Ace of Spades HQ

March 18, 2014

Adorable Squirrels and Cats Open Thread
— Ace

Before the cute stuff, here's some news. Oklahoma is suing Obama and the EPA for what seems to be some kind of scam going on to deem federal lands off-limits to energy producers.

Here's what's going on: An environmental lobbying group sues the government, claiming that this or that energy project would endanger a protected species. The government quickly settles, agreeing to put those lands off-limits for production.

Here's what Oklahoma seems to be hinting at: It's a fix. The Administration is settling because it wants to put these lands off-limits, and lacks the Congressional authority to do so. So they concede a case they could easily win and get a piece of paper, the settlement now part of the law (a contract the US has entered into to settle a lawsuit), that says the lands are off-limits.

But this is more than just another green lawsuit. If Oklahoma and DEPA lose their suit, it could have a devastating impact on the U.S. energy boom, halting exploration and drilling on huge tracts of energy-rich land.
In their suit, Oklahoma and the DEPA seek "declaratory and injunctive relief for violations of the ESA." The relief is intended to overturn designation of dozens of species added to the threatened or endangered list through the "sue and settle" process.
...
Under the Obama administration, the feds have entered into a consent agreement with the environmentalists to rush forward a judgment on an unprecedented number of species. A 2012 Chamber of Commerce study found record numbers of such "sue and settle" cases under Obama.
The issue has taken on new urgency. Under a March 31 sue-and-settle deadline, Fish and Wildlife is expected to rule that a handful of additional species are endangered Â— including the lesser prairie chicken.

Mickey Kaus writes that Democrats are having trouble overturning an Affirmative Action-limiting constitutional amendment in California, because Asians (largely Democratic) don't like being discriminated against based on their race.

France says it might cancel that deal to deliver two advanced helicopter-carrying assault ships to Russia. Of course, this being France, they have to be dicks about it.

"If Putin continues doing what he is doing we could envisage cancelling the sales," Fabius told TF1 television on Tuesday. "This would be part of a third level of sanctions. For the moment we are at the second level.
"But we will ask others, and I'm thinking namely the British, to do the same with the assets of the Russian oligarchs in London. Sanctions have to be shouldered by everyone."

Apparently there are a fair number of Russian billionaires who either live in London, or live there part time, or who have a lot of money held in London. Russian dissident and chess grandmaster Gary Kasparov has called for hitting these men financially, in hopes that they would in turn pressure Putin to behave.

Thanks to their unfettered access to Western markets, Mr. Putin and his gang have exploited Western engagement with Russia in a way that the Soviet Union's leaders never dreamed of. But this also means that they are vulnerable in a way the Soviets were not. If the West punishes Russia with sanctions and a trade war, that might be effective eventually, but it would also be cruel to the 140 million Russians who live under Mr. Putin's rule. And it would be unnecessary. Instead, sanction the 140 oligarchs who would dump Mr. Putin in the trash tomorrow if he cannot protect their assets abroad. Target their visas, their mansions and IPOs in London, their yachts and Swiss bank accounts. Use banks, not tanks.

Eh, that sounds good to me too. So maybe the French aren't off-base.

Instapundit links an article about how women cooperate with each other-- not quite as well as advertised.

Â“The question we wanted to examine was: Do men or women cooperate differently with members of their own sex?Â” Wrangham said. Â“The conventional wisdom is that women cooperate more easily, but when you look at how armies or sports teams function, there is evidence that men are better at cooperating in some ways.Â”
...
Â“There is even evidence that these differences exist in 6-month-olds Â— but you can see it with the naked eye by about 5 or 6 years old, where boys form these large, loose groups, and girls tend to pair off into more intense, close friendships.Â”
What makes the differences particularly provocative, Benenson said, is that chimpanzees organize their relationships in nearly identical ways.
Â“Chimpanzee males usually have another individual theyÂ’re very close with, and they may constantly battle for dominance, but they also have a larger, loose group of allies,Â” Benenson said. Â“When it comes to defeating other groups, everybody bands together. I would argue that females donÂ’t have that biological inclination, and they donÂ’t have the practice.Â”

Apparently women cooperate well when they both have the same official rank (e.g., both are tenured professors, or both are senior research directors). When they don't share the same hierarchal rank, they're not as good at cooperation.

I imagine this is at least partly due to how boys are socialized, which is largely around team sports. There's less of an idea of an "official rank." The guy who plays the best gets, unofficially, the top rank, gets invited to be team captain, but that comes from performance.

@doreenhdixon and Neidermeyer's Bossy Horse send this: the world's largest James Bond car collection is now on sale for an asking price of... $33 million.

Dude, you could buy an Aston Martin DB5 and literally add the ejector seat, armor plating, and machine guns for $33 million. Why buy a prop when you can build out the actual car, if you want?

Oh, and if you were thinking, "Hey, I'll just FOIA the White House to get documents proving they're engaged in unilateral assertions of power for political purposes:" You lose, my friend. Because they've already thought of that, and have unilaterally rewritten the FOIA law to protect politically sensitive documents.

It's Sunshine Week, so perhaps some enterprising White House reporter will ask press secretary Jay Carney why President Obama rewrote the Freedom of Information Act without telling the rest of America.
The rewrite came in an April 15, 2009, memo from then-White House Counsel Greg Craig instructing the executive branch to let White House officials review any documents sought by FOIA requestors that involved "White House equities."
That phrase is nowhere to be found in the FOIA, yet the Obama White House effectively amended the law to create a new exception to justify keeping public documents locked away from the public.

If you remember, when the White House and State were cooking their Benghazi story, the State Department insisted that any reference to prior signals about terrorism should be deleted, in order to "protect the equities" of the State Department.

Thanks to @laurww for that. That seems big. If I hadn't already done this open thread, I'd make it a main post.

Okay, and now the cute stuff. Cats and squirrels. Much cuter than maybe you were expecting.

Posted by: Ace at 03:19 PM | Comments (215)
Post contains 1188 words, total size 8 kb.

1 Squirrel adorable. Moose, not so much.

Posted by: Natasha at March 18, 2014 03:21 PM (8ZskC)

2 EPA is RICO.

Thought that was a bit obvious. And incestuous.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 03:21 PM (YYElT)

3 I refuse to believe the government would operate in such a scandalous manner. I also refuse to believe that my lower leg is engulfed in gangrene.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 18, 2014 03:23 PM (oFCZn)

4 When the day comes that Californians can't lawfully discriminate against Asians, then the terrorists have already won.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 18, 2014 03:23 PM (8ZskC)

5 And if a member of the Horde wins the $00 million jackpot annuity of a Mega Millions tonight, they might be able to afford the Bond, James Bond car collection.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 03:24 PM (YYElT)

6 Mickey Kaus writes that Democrats are having trouble overturning an Affirmative Action-limiting constitutional amendment in California, because Asians (largely Democratic) don't like being discriminated against based on their race.

I'm actually tempted to say "get bent" to the Asians, who voted for this shit. Let them get the democracy they came here for, good and hard.

Unfortunately repealing affirmative-action is the right thing to do anyway.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:24 PM (30eLQ)

7 So they concede a case they could easily win and get a piece of paper, the settlement now part of the law (a contract the US has entered into to settle a lawsuit), that says the lands are off-limits.

The deuce, you say.

Posted by: The New Black Panther Party at March 18, 2014 03:24 PM (8ZskC)

8 see the update at the end on FOIA... it's big.

Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 03:24 PM (/FnUH)

9 How can we turn sue and settle around on the left? After two straight days of 39 degree high temps in SE NC let's start with AlGore.

