While I disagree with much of the thinking in Ezra's post, this part: " It’s a coalition that believes we were once hard and have become soft; worse, we have come to lionize softness and punish hardness." is, I think, generally true. It's been almost 80 years since America had any real exposure to danger, and real hardship that impacted the majority. That was WW2. America is overflowing with almost anything compared to back then. The poorest American of us all, live in relative luxury compared to 90+% of the rest of the world. The WEST is the global 1%. No one, except immigrants perhaps, has any understanding of what it's like to have a hard life.
Yeah, like living in NJ is the only option for not affording NYC rents...
Suck it up buttercup. I once spent a year driving from north of Baltimore city MD to Chantilly VA. In the rain and rush hour traffic, that was 4 hours.
Let us not forget that prosecutors will pile on charges that have a range of probability of conviction. That way they can "negotiate" all those away "iffy" ones during bargaining. It looks like the defendant is getting a deal from the defendant's perspective. It doesn't matter if they think the prosecution can actually get a guilty verdict on some of the charges, they add them anyway, so the defense has to consider that they COULD win.
Now, I'm a big don't do crimes if you can't pay the piper, but that seems a bit underhanded.
Seems like this guy only wants others to take a stand. He pleads for others to take action to do a variety of stuff. Where is he taking action, other than complaining that others are not doing what he thinks they should do?
If he finds his employers actions so terrible, why doesn't he quit?
There are multiple issues here:
1) mankind is programed, as you mention, to view things from a perspective of scarcity. Random hominid wandering the plans and sees a dead animal. Reaction: gorge on meat. You may not eat it again for a month. Same with sweet things--CALORIES must have calories.
This also applies to sex, but that's a different thing :)
Add in the cultural stuff, the ease of fast food, etc. and it 's a mess. People eat when depressed, stressed, bored, horny, etc.
Well, as you might expect, my feelings are "less mixed".
"Those two hit the radar as not being very smart and deciding god would protect them." As I've said to others when they invoke God to prevent/make something happen "god helps those who help themselves". Don't relay on his mercy when you pull a stupid.
As for the Russia person, who cares how often do they arrest a person for it. What matters is it's illegal and you are NOT in the US, so why would you even think about doing something that could land you in jail. No need to get caught up in something when you don't have to by playing by the rules of where you are.
So you endorse the killing of innocent civilians? Good to know. RR was a demonstration of terrible rules of engagement, federal over reach, and a shitshow of poor communication. This is from Wikipedia, not exactly the hard right.
"During a surveillance operation, officer Art Roderick shot Weaver's dog, leading Weaver's son Sammy to fire at the team. Sammy was then shot and killed, causing an exchange of fire in which Weaver's friend Kevin Harris shot and killed Deputy Marshal William Francis Degan."
"FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shot Weaver's wife Vicki while she was holding her baby daughter "
So, two civilians were killed as a direct result of Art Roderick killing a dog. Yeah, that's some professional grade work there. Read the whole page. It's a nice example, and the Fed's paid up.
"Randy Weaver and his daughters filed a wrongful death suit for $200 million which was related to the killing of his wife and son. In an out-of-court settlement in August 1995, the federal government awarded Randy Weaver $100,000 and it also awarded $1 million to each of his three daughters. The government did not admit that it had committed any wrongdoing in relation to the deaths of Sammy and Vicki.[128][129] On the condition of anonymity, a DOJ official told The Washington Post that he believed that the Weavers would have probably won the full amount if the case had gone to trial"
Yeah, I wasn't arguing whether or not Afghanistan had a function legal system. My point was that it was likely that those Americans in prison in Afghanistan were there because they omitted crimes, and as I pointed out, those Americana kids admitted it. Just as i have no sympathy for that Americana athlete who got caught with edibles in Russia, I have no sympathy for people who knowingly lie and violate the law to preach Christianity in a Muslim country, especially in countries that are not "enlightened western countries". I mean really, who the f is that stupid.
"release imprisoned Americans"
Some of those Americans were aid relief workers who signed a document that they would not try to convert locals to Christianity, but did so anyway. It was 2 or 3 women IIRC. We should have left them to rot there.
"Where's Bibi's boy? Israeli soldiers blast Benjamin Netanyahu's son Yair, 32, for 'abandoning' them by staying in Miami while 360,000 reservists are called up to fight against Hamas"
"Was it justified as part of the struggle against genocide, or are Truman and the generals guilty of war crimes for which they should have been hanged"
Winners (or those who write the history books) are not punished for alleged crimes. Also, given that the only likely way the Americana public would learn of such things would be years later after the war, and that the press was actively controlled by the military, there's no way there would be any consequences.
