena concert here in Berlin. (yes we moved) I wonder if this is a Hasselhoff type phenomenon.

[John]

They typical German is usually pretty smart and educated. But my God do they gravitate to the worst of American pop culture.

[grrizzly]

This is what the lack of the federal ministry of culture does to the people. Compare it to the enlightened French who would never do that: their ministry of culture fights valiantly against invasion of the low-class American so-called culture.

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

That explains why the French would never love low-brow American films like the work of Jerry Lewis.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Quebec engages in the same bull shit theater.

They call American culture 'low'. I like to reply, 'Gee, how low is ours then?"

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Europeans in general are nowhere near as cultured as people like to pretend. If you go to continental Europe it's amazing what percentage of the music they play is mediocre American or British pop.

[John]

Exactly. The worst stuff you can imagine.

[Guestus III]

Eastern Europe tends to love even more ludicrous American stuff, but at least they don't put on airs about high and low culture. I am fairly certain Flo-Rida is the equivalent of Prince in a certain country I was in not too long ago...

[Tuan Jim]

+1 Eurovision

[Rhywun]

Germany is the home base for certain kinds of electronic music that I like to listen to, so it's not all awful American imports.

[But Enough About Me]

Oi!

Nickelback's the worst of Canadian pop culture, thankyouverymuch.

/pouty face

[sloopyinTEXAS]

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel says he'll institute some reforms in how police misconduct is investigated, but will not disband the police review agency that many complain has helped shield officers from accountability.

Oh shit! He's sure to lose the black vote now. Right?

[invisible finger]

If only we could vote via Twitter.

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

He actually probably would lose the black vote if he ran against Chuy Garcia again. His approval rating among blacks is like 20%. There was a poll recently that showed black people want him to resign 51% to 40%.

[Tak Kak]

http://www.king5.com/news/crim...../145364998

Tolerance or else!

(Sorry if it's already been posted)

[Rich]

Surveillance video released Wednesday captures the last moments of a popular hotel cocktail server who was punched and knocked unconscious, landing in a Near North crosswalk. The footage also shows more than a dozen bystanders failing to come to his aid in the nearly two minutes before a cab accidentally drives over him.

At least this nut punch is kind of refreshing.

Seriously, WTF is wrong with people? 8-(

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Why the fuck did those people run over to him and then leave him lying in the street? Jesus Christ.

[Chipwooder]

Because they were robbing him. They

[Chipwooder]

cont....they were going through his pockets

[John]

That is just depressing.

[Irish ?s Lauren Southern]

Forget it, John, it's Chicagoland.

[invisible finger]

Getting involved only makes you a suspect. Modern policing for ya.

[Gene]

Every day my misanthropy seems more justifiable.

[Crusty Juggler]

Afghanistan's Failed Goat Farm Is the Perfect American Disaster

[Brett L]

The government could fuck up running a brothel, eh?

[AceDroman]

Pfffft Hahaha

[Whahappan?]

Well, they did manage to bankrupt OTB in NY, of course with a monopoly, so...

[John]

http://www.vox.com/2016/4/21/1.....liberalism

Vox publishes really good article. The apocalypse is upon us. There is also a smug style of American conservatism. It wasn't very apparent until Trump showed up. And the conservative response to Trump has been one giant exercise in smug social signalling. They just have National Review instead of the Daily Show.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I skimmed the first couple of paragraphs. It seems the author has just totally missed the rise and dominance of progressivism over liberalism on the left. The fact that he still calls it 'liberalism' is telling.

[LynchPin1477]

The Department of Justice has reached a settlement with Volkswagen over the emissions-concealing scandal with its diesel vehicles. It includes a buyback offer and could end up costing the company more than $10 billion.

Luckily for my wife and I, VW already paid us back by giving us an outstanding deal on a sweet new Golf because we had previously owned a Jetta. I wasn't a fan of the Jetta, but damn did they do a good job with the Golf.

