Obama the Not-so-leftist

One thing that most conservatives and quite a few liberals agree on is that they thought that Obama was going to be a very left of center president. I have never for the life of me figured out how any rational person thought that since he had never shown any evidence of being anything of the sort prior to taking office.

The only substantial policy difference between Obama and Clinton where he was to the left of her was on the Iraq War.

And don't even pretend that Clinton is anything other than a middle of the road DLC style Democrat.

On SaluteGate

Possibly the dumbest of the faux scandals thus far. And yes I do get to have an opinion even though I haven't served in the US military (note the emphasis).

I know that we have 2 years yet to run in this presidency but I was thinking that this might just be the peak of Obama Derangement Syndrome.

Of course, I have heard that I am a cock-eyed optimist too.

I can't wait until we get back to the good old days of WhiteWater and Vince Foster. I am sure Clinton II will make this look like the height of sanity.

Guns Don't Kill People

I often hear it said that guns don't kill people. That is indeed true.

Here are some things that do:

Guns in the hands of certain types of mentally unbalanced people
Guns in the hands of careless people
Guns in the hands of evil people
Guns in the hands of untrained people
Guns in the hands of children
Guns in the hands of blind people (sorry if I come off as an asshole on this one but there is no possibility that someone that cannot see what they are firing at is safe if they pull the trigger)

Now, nobody is seriously thinking about banning guns but how about the idea of having some REAL safeguards in place so that the above folks find it more difficult to get guns and so that they (or the person responsible for them having a gun in the case of a child) are help accountable for the bad outcomes that are 100% avoidable?  And no, the existing laws are not sufficient because they are all too often ignored.

What is the serious argument against short waiting periods, mandatory background checks for all gun purchases (no, this isn't the same as registration stop being so fucking paranoid), mandatory liability insurance and mandatory training? I have never heard one beyond "2nd amendment, fuck yeah" and frankly that is not an argument that any serious person should be putting out there.

when can you hit your child with a switch - a guide for the perplexed

never.

simple, huh?

when can a man hit his spouse or girlfriend - a guide for the confused

never.

see how easy that was?

Looking for blood glucose meter suggestions

Pretty easy to guess why.
Key things are:
1) I am a geek and love gadgets
2) not big on pain
3) would be nice if it cooperated with a computer or android  phone
4) must be easy to use. Checking my blood sugar shouldn't cause my blood pressure to rise.

Thoughts?

COmment of the Day - Maybe The Week

Everything Becomes Crystal Clear... - Lawyers, Guns & Money : Lawyers, Guns & Money: "Geese are nothing but feathered bowels, with the contents under pressure. Hitting them with an explosive projectile will result in you needing to scrub your entire piece of land."

'via Blog this'

On working a cash job vs social programs

if you have  worked 'for cash' as an adult and not declared the income at tax time then you have given up your right to complain about folks on welfare or food stamps.

just an observation worth making

Richard Dawkins:More Fuckwittage

Richard Dawkins: 'immoral' to allow Down's syndrome babies to be born - Telegraph:

"Richard Dawkins, the atheist writer, has claimed it is “immoral” to allow unborn babies with Down’s syndrome to live. The Oxford professor posted a message on Twitter saying would-be parents who learn their child has the condition have an ethical responsibility to “abort it and try again”."

'via Blog this'

Not taken out of context. He really did say it and has not backed off it. Eugenics is a nasty stance to try to defend.

Thanks for being such a fuckwit, Richard.

Fuck Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh: Robin Williams killed himself because of a ‘political leftist’ attitude:

"Radio host Rush Limbaugh on Tuesday said that actor Robin Williams’ alleged suicide was caused by his “political leftist” state of mind. "

'via Blog this'

yeah, Rush really is an evil asshole isn't he.

Another Sociopath Heard From

Ann Coulter: Why can’t we deal with our border the way Netanyahu deals with Hamas?: "Appearing on Fox News Hannity, frequent guest Ann Coulter told host Sean Hannity that she wished Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “our president,” so he could deal with our border problems the way he deals with border issues in his own country."