"There will be no peace until Muslims give up their Jew-hatred." Don't hold your breath waiting on that change. This is why I lean towards isolationist. You're never going to solve these problems in any semblance of time and the "alternatives" are unpalatable to westerners.
IIRC Consumer Reports had a blurb on washer sheets and the bottom line was "more expensive per wash, not a good at cleaning that liquids"--like not even in the mid range of ranking all laundry cleaners and types.
" But achieving policy-related and diplomatic wins while also making emotional connections are important aspects of the presidency."
I'm not actively following the current Israel/Hamas dust up, because frankly, I don't care that much about it, but what EXACTLY has Biden done relative to "achieving policy and diplomatic wins" on this subject? Based upon a following of comments here...nothing, so tell me.
No one seems to remember that, historically, revolutionary movements end up putting their own supporters up against the wall after everyone else from the opposition. Pawns are always sacrificed. You're just a pawn.
"As Wall Street assails Harvard, students worry about their futures"
https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-bill-ackman-wall-street-law-firms-growing-rift-2023-10
Yeah, it's not really an indictment on the specific vehicle, more on how the are assembled by the manufacturer. I'd venture that not a lot of people think about repair costs / impact to their insurance bill when they shop for a new or newer car.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/23/2023”
While I disagree with much of the thinking in Ezra's post, this part: " It’s a coalition that believes we were once hard and have become soft; worse, we have come to lionize softness and punish hardness." is, I think, generally true. It's been almost 80 years since America had any real exposure to danger, and real hardship that impacted the majority. That was WW2. America is overflowing with almost anything compared to back then. The poorest American of us all, live in relative luxury compared to 90+% of the rest of the world. The WEST is the global 1%. No one, except immigrants perhaps, has any understanding of what it's like to have a hard life.
On “Of Course Sidney Powell Was Extorted, That’s How It Works.”
Yeah, I wasn't addressing the defendant's specific case, more of how prosecutors deal with defendants in general.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/23/2023”
I've started my first 9-5 job and the schedule is so crazy - I don't have the energy to cook dinner or see friends
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-12669703/Ive-started-9-5-job-schedule-crazy-dont-energy-cook-dinner-friends.html
Yeah, like living in NJ is the only option for not affording NYC rents...
Suck it up buttercup. I once spent a year driving from north of Baltimore city MD to Chantilly VA. In the rain and rush hour traffic, that was 4 hours.
On “Of Course Sidney Powell Was Extorted, That’s How It Works.”
Let us not forget that prosecutors will pile on charges that have a range of probability of conviction. That way they can "negotiate" all those away "iffy" ones during bargaining. It looks like the defendant is getting a deal from the defendant's perspective. It doesn't matter if they think the prosecution can actually get a guilty verdict on some of the charges, they add them anyway, so the defense has to consider that they COULD win.
Now, I'm a big don't do crimes if you can't pay the piper, but that seems a bit underhanded.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/23/2023”
All the better to never go there then.
On “From Matt Yglesias: Israel, Palestine, and the need for principled free speech”
Seems like this guy only wants others to take a stand. He pleads for others to take action to do a variety of stuff. Where is he taking action, other than complaining that others are not doing what he thinks they should do?
If he finds his employers actions so terrible, why doesn't he quit?
On “The Weight of Society”
There are multiple issues here:
1) mankind is programed, as you mention, to view things from a perspective of scarcity. Random hominid wandering the plans and sees a dead animal. Reaction: gorge on meat. You may not eat it again for a month. Same with sweet things--CALORIES must have calories.
This also applies to sex, but that's a different thing :)
Add in the cultural stuff, the ease of fast food, etc. and it 's a mess. People eat when depressed, stressed, bored, horny, etc.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/23/2023”
Well, as you might expect, my feelings are "less mixed".
"Those two hit the radar as not being very smart and deciding god would protect them." As I've said to others when they invoke God to prevent/make something happen "god helps those who help themselves". Don't relay on his mercy when you pull a stupid.
As for the Russia person, who cares how often do they arrest a person for it. What matters is it's illegal and you are NOT in the US, so why would you even think about doing something that could land you in jail. No need to get caught up in something when you don't have to by playing by the rules of where you are.
"
So you endorse the killing of innocent civilians? Good to know. RR was a demonstration of terrible rules of engagement, federal over reach, and a shitshow of poor communication. This is from Wikipedia, not exactly the hard right.
