1 Progressives will be the death of us

2 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable tyrant.

3 Yet another reason to "Drill here, drill now."

4 I think that all we can do is hope the progressives slow down. Stop "advancing/civilizing/pogressing" our country.

5 And don't get me started on the Iranians.

6 I think that all we can do is hope the progressives slow down.

That's not enough, because the progressives won't stop.  Either we need to fight them (and wake up the populace, so the whole country will join the fight, too) or we need to accept that we're done as a society, kill the beast, and start the slow, painful process of rebuilding.

7 And don't get me started on the Iranians. Posted by: Steven M. Carmel at March 13, 2012 08:50 AM (QjSgY) 2 Iranians walk into a bar......

8
2 Iranians walk into a bar......

Posted by: nevergiveup at March 13, 2012 08:52 AM (i6RpT)

and demand it shut down because they are against alcohol?

9 I wonder if building the Keystone pipeline might have mitigated some of the Somalian pirate problem? "Pipelines, not pirates" ? Naaah, I suppose not.

10 I wonder if building the Keystone pipeline might have mitigated some of the Somalian pirate problem?

It might mitigate the effect somewhat.  But, really, the only thing that will "solve" the pirate problem is a Kill On Sight policy, straight out of the 17th or 18th century.

11 I have heard rumors that the US Navy has ships that are actually armed with weapons. Is it possible to send a few of these ships to the East African coast and instead of testing biofuels and co-ed bunks, they actually...you know...shoot at pirate vessels?

12 Unfortunately, the "new world order" of rent seeking bureaucrats view the transportation sector as a convenient way to levy the taxes they want to fund their global bullshit.  If you tax the ships, trucks, and trains, then you include an additional tax burden on all goods and most services, which is unseen by the consumer.  They just see the prices go up.

The EU in particular is going to be a danger.  They can use carbon taxes to extract money from us, all in the spirit of punishing us for not living up to our planetary obligations.

13 Is it possible to send a few of these ships to the East African coast and instead of testing biofuels and co-ed bunks, they actually...you know...shoot at pirate vessels?

What?  You mean actually use our military to secure our trade lines?  Perish the thought.

14 I do wonder why Maersk keeps its HQ in Copenhagen though.  You would think that they are exposing themselves unnecessarily.

15 I have heard rumors that the US Navy has ships that are actually armed with weapons. Is it possible to send a few of these ships to the East African coast and instead of testing biofuels and co-ed bunks, they actually...you know...shoot at pirate vessels? Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at March 13, 2012 09:02 AM (nEUpB) Well we have ships but not even enough ammunition to get all our people qualified on the M-16 and M-9.

16 .......none of this has anything to do with the fact that we've downsized our Navy or anything.......you know the Navy......the ones that kept the seas safe......what's our fleet down to now? vic would know.....

17 There is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.

18

So the eco-nazis are more of a threat (to yet another vibrant industry) then rag-tag AK-wielding pirates.

**

AMAZING!

 

 

 

19 Pirates vs. Congress - And Why Congress Is More Dangerous
How do we tell them apart again?

20 Damn.  Gotta get me some of these "pirates", man.  All takin' people's money & stuff - hella Sweet!!

21 @17:  A coupla row boats and some marshmallow guns, I believe...

22 what's our fleet down to now? vic would know..... Posted by: phoenixgirl at March 13, 2012 09:10 AM (Ho2rs) 278 ships or there abouts down from 600 under Reagen

23 I have heard rumors that the US Navy has ships that are actually armed with weapons. Is it possible to send a few of these ships to the East African coast and instead of testing biofuels and co-ed bunks, they actually...you know...shoot at pirate vessels?

The media would have a field day with it. Giant warships firing on little rubber dingies, killing desperate black men from one of the poorest countries in the world.

24 thanks nevergiveup

25 thanks nevergiveup Posted by: phoenixgirl, rip andrew at March 13, 2012 09:13 AM (Ho2rs) And for the record the Navy also has some very good Dentists who really aughta be payed more

26 This post can be summed in two words:

Fucking lawyers.

27 The media would have a field day with it. Giant warships firing on little rubber dingies, killing desperate black men from one of the poorest countries in the world.

Posted by: Heorot at March 13, 2012 09:13 AM (Nq/UF)

 

 

 

 

Meh.  Sounds like a great "Pay per View" op to me.  I'd shell out a few bucks to see it. 

 

Most people in real life don't give two shits about any third worlders.  We could set up trips to hunt them for sport, and no one would really do anything.

28

What? You mean actually use our military to secure our trade lines? Perish the thought.

 

From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli . . .

29 >>In contrast to the $74 million in ransoms you have $1.6 Billion that enters Somalia every year through remittances and the Somali Khat industry which an article just published in the Somaliland times estimates at $180 million per year are examples. I donÂ’t see an outcry to get hawalaÂ’s in Minneapolis under control though.

I wonder how many of those people sending remittances are using food stamps. If you're not buying groceries, you've got more cash to send.  (I'll expand my wondering to "people from every Third World country" so I can be "xenophobic" instead of "racist.")

30

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at March 13, 2012 09:02 AM (nEUpB)

*

Mr. Dildo...still waiting on a re-cap of saturday nights meet-up. How did it go?

Sucks I couldn't make it.

 

31 >>The media would have a field day with it. Giant warships firing on little rubber dingies, killing desperate black men from one of the poorest countries in the world.

They were curiously unconcerned when SCOAMF ordered it.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21156.html

32 nevergive up..... my dad was a dentist in the air force.......

33

Most people in real life don't give two shits about any third worlders. We could set up trips to hunt them for sport, and no one would really do anything.

