December 14, 2013

Russians building world's largest nuclear powered ice breaker
— Purple Avenger

Apropos of current weather...

On a scale of nautical coolness, monster ice breakers gotta be a solid 8/10 just because of the brute power they exert and pounding they take.

The 173m ship is being built by the Baltiysky Zavod shipyard in St Petersburg, and is planned to be completed by 2017. Once finished the ship will be 14 meters longer and 4 meters wider than the current record holder, “50 year Victory” that is 159 meters long and 30 meters wide...

...Powered by two “RITM-200” pressurized water reactors the “Arctic” is being built to generate 175MWe. Its efficiency and power allows the new model to crack ice fields 3 meters thick.

The Arctic will be granted the highest ice class – 9, meaning the ship will be able to break ice in the Arctic area all year round.

FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero.

Also interesting...the AGU presentation on how Ra has gone quiet. Vid below the fold. WUWT has a post on Ra's lack of activity.

Interesting bit in the video -- increasing CO2 has been predicted to COOL the upper atmosphere.

The mayor of Jerusalem has declared a snow tsunami.

And of course, Cairo gets snow for the first time in 100 years

Open Thread

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 06:53 AM | Comments (296)
Post contains 231 words, total size 2 kb.

1 Yay!!!

Posted by: Jimbo at December 14, 2013 04:36 AM (V70Uh)

2 really?

Posted by: jj at December 14, 2013 04:37 AM (gWO5X)

3 dang, thought I was first. couldn't believe it.

Posted by: jj at December 14, 2013 04:38 AM (gWO5X)

4 First?

Posted by: what do I win? at December 14, 2013 04:40 AM (/FE3P)

5 Where is everybody?

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at December 14, 2013 04:41 AM (R8hU8)

6 dark in here...where's the switch?

Posted by: dumbartist at December 14, 2013 04:41 AM (ahBY0)

7 Russians building world's largest ice breaker. Coastal properties are still the most expensive. Al Gore buys $7 million condo in Sausalito Harbor. Yup. Sea level is going to rise 20 feet by 2025.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at December 14, 2013 04:44 AM (olDqf)

8 Wasn't global warming going to solve that ice problem?

Posted by: --- at December 14, 2013 06:57 AM (MMC8r)

9 But I read where there is no "solar forcing" of climate. Where's the science?

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 14, 2013 06:58 AM (dCwZe)

10 Interested in solar activity? Here's data, probably more than can be absorbed. http://www.solarham.net/

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 06:59 AM (aDwsi)

11 Wasn't global warming going to solve that ice problem? Posted by: --- at Hey, this year is supposed to be a maximum output year from the Sun, which is on 11 year cycles of maxima and minima. 2013 was supposed to be the maximum year for the 11 year maxima cycle. All the Global Warming enthusiasts already had their propaganda ready. You know, like all the brilliant policy wonks that knew Obamacare was going to fix healthcare. Those guys. Top. Men.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 14, 2013 07:01 AM (dCwZe)

12 Ships can't break ice.

Posted by: The Titanic at December 14, 2013 07:02 AM (FcR7P)

13 Captain Smith - in Russia, ship break iceberg.  Elsewhere, not so much.

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at December 14, 2013 07:05 AM (uPq7d)

14 Al Gore...Yup. Sea level is going to rise 20 feet by 2025. Posted by: J.J. Sefton He predicts his Scrooge McDuck Money Pile will rise by 20 feet by 2025

Posted by: Dept. Of Acuracy at December 14, 2013 07:07 AM (MhA4j)

15 If willow isn't here, can we start the conversation anyway?

Posted by: Derak at December 14, 2013 07:07 AM (xEkHi)

16 Well,the Russians don't believe the arctic is going to be ice free.

Posted by: steevy at December 14, 2013 07:08 AM (zqvg6)

17 They are trying to reach Ice Station Zebra.

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 14, 2013 07:08 AM (vHRtU)

18 WRT to that person who got off jail thanks to affluenza (a little part of me died typing that) has anyone looked at the judge's other rulings? Because that's not something you do on a whim. He probably does this sort of thing a LOT, and people only feel comfortable raising a stink because this one is rich and white.

Posted by: Lizzie at December 14, 2013 07:09 AM (0oj4W)

19 8 on coolness? Meh How can it rate over a 3 without things which goes explodie? Got to have explodie Btw, MK 46's make a great card platform underway

Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 07:10 AM (1DZOE)

20 They need that much power to plow through all those dead polar bears floating in the water from Globull Warmening.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at December 14, 2013 07:10 AM (0HooB)

21 Why so much activity in the artic? They looking for oil?

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:12 AM (zOTsN)

22 Eh, Purp, while I'm all about US dominance, unlike Russia we don't share much of a boarder with the artic (not counting Alaska I guess.) Russia's boarder is huge. Which I think inclines them to playing in the artic more. I don't know much about the geopolitical nature of the artic so I don't know what not having an ice breaker does in terms of power.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) No Really! at December 14, 2013 07:12 AM (GaqMa)

23 23. All the moose Sarah Palin killed with her bare hands

Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 07:13 AM (1DZOE)

24 Terrific icebreaker. I have a cousin that could borrow it for his next date.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at December 14, 2013 07:13 AM (6fSty)

25 obviously no one would spend the massive amount necessary to build and deploy nuclear powered ice breakers if they thought, as the most extreme have claimed, that the Arctic will basically be ice-free during the summer in the near term.

Posted by: davem at December 14, 2013 07:14 AM (wmzCM)

26 So the Russians are worried about canada! Um. No. They are looking for something

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:14 AM (zOTsN)

27 Nice post Purp.   -sup Moe-Rons.

Just hanging out waiting to deliver a little bit of clay shooting gear to a Scout Leader. I WAS selling it to him until he wanted to meet at the big regional mall today (two Saturday's before Christmas)

I told him I would just give it to him if I didn't have to meet at the mall.

Posted by: Tobacco Road at December 14, 2013 07:14 AM (4Mv1T)

28 From the site referenced above at 10 Here's nice real-time (relatively) solar wind graphical data..., if any of you care to set sail: http://www.solarham.net/solarwind.htm

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 07:16 AM (aDwsi)

29 19 The judge is a woman and has sentenced poor kids without a slick lawyer to 20 year prison terms. She has announced her retirement and I'm sure some lucrative opportunities will be on her horizon.

Posted by: Dept. Of Acuracy at December 14, 2013 07:16 AM (MhA4j)

30 27. They are looking for something If it's vanilla ice, I hope he stays lost

Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 07:16 AM (1DZOE)

31 New forbes on fox talker is "cashmere hill" Isn't that a stripper name?

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:16 AM (zOTsN)

32 TR - Wise move.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 07:17 AM (aDwsi)

33 Isn't that a stripper name? Yes. Yes, it is.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at December 14, 2013 07:17 AM (0HooB)

34 They are looking for something Yeah. The MacGuffin. But, I read somewhere that nobody really cares what that is.

Posted by: garrett at December 14, 2013 07:18 AM (BjKFp)

35 So will this new ice breaker have the same nuclear powered malfunction as a previous Soviet ice breaker?  But I see the Ice War is heating up between Russia and Canada. 

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 07:19 AM (vjloV)

36 Dismal day in W. NC. Rain, 36 deg.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 07:19 AM (aDwsi)

37 They are looking for something Imperial walkers?

Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 07:19 AM (1DZOE)

38 So if we don't have much of a presence in the Arctic, and canada is no threat, why are the Russians there and increasing their presence there?

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:20 AM (zOTsN)

39 Ultima Thule. The Nazis found it but died off before the exploit. Now the USSR Mother Russia wants the secret alien lizard tech to get those upstart Chinese under control and take their pork buns...

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 14, 2013 07:23 AM (vHRtU)

40 They are looking for something

Putin, "Precious...."

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 07:23 AM (vjloV)

41 I'll let y'all build an icebreaker if it is focused mostly on Muslim Outreach...

//BHO esq

Posted by: sven at December 14, 2013 07:23 AM (9jfyN)

42 Global warming is just around the corner. Bank on it. Oh, and by my carbon credits.

Posted by: Al Gore at December 14, 2013 07:23 AM (tuDuH)

43
Out:  Global Warming
In (for like, forever):  Climate Change

But we still hate CO2

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 07:23 AM (HjPtV)

44 Purp, nice story on ice breakers. Did anyone else start laughing when they read the comments at the story? There are some serious fucking wingnuts out there.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:24 AM (0FSuD)

45 Putin would like to show you his massive ice breaker, comrade!

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:24 AM (zOTsN)

46 22 Why so much activity in the artic? They looking for oil? Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 11:12 AM (zOTsN) No, they know the oil is there is servicing the wells and getting shit to them that is the problem.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:25 AM (0FSuD)

47 Didn't you get out of the carbon business Al?  Thought I read that you cashed out before the market crashed.  

Posted by: PaleRider at December 14, 2013 07:25 AM (m+nIW)

48 The Russkis have a cities and military settlements and oil exploration going on year 'round up on their Arctic border, and the best way to get supplies in is using heavy icebreakers in the Arctic. The big nuclear ice-breakers lead small convoys through the Arctic ice pack. This newest ship will be able to lead ships year 'round, allegedly. If the nuclear power plants don't fail, like Anna Puma thinks. The Russians have smart people, but their manufacturing base is retarded. They can design, but can't reliably build anything. American socialism is leading us in the same direction.

Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 14, 2013 07:25 AM (dCwZe)

49 I'm sure Russian icebreakers are very efficient.  The heat coming from their leaky reactors is probably enough to melt the ice without the need for a reinforced bow.

Posted by: Gran at December 14, 2013 07:26 AM (nPMjI)

50 Maybe they figure the Arctic is a great place to drink vodka.

Posted by: Caliban at December 14, 2013 07:26 AM (2ArJQ)

51 The Great Northern War II Fantasy Game

Build your coalitions now!

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 07:26 AM (HjPtV)

52 Zombie Trotsky's worst fears realized

Posted by: Shivers Ursine and Untold at December 14, 2013 07:26 AM (R6JT1)

53 The comments are funny. GAIA!

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:28 AM (zOTsN)

54 They are looking for something I got it They're looking for a secondary for the Browns

Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 07:28 AM (AsiVD)

55 TR - Wise move. Posted by: Mike Hammer
----------------------------------

He's one county away. Started with his troop shooting rimfire. Then the girl scouts heard about it,then  the Explorers I think, then a couple of church youth groups.

