A.M. Links: Trump Threatens General Motors With 'Big Border Tax,' ISIS Claims Responsibility for Nightclub Attack in Turkey

• 

  Gage Skidmore / Flickr.com

  Donald Trump: "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!"

• ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly New Year's Day attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Turkish officials have released a video of the suspected gunman in the New Year's Day attack. That suspect is still at large.
• WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.
• At least 56 prisoners are dead after a 17-hour prison riot in Brazil.

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

"General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!"

And then Mexico also pay!

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

I still haven't figured out the fucking secret yet. Usually I'm pretty good at logic puzzles.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Why would you want it? The knowledge carries a burden no man should have to bear.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

That's OK - I'm a chick.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Oh, I'm sorry. I guess it threw me when you said you were good at logic puzzles.

[Citizen X]

Eugene "Fist of Etiquette" Longtorso

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Sick burn, dude

[Fist of Etiquette]

But on whom?

[straffinrun]

Kill the damn Nazgul, KK. Do it now.

[Citizen X]

That is a pretty nerdy masturbation euphemism.

[Francisco d'Anconia]

I believe the correct phraseology is, "I AM NO MAN!"

[Juvenile Bluster]

"Me not like offshoring" - PEOTUS

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hello.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Morning Rufus.

On my last day off before heading back to work tomorrow. If I don't find a new job soon I'm not going to need one, because I'm going to be dead of a heart attack.

tl;dr: Fuck biglaw.

[Atanarjuat]

Life's too short.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hey man, the Eagles beat the Cowboys. It's all good.

[Citizen X]

I've had a rough day, and i hate the fuckin' Eagles, man!

[invisible furry hand]

Fuck you man. If you don't like my fuckin' H&R get your own fuckin' website!

[Citizen X]

-1 toe

[Elspeth Flashman]

Their songs are the worst. I mean "Take it Easy?" Lord help me.

[Jerryskids]

The Iggles beat the Tony Romo-led Cowgirls. That's so sweet I think I caught the diabeetus.

[WTF]

And the Giants knocked Washington out of the playoffs even though the game was meaningless to the Giants. Fuck you, Snyder!

[gaoxiaen]

NEEDZ MOAR JOHATHON E!

[OneOut]

The Romo led Cowboys ?

Romo played one drive and quickly threw a td pass.

The Iggles beat the Cowboys 2nd string led by 3rd string Mark Sanchez.

You guys post like Slate headlines.

[R C Dean]

I feel your pain, JB. Come to the light! Come in-house!

[Booger Cannibal]

SEEK MUNICIPAL ATTY JOBBBO

SMALL CITY

BAD MONEY EASY HOURS

LOCAL POLITICS SO FUNNNYYY HEHEHE

[Elspeth Flashman]

Fight the man and go solo. The air is fresh and clear up here, and I can fire clients at will.

[Mr Drew]

Aren't you a lawyer?

[Elspeth Flashman]

Yes. I have a solo practice.

[AceDroman]

Come get a job at my lab. Probably make 10% of your salary now but fuck it it's easy.

[commodious lies and cheats]

I'll take it. My employment prospects are scraping the bottom of the barrel and I'm sick of college.

[AceDroman]

Come to Tampa and I got you

[commodious lies and cheats]

Oh, God. Florida. I've heard all about that place.

*shudders*

[AceDroman]

It was 88 degrees on new years day. Just saying. Also, women.

[AceDroman]

And if that doesn't tickle your fancy we shoot 2x4s at windows all day.

[commodious lies and cheats]

o_O You have piqued my interest. Hurricane proofing?

[AceDroman]

Yep. I test all fenestration for product approval and a lot of folks want hurricane rating which requires 2x4 impacts. Our lab does a ton of other product categories (roofing, paints, coatings, asphalt, among others) but mostly within the building construction industry.

[commodious lies and cheats]

Neat stuff. I am on the other, much less prestigious end of things: building construction. Mostly framing.

[AceDroman]

We hire anyone from high school grads to do manual stuff to professional engineers. A framer would fit in perfectly tbh.

[Jerryskids]

Trump did not add that GM is a failing car company led by dumb businessmen who are bad negotiators. Sad.

[Jerryskids]

Of course, I just saw where GM gave some defensive reply to the tweet instead of telling the troll to FOAD and he don't know shit about running a company like GM. Or anything else. Plus he's ugly, nobody likes him and his mother dresses him funny. And he's talking mighty big for a Cheeto-skinned fat-headed blowhard who wears a dead woodchuck on his head.

Jesus Christ, how much does it take to understand that Trump is a troll and a bully and you NEVER apologize, never explain - the fucker's attacking you, fight back! He's attacking you because he thinks you're a bunch of pussies and if you don't stand up for yourself you're proving him right.

[Lord_at_War]

Please- GM is an old folks welfare agency that sells a few cars on the side...

[Fist of Etiquette]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

How did Sean take this news?

[gaoxiaen]

He said, "Dugong it!".

[Juvenile Bluster]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

Well duh.

[straffinrun]

You misspelled uh, er, uh, uuuuh, No, Uh, the, uh, Russians, weren't, uh, my, uh, source.

[Lord Humungus]

Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' becomes German bestseller

The first reprint of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" in Germany since World War II has proved a surprise bestseller, heading for its sixth print run, its publisher said Tuesday.

The Institute of Contemporary History of Munich (IfZ) said around 85,000 copies of the new annotated version of the Nazi leader's anti-Semitic manifesto had flown off the shelves since its release last January.

However, the respected institute said that far from promoting far-right ideology, the publication had enriched a debate on the renewed rise of "authoritarian political views" in contemporary Western society.

It had initially planned to print only 4,000 copies but boosted production immediately based on intense demand. The sixth print run will hit bookstores in late January.

You know who else had a best-seller in Germany... oh wait.

[Rich]

HATE BESTSELLER!

[Mantis Toboggan, Jr.]

This book seems to be a big hit; it must be very truthful if it's selling so well.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

David Hasselhoff?

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

I'm genuinely surprised they haven't banned it in Germany.

[Zeb]

I think it was effectively banned until this edition.

Not too surprising that people would be interested in reading the book that has been forbidden fruit for many years.

[x'); DROP USER Tony;]

The only reason anyone would want to read the most important book of the last few hundred years is that they are themselves Nazis.

I read a copy in 8th Grade, and every teacher I had at the time complained. 25 years later, I still don't understand how teachers didn't understand the concept of learning from things you disagree with or find horrifying.

[Crusty Juggler]

Does anyone want to invest in my yellow, cloth badge start-up?

[Rich]

How about making Kristallnacht a holiday?

[Hitler]

One day, the people of Germany will return to me and give me the honor I deserve. No one in Hitler's government would ever apologize after they had been sodomized by a Muslim.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

We can cross-promote with my new venture, stripedpajamagram.com!

[invisible furry hand]

Goddamnit, you beat me...

[Free Society]

However, the respected institute said that far from promoting far-right ideology,

Nothing says "far-right" like socialism.

[Hitler]

AHEM

[straffinrun]

I knew Hitler and you're no Hitler.

[Zeb]

Trying to cram everything into the left/right spectrum just doesn't work.

[Lord Humungus]

Those euphemisms aren't very subtle.

[kbolino]

They claim that Hitler wasn't a "real" socialist because of how he governed. Even though the socialist aspects of the Nazi platform generally were implemented, because Hitler decided to go so hard after the undesirables*, therefore he becomes of "the right". Even though most conservatives in Germany before the Nazi takeover were skeptical of the Nazis, at best, and even though many of Hitler's purges included traditional sources of authority, he's considered "far right" because reasons.