 

I am willing to bet that 90+% of those watching Whale Wars are watching in hopes that the Japanese finally just harpoon the ecotards. 

34 "Not so much with Congress."

True enough when neither major political party counts election votes as cast.

35 or we need to accept that we're done as a society, kill the beast, and start the slow, painful process of rebuilding.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 08:51 AM (8y9MW)

 

 

 

If it's over, why on earth crash it faster?  That's insane.  Milk what you can from it.  Cuz' it's not going to come back once it's gone.  It will take many lifetimes to rebuild.  None of us, nor our grand children, would see things put back in order.  Might never happen at all. 

And how are we going to change the pace anyway?  Blow ourselves up? 

Relax, make the most of the slow pace of the decline.  Use that time to store up what you can, and figure your escape plan. 

36 Oooooo...pirate ships!  I once...um, never mind.

37 Can't we just grow algae in the ballast tanks?  President Wee Wee said algae is like the Holy Grail of green energy.

38 I am willing to bet that 90+% of those watching Whale Wars are watching in hopes that the Japanese finally just harpoon the ecotards.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 09:19 AM (VtjlW)

 

 

LOL!  Well said.  I'd like to see them tear gassed.  Watch the rats jump ship...  >: )

 

39 The media would have a field day with it. Giant warships firing on little rubber dingies, killing desperate black men from one of the poorest countries in the world.

F the Media.

The Press session should go something like this:

Reporter: Why is this Administration murdering young men off the African coast- men who are just trying to support their starving families?

Press Sec: (After resisting urge to respond: FYNQ) It is our duty to keep the shipping lanes open for free trade.  We kill pirates on site.  If someone isn't a pirate, they should stay out of the shipping lanes in stupid rubber dingies.  And they certainly shouldn't be carrying assault rifles.

Reporter: But isn't it true that just last week, the Somali Government said that any further depredations near their waters would constitute an act of war?

Press Sec: (Again resists urge to respond: FYNQ) They did.  Insofar as there are no "depredations" simply the securing of shipping lanes, it is nothing more than weak saber rattling.  If they wish to escalate that, they can discuss it with our Navy.  At a range of roughly 150 miles.

40 >>Reporter: Why is this Administration murdering young men off the African coast- men who are just trying to support their starving families?

That's the question for President Generic Republican.  Meanwhile:

Reporter: Mr. Obama! How awesomely awesome was it when you killed the pirates!!

41 If it's over, why on earth crash it faster?

Well, to some extent it's a question of why you believe in a Liberated society in the first place.  If it's just for you, and just because it's good for you, then you really shouldn't be too scared of the future anyway- you can just latch on to the Government teat and be fat an happy for quite a long time.

If you believe that a Liberated society is objectively better- objectively closer to some ideal society- then you accelerate the current society's demise to a) accelerate the rise of the next Liberated society and b) hopefully provide a lesson to that next society so that it lasts longer than this one.

Third option: you decide it's not too far gone to save this one, and actually fight.

42 That's the question for President Generic Republican. Meanwhile:

Well, yes.  I was assuming that President SCOAMT would never authorize a Kill On Sight order regarding pirates.

43

Posted by: Reactionary at March 13, 2012 09:16 AM (xUM1Q)

High seas hobo hunt?  I'd go. False flag yacht with a couple of hot Israeli special forces babes lounging on deck in bikinis...yeah c'mon, pirates.  Just fapulous.

44 O/T (sorry) but worth re-posting from a dead thread. A message from Verum Serum:

Moving On and I Hope YouÂ’ll Join Me

John on March 12, 2012 at 1:02 am

My friend Scott and I started Verum Serum back in 2005. I donÂ’t think we were completely sure why we were doing it or what we hoped to accomplish. We both liked the idea of having a voice in things. In the early days we didnÂ’t know anyone. I would write blind introductions to bloggers I liked. A few were kind enough to reply.

We also didnÂ’t have any readers. I remember early on being happy to get 100 hits in a day. It took us about a year to get our first 100K. And then things slowly started to pick up.

In 2008, I made a new friend (via the blog) who turned out to be one of the most talented bloggers IÂ’ve ever met. For around four years now, Morgen and I have been working to make VS not just another news blog but one that would really make a difference. IÂ’m proud of what weÂ’ve accomplished in that regard.

It was that success that led to a job offer which IÂ’ve accepted. Starting today, IÂ’m very pleased to say IÂ’ll be going to work for Breitbart.com. If youÂ’ve liked what I did here at VS, I hope youÂ’ll join me over there at Breitbart.com. (My twitter handle will remain the same, @verumserum, so thatÂ’s one little bit of continuity.) IÂ’ll still be writing about foreign affairs, media bias, and the occasional movie review, plus whatever else catches my attention. ItÂ’s going to be fun. ThereÂ’s nothing better than getting paid to do what you love.

VS itself wonÂ’t disappear. ThereÂ’s some real history here both political and personal. Over 8,600 posts and 32k comments which represent a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. (ItÂ’s hard to say how many unique visitors the site has had because we switched stat counters several times but itÂ’s around 5 million.) I find that pretty amazing considering where we started. But six and a half years later, itÂ’s time to move on. The blog will remain, but in a state of suspended animation.

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=39207

45 nevergive up..... my dad was a dentist in the air force....... Posted by: phoenixgirl, rip andrew at March 13, 2012 09:18 AM (Ho2rs) Ah so he played alot of Golf on base then?

46 They were curiously unconcerned when SCOAMF ordered it.

You can get away with it as a case by case reaction. For a while anyway and especially if you're his grand highness the SCOAMF. I don't think that's sufficiently harsh to actually solve the problem though.