They have been shooting .22LR, 5.56, 30.06, now skeet. He's been begging and borrowing all he can find.

I need to move there.

Posted by: Tobacco Road at December 14, 2013 07:28 AM (4Mv1T)

56 Zombie Trotsky's worst fears realized Now that's funny.

Posted by: rfichoke at December 14, 2013 07:29 AM (J87gl)

57 Gran for a minute I thought you were talking dirty

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:29 AM (zOTsN)

58 Where's the damn football thread?!?! Oh, wait . . .

Posted by: logprof at December 14, 2013 07:32 AM (X3GkB)

59 "...the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero."

Yes but we have free birth control.  This is a hallmark of a great nation and shows who we are as a people.

Posted by: Barak "The Compasionate One " Obama at December 14, 2013 07:32 AM (Vv4Go)

60 >>So if we don't have much of a presence in the Arctic, and canada is no threat, why are the Russians there and increasing their presence there?

Just a guess: because they can?
Who's going to stop them, our current "weak horse" president?

Posted by: Lizzy at December 14, 2013 07:34 AM (JRmiD)

61 >>However, other Arctic nations are not going to give up either in their intention of grabbing a share of the region, believed to be rich in oil, natural gas, and deposits of gold and platinum. According to a US Geological Survey, about 90 billion barrels of oil and 1,670 trillion cubic feet of natural gas are there, making up about 10 percent of the world's petroleum resources. The dominant portion of these resources is hidden beneath ice that is shared between five nations bordering the Arctic: Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Russia and the US – who have been in a bitter dispute over how to divide up the ‘pie’. http://rt.com/news/arctic-russia-military-putin-000/

Posted by: JackStraw at December 14, 2013 07:35 AM (g1DWB)

62 FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero.

I think we can still break all the ice we need to for now.

http://tinyurl.com/lpc3sn4

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 07:35 AM (DL2i+)

63 Snowing in the desert? That's going to harsh the narrative a bit, no?

Posted by: someguy at December 14, 2013 07:35 AM (8XRrT)

64 My vajayjay is rated a class 9 because of the pounding it takes!

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at December 14, 2013 07:36 AM (6fSty)

65 37 Dismal day in W. NC. Rain, 36 deg. Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 11:19 AM (aDwsi) Yeah it's coming my way. Got nothing to do, finished shopping. Have to stay sober for the club dance tonight. Thank God I have driver. Shit it's not Jan and we already have Jan weather.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:36 AM (0FSuD)

66 ...the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero."

If we started building and deploying nuclear ice-breakers (just imagine how long that project would take - EPA + DOE + DOI approvals, court challenges, etc.,), Canada and Russia would scratch their collective heads and wonder WTF?  Alaska needs all of that?

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 07:37 AM (HjPtV)

67
So CO2 makes the earth cooler now....  ok then.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 14, 2013 07:37 AM (MaP11)

68 Yeah. The MacGuffin. But, I read somewhere that nobody really cares what that is. Posted by: garrett at December 14, 2013 11:18 AM (BjKFp) I did. Sorta.....

Posted by: Roger O. Thornhill at December 14, 2013 07:38 AM (it5V6)

69 "...the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero." We don't need the Arctic to get from one side of the country to the other.

Posted by: t-bird at December 14, 2013 07:38 AM (FcR7P)

70 @65

I'm guessing it's a steel-belted radial?

Posted by: Gran at December 14, 2013 07:38 AM (nPMjI)

71 Posted by: logprof at December 14, 2013 11:32 AM (X3GkB) Coastal Carolina at NDSU, noon Eastern, ESPN. Consider it the warmup to Army-Navy. Plus you have the Jets this afternoon!

Posted by: Vendette at December 14, 2013 07:39 AM (sv2CE)

72 27 They are looking for something Like what?

Posted by: m at December 14, 2013 07:39 AM (omrQI)

73 FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero./i] I'll trade you 5 icebreakers and these magic beans for 11 carrier strike groups.

Posted by: Vlad the Magnificent at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (lqgtz)

74 63 FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero. See? A Nuclear Powered Ice Breaker Gap. Told ya. Gee, I wish we had one of those...

Posted by: Buck Turgidson at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (it5V6)

75 Well,the Russians don't believe the arctic is going to be ice free.

Posted by: steevy at December 14, 2013 11:08 AM (zqvg6)


That's because they (very appropriately) take people like con artists like ALGORE out back and have them shot.......

Posted by: Portnoy at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (CjCPZ)

76 On a similar note I heard from Wolf Blitzer that sun spot activity was lower now then ever due to greenhouse gas emissions reaching astronomical levels. President Obama is trying to do something about this and all you laugh. Now see what happened and you say President Obama is clueless. Now we have big problem caused by Bush and all you do is scoff. I have eliminated driving a car and only eat carbon neutral foods. What have you done to protect the earth? NOTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Chrissy Liebowitz at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (iB0Q2)

77 Nobody puts Vlad in the barrel!

Posted by: Vlad the Magnificent at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (lqgtz)

78 This is an open thread, right?  Did Johnny Boehner lash out at us yesterday again or did he get back to doing what he does best:  smoking, drinking, fundraising and roasting in the tanning booth?  That boozy fuck ought to team up with the intern killer on MSLSD since Tweety was singing his praises and he can continue attacking us to the sound of Meeka chirping happily away.

Posted by: Captain Hate at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (Ithri)

79 Speaking of the North Pole, the Arctic, and Christmas ornaments; which Moron on FB did this?? 

http://tinyurl.com/lrgkrbq

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (vjloV)

80 oooofff...whole lotta 'Like' in there...

Posted by: Portnoy at December 14, 2013 07:40 AM (CjCPZ)

81 Russia has cheap birth control.  The hot women get the men wasted and then leave.

Posted by: SFGoth at December 14, 2013 07:42 AM (Z4Vtv)

82 The US don't need no steenking ice breakers

Posted by: U.S.Navy Submarine Service at December 14, 2013 07:42 AM (LSDdO)

83 Dismal day in W. NC. Rain, 36 deg.  Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 11:19 AM

Eighteen degrees here in E. MA, and the first flakes of teh Wicked Blizzuhd we're promised are drifting down....

Looked at the NY Post website and see that we're all remembering Sandy Hook, apparently by looking at a pic of Choom Boy and Mooo-chelle, both dressed in black, standing in the White House with their heads bowed.

Can't we just impeach his ass 'cause he's an insensitive, arrogant fuckweasel?

Posted by: MrScribbler at December 14, 2013 07:42 AM (veRXo)

84 @63 That sub is cool. You see that it was British? It came up in a swallow ice spot. I love the raising the periscope to check out whats around, then they went back down a bit and boom up they came.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:43 AM (0FSuD)

85 "Global warming is just around the corner. Bank on it."

Gotta love the leftist mindset. Climate change is an immediate concern but running yearly trillion dollar deficits isn't an urgent concern, it will somehow work itself out.

Posted by: lowandslow at December 14, 2013 07:44 AM (IV4od)

86 You see that it was British?

Watch a whole youtube clip just for a cheap wiseass remark.  Next you'll want me to read youtube comments.  Noooo.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 07:46 AM (DL2i+)

87 This site is sort of cool: http://goo.gl/02be1D It's the website of the new SVR which use to be the old Cheka/GRU/KGB. I like to see how many of them died in the late 20s due to purges. Tough luck after all the people they murdered that they themselves wd meet the same sordid fate. They've "rehabilitate" most of them but not Trotsky. Not sure why they still hate him so much. Of course, he was a murderer, too.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 07:47 AM (h4eud)

88 We affect the number of sun spots by driving a car? We must be Gods

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:48 AM (zOTsN)

89 You are all horrible, evil people and you're killin' the planet! Won't you buy my DVD, it's only $19.95 on Amazon.com? It's all about how you're horrible, evil people and you're killin' the planet!

Posted by: Al Gore at December 14, 2013 07:49 AM (ZPrif)

90
Russkies have monster nuke powered icebreaker and I can't get a 100W incandescent bulb.

Not the world I was born into.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at December 14, 2013 07:49 AM (MaP11)

91 Climate change is important because it is critical for the transfer of funds (green energy/jobs bullshit)and there is money (taxes to be levied) to be made by carbon credits and caps. What a fucking scam. I heard this Mexican Mafia member talk about the job for them in prison was to think up ways of making money for the gang. That's all they did is think up various ways of scamming and ripping off people. That's how I see government, the left, and the environmentals. They are whacked and they are crooks.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 07:51 AM (h4eud)

92 What folly! Last I checked with Manbearpig, all the ice was about to be gone.

Posted by: UWP at December 14, 2013 07:51 AM (2hQRj)

93 I like to see how many of them died in the late 20s due to purges. Tough luck after all the people they murdered that they themselves wd meet the same sordid fate.
==

Stalin discarded his executioners periodically.

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 07:51 AM (HjPtV)

94 Watch a whole youtube clip just for a cheap wiseass remark. Next you'll want me to read youtube comments. Noooo. Posted by: DaveA at December 14, 2013 11:46 AM (DL2i+) Sorry, didn't mean to burst your bubble. They were checking on Santa for the Brits. The USAF does that for us.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:52 AM (0FSuD)

95 51 Maybe they figure the Arctic is a great place to drink vodka. Posted by: Caliban

Oh noes, there's an ice-fishing gap.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 07:52 AM (6TB1Z)

96 Here's USS Connecticut with bonus chain saw the hatch open.

http://tinyurl.com/lubz37q

I'd hate to be the guy who got all the way up there and forgot the 2 stroke mix.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 07:52 AM (DL2i+)

97 "There is no doubt that this work will be completed on time and in good quality," said the head of "United Shipbuilding Corporation" Vladimir Shmakov. Sounds like he works for healthcare.gov

Posted by: t-bird at December 14, 2013 07:52 AM (FcR7P)

98 I will say this of Cumberpatch, if they ever make a Sinistar movie.  He should do the voice of Sinistar.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 07:53 AM (vjloV)

99 One comment on the article hysterically "screams" "WAKEUP TO GEOENGINEERING!!!!"

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:53 AM (zOTsN)

100 94 I like to see how many of them died in the late 20s due to purges. Tough luck after all the people they murdered that they themselves wd meet the same sordid fate. Tell me about it

Posted by: Zombie Kim's Uncle at December 14, 2013 07:53 AM (0FSuD)

101 Do you turn on your artificial heat during the winter? Do you turn on your air conditionin' during the summer to artificially cool your house down? Do you turn on your artificial lights at nighttime? Well, if you said yes to any of those questions then you might be a horrible, evil person who's killin' the planet? You see, that's artificial. It's not natural. It goes against Mother Nature. And now Mother Nature is punishing us for your transgressions. It's in my book and DVD, which you can buy at Amazon.com for only $19.95. Now some people might ask why I live in a 27 room mansion and fly in private jets when I preach about living in tiny one room apartments with no heat or light. Those people are Republicans. You shouldn't listen to those people. Just remember, you're a horrible, evil person who's killin' the planet. But I can save you! I can redeem you! Just buy my DVD at Amazon.com, it's only $19.95!