* = You are not supposed to pay attention to the fact that socialists of the non-"national" variety shared similar ideas about undesirables and that it wasn't until Hitler went "too far" that (some) socialists pretended to oppose these ideas--but that didn't stop the Soviets from doing similar things, or the Chinese, or the Cubans, ...

[SIV]

Christiane F.?

[thrakkorzog]

Plenty of people try to read Mein Kampf. It's the forbidden fruit.

Like maybe if you read Mein Kampf, you can figure out why people want to kill the jews. I mean you don't have to agree with killing the jews, but you could at least maybe see the argument for killing the Jews. I don't know know, maybe we just got a shit English translation.

I tried reading once, and it came off like an Alex Jones dream journal, maybe it lost something in translation.

[MikeT1986]

Crazy has an appeal.

[Michael]

I tried reading it once too, but the accent made it barely intelligible.

[BigT]

I read it back in 1973. Goose stepped around campus for a week. So powerful, so convincing, so inspiring.

/sarc - because some of the readers have single digit iqs

[Crusty Juggler]

Franz Kafka?

[thrakkorzog]

Oh shit, Nena?

[Lord Humungus]

+99 Red Balloons

[gaoxiaen]

Herman Hesse?

[Fist of Etiquette]

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly New Year's Day attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey.

This is the first I'm hearing of any nightclub shoo- Oh, it's in Turkey.

[Juvenile Bluster]

I blame the NRA.

[WTF]

What else could possibly be at fault for all this gun violence?

[Hitler]

The Jews?

[Rich]

Hobby Lobby?

[Citizen X]

Bitter clingers?

[gaoxiaen]

Mister Rogers?

[Mansplainer]

My mother-in-law?

[Lord Humungus]

Check Out The Jaw-Dropping New Soda Tax in Philadelphia

Philadelphia rang in the new year with a controversial new beverage tax on soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks. The tax, which went into effect on Sunday, is the first one of its kind in a major city in the United States.

While the tax is technically 1.5 cents per ounce, which doesn't sound too terrible, when buying a 10-pack of 20 oz bottles those numbers climb pretty quickly. In this case, a 10-pack of Propel flavored water that originally retailed for $5.99 had an additional three dollars tacked on to it in taxes.

Other people were similarly shocked at how six dollars in beverages could be subject to such high taxes, and pointed out that the tax is higher than the one on alcoholic beverages.

[UnCivilServant]

How long will that last?

[Juvenile Bluster]

Until people start buying all their drinks from the WaWa on their way to the train into the city rather than buying it in the city?

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

And someone is strangled-to-death by Philadelphia Police for selling it on a street corner?

[PBR Streetgang]

Seen on a local Philly FB post:
"Your momma so fat she subsidizing 10 Pre-K classrooms".

[Gene]

FB redeemed.

[x'); DROP USER Tony;]

Depends on if you shake it up or not.

[Rich]

a 10-pack of Propel flavored water that originally retailed for $5.99 had an additional three dollars tacked on to it in taxes.

That's outrageous!

*Sixty cents* for a glass of flavored water?!

[straffinrun]

No kidding. Free in Flint.

[Rich]

Whoa.

[Citizen X]

My hat is off to you for that fine comment, sir. And yes, that is a masturbation euphemism.

[straffinrun]

*Cheers*

[SugarFree]

Jolly good show.

[jack sprat]

That was outstanding.

[PBR Streetgang]

I don't get how anyone can be shocked. This bill was explained and debated ad nauseam and people voted for the mayor and council people that were pushing it.
Maybe time for a soda arbitrage business, county to city.

[WTF]

You really think most people pay attention to anything other than soundbite slogans?

[commodious lies and cheats]

tl;dr. Make it punchier.

[gaoxiaen]

Hawaiian?

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

Make Soda Expensive ... Again?

[Atanarjuat]

For their next trick, Philly cops will kill a black guy peddling tax-free drinks on the street corner.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Stupid retard monkeys rule and live among us.

[commodious lies and cheats]

And the dummies included diet sodas, too.

Advocates of a soda tax for health reasons say they have never pushed to include artificially sweetened beverages, because the scientific evidence linking sugar with obesity and diabetes is so much stronger.

Far from being unhappy about the development, however, some see the move as an unexpected gift.

Diet beverages "are filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals. Do we really want people to drink these?" said nutritionist Mary Story, a professor at Duke University's Global Health Institute. She did say that researchers had not found any proof of harm caused by the products.

Hard science, folks.

[commodious lies and cheats]

By calorie count alone, it seems artificially sweetened beverages would not cause weight gain. Some evidence suggests otherwise, but it is far from clear whether that's true.

Farley emphasized that the idea of including noncaloric sweeteners in Kenney's beverage tax had come from Council. But he had no objections.

"People will be less likely to switch from sugary drinks to diet drinks, but they may be more likely to switch from sugary drinks to water, and that is what we want," he said.

My God, it's full of derp.

[Episteme]

It's Philadelphia, they'll all just drink more Yuengling!

[Rufus The Monocled]

Mary sure knows how to weave her bull shit story, eh?

[Zeb]

Diet beverages "are filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals. Do we really want people to drink these?"

Maybe it's none of your goddamn business, lady.

I don't know how diet sodas are even a thing. They taste completely awful. I'll take chlorinated tap water any day.

[Crusty Juggler]

Commie!

[commodious lies and cheats]

I don't mind them. In fact I prefer them, not just for eliminating sugar but because sugary drinks make my teeth feel sticky. But it's beyond stupid that a measure aimed at curtailing sugar consumption would target non-sugary beverages, and the reasons they give besides this nitwit Story chick's are transparently dishonest. The city council suggested that taxing sugary and diet drinks alike helps defray the cost of the tax across income groups, since poorer people are more likely to drink sugary beverages while wealthier people prefer sugar-free alternatives. Well, what's the point of the tax unless it disincentivizes consumption?

[Zeb]

I have yet to encounter an artificial sweetener that doesn't just taste terrible to me. And for the most part, I'd rather have a beverage that isn't sweet.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

Diet Mountain Dew is the only diet beverage I can tolerate outside of the low-cal Gatorades and flavored waters.

[commodious lies and cheats]

I've found it's best to dilute your sugarless beverages with a good deal of ethanol.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Diluting your ethanol with anything but branch water is sacrilege.

[Mantis Toboggan, Jr.]

Donald Trump: "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!"

More like "Lyin' Ted Cruze", amirite?

[AceDroman]

This is the first I've noticed the new handie Jr and I must say very well done.

[Lord Humungus]

Exclusive: Trump team seeks agency records on border barriers, surveillance

In a wide-ranging request for documents and analysis, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team asked the Department of Homeland Security last month to assess all assets available for border wall and barrier construction.

The team also asked about the department's capacity for expanding immigrant detention and about an aerial surveillance program that was scaled back by the Obama administration but remains popular with immigration hardliners. And it asked whether federal workers have altered biographic information kept by the department about immigrants out of concern for their civil liberties.

The requests were made in a Dec. 5 meeting between Trump's transition team and Department of Homeland Security officials, according to an internal agency memo reviewed by Reuters. The document offers a glimpse into the president-elect's strategy for securing the U.S. borders and reversing polices put in place by the Obama administration.

[UnCivilServant]

Well, this is not terribly surprising or out of line.