Posted by: Golfman in NC at March 18, 2014 03:25 PM (/djtm)

10 I would rather have Batman's cars.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 18, 2014 03:25 PM (8ZskC)

11 I'd rather have a Toyota 4 door pick up ...

Posted by: Adriane ... at March 18, 2014 03:27 PM (qoKTg)

12 Soooo..... Some folks here are OK with punishing the citizens of a country economically, for the actions of their Government? Even though THEY did nothing against any law? and are not part of said Government? Even when said property is supposed to be protected via Property Rights? Gee.... I guess Bill Gates should have had all his assets frozen when we invaded Iraq... and General Electric should has had things seized when we invaded Afghanistan.... Really dangerous precedent for the rule of Law. Annndddd.... I believe if done in America, it falls under the Definition of a Bill of Attainder.... where you are punishing someone not for breaking a law, but for some political purpose...

Posted by: Romeo13 /facepalm at March 18, 2014 03:27 PM (84gbM)

13 To protect White House equities, Obama has rewritten the US Constitution, but without telling us!

Posted by: Hrothgar at March 18, 2014 03:28 PM (o3MSL)

14 I hate to take orders from other women. I hate the GPS voice when it's a woman. I switch it to a man's voice. The woman is so patronizing and she can't say anything correctly. The man is so funny when he does the same thing. I think that makes me a heterosexual. I was born this way.

Posted by: petunia at March 18, 2014 03:28 PM (DAcBA)

15 Apparently women cooperate well when they both have the same official rank (e.g., both are tenured professors, or both are senior research directors). When they don't share the same hierarchal rank, they're not as good at cooperation. Apparently researchers have not met actual women if they needed some research to determine this. It doesn't take long to figure out that women cannot work together. If you have actually met women.

Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 03:29 PM (4+AaH)

16 Seize jwest's assets in Russia? What say the Horde?

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:29 PM (Xzx50)

17 I don't know if it's been mentioned yet, but Incredibles 2 is happening. So, yay!

Posted by: no good deed at March 18, 2014 03:29 PM (vBhbc)

18 - and if the Asians weren't such good students, they'd be the loudest supporters for affirmative-action in the state.

As witness I call to the stand the Malays and the Javanese, who really really don't like that the local Chinese are economically eating their lunch.

The Asian stand against affirmative-action is not based on principle.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:29 PM (30eLQ)

The FOIA law...

Isn't that a law that Dem operatives have used, repeatedly, to wage Lawfare against R's?

Like what they did to Sarah Palin, for example?

Posted by: wheatie at March 18, 2014 03:30 PM (Xs26g)

20 The 2nd vid,
begging for a Sir Mix-a-Lot re-dub.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 18, 2014 03:30 PM (DL2i+)

21 Seriously, there's no way those rich Russian peeps will pressure Putin. Not unless they like a little Po-210 mixed in with their borscht.

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:30 PM (Xzx50)

22 EC all that person's assets are about as tangible as Gaylord Focker's CV.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 03:30 PM (YYElT)

23 I'd like to go out to the range and do some shooting. Too bad I lost all my guns on a Malaysian airliner.

Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at March 18, 2014 03:31 PM (g4TxM)

24 Too bad I lost all my guns on a Malaysian airliner.

... forsooth, affirmative action hath consequences

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:31 PM (30eLQ)

25 Adorable thread must be reuined by this wretched evil bitch of a scrunt. Â“Either way, what she [the woman] wants trumps the non-existent desires of a mindless pre-person that is so small it can be removed in about two minutes during an outpatient procedure. Your cavities fight harder to stay in place.Â” Did she just compare an unborn child to a cavity? Marcotte then goes on a seriously mature rant about the reasons she does not want a child: Â“I donÂ’t particularly like babies. They are loud and smelly and, above all other things, demanding. No matter how much free day care you throw at women, babies are still time-sucking monsters with their constant neediness.Â” On the topic of adoption, Marcotte sums up her feelings simply: Â“Adoption? Fuck you, seriously.Â” ThatÂ’s a heck of an argument. Over at WZ if you want to watch the vid.

Posted by: RWC at March 18, 2014 03:32 PM (QeH9j)

26 I've always said that the idea men are competitive and women are co-operative is the exact opposite of reality. Men are competitive for leadership, but once leadership is settled, the mass of the group falls in line behind the leader and works together for the good of the group. Women seek to level everyone in the group and will cut down women who over-reach. That's not co-operation, that's communitarianism.

(I know what I'm trying to say, but I'm saying it shitty.)

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at March 18, 2014 03:32 PM (celt+)

27 I'd like to go out to the range and do some shooting. Too bad I lost all my guns on a Malaysian airliner. That is so weird - mine were on there, too!

Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 03:33 PM (4+AaH)

28 27 I'd like to go out to the range and do some shooting. Too bad I lost all my guns on a Malaysian airliner. That is so weird - mine were on there, too! Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 07:33 PM (4+AaH) You guys will be happy when they finally find that plane full of guns.

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:34 PM (Xzx50)

FOIA? The God-King and his court have no need to explain their actions to the subjects.

A secret order to limit what "secret" information (which belongs to the public anyway, but that's just a silly nuance) the government will release. How Orwellian.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 03:34 PM (sQ0LB)

30 Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 07:29 PM (4+AaH) I came to the conclusion a few years ago... that we are designed (whether by God, or evolution) with certain built in, hardwired, ways of thinking... And a source of constant unhappiness develops when you are constantly having to fight that programming. Men and Women are different... and any attempt to make us the same, leads to unhappiness. The Left want us all to be the same... ergo, the Left wants us all to be unhappy.

Posted by: Romeo13 /facepalm at March 18, 2014 03:34 PM (84gbM)

31 The EPA scam is part of the government racket. Lefties helping lefties. The gummint drones get more power, the private sector plaintiffs get their skids greased, and probably play the table to benefit their crony contributors. Then all that profit comes around again to fund dem elections and campaigns. Cut the government and cripple the Left.

Posted by: --- at March 18, 2014 03:34 PM (MMC8r)

32 i wish i could delete any issues i have with impunity.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 03:36 PM (nqBYe)

33
Sue and settle with the stroke of a pen and that's the fucking law. I love government and it's persuasive ways.

Posted by: Paul Begala at March 18, 2014 03:36 PM (nQjHM)

34 well there's this thing about men. Let's say we're forming a team. Let's say I want to be the shooting guard. Let's say, accurately, I shoot for shit. Now when we're figuring out who's going to be point guard, let's say my friend says, "Let's go with the other guy, the guy who doesn't suck." If, at this point, I turned to my friend and said, "DUDE, you're my FRIEND! You're supposed to SUPPORT me!," I would be laughed out of the gym. There just is no room for these sorts of personal considerations in things like this (you are expected to do some things for a friend, like back him in a fight, but you're never supposed to claim that your friend is better for the team than someone else just because he's you're friend). Now, maybe a six year old boy doesn't know this, and he expects his buddy to back him for Team Captain just because they're friends, but from ages 7-9 this is drilled out of him, and by age 10, he knows that competition is supposed to be based on performance, not relationships.

Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 03:36 PM (/FnUH)

35 Now, maybe a six year old boy doesn't know this, and he expects his buddy to back him for Team Captain just because they're friends, but from ages 7-9 this is drilled out of him, and by age 10, he knows that competition is supposed to be based on performance, not relationships. That's the way it was supposed to be. Who knows in this brave, new world.

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:37 PM (Xzx50)

36 ace loves the cock

Posted by: The Savage Weiner at March 18, 2014 03:37 PM (6j8ke)

37 Fuck you, NSA!!! Stop listening to our phone calls!

Posted by: Liechtenstein at March 18, 2014 03:38 PM (hn5v5)

38 We have 3 siamese cats and my wife feeds, what has now become about 5, squirrels on our deck so our cats have something to watch thru thru the glass sliding doors. We call it cat TV. And some of the squirrels have become pretty bold

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 03:38 PM (t3UFN)

39 Anyone interested in picking up a few advanced helicopter-carrying assault ships cheap? FYI, they all have glass bottoms.