Posted by: Al Gore at December 14, 2013 07:55 AM (ZPrif)

102 Back in the olden days when the Canadian government was more anti-American than the US government, the Canadians were complaining that US submarines were operating in the Canadian arctic waters without permission.  The US response was that US submarines were keeping tabs on Soviet submarines and if the Canadians would develop the military capability to establish sovereignty over their own territorial waters, we would be all in favor of that.

The stories usually mentioned that the Edmonton Mall had more submarines than the Canadian armed forces.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 07:56 AM (BcCwi)

103 Al's just still pissed about those 200 or so Senior Citizens in Florida that couldn't figure out a freakin' ballot.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 07:57 AM (LSDdO)

104 @97 So this is how we launch a Polaris missile in the arctic? Get out the chain saws? Pretty funny. What is even funnier is the duck tape on the conning tower. What brand does the navy use, I want some of that shit.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 07:57 AM (0FSuD)

105 Geo engineering watch is a thing. They are calling the contrails left by jets a chemtrail and it's one of their big concerns. They are very yelly and screamy

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 07:58 AM (zOTsN)

106 @91 in two weeks you won't be able to get 40W or 60W either. Upton!

Here's to USCGC Mackinaw, greatest icebreaker in the world for 60 years. I had a drink with Hard-Hands Borics (he was close to 90 and would insist on shaking hands -- he could upset rivets with his thumbs), who'd laid her down at Toolie Ship (Toledo yard, American Shipbuilding). He was a deck hand on her shakedown cruise. A gale came up and his yardmates locked him out on deck. Forty years later he still thought it was funny.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 07:58 AM (xq1UY)

107 #97

Some kids in the White House after looking at that clip will scratch their heads and think "Whoa, if we sent a sub up to the North Pole, those sailors could break out those chainsaws and make an ice sculpture of Our Leader on top of the world!"

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 08:00 AM (HjPtV)

108 Now some people might ask why I live in a 27 room mansion and fly in private jets when I preach about living in tiny one room apartments with no heat or light.

I know, right?  I mean, I fly all around the world talking about the evils of global warming, and you proles insist on your cheesy Xmas lights and your big screen TVs.   Stop being so selfish.  And cheesy.

Posted by: Leonardo de Caprio, Savior of Humanity at December 14, 2013 08:00 AM (6TB1Z)

109 Speaking of expanding control and influence, has the PRC lunar rover landed?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 08:00 AM (vjloV)

110 "88
This site is sort of cool:

http://goo.gl/02be1D

It's the website of the new SVR which use to be the old Cheka/GRU/KGB.

I like to see how many of them died in the late 20s due to purges. Tough luck after all the people they murdered that they themselves wd meet the same sordid fate. They've "rehabilitate" most of them but not Trotsky. Not sure why they still hate him so much. Of course, he was a murderer, too.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 11:47 AM (h4eud)"



You know those fake "arrow through the head" joke items?  I'd like to find a fake "ice ax through the head" at Halloween so that I could go as Leon Trotsky.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 08:02 AM (BcCwi)

111 106 Geo engineering watch is a thing. They are calling the contrails left by jets a chemtrail and it's one of their big concerns. They are very yelly and screamy Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 11:58 AM (zOTsN) Yeah, yeah, yeah.....we started that stuff over Germany. So, sue us.

Posted by: 8th Air Force at December 14, 2013 08:02 AM (it5V6)

112 China's gonna lay claim to the Moon.

You watch.

Who's going to stop them?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:02 AM (LSDdO)

113 Geo engineering watch believes jet contrails cause snow and ice storms If so, can't we use them to combat "global warming"

Posted by: Thunderb at December 14, 2013 08:03 AM (zOTsN)

114 So this is how we launch a Polaris missile in the arctic?

Polaris, that's older than get off my lawn.

I'd expect that what exactly they would do to crack thru and send somebody a Trident D5's worth of Americas finest is classified. 


Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 08:04 AM (DL2i+)

115 "FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero."

The US has "ummm...zero" Ekranoplans, too. So?

Posted by: PersonFromPorlock at December 14, 2013 08:05 AM (lILC0)

116 Posted by: Leonardo de Caprio, Savior of Humanity at December 14, 2013 12:00 PM (6TB1Z) You do know that my character in "Gilbert Grape" was really me, right?

Posted by: Arnie de Crapio at December 14, 2013 08:05 AM (it5V6)

117 Space.

The FINAL Frontier.

Get it bitchez?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:05 AM (LSDdO)

118 Not to be left out, hometown ship goes to North Pole. Scroll down for pic. http://tinyurl.com/o5ars9d

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:06 AM (0FSuD)

119 "I'd expect that what exactly they would do to crack thru and send somebody a Trident D5's worth of Americas finest is classified.


Posted by: DaveA at December 14, 2013 12:04 PM (DL2i+)"



Why would we keep something like that secret?  I thought that the only criteria for restricting information was whether or not something would make our magnificent President Supergenius look bad.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 08:08 AM (BcCwi)

120 Thunderb, isn't it amazing how the human species is regressing into superstition?

Contrails are now poisoning chemtrails?  Really?  Wave  your magic staff and dance you fools.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 08:08 AM (vjloV)

121 Posted by: 8th Air Force at December 14, 2013 12:02 PM (it5V6)

Shouldn't that be 8th ARMY Air Force?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:08 AM (LSDdO)

122 Shouldn't that be 8th ARMY Air Force? Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 12:08 PM (LSDdO) That post is "Vic" Approved and Certified.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:09 AM (0FSuD)

123 Still don't see the duck tape.

The guy sawing does all the cutting on the top edge.  I'm guessing you go thru ice so fast it'd just clog cutting down.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 08:10 AM (DL2i+)

124 "The US has "ummm...zero" Ekranoplans, too. So?

Posted by: PersonFromPorlock at December 14, 2013 12:05 PM (lILC0)"



There is an Ekranoplan Gap? 

Posted by: Zombie JFK at December 14, 2013 08:11 AM (BcCwi)

125 You know those fake "arrow through the head" joke items? I'd like to find a fake "ice ax through the head" at Halloween so that I could go as Leon Trotsky. Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 12:02 PM (BcCwi) You could probably modify one and make a handle using tape on one end and remove the arrow head and sharpen it and wrap it in tape and add some blood. Get a goatee, some glasses, a little gray in your hair and a 3 piece suit and you got a winner!

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:11 AM (h4eud)

126 I'd like to find a fake "ice ax through the head" at Halloween so that I could go as Leon Trotsky.

At the risk of igniting a longbows vs crossbows level fracas, I believe it was an ice pick, although there are lots of descriptions of the murder weapon as an ice axe.  Either way, it was a bad day for Leon.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:11 AM (6TB1Z)

127 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 12:08 PM (vjloV)

It was kinda strange at the time. I lived in Connecticut and the number of trails in the sky did seem to increase about the time of this "scare" of chemtrails.

Supposedly they also increased around the country but I don't know about that. There was a notable increase in CT.

For what it's worth, there are usually some evidence for them to build on when they do these scare things. Just not the reasons they give for them.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:12 AM (LSDdO)

128 "Wave your magic staff and dance you fools.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 12:08 PM (vjloV)"



How *You* doin?  Wanna see me wave my magic staff?

Posted by: Zombie JFK at December 14, 2013 08:13 AM (BcCwi)

129 If you must insist on talking numbered air forces, do not forget the 8th Army Air Force Fighter Command - http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/index.php

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 08:13 AM (vjloV)

130 Get a goatee, some glasses, a little gray in your hair and a 3 piece suit and you got a winner!

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 12:11 PM (h4eud)


And you'll have to be telling people all night who the ckuf you are.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:13 AM (LSDdO)

131 Driving home on Fridays at this time of year, I'll see many contrails in the air, almost all heading due west.  They're really lit up because the sun is low and the sky is so clear.  It looks like the end times, and humanity is bugging out of the East Coast. 

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:14 AM (6TB1Z)

132 RE: Yet Another Progressive Kid Shoots Up a School post


Ft Hood: Registered Democrat/Muslim.

Columbine: Too young to vote; both families were registered Democrats and progressive liberals.

Virginia Tech: Wrote hate mail to President Bush and to his staff.

Colorado Theater: Registered Democrat; staff worker on the Obama campaign; Occupy Wall Street participant; progressive liberal.

Connecticut School Shooter: Registered Democrat; hated Christians.

Feel free to repost to FaceTwitter or whatever.

Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at December 14, 2013 08:15 AM (5ikDv)

133 122 Posted by: 8th Air Force at December 14, 2013 12:02 PM (it5V6) Shouldn't that be 8th ARMY Air Force? Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 12:08 PM (LSDdO) We just took that for granted, then.

Posted by: Hap Arnold at December 14, 2013 08:16 AM (it5V6)

134 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 12:13 PM (vjloV)

I was just pointing out the ARMY part missing.

Far as I'm concerned, making the Air Force a separate Military Command was a mistake.

Army. Navy.

Land. Sea.

Now a separate command for Space, that I could see.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:16 AM (LSDdO)

135 Airlines frequently jettison toilet contents midair to dissuade land travel.

Posted by: Hard hats for frozen scats at December 14, 2013 08:16 AM (R6JT1)

136 OK, naval architects, I gotta go get ready for my gig this afternoon. Y'all have fun and try not to trash the place, 'k?