[Free Society]

Didn't you see the part about concentration camps? Literally. Hitler.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

No camps... A new line of Trump?? hotels.

[invisible furry hand]

The towels will be scratchy, the minibar not fully stocked, and the electric kettle will have a strange smell, as if turnips had been boiled in it

[Free Society]

It's Auschwitz all over again.

[commodious lies and cheats]

"Arbeiten Macht Frei" in the guadiest, glitziest gold-on-gold lettering.

[Free Society]

The showers are yuuuuuuge.

[Mr Drew]

Oh...my

Can I applaud while shuddering in horror?

[Mansplainer]

The best, most luxuuuuurious concentration camps the world's ever know.

[R C Dean]

And it asked whether federal workers have altered biographic information kept by the department about immigrants out of concern for their civil liberties.

Ruh-roh. If there is anything to that, the excrement is going to hit the rotors.

[Free Society]

That'd be a very specific question to raise if they didn't have indications that this was actually happening.

[invisible furry hand]

But you promised! Waaaah!

"Government can't be at every creek. Government can't be on every river bank. Government can't be at every beach. Government can't be in every backyard pool."

[Mantis Toboggan, Jr.]

"...but we're working on it."

[Fist of Etiquette]

Not with that attitude.

[Rufus The Monocled]

If politicians would just say it and stop enabling people would readjust their mindset and move forward. Sure there are gonna be some protests but it will pass. But in the long-term weening people off the government morphine will be beneficial.

"The government ought to" has to be changed to 'I/We ought to".

[Rich]

"The appeal today is to take responsibility for your safety."

Says The Minister of Silly Talks!

[straffinrun]

Is that what you hear when you play Churchill's speech backwards?

[commodious lies and cheats]

"Government can't be at every creek. Government can't be on every river bank. Government can't be at every beach. Government can't be in every backyard pool."

And you can bet if they were, drownings would increase exponentially. Because government sucks at everything.

[invisible furry hand]

In Memoriam: Those We Lost in 1016

[straffinrun]

Milennials hardest hit.

[gaoxiaen]

Not hard enough.

[UnCivilServant]

I'm not going to click that because it's a slate link.

But, are they actually eulogising those who died in 1016 (pre-Norman Conquest)? or are they shit at proofreading their posts?

[invisible furry hand]

The ebb and flow of human life may be eternal, but this year brought more ebb than flow, as nearly every day of 1016 brought news of the death of another beloved celebrity. Last year wasn't exactly a cakewalk?we're all still sad about ?thelm?r the Stout?but 1016 seemed worse, somehow. Maybe that's because the rest of the news was always so surprising and so terrible. Whether it was Mansur ibn Lu'lu's headlong flight from Aleppo, the ignominious defeat of Khazaria's Georgius Tzul, or even Emperor Sanj?'s shocking abdication of the Chrysanthemum Throne, the political turmoil made each loss hit a little harder?and that was before the unfathomable rise of the buffoonish Cnut! At times, it seemed like everyone we cared about was dying (can someone please check on Elvira of Castile?) and the year would never end. But the ball finally dropped in Lenapehoking and we made it to the New Year, even if so many of our brightest stars couldn't be with us. Here are some of the famous people we were forced to say goodbye to in 1016.

[Citizen X]

Nice.

[Marshall Gill]

You are on fire today IFH, well done!

[Mansplainer]

Well done. Well done, indeed.

[thrakkorzog]

Can I just say that if you're getting all that upset about celebrity deaths, then life hasn't bitchslapped you upside the head head hard enough.

[Zeb]

I always think that's weird too.

You didn't know the person, and everything about the person that you liked still exists in exactly the same way it did before they died (except now you can't see them in concert or whatever).

[thrakkorzog]

Yeah, it kinds sucks that Carrie Fisher died all that, but that doesn't really affect me. I can see how Debbie Reynolds lost it on the death of her daughter, but I don't know either of them personally.

All I can do is toss out some platitudes about our loss and move on, but I don't really know any of them well enough to give any sorts of words of wisdoms on their loss.

[Episteme]

Can I just say that if you're getting all that upset about celebrity deaths, then life hasn't bitchslapped you upside the head head hard enough.

When asked about celebrity deaths, I've pointed out that the only 2016 death I give a fig about was my boss, whose death this summer meant that the small company I've worked for for 13 years suddenly got shuttered. When the state then came in and confiscated all the remaining money in our accounts due to some fees he'd missed at the end, THAT was 2016!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Were any of them sexy creatures?

[straffinrun]

All of them execpt Ivar the Boneless.

[WTF]

I don't know about that.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Looks too much like a creepier version of Brian Austin Greene. I'm behind 3 weeks. I suppose I should get caught up to see if they killed off that boring-ass Ragnar yet.

[thrakkorzog]

I kind of of gave up around the first season. I just assume the Boneless nickname means that when it came time to rape and pillage, he he was really focused on the pillaging.

And yes, that, is a legit historical theory.

[WTF]

We can now look forward to Ivar and his brothers invading England at the head of the Great Heathen Army.

[UnCivilServant]

But, "Great Heathen Host" just sounds better.

[straffinrun]

Shamefully, the only Game of Thrones I've seen are the Youtube clips with the laugh tracks inserted.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Ivar the Boneless is from Vikings, not GoT.

[thrakkorzog]

Ivar the Bonelesss is actually a guy that existed.

And Historians debate how he got his nickname. They're kind of embarrassed that the most obvious solution is a that it was a dick joke.

[straffinrun]

Dammit. I'm straddling two cultures here, man. Gimme a break.

[Drake]

Are you trying to spoil the next Bernard Cornwell book for me?

[Citizen X]

Those take place in the aftermath of the Great Heathen Army's invasion, dude.

[Lord Humungus]

WikiLeaks founder: Obama admin trying to 'delegitimize' Trump

"They're trying to delegitimize the Trump administration as it goes into the White House," Assange said during an interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity airing Tuesday night, according to a transcript of excerpts from the network.

"They are trying to say that President-elect Trump is not a legitimate president," Assange said during the interview, which was conducted at the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has been staying.

"Our publications had wide uptake by the American people, they're all true," Assange continued. "But that's not the allegation that's being presented by the Obama White House."

Assange reiterated the group's denial that Russia was the source of the Democratic documents released over the summer.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Are they claiming the Trump-hole was born in Kenya?

[Rich]

PLEASE go there!

[Chinny Chin Chin]

"Trump-hole"?

Lame

Maybe work with Mikey M on your insulting nicknames

[Citizen X]

Shreek = Blue Mikey, it is known.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I'm working on it. His mouth is like a hole that shit spews out of 24/7 and "ass-hole" is taken already.

"Bushpigs" worked well. I'll find something and won't let you down.

[Chinny Chin Chin]

"Bushpigs" was barely servicable, offensive only to pigs. If that's your high-water mark, you need help.

Mikey has the sculptor's delicate sensibility for harmonizing elements of the whole, while at the same time brings the subtle biting political humor of a modern-day Will Rogers.

He would bring an edge to your work.

[Tyler.C]

+1 insane momma

[Citizen X]

Are... are you proud of "Bushpigs"? Seriously? That "worked well" for you? I'm starting to think that English may not be your first language.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

Give Drumpf a whirl. It's fucking hilarious.

[ant1sthenes]

No, East Germany.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Seriously, how hard will this be to convince the Russians about Obama's little game?

Can't Donnie just call Vladdy and tell him, 'look I'll have more leverage after I'm sworn in' or 'I have no clue what these clowns are doing'?