Yeah, VW committed fraud and that's not cool at all, but still...competitive markets, bitches!

[Chipwooder]

My dad has a Passat TDI. It's a pretty nice car. I might have to look into picking one up since they're dirt cheap now.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

They're giving them away. I hear as much as $6000 off.

People have a funny way of showing how they care for the environment, huh?

[Crusty Juggler]

How the Ninja Burglar Finally Slipped?After 160 Perfect Crimes

Spoiler: he is kind of a big jerk.

[Rich]

Should be made into a movie. I'd see it.

[Crusty Juggler]

They are going to have to keep the rapes out of it, though. Unless that is what you want.

[Rich]

No rapes would be acceptable.

[Agammamon]

That's . . . very ambiguous.

[AlmightyJB]

You forgot the comma

[Mr Lizard]

STEVE SMITH NOT GIVE ARTISTIC LICSENE

[DOOMco]

OT.
Picked my first Yale dimple padlock open just now.
Need to get the second one for this gun case I'm working on.

[Citizen X]

These masturbation euphemisms are getting pretty abstract.

[Playa Manhattan.]

I pick padlocks all the time. With boltcutters.

[DOOMco]

Can't on these, they have the guard. I could have used an angle grinder, but didn't want to burn the pelican case. That, and I've never been able to pick a padlock like this.

[Mr Drew]

For me, padlocks are the worst for some reason. I have a serious hole in my game that I keep putting off addressing.
Props!

[Crusty Juggler]

Vancouver Prescriptions for Addicts Gain Attention as Heroin and Opioid Use Rises

Mr. Napio is one of 110 chronic addicts with prescriptions for diacetylmorphine hydrochloride, the active ingredient in heroin, which he injects three times a day at Crosstown as part of a treatment known as heroin maintenance. The program has been so successful at keeping addicts out of jail and away from emergency rooms that its supporters are seeking to expand it across Canada. But they have been hindered by a tangle of red tape and a yearslong court battle reflecting a conflict between medicine and politics on how to address drug addiction.

[Tak Kak]

Heroin Alley in Vancouver made my entire trip.

[Thymirus]

Governments have been broadening and intensifying ridiculous, wrackful environmental regulations that adversely affect the esthetics and functionality of vehicles. They yield, with ever-greater frequency, underpowered and boring, generic cars. As if this were insufficiently immoral and destructive, a great many of the most modern governmental restrictions concerned with vehicle manufacture are actually unrealistic. Regulators seem to think that because they wish it to be thus, it shall manifest spontaneously. Reality doesn't bend to the daydreams of petty bureaucrats.

[Tonio]

Wrackful?

[Sevo]

Looks cromulent to me...

[Thymirus]

Ain't you ever heard of a rack?

http://s31.postimg.org/w3pl7h8e3/804.jpg

[Crusty Juggler]

*clicks link and instantly vomits*

[Thymirus]

I promise I'll come up with something for you next time.

[invisible finger]

Then you have the states bitching about the gas tax because the car are so fuel efficient. The actual state of the union is that the individual states hate the central government more now than at any time since the end of the Civil War.

[Thymirus]

How about we abolish fuel taxes, nullify all vehicle manufacture standards and regulations, and buttfuck protectionist policies in the industry out of existence? Do that, and watch the variety and awesomeness roll off assembly lines/people's garages.

Fuck the government.

[The Last American Hero]

Do I have to wear spiked shoulder pads and a mohawk in this new world or can I just mod-out my Mad-Max car and still wear dockers and a polo?

[Crusty Juggler]

Why I do not want to share a bathroom with women: they be crazy.

Girl, 16, dies after being 'jumped by a gang of bullies' in her school bathroom

[Tonio]

Surely this would have never happened if we hadn't let the trannies in!

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

That is absolutely tragic and disturbing.

Poor girl. RIP.

[Mickey Rat]

What the hell is wrong with some people?

[Thymirus]

Nothing seven rounds of .40 S&W won't fix.