47 On the subject of Whales Wars. I watched that show back when I had TV and always wondered why the Captain was so fat on a ship stuffed with vegans.

48 nevergiveup he wasn't a golfer....he played a lot of pool.......

49 I worry about the requirement to cold iron in LA, something that is very expensive and disruptive.


Though I wouldn't put it past Cali to ban electric irons, I believe this is something nautical.


Any of you Navy folk care to inform a land lubber?

50
This post can be summed in two words:

Fucking lawyers.

Posted by: EC at March 13, 2012 09:15 AM (GQ8sn)

As can most other problems.

51 If you believe that a Liberated society is objectively better- objectively closer to some ideal society- then you accelerate the current society's demise to a) accelerate the rise of the next Liberated society and b) hopefully provide a lesson to that next society so that it lasts longer than this one.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 09:28 AM (8y9MW)

 

 

OK - gotcha.  But this is amazingly optimistic.  Why do you think a free society would rise again, ever?  It's not like they're breaking out all over.  The anglo-saxon culture that made freedom possible is dying, nearly lost.  Losing the culture war lost us everything.  Unless there's some kind of total apocalypse that kills off just about everybody, it's all over for our kind. 

We had our chance to get hard, and serious, when we still had a majority.  We chose not to - we'd rather be "nice."  Nice is death. 

52 Re: Whale Wars.

Was it ever explained how the Captain was "shot" several seasons ago?  It seemed to me, incredible to unbelievable, that someone could hit him square in the chest from that distance on moving ships.  With a pistol no less.

53 From the context, I think it means that the ship has to shut down its engines and draw power from the local grid rather than keep them running to generate electricity. Looking it up, that is what it is. Here is a URL trumpeting its amazing awesomeness: http://tinyurl.com/74eqym8

54 The media would have a field day with it. Giant warships firing on little rubber dingies, killing desperate black men from one of the poorest countries in the world.

Posted by: Heorot at March 13, 2012 09:13 AM (Nq/UF)

Unless it was okayed by Rear Admiral Obama then it would be just dandy. In fact, they would report that Barry Rambo took them out himself

55 49 nevergiveup

he wasn't a golfer....he played a lot of pool.......

Posted by: phoenixgirl, rip andrew at March 13, 2012 09:34 AM (Ho2rs)

**

 

Pocket Pool?? Hmmm!

56

Posted by: fluffy at March 13, 2012 09:36 AM (vRSeu)

I'm a landlubber too, but I inferred from the following sentence that it means the People's Republic of Kalifornia want them to shut off their satanic diesel engines in port and plug in to the satanic power plants onshore...and pay a special premium on the power they use, no doubt.  And this is all after the costly retrofit Carmel references. 

57 it means that the ship has to shut down its engines and draw power from the local grid rather than keep them running to generate electricity.


I'm too lazy to thank you ;--)

58 Al Gore will be on a 40  port  cruise preaching the evils of these big SUV like vessels of the sea, and how they must be shut down.  For the wittle chillen.

59 Q-Ships.

That is all.

60 People's Republic of Kalifornia want them to shut off their satanic diesel engines in port and plug in to the satanicpower plants onshore...and pay a special premium on the power they use, no doubt. And this is all after the costly retrofit Carmel references.


Turning ocean going ships into Chevy Volts.

Build another fucking windmill farm.

61 watching last nights oreilly hostessed by laura ingram......some lib womyn was on talking about how our country was about freedom.....then went on about healthcare and childcare......and what were womyn to do who had kids........OMG!!!!! Freedom to these losers means free.......free everything.....but apparently only for womyn......men......you will pay!!!

62 I was out last night with guys I went to camp with 45 years ago- mostly liberal. All they could talk about was Santorum bad, contraception and abortion? Bunch of jack asses.

63 20 Pirates vs. Congress - And Why Congress Is More Dangerous
How do we tell them apart again?

-----------

Look for the eyepatches.

64 Wife is telling me this morning about Obama delaying projects until next year, costing her company and others millions in cash and productivity on programs already begun. That's how bureaucrats cost business huge amounts on political whims.

65 The DOJ would get involved as it would be considered profiling to actually shoot people who are carrying guns in the shipping lanes off the coast of Africa.

66 I really hope the Army has gotten this Sarg who shot the Afghans out of the country.

67

The Afghanistan massacre - turns out he has an islamic name?

 

 

68 The Afghanistan massacre - turns out he has an islamic name? Posted by: rectal exam at March 13, 2012 09:53 AM (O7ksG) ha?

69 Put A DOJ lawyer on every ship. He can be the first hostage.

70 Q-Ships.

That is all.

Posted by: toby928© at March 13, 2012 09:48 AM (GTbGH)

There must be a really good reason why someone hasn't already tried this.

71 The anglo-saxon culture that made freedom possible is dying, nearly lost

And, before that, the Mediterranean (Grecco-Roman) culture that made freedom possible died, and freedom was nearly lost.

And, before that, the Persian culture that made (relative) freedom possible died, and freedom (such as it was) was nearly lost.  Heck, the Persians lost their freedom to themselves (Thanks, Xerxes!), much as we are losing our own freedom to ourselves.

It's not optimism, it's realism.  At some point, a new free society will arise, because that's what has happened before.  Each time, that amount of freedom has actually gotten greater, too.  So, if you accept the premise that we're too far gone to save our society- and if your principles rest on a foundation that says Liberty is objectively better than Tyranny, then your only logical recourse is to accelerate the demise of the current- fatally wounded- society and allow the next to rise up that much sooner.

That said, I don't think we're that far gone, yet.  I think it can be turned around, but I think people have to stop saying that it can't be, and start trying to do the turning.