[WTF]

Vlad already said he is not retaliating by expelling American diplomats because Obama will be gone in three weeks anyway.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Exactly. Which leads me to conclude Obama knows it's bull shit but just wants to be seen having done *something*.

[Atanarjuat]

Or wants to be able to paint Trump as a Russia appeaser when he immediately reverses those actions.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

This^^

Petulant shitting on his replacement. Like the staff stealing the W's before Bush, only taken to official levels.

[gaoxiaen]

Russia's a good place. How can you not like this video?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouf151l7mSs

[BigT]

Trump should disinvited Obama from going with him from the Capitol to the WH after the inaugural. Tell him to GTFO.

[Lord Humungus]

Meet the small-town business owners devastated by a federal immigration scam

What he's referring to is a development project in the tiny Vermont town of about 5,000, which lies in the state's so-called "Northeast Kingdom" where jobs are already scarce. The area was slated for a $600 million government project (the largest in the state's history) that envisioned a brand-new ski resort, biology research lab, and a retail-hotel overhaul of main street.

Instead, all they got was a broken jobs promise and a pile of rubble now being overseen by the federal government.

The Newport disaster was just one of several such boondoggles in areas deemed "targeted employment areas," where the federal government ostensibly seeks to revive it by trading promises of U.S. residency in exchange for foreign investment. Established in 1997, the EB-5 visa program allows wealthy foreigners to effectively buy U.S. green cards, so long as their "investment" creates a paltry 10 American jobs.

A rich vibrant tapestry of boondoggles and scams.

[R C Dean]

We've got a hospital in our market built with EB-5 money. Its failing. Probably go int bankruptcy, but with the EB-5 money its hard to say how much of their debt can actually be restructured - the EB-5 bonds are apparently required to pay a certain amount of interest to the green card investors.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

"Revive" the NEK? It was never alive to begin with. It was always wilderness, where only the most hardcore Vermonters live.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

"Hardcore Vermonters"?

Ironic or surreal?

[Zeb]

Neither. Not everyone in Vermont moved there from New York.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Those aren't "real" Vermonters, then.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

The kind that speak in some incomprehensible French Canadian/Cockney hybrid accent and chop wood without gloves in -20 degrees. They didn't invent Bag Balm in the NEK for nothing.

[Zeb]

But they did invent it for cows' udders.

[Citizen X]

Bag Balm is fucking awesome. You can put that shit on a Monday and it makes it all better.

[thrakkorzog]

"Hardcore vermontors" is a good band name. I'm thinking some like Rage against the Machine, but "thank you we appreciate what you told us."

[Citizen X]

+1 rubble that used to be a sugar shack

[BigT]

So not the von Trapps?

[invisible furry hand]

Mein Kampf, annotated by the Institute of Contemporary History of Munich, is a bestseller in Germany

You know who else had a bestseller in Germany with Mein Kampf...

[Citizen X]

The Institute of Contemporary History of Munich? Wait, dammit.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Muslim refugee #345?

[R C Dean]

I think you mean "Syrian moppet #345".

[ant1sthenes]

Wait, what's Arabic for Kampf?

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

NEW YORK TIMES: If the world does not envy the French enough already for their generous vacations, universal health care and fine food and wine, the arrival of 2017 brings this: a newly created "right to disconnect."

Fawning coverage of new laws in France. Yes, they are just the envy of the world with unemployment just shy of 10% and youth unemployment that's about double that. And massive ghettos full of angry Muslims.

The New York Times sees no connection.

[UnCivilServant]

I do not envy the French. They are a miserable, stagnant people. I envy the Texans.

[Mantis Toboggan, Jr.]

Don't envy the Texans. They threw a shitload of money at a shitty quarterback.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

Bang!

[Rufus The Monocled]

Smart Frenchmen are leaving that shit hole. 'C'est l'enfer' as one of my clients put it.

Yes, because fine wine is gonna make it all good.

[Juice]

Honestly you can get better wine from other places.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Not really. I still think the French and Italians make pound for pound the best wine. They have mastered the art and technique.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Comment:

"Indeed, indeed. Right on cue Alissa but don't expect the average American - meaning Trump supporters - to appreciate just how refined and advanced France is. Our country is a run down shack next to their Chateau like sophistication. I can stop off for a cafe au lait and brioche on the way to my favorite ascot boutique whenever I visit. In Trump's America, this can never happen. We're likely to see vodka sold at every corner!"

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

My guess is parody.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Satire. Less funny, moar sting.

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

Or was this your actual comment lol?

[DenverJ]

"General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!"

Ya know, the more jobs/economic opportunities there are in Mexico, the less reason illegals have to come here. Just saying.

[WTF]

The Chevy Cruze's ancestor, the Chevy 400, was used by Lee Harvey Oswald.

[Episteme]

MAKE MEXICO GREAT AGAIN

[Lord Humungus]

Before noon today, a top CEO in Canada will have earned more than most of us do all year: report

Before noon today, Canada's highest-paid CEOs will earn more than the average working person's income for all of 2017.

That's the conclusion of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, an Ottawa-based think-tank that has tracked CEO compensation in this country for a decade.

It says this year's elite group of chief executive officers will earn the average, full-time Canadian wage by 11:47 a.m. on Jan. 3 ? the second working day of 2017.

the jokes on them - they have to live in Canada.

[invisible furry hand]

And half of his pay is in poutine

[Citizen X]

And the other half is in obstreperous Quebecois women.

[Atanarjuat]

So, totally worth it?

[Citizen X]

Oh yes.

[Rufus The Monocled]

It's too bad the FP is publishing shit like this.

[Citizen X]

So what, though?

[some guy]

So, you're supposed to stop thinking rationally and be livid with jealousy.

[Rich]

Before noon today, Canada's highest-paid CEOs will earn more than the average working person's income for all of 2017.

Meh. I get more work done all day than most people do by 9 AM!

[Tyler.C]

-1 Go Army

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

-1 Be All That You Can Be!

"Morning, 1SG!"

[Rufus The Monocled]

Before noon, before you bite into your bagel, a Kenyan will have died not having their share of that white privileged breakfast you enjoyed.

[invisible furry hand]

Yeah but they got to do cool shit with Kimba the White Lion and also fight the British, so swings and roundabouts...

[WTF]

Pretty much everyone got to fight the British at some point in history.

[UnCivilServant]

When did Brazil fight the British?

[Lord Humungus]

The infamous Brazil Nut War (I just made that up_

[Lord Humungus]

heh - saw this on Wikipedia:

Lobster War
(1961?1963) Brazil France Political victory
French withdrawal, war avoided.

No Lobster girls were hurt.

[Crusty Juggler]

The infamous Brazil Nut War

Racist much?

In North America, Brazil nuts are sometimes known by the epithet "nigger toes,"[8] though the term has fallen out of favor as public use of the racial slur became increasingly unacceptable by the 1960s. They can be seen being sold in a market under this name in a scene from the 1922 Stan Laurel film The Pest.

[gaoxiaen]

If shelled, they're Theresa Heinz toes. After all, she's an African American.

[WTF]

That's why I said "pretty much", and not just "everyone", you dicks.

[Michael Ejercito]

the big question is, how much will Justin Beiber earn before noon today?

[Tyler.C]

But he's not a CEO! Only CEO's are the bad kind of rich people.

[Necron 99]

Less than some athletes, more than others.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

"Ottawa-based think-tank "

is this some kind of oxymoron?