'via Blog this'

OK, So you hate Obama

A lot of my friends that are conservatives (yes, such folks exist) tell me that they can't stand Obama but whenever they are pressed to come up with something in particular they don't like it turns out to be:

•  something that is either just untrue (he is trying to take our guns),
•  he is soft on illegal immigration (more deportations than any other President), 
• he propped up the banks (nope that was Bush 43 with TARP)
• he wasted money with the stimulus (only true in that it was too small, although  cash for clunkers was indeed misguided)
• He bailed out GM  (really, you want to have that conversation about how it would have been a good idea to crater what was left of the economy?)
• OBAMACARE !!!! (only a bad idea in that it leaves the existing system mostly in place. Personally I am happy as hell because I would surely otherwise be uninsurable)
• BENGHAZI!!! (oh please. You can TRY to hang this around Clinton's neck if you want but watch out for the blowback when she points out that the GOP cut the budget for embassy security)

That only leaves me with one thing that he is guilty of ... he is a Democrat. 

Tell me which of the clown car full of GOP candidates you found appetizing last time around and explain to me why they would have been better. 

Bachmann's Plan - Wasn't real

Michele Bachmann Suggests Labor Camps for Immigrant Children: "Bachmann’s plan? Send those children to labor camps, which she warmly refers to as “Americanization Facilities,” with the goal of having them pay off their past, present, and future care expenses, while assimilating them into American culture. And in exchange for that labor, the children would be fast-tracked on a path to citizenship."

'via Blog this'

Yeah, because nothing says "welcome to the USA" like making someone an indentured servant or even better Slave labor.

-------------
Update
and yup ... I got punked

I should have known better.

American Apparel's Boffo New Board Of Directors

American Apparel - Statement of Re Change in Majority of Directions:

Joseph Magnacca has served as a director and Chief Executive Officer of RadioShack since February 2013. Prior to joining RadioShack, he served as President of Daily Living Products and Solutions of Walgreen Co. from 2011 to 2013. Mr. Magnacca also led the Walgreens Retail acquisition team, which acquired Alliance Boots in 2012. From July 2010 to March 2011, he served as President of Duane Reade Holdings, Inc., and from 2008 to 2010, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Duane Reade Holdings, Inc. Beginning in 2001 and until 2008, Mr. Magnacca held the position of 9 Executive Vice President of Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation. Mr. Magnacca has extensive marketing and merchandising experience as well as leadership and business skills.

'via Blog this'

CEO of Radio Shack...

The risk of delisting adds to RadioShack’s headaches as the retail chain attempts a turnaround under Chief Executive Officer Joe Magnacca, who is cutting costs and revamping stores. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company said last month that soft demand for mobile phones contributed to a 14 percent decline in same-store sales last quarter.

Great Hire!

Chris Matthews - Still Delusional

Chris Matthews Pretends Next Democratic President Is Ever Going To Be Allowed To Have A 'Mandate' | Crooks and Liars:

"Chris Matthews wrapped up this Wednesday's edition of Hardball by insisting that if the next Democratic presidential candidate just does more to chase after those white male voters who did not vote for President Obama the last time around, they'll actually be allowed to govern like they've got a mandate. "

'via Blog this'

isn't it cute when he is pretending that the GOP base is made up of anything other than a bunch of nihilists?

Will The Impeachment be over Obamacare?

House Republicans Will Sue Obama Because He's Not Implementing Obamacare Fast Enough | ThinkProgress: 

"House Republicans intend to sue the Obama administration for unilaterally delaying the employer responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act, Politico reported on Thursday, in effect trying to speed up the implementation of the health care law.  

The lawsuit will come after the administration twice delayed the provision — which requires employers with more than 50 employees to pay a fine if they don’t offer affordable quality coverage — citing complaints from firms that claimed they wouldn’t be ready to meet its requirement by 2014.  

But Republicans did not immediately question the legality of the postponement. Instead, the GOP called on Obama to also delay the individual mandate and vowed to take another vote on the matter."

'via Blog this'

I know that this is for the lawsuit that will be quickly dismissed but it surely sets the stage for the amazing spectacle of trying to impeach a president because he didn't act quickly enough to implement a law that the GOP has spent years trying to convince us is of the Devil.