Posted by: The French at March 18, 2014 03:38 PM (8ZskC)

40 I lost all my guns on a Malaysian airliner. That is so weird - mine were on there, too! Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 07:33 PM (4+AaH) you're gonna be really sorry when that thing flies into 777 tower in LA. by the way, having an office in there sounds like bad karma about now.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 03:38 PM (rDidD)

41 Thought for the day. The internet is being 'given' away to some unknown shadow group. I call BULLSHIT! It is being sold . Who stands to make a profit? Who owns the internet? WTF?

Posted by: Regular Guy at March 18, 2014 03:38 PM (N3Al8)

42 I am the law!

Posted by: Judge Barak at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (Aif/5)

43 I'm glad that OK (or at least somebody) is finally trying to stop the EPA's sue and settle trick. They've been using that trick for years. You know what makes it even worse? They often pay the attorney fees for the groups suing them as well as part of the settlement. Plus they give the groups grants, so they have the bucks to sue.

Banana republic stuff, with the banana being lodged firmly up our collective poop chutes.

Posted by: GnuBreed at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (wNF3N)

44 If you had squirrels take up residence in your attic every year, you wouldn't think they're so damned cute. I couldn't tell you how much wire I have replaced up there - I still don't have power out in the garage because of those fuzzy-tailed rats! Pellet gun, trash bag, lysol.

Posted by: shredded chi at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (Z+1b9)

45 he knows that competition is supposed to be based on performance, not relationships. Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 07:36 PM (/FnUH) Ace, your must have missed liberal indoctrination 101. Competition is bad, berry berry bad.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (t3UFN)

46 That was a quick fix on 36. Do not taunt happy fun ace.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (sQ0LB)

47 I am sure some bossy cow banned "shooting guard" in a zero tolerance memo.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 03:39 PM (rDidD)

48 It's nice that the govt is afforded protection against the all powerful citizen. what is this anyway? You are to say thank you for letting us take any and all information on you from your healthcare to you finances to your childs needs, to what size shoes you wear (found on ebay) but we need protection from you lowly citizens ...because..

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 03:40 PM (nqBYe)

49 The EPA is a shining example to the world of the rule of law and why Putin should behave like a lawful civilized member of the community of nations

Posted by: King Barry the Just at March 18, 2014 03:40 PM (aTXUx)

50 oh important point I should have made: So by age 10, boys understand that these decisions are entirely impersonal. They hurt (no one wants to be picked last), but they're impersonal. Relationships/loyalty aren't supposed to enter into it.

Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 03:41 PM (/FnUH)

51 You are to say thank you for letting us take any and all information on you from your healthcare to you finances to your childs needs, to what size shoes you wear (found on ebay) Don't forget bra size!

Posted by: NSA Listening Post #1477 at March 18, 2014 03:41 PM (Xzx50)

52 These rigged EPA Enerrgy/Endangered Species Cases are a variation on Agenda 21, and proof positive that the Greens are, as Vic likes to say, Watermelons. They are pervasive and speeding up. .....the UN, just another name for........yeah, you catch on quick.....

Posted by: ontherocks at March 18, 2014 03:41 PM (XPHw/)

53 >>>That was a quick fix on 36. Do not taunt happy fun ace. i didn't see it, didn't do it... must have been a cob or trollbuster. now i'm curious.

Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 03:42 PM (/FnUH)

54 Sidearm and Sideboob Open Thread Compliance Pic http://tinyurl.com/n8u7dud

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 03:42 PM (aTXUx)

55 52 >>>That was a quick fix on 36. Do not taunt happy fun ace. i didn't see it, didn't do it... must have been a cob or trollbuster. now i'm curious. Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 07:42 PM (/FnUH) We figure we did you a solid on #36.

Posted by: NSA Listening Post #1477 at March 18, 2014 03:42 PM (Xzx50)

56 I have always wondered who all is funding these environmental groups ? sauds? can't pump there we provide you oil! russians? ......? left? well ok.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 03:42 PM (nqBYe)

57 So what is that thing about guy friendship is guys insulting each other to their face, women they insult each other behind their backs?

Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 03:43 PM (4+AaH)

58 Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 07:41 PM (/FnUH) And this is why in school settings, they no longer allow kids to pick their own teams... Because some Obese child, may feel bad, by being picked last.

Posted by: Romeo13 /facepalm at March 18, 2014 03:43 PM (84gbM)

59 The liberals want to pussifiy America

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 03:44 PM (t3UFN)

60 I'm about to go on a highly personal rant re: Marcotte's little "Your cavities fight harder to stay in place." line. Feel free to skip over now if talk of miscarriage makes you uncomfortable. First off. Fuck you, Amanda. When I had my third miscarriage things didn't exactly go as smoothly as Ms. Marcotte would have you believe. Although the baby had stopped developing around the 6th week, my body didn't get the message. At my 8 week ultrasound, we go the news. Because of my previous c-sections and not super great cervix we were trying to avoid surgery. But, the sac kept growing long after the baby passed away. We waited a full month before doing the d&c because it looked like I was making progress towards miscarrying. In that time, cruelly, I started to *look* pregnant thanks to the sac and my uterus to continue to grow. I finally had the d&c at what would have been 13 weeks. So please, tell me again how our bodies are just oh so happy to lose a pregnancy. I'd love to hear all about her theories. I'm sure my friend who needed 3 d&c's following a partially molar pregnancy would be very interested as well.

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 03:44 PM (hFL/3)

61 I suppose the nsa has some pretty good speech software, how much fun do you think it is for some poor guy ot have to listen to some sexy computer read back a days worth of commnents from here?

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 03:44 PM (rDidD)

62 I will say this about squirrels. New Jersey squirrels are huge and fat compared to FL squirrels . I lived in FL for years. I looked up cooking them on youtube. After the apocalypse I have a serious food source in my yard.

Posted by: Regular Guy at March 18, 2014 03:45 PM (N3Al8)

63 I'v been insulted or slighted by guy friends, but it mostly just slides off my back. Do the same to my wife, well you just made an enemy for life

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 03:45 PM (t3UFN)

64 >>>Here's what's going on: An environmental lobbying group sues the government, claiming that this or that energy project would endanger a protected species. The government quickly settles, agreeing to put those lands off-limits for production.<<<

How come these enviro-nazis have standing to sue the govt over shit like this, but it's so hard to find standing to sue over the numerous unlawful actions that the SCOAMF is taking?

Posted by: Syrias question, you guys at March 18, 2014 03:45 PM (YWNu7)

65 How come these enviro-nazis have standing to sue the govt over shit like this, but it's so hard to find standing to sue over the numerous unlawful actions that the SCOAMF is taking?

"Citizens suits" (i.e., legalized extortion) are expressly permitted by several environmental statutes including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, etc. Because the EPA is just too busy to enforce the law on its own.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at March 18, 2014 03:47 PM (8ZskC)

66 http://tinyurl.com/n8u7dud cut, jib, newsletter ...

Posted by: Adriane ... at March 18, 2014 03:48 PM (qoKTg)

67 This sue and settle crap is nothing new. It has been going on for a long time. During the Clinton administration that was SOP - they put the folks from the enviro groups in charge of litigation in the agencies, so they would essentially surrender the government's position to their friends across the street. And they would get their legal fees paid for by the government. What a scam.

Posted by: blaster at March 18, 2014 03:48 PM (4+AaH)

68 Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 07:44 PM (hFL/3) She's such a worthless F'ing waste.

Posted by: RWC at March 18, 2014 03:48 PM (QeH9j)

69 Three women in a room. Which one can hold it in longest before going to the bathroom?

Posted by: mrp at March 18, 2014 03:49 PM (JBggj)

70 One of the nice bits about Game of Thrones - the first book - is how The Wall organises itself.

Jon Snow shows up and he's the best swordsman there - because he's the bastard of House Stark, not the bastard of some useless hobo. It is then made clear to Jon (I have to call him "Jon", half the people there have the last name "Snow") that he is part of a team, and that he should help the others find what they're best at.