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b] at December 14, 2013 08:17 AM (0HooB)

137 Who is the sex poodle porking these days? I can't believe any woman would agree for him to get on top of her. I am sick in shock from seeing him french kiss Tipper in 2000.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:17 AM (h4eud)

138 So if chemtrails were hazardous explain Europe where from 1943 until 1945 there were literally tens of thousands of contrails.  From the 1,000 to 2,000 plane formations of B-17s and B-24s along with all their fighter escort Little Friends plus the Luftwaffe contesting things each day.

Its all junk and more junk this chemtrail blather.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 14, 2013 08:18 AM (vjloV)

139 124 Still don't see the duck tape. The guy sawing does all the cutting on the top edge. I'm guessing you go thru ice so fast it'd just clog cutting down. Posted by: DaveA at December 14, 2013 12:10 PM (DL2i+) It was a joke. Look at the first series photos of conning tower. It appears the right side is completely duct taped along the seams.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:18 AM (0FSuD)

140 Posted by: noone, really at December 14, 2013 12:15 PM (5ikDv)


How could you omit Erg Loughner?

Posted by: Captain Hate at December 14, 2013 08:18 AM (Ithri)

141 Wouldn't that chain saw damage the coating on the hull?

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:19 AM (LSDdO)

142 Posted by: noone, really at December 14, 2013 12:15 PM (5ikDv)


Sorry, I overlooked you were just talking about indoctrination centers.

Posted by: Captain Hate at December 14, 2013 08:19 AM (Ithri)

143 Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 12:18 PM (0FSuD)

If you have to explain a joke . . .

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 08:20 AM (LSDdO)

144 So this will shake the true believers?  I think not.

Posted by: Abe at December 14, 2013 08:20 AM (mka2b)

145 I see the Chief's Mess of the Ostfriesland is renegotiating the Key West Agreement yet one more time. CVA-58 will float again, if only in coffee cups.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 08:21 AM (xq1UY)

146 It appears the right side is completely duct taped along the seams.

That's just how classified anti-sonar material looks would be my guess.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 08:21 AM (DL2i+)

147 If you have to explain a joke . . . Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 12:20 PM (LSDdO) True dat. Sure looked like duct tape to me. ha ha http://tinyurl.com/lpc3sn4

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:22 AM (0FSuD)

148 ...send moar money!!!...I can make the snos cease!!!

Posted by: Fat Al at December 14, 2013 08:22 AM (ven16)

149 @148 oops wrong link. It's noon, time for a drink.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:24 AM (0FSuD)

150 As someone who has done a little ice breaking, let me tell ya....boring. 12 hours to make a 90 degree turn? Wake me up when it's over, helmsman.

Posted by: Ice Breaking Coastie at December 14, 2013 08:24 AM (84b7V)

151 Conning tower with duct tape link. http://tinyurl.com/lubz37q

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:25 AM (0FSuD)

152 I just sent the pissing Santa to my email list. Lot of bored people at home today. Something tells me Nick's Santa is going to catch on.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 08:27 AM (0FSuD)

153 131 Get a goatee, some glasses, a little gray in your hair and a 3 piece suit and you got a winner! Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 12:11 PM (h4eud) And you'll have to be telling people all night who the ckuf you are. Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 12:13 PM (LSDdO) It depends on who you party with. I'd have an easier time identifying historical characters than superhero characters.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:28 AM (h4eud)

154 "127 I'd like to find a fake "ice ax through the head" at Halloween so that I could go as Leon Trotsky.

At the risk of igniting a longbows vs crossbows level fracas, I believe it was an ice pick, although there are lots of descriptions of the murder weapon as an ice axe. Either way, it was a bad day for Leon.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 12:11 PM (6TB1Z)"



What is the difference between an ice pick and an ice ax?  The ones I have seen have a pick type thing on one side and an ax type thing on the other.



On the cross bow vs. long bow subject, it seems to me that there is no technical reason that they could not have added a pulley to either tip of the bow part of a crossbow in the middle ages and made them into compound cross bows.  That would allow them to pull the bowstring back three times as far with one third the effort and it would transfer energy into the crossbow bolt for three times the distance which would make the bolt travel significantly faster and arrive at its target with a lot more energy. 



Figure a typical medieval crossbow had a 300 pound pull and an eight inch draw.  Putting a pair of pulleys on the same bow would result in 100 pounds over 24 inches.  Now we are in English longbow territory with a weapon that does not require training since childhood plus a lot of favorable DNA to use.  Compare the time it would take to draw and load such a crossbow to the time it takes to load a flintlock musket.  Cobble up some sights for the crossbow and I think that you could put together a pretty effective peasant army that could dominate an area with projectile weapons out to about 300 yards.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 08:29 AM (BcCwi)

155 So if chemtrails were hazardous explain Europe where from 1943 until 1945 there were literally tens of thousands of contrails. From the 1,000 to 2,000 plane formations of B-17s and B-24s along with all their fighter escort Little Friends plus the Luftwaffe contesting things each day. Very high death rate in Europe around that period, IIRC.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 08:30 AM (EQrBy)

156 @Captain Hate

I was sort of focused on gun free zones.  I guess a political rally could be included.

I confess that am also occasionally drawn into the siren song of the legend of the "peace loving hippie-commie" projected by the MSM and their ongoing narrative.

It's good ice water therapy to list the damaged minds produced by statist propaganda and to remember that they are libertine-chaos agents and life destroyers.

Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at December 14, 2013 08:30 AM (5ikDv)

157 What is the difference between an ice pick and an ice ax?

Tough to conceal an ice axe in your sleeve.  Tough to climb a mountain with an ice pick, which is, after all, a sharp screwdriver.

I'm agnostic on the whole bow thing.  I'm a trebuchet kind of guy.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:33 AM (6TB1Z)

158 If there are any WoW gamers on: I'm looking for signatures to create the Alliance guild "Val U Rite Pudding" on Rexxar. If anyone is willing to sign I'd appreciate it.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 14, 2013 08:34 AM (GDulk)

159 A-hole now you have done it. Navy vs AF wasn't enough for you, oh no. You had to go full crossbow. Now the weekend is ruined. I hope you are happy. I am.

Ice ax: a climber's tool. Has a handle and a crosswise v.pointy head.
Ice pick: a hard nail with a handle on the shank, for chipping a block of ice.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 08:34 AM (xq1UY)

160 Figure a typical medieval crossbow had a 300 pound pull and an eight inch draw. Oi. Try 800 pounds. Some of the really large ones went up to 1200 pounds. A flintlock musket took about 10 seconds to reload, if you were aiming for speed (Prussian practice) or 20 seconds if you wanted accuracy (Anglo-Dutch practice).

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 08:35 AM (EQrBy)

161 So the Russkies have nifty icebreakers and a new model ICBM, the Chinese are landing shit on the moon and pwn the world market for rare earths, and the US has
 
EBT cards and TFG and one party gubmint.
 
*sob*

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 14, 2013 08:35 AM (cHZB7)

162 Still giggling over seeing the newest poster boy for Obamacide this morning shilling for acne cream. I have no idea what the young man does for a real living, but seems to me that if they have acne salemen shilling there might be a few problems. I laugh at just about everything these days -- not worth my blood pressure -- "embrace the suck" for all.

Posted by: Mustbequantum at December 14, 2013 08:36 AM (MIKMs)

163 []iOi. Try 800 pounds. Some of the really large ones went up to 1200 pounds.

How exactly would one load such a thing? What you describe sounds more like a ballista.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:37 AM (6TB1Z)

164 The way things are going, we're going to need a couple of those gadgets for New York Harbor.

Posted by: Caliban at December 14, 2013 08:37 AM (2ArJQ)

165 @162 But wait there's more. Both EADS and Boeing are laying off and shutting down military ops as fast as they can because Ain No Munny. So there's that.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 08:37 AM (xq1UY)

166 "131 Get a goatee, some glasses, a little gray in your hair and a 3 piece suit and you got a winner!

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 12:11 PM (h4eud)

And you'll have to be telling people all night who the ckuf you are.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 12:13 PM (LSDdO)"



Which is kind of fun if you are partying with self described Trotskyite hipster douchebags.  Well, they self describe as Trotskyites but the hipster douchbag part is pretty apparent.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 08:38 AM (BcCwi)

167 On the cross bow vs. long bow subject, it seems to me that there is no technical reason that they could not have added a pulley to either tip of the bow part of a crossbow in the middle ages and made them into compound cross bows. Hand Cranks. That's the way you want to go.

Posted by: Matt Cauthon at December 14, 2013 08:39 AM (S58NK)

168 Here's a photo of the weapon: http://goo.gl/Xeoeoi It was stolen but recently found. I assume they used the pointy in.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:40 AM (h4eud)

169 Wang is down!

Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 14, 2013 08:41 AM (vHRtU)

170 Hand Cranks. That's the way you want to go. Huh huh huh. Hand cranks. Huh huh huh huh.

Posted by: Butthead at December 14, 2013 08:42 AM (UAMVq)

171 How exactly would one load such a thing? What you describe sounds more like a ballista. A windlass - a set of pulleys with hooks one both ends, one for the string and one for the end of the stock, with a set of cranks to wind it up with. Personally, I suspect that there were some very practical reasons why they didn't invent the compound bow relating to metallurgical constraints.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 08:42 AM (EQrBy)

172 Denver Post took edited out the "Socialist" description from their report on the latest leftist shooter.

Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 14, 2013 08:42 AM (ZPrif)

173 We'll counter them with our polar bear stealth missiles. Russian pussies.

Posted by: Prime Minister Stephen Harper at December 14, 2013 08:42 AM (Zy/7e)

174 170 Wang is down! Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 14, 2013 12:41 PM (vHRtU) Bob Dole knows what to do about that.

Posted by: Bob Dole at December 14, 2013 08:43 AM (UAMVq)

175 Here's a photo of the weapon:

http://goo.gl/Xeoeoi

That certainly is an ice ax.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:44 AM (6TB1Z)

176 One of Stalin's henchmen, I forgot his name, ended up in SF. Yeah, act shocked. He was behind the murders of some of Trotsky's children and the murder of Trotsky. He immigrated to the US and spied and got a degree in anthropology from Columbia. Later, he was found out but they could only get him for perjury. He did a couple of years in prison and then went on his merry way. He worked at Mt. Zion hospital in SF. I had heard of him. He did studies in the way different cultures experience pain. At the time I was unaware of his traitorous past. Not sure why he wasn't kicked out of the country after he served his sentence. Anyway, I thought his ideas about other cultures and pain was pure racist bullshit.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:46 AM (h4eud)

177 A windlass - a set of pulleys with hooks one both ends, one for the string and one for the end of the stock, with a set of cranks to wind it up with.