72  I really hope the Army has gotten this Sarg who shot the Afghans out of the country.

Posted by: nevergiveup at March 13, 2012 09:52 AM (i6RpT)

 

 

That's a painful subject to consider.  I'm of two minds about it.  On the one hand, he disobeyed orders, messed up our efforts, and made life a lot harder on our men.  Big problems.  For that, justice must be done.

But on the other hand, at a gut level, I can't blame him for the act itself.  Long term exposure to those savages must drive a man mad.  He gave them nothing more than what they had coming, as I see it.  If it were up to me, the first thing we'd do on our way out of that shit hole is poison every well.

73 That's a painful subject to consider. I'm of two minds about it. On the one hand,he disobeyed orders, messed up our efforts, and made life a lot harder on our men. Big problems. For that, justice must be done. But on the other hand, at a gut level, I can't blame him for the act itself. Long term exposure to those savages must drive a man mad. He gave them nothing more than what they had coming, as I see it. If it were up to me, the first thing we'd do on our way out of that shit hole is poison every well. Posted by: Reactionary at March 13, 2012 09:58 AM (xUM1Q) Oh he has to be held responsible for his actions, I was just saying they should get him OUT of Afghanistan PDQ. There is no reason to keep him there. Put him in a Brig/Hospital Stateside.

74 and what were womyn to do who had kids........OMG!!!!! Freedom to these losers means free.......free everything.....but apparently only for womyn......men......you will pay!!!

Posted by: phoenixgirl, rip andrew at March 13, 2012 09:50 AM (Ho2rs)

I saw that too. Who is going to pay for their healthcare, child care, day care etc...Poor helpless little thing.

75 72. Standing ovation. Thanks. Oh! I still visit your blog but no longer comment. I enjoy your posts. Keep it up and you will soon be another VDH. 

76 >>And, before that, the Mediterranean (Grecco-Roman) culture that made freedom possible

Lol, whut?

77 I still think they should sell safari trips to hunters on these ships.  That way hunters would pay to provide security as long as they had the opportunity to bag their limit of pirates.  It would be a hell of a lot more fun and exciting than the typical cruise ship trip.

Just put a couple of lawn chairs on the deck so they can sun themselves while waiting for pirates to show up and you are golden.

78 OT: From the "F Cancer" files: the husband of a friend of mine (last name Nolasco) died last week (while I was on vacation) from cancer.  He leaves behind his wife and two kids (4 & 2).  Prayers for that family from the so-inclined Morons would be appreciated.

79 allen sorry to hear about that..... thoughts and prayers for his family.......

80 I remember seeing a WWII newsreel (on the history channel back when they covered history) on the Q-ships. I believe the one I saw is at the link but I can't watch video here at work. It was pretty cool how the hid the guns.

The link is to a blog story on Q-ships
http://tinyurl.com/743e5uj

81 A plane full of congressmen on a political fact-finding tour crashed in the middle of rural America. Panic stricken, the FBI mobilized and descended on the farm in force. When they got there, all they found was a burned hulk, smoldering in a tree line that bordered a farm. The agents descended upon the smoking hulk but could find no remains of the crew or passengers. To their amazement, a lone farmer was plowing a field not too far away as if nothing at all had happened. They hurried over to surround the man's tractor. "Sir," the senior FBI agent asked, panting and out of breath. "Did you see this terrible accident happen?" "Yep. Sure did." The farmer muttered unconcernedly. "Did you realize that plane was full of congressmen?" "Yep." "Weren't there any survivors?" the agent gasped. "Nope. They's all kilt straight out." The farmer sighed, cutting off his tractor motor. "I done buried them all myself. Took most of the morning too." "All of the Senators were dead?" The agent gulped in disbelief. "Well," the farmer sighed, obviously wanting to get back to his work. "A few of 'em kept a-saying they wasn't ... but you know what liars all them career politicians is." (H/T Cybersalt Digest)

82

 if we shoot a pirate off a US flag ship there is nothing to prevent that aggrieved pirate from suing us in a Pakistani court

 

------

 

Wouldn't lack of  breathing prevent him from suing?

83 66chevelle,  Is your chevelle red?  I could be your Dad.

84 Oh! I still visit your blog but no longer comment. I enjoy your posts. Keep it up and you will soon be another VDH.

Thanks for the kind words.

Lol, whut?

Okay, yes, I lumped Greek and Roman culture together (yes, I know they're different: but so were Anglo and Saxon cultures- we link them together, too).  But the Greek city-states (especially Athens and Sparta) really were very Liberal for their day, and the Roman Republic was perhaps the most Libertine society of the Ancient World.

However much we may look down on Greece, remember that it was Greece that gave us Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle (Morons), as well as the first example of a functioning Republic.  And we still attempt to emulate Rome in many ways- the most obvious of which are probably city and building design.

85 It's not optimism, it's realism. At some point, a new free society will arise, because that's what has happened before.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 09:58 AM (8y9MW)

 

 

And how many thousand years must we wait this time?  There's no benefit to me or my family for many generations in this scenario.  The new, glorious age of freedom can wait a few more decades - I don't need to help rush it.

Besides, there is a key difference between those past epochs and now.  Now the State has more technological tools at its disposal than ever before, and they're not all so bumbling and incompetent about using them as China is.  Also, modern society makes it impossible for most people to live independently, which diminishes people's drive to be free.  Combine that with the mind-numbing pap of modern socialism and mass entertainment, and Man is slave from now until doomsday.