[Lord Humungus]

Cuomo to Propose Free Tuition at New York State Colleges for Eligible Students

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will announce a plan on Tuesday morning to offer free tuition at state colleges to hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income New Yorkers, seizing on a popular liberal talking point on the eve of national Republican ascension.

Under the governor's plan, any college student who has been accepted to a New York state or city university ? including two-year community colleges ? will be eligible provided they or their family earn $125,000 or less annually.

Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, is expected to unveil his proposal at an event in Queens alongside Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who had sought their party's presidential nomination with a similar stance last year, arguing that student debt was crippling the prospects of generations of young Americans.

Called the Excelsior Scholarship, the funds are envisioned as a way to

[John]

Free tuition. What could possibly go wrong? One man's free tuition is another man's payoff to Democratic voters in higher education.

[WTF]

Because people really value things they didn't have to work for or pay for.

[some guy]

These students will value their liberal arts degrees very highly and they'll be sure to let you know it as they serve you coffee or bag your groceries.

[Juvenile Bluster]

Louisiana couldn't make it work financially, and New York thinks they can?

How much more can you tax rich people in NYC? (Please don't answer that, Governor Cuomo)

[John]

If they combined it with a general raising of academic standards, it wouldn't be too bad. But you know they will likely lower standards if anything. You have to ration goods somehow. If you don't want to ration them by price, then you have to ration them by academic resume. Do neither and you end up with a giant waste of time and money where the taxpayers get robbed, students waste their time and the only people who benefit are the people running the universities, which of course is the entire point of these programs.

[Crusty Juggler]

How much more can you tax rich people in NYC? (Please don't answer that go to prison, Governor Cuomo)

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

"Working on it!" - Preet

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

I made the mistake of investing in a four year degree. I'd have been better off just joining the workforce without it. It's one of those soft degrees in the liberal arts (started it initially with a plan that went to shit).

Now days, I'm contemplating law school (I could do very well on the LSAT, and the lawyers will never let their jobs get taken away) or just getting into coding. Someone on here mentioned coding boot camps recently that got me thinking. I'd rather teach myself and go from there. I'm frankly tired of the education bullshit. It's all about getting credentials, and even if they are worthwhile ones that pay off eventually, I have little stomach for it.

There's my college mini-rant.

[UnCivilServant]

The job market in law is saturated. Try coding.

[Lord Humungus]

This - my wife, as a solo practioner, is just starting to make some good money after almost four years. It takes time to get your name out there. So unless you are from a top school or have amazing grades, it will be hard to score a job at a firm.

Plus the amount of student debt for a law degree is, needless to say, a huge financial burden.

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

I'd only consider it if I did well enough on the LSAT to offset that I'm a white male from a second tier school. Without being cocky, I do believe I could pull that off. But still don't think it would be worth it to me. Three years, and far more money to get yet another piece of paper that is supposed to tell people I'm qualified (plus the bar).

[R C Dean]

Unciv is correct. Its been a couple years since I checked, but anecdotally in Texas around 1/3 of new law grads don't get lawyer jobs within a couple years of graduation. Trying to go solo right out of law school is extraordinarily difficult.

If you don't have a top tier degree and good networking in law school, its a very tough row to hoe these days.

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

good networking

This. This right here is my biggest concern I have. This isn't my thing and it's part of the problem I have. I most likely will not go the law school route.

[invisible furry hand]

and the lawyers will never let their jobs get taken away

And yet it is happening. I'm not American, but I suspect your legal market has similar dynamics - an oversupply of young lawyers, and the sorts of jobs young lawyers did are disappearing via outsourcing routine work to cheaper overseas lawyers and / or some algorithm. Go STEM young man

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

...and the sorts of jobs young lawyers did are disappearing via outsourcing routine work to cheaper overseas lawyers and / or some algorithm. Go STEM young man

Nothing some good old protectionism can't and won't solve. These are the people who end up getting elected and writing laws.

[invisible furry hand]

And they get election donations from the large businesses which are law firms' clients, and have a vested interest in cheaper legal advice. And senior equity partners often have a vested interest in billing for the high value work they do, and fucking off the low value stuff graduates traditionally do. Seriously dude, please do your research and don't assume protectionism will help you out. These are global trends and the US is not immune.

[Citizen X]

There are definitely far more young/just-starting-out lawyers than the market can really bear at this point, but if you're good enough you can still write your own ticket.

On the other hand, my firm is probably not alone in toying with the idea of hiring new associates in bulk and paying them less than they currently pay me to futz around with spreadsheets, so who knows.

[Mansplainer]

-- "Someone on here mentioned coding boot camps recently that got me thinking. I'd rather teach myself and go from there."

As a coder/techarchitect myself, I recommend this path. Lots of free, yet quality, online courses for whatever language you might be interested in.

[BigT]

My son and my younger daughter went to BootCamp. 3 yrs ago my son got a great job in a couple of weeks, this yr it took my daughter several months of networking. Both were Natl Merit Finalists in HS, so extremely talented. The field is getting crowded.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Comment:

It's about time someone has the courage to do this. I always knew Cuomo would come through for the people of New York and be the trailblazer I expected him to be. This is going to be fantastic for society. It will raise our intelligence level (Lord knows we're going to need it) while lowing unemployment. The more educated people we'll have, the more people will understand climate change is real while acting as protection against further dictators like Trump. Unfortunately, we'll have to let American Hitler have his time. Just hope the damage will be limited. Bravo Andrew!

[WTF]

Horrifying to think there are people who actually think like that.

[Free Society]

It's more horrifying that the people whom are at least that stupid, probably account for half of all voters.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

while lowing unemployment.

That's a SUNY grad.

[DenverJ]

Excelsior!

[Lord Humungus]

let me find my shocked face... it's gotta be somewhere close by... ah yes here it is.

As minimum wage rises, some employers cut back

For some small business owners in Massachusetts, however, the effect of the wage increases has been significant.

The owner of two family entertainment centers in Massachusetts said she has reduced her staff to 20 people, down from 50, over the past two years, to counteract rising payroll costs.

The employer, who asked not to be named because she feared repercussions from workers' advocates, said she and her husband have cut their hours of operation, replaced their DJ with canned music, and are working more themselves to stay afloat. They have also stopped hiring teenagers in favor of more experienced workers.

At Winthrop Marketplace, Marc Wallerce estimates that his payroll will have risen $100,000 over the course of the three wage increases, which includes insurance and workers' compensation costs tied to salaries. His older workers all make well over $11 an hour, so the raises have mostly been going to the students he employs at the grocery store.

[Juvenile Bluster]

A few random comments on this from Twitter:

Catherine ?@KittyG1126 10h10 hours ago

@BostonGlobe If only people shopped at places with #fairwages that cared more for the employees than the bottom line.

[in response to a "Who could've seen this coming?" comment]

Nadav Raz ?@FG_Nadav 9h9 hours ago

@ImInSTL @BostonGlobe Ur being sarcastic, but you obviously don't understand consumer economics and how raising the minimum wage is a net positive in the long run

[in response to a sarcastic comment about not knowing that raising employer costs raises cost of living]

D. Arnold Rothstein ?@iLLDuce 10h10 hours ago

@qwerty91231 @BostonGlobe they were already going up. Cost of living has raced ahead livable wages. By your logic, why pay people at all?
5 replies 0 retweets 3 likes

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

This just confirms to me that progs are evil.

[Rufus The Monocled]

"...you obviously don't understand consumer economics and how raising the minimum wage is a net positive in the long run..."

Nothing like being educated by an ignoramus.