That doesn't sound single man-operable, which is where I would draw the line between and bow and something else.  Any pictures?

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:46 AM (6TB1Z)

178 >> Denver Post took edited out the "Socialist" description from their report on the latest leftist shooter.
 
Go figure.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 14, 2013 08:46 AM (cHZB7)

179 Heard there was tragedy at the Neet's household. Prayers for them!!

Posted by: The Man from Athens at December 14, 2013 08:48 AM (RXQ2T)

180 Never mind, I found one.

http://tinyurl.com/qg27dwk

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:48 AM (6TB1Z)

181 Someone must have ordered a shitload of crushed ice.

Posted by: Dang at December 14, 2013 08:49 AM (MNq6o)

182 That doesn't sound single man-operable, which is where I would draw the line between and bow and something else. Any pictures? Modern repro: http://tinyurl.com/p3tgxqh Period illustration of them in use about halfway down: http://tinyurl.com/nu4q6p2

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 08:49 AM (EQrBy)

183 182 Someone must have ordered a shitload of crushed ice.
Posted by: Dang

Ike Turner?

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:50 AM (6TB1Z)

184 Btw, MK 46's make a great card platform underway Posted by: Ncj at December 14, 2013 11:10 AM (1DZOE) ########### 1 ADCAP = 1 Navy Cross

Posted by: The Man from Athens at December 14, 2013 08:50 AM (RXQ2T)

185 A lot of the people who worked for Trotsky were actually working for Stalin. So, I don't think the murderer was searched and it was easy to bring in the weapon. A few months before his death, his compound was shot up and they threw bombs. One of his security people was kidnapped and later found dead outside of town. But it turns out he was working for Stalin and he did something to piss off the attackers so they took him and got rid of him.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 08:51 AM (h4eud)

186 @186

It's almost like it's a bad idea to get in bed with a sociopath. 

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:52 AM (6TB1Z)

187 Personally, I suspect that there were some very practical reasons why they didn't invent the compound bow relating to metallurgical constraints.

Yup.  I'd be really reluctant to hold something like that up to my head, even with modern materials.  Of course, if your other option was being cleaved by a sword, it would be a tough call.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 08:54 AM (6TB1Z)

188 This is precisely why the Mullahs indicated they wanted a nuclear program!

Posted by: John Kerry at December 14, 2013 08:56 AM (GAqms)

189 170 Wang is down! Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 14, 2013 12:41 PM (vHRtU) Not mine, want a picture?

Posted by: Anthony Weiner at December 14, 2013 08:57 AM (0FSuD)

190 "161 Figure a typical medieval crossbow had a 300 pound pull and an eight inch draw.

Oi. Try 800 pounds. Some of the really large ones went up to 1200 pounds.

A flintlock musket took about 10 seconds to reload, if you were aiming for speed (Prussian practice) or 20 seconds if you wanted accuracy (Anglo-Dutch practice).

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 12:35 PM (EQrBy)"



I know that some siege crossbows went up to 3000 pounds pull but those were not very portable because it takes almost a tree trunk to withstand that much energy.  It seems that you could just keep gluing more sinews onto the back of the prod to increase the pull. 



I have read that the British Army could fire four times in a minute with the Brown Bess but most armies were doing well if they could fire three times a minute.  I have tried with a reproduction flintlock musket and the fastest I have been able to shoot is twice a minute and more often, not quite that.  I was using paper cartridges that I made myself, biting off the back and filling the priming pan, dumping the rest down the barrel followed by the ball and paper, ramming it down, pulling out the ramrod and returning it then shooting at a silhouette target at 50 yards which I hit more often than not.  I have not made the experiment with a crossbow but I think that it would take about the same amount of time to load and shoot.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 08:57 AM (BcCwi)

191 177 One of Stalin's henchmen, I forgot his name, ended up in SF. Yeah, act shocked. He was behind the murders of some of Trotsky's children and the murder of Trotsky. He immigrated to the US and spied and got a degree in anthropology from Columbia. Later, he was found out but they could only get him for perjury. He did a couple of years in prison and then went on his merry way. He worked at Mt. Zion hospital in SF. I had heard of him. He did studies in the way different cultures experience pain. At the time I was unaware of his traitorous past. Not sure why he wasn't kicked out of the country after he served his sentence. Anyway, I thought his ideas about other cultures and pain was pure racist bullshit. Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 12:46 PM (h4eud) Very prevalent in Europe at that time and now. They had elaborate hand written databases of racial characteristics, attributed predispositions, etc. leading up WWI. Europe just pretends to be anti-racist.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Rounding Error Extraordinaire at December 14, 2013 08:58 AM (DPsbR)

192 159 If there are any WoW gamers on: I'm looking for signatures to create the Alliance guild "Val U Rite Pudding" on Rexxar. If anyone is willing to sign I'd appreciate it. I'll do it with an alt, what name should I look for? And where Are you? SW?

Posted by: Weirddave at December 14, 2013 09:00 AM (N/cFh)

193 Prayers for the Neet's family. There's another Moron family that probably needs prayers too. This was posted last month. I have no idea how they are doing. Long time lurker here. Wife just called from the hospital, she's had a stroke. Any morons that might be inclined to pray for her, I'd be grateful. My kids are asleep, I'm waiting for my mother-in-law to get here so I can go to the hospital. I feel lost. Posted by: Lopan at November 08, 2013 01:30 AM (+MqL1)

Posted by: ExSnipe at December 14, 2013 09:00 AM (57ubW)

194 Also, the US and Chinese warships didn't almost collide by accident. China ordered the US ship, a guided missile cruiser, to stop. When the Cowpens ignored the warning to stop, the Chinese tried to force it to stop by maneuvering into its path. This was in international waters.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 09:08 AM (ZPrif)

195 Posted by: Weirddave at December 14, 2013 01:00 PM (N/cFh) SW just inside the main gate by the "Visitor's Center". My toon is a Worgen DK named Learie.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 14, 2013 09:09 AM (GDulk)

196 China ordered the US ship, a guided missile cruiser, to stop. When the Cowpens ignored the warning to stop, the Chinese tried to force it to stop by maneuvering into its path.

There's something very strange going on in the Chinese leadership.  This sort of behavior isn't just being more aggressive than usual to make a point, it's playing with starting a shooting war.  One they will lose.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 09:12 AM (6TB1Z)

197 China has been kicking our ass a lot lately.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 09:12 AM (ZPrif)

198 Capitulating to the Chinese is not out of the realm of desirable outcomes

Posted by: Neville Soetoro at December 14, 2013 09:14 AM (Pr6hk)

199 Robbers pick the wrong guy: http://www.wave3.com/story/24212373/two-shot-outside-monroe-chicken-plant-shooter-in-custody

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 09:14 AM (aDwsi)

200 "They had elaborate hand written databases of racial characteristics, attributed predispositions, etc. leading up WWI. Europe just pretends to be anti-racist." Lotta words to say eugenics....

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at December 14, 2013 09:14 AM (60Vyp)

201 Facebook records all your drafts, including stuff you type and then delete, even if you did not save the draft: http://tinyurl.com/oz5gj3v

Posted by: The Political Hat at December 14, 2013 09:17 AM (Vk2pI)

202 "168
On the cross bow vs. long bow subject, it seems to me that there is no technical reason that they could not have added a pulley to either tip of the bow part of a crossbow in the middle ages and made them into compound cross bows.


Hand Cranks. That's the way you want to go.

Posted by: Matt Cauthon at December 14, 2013 12:39 PM (S58NK)"



They had cranquins and windlasses but they required a non trivial amount of time to operate and cranquins were some pretty sophisticated metal working and technology for the time which does not come cheap in any age.  In order to use these time consuming loading devices, crossbowmen would set up a pavise which was a shield that was set on the ground and propped up to stay upright while they hid behind them.  Often the crossbowmen would have a pavise carrier accompany them.  All in all, that is not the way to equip a cheap and easily trained peasant army that can defeat the militarily trained and well equipped aristocracy and their hired armies of mercenaries.  

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 09:17 AM (BcCwi)

203 200 Oh, yeah..., the perps: ---- http://www.mugshotsonline.com/north-carolina/monroe/jarvis-dakota-miller/95418531 ---- http://www.mugshotsonline.com/north-carolina/monroe/jermaine-alexander-blakeney/67244101

Posted by: Mike Hammer at December 14, 2013 09:17 AM (aDwsi)

204 The Chinese are probably just trying to see if Obama's fecklessness has filtered down into the US Navy command yet.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 09:20 AM (CrabR)

205 "186
A lot of the people who worked for Trotsky were actually working for Stalin. So, I don't think the murderer was searched and it was easy to bring in the weapon. A few months before his death, his compound was shot up and they threw bombs. One of his security people was kidnapped and later found dead outside of town. But it turns out he was working for Stalin and he did something to piss off the attackers so they took him and got rid of him.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 12:51 PM (h4eud)"



I thought that the ice ax was already in the room and Mercader waited until Trotsky was looking away or reading to pick it up and project the weapon into Trotsky's head.  Mercader projection.  See what I did there?  Boy, I crack myself up.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 09:23 AM (BcCwi)

206 The Chinese are probably just trying to see if Obama's fecklessness has filtered down into the US Navy command yet.

Different time constants for the two processes (Obama's reign, and a change in military culture).  I'm still going with something weird in the top Chinese governmental ranks. 

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 09:24 AM (6TB1Z)

207 Whoa -- Google bought Boston Dynamics. Boston Dynamics makes all those awesome robots, BigDog, Cheetah, etc. Google has quietly been buying up a large % of the top robotics companies on the planet. This is ... interesting. Especially since most of Boston Dynamics money comes from the Pentagon. Google is now in the weapons systems business.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 09:26 AM (ZPrif)

208 Darn, all this global warming means no one will want to ski this year except people who don't believe in that shit. Such a shame my apres ski dating pool will be libertarians and cons.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at December 14, 2013 09:27 AM (Q9iob)

209 @208

*cough* Skynet *cough*

Posted by: Gran at December 14, 2013 09:27 AM (nPMjI)

210 Most Epic Game of Beer Pong Ever Lands Frat in Trouble

Leave it to the industrious students at Lehigh University, known for its engineering school, to construct the most elaborate beer pong set-up ever.