I am investing in popcorn futures.

Tom Junod - Wanker of the week

In Praise of 42-Year-Old Women - Esquire:

"Let's face it: There used to be something tragic about even the most beautiful forty-two-year-old woman. With half her life still ahead of her, she was deemed to be at the end of something—namely, everything society valued in her, other than her success as a mother. If she remained sexual, she was either predatory or desperate; if she remained beautiful, what gave her beauty force was the fact of its fading. And if she remained alone... well, then God help her."

'via Blog this'

Now, according to my research Tom Junod was born in 1958 which makes him a long fucking way over 42 and really not considered age appropriate for a 42 year old woman since under 5% of husbands are 14 years or older than their wives.

This is no better than a teen-ager saying that he would "tap that ass" about any celebrity. The difference is that Tom Junod gets to say this stupidity in the pages of Esquire and not on a Facebook page that a bunch of 10th graders read.

h/t to bspencer over at Lawyers, Guns and Money

The Mantra - What a Steaming Pile of Stupid

ASIA FOR THE ASIANS, AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS, WHITE COUNTRIES FOR EVERYBODY!
Everybody says there is this RACE problem. Everybody says this RACE problem will be solved when the third world pours into EVERY white country and ONLY into white countries.
The Netherlands and Belgium are just as crowded as Japan or Taiwan, but nobody says Japan or Taiwan will solve this RACE problem by bringing in millions of third worlders and quote assimilating unquote with them.
Everybody says the final solution to this RACE problem is for EVERY white country and ONLY white countries to “assimilate,” i.e., intermarry, with all those non-whites.
What if I said there was this RACE problem and this RACE problem would be solved only if hundreds of millions of non-blacks were brought into EVERY black country and ONLY into black countries?
How long would it take anyone to realize I’m not talking about a RACE problem. I am talking about the final solution to the BLACK problem?
And how long would it take any sane black man to notice this and what kind of psycho black man wouldn’t object to this?
But if I tell that obvious truth about the ongoing program of genocide against my race, the white race, Liberals and respectable conservatives agree that I am a naziwhowantstokillsixmillionjews.
They say they are anti-racist. What they are is anti-white.
Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.

I am not going to link to the twerp that wrote this nonsense but will instead direct folks to Tim Wise's place for him to talk about it a bit.

TBogg on MGTOW

You too can talk like an embittered divorced white man with anger issues. Learn how now!: "I have developed a certain fondness for the men’s rights activists know as MRA’s, or more colloquially:  ‘Restraining-Order-Americans.’"

'via Blog this'

Go read the whole thing.

On Tinder and Foundational Myths

The Truth About Tinder and Women Is Even Worse Than You Think - Businessweek:

"’I'm sure Rad hates for anyone to know that. But the truth is the truth. Startups fail and succeed because of the real actions of their workers, not because of an agreed-upon myth created after the fact. Whitney Wolfe was part of the real creation of Tinder, and that deserves to be known."

'via Blog this'

Go read the whole piece, it is very interesting.

Neil Degrasse Tyson on being Black, and Women in Science

Just watch and learn

The Wisdom of C-SPAN

Racists derail C-SPAN discussion on civil rights: ‘I think it’s time for white pride’:

“I think it’s time for white pride,” said one caller, who identified himself as “Joe in Ohio.” “We have built this country — Irish, Italians, Germans, Irish, wherever they have come from from Europe. No country in the world has produced what the white man has produced for every culture and race in America.”"

'via Blog this'

Yes, there really are some asshats out there that think like this. I would like to think that eventually they will die off but the evidence seems to be to the contrary,

Great News - BBC Science Reporting Edition

BBC staff told to stop inviting cranks on to science programmes - Telegraph:

"BBC journalists are being sent on courses to stop them inviting so many cranks onto programmes to air ‘marginal views’
The BBC Trust on Thursday published a progress report into the corporation’s science coverage which was criticised in 2012 for giving too much air-time to critics who oppose non-contentious issues.
The report found that there was still an ‘over-rigid application of editorial guidelines on impartiality’ which sought to give the ‘other side’ of the argument, even if that viewpoint was widely dismissed."

