"Watch and see. Egypt is destined to become another Pakistan."
And how much of this end result was due to our "help" I wonder.... I think we've stirred up a hornets nest in Lybia, Egypt, and now Syria. God only knows where or how this is going to end.
Anyone who's been around for a while knew how this incident would play out in the press and in the politics. Twana Brawly, Rodney King, etc. It hits all the preconceived notions, stereotypes, etc. I'm reminded of a thread about biased media somewhere else in this site given the well-known actions by NBC. That kind of "reporting" should get folks fired and those that exploited this for their own advancement/publicity deserve nothing but contempt-and I’m happy to give it.
SYG: I'm generally a SYG proponent, if only because where I live, I have less rights. You see, even in my own house, I have to retreat from an invader until I can't retreat anymore. I'm sorry, but that's wrong. I shouldn't have to retreat, at all. If someone comes at me with the intent to do violence, I should be able to stand my ground and defend myself, whether I'm in my own home or on the street (in a responsible manner of course). However Todd, you make some good points about "good people calling monsters to the door". A review of the law SYG and a possible refinement MAY be in order. But do you really expect that level of nuance and clear thinking in this charged environment? I'm not optimistic.
One thing you can count on: politicians kicking the can down the road and the maintenance of the status quo, much to the detriment of the country's future. Nothing with get solved. Any the debt is still rising. Cuts in the amount of planned increases are not cuts. The amounts to be cut via the cliff per year are negligible. Smoke and mirrors.
The only way you’re going to get anywhere near substantial cuts are cuts in entitlements, and yes, that means SS and Medicare. Not going to happen.
"Latest version is the police patted him down but didn’t frisk him. Not sure what the difference is, but apparently what they did was more quick and used on suspects they don’t think are armed anyways."
Yah, doesn't surprise me. Frankly, I think that's sloppy work. The whole point of a pat down or a frisk is to confirm there are no weapons--for the officer and "detainee" protection.
Gee, I was thinking that I didn't have kids because I DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE THEM, not that I was getting a benefit of someone else's kids paying for my SS. Of course, I pay for those kids to go to publik skoolz too, so I think I'm getting the shorter end of the stick.
Because people cannot escape their preconceptions, their background, their upbringing and associated notions. It's too much a part of who they are. I'm fine with that. Just don't lie to me or deceive yourself that you’re unbiased. Everyone has biases.
I consider "Fair and Balanced" to be the equiv of "All the news that's fit to print" or some other tagline. It's clear that they are sided. This whole F&B thing is schtick, in my opinion. I'm sure it fools some folks, but those that are that easily fooled deserve it.
I really don't see why position is baffling. Foxed is biased, we both know that, whether they admit to it or not. If I watch them, and I do very infrequently, I already know the angle the stories will come from. That's not the case for other media.
"In a follow-up email to NBC News, Frey said the gun was apparently hidden well enough to evade detection when the student was frisked prior to being placed in the patrol car."
This is either incompetetance by the cop or a damn lie.
I have to agree that the "right wing media" is detached. Of course, so is the "left wing media". They are both echo chambers, and the false premise that reporters are not biased but are "professionals" still gives me chuckles. Right.
Given that, I still support sided media. I'd rather have Fox News known for being a sided media establishment rather than trying to hide it like some of the "mainstream" media outlets do. You know what you getting there. Not so much other places, so the "BS" meter has to be working harder.
I'll kick in here too as I have some personal experience with panhandlers and scammers.
I was living in Seattle at the time. There were a lot of Native Americans panhandling in the Pike Place Market area. Seattle had an "aggressive panhandling law" at the time so they just sat on the sidewalk with a cup. I had some sympathy for them. They would engage you in conversation and generally were pleasant, but I soon realized that they really only wanted cash for booze. Too many times I saw sandwiches and other food left besides them they ignored.
I was once hit up, still in Seattle, by a "I’m not a homeless person" with a sob story. It was, in fact, the SAME story I'd been hit with by the woman two weeks earlier. I professed to not having any money (true) and she wanted me to go to an ATM. NFW I'm going to an ATM with someone I don't know.
So, I didn't give. One set didn't want help, they only wanted booze. The other set only wanted to scam me. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Well that sucks. I'll miss Tom. I always enjoy people who generate "drama" especially if I think the "other side" has it comming-for whatever reason that may be.
Vigorous debate, even when it's turns nasty is, in my opinion, always better than none. Silencing the dissenter just reinforces the other's side that it's all an echo chamber. That being said, drama can be extremly tiring so I can understand the need to achive resolution on it. I guess that means I'll be sorry to see him go, but understand the action. Best of luck Tom.
"Douthat wastes no time in, of all things, suggesting that the government *does* have an important part to play in all of this (a conservative, who doesn’t trust the government to effectively regulate health insurance exchanges, happens to have no problem using every economic tool at its disposal to increase aggregate baby production)."