Especially when Samwell shows up, who's "come to take the black... pudding".

The Wall works as a team.
.
.
.
.
.
.
SPOILER! - yeah, they have to be bailed out at the end of book 3 / somewhere in season 4 - but that's because of low numbers, not because of the phenomenal leadership and courage to be found at Castle Black.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:49 PM (30eLQ)

71 Nevergiveup here is an example of two Liberal objectives colliding and trampling one boy.

School bans boy from wearing a My Little Pony backpack because its a trigger for bullying.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20797857,00.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 03:49 PM (YYElT)

72 how much fun do you think it is for some poor guy ot have to listen to some sexy computer read back a days worth of commnents from here? Posted by: yankeefifth

They took the Choom Kings shilling.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 18, 2014 03:49 PM (DL2i+)

73 Also, it was at the EPA that all those secret email accounts were being used.

Plus I wonder if lesser prairie chicken tastes like, well, chicken.

Posted by: GnuBreed at March 18, 2014 03:49 PM (wNF3N)

74 Marcotte's simply a bitter spinster, like so much of the Left.

Posted by: --- at March 18, 2014 03:50 PM (MMC8r)

75 Re: the GPS voice thing - I used to work with a guy named Bubba (seriously! Proud N.C. redneck with 3 rebel flag tattoos). Dumb as a box of hammers, but nicest guy in the world. He would use the GPS to go to a job three miles from the shop, and still get lost. One day I switched it over to Spanish just to watch him... he almost hit two cars just pulling over. good times, good times

Posted by: shredded chi at March 18, 2014 03:50 PM (Z+1b9)

76 Mickey Kaus writes that Democrats are having trouble overturning an Affirmative Action-limiting constitutional amendment in California, because Asians (largely Democratic) don't like being discriminated against based on their race. *Hangs sign outside UC Berkeley* "No dogs or Chinamen allowed."

Posted by: California Democrats at March 18, 2014 03:51 PM (AymDN)

77 Because fuck all of you, that's why, you stupid racists. You don't get to dig through the sensitive paperwork of His Administration, cherry-pick quotes or numbers, then use them for political smears. Get back to your trailer parks in flyover states that correctly-thinking persons don't give a fuck about and stick to fucking your cousins and cooking meth, you redneck pieces of RethugliKKKan shit.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, Vermont at March 18, 2014 03:51 PM (jWvfJ)

78 This EPA scam is another example how important having the White House is. And reason #2,392 why it's simple false that Republicans are no different from Democrats. When a Republican eventually gets in the White House he can't just overturn all these federal land grabs. The eco-nazis will sue to block it and Obama-appointed judges will rule in their favor. It's a classic ratcheting effect.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at March 18, 2014 03:51 PM (ZPrif)

79 The old #36 was some weak-sauce trolling, not what I would have thought worthy of the banhammer. Its only purpose was clearly to insult ace, but it wasn't a particularly inventive one.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 03:51 PM (sQ0LB)

80 I remember seeing a guy win a split club at a wedding reception. His buddy said, "You asshole! You suck!"

My friend's wife said to our table, "Geez, what kind of a way is that to talk to a friend? Guys are terrible."

I explained, "That's dude talk. He's saying 'You asshole, you suck', but if there were subtitles under him, they would say, CONGRATULATIONS, MY FRIEND, ON YOUR GOOD FORTUNE. Now, if those were two women, the friend would say, 'Oh, wow, that's awesome! You're so lucky.'... BITCH."

My friend's wife laughed and said, "Yep, you're absolutely right."

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (celt+)

81 Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 07:49 PM (YYElT) Have the boy's parents write to the school and tell them their son is transgendered ...

Posted by: Adriane ... at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (qoKTg)

82 "73 Marcotte's simply a bitter spinster, like so much of the Left. " I thought she found some Beta to enter into an "equal partnership that is sooo not a marriage, you bigots" with

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (hFL/3)

83 And in some good news: Raymond Pritchett ‏@Galrahn Most of the Russian military forces that surrounded Ukrainian military units all day withdrew in the late evening across Crimea.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (ZPrif)

Whew hew got drunk for St. Patty's and a sing-a-long ensued. Does anyone remember that old family favorite. Kiss Me Harry Arse in the Springtime?Lord we sang it to all.

Posted by: Harry Arse at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (N3Al8)

85 16 Seize jwest's assets in Russia? What say the Horde? Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 07:29 PM (Xzx50) Seconded.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (UAMVq)

86 >>> Before the cute stuff, here's some news. Oklahoma is suing Obama and the EPA for what seems to be some kind of scam going on to deem federal lands off-limits to energy producers. Today Rush mentioned this really rare tree, some type of albino redwood in CA? There are only 10 left in the world, or something. Well guess what, they are going to cut one down because it is too close to a commuter line, and no one is screaming bloody murder, which...odd. If a tree falls in a woods, and there are no treehuggers chained to it and no stink from the EPA, I guess it really doesn't make a sound. Because mass transit trumps trees now.

Posted by: LizLem at March 18, 2014 03:52 PM (g2JDn)

87 there's something about mary.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (nqBYe)

88 It's Sunshine Week, so perhaps some enterprising White House reporter will ask press secretary Jay Carney why President Obama rewrote the Freedom of Information Act without telling the rest of America.

MFM: Not on your life

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (FE/sZ)

89
The Republican National Committee is out with a new series of web ads that star people of a variety of different demographics designed to appeal to different segments of the American population that theyÂ’ve recently struggled to win: minorities, women, and, yes, hipsters.

The ad campaign, entitled Â“Create Your American Dream,Â” features a spotlight on Scott Greenberg, a bespactacled young man that National JournalÂ’s Lucia Graves accuses of that deadly word that doesnÂ’t really mean anything: Â“hipster.Â”

http://tinyurl.com/ovble5z

Yes -- the GOP's great new strategy is sending out their own Footie PJ Boy.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (kdS6q)

90 Lauren, Amanda Marcotte will be found in thirty years dead in an apartment. The only reason she will be found is because people wills tart to complain about the stench of feral cats in an apartment. They will find her toppled over in mid-rant with mummified fingers still splayed over a keyboard.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (YYElT)

91 Too much cuteness.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (DmNpO)

92 Raymond Pritchett ‏@Galrahn Most of the Russian military forces that surrounded Ukrainian military units all day withdrew in the late evening across Crimea. Posted by: Costanza Defens you mean cause they are going to kiev?

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 03:53 PM (rDidD)

93 Mary's full of piss and vinegar tonight. But mostly shit.

Posted by: RWC at March 18, 2014 03:54 PM (QeH9j)

94 The liberals want to pussifiy America

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 07:44 PM (t3UFN)

They want to turn the whole country into the way Barry throws a baseball

Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 18, 2014 03:54 PM (FE/sZ)

95 Airline pilot has a very simple explanation for what happened to MH370 It's very plausible although some of the reports we've been getting don't support it. However, some of the reports we've been getting are pure speculation, unreliable, are contradicted or refuted by the very same source who first released it, usually the Malaysian government A Startlingly Simple Theory About the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet http://tinyurl.com/p92wnej

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 03:55 PM (aTXUx)

96 That squirrel is almost raping that kitteh. Wth? Isn't that cat supposed to eat it?

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:55 PM (Xzx50)

97 When is Carney's last day?

Posted by: RWC at March 18, 2014 03:55 PM (QeH9j)

98 I would think committed non child wanting Male or Female persons that still want an active sexlife would 1. make available the use the pill, or the shot 2. use condoms as extra protection. 3. get fixed all this without having to kill another person

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 03:55 PM (nqBYe)

99 Obama,
ya, well,
We are a law abiding society, so we'll just have to wait until the next election, and elect someone else. It's the prudent thing to do. It's how our system of government works.