Administrators werenÂ’t impressed, though, and suspended the schoolÂ’s Chi Phi fraternity chapter after the photo, which was reportedly taken Dec. 6, began making the rounds online.

The chapter was suspended Wednesday, according to a post on the Lehigh Greek Community blog, which is run by the schoolÂ’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.

“This suspension comes pending the investigation of allegations of University policy violations by the chapter on the night of Friday, December 6, 2013 including providing alcohol to minors, drinking games, hosting an unregistered social event, and irresponsible distribution of alcohol,” read a statement posted on the blog.

Posted by: Dean Martin at December 14, 2013 09:27 AM (e8kgV)

211 Google is now in the weapons systems business.

Skynet soon to follow.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 09:28 AM (6TB1Z)

212 Polliwog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCNJRfSZBU Leroy Jenkins. The man, the legend. How to wipe a raid in pre-expansion WoW. This video went viral in 2006 and WoW created an achievement to give the title "Jenkins" based on it.

Posted by: Weirddave at December 14, 2013 09:28 AM (N/cFh)

213 Wait Denmark borders the Arctic? Really, huh, I thought the British Isles are closer to the Arctic than they.

Posted by: [/i][/b]KG at December 14, 2013 09:29 AM (IPz9m)

214 "Personally, I suspect that there were some very practical reasons why they didn't invent the compound bow relating to metallurgical constraints.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 12:42 PM (EQrBy)"



It seems that pulleys cast out of brass ought to be plenty strong enough to hold up to any stresses they would be required to handle.  Keep in mind that the nut that held the bowstring on a crossbow was typically made out of bone.  They held up to the >1000 pound stresses involved.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 09:29 AM (BcCwi)

215 Maybe Google will shut down the Pentagon contracts. I don't know. And, technically, the BigDog and Cheetah don't fire their own weapons. Yet. They just carry the weapons for the soldiers. So it's arguably just a military vehicle and not a weapons systems. Of course, you can mount weaponry on most military vehicles.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 09:30 AM (ZPrif)

216 I am surprised no one yet has said the Russians are actually helping S.H.I.E.L.D. find the plane Captain America crashed in the Arctic.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at December 14, 2013 09:31 AM (RZ8pf)

217 Dean Martin, and then there was that toga party in which were reported seventeen individual acts of perversion so disgusting and profound that decorum prohibits listing them in this blog.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at December 14, 2013 09:31 AM (Q9iob)

218 What does Google want with legged robots that are fast enough to hunt down a man?

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 09:34 AM (ZPrif)

219 I have read that the British Army could fire four times in a minute with the Brown Bess but most armies were doing well if they could fire three times a minute. I have tried with a reproduction flintlock musket and the fastest I have been able to shoot is twice a minute and more often, not quite that. The Prussians were firing at a rate of about six shots a minute - they emphasized firepower uber alles, whereas the French tended to emphasize the bayonet. The British and the Dutch tended to emphasize aimed fire. It seems to have been part and parcel with how different nations viewed themselves - the Germans used harsh punishments to make men into unthinking war machines and emphasized overwhelming firepower tactically, (all the while moving very fast strategically - WWII blitzkrieg had long roots!) whereas the French tended appealed to honor rather than punish their men physically and thought that their emotional national character - capable of great courage but prone to panic - was best utilized by keeping their men moving forward and getting to close quarters with the bayonet. The English and Dutch, who prided themselves on phlegmatic doggedness and their status as free men, used a combination of physical punishments and appeals to their men's pride to enforce discipline and preferred to use stand-off musketry that was aimed. Of course, when the British faced off against their own colonists, they were faced with an undisciplined but numerous foes that also that also emphasized marksmenship, so they tended to use speed and the baonet to avoid being bogged down in sustained firefights that would cost them heavy casualties.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 09:34 AM (EQrBy)

220 and then there was that toga party in which were reported seventeen individual acts of perversion so disgusting and profound that decorum prohibits listing them in this blog. Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at December 14, 2013 01:31 PM (Q9iob) That's what the ONT is forÂ…

Posted by: The Political Hat at December 14, 2013 09:36 AM (Vk2pI)

221 219 What does Google want with legged robots that are fast enough to hunt down a man?

I'm sure it's benign. 

Posted by: John Connor at December 14, 2013 09:37 AM (6TB1Z)

222 Snow and ice have been creeping south earlier and colder since 2007, including Arctic refreezing on a grand scale. Ex// snow on Fr Riviera for years and now Cairo and Jerusalem Warmist prediction fails: still batting .000, all strikeouts.

Posted by: Beagle at December 14, 2013 09:38 AM (sOtz/)

223 If we had an ice breaker, there would be no free birth control. It's a deal breaker.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at December 14, 2013 09:39 AM (Dwehj)

224 What does Google want with legged robots that are fast enough to hunt down a man?

I'm signing an executive order to pay for a thousand, as we speak. I'm going to call them Tea Party Pluckers.

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at December 14, 2013 09:42 AM (Dwehj)

225 It seems that pulleys cast out of brass ought to be plenty strong enough to hold up to any stresses they would be required to handle. Keep in mind that the nut that held the bowstring on a crossbow was typically made out of bone. They held up to the >1000 pound stresses involved. They'd wear out in record time - brass is soft stuff, and the wheels would rotate a lot more than the nut. If you kept the pin and the wheel rotating to together as a single unit, then you have an enormous problem with the prod. Tempering a steel prod to be neither too hard not too soft is difficult enough, making one that had a different hardness on the ends would have been would have been incredibly difficult with medieval technology.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 09:43 AM (EQrBy)

226 Ra is sulking because of the global warming cultists have been ignoring him. He probably requires the sacrifice of a few still-beating hearts ripped from aforesaid cultists to get in a better mood. win/win

Posted by: votermom at December 14, 2013 09:45 AM (GSIDW)

227 "219 What does Google want with legged robots that are fast enough to hunt down a man?

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at December 14, 2013 01:34 PM (ZPrif)"



What kind of question is that?  Who doesn't want some of those?

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 09:45 AM (BcCwi)

228 Now Google is really starting to scare me.

Posted by: Paranoidgirlinseattle at December 14, 2013 09:46 AM (RZ8pf)

229
What kind of question is that? Who doesn't want some of those?
Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole

Rinos, that's who.

Posted by: pep at December 14, 2013 09:46 AM (6TB1Z)

230 Hello, all! Mr. Bassman and I are on our way to the Colorado Morondezvous scheduled for this afternoon. I had planned to bring some Hate Cupcakes from Masterpiece Cakeshop, but the shop has had such a deluge of supportive customers that they likely won't have anything for us to buy. They are not taking pre-orders since they already can't keep up with demand. We're just going to stop in and take our chances.

Posted by: Mindy, back from the land of pickup trucks at December 14, 2013 09:46 AM (FBmYf)

231 I thought that the ice ax was already in the room and Mercader waited until Trotsky was looking away or reading to pick it up and project the weapon into Trotsky's head. Mercader projection. See what I did there? Boy, I crack myself up. Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 01:23 PM (BcCwi) You made me look: From Wiki: Mercader later testified at his trial: I laid my raincoat on the table in such a way as to be able to remove the ice axe which was in the pocket. I decided not to miss the wonderful opportunity that presented itself. The moment Trotsky began reading the article, he gave me my chance; I took out the ice axe from the raincoat, gripped it in my hand and, with my eyes closed, dealt him a terrible blow on the head.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 09:47 AM (h4eud)

232 Posted by: Mindy, back from the land of pickup trucks at December 14, 2013 01:46 PM (FBmYf) Glad you were able to get in touch with them at least.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 14, 2013 09:48 AM (GDulk)

233 Watched about 5 episodes of Kolchak The Night Stalker on Netflix since seeing it mentioned here other day. Odd show, with highly questionable production values at times, but good entertainment. Recommended for killing time and listening to the patois of 1974. Not to mention the cutting edge fashion or the political incorrectness. Plus aliens and monsters.

Posted by: Lincolntf at December 14, 2013 09:48 AM (ZshNr)

234 Oh and altho he denies it, Pablo Neruda also was in on the plot to murder Trotsky.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 09:50 AM (h4eud)

235 Yale officials have claimed the right to search student email accounts without notice or consent, according to a report in the Yale Daily News. According to a survey conducted by the Daily News, only 3 out of 73 students were aware that the university had the claimed the power to access their private university email accounts.

According to the Yale administration, reading student email accounts may be done for such vague reasons as complying with “federal, state, or local law or administrative rules,” or whenever “there are reasonable grounds to believe that a violation of law or a significant breach of University policy may have taken place.”

The Daily News reports that the right to probe student email accounts is “outlined in a publicly available but little-publicized document,” entitled “University’s Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy.”

Judging from the broad and vaguely-defined causes for search outlined in the statement, it might as well be called the “We Can Read any Email You Send or Receive any Time We Want Policy.”

Posted by: James Dean at December 14, 2013 09:50 AM (e8kgV)

236 What does Google want with legged robots that are fast enough to hunt down a man?

What I want to know is it smart enough to avoid snares and get itself out of a dug pit?  I totally want one and would reprogram and hack the shit out of it.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 09:50 AM (CrabR)

237 @214 Wait Denmark borders the Arctic?

Is joke, no?

Greenland.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 09:50 AM (xq1UY)

238 I, for one, welcome our newly-sentient AI killer robot overlords. They come in peace. Can't be much worse than Obama's IRS and Justice Department.

Posted by: Beagle at December 14, 2013 09:53 AM (sOtz/)

239 Worse, anyone using disqus seems more interested in "upvotes" than having a dialog. If I want to argue with teenagers, I can come back home to the HQ, dammit!

Posted by: shredded chi at December 14, 2013 10:46 AM (OFb3N)


Yeah, I don't know if we Canucks have any[/] operational subs at the moment. We did buy some mothballed Diesel-electric jobs from Britain, a few years ago, but one of them suffered an on-board electrical fire on the Atlantic crossing, killing a crew member, and I don't know if the refit has ever been completed.