86

It all depends, I guess, on the definition of "piracy."   If by pirates you mean guys in tattered clothes on small boats scooting around Third World countries trying to steal from bigger boats from the First World (and, presumably, saying "aargh" a lot), then OK.   But to me piracy is simply confiscating the property of others under threat (implicit or explicit) of force.   It doesn't matter whether you do it with a black market AK-47, or you do it with an environmental regulation.  

 

Modern liberal government is a racket.   Nice little shipping company you have there, buddy.   Be a shame if something were to happen to it.  

87 Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle (Morons), as well as the first example of a functioning Republic. And we still attempt to emulate Rome in many ways- the most obvious of which are probably city and building design.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 10:08 AM (8y9MW)

 

 

 

I'd rather they kept Plato.  His theory of the enlightened class of high-brow leaders, living in communal fashion, is what we're fighting in the intellectual left today.

But yeah - Aristotle was a good egg.

 

88 Sonuvabitch! Local AM station has rejiggered their line-up starting today, No more Dennis Miller, Clark Howard instead. DM had rapidly become my favorite radio host. A scan of both bands didn't find him on a new station. Sucks balls.

89
  Going to withhold comment on the Sargeant until the initial misinformation is discredited.  Thus far, the accounts are too disjointed to make sense.  That, plus the soft pedaling from the networks about details trips the bs meter.

90 And how many thousand years must we wait this time? There's no benefit to me or my family for many generations in this scenario.

Then you don't believe that Liberty is objectively better, you believe it is subjectively better (that is: it benefits you directly, and you would be just as happy -logically- in a tyrannical state that benefited you directly).  In that case, your only options are despair or fight.

Combine that with the mind-numbing pap of modern socialism and mass entertainment,and Man is slave from now until doomsday.

But you won't combine those things.  Once the current society collapses (consider what that term means: Mad Max won't be too far off base) "modern socialism" and "mass entertainment" will be luxuries fondly remembered and sorely missed- but they won't exist anymore.

Even Hammurabi's Mesopotamia was more free- once there was law- than the warring tribes had been before that.

91

So tree huggers and environmentalists are costing us a heck of a lot more than pirates ever will, but interestingly I donÂ’t see anyone agitating for the Navy to get underway to get the quasi-failed state of California under control. But if any of you are up for the mission IÂ’d like to see it<<<<

 

Listen, asshole.  I've been calling for the offshore bombardment of California's coastal cities for 25 years, so quit your whining.

92 Aristotle also was a grumpy old man, giving us the precursor to 'get off my lawn'

93 That said, I don't think we're that far gone, yet. I think it can be turned around, but I think people have to stop saying that it can't be, and start trying to do the turning.

Our best shot is that there's a preference cascade bubbling just below the surface. That could be the case, you see hints of it every once in a while. If I'm not just imagining it. It may take a triggering event to set it off though, which is likely to be nasty. Not as bad as a total collapse though.

94 Posted by: nevergiveup at March 13, 2012 09:15 AM (i6RpT)

So much temptation with that comment!

95 It may take a triggering event to set it off though, which is likely to be nasty. Not as bad as a total collapse though.

I firmly believe we'll have a shooting war over the idea in my children's lifetime, if not in mine.  Hopefully the right side will win.

96

Posted by: Jimbo at March 13, 2012 10:08 AM (O3R/2)

No, it's  metallic blue, and it belongs to my son, strangely enough.

97 I am not old enough to be his granddaddy.

98

"That said, I don't think we're that far gone, yet. I think it can be turned around, but I think people have to stop saying that it can't be, and start trying to do the turning."

 

The paradox of this thing is that maintaining a peaceful, liberal (classic definition), and Constitutional society requires that same society to periodically engage in violent, illiberal, and Unconstitutional measures to stop enemies foreign and domestic.  We simply don't have the balls to do it preventatively, so we'll eventually do it catastrophically. 

 

As someone previously said - fucking lawyers.

99 How did "mass entertainment" become a solitary pursuit?

100 Congress could easily limit that international civil liability by issuing letters of marque and reprisal to commercial shipping vessels with security teams or to privateers specifically equipped fight pirates. For purposes of piracy, they'd be acting under the authority of the US Navy. A letter of marque is designed specifically to deal with pirates and low-level naval warfare, and it's one of the few explicit Congressional powers that would actually help solve the problem. So, of course, modern Congresses are determined to completely ignore it.

101 How did "mass entertainment" become a solitary pursuit?


Wow, the things one reads on the internet.

102 How did "mass entertainment" become a solitary pursuit?

Well, they invented this thing called the Internet...

103 I haven't seen anything new in the U.S. soldier shooting story since the day it broke. It's mentioned at every newsbreak, but all they do is repeat "16 massacred" and "9 children" and then talk about apologies/diplomatic hurdles. Does anyone know of a site that's got good coverage of the story (or even coverage of the coverage)? Now that I write that, I suppose I should go to This Ain't Hell. I hope it's Bberry friendly.

104

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for LIfe at March 13, 2012 09:05 AM (OWjjx)

 

You know, in the Medieval Warming Period, they used to catapult bloated, putrefying cow carcasses into besieged castles, so yeah, I could see giving her to the pirates.

105 Pirates!!!!  An untapped resource.

106 Difference between pirates and congress is, no kid in his right mind ever dreamed of growing up and becoming a member of congress. 

107 lincolntf i haven't seen anything with any information.....by now you'd think the name would be linked........

108 i think it should be mandatory for the pirates to wear pirate clothing.......

109 Posted by: Lincolntf at March 13, 2012 10:26 AM (hiMsy) They are not saying much 1) He was on his 3rd tour of duty 2) He had a "Brain" injury in 2010 but was cleared for this deployment? What ever that means? 3) he was having marital problems 4) his wife and kids (2) were living off base on the West coast and they have been moved on base for their own protection.