We have nothing to fear.
Everything is going to be fine.

Posted by: Wilsum Flicket at March 18, 2014 03:56 PM (jBD8U)

100 I'd recalled Marcotte was in a partnership with some dude, too.

He chose... poorly.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:56 PM (30eLQ)

101 89 Lauren, Amanda Marcotte will be found in thirty years dead in an apartment. The only reason she will be found is because people wills tart to complain about the stench of feral cats in an apartment. They will find her toppled over in mid-rant with mummified fingers still splayed over a keyboard.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 07:53 PM (YYElT)

I prefer to think that a funnel-web spider will crawl up inside her dessicated lady-bits and nest there, where its offspring will eat their way out.

Posted by: Conservative Crank at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (sQ0LB)

102
Shocker that this WH and EPA act like organized crime to thieve from Americans.

I am surprised they haven't but cows and pigs on the endangered list. Because meat is murder. Tasty delicious murder.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (0Kobm)

103 From Neo-Neocon, a squirrel trying to hide a nut in a dog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTPOSdyA7Uo

Posted by: rickl at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (sdi6R)

104 It's very plausible although some of the reports we've been getting don't support it. However, some of the reports we've been getting are pure speculation, unreliable, are contradicted or refuted by the very same source who first released it, usually the Malaysian government A Startlingly Simple Theory About the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet http://tinyurl.com/p92wnej Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, yeah but no evidence

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (rDidD)

105 If a tree falls in a woods, and there are no treehuggers chained to it and no stink from the EPA, I guess it really doesn't make a sound. Because mass transit trumps trees now. Posted by: LizLem at March 18, 2014 07:52 PM (g2JDn) Huge drought in California, so the Feds are going to ship 1% of the Colorado River water to Mexico, to pump into a Delta, which has not had water in a hundred years or so... /facepalm

Posted by: Romeo13... whose face hurts from too much facepalming at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (84gbM)

106 99 I'd recalled Marcotte was in a partnership with some dude, too. He chose... poorly. Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 07:56 PM (30eLQ) John Edwards?

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (Xzx50)

107 Well, the people who are supposed to deal with official corruption are all corrupt. That kind of sucks. That's kind of like dying because your bowels joined a union and went on strike.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (qyfb5)

108 how boys are socialized, which is largely around team sports.

Not labor groups, exploring, or hunting? In my state, young boys are forbidden team sports until seventh grade. It was the child molesters. They got found out.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (xq1UY)

109 Come on, guys. Guys. Come on.

Posted by: Marcotte's Not Husband at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (hFL/3)

110 Ace, I don't know if you've seen this Weekly Standard piece by John Podhoretz, but you'll find it interesting The white-trashing of American television http://tinyurl.com/njcazse

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (aTXUx)

111 Airline pilot has a very simple explanation for what happened to MH370 It's very plausible although some of the reports we've been getting don't support it. However, some of the reports we've been getting are pure speculation, unreliable, are contradicted or refuted by the very same source who first released it, usually the Malaysian government A Startlingly Simple Theory About the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet http://tinyurl.com/p92wnej *** While the theory may be plausible he takes a stance that speculation is wrong and then proceeds to speculate himself, with considerable confidence in his own opinions. He lost me when he made the affirmative statement that the pilot is a hero. This guy does not know anymore about what happened on that plane than the next guy.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at March 18, 2014 03:57 PM (DmNpO)

112 John Edwards?

John Edwards doesn't use protection.

It's someone else.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:58 PM (30eLQ)

113 Now, maybe a six year old boy doesn't know this, and he expects his buddy to back him for Team Captain just because they're friends, but from ages 7-9 this is drilled out of him, and by age 10, he knows that competition is supposed to be based on performance, not relationships. Posted by: ace at March 18, 2014 07:36 PM (/FnUH) Nepotism is likely hardwired in our brains. It's evolutionarily beneficial. Too selfish and you screw yourself because there is no one to get your back. Similarly if you are too altruistic then others benefit while you get screwed. A genetic per-disposition towards nepotism means that you are helping yourself by helping your allies. It also means on a genetic level a better likelihood of spreading your genes (or the genes you share with your group).

Posted by: The Nepotistic Hat at March 18, 2014 03:58 PM (AymDN)

114 "but they also have a larger, loose group of allies"

Yup, it's why I can not see a friend for several months and then pick up a conversation with them like nothings changed. My sisters don't understand how I do it, it drives them crazy.

Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at March 18, 2014 03:58 PM (WdbF7)

115 Seize jwest's assets in Russia? What say the Horde? Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 07:29 PM (Xzx50) Seconded. Posted by: Insomniac Shall we vote on the motion.

Posted by: Detroit School Vouchers at March 18, 2014 03:59 PM (Oa0CG)

116 I always figured that humans never evolved out of living in small familial tribes. Most of our interactions are still based on those dynamics. Put us in a city of millions of anonymous people, and problems start to pop up.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 18, 2014 03:59 PM (lr3d7)

117 Airline pilot has a very simple explanation for what happened to MH370 Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 07:55 PM (aTXUx) fnord (aTXUx) Aaaaand it was also one of the first hypotheses floated on the subject the next day. So, just one of many already-being-discussed ideas. I'm not just being dismissive... well, shit, yes I am.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 03:59 PM (qyfb5)

118 1. make available the use the pill, or the shot 2. use condoms as extra protection. 3. get fixed all this without having to kill another person Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 07:55 PM (nqBYe) A once or twice a month MALE birth control pill is in Human Trials in Israel.. But of course, FDA won't allow trials here for YEARS...

Posted by: Romeo13... whose face hurts from too much facepalming at March 18, 2014 03:59 PM (84gbM)

119 it's this guy - http://reproductiverights.org/en/profile/marc-faletti

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 03:59 PM (30eLQ)

120 They want to turn the whole country into the way Barry throws a baseball Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 18, 2014 07:54 PM (FE/sZ) Wormser is a master of aerodynamics. He has engineered those mom jeans to complement TFG's limp-wristed throwing style.

Posted by: RWC at March 18, 2014 04:00 PM (QeH9j)

121 Google tells me her partner is named Marc Faletti and he's a man who works for a pro-abortion group. How romantic! Google image tells me he is exactly what you would expect.

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 04:00 PM (hFL/3)

122 Go for it Merovign, all the pundits gassing on the tele are doing is adding to the CO2 content and causing global warming with their speculative verbal ejaculations.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 04:00 PM (YYElT)

123 yeah but no evidence Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 07:57 PM (rDidD) Nobody has evidence. All we're getting is rushed rumors or sketchy second hand reports either misdiagnosed or not checked out The guy is a commercial pilot, what he believes is very plausible. We may never get any actual evidence other than the first 50 minutes of the flight

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 04:00 PM (aTXUx)

124 Ace, have you seen this? A company called Ares Armor was very carefully walking on the boundaries of the law, selling 80% complete AR-15 lower receivers. Legally these are not firearms, but just parts. They were selling as complete a lower receiver as you can sell with it being legally parts and not a firearm. Customers can easily buy all the parts to make a complete AR-15, so arguably this is a loophole in current firearms law. ATF figured that customers have been building AR-15s from the parts, so ATF went to Congress to get this loophole closed... ha ha, just kidding, of course ATF simply ordered Ares Armor to turn over all its inventory and complete list of customers. Based on what legal authority? Because they are the ATF, and shut up. Ares Armor tried to move things into court, getting a temporary restraining order and setting a court date (March 20th). ATF raided them anyway. http://www.caintv.com/san-diego-gun-store-refuses-to

Posted by: mr_jack at March 18, 2014 04:01 PM (TMG3G)

125 malaysian thing is like starting a crossword, you need one effin word you know so you can start the rest of the puzzle. so far we got nothing but some pygmy cannibals that give you different answers to the same question based on some unidentifiable variable; time temperature, wind direction, clouds, dice?