'via Blog this'

Now, we can only hope that this idea catches on over here. No, I am not holding my breath.

Yes. Homeopathy is quackery

Homeopathy was quackery in 1796, it was quackery in 1988, and it will still be quackery in 2096 – Respectful Insolence:

"Homeopathy, of course, rests on two principles. First, there is the idea that “like cures like,” which states that to relieve a symptom you should use a substance that causes the symptom in healthy people. The second idea behind homeopathy is that dilution makes the remedy stronger."

'via Blog this'

Now, I want you to read those two principles a few times and tell me if they make any sense from what you know about how the world works. The best case scenario for homeopathy is that it  "works" in the same sense as a placebo "works".

And no, the fact that there are "Big Pharma" medications that are also crap does not excuse licensed pharmacies from selling homeopathic remedies. They are, simply put, knowingly defrauding their customers.

The Pet Rock of Apps

People Invested $1 Million In An App That Just Says 'Yo' | ThinkProgress:
 "It only took 8 hours to build the app, and the only thing it does is allow you to send the word ‘Yo’ to your friends. To many, it seems like a joke. But its inventor, Or Arbel, is totally serious. "

'via Blog this'

Give me a break.

On Politics and Power

Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community:
"But politics is about power, and if you aren't seeking it, then you're just a noisy observer."

'via Blog this'

pretty much

On Political Correctness

I have often heard it said by folks (usually ones that use PC as a pejorative) that politically correct speech is a club that is used to protect the delicate feelings of those that can't face the real world. I look at it differently. I think of it as simply being the recognition that my feelings might not be the only ones that matter and so I should think about what words I am using because someone else might be hurt by my words.

In other words, I think of it as not acting like a child and accepting that it isn't always about me.

the ultimate, all encompassing post on sending troops to help out in Iraq

PLEASE DON'T!

Tesla Motors turns all its patents over to the open source movement

Tesla Motors turns all its patents over to the open source movement:
 "Electric carmaker Tesla announced Thursday it was giving up its patents to “the open source movement” to help spur electric vehicle technology. "

'via Blog this'


nicely done

Paul Gigot - Deeply concerned

Wall Street Journal editor: Don’t hike minimum wage because workers ‘learn’ from poverty:

"“Look, I worked for the minimum wage,” he explained. “Two bucks an hour back in the 1970s. I had jobs that — what did I learn? I learned to show up on time, I learned certain skills, and I learned I didn’t want to make the rest of my life so I better get an education.”"

'via Blog this'

Alex Jones - Still Paranoid

» Breaking: US Army Trains for Martial Law In US Alex Jones' Infowars: There's a war on for your mind!:

"Unlike the urban training centers we’ve seen before where the buildings are just empty concrete block structures or even plywood facades, this town is very detailed with glass windows, handicap parking signs, speed limit signs, logos on the subway that match the DC metro, and even a small town steeple (that was originally claimed to be a mosque). They’ve made it clear in manual after manual, scenario after scenario that they perceive the enemy as gun owners, limited government conservatives, libertarians and Christians. "

'via Blog this'

yes, martial law is right around the corner ...

Keep sniffing that glue Alex

Adam Carolla - Still an Asshole

Comedian Adam Carolla on rich people: ‘They’re better than poor people. They just are’:

"“They’re better than poor people. They just are,” Carolla replied. “I’ve hung around with plenty of poor people, now I’ve hung out with rich people. They work harder, generally. More focused. The folks I grew up with, the poor people I grew up with, fairly lethargic, did a lot of complaining, they smoked a little too much, drank a little too much, blamed everyone but themselves a little too much.”"

'via Blog this'

He goes on to say that rich people aren't born rich. Outside of entertainment and sports that doesn't happen to be true and even in those areas we are starting to see more of the 2nd and third generation in the family business.

Comment of The Day - MRA loon at Lawyers Guns and Money Edition

Feeling for the Kid - Lawyers, Guns & Money : Lawyers, Guns & Money:
"I repeat – incel is a deprivation of the most important single factor for happiness of most people anywhere in the world now and in the history of the world.
 To say that sane people can live with this deprivation is to be a lunatic."