With the vast expanse of Arctic waters in our North, we need to have nuclear subs and nuclear icebreakers simply to maintain our sovereignty. And we should probably develop our own nuclear weapons, too. The U.S. "nuclear umbrella" is getting a little moth-eaten, under Obama.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 14, 2013 09:53 AM (60Q+L)

240 With those robots, I will finally be able to wash my hands of those pesky mainstream media lackeys that supposedly had my back. Oh, happy day!

Posted by: Prez'nit 404 at December 14, 2013 09:54 AM (Dwehj)

241 The U.S. "nuclear umbrella" is getting a little moth-eaten, under Obama.

Those northern radar stations have probably become polar bear habitats...you might wanna check and see if the road in is all overgrown and shit.

Posted by: Purp[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 09:56 AM (CrabR)

242 In USSA, Google searches you!

Posted by: Paul Rudd at December 14, 2013 09:58 AM (R6JT1)

243 Beat Navy

Posted by: Army at December 14, 2013 09:58 AM (H1bc7)

244 Beat Army

Posted by: Navy at December 14, 2013 09:58 AM (H1bc7)

245 "226 It seems that pulleys cast out of brass ought to be plenty strong enough to hold up to any stresses they would be required to handle. Keep in mind that the nut that held the bowstring on a crossbow was typically made out of bone. They held up to the >1000 pound stresses involved.

They'd wear out in record time - brass is soft stuff, and the wheels would rotate a lot more than the nut. If you kept the pin and the wheel rotating to together as a single unit, then you have an enormous problem with the prod. Tempering a steel prod to be neither too hard not too soft is difficult enough, making one that had a different hardness on the ends would have been would have been incredibly difficult with medieval technology.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 01:43 PM (EQrBy)"



I figure you would attach a couple of U shaped iron pieces to the end of the prod to hold the pulleys.  While a steel prod is a possibility, it was more common to have a flat wooden prod with sinews glued to it to add weight to the pull. 



IIRC the pulleys used on sailing ships had a wheel made of wood with an iron axle and they were used to handle enormous weights over long time periods.



The item I would be concerned about from the material strength standpoint would be the bowstring.  They were made for crossbows by taking a single linen thread and wrapping it between two pegs until they judged it was strong enough.  Then they wrapped it with additional thread so that it looked the way that we see.  I don't know how well that would work for a length three times as long and having to be flexed through pulleys.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 09:59 AM (BcCwi)

246 Here is a YouTube of the live coverage of the Chinese Chang'e-3 moon landing this morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK1PDfZWU3E I missed it because I was busy trying to catch my cat to take her to the groomer. Unsuccessfully, I might add. Appointment rescheduled for 12/28. I only get one chance to catch her. After that she avoids me until she is certain that I've given up. So anyway, China has accomplished the first soft landing on the Moon since 1976 (unmanned Russian lander) and India has a Mars orbiter on the way. I say good luck to them both. Space is big, and there's plenty of room for everybody.

Posted by: rickl at December 14, 2013 09:59 AM (sdi6R)

247 Whew, close one. Alberta Oil almost had to report to HMCS Barrel.

There was a deal a couple of decades ago for Canada to purchase, at fire-sale rates, some US Trident-capable subs, but the trust part of the equation fell through. Ever seen "The Arrow"? I think there are some distortions in there, but most Canadians do not.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at December 14, 2013 09:59 AM (xq1UY)

248 Mike Hammer, have you washed away yet? I am inflating my raft as we speak.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 09:59 AM (0FSuD)

249 242 The U.S. "nuclear umbrella" is getting a little moth-eaten, under Obama. Obama and umbrella. Teh funneh.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at December 14, 2013 10:00 AM (6fSty)

250 Snowing     like crazy in NYC but that, sadly, doesn't stop the SantaCon morons from hitting the bars and acting like a-holes. They were on my quiet street in Yorkville before noon, hooting loudly and tossing snowballs. Why do they think screaming "WHHOOO HOO" guarantees hilarity?

Posted by: vivi at December 14, 2013 10:01 AM (+/8mE)

251 Starting Crypto Analysis.... Possibility One.... 000000000 *A thousand mushroom clouds* Wow, that was worse than "123456" or "Password1" stupid carbon-based lifeforms.

Posted by: Killer Robot AI at December 14, 2013 10:01 AM (sOtz/)

252 Polliwog, we'll be sure to raise a glass in your honor!

Posted by: Mindy at December 14, 2013 10:02 AM (FBmYf)

253 I have read that the British Army could fire four times in a minute with the Brown Bess but most armies were doing well if they could fire three times a minute. I have tried with a reproduction flintlock musket and the fastest I have been able to shoot is twice a minute and more often, not quite that
==

The timing for the rate of fire begins with firing the first shot.  Loading for the first shot is not included for time.

Posted by: mrp at December 14, 2013 10:03 AM (HjPtV)

254 We should start having a weekly prepping thread. Need to be prepared to be stuck at home due to ice and snow.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 14, 2013 10:03 AM (SUKHu)

255 Mindy, I hope you and everyone else in attendance have a wonderful time!

Posted by: Vendette at December 14, 2013 10:03 AM (sv2CE)

256 from the Wiki:
Leon Trotsky's great-granddaughter, Mexican-born Nora Volkow, is currently head of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse

Long March indeed.

Posted by: noone, really [/i] [/b] at December 14, 2013 10:04 AM (5ikDv)

257 Wow, that was worse than "123456" or "Password1" stupid carbon-based lifeforms. Posted by: Killer Robot AI at December 14, 2013 02:01 PM (sOtz/) Tell me about it.

Posted by: President Skroob at December 14, 2013 10:04 AM (Vk2pI)

258 255 We should start having a weekly prepping thread. Need to be prepared to be stuck at home due to ice and snow. Posted by: Mama AJ at December 14, 2013 02:03 PM (SUKHu) I already hit the liquor store, so I'm good.

Posted by: rickl at December 14, 2013 10:04 AM (sdi6R)

259 Noticed the sidebar story about Muzzie cab drivers refusing rides to the blind on account of their "unclean" guide dogs. It also details the pleasant phenomenon of "puppy bombs." Theses are the type of stories that have a way of reaching  the soft -hearted, fuzzy-thinking  , Kumbaya-chanting, " Can't we all just get along "  LIV's in ways that  stories about  marathon-bombers and suicide-jihadists somehow don't--which is why the mainstream media never highlights them....

Posted by: JoeyBagels at December 14, 2013 10:06 AM (eymmJ)

260 Warmist prediction fails: still batting .000, all strikeouts. - And yet they are still brilliant and moral while we are still stupid and evil.

Posted by: WalrusRex at December 14, 2013 10:07 AM (iYoLi)

261 Posted by: Mindy at December 14, 2013 02:02 PM (FBmYf) Thanks. I hope very much to be able to attend a COMoMe before long. Wish I'd known how many CO Horde there were before we moved to MO.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at December 14, 2013 10:07 AM (GDulk)

262 Enacted 'French-toast Emergency Prep Plan' yesterday: Bought Bread, milk, eggs.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at December 14, 2013 10:07 AM (6fSty)

263 Here's a photo of the weapon: http://goo.gl/Xeoeoi Trotsky deserved to die for the haircut alone.

Posted by: real joe at December 14, 2013 10:09 AM (xXhgd)

264 Important Horde programming update:   Zero Effect is on HBO Comedy right now.

Posted by: alexthechick - Really Universe Really? at December 14, 2013 10:14 AM (Gk3SS)

265 If elected, I promise a chicken in every pot and a shiv in every pince-nez wearers' heart

Posted by: Bolshie Cuddly Bunny at December 14, 2013 10:14 AM (R6JT1)

266 'French-toast Emergency Prep Plan' yesterday Challah?

Posted by: garrett at December 14, 2013 10:15 AM (ipDeW)

267 We should start having a weekly prepping thread.

Need to be prepared to be stuck at home due to ice and snow.

Posted by: Mama AJ at December 14, 2013 02:03 PM (SUKHu)


Booze?

Check

All ready!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at December 14, 2013 10:16 AM (o9Rp5)

268 184 182 Someone must have ordered a shitload of crushed ice. Posted by: Dang Ike Turner? - Bill Clinton?

Posted by: WalrusRex at December 14, 2013 10:18 AM (iYoLi)

269 Yeah if you do a decent amount of prepping, the whole rush to the store before a storm seems quaint.

Posted by: blaster at December 14, 2013 10:18 AM (4+AaH)

270 The Affordable Carrot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXRm0yVyn7k

Posted by: YardArms Morgan at December 14, 2013 10:18 AM (e8kgV)

271 Trotsky deserved to die for the haircut alone. Posted by: real joe at December 14, 2013 02:09 PM (xXhgd) The lumpy asymmetrical eraser head cut was quite popular back then. Don't be a H8er!

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 10:20 AM (h4eud)

272 270 Yeah if you do a decent amount of prepping, the whole rush to the store before a storm seems quaint. Posted by: blaster at December 14, 2013 02:18 PM (4+AaH) I remember a funny incident a few years ago. I had been at work all day, and the forecast was for 4-6" of snow overnight. I stopped at the grocery store on the way home just to pick up a few things, as I often do. The place was an absolute madhouse. I thought, "Oh, right, I forgot. Snowstorm's coming."

Posted by: rickl at December 14, 2013 10:24 AM (sdi6R)

273 Challah makes the best french,aka, joo toast. It's really delicious.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 10:26 AM (h4eud)

274 >>> Need to be prepared to be stuck at home due to ice and snow. I'm a cliche. Just went out for bread and milk

Posted by: fluffy at December 14, 2013 10:27 AM (Ua6T/)

275 The place was an absolute madhouse. I thought, "Oh, right, I forgot. Snowstorm's coming." Posted by: rickl at December 14, 2013 02:24 PM (sdi6R) Because heaven forbid you can't get to the grocery store for one day afterward.

Posted by: Vendette at December 14, 2013 10:28 AM (sv2CE)

276 Challah makes the best french,aka, joo toast. It's really delicious. Add a drop of vanilla and a drop of bourbon to the egg mixture.

Posted by: garrett at December 14, 2013 10:28 AM (ipDeW)

277 ...or Grand Marnier if you are more traditional.

Posted by: garrett at December 14, 2013 10:29 AM (ipDeW)

278 "You made me look:

From Wiki: Mercader later testified at his trial: I laid my raincoat on the table in such a way as to be able to remove the ice axe which was in the pocket. I decided not to miss the wonderful opportunity that presented itself. The moment Trotsky began reading the article, he gave me my chance; I took out the ice axe from the raincoat, gripped it in my hand and, with my eyes closed, dealt him a terrible blow on the head.

Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 14, 2013 01:47 PM (h4eud)"



They must have had some copious pockets in the 1940s.  It helps in understanding how Jimmy Cagney could carry a full size .45 in his pocket in "White Heat".  



Cody Jarrett: [while eating a chicken leg, Jarrett speaks to Parker in the trunk of the sedan] How ya doin', Parker?
Roy Parker: It's stuffy in here, I need some air.
Cody Jarrett: Oh, stuffy, huh? I'll give ya a little air.
[pulls a gun from his pants and shoots four times into the trunk]



If they are going to remake every movie ever, I wish they would remake this one.  I could see Walton Goggins and Margo Martindale as Cody Jarrett and his mother. 

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 10:31 AM (BcCwi)

279 AtC

Spider solution
http://cheezburger.com/7948743680

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at December 14, 2013 10:34 AM (DL2i+)

280 I figure you would attach a couple of U shaped iron pieces to the end of the prod to hold the pulleys. While a steel prod is a possibility, it was more common to have a flat wooden prod with sinews glued to it to add weight to the pull. Huh? Wooden prods were used fairly early on, but it was the introduction of horn-and-sinew compound prods that made crossbows an effective weapon. I don't know of any evidence that suggests that sinew on wood was used. Steel prods were pretty common by the end of the Medieval period, though I don't know if they completely supplanted compound prods. I don't know about wooden ship's pulleys, but I do know that bronze lockplates in flintlock rifles have to have steel bearings for the tumbler shaft, or they will wear quickly. A flintlock mainspring pushes down with about 100 pounds or so of force at the max, and the tumbler only rotates about half a turn per shot. BTW, I believe that the real use of a compound bow is that it allows the main weight of the draw to be felt early on, so that by the time the archer has reached full draw the pull is much less than it was previously. While they are more efficient than a simple bow, I am not sure that they are throwing an arrow three times faster than a simple bow.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 10:36 AM (EQrBy)

281 Is that a .45 in your pocket, or... ...Oh hell, that is a .45 in your pocket.

Posted by: Mae West at December 14, 2013 10:36 AM (sOtz/)

282 You know what pisses me off? Carnation use to make a huge box of dried milk that would make five million gallons or so. They must of stopped making them because all I can find now are small boxes of the shit. My last box is at least five years old, and still make acceptable skim milk.

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 10:37 AM (0FSuD)

283 Just read the linked piece by Erick Ericson at RudeState, now a division of the Salem Communications/clownhall.com empire.

I seldom read his stuff, but get the feeling he has gone full Republican-wimp to fit in with such distinguished practicioners of spineless verbiage as fellow Salem-ite Poppin' Fresh over at Tepid Air.

(And I noticed a "diary" piece over there by some clown who calls himself "T-Bone" that claims Choom Boy isn't lying about ChoomCare....)

All I can say is: Thank G*d for Mr of Spades and all the cobs of the HQ. What I feared has come to pass -- the total Boner-ization of the so-called "Conservative Media" and this here place is the last true opponent of the Republican Lite movement left standing.

Posted by: MrScribbler at December 14, 2013 10:39 AM (veRXo)

284 @283 Shit just found it on Amazon. Got the last box! Makes 22 quarts!

Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 10:39 AM (0FSuD)

285 Sidebar stuff. It's almost like Cryin' Johnny is working for the Dims to fundamentally change America, depress and render ineffective any Republican voter turnout by permanently depressing wages with a continuous faucet of illegals lock Obamacare in place by keeping the Senate in Dim hands ( see depressing Rep voter turnout) Isn't anyone in Washington DC representing the American middle class or are we all to be simply cattle?

Posted by: The Albino Freckled Desert Sand-Breathing Fish at December 14, 2013 10:40 AM (0cMkb)

286 WTF is John Kerry giving the intro to the Army/Navy game?

If someone is going to do some grandstanding, shouldn't it be the secretary of defense?

Posted by: Methos at December 14, 2013 10:43 AM (hO9ad)

287 New thread has finally arrived.

Posted by: Vendette at December 14, 2013 10:44 AM (sv2CE)

288 The greatest ice breaker in the world?  Barack Obama offering himself up for a selfie. 

Scandi chicks can't control themselves.

Posted by: Fritz at December 14, 2013 10:44 AM (TKFmG)

289 Everyone can laugh and joke but we are overdue for another Maunder Minimum.  And large numbers of people will die from that.

Posted by: Registered Voter at December 14, 2013 10:47 AM (kYfFr)

290 Isn't anyone in Washington DC representing the American middle class or are we all to be simply cattle?

The middle class is lootable. Lower classes (just in terms of income, of course Americans don't actually believe in classes) don't have anything to steal except what government already stole and gave them, so there's no advantage to be found. The wealthy are too few to loot effectively, and basically run both parties, so their interests aren't likely to be directly and deliberately attacked (higher tax rates are an annoyance, but 'wealthy' means you have a pile of something and the income isn't as important as it is for everyone else), though they are subject to the consequences of human stupidity just like anyone else.

For example, once the middle class are thoroughly looted, there will be no one to keep the credit scam going and all the assets of the wealthy will have far less value than they do today.

Posted by: Methos at December 14, 2013 10:50 AM (hO9ad)

291 Posted by: Nip Sip at December 14, 2013 02:37 PM (0FSuD)

Try an institutional food supplier. You can't find it because you're probably looking in retail outfits where there isn't a need anymore.

I know someone's making it because the military uses it also.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger and All That (Unexpurgated Edition) at December 14, 2013 10:58 AM (LSDdO)

292 Propagation condition for RF communications should be very good to excellent on the High Frequency bands 10 Megahertz and below.  The best in my life time, and I'm playing around on the internet. Go figure.


Posted by: Short Wave High Frequency at December 14, 2013 11:18 AM (tq0Hd)

293 "FWIW, the Russians have 5 nuclear powered ice breakers plying the Arctic. The USA has ummm....zero."

There was an era when the USA had the knowledge, and the capability, and the _spine_ to build such things.

We are now deeply sunk in the epoch of American Wussitude, and no such marvels will be produced by this country from now on.

Posted by: torquewrench at December 14, 2013 11:19 AM (gqT4g)

294 "281 I figure you would attach a couple of U shaped iron pieces to the end of the prod to hold the pulleys. While a steel prod is a possibility, it was more common to have a flat wooden prod with sinews glued to it to add weight to the pull.


Huh? Wooden prods were used fairly early on, but it was the introduction of horn-and-sinew compound prods that made crossbows an effective weapon. I don't know of any evidence that suggests that sinew on wood was used. Steel prods were pretty common by the end of the Medieval period, though I don't know if they completely supplanted compound prods.

I don't know about wooden ship's pulleys, but I do know that bronze lockplates in flintlock rifles have to have steel bearings for the tumbler shaft, or they will wear quickly. A flintlock mainspring pushes down with about 100 pounds or so of force at the max, and the tumbler only rotates about half a turn per shot.

BTW, I believe that the real use of a compound bow is that it allows the main weight of the draw to be felt early on, so that by the time the archer has reached full draw the pull is much less than it was previously. While they are more efficient than a simple bow, I am not sure that they are throwing an arrow three times faster than a simple bow.

Posted by: Grey Fox at December 14, 2013 02:36 PM (EQrBy)"



So can we say Longbow vs. Crossbow is old and busted while Simple Crossbow vs. Compound Crossbow is the new hotness?



With an ordinary bow, the force held by the archer stacks up the farther back the string is pulled and the more the bow is bent.  With a compound bow using eccentric cams, the force required to hold at the maximum draw can be adjusted to be a small fraction of the maximum force exerted during the length of the draw.  With a cross bow, this is not really a consideration since the nut is holding the draw and not the muscle of the archer so simple pulleys will do.  Pulleys can be made from cast iron if you think that is essential.  That would also be a simple casting and within medieval capabilities.  To some extent, mass production of crossbows for a peasant army would be sort of like making WW II liberty ships.  They have to be good enough.  It is OK if some parts need to be replaced after a while, especially if those parts can easily be made from readily available materials.



There are plenty of crossbows on display in museums in Germany.  Some, made for aristocrats engaging in sport hunting are inlaid with bone and ivory and often they have prods made like Mongol bows as a sandwich of horn on the belly, wood in the center and sinew on the back.  These often have leather coverings to protect them from weather.  They often also had steel prods.  The simple crossbows carried by ordinary soldiers do not seem to have survived as well but most of the ones that I saw used a wood stave with sinew glued to the back.  This was the cheapest kind to make and did not use rare and expensive materials.  



The limiting factor in the speed of an arrow is the speed at which the tips of the bow move when the string is released.  With a simple bow, the tips of the bow act directly on the string which acts directly on the arrow.  With a compound bow, if the tip of the bow moves at the same speed, the string will have to move at three times that speed because of the pulleys.  I don't know that you can assume that the tips of the bow will move at exactly the same speed.  There are certain to be all sorts of friction and various physics effects preventing 100% efficient transfer of energy from the bent bow to the arrow, but I think that it can be said with confidence that the arrow will have more energy transferred to it and that it will be flying faster.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-hole at December 14, 2013 12:17 PM (BcCwi)

295 FIVE YEARS AGO TODAYÂ… Al Gore Predicted the North Pole Will Be Ice Free in 5 Years thegatewaypundit.com via Instapundit

Posted by: Socratease at December 14, 2013 12:18 PM (6uy7v)

296 All the while China is tucked in snug and warm under their warm blanket of smog. Tricky bastards!

Posted by: DFCtomm at December 14, 2013 12:51 PM (FVIKH)

Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.
234kb generated in CPU 0.0773, elapsed 0.3786 seconds.
64 queries taking 0.3204 seconds, 424 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.

Support





Donate to Ace of Spades HQ!


Contact

Change the At to "@" and the DOT to "."




Intermarkets' Privacy Policy
Support


Donate to Ace of Spades HQ!


Search Thingy



Archives

Monthly Traffic

  • Pages: 155669
  • Files: 1758
  • Bytes: 4.8G
  • CPU Time: 150:42
  • Queries: 4481628

Content

  • Posts: 22824
  • Comments: 5930392

Feeds


RSS 2.0 Atom 1.0