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

Did you respond with so if it is a net positive then why not $50/hr?

[Free Society]

I bet no one saw this coming. How could they have known?

[R C Dean]

Even the Tucson paper has run some articles on how our new minimum wage law is going to lead to job losses and business closures. With actual, well-known businesses (and charities!) going on the record that they will be laying off, and may not make it regardless.

[Rufus The Monocled]

"...These businesses have been living off of us all the years we approved the last minimum wage without cost of living increases. If they are stressed about their jobs, and likely they are, they may have significant health problems. We the people pay Walmart's employees a significant portion of their wages and subsidize their health insurance. Allowing companies to slide all these years has lowered many people's standard of living, including the ones who might have received a raise, but for the fact that wages stayed stagnant because the minimum wage didn't rise. Yes, some businesses will have to rethink how they do things, or whether their business is actually profitable. It was all an illusion anyway if not. Time to end taxpayer funded business. It's not an unintended consequence if the business was never really viable to begin with."

Jesus. Fucken. Christ.

I hope this person is in remedial school.

[WTF]

Probably a university professor.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

At a remedial school university.

[Free Society]

We the people pay Walmart's employees a significant portion of their wages and subsidize their health insurance

Jesus titty-fucking Christ. "We the people" are a bunch of sanctimonious cunts. "We the consumers" don't donate that money to Walmart, we get goods and services in return for our money so let's not act like Wal-Mart owes anything extra because they have the audacity to ask for compensation for the products they provide. God damn it I hate leftists. There's no way to accurately describe their stupidity with the words of mere mortals.

[Juice]

I think they mean that a lot of Wal Mart workers are on welfare.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

The national minimum wage is $7.25/hour.

The average minimum wage in Columbus Ohio is around $10.10/hour. A lot of recent signs show hiring at around $11/hour.

It's almost as if there's some kind of market forces at work!

[ant1sthenes]

"The average minimum wage in Columbus Ohio is around $10.10/hour."

I... what does that even mean? The minimum wage is set by law, and I can't see it varying at smaller than the city level.

[Lord_at_War]

It means what it says... If a know-nothing 17 yr old snot-nosed punk walks into a Wal-Mart, chances are she'll get paid at least $9/hr. If she has ever worked anywhere else in her life- she'll make $10/hr. To hire someone who can actually accomplish the job they are being hired for?- You pay $11/hr.

What part didn't you understand?

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

But one study in the 90s said this doesn't happen. So this must be fake news.

[Lord Humungus]

Garry Kasparov ?@Kasparov63 Dec 31
Remember these words from Tsar Nicholas II's diary: "The year 1916 was cursed; 1917 will surely be better!"

[Griffin3]

-1 Empire
And 1918 was even better!

[Brochetta's magic (((pants)))]

One of CNN's leading stories (after the GOP gutting the ethics committee and how they'll have to replace Obamacare): Media gangs up on Scarborough over his ties to Trump.

Chuck Todd is not happy that Scarborough was seen socializing with Trump. CNN is the same outlet that remained silent as a whole horde of journalists had their cozy relationships with the Clinton campaign leaked. And Todd himself is silent on his colleague John Harwood being sent to cover the future Trump administration.

Scarborough rightfully points out that his real sin is that the politician he's cozy with is a Republican. The most villainous Republican ever, at that.

[John]

How many journalists were caught coordinating with the Clinton campaign thanks to wikileaks? And none of them were ever punished by their employers. Now they are going to whine about this? Give me a fucking break.

[WTF]

How many journalists were caught coordinating with the Clinton campaign thanks to wikileaks?

The real story is the Russians hacking the election!

[Rufus The Monocled]

I read that as 'hacking the erection'.

[WTF]

That's not even a euphemism!

[Free Society]

That's what they call "elections" in the Japan. They typically last longer than four hours so....

[Free Society]

*the Japan*, that was like totally intentional.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

Local Chinaman looking forward to erection season.

[gaoxiaen]

Shin or forearm?

[John]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/asia-.....nance.html

The dollar continues to rise. It is now at virtual parity with the Euro, $1.03 to 1 Euro. I have never believed in depreciating your currency as a way to anything but poverty. So I welcome our new dollar overlords.

Remember last year when everyone was convinced the dollar was doomed and was no longer going to be the reserve currency? How is that working out?

[Palin's Buttplug]

Remember last year when everyone was convinced the dollar was doomed and was no longer going to be the reserve currency?

You are referring to Paultards/Goldbugs.

[John]

A lot of people claimed that. And I didn't believe them. I am not a gold bug.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I still see Peter Schiff and Ron Paul ads today just like 8 years ago.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY GOLD! RIGHT NOW! REALLY! I AM STILL SAYING IT! GIT IN BEFORE THE DOLLAR CRASHES!

[WTF]

Pay your bet fuckstain.

[Marshall Gill]

Wait, you mean to tell me that the turd that thinks it can lecture us has STILL not paid off on a lost bet? "Pay up turd" should be the only response to such a pathetic thing.

[Juice]

The dollar will most likely lose some steam this year, but not until the Euro goes a little under $1 and the Pound gets to about $1.19. Then they start to look "attractive" (all other factors notwithstanding). So there's a little bit left in this dollar rally IMO, but not much.

[R C Dean]

Its a timing issue, I believe. With our debt, the devaluation of the dollar is inevitable, but its still the cleanest dirty shirt in the currency hamper. Major global economic players have been laying in their backup plans for the dollar losing reserve status; the big issue has been what to replace it with.

No currency can maintain reserve status indefinitely while it is being used to monetize debt. And that's what the Federal Reserve has been doing with the dollar.

That said, anyone who speculates in gold or silver should either do so only with money they can lose, or have their head examined. Those are probably the most manipulated markets on the planet.

[John]

Reserve currency is just another way of saying "safest" currency. And safe is a relative term. Given that fact, I can't see the US dollar crashing anytime soon or really in my lifetime.

[R C Dean]

If it was just the "safest" currency, I suspect the reserve currency would be Swiss, not American. Its a function of scale, global scope, and stability. Given the debt being financed with newly created dollars, I think the stability of the dollar is undermined, and will eventually fail. When, not whether, is the question.

I don't think we can add $1tt/year in new debt/new dollars every year for many more years. Sooner or later, expansion of the money supply leads to devaluation/inflation. Its math. And math always wins.

[John]

I don't think we will. I think we will stop borrowing at such a rate and the economy will grow just enough to keep us afloat.

[some guy]

I also remember a few years back when a guy named shrike claimed that gold would be back down to $600/oz in no time. He was also wrong.

If you take an extreme position on something you usually end up being wrong, regardless of which extreme you choose. I only bring this up because P's B reminds me so much of shrike.

[WTF]

Because he is shrike.

[Citizen X]

Dude, the 'Plug is totally shreek.

[some guy]

::touches nose::

[Rich]

In case any of you missed this:

Darth Trump

(Props to Derpetologist.)

[invisible furry hand]

You know, I already have a metaphorical rage-boner for George Lucas' decision to have Lord Vader puss out at the end of ROTJ, and now this? LEAVE DARTH VADER ALONE!!!!!

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

"Whoa! The rebels!"

Auralnauts is great; I keep trying to get people to watch their bizarre redubbing of the saga. It's suffering diminishing returns as they get into the original trilogy, but the prequels are most impressive.

[Lord Humungus]

A classy New Yorker cartoon

[Citizen X]

Christ, what an asshole.

[Mantis Toboggan, Jr.]