'via Blog this'

"INCEL" is involuntary celibacy. In other words, being too creepy to get laid. And yes, I do stand by that definition. If you doubt me just look at the rest of the bilge that this fool says on his blog. And no, I am not going to find it for you.

A Parent's Nightmare

California Mass Murderer’s Parents Frantically Searched For Their Son During His Rampage

On Friday, Elliot Rodger began a deadly rampage in the Santa Barbara area and at the same time that was taking place, his parents were frantically trying to find him after having received a chilling manifesto from their son. According to CNN, 22-year-old Rodger sent a couple dozen people — including his parents and at least one of his therapists — the 140-pagedocument/manifesto titled “My Twisted World” via e-mail shortly before the shootings began.

I cannot imagine what his parents must be feeling at this moment. The combination of self-blame and grief has to be crushing.

Transcript of video allegedly from mass killer in Santa Barbara - Horrible

Video allegedly from mass killer in Santa Barbara: “If I can’t have you, girls, I’ll destroy you.” [TRIGGER WARNING] | we hunted the mammoth:

"Hi, Elliot Rodger here. Well… this is my last video. It all has to come to this.
 Tomorrow is the day of retribution. The day in which I will have my revenge against humanity. Against all of you.
 For the last 8 years of my life, ever since I’ve hit puberty, I’ve been forced to endure an existence of loneliness, rejection, and unfulfilled desires. All because girls have never been attracted to me.
 Girls gave their affection, and sex, and love, to other men but never to me.
 I’m 22 years old and I’m still a virgin. I’ve never even kissed a girl.
 I’ve been through college for two and a half years, more than that actually, and I’m still a virgin.
 It has been very torturous.
 College is the time when everyone experiences those things such as sex, and fun, and pleasure. But in those years I’ve had to rot in loneliness.
 It’s not fair. You girls have never been attracted to me.
 I don’t know why you girls aren’t attracted to me, but I will punish you all for it.
 It’s an injustice, a crime, because I don’t know what you don’t see in me. I’m the perfect guy, and yet you throw yourselves at all these obnoxious men, instead of me, the supreme gentlemen.
 I will punish all of you for it. (laughs)
 On the day of retribution I am going to enter the hottest sorority house of UCSB… and I will slaughter every single spoiled, stuck-up, blonde slut I see inside there.
 All those girls that I’ve desired so much, they would’ve all rejected me and looked down upon me as an inferior man if I ever made a sexual advance towards them while they throw themselves at these obnoxious brutes.
 I will take great pleasure in slaughtering all of you. You will finally see that I am in truth the superior one. The true alpha male. (laughs)
 Yes, after I’ve annihilated every single girl in the sorority house, I’ll take to the streets of Isla Vista, and slay every single person I see there.
 All those popular kids who live such lives of hedonistic pleasure while I’ve had to rot in loneliness for all these years, they’ve all looked down upon me every time I try to go out and join them. They’ve all treated me like a mouse.
 Well now, I will be a God compared to you. You will all be animals. You are animals, and I will slaughter you like animals. I will be a God, exacting my retribution, on all those who deserve it.
 And you do deserve it, just for the crime of living a better life than me.
 All you popular kids. You’ve never accepted me, and now you’ll all pay for it.
 And girls, all I’ve ever wanted was to love you, and to be loved by you. I’ve wanted a girlfriend, I’ve wanted sex, I’ve wanted love, affection, adoration, but you think I’m unworthy of it.
 That’s a crime that can never be forgiven.
 If I can’t have you, girls, I will destroy you. (laughs)
 You denied me a happy life, and in turn, I will deny all of you life. (laughs) It’s only fair.
 I hate all of you, humanity is a disgusting, wretched, depraved species. If I had it in my power, I would stop at nothing, to reduce every single one of you to mountains of skulls and rivers of blood, and rightfully so.
 You deserve to be annihilated. And I’ll give that to you.
 You never showed me any mercy, and so I will show you none. (laughs)
 You force me to suffer all my life, and now I’ll make you all suffer.
 I’ve waited a long time for this.
 I’ll give you exactly what you deserve."