"During a surveillance operation, officer Art Roderick shot Weaver's dog, leading Weaver's son Sammy to fire at the team. Sammy was then shot and killed, causing an exchange of fire in which Weaver's friend Kevin Harris shot and killed Deputy Marshal William Francis Degan."
"FBI sniper Lon Horiuchi shot Weaver's wife Vicki while she was holding her baby daughter "
So, two civilians were killed as a direct result of Art Roderick killing a dog. Yeah, that's some professional grade work there. Read the whole page. It's a nice example, and the Fed's paid up.
"Randy Weaver and his daughters filed a wrongful death suit for $200 million which was related to the killing of his wife and son. In an out-of-court settlement in August 1995, the federal government awarded Randy Weaver $100,000 and it also awarded $1 million to each of his three daughters. The government did not admit that it had committed any wrongdoing in relation to the deaths of Sammy and Vicki.[128][129] On the condition of anonymity, a DOJ official told The Washington Post that he believed that the Weavers would have probably won the full amount if the case had gone to trial"
Yeah, let's have more of the please.
"
Yeah, I wasn't arguing whether or not Afghanistan had a function legal system. My point was that it was likely that those Americans in prison in Afghanistan were there because they omitted crimes, and as I pointed out, those Americana kids admitted it. Just as i have no sympathy for that Americana athlete who got caught with edibles in Russia, I have no sympathy for people who knowingly lie and violate the law to preach Christianity in a Muslim country, especially in countries that are not "enlightened western countries". I mean really, who the f is that stupid.
"
Can't say for everyone, but I remember this on the news. That's what they did. They were interviewed. That admitted it on camera/to the newspapers.
"Afghanistan doesn’t have a justice system by our standards" Then they should have never even gone there should they?
"
"release imprisoned Americans"
Some of those Americans were aid relief workers who signed a document that they would not try to convert locals to Christianity, but did so anyway. It was 2 or 3 women IIRC. We should have left them to rot there.
"
"Where's Bibi's boy? Israeli soldiers blast Benjamin Netanyahu's son Yair, 32, for 'abandoning' them by staying in Miami while 360,000 reservists are called up to fight against Hamas"
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12664565/yair-netanyahu-benjamin-son-idf-reservists-miami.html
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/16/2023”
"Was it justified as part of the struggle against genocide, or are Truman and the generals guilty of war crimes for which they should have been hanged"
Winners (or those who write the history books) are not punished for alleged crimes. Also, given that the only likely way the Americana public would learn of such things would be years later after the war, and that the press was actively controlled by the military, there's no way there would be any consequences.
On “From The HuffPost: More Than 400 Capitol Hill Staffers Call For Cease-Fire In Gaza”
"There will be no peace until Muslims give up their Jew-hatred." Don't hold your breath waiting on that change. This is why I lean towards isolationist. You're never going to solve these problems in any semblance of time and the "alternatives" are unpalatable to westerners.
On “Weekend Plans Post: They Have Stopped Making My Preferred Detergent”
IIRC Consumer Reports had a blurb on washer sheets and the bottom line was "more expensive per wash, not a good at cleaning that liquids"--like not even in the mid range of ranking all laundry cleaners and types.
On “Joe Biden Doesn’t Need Wolf Blitzer”
Not sure I'd call that "achieving policy and diplomatic wins”. YMMV
"
" But achieving policy-related and diplomatic wins while also making emotional connections are important aspects of the presidency."
I'm not actively following the current Israel/Hamas dust up, because frankly, I don't care that much about it, but what EXACTLY has Biden done relative to "achieving policy and diplomatic wins" on this subject? Based upon a following of comments here...nothing, so tell me.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/16/2023”
"Like, the problem isn’t what he allegedly did, but who he allegedly did it to."
Right. The commoners? Nah, but he stole "an important person"'s car. He must pay.
On “Of Course They Cheered The Murders”
No one seems to remember that, historically, revolutionary movements end up putting their own supporters up against the wall after everyone else from the opposition. Pawns are always sacrificed. You're just a pawn.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/16/2023”
The first casualty of war is the truth.
"
Generally no. There's an argument for really really bad speech, but even that, for me, is a tough sell.
"
I can't say I'm surprised.....
Actions have consequences.
"As Wall Street assails Harvard, students worry about their futures"
https://www.businessinsider.com/harvard-bill-ackman-wall-street-law-firms-growing-rift-2023-10
"
No one ever said Trump was a paragon of decorum.
On “Open Mic for the week of 10/9/2023”
Yeah, it's not really an indictment on the specific vehicle, more on how the are assembled by the manufacturer. I'd venture that not a lot of people think about repair costs / impact to their insurance bill when they shop for a new or newer car.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.