I love the implication that it takes the specialized knowledge of an airline pilot to do what the president does.

[straffinrun]

I take it he's referring to the DNC.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Awesome response:

Democrat option: "I was married to a pilot and crashed several small craft. Who thinks I should fly the plane?"

[Lord_at_War]

Seen on the intertubes...

"How many people wouldn't read the New Yorker even if it was free?"

[Free Society]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

REALLY!?!?!??!?

[Lord Humungus]

The top word people in Massachusetts don't know how to spell? Massachusetts

[UnCivilServant]

I can't spell the proper name of Massataxes either, that's why I make it clear I'm not trying.

[Citizen X]

The name "Massachusetts" is cultural appropriation anyway.

[Rich]

Excellent.

[Drake]

It's spelled "Taxachusetts".

[Crusty Juggler]

Fun fact: I have something in common with the residents of New Hampshire and Arizona.

[Citizen X]

You love a good early bird special at Denny's?

[Crusty Juggler]

Moons over my hammy or gtfo.

[Rich]

The kicker is: that mispells "Massachusets" *twice*!

[straffinrun]

Was it Fauxahontas or Fuxataxbase? Always confuses me.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

M-A-S-S-A-T-W-O-S-H-I-T-S

What's the problem? Easy peasy.

[Crusty Juggler]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

That's a fact, jack.

[CatoTheChipper]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

Meanwhile, James Clapper, the nation's DNI and serial liar, is not-so-covertly promoting the narrative that the Russians hacked the election via WikiLeaks.

Who you gonna believe?

[straffinrun]

I trust Clapper to give me the least untrue answer he can.

[Crusty Juggler]

Who you gonna believe?

Neither of them?

[thrakkorzog]

Which one is the one that said that Iraq had WMD's?

Not that I agree with any of them, but I do find it farcical that all the Dems who used to claim that Bush lied, people died, now unquestioningly support the Intelligence community assessment that Russia hacked Podesta's account. And now we've got a bunch of Joh Birch Society members running around.

[Ken Shultz]

"Donald Trump: "General Motors is sending Mexican made model of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!"

A fat slice of General Motors is still owned by the UAW.

Bet they have mixed feelings about this.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

A fat slice of General Motors was given to the UAW by the Enlightened One.

That nothing was done to repair their failing business model seems to be lost on most.

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Duran Duran continues to improve with age. Awesome show in a small venue.

[thrakkorzog]

They're just getting more selective.

[Rufus The Monocled]

They're still hungry like wolves, huh.

[Juice]

We wanted to see them at the new MGM Live casino at National Harbor. The cheap seats were almost $200. Fuck a bunch of that. Also, that venue doesn't look all that small.

[Crusty Juggler]

Will Trump's White House have computers?

at his New Year's Eve party, the president-elect doubled down on Luddism while professing to know "a lot about hacking."

Asked about the role cybersecurity policy will play in his administration, he steered Americans toward bike messengers.

"If you have something really important, write it out and have it delivered by courier, the old-fashioned way, because I'll tell you what, no computer is safe. I don't care what they say, no computer is safe," he said. "I have a boy who's 10 years old, he can do anything with a computer. You want something to really go without detection, write it out and have it sent by courier."

[UnCivilServant]

And he's not wrong. There's a reason the Russians went back to typewriters for classified documents, and it wasn't because their country was backwards. It's just harder to eavesdrop on them. (yes, I know techniques were devised, but they still required a lot more effort than most of these 'hacks' today)

[Crusty Juggler]

One-time pads for all!

[straffinrun]

Tell my wife that, the old cheapskate. *Happily Married 16 years so I can make that joke* (Just don't tell her)

[Kurmudgeonly Kristen]

Let's rename the White House Galactica!!

[Crusty Juggler]

Husker Adama for president!

[R C Dean]

I don't care what they say, no computer is safe,

If your cybersecurity people don't agree with this, you need new cybersecurity people. The only quibble I would have is that "no computer that is or can be connected to the internet is safe". If you just plug into a power outlet and disable wifi, your computer is probably safe.

[commodious lies and cheats]

Sometimes not even then.

[Citizen X]

What is Van Eck phreaking, chopped liver?

[commodious lies and cheats]

+2 black stockings, +1 antique bureau

[thrakkorzog]

Oh look out, we got another fella who can read dense prose in the house.

[Timon 19]

Mostly, yes. However, there are ways to compromise even an air-gapped, no-radios computer. There are fewer ways with the widespread acceptance of LCD monitors (vs. old CRTs), but there are still ways.

[Free Society]

And it illuminates why he's so keen on rebooting obsolete jobs in the first place, rather than investing in forward-looking sectors such as clean energy, biotech ? or cybersecurity.

If Trump gets his way, maybe the "Age of Computer" will be shorter than we think.

God damn these journos are delusional. Trump is absolutely right about cybersecurity, the writer doesn't dispute his argument, she only belittles it and calls him a Luddite because she doesn't understand what she's talking about... surprise surprise. I'm not even going to get into the retardation of claiming that "clean energy" "investments" from government are what needs to be ramped up.

[Tornado35235gsg35423ttg3gt3g3g]

Clean energy is not a forward looking sector

[UnCivilServant]

"Clean Energy" just takes too many syllables to say. We should fine a shorter version. How about "Clergy"?

[commodious lies and cheats]

"Boondoggle" has fewer syllables.

[Free Society]

"Clergy". I'm not sure why, but that sounds like it fits perfectly.

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

Trains and windmills are the technology of the future, sir.

[Ken Shultz]

"ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly New Year's Day attack on a nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey."

Did they ever claim responsibility for Mariah Carey's performance on New Year's Eve?

[WTF]

Her performance was hacked by the Russians.

[Ken Shultz]

"WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election."

Holding a news conference or doing an exclusive interview to state the obvious is so 2014.

Whatever Assange does for the betterment of humanity, he does in spite of being Assange.

[straffinrun]

Trump Parties with Mob Associate

In a video captured by the Palm Beach Daily News, President-elect Trump, clad in a tuxedo, is seen delivering a speech onstage at his New Years' party at his Mar-a-Logo estate. Standing to Trump's left is Joseph Cinque ? a known mafia man colloquially referred to as "Joey No Socks" ? who is seen enthusiastically cheering at all of Trump's declarations about building a wall and repealing Obamacare. As of this writing, no major media outlets have reported on the two sharing a stage together just two nights ago.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Italian mobsters have the BEST NICKNAMES.

[Free Society]

...and the worst pizza.

[Zeb]

Deep dish or nothing!

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

That's a casserole. If you can't fold it, it's not pizza.

[commodious lies and cheats]

Time and space enfold all reality. The universe is infinite pizza.

[R C Dean]

One has to wonder how many made men are on tape enthusiastically cheering speeches by Dems in NY, Chicago, etc.

[straffinrun]

Marc "I made Clinton" Rich.

[Rufus The Monocled]

You're more likely to see Liberal ministers *friends* with mobsters than you are with the Conservatives here in Canada.

[CatoTheChipper]

Tony Rezko with Obama and Blagojevich.

[thrakkorzog]

They were just fans of Italian opera. It's an easy mistake.

[Citizen X]

Didn't Kennedy allegedly share girlfriends with made guys while he was in the White House?

[jack sprat]

+1 Eskimo Brothers

[Drake]

Still recovering from the Rose Bowl last night. My team won, but damn, those ACC Refs really lived up to their billing as the worst in college football.