'via Blog this'

This is horrifying

The Case for Reparations - The Atlantic

The Case for Reparations - The Atlantic:
"Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty years of separate but equal. Thirty-five years of racist housing policy. Until we reckon with our compounding moral debts, America will never be whole."

'via Blog this'

The brilliant Ta-Nehisi Coates. He makes a powerful case.

The Case for Reparations: An Intellectual Autopsy - Ta-Nehisi Coates - The Atlantic

The Case for Reparations: An Intellectual Autopsy - Ta-Nehisi Coates - The Atlantic:
"But it all combined to make me feel that mainstream liberal discourse was getting it wrong. The relentless focus on explanations which are hard to quantify, while ignoring those which are not, the subsequent need to believe that America triumphs in the end, led me to believe that we were hiding something, that there was something about ourselves which were loath to say out in public. Perhaps the answer was somewhere else, out there on the ostensibly radical fringes, something dismissed by people who should know better. People like me. "

'via Blog this'

Please go read the entire article. It is simply brilliant

Miles O'Brien and Neil deGrasse Tyson - Star Talk Radio

About as good as it gets

Georgia’s War On The Poor

Georgia’s War On The Poor

 The second bill, HB 943, restricts state and local agencies and their employees from advocating for Medicaid expansion, bans the creation of a state health insurance exchange, and prohibits the University of Georgia from continuing its navigator program once its original federal grant expires in August. 

Impressive stuff. Guess I will strike Savannah off my retirement list

Your Saturday evening CounterTenor - Philippe Jaroussky

Saw him on the cover of a recent edition of Opera News .
I am always of two minds about countertenors but he has a rather nice quality that i quite like.

JAQing Off - Quora Edition

(1) Benghazi Controversy (Fall 2012): Why was Richard Nixon forced to resign for Watergate, but Obama isn't for Benghazi? - Quora: "★Why was Richard Nixon forced to resign for Watergate, but Obama isn't for Benghazi?Edit Could someone please explain the differences in a civil manner, this is not meant to be an anti-Obama question, but rather one looking for truth/fact."

'via Blog this'

Miami's Culture of Inclusion

2014 NFL draft -- Miami Dolphins GM disappointed in Don Jones' tweet in regards to Michael Sam - ESPN:

"Just 48 hours after Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey found himself in hot water over recent Twitter comments, Dolphins second-year player Don Jones tweeted a controversial reaction to the St. Louis Rams drafting Michael Sam, who became the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL. [+] Enlarge AP Photo/Lynne Sladky Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey on Don Jones' apparent anti-Michael Sam tweet: "That's not what we stand for as an organization." Soon after Sam was drafted, Jones tweeted "OMG" and "horrible." Those tweets since have been deleted. Television cameras showed Sam kissing his boyfriend after the former Missouri star received a phone call from the Rams. "

'via Blog this'

And as usual, many of the comments on the story are stupid. No, this isn't about freedom of speech.

Mary Fallin on Fucked Up Execution

Governor: ‘People of Oklahoma do not have blood on their hands’ from botched execution:

"Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said on Monday her state had “lawfully carried out a sentence of death” in a botched execution that has been widely criticized as cruel and inhumane. “Justice was served,” Fallin, a Republican, wrote in a monthly column. “The people of Oklahoma do not have blood on their hands.” Convicted murderer and rapist Clayton Lockett, 38, died of an apparent heart attack on April 29 some 43 minutes after the lethal drugs was first administered."

'via Blog this'

No words.

Hmm - Crimean Annexation edition

Putin's 'Human Rights Council' Accidentally Posts Real Crimean Election Results:

"Official Kremlin results: 97 percent of polled voters for annexation, turnout 83 percent, and 82 percent of total Crimean population voting in favor. 

 President’s Human Rights Council mid-point estimate: 55 percent of polled voters for annexation, turnout 40 percent, 22.5 percent of total Crimean population voting in favor."

'via Blog this'

So Lewis Black will be cancelling that gig in Moscow I guess

BBC News - Russian law bans swearing in arts and media:

"Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law banning all swearing in films, television broadcasts, theatres and the media."

'via Blog this'

Clueless College Freshman completely misunderstands Privilege

Why I’ll Never Apologize for My White Male Privilege | TIME.com:
 "I have checked my privilege. And I apologize for nothing."