110 linked=leaked

111 While there's plenty of wonderful hydrocarbons around for the next few hundred years til we live in space there might not be enough to cycle all the way back up from stone tools. 

Stolen from Jerry Pournelle

112

Once the current society collapses (consider what that term means: Mad Max won't be too far off base) "modern socialism" and "mass entertainment" will be luxuries fondly remembered and sorely missed- but they won't exist anymore.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012at March 13, 2012 10:14 AM (8y9MW)

 

 

 

Meh.  Even soviet Russia didn't collapse that far, and they had real-life communism.  They've since only upgraded to hard socialism.  I don't think that kind of collapse is on the table.  I think we're looking at the long, slow grind down into an endless gray monotony.  Until the eschaton, that is.  Then things get exciting, in a mostly bad way.

113

93Aristotle also was a grumpy old man, giving us the precursor to 'get off my lawn'

 

Fluffy, I think you have Aristotle confused with Plato. Just sayin. Plato was all about his lost lawn - Aristotle not so much. Aristotle was more a glass half empty kind of guy.

114

113 -

 

I realize it doesn't fit into most people's understanding of theology, but if the rapture/end of the world doesn't involve zombies, I'm going to be sorely disappointed. 

115 O/T - God Bless James O'Keefe.  Exposed potential voter fraud in Vermont.  People handing out ballots without even checking if he is who he says he is.  He's asking for ballots in the name of dead people.  Thanks James for shedding a little pure burning sunlight.

116

115 -

 

As opposed to Socrates, who was, in the end, a glass completely empty kind of guy <rimshot>

117 Thanks, NGU. The off-base family is a plausible reason for not releasing the name quickly. That "brain injury" aspect is troubling, if I may use such a pensive term. Could've been a minor concussion (I knew more than one guy who got smashed but good simply riding in a vehicle without their Kevlar on) to something that really changed him into something he wasn't before.

118 O/T book bargain: Moneyball $0.25 at Google Books daily special http://scoamf.us/qA

119 116 The Bible says 'the dead in Christ shall rise.'

120 121 - and the libs say... and probably vote Dem.

121 Difference between pirates and congress is, no kid in his right mind ever dreamed of growing up and becoming a member of congress.

Yeah. The scary part is most members of congress probably did.

122 114 Dammit, stop perpetuating your War on Wymmyn with your distractions about "pirates". Give me my free condoms!

Posted by: Sandra Slut at March 13, 2012 10:34 AM (7FadD)

 

Sorry, Sandra, but your schtick ain't doing crap for Obama's approval ratings.

We're gonna need a bigger slut.

 

123

off, sock

124 The Bible says 'the dead in Christ shall rise.'

Posted by: nickless at March 13, 2012 10:39 AM (X7aC

 

 

Hmmm... an interesting new take on that passage.

I don't think I wanna attend a zombie pot luck...

125 Thousands of people took to the streets in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday to protest the killing of 16 civilians by a U.S. soldier, burning an effigy of Barack Obama and calling for the killer to be tried in Afghanistan. Demonstrators in the city of Jalalabad chanted "Death to America -- Death to Obama" and blocked the main highway to Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported. "Jihad (holy war) is the only way to get the invading Americans out of Afghanistan," one banner read, according to the newspaper. Well this is turning out great ha? And it was that Sarg's 4th deployment not 3rd. sorry for that

126 The Keystone XL Pipeline is being built.

Even President Obama praised his great efforts to make it happen, at least for the Texas-Oklahoma leg.

My understanding is that they are going to build it right up to Montana (to get the oil sands there). The Texas to Montana portion that is all in the US doesn't come under the authority of the President's (actually the State Department's) choice.

Once that leg is in, there will only be a short, a few meters, section to make it cross the border. So what are the environmental impacts of a section of oil pipeline a few meters long ?

The environmental community will shit their pants when they figure it out.

127 Even soviet Russia didn't collapse that far, and they had real-life communism.

The collapse of the USSR was a collapse of government, and a regression of disparate societies back into their component parts.  It wasn't a "societal collapse" as much as the dissolution of a forced confederation, and the collapse of a specific government.  Each of the component societies survived- or collapsed into a near Mad Max (not Road Warrior, let alone Thunderdome, but Mad Max) level- see also Bosnia-Sarajevo.

128 The environmental community will shit their pants when they
figure it out.

Posted by: Zeus at March 13, 2012 10:42 AM (e8kgV)

 

 

Magnificent.  All praise to those tireless businessmen who made this possible.  And a big, fat, F-you to the president who tried to stop it.

129 Greg is on the Top Headline thread.  Came to tell us all about the great economic news....in case anyone wants to go have a chat with him.

130 Hmm.  How do we get Congress to sponsor and participate in a booze cruise off of the coast of Somalia?

131 <<I don't think I wanna attend a zombie pot luck...>>

If you go to a Church pot luck in rural MN it pretty much feels like a Zombie pot luck. Or since it's fishfry season any of those will do nicely too.

132

128 -

 

Like I said, it doesn't fit with most people's interpretations, but I'm all for it.  Either way, if I'm alive, I get to engage in some wholesale target practice, and if I'm already dead, well.... tasty, tasty brains!

133 Fluffy, I think you have Aristotle confused with Plato. Just sayin. Plato was all about his lost lawn - Aristotle not so much. Aristotle was more a glass half empty kind of guy.


Alexander the Great, having conquered the known world, was anxious to reward his old tutor, Aristotle.

Alexander: "I can give you anything you like! What do you want?"

Aristotle: "I want you to get out of my light."

American suburbanites eventually perfected the phrase with...