[John]

This is worse than the waiter guy getting killed.

[Crusty Juggler]

Meet the 11-year-old girl whose letter to President Obama led to plans for the first woman on US currency in more than a century

Ugh. Kids, what don't they ruin?

[A Cynic's Guide to Zen]

Nothing says "put the cultural albatross to rest" like keeping the "genocidal racist" on the same note as a gun toting republican.

No one will ever question American equality policy again. "We get rid of alleged racism by partially erasing some tangentially related historical images from our hard-form currency, which is gradually phasing out of use." E.g. Statues of Southerners, flags of conquered secessionists, surnames that might be "triggering."

If only there was this, like, series of tubes, that contained images and data, just in case some potentially offended racist-watch volunteer musters the synaptic strength to question authority. You know, just for like, balance or whatever.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Is it bad I looked up Chyna doing porn?

[bacon-magic]

As long as it wasn't recently made...necrophilia is a crime even for the Free Folk north of the Wall.

[Mickey Rat]

But their dead are kind of lively...

[Brochettaward]

I saw that video with X-Pac when I was an adolescent. It scarred me for life. It looked like one of those angry spitting mini-raptors from the Jurassic Park. Or a small penis.

[Cytotoxic]

...what?

[Trshmnstr, terror of the trash]

Like this.

[AlmightyJB]

I'd be disappointed in you if you didn't.

[Brochettaward]

Everyone is talking about Prince, but the 9th Wonder of the World died today, and no one is mentioning it?

[gaoxiaen]

??

[Sevo]

"President Barack Obama released a statement Thursday saying he and his wife "joined millions of fans from around the world" in mourning Prince's sudden death."
http://www.sfgate.com/news/art.....287678.php

Guy never misses a chance to grab the spotlight, does he?

[Libertymike]

Have you ever wondered how Obama would look with a raspberry beret?

[lap83]

The kind you find in a second-hand store?

[Sevo]

No, I haven't. But I'll give him a raspberry anyhow.

[Crusty Juggler]

But I'll give him a raspberry anyhow

According to urbandictionary (a site which Sevo constantly checks), a raspberry is:

when you blow directly on someone's bare skin resulting in a tickling sensation for the other person and makes a 'farting' sound, usually done on ones stomache

Ew.

[Playa Manhattan.]

I think he means strawberry. At least I hope.

It's a laceration you get from sliding into a base (in actual baseball, not a sex reference).

[Crusty Juggler]

It's a laceration you get from sliding into a base

We called that a raspberry.

[Playa Manhattan.]

Agree that you're wrong.

Blowing on a baby's stomach to make to make him laugh is a raspberry.

It's also a fruit that's good in smoothies and with chocolate, but that's not important right now.

[Crusty Juggler]

Blowing on a baby's stomach to make to make him laugh is a raspberry.

I do not commiserate with any human under the age of four, so I have no other choice but to believe you.

[Crusty Juggler]

Commiserate? What the hell? I am done for the day.

[Mad Scientist]

No, you dorks, it works like this.

[Sevo]

AKA a Bronx cheer.

[Playa Manhattan.]

photoshopped

[AlmightyJB]

Ohio State moves to trademark Woody Hayes.

http://nbc4i.com/2016/04/21/oh.....ody-hayes/

[Pat (PM)]

Air Force Says Disclosing Bomber's Secret Cost Would Aid Enemies

The Air Force won't make public the contract value of Northrop Grumman Corp.'s winning bid for the B-21 bomber, saying that would make it "decisively easier" for U.S. adversaries to determine the stealth aircraft's range and weapons payload.

There is a "strong correlation between the cost of an air vehicle and its total weight," Randall Walden, director of the Air Force's secretive Rapid Capabilities Office, which is overseeing the B-21 program, wrote in a letter to Senator John McCain, chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee.

"This correlation makes calculating aircraft range and payload decisively easier for our adversaries looking to develop countermeasures," Waldon wrote in the letter dated April 11 and obtained by Bloomberg News. He said the information has been provided to congressional staff "in the appropriate classified channels."