'via Blog this'

You really should read it. His family has been through some truly horrid stuff and come out the other side doing well. Young Tal Fortgang draws the exact wrong lesson from it. My daughter is also a Political Science major and if she wrote something so asinine I would hope that Time magazine would refuse to publish it. But then, she was raised to know better.

Conor Friedersdorf on The Guillotine

Bring the Guillotine Back to Death Row - Conor Friedersdorf - The Atlantic:

"But to me, that's a point in its favor. Let's have no illusions about what we're doing when the state carries out the killing of captive prisoners. I imagine support for the death penalty would decline rather quickly once heads started rolling. "

'via Blog this'

I have in the past called Conor some uncomplimentary things but I found myself agreeing wholeheartedly with him. I would go further by saying that executions should also be public and interrupt regularly scheduled programming on all channels. Let's put this horrible thing front and center and then talk about what it says about us as a supposedly civilised nation.

Ta-Nehisi Coates On Racism - Elegant and Oafish

This Town Needs a Better Class of Racist - Ta-Nehisi Coates - The Atlantic:

"The problem with Cliven Bundy isn't that he is a racist but that he is an oafish racist. He invokes the crudest stereotypes, like cotton picking. This makes white people feel bad. The elegant racist knows how to injure non-white people while never summoning the specter of white guilt. Elegant racism requires plausible deniability, as when Reagan just happened to stumble into the Neshoba County fair and mention state's rights. Oafish racism leaves no escape hatch, as when Trent Lott praised Strom Thurmond's singularly segregationist candidacy."

'via Blog this'

on Benghazi

I got nothing.

Worst case, I see that there was less security than there should have been and there is lots of blame for that to go around.

Why do the GOP think this is a winner of a story? I honestly don't get it.

Sarah Palin Needs to Just SHut Up

Palin at NRA meeting: ‘Waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists’ | TheHill:

"Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) defended the controversial enhanced interrogation technique of waterboarding this weekend, and implied that the practice would still be commonplace “if I were in charge.” “They obviously have information on plots to carry out Jihad,” she said at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting on Saturday evening, referring to prisoners. "Oh, but you can’t offend them, can’t make them feel uncomfortable, not even a smidgen. Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists.”"

'via Blog this'

If this is the America that she wants then i want no part of it. Thank goodness she has approximately the same chance of becoming President as i do.

Lebron James on Donald Sterling

Heat Check: "there is no room for Donald Sterling in our league, man. There it is.”"

'via Blog this'

Snoop Says it best

Via Balloon Juice

Donald Sterling is not a smart man

L.A. Clippers owner’s astonishing racist tirade: Don’t bring black people to my games! (via Raw Story )
Donald Sterling, owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team, was caught on tape in a heated racist rant at his biracial girlfriend V. Stiviano. TMZ Sports reported Friday night that Sterling was angry at Stiviano for posting an Instagram photo…

Impressively stupid for someone that owns a team in a league like the NBA

Zandar Gets it right

Zandar Versus The Stupid: Dear America:

 "If after six years of Tea Party idiocy and 34 years of Reagan's morning in America you still need a reason to vote Democrat "beyond the notion that they're better than the GOP", you're the exact damn reason they're in control of the House right now and threatening to take the Senate.  You stayed home in 2010, and the GOP took over in a redistricting year.  Sure as hell didn't make Obama getting any of the things you wanted out of his easier, did it?"

'via Blog this'

I am in a race with the clock as to whether or not I am going to be a US citizen by the 2016 election but I will tell you that if I can I will almost certainly be voting for whomever the Democrats put up for President because they simply have to be better for this country than whomever the GOP can come up with.

Fox Conspiracy Theory: Hillary Is 'Too Old' To Run So She 'Planned' Chelsea's Pregnancy

Fox Conspiracy Theory: Hillary Is 'Too Old' To Run So She 'Planned' Chelsea's Pregnancy


I have absolutely nothing else to say.