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 04:01 PM (rDidD)

126 Romeo, wonderful, I hope it is effective , perhaps a few million lives will be saved . we'll see.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:01 PM (nqBYe)

127 Google image tells me he is exactly what you would expect. Hipster douche?

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 04:01 PM (Xzx50)

128 I thought she found some Beta to enter into an "equal partnership that is sooo not a marriage, you bigots" with Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 07:52 PM (hFL/3) fnord (hFL/3) There is a possibility we're missing. I mean, Wiegel, Frum, and McCain just lie like rugs about their beliefs. Maybe Marcotte's just monetizing apparent cray-cray. Pretty clearly not every public figure is being completely honest with their audience. On the other hand, we've all met lefties who are *actually* cray-cray, so who knows?

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:02 PM (qyfb5)

129 Apparently women cooperate well when they both have the same official rank (e.g., both are tenured professors, or both are senior research directors). When they don't share the same hierarchal rank, they're not as good at cooperation.
I KEEL YOU, ACE!!!

Posted by: [i]DOCTOR[/i] Amy Bishop!!! at March 18, 2014 04:02 PM (hn5v5)

130 123 Ace, have you seen this? A company called Ares Armor was very carefully walking on the boundaries of the law, selling 80% complete AR-15 lower receivers. Legally these are not firearms, but just parts. They were selling as complete a lower receiver as you can sell with it being legally parts and not a firearm. Customers can easily buy all the parts to make a complete AR-15, so arguably this is a loophole in current firearms law. At issue is whether or not those lowers were really 80% or not.

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 04:02 PM (Xzx50)

131 13 I hate to take orders from other women. I hate the GPS voice when it's a woman. I switch it to a man's voice. The woman is so patronizing and she can't say anything correctly. The man is so funny when he does the same thing. I think that makes me a heterosexual. I was born this way. Posted by: petunia at March 18, 2014 07:28 PM (DAcBA) Bossy!!!

TomToms let you download custom guide voices. The ones done by comedians, like Eddie Izzard, are fun. The Bert and Ernie one gets annoying after a while. Strangely I have not downloaded any ladies; I must secretly have a war against my own gender or something.

Posted by: LizLem at March 18, 2014 04:03 PM (g2JDn)

132 26 I've always said that the idea men are competitive and women are co-operative is the exact opposite of reality. Men are competitive for leadership, but once leadership is settled, the mass of the group falls in line behind the leader and works together for the good of the group. Women seek to level everyone in the group and will cut down women who over-reach. That's not co-operation, that's communitarianism. (I know what I'm trying to say, but I'm saying it shitty.) Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at March 18, 2014 07:32 PM (celt+) Consider it from a hunter gatherer society. The men are out hunting. There's probably some friendly competition and efforts to "beat" others but the best hunter will be recognized as the leader and best because that will be better for all and competition will keep him from getting lazy.

Posted by: Buzzion at March 18, 2014 04:03 PM (U7HuX)

133 These rigged EPA Enerrgy/Endangered Species Cases are a variation on Agenda 21, and proof positive that the Greens are, as Vic likes to say, Watermelons.
They are pervasive and speeding up.

.....the UN, just another name for........yeah, you catch on quick.....

Posted by: ontherocks at March 18, 2014 07:41 PM (XPHw/)

---------------------------------------------

Perhaps a coinkidink, but OK passed a law last week making Agenda 21 in OK illegal. This might be the extension of that law. Someone needs to start cleaning up the EPA/Agenda 21 mess.

Posted by: Soona at March 18, 2014 04:03 PM (sx5Tc)

134 Nobody has evidence. All we're getting is rushed rumors or sketchy second hand reports either misdiagnosed or not checked out The guy is a commercial pilot, what he believes is very plausible. We may never get any actual evidence other than the first 50 minutes of the flight Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 agreed. no one has nothin. I read his scenario earlier - very plausible but no reason to worry about it now or until we have more to go on.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 04:04 PM (rDidD)

135 Thanks to @laurww for that. ... and now the cute stuff. Wow. That's about as big an insult as I have ever seen, right there. I don't want to be lumped in with Ace on this. I think LauraW's hump is the very definition of cute.

Posted by: garrett at March 18, 2014 04:04 PM (WqkMb)

136 Picture of Marcotte's lover (or someone with his name) in sig.

Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 04:04 PM (hFL/3)

137
That cooperation article is a good reason not to elect hillary.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 18, 2014 04:04 PM (0Kobm)

138 The white-trashing of American television (from JPod)

Read it. I couldn't figure out JPod's point. Is it good that there are shows about evil and/or downscale whites now? Bad? Bigoted?

I already know that whites exist who suck. Many would say I'm one of them.

I just didn't get it. Maybe someone with better writing abilities than JPod has can explain it to me.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 04:04 PM (30eLQ)

139 Seize jwest's assets in Russia? Even the $25,000 education stipend? That's harsh.

Posted by: garrett at March 18, 2014 04:05 PM (WqkMb)

140 From Neo-Neocon, a squirrel trying to hide a nut in a dog:

This ones even got the scratching from Sir Mix-a-Lot

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 18, 2014 04:05 PM (DL2i+)

141 Ugliest reverse-traps I've ever seenÂ…

Posted by: The Trapless Hat at March 18, 2014 04:06 PM (AymDN)

142 135 Picture of Marcotte's lover (or someone with his name) in sig. Wow. Karl Urban and Norman Reedus need to seriously up their game if they're going to have a fighting chance now. sarc

Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 04:06 PM (Xzx50)

143 Lauren, I expected an emaciated guy in nut huggers.

Posted by: NCKate at March 18, 2014 04:07 PM (y7PFk)

144 i do haft to actually admit, I find it rather odd and sickening we have mass demonstrations for the right to kill your offspring, in the name of 'fairness' to women.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:07 PM (nqBYe)

145 malaysian thing is like starting a crossword, you need one effin word you know so you can start the rest of the puzzle. so far we got nothing but some pygmy cannibals that give you different answers to the same question based on some unidentifiable variable

So... Andaman Islanders ordered them some Chinese / Malaysian fusion takeout?

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 04:07 PM (30eLQ)

146 /shouldn't have posted that

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at March 18, 2014 04:07 PM (30eLQ)

147 Seize jwest's assets in Russia? alright but i call dibs on investments in healthcare or insurance companies.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:08 PM (nqBYe)

148 I have been watching Greta, which was amusing at first as there was background noises at the beginning and discussion of simulator taken apart and/or someone whistling and coughing (sounded like it was being taken apart, live!, by coughing elves while she talked to the pilot...he was featured in split screen moving his lips but someone else talking, of course). Mr. Pilot Stompy about Sodomy Judge had remote air fields on simulator, and Catherine Herridge mentioned some islands I'd need a map to know (in addition to his simulator having Thai porn featuring that guy from Kung Fu...oh, wait! I am making that part up). By the way, I think Catherine Herridge and others do the work no one else does in keeping us up to date and I thank her (she looks tired).

I am now thinking plane and hostages are in Indonesia, where Baroque first heard the melodic message of the call to prayer. But! I have always felt Iran was involved due to false passports held by good mooslems from Iran. So there's that...and, at least, Israel is on alert. Meanwhile, Barry's hair is turning grey but we have not heard what the Grand Poohba thinks of this entire mystery. Heck, as much time passed it could be in Bumfuzzle, Alabama by now. Apparently, and thank goodness I don't go ovah there, India only uses their radar now and then or when the moon passes near Venus. Thailand only lets you know about their radar when you ask for it, and it saw something but did not send up military jets as fossil fuels... or there is a lot of "help" in that area for this rogue plot. Burma does not know if they even have radar, so don't ask them! And hippies or fisherman said they saw either a low flying plane or a flying dragon in Maldives on morning of missing plane.