[DJF]

It would aid the enemies of the bombers secret cost.

[Not an Economist]

Cost is strongly correlated to the size of the aircraft so that is true.

[Cytotoxic]

Looks like Canada is going to legalize MJ in a year, and Mexico is loosening restrictions. Yeah. Libertarian Moment.

[Rich]

Good thing MJ is "legal" here, huh?

[Notorious UGCC]

Metallica, heck yeah!

And it's always better with twins!

[AlmightyJB]

Those are some mighty talented fingers.

[Karinka]

Want to meet a girl? Welcome to http://goo.gl/mxiosK
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[annmoore0001]

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[carolflores0001]

uptil I saw the bank draft four $8760 , I be certain ...that...my sister woz actually bringing in money part time from there labtop. . there neighbour had bean doing this 4 only about eighteen months and resently cleard the depts on there home and bourt a top of the range Chrysler ....

Clik This Link inYour Browser....

? ? ? ? http://www.Reportmax20.com

[Chipwooder]

I remember going to New Orleans once with a chick from Minnesota. When we first got off the interstate, driving around town, her eyes were bugging out - "I've never seen so many black people before in person!"

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Well he is funny.

[Pay up, Palin's Buttplug!]

The number of progressives is inversely proportional to the number of non-whites in a community.

[Chipwooder]

I should clarify, however, that she was from a smaller town than Minneapolis.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

It's a Chris Rock line. Stolen, 100%.

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

http://www.hark.com/clips/ypyt.....by-puckett

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

The GTI is a bomb.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Who are you? Amy Schumer?

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Remember, who came up with the idea when you see it on the shelves after they steal it from me after reading it here.

I wonder if this will stick in court when I challenge.

[Thymirus]

I've an intense dislike for German cars, but I've never heard a single owner of any German vehicle complain about their quality, which is, in itself, amazing.

[Crusty Juggler]

Volkswagens used to have a reputation for having a lot of electrical problems.

[KDN]

The mid-2000's Jettas were pieces of shit. Not sure if they got better.

[The Last American Hero]

VW Beetles are shit. I know 3 owners that regretted the decision.

I know 2 people that had relatively minor problems with BMW 3's that cost a mint, especially given how minor the issues were.

I know one guy who had an S4 - loved the car, but the repair bills required having your mortgage broker on speed dial and the repairs were not infrequent.

[Trshmnstr, terror of the trash]

My wife had a Jetta that randomly burst into flames. I don't know much about it (it was before I was in the picture), but she said she loved the car minus the pyrotechnics.

[JaimeRoberto]

My 2000 Jetta had a bunch of problems until I started doing my own work on it. Maybe it's just a coincidence, and I started working on it just when all the faults were being shaken out. Or maybe their service department just wants to pull ever more money out of the customers.

[LynchPin1477]

That was the case with the '06 Jetta my wife had. Along with other signs of generally poor quality. Though we never had a catastrophic problem.

But the new designs are so nice I was willing to give it another go. And the reviews have been excellent so far.

[Rufus The Monocled Derp Slayer]

Yes, they do have such problems. And their engines have been known to have problems. Thymirus is actually pointing to how sometimes some cars are overpraised.

We've had VWs (and BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the family) since the late 70s.I can tell you they're not infallible and do have problems.

[Thymirus]

But does it come with a coffeemaker?

[Rhywun]

I hope it doesn't taste like the beach.

[Mad Scientist]

I used to own a Mercedes that I LOVED but several times a year the car needed at least $1500 in repairs. At the time, it all seemed worth it because the thing was so damn wonderful, but in retrospect I'd never buy another one.

[C. Anacreon]

What about all the Somalis in Minnesota?

You'd think they'd like the idea of the sticks, it reminds them of what houses are made of back home.

[Playa Manhattan.]

Does your wife have a life insurance policy?
No reason.