Love the inconsistancy. The gov't could fix a lot of the poblems it helps to generate if they stopped debasing the currency.
The devices may not report on speed, but they very likely can. Even it not, speed is a major factor and the devices will one day record it. This is just the camel's nose under the tent.
Lot's of entities would like this data. It's much more valuable than speed cameras. Pass a law, make them mandatory, make the insurance company forward the data to gov'ts. Mail out the "speeding fines" for you last month's lead foot.
I stopped reading when the commentary tangented off to teachers, etc.
Let's look at labor pay for work at fast food places.
Order taking-basic english comprehension
Order input-push button image of item customer orders
"Cooking"-More of an assembly line vs real food preparation. I believe all the stuff is prepackaged, frozen, etc.
Take money/give change-machine tells you amount of order, machine tells you amount to return, so basic counting needed.
Cleaning of restaurant.
Am I missing anything? This skill level is not exactly high. It doesn't require a college degree, probably not even a high school cert or a GED. You're asking a business to pay 13 more dollars an hour for a "living" wage, assuming that amount is @ 40K a year. Really? The marginal increase in labor costs far exceeds the employee's VALUE for the work they are performing.
Good points all. When you introduce man into an environment, you pretty much have to manage everything else, and him. In my area, the deer are out of control because of lack of predators. They local predators, foxes, bears, etc. are very diminished and the coyote is slowing making in roads east from the west.
And as mentioned, coyotes will take cats and other small domesticated animals. (i'm not a big fan of letter your cat wander outside either) so they can pose a problem. I think the key is that you have to manage the resources so ALL have an opportunity. Otherwise, the system gets even more out of balance.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “The Arab Winter: amateur hour in Cairo”
Well said!
"
"Watch and see. Egypt is destined to become another Pakistan."
And how much of this end result was due to our "help" I wonder.... I think we've stirred up a hornets nest in Lybia, Egypt, and now Syria. God only knows where or how this is going to end.
On “What risk management has taught me about the Trayvon Martin shooting”
Couple thoughts not necessarily linked.
Good post. Well thought out.
Anyone who's been around for a while knew how this incident would play out in the press and in the politics. Twana Brawly, Rodney King, etc. It hits all the preconceived notions, stereotypes, etc. I'm reminded of a thread about biased media somewhere else in this site given the well-known actions by NBC. That kind of "reporting" should get folks fired and those that exploited this for their own advancement/publicity deserve nothing but contempt-and I’m happy to give it.
SYG: I'm generally a SYG proponent, if only because where I live, I have less rights. You see, even in my own house, I have to retreat from an invader until I can't retreat anymore. I'm sorry, but that's wrong. I shouldn't have to retreat, at all. If someone comes at me with the intent to do violence, I should be able to stand my ground and defend myself, whether I'm in my own home or on the street (in a responsible manner of course). However Todd, you make some good points about "good people calling monsters to the door". A review of the law SYG and a possible refinement MAY be in order. But do you really expect that level of nuance and clear thinking in this charged environment? I'm not optimistic.
On “A Listicle of Liberal Doom”
One thing you can count on: politicians kicking the can down the road and the maintenance of the status quo, much to the detriment of the country's future. Nothing with get solved. Any the debt is still rising. Cuts in the amount of planned increases are not cuts. The amounts to be cut via the cliff per year are negligible. Smoke and mirrors.
The only way you’re going to get anywhere near substantial cuts are cuts in entitlements, and yes, that means SS and Medicare. Not going to happen.
On “…no, this isn’t a joke.”
"Latest version is the police patted him down but didn’t frisk him. Not sure what the difference is, but apparently what they did was more quick and used on suspects they don’t think are armed anyways."
Yah, doesn't surprise me. Frankly, I think that's sloppy work. The whole point of a pat down or a frisk is to confirm there are no weapons--for the officer and "detainee" protection.
On “This is not a boat.”
How fast can that thing go?
On “On Ross Douthat, More Children, and Less Decadence”
Gee, I was thinking that I didn't have kids because I DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE THEM, not that I was getting a benefit of someone else's kids paying for my SS. Of course, I pay for those kids to go to publik skoolz too, so I think I'm getting the shorter end of the stick.
On “How ACORN Stole the 2012 Election”
Karl Rove performing mathturbation is no different that some of the stuff I've seen on the other side on the "The McLaughlin Group".
"
Because people cannot escape their preconceptions, their background, their upbringing and associated notions. It's too much a part of who they are. I'm fine with that. Just don't lie to me or deceive yourself that you’re unbiased. Everyone has biases.
"
I consider "Fair and Balanced" to be the equiv of "All the news that's fit to print" or some other tagline. It's clear that they are sided. This whole F&B thing is schtick, in my opinion. I'm sure it fools some folks, but those that are that easily fooled deserve it.
I really don't see why position is baffling. Foxed is biased, we both know that, whether they admit to it or not. If I watch them, and I do very infrequently, I already know the angle the stories will come from. That's not the case for other media.