134 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

135 Did you see Andrew Klavan's recent piece at pjmedia?

What happens when the Zombies run out of non-Zombies to eat?

It's a poor parasite that kills its host.

136

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 13, 2012 10:26 AM (hiMsy)

I don't think this story is fitting a convenient narrative for the MSM, DoD or WH. 

 

137

118 -

 

Because of the drinking... and the hemlock... and... nevermind.

 

Philistines. 

138 54 From the context, I think it means that the ship has to shut down its engines and draw power from the local grid rather than keep them running to generate electricity. Looking it up, that is what it is. Here is a URL trumpeting its amazing awesomeness:

http://tinyurl.com/74eqym8
Posted by: David, sockpuppeted troll at March 13, 2012 09:44 AM

One more reason the Port of LA is going to lose a shitload of tonnage once the Panama Canal widening is complete in 2014

139 Posted by: BurtTC at March 13, 2012 10:52 AM (TOk1P)

No, no.  We got it.

We just didn't want to reward it with a response.

140 Difference between pirates and congress?

Members of Congress have yachts.
Pirates have working boats.

141 Hmm. How do we get Congress to sponsor and participate in a booze cruise off of the coast of Somalia?

And how do we keep them from finding out that Francesco Schettino is the captain?

142 "A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns" - Vito Corleone

143 A letter of marque is designed specifically to deal with pirates and low-level naval warfare, and it's one of the few explicit Congressional powers that would actually help solve the problem. So, of course, modern Congresses are determined to completely ignore it.

Posted by: GalosGann at March 13, 2012 10:22 AM (T3KlW)

 

Alas, it is also banned by an international treaty, which we signed, back in the nineteenth century. The elimination of privateering was a big part of the elimination of piracy, as privateering tended to provide a training ground and cover for piracy.

 

144 Posted by: fluffy, grass farmer at March 13, 2012 10:47 AM (vRSeu)

I believe that was not Aristotle, but rather the Cynic philosopher Diogenes (the same guy who lived in a barrel and went around with a lamp in the daylight looking for an honest man).

145

143 -

 

One of those talents I inherited from my father, the ability to tell intentionally bad jokes, and FORCE people to acknowledge them. 

 

In other words, humor with an audience of exactly one: me.  The rest of you must fend for yourselves. 

146

Posted by: kbdabear at March 13, 2012 10:54 AM (Y+DPZ)

 

Buy stock in KC Southern RR.  They've got the exclusive rail line out of Mexico from the Port of Lazaro de Cardenas, and I bet they don't need no stinkin' cold iron or longshoremen down there.  RR stock is down now, according to my trader(wife), so maybe you want to check it out, si?

147 Okay, this thread is almost three hours old. Time for a new one.

148 I believe that was not Aristotle, but rather the Cynic philosopher Diogenes (the same guy who lived in a barrel and went around with a lamp in the daylight looking for an honest man).


I stand corrected. And Diogenes makes a better grumpy old man.

149 I'd like to swap Van Jones and his Ella Baker Center for some pirates. Might cost us less here in Cali.

All the usual suspects are lining up to take their cut of our cap and trade booty.

http://tinyurl.com/7s7ycfc

150 You know what I think would be rather droll? If we all sat down and looked at some etchings. .

151 Okay, this thread is almost three hours old. Time for a new one.

Ageist.

152

While there's plenty of wonderful hydrocarbons around for the next few hundred years til we live in space there might not be enough to cycle all the way back up from stone tools.

 

That's why we have whales.

 

What did you think we were saving them for?

153 It's quiet around here this morning. Too quiet... (cue scary music)

154

A completely natural, replenishable, sustainable, completely organic alternative fuel?

 

Cloned whale farms.

155 On a completely unrelated note:  Anyone heard from Monty?  I know he had some work-related stuff come up week before last, but I was wondering if the HQ had any updates on his DOOM-y-ness.

156 Has the blog been abandoned? 

157

155 - 

 

Go ahead and say it, he's a codfish.

158

Posted by: Heorot at March 13, 2012 11:12 AM (Nq/UF)

Waitng for the other shoe to drop.

159 Has the blog been abandoned?

Naaa.  Everyone's trying to come up with something clever to say.  Given this is the Moron Horde, it may take a while.

160 Assad's army captures Syria rebel stronghold of Idlib, activists say Many fear offensive in northern city could turn into a campaign similar to that led by the Syrian army in Homs; Assad declares sets May date for parliamentary elections. Obama, Cameron pledge 'to tighten the noose' on Assad regime ??? Sounds more like that noose is tightening around your neck obama and the rebels? Ain't as easy as Libya ha?

161 On a completely unrelated note: Anyone heard from Monty? I know he had some work-related stuff come up week before last, but I was wondering if the HQ had any updates on his DOOM-y-ness.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 11:12 AM (8y9MW)

He retired from the Doom-y-ness. 

162 On a completely unrelated note: Anyone heard from Monty? I know he had some work-related stuff come up week before last, but I was wondering if the HQ had any updates on his DOOM-y-ness.

He's left the building. No more posts, maybe an occasional comment.

163 In other words, humor with an audience of exactly one: me. The rest of you must fend for yourselves.


Get out of my light.

164 He's left the building. No more posts, maybe an occasional comment.

BOO!  I demand a refund!

165 The sad thing is I came for the Doom and stayed for the moron-y goodness.

Le Sigh.

166

167 -

 

You're a codfish too.  Me, I'm going to see if the mermaids and/or the indian princess are busy at the moment.

167 Its not as long as an Ace Movie review........but what is?

Was ever a more dangerous question asked in the history of the HQ?