[Lord Humungus]

Male college students to undergo 'critical self-reflection' of masculinity

"The experience focuses on the examination of societal images, expectations, and messages around masculinity to empower men to better understand themselves, promote the advancement of gender equity, and raise consciousness in their communities," organizers add.

It's open only to "men-identified students" at the public university and "operates on a transformative model of social justice allyship," according to a news release on the university's website, which adds "by encouraging that kind of dialogue among a men-identified cohort, the goal is to create a sense of security in vulnerability throughout the six-week program."

Participants will begin the project with a weekend retreat in February and continue meeting weekly, discussing topics such as media and pop culture, vulnerability, sexuality, hook-up culture, alcohol, relationships and violence.

What no sword fighting?

[thrakkorzog]

They're just staring with foil, then they can move to epee and sabre fighting.

[UnCivilServant]

If it doesn't result in duelling scars, it doesn't count.

[commodious lies and cheats]

-1 Hamilton

[thrakkorzog]

Let's take it out outside. Sabres at dawn. First Blood.

[Episteme]

College duels at dawn? C'mon, you've seen how poor attendance is at 8:00am classes...

[R C Dean]

media and pop culture, vulnerability, sexuality, hook-up culture, alcohol, relationships and violence.

I'm in favor of most of those things. I don't know that I am "men-identified", on account of I am a man. Query: is it possible for a cis-male to "identify" as a man? If so, why do we refer to "transgender" as a meaningful category, when it should just be "man" or "woman"?

[SugarFree]

Status as a cismale means that you are men-identified.

[R C Dean]

OK, so why do we refer to trans-men as a category at all, if both trans-men and cis-men are both "men-identified". Does "identified" add anything at all to the description, if what you "identify" as is what you "are"?

[Zeb]

It's really not that hard to understand (whether or not you think it is a real or meaningful thing).

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

"Are there any men here who are packing a vagina?"

[Zeb]

Query: is it possible for a cis-male to "identify" as a man?

Not only is it possible, it is necessarily so by definition.

[Azathoth!!]

Are you not shaken by the seriousness of Zeb and Sugarfree's responses?

No snark, no joviality. Just the hard cold glare of Social Justice.

If a forum for men is open to anyone without a Y chromosome --particularly if that forum is about 'self criticism' -- that forum's true purpose is to bitch about how horrible men are.

[Lord Humungus]

New McDonald's in the Vatican causes controversy

McDonald's has quietly opened a new restaurant in the Vatican and it is creating a backlash. The restaurant is located just steps from St. Peter's Square in a building owned by the Vatican.

One cardinal blasted it when it was announced in October saying the space could be better used following the teachings of Pope Francis.

"Instead of a Golden Arches near the heart of the Roman Catholic Church, the space should be used to house entities which help the needy, in line with the pope's call for a 'poor church for the poor,'" Cardinal Elio Sgreccia said.

There are other fast food restaurants in the area, but this is the first one to be located in a space owned by the Vatican. The Vatican is reportedly going to receive about $31,000 a month in rent.

Blessed be the burger flippers.

[UnCivilServant]

The cardinals are complaining because it's under their apartments.

[thrakkorzog]

$31,000 a month in rent. That's a hell of a lot of burgers to be sold per day. I can' t be that upset about a cardinal getting suspicious about a burger joint that's pulling in $11,000 a day, even in a a prime tourist spot.

[thrakkorzog]

$31,000 a month in rent. That's a hell of a lot of burgers to be sold per day. I can' t be that upset about a cardinal getting suspicious about a burger joint that's pulling in $11,000 a day, even in a a prime tourist spot.

[thrakkorzog]

See, even the squirrels are getting into this.

[thrakkorzog]

See, even the squirrels are getting into this.

[straffinrun]

You even mention the "S" word and that's what you get.

[thrakkorzog]

Fuck em, I thank I think a can take them. Rapiers at dawn, first blood.

[Bobarian (Would Chip Her)]

Squirrel raper?

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

the space should be used to house entities which help the needy

That's McDonalds.

[Dick N. Bimbose (n?e Cooper)]

the space should be used to house entities which help the needy

Like a Ronald McDonald House?

[straffinrun]

Mentioned this on the New Year's blog, but I'll tell it again. Stayed at the in-laws for New Years (no, that didn't happen) and started watching the New Year's Ekiden with the father-in-law. The Ekiden is race where the runners do a relay from station to station and the Japanese fans line the streets and wave their Rising Sun flags as the runners pass.
-

When I turned on the TV, my FIL notices that it's all black dudes running. "It's all black guys! Well, this is meaningless" he says and flicks off the TV. Never heard a racist comment out of his mouth before that, but this comment sure came out of his pie hole without any hesitation. Guess there's a reason this island is 95% ethnic Japanese.

[commodious lies and cheats]

Are you a fan of Japanese beer? My ex was a total weeaboo and regularly drank Kirin and Sapporo.

[straffinrun]

Of course. Yebisu is my favorite, but it's everybody's favorite. I have to drink this near beer crap called happoshu cuz the wife does the shopping and it's cheaper. They raised the taxes on it this year so it will be about the same price as real beer, so I get to go back to Kirin. Yahoo! Thanks Abe.

[commodious lies and cheats]

I'll have to try Yebisu. I didn't mind anything she drank (and she had good taste in sake, from what I could tell).

re: your anecdote, this girl is black but I'm willing to bet she'd find your FIL's comments hilarious.

[straffinrun]

Ironically, my other favorite Japanese beer is this. Not sure if it comes in a 40 for her. 😉

[commodious lies and cheats]

See, this is exactly why I need to crowdsource my gift ideas. That would have been a hilarious present.

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

Stayed at the in-laws for New Years (no, that didn't happen)

...What's the implication here? An incestual orgy?

And your FiL has had nothing to say about Koreans or Chinese before?

[straffinrun]

Every year I take my shot at the mother in law and it hasn't happened, yet.
As for the FIL, nope. I've heard other Japanese people tear into the Chinese or Koreans, but not him. That's why I just arched my eyebrows and let it slide.

[Mr Drew]

LINKSSSSSSSS!!!!!

[UnCivilServant]

Wait, you weren't shot by a drunk dog?

[Mr Drew]

Well worth the risk.

[Domestic Dissident]

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told Fox News host Sean Hannity that the Obama administration is "trying to delegitimize the Trump administration" by linking Trump's win to Russian hacking of the U.S. election.

Everyone knows Assange is just another right-wing ratfucker.

[The artist known Dunphy]

Could they get around this by selling an unsweetened soda, with a packet of sugar taped to the side or something?

of course, maybe if people saw how much sugar goes into soda, this would have deterring effect anyway.

the kneejerk opposition to diet sodas reminds me of the govt. people controllers who said the smoking bans were about 2nd hand smoke, but then ban vaping... which has no second hand smoke...

hmm...

[commodious lies and cheats]

sarcasmic (pbuh) (or maybe it was Epi?) was spot-on with his calling progressive teetotalitarians animists. It's not merely that guns are used violently but they in fact cause the violence they're used to perpetrate. Both sugary and diet drinks come in identical bottles and cans with similar branding, therefore they can be treated the same. Smoking and vaping both deliver nicotine through a facially similar process, therefore both cause cancer in equal doses and both should be banned. And so forth.

[The artist known Dunphy]

Mainer2 in the Cuomo knives thread: Just another example that the supposed smart, enlightened people are actually primitives who thing objects have power to control behavior. They're animists.

[The artist known Dunphy]

ooh, and even better, sell it with a shot of hard liquor.

"ready to mix 4 loko!"