So, either they are all dead and at the bottom of sea (and, of course, no one explained the large debris nor the huge oil slicks, cause!)...or this is a hostage situation. Or they are all dead but there is a plane outfitted with nukes...no biggie! Or the security world knows, have always known, and are protecting our delicate sensibilities. Perhaps one of the countries panicked, and I don't blame them as their radar must be like the large satellite dishes of yore for tv's, and fired a surface to air missile at this plane and poof. Yet they do not want to cause an international incident from their mistake, as, heaven knows, there is nothing to worry about with an entire missing plane. Meanwhile, I imagine the Texas engineers who specialized in "invisible shields" for the military either helped paint the jet prior to take-off, working with the pilot who had it all worked out on his simulator, and they are sitting pretty somewhere with Iran footing the bill after this test run.

I don't give a hoot-n-hell about the radar: with all of the satellites from all countries up in space, what is the deal? You can read my license plate but don't see a big fireball blazing to sea? Or cannot look back at the time and see where the "triple seven"::drink:: landed? I call barnyard manure (as my granny used to say instead of the 's' word).

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 04:08 PM (baL2B)

149 Merovign!

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:09 PM (nqBYe)

150 With the EPA thing, it's probably more insidious. We tend to think of this as overzealous true believers. More likely, there's a private company (Obama donor, natch) who is benefiting directly from this.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 18, 2014 04:09 PM (T0NGe)

151 Amish , I had thought that With banning fraking and reading sevral mths ago that sauds had funded some group or another

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:10 PM (nqBYe)

152 "A company called Ares Armor was very carefully walking on the boundaries of the law, selling 80% complete AR-15 lower receivers. Legally these are not firearms, but just parts. They were selling as complete a lower receiver as you can sell with it being legally parts and not a firearm. Customers can easily buy all the parts to make a complete AR-15, so arguably this is a loophole in current firearms law.

Posted by: mr_jack at March 18, 2014 08:01 PM (TMG3G)"

--------------------

From what I understand, they were making the fire control group cavity out of a different substance than the remainder of the receiver. Meaning that depending on how they manufacture it, they may be making a "firearm" and then filling it in with a material for the customer to remove (kind of like that old "Chip-Away" toy with the statue inside the lump of clay that you chip out). Which is a no-no (once you've made it in a way that's it's a "firearm", there's no undoing it legally.)

Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at March 18, 2014 04:11 PM (celt+)

153 A Startlingly Simple Theory About the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet http://tinyurl.com/p92wnej Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 07:55 PM (aTXUx) Sounds very plausible to me. I usually go by the motto: keep it simple, keep it stupid. The simplest expannation is usually the best

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 04:11 PM (t3UFN)

154 Go for it Merovign, all the pundits gassing on the tele are doing is adding to the CO2 content and causing global warming with their speculative verbal ejaculations. Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 08:00 PM (YYElT) fnord (YYElT) Well, historically speaking we're actually at dangerously *low* CO2 levels, so more power to gasbags I guess. Seriously, there is a point at which low CO2 is a serious threat to life, especially at the end of a warm period (to my knowledge no one knows what the actual numbers are, but obviously plants can't live without it). I've heard 150ppm as a dead-minimum for any plants, and it's worth noting that plants seem to be well-adapted (with variances of course) to 1200-2000ppm.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:11 PM (qyfb5)

155 and GE and swirly light bulbs

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:12 PM (nqBYe)

156 The customer in Aisle 76 seems peeved.

Posted by: GMB (et al) at March 18, 2014 04:12 PM (nkPV9)

157 Well, historically speaking we're actually at dangerously *low* CO2 levels, so more power to gasbags I guess. Seriously, there is a point at which low CO2 is a serious threat to life, especially at the end of a warm period (to my knowledge no one knows what the actual numbers are, but obviously plants can't live without it). --- Class lawsuit against the EPA?

Posted by: votermom at March 18, 2014 04:12 PM (GSIDW)

158 135 Picture of Marcotte's lover (or someone with his name) in sig. Posted by: Lauren at March 18, 2014 08:04 PM (hFL/3) She is a true believer. Because she can do better than that easily.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 18, 2014 04:12 PM (T0NGe)

159 154 and GE and swirly light bulbs Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:12 PM (nqBYe) Fuck them. I want my 100w incandescents back!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 04:12 PM (UAMVq)

160 133 agreed. no one has nothin. I read his scenario earlier - very plausible but no reason to worry about it now or until we have more to go on.

The best thing about his speculation is that if he's right, it would really cut down the search area. Seems worth a try.

Posted by: Splunge at March 18, 2014 04:13 PM (qyomX)

161 oh and Mary " hates the poor" that have to live in trailers.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:13 PM (nqBYe)

162 Posted by: Romeo13... whose face hurts from too much facepalming at March 18, 2014 07:57 PM (84gbM) OMG, the stupid burns. Or drowns in wasted water, as the case may be.

Posted by: LizLem at March 18, 2014 04:13 PM (g2JDn)

163 malaysian thing is like starting a crossword, you need one effin word you know so you can start the rest of the puzzle.
A major air terror (22 down; 5 letters)

I
S
L
A
M

Posted by: The Times of London at March 18, 2014 04:13 PM (hn5v5)

164 I read of a couple of issues with the Ares armor thing 1. it was not your standard 80% lower 2. the gov did get an ex parte warrant to violate a restraining order.

Posted by: yankeefifth at March 18, 2014 04:14 PM (rDidD)

165 #WarOnWomen NYC man charged with forcibly inserting abortion pills into girlfriendÂ’s womb, causing miscarriage http://tinyurl.com/pz7pf2w

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 04:15 PM (aTXUx)

166

If, at this point, I turned to my friend and said, "DUDE, you're my FRIEND! You're supposed to SUPPORT me!," I would be laughed out of the gym.

IN many ways, this is the story of Barry Soterro

Posted by: BunkerinTheBurbs at March 18, 2014 04:15 PM (X3xYu)

167 insomniac, and my freedom to not have govt involved with my womb , or my tonsils.

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:15 PM (nqBYe)

168 At issue is whether or not those lowers were really 80% or not. Posted by: EC at March 18, 2014 08:02 PM (Xzx50) fnord (Xzx50) ATF's argument was that by molding the machinable cavity of a different material, unlike a solid metal receiver, they were actually changing the procedure for the customer and thus making it "more than 80% complete." That has enough rhetorical force, at least, to justify the warrant - the problem is they're obviously fishing for a prohibited purchaser so they can justify changing the rules. Which is odd, since every other day they just rewrite the law whenever they feel like it.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:15 PM (qyfb5)

169 135 Picture of Marcotte's lover (or someone with his name) in sig.

Do hetereosexuals really wear suspenders like that these days?

Posted by: Splunge at March 18, 2014 04:16 PM (qyomX)

170 150 Amish , I had thought that With banning fraking and reading sevral mths ago that sauds had funded some group or another Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:10 PM (nqBYe) Probably more direct than that.

Posted by: AmishDude at March 18, 2014 04:16 PM (T0NGe)

171 >>Google tells me her partner is named Marc Faletti and he's a man who works for a pro-abortion group. How romantic! Google image tells me he is exactly what you would expect. Posted by: Lauren What? He has dark glasses, a white cane with a red tip and hearing aids?

Posted by: Aviator at March 18, 2014 04:17 PM (3rrMW)

172 168 135 Picture of Marcotte's lover (or someone with his name) in sig. Do hetereosexuals really wear suspenders like that these days? Posted by: Splunge at March 18, 2014 08:16 PM (qyomX) Who said he was heterosexual?