168 Here's his swan song, Allen....


http://tinyurl.com/6q4g4ec

169 164: BarryO does not want to get rid of Assad. He will only do so if it becomes election calculus. Its not like removing a sane leader in Egypt that preferred peace with Israel or getting revenge on someone that backed off on terrorism and WMDs for the Bush admin.

170

168 -

 

My baseball prediction: a bunch of guys on steroids hit home runs, and ESPN shows highlights of them with words like "booyah" to signify the majesty of it all.

171

Has the blog been abandoned?

 

I am being forced to work at work. The horror! The horror!

 

Actually, I have to attend an off site meeting with the boss this afternoon which is just.  No.  No no no.  Mind you, the boss is great but the client is high strung by my standards and arrrggh.

172 BOO! I demand a refund!

I figure he finished the bunker, sealed it, and went into cryogenic stasis to later emerge as ruler of the new world.

173 <<That's why we havewhales.

What did you think we were saving them for?>>

Oh crap I thought they said "Shave the Whales"!

http://tinyurl.com/Shave-the-Whales

174 G-D invented Derek Jeter to put the steroid users to shame

175 Posted by: Tami at March 13, 2012 11:19 AM (X6akg)

That's more depressing than the DOOM thread ever was.

176  Has the blog been abandoned?

Naaa. Everyone's trying to come up with something clever to say. Given this is the Moron Horde, it may take a while.


Abandon posts, all ye who comment here.

Or did you mean clever rather than smart-ass?

177 Or did you mean clever rather than smart-ass?

The meaning was left intentionally vague.

178 That's more depressing than the DOOM thread ever was.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) SMOD 2012 at March 13, 2012 11:26 AM (8y9MW)

I know....that kitty pic made us all cry.

179

Yeesh...where is a troll to bash on the head when ya need one?

 

 

180 Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for LIfe at March 13, 2012 11:26 AM (OWjjx)

You were dropped on your head as a child, weren't you?

When Grienke is consistently superb over 15 seasons in the crucible that is New York sports and media, then I will take him seriously as a baseball player.

But let's face it...he wets himself in front of big crowds and lots of pressure.

As for the baseball player that G-d created -- his name is Mariano Rivera.

181 Chariot of the Cods??

182
??? Sounds more like that noose is tightening around your neck obama and the rebels? Ain't as easy as Libya ha?

Posted by: nevergiveup at March 13, 2012 11:14 AM (i6RpT)

Juan McCain suggested giving the (al Qaeda supported) "rebels" military assistance similar to what went down in Libya. Made me madder than hell. Then Santorum lost what little support of mine he ever had when he said McCain's suggestion should be "taken seriously".

183

I don't think anyone in the modern era can be said to be clear of any hint of steroid use.

 

That being said, Greinke has the biggest forehead since Dr. F built his monster. 

184
Oh - and ABC News Radio just said a newly released government report shows a decrease in the number of new job openings.

Recovery Summer 2012, baby!!!

185 <<Juan McCain suggested giving the (al Qaeda supported) "rebels" military assistance>>

Well if he meant dropping a couple of nukes in the general area I completely agree.

186 128 Hmmm... an interesting new take on that passage.
I don't think I wanna attend a zombie pot luck...   ---------   But there'll be Jello salad. Who doesn't want Jello salad? You can always pick the bits of brain out.  

187 63 I was out last night with guys I went to camp with 45 years ago- mostly liberal. All they could talk about was Santorum bad, contraception and abortion? Bunch of jack asses.

I was upgrading the accounting software for one of our clients, and the folks there were in the break room talking about how scared they were of Romney, how if a Republican was elected blacks would be second-class citizens, ALL immigrants would be deported, women would be oppressed, etc, etc.  We really do have the most ill-informed populace of all time, despite the huge advances in communication.  And these people are allowed to vote.

188 For the sort of ransom they're paying you'd think they'd get Ethiopia or Eritrea to create a Foriegn Legion and let them fly armed seaplanes against pirates.

189
We really do have the most ill-informed populace of all time, despite the huge advances in communication. And these people are allowed to vote.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at March 13, 2012 11:38 AM (DuH+r)

Very true.

I had a great time yesterday informing my lib buddy that his belief that only Jews could vote in Israel was a pile of bullshit.

190 177 BOO! I demand a refund!

I figure he finished the bunker, sealed it, and went into cryogenic stasis to later emerge as ruler of the new world.   -------------   I figured Big Apathy had made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
 

191 Liberals are the most likely to have taken each of these steps to block, unfriend, or hide. In all, 28% of liberals have blocked, unfriended, or hidden someone on SNS because of one of these reasons, compared with 16% of conservatives and 14% of moderates.

192

The problem is public support. We don't have it quite yet.

 

What we need is a false flag operation.

 

Maybe the whales burned somebodies koran...

193 This video sums up my feelings and imagine it reflects the feelings of most vets.  Jane Doh, I dedicate this link to your brave son and all others with sons and daughters serving in harms way.  http://tinyurl.com/26m67bn

194 Since California seems to be doing everything in their power to discourage ships from using the port of Long Beach with requirements to power down their engines and/or boilers as well as restrictions on flushing ballast tanks and a whole basket full of new taxes on cargo, it is interesting to reflect on the Mexican port of Topolobampo near Los Mochis. This port has modern unloading facilities and a railroad that connects into the US rail system in Texas. No need to wait until the Panama canal is widened to stop docking in California.

195 @ Mark in Texas When you assume foriegners won't pay for leftwing American yahoo economics, you speak HATE /s

196

"So compared to all that pirates are a minor and ultimately more manageable threat since at least you can get insurance against their attacks and/or just shoot them. Not so much with Congress."

 

But I can dream, can't I?