On “…no, this isn’t a joke.”
"In a follow-up email to NBC News, Frey said the gun was apparently hidden well enough to evade detection when the student was frisked prior to being placed in the patrol car."
This is either incompetetance by the cop or a damn lie.
On “How ACORN Stole the 2012 Election”
End result is the same assuming your assumption is valid, which I'm in no way agreeing with.
"
I have to agree that the "right wing media" is detached. Of course, so is the "left wing media". They are both echo chambers, and the false premise that reporters are not biased but are "professionals" still gives me chuckles. Right.
Given that, I still support sided media. I'd rather have Fox News known for being a sided media establishment rather than trying to hide it like some of the "mainstream" media outlets do. You know what you getting there. Not so much other places, so the "BS" meter has to be working harder.
On “Plunk.”
I'll kick in here too as I have some personal experience with panhandlers and scammers.
I was living in Seattle at the time. There were a lot of Native Americans panhandling in the Pike Place Market area. Seattle had an "aggressive panhandling law" at the time so they just sat on the sidewalk with a cup. I had some sympathy for them. They would engage you in conversation and generally were pleasant, but I soon realized that they really only wanted cash for booze. Too many times I saw sandwiches and other food left besides them they ignored.
I was once hit up, still in Seattle, by a "I’m not a homeless person" with a sob story. It was, in fact, the SAME story I'd been hit with by the woman two weeks earlier. I professed to not having any money (true) and she wanted me to go to an ATM. NFW I'm going to an ATM with someone I don't know.
So, I didn't give. One set didn't want help, they only wanted booze. The other set only wanted to scam me. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
On “Parting Ways”
Well that sucks. I'll miss Tom. I always enjoy people who generate "drama" especially if I think the "other side" has it comming-for whatever reason that may be.
Vigorous debate, even when it's turns nasty is, in my opinion, always better than none. Silencing the dissenter just reinforces the other's side that it's all an echo chamber. That being said, drama can be extremly tiring so I can understand the need to achive resolution on it. I guess that means I'll be sorry to see him go, but understand the action. Best of luck Tom.
On “Are Rubio and Ryan Serious About Inequality?”
Why would you vote for the "me too" party when you already have the dems?
On “On Ross Douthat, More Children, and Less Decadence”
"Douthat wastes no time in, of all things, suggesting that the government *does* have an important part to play in all of this (a conservative, who doesn’t trust the government to effectively regulate health insurance exchanges, happens to have no problem using every economic tool at its disposal to increase aggregate baby production)."
Love the inconsistancy. The gov't could fix a lot of the poblems it helps to generate if they stopped debasing the currency.
On “Are Rubio and Ryan Serious About Inequality?”
So the repubs want to win more elections by acting more like dems? Sounds like a winner.
On “McUnion”
I loled
On “The Second Annual Mindless Diversions Unsolicited Shopping Guide”
I want the grenade launcher on the right of the picture.
On “The Uncanny Valley: It’s a Nice Place to Visit, But You Wouldn’t Want to Live There”
The devices may not report on speed, but they very likely can. Even it not, speed is a major factor and the devices will one day record it. This is just the camel's nose under the tent.
Lot's of entities would like this data. It's much more valuable than speed cameras. Pass a law, make them mandatory, make the insurance company forward the data to gov'ts. Mail out the "speeding fines" for you last month's lead foot.
On “McUnion”
I stopped reading when the commentary tangented off to teachers, etc.
Let's look at labor pay for work at fast food places.
Order taking-basic english comprehension
Order input-push button image of item customer orders
"Cooking"-More of an assembly line vs real food preparation. I believe all the stuff is prepackaged, frozen, etc.
Take money/give change-machine tells you amount of order, machine tells you amount to return, so basic counting needed.
Cleaning of restaurant.
Am I missing anything? This skill level is not exactly high. It doesn't require a college degree, probably not even a high school cert or a GED. You're asking a business to pay 13 more dollars an hour for a "living" wage, assuming that amount is @ 40K a year. Really? The marginal increase in labor costs far exceeds the employee's VALUE for the work they are performing.
"
Hell, I don't like being courteous to customers at any pay rate level. Customer Service? The horrors!
On “Our Place in the Natural World”
Yep, and with all the green spaces that are connected, the deer have corridors to move into suburban areas. Unintended consecquences are a bitch.
"
Good points all. When you introduce man into an environment, you pretty much have to manage everything else, and him. In my area, the deer are out of control because of lack of predators. They local predators, foxes, bears, etc. are very diminished and the coyote is slowing making in roads east from the west.
And as mentioned, coyotes will take cats and other small domesticated animals. (i'm not a big fan of letter your cat wander outside either) so they can pose a problem. I think the key is that you have to manage the resources so ALL have an opportunity. Otherwise, the system gets even more out of balance.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.