Posted by: Insomniac at March 18, 2014 04:17 PM (UAMVq)

173 148 Merovign! Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:09 PM (nqBYe) fnord (nqBYe) WILLOW! http://bit.ly/1p9bqeA

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:17 PM (qyfb5)

174 5 And if a member of the Horde wins the $00 million jackpot annuity of a Mega Millions tonight, they might be able to afford the Bond, James Bond car collection. Anna, I not spending 25% of my $124 mill on a bunch of cars. A G-4? Maybe.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 04:17 PM (0FSuD)

175 kdabear, so was it the pills or the 'force' that caused miscarriage? anyway i have been piss'd all day with that other kemplar cartel theft of children for body parts .

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:18 PM (nqBYe)

176

Consider it from a hunter gatherer society. The men are out hunting. There's probably some friendly competition and efforts to "beat" others but the best hunter will be recognized as the leader and best because that will be better for all and competition will keep him from getting lazy.

Despite what Heinlein may have said, specialization also benefits humans. The mediocre hunter may be better at constructing shelter, producing spears/arrows, or any other number of tasks. Likewise, the fat kid picked last for gym is the one everyone wants as a lab partner. As a result leadership may shift as the situation changes. When there's a mastodon to kill, or an enemy war-party approaching, everyone turns to the best warrior. When it comes time to settle a dispute, you go to the elder instead. Every boy figures this out early on and realized what he's good at and what he's not.

Posted by: Colorado Alex at March 18, 2014 04:18 PM (lr3d7)

177 Kate Upton Open Thread Compliance Pic http://tinyurl.com/onxv4fr

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 04:18 PM (aTXUx)

178 Zim well earlier I made this 'joke' in regards to the Malaysian Mystery.

Beijin to Kuala Lumpur, "No more Chinese take out for you! You finished!"

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 04:19 PM (YYElT)

179 Pardon me good chap, but do any of you have an extra meth pipe lying about?

Posted by: Dick Quest at March 18, 2014 04:19 PM (Aif/5)

180 Anyone who has ever been heavily involved in both boys' and girls' team sports knows how different they are. The drama in girls' sports can be ....intense. It's a freaking soap opera.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 18, 2014 04:19 PM (dfYL9)

181 tina fey should never lick kermits back!

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:20 PM (nqBYe)

182 180 tina fey should never lick kermits back! Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:20 PM (nqBYe) That slut!

Posted by: Miss Piggy at March 18, 2014 04:21 PM (UAMVq)

183 tina fey should never lick kermits back! Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:20 PM (nqBYe) fnord (nqBYe) (narrows eyes) Here, have another drink.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:21 PM (qyfb5)

184 I have a recent movie recommendation, Odd Thomas. It's based on the same named book by Dean Koontz. Now I haven't read the book, so I cannot tell you how faithful the movie is.

It's a supernatural thriller, sorta Stephen Kingish, but given an A movie treatment as opposed to King's stuff usually done no better than B grade.

The movie got me to suspend my disbelief; I was sucked in right from the start.

Oh, and not one single bare boob in sight. However, there is a mighty fine cameltoe if you pay attention.

Two thumbs up.

Posted by: GnuBreed at March 18, 2014 04:21 PM (wNF3N)

185 Two Kermits, one Miss Piggy.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 04:22 PM (YYElT)

186 Kbdabaer, I think that is the story. O'R dismissed it saying they would have called in the emergency, forgetting the power would be off. O'R is a fucking idiot.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 04:22 PM (0FSuD)

187 152 A Startlingly Simple Theory About the Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet

http://tinyurl.com/p92wnej

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 07:55 PM (aTXUx)

Sounds very plausible to me. I usually go by the motto: keep it simple, keep it stupid. The simplest expannation is usually the best

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 18, 2014 08:11 PM (t3UFN)

That makes sense. Thanks. It would (maybe) also explain the fuel/oil slick or something seen initially but never explained: maybe he dumped fuel? Yet Malaysia was very quick to discount both the large three pieces of debris and the oil slick on day three or so. All I read was it was "nothing." Yet we saw photos of "nothing."

The way the government of Malaysia has handled this is bizarre. You'd think some big guys, like China, Japan or, uh, the former powerful USA would be demanding results.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 04:22 PM (baL2B)

188 @176 That's a "kitten" I could go for.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 04:23 PM (0FSuD)

189 Here, have another drink. Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at March 18, 2014 08:21 PM (qyfb5 whew, just .in.time. ty

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:24 PM (nqBYe)

190 As you might imagine, getting to speak with Kermit and Miss Piggy was incredibly cool and even though Piggy has a difficult reputation, I found her affable and easy going. During the interview they talked about when they found out theyÂ’d be making a sequel, how Piggy handled Kermit having so many scenes with Tina Fey, filming in London

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:24 PM (nqBYe)

191 Muppets Most Wanted*

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:25 PM (nqBYe)

192 anyway i have been piss'd all day with that other kemplar cartel theft of children for body parts . Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:18 PM (nqBY Willow that story has to be total horse shit. It's in the Mail. Think about it. What is the market for kid's organs? Not much, too small. Now find me an adult liver with O+ blood, and I'll make you some money.

Posted by: Nip Sip at March 18, 2014 04:25 PM (0FSuD)

193 Somebody snuck a nood in there when I wasn't looking!

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:26 PM (qyfb5)

194 So there will be an Incredibles 2! Hooray!

Posted by: mrp at March 18, 2014 04:26 PM (JBggj)

195 I know this is going to sound know-nothing and ignorant, but anything that makes Obama look bad is ok by me. Well, short of genocide. But Putin thumbing his nose at the WeakDick-In-Chief is kind of entertaining. Officially, pile me into the "who gives a shit" crew. We aren't the world's police force. They wanna fight? Fk it, let 'em fight. You see two crack heads flailing at each other in the street, do you feel compelled to intervene? I don't. I just take pictures. Cuz that shit's teh funneh.

Posted by: tangonine at March 18, 2014 04:26 PM (x3YFz)

196 190 Muppets Most Wanted* Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 08:25 PM (nqBYe) fnord (nqBYe) Sure, just burn my childhood at the stake, why don't they.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:27 PM (qyfb5)

197 @151 I can certainly believe that in their attempts to carefully skirt the law, that Ares Armor screwed up and stepped over the line (broke the law). That in turn might make the ATF raid legal. But couldn't this have been hashed out in court? If Ares Armor lost in court, ATF would have had what they wanted nice and legal. Did ATF really need to raid them? I'm not convinced.

Posted by: mr_jack at March 18, 2014 04:29 PM (TMG3G)

198 Nip, i hope it all b.s. that really has messed with my head all day .

Posted by: willow at March 18, 2014 04:29 PM (nqBYe)

199 Well the 24m x 22m debris piece plus its two slightly smaller siblings when added up were bigger than the 777. The pieces all seemed to be square in shape. A 777 is about 62m long.

IIRC each engine on a 777 has a generator. Then there are the batteries. And the pilots can lower the RAT and let the slipstream spin it and generate electricity. So if all three go *poof* at the same time its pretty catastrophic and well you will be looking for glitter wreckage.

But all I am doing is speculating. Until we find the plane, the simplest answer is still - We Don't Know.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 04:29 PM (YYElT)

200 164 NYC man charged with forcibly inserting abortion pills into girlfriendÂ’s womb, causing miscarriage http://tinyurl.com/pz7pf2w Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 08:15 PM (aTXUx) ------------------------ I don't believe it. Men are against abortion and continually conspire to keep women from it. Men prefer their women pregnant. They want babies. Lots of them. Women, OTOH, love abortion. The notion that a woman would ever be pressured by a man, much less forced, to have an abortion is ridiculous. Unpossible!

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 18, 2014 04:30 PM (dfYL9)

201 Re: EMT trainee jailed for having tool in trunk of car. Evacuate the public schools. Burn them to the ground. Bulldoze the rubble flat. Sow the ground with salt. Erect monuments to the stupidity of the very idea that fucking DMV rejects could educate people. Sorry, "good schoolteachers," you