From the WTF Files - Rebranding the KKK

Can this KKK leader rebrand? - CNN.com:

"2012: KKK sues to 'Adopt-a-Highway' Ancona, who lives in Missouri, insists there's a new Klan for modern times -- a Klan that's "about educating people to our ideas and getting people to see our point of view to ... help change things." He said he and those like him can spread that message without violence -- a sort of rebranding of the Klan."

'via Blog this'
I have difficulty understanding why this piece was written. I have even more difficulty wondering why any sane person thinks the premise is sensible. And as per usual, a lot of the comments are appalling.

Delusion lead paragraph of the day

Ex-Apple chief plans mobile phone for India | The Raw Story:

"Former Apple chief executive John Sculley, whose marketing skills helped bring the personal computer to desktops worldwide, says he plans to launch a mobile phone in India to exploit its still largely untapped smartphone market."

'via Blog this'

Did John Scully show he was some sort of marketing genius while at Apple? Funny but that isn't how I seem to remember it

Dog In Repose By Fire

We recently moved to a new abode with a fireplace. We also recently acquired a new dog (her name is Chilly Dawg). Seems like they match up

Dana Milbank on Ukraine

From Dana Milbanks' Twitter Feed

This is the point in an international crisis when we all wait silently to see what Obama does so we can criticize whatever it is.

Sounds about right to me from what I have seen so far

On Bad Ideas

For the record, sending NATO troops into Ukraine would be a world class stupid idea.

Computer Suggestions

So, we moved to a new apartment and we are looking for a 2-in-1 or tablet to augment the environment here at the new digs (the big computer has its own room and so it isn't convenient to watch tv and fuss about on the computer at the same time anymore).

Ideally it should be a Windows 8 machine (just shut up) and not cost us an arm and a leg. We don't play FPSs so it doesn't have to be firebreathing but it will get periodic use playing FB quality games as well as MS Office and the usual other things that most folks' computers get used for. In addition, I like the idea of having a removable keyboard (or bluetooth.). Last thing on the wish list is long battery life. Something that has to be tethered to a wall socket after 3 or 4 hours of use is indistinguishable from desktop computer to me.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Email, Facebook or leave in the comments.

Why Oh Why Can't Religious Folks Just be allowed to be bigots?

From TPM

Another Arizona anti-gay bill that had largely flown under the radar could be coming up for a vote in the state House, the Arizona Republic reported Friday. The bill would allow judges and other public officials to decline to perform same-sex marriages based on their religious beliefs.

Do these folks not ever tire of playing the "Christians are the real victims" game?
and don't even pretend that isn't that is going on here.

On Bitcoin and Mt Gox

Can someone explain to me why i should care that Mt Gox went bankrupt?

Bitcoin always seemed like a libertarian wet dream and like all such things this is about how I expected it to go. Did anyone actually think this was going to be different?

Experiments in blogging - part I

I would be overjoyed if each person reading this would take the time to look up an email address for me (rob Wolfe) and send a note that says "found you".

Testing some ideas.

The first of a series.

If you like you can also leave a comment.

On the authentic black american experience of obama

His skin is black.
He lived in america.
Authentic enough for you?

Why do people try to make this difficult?

On Windows XP

Microsoft should just rename Windows XP as Windows 9 | Crooks and Liars:

So what is it about Windows XP that causes such fervour, more akin to that for British boy bands or TV shows about dragons and chemistry teachers? And is this devotion deserved? 

The simple reason boils down to the old adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Windows XP still gives many firms all the functionality they need to run their businesses effectively. The OS might not feature a user interface filled with pictures and charms, offer touch-screen functionality or mimic a smartphone or tablet, but most IT managers and CFOs favour return on investment, user-friendliness and ease of management over capabilities for employees to use their work machines to edit videos of their latest family holidays or update Facebook via touchscreens.

'via Blog this'

On Snow

Do not like.

On healthcare.gov

You know, it occurs to me that if certain States hadn't been such assholes (if we can give States human characteristics) and implemented their own exchanges then healthcare.gov wouldn't have been anything other than a site that had  information and a bunch of links to the state exchanges.

The more States that declined to do their own thing, the more complex healthcare.gov became.

Imagine that, GOP controlled States making life more complicated and difficult for an initiative by a Democratic President and then whining when it is complicated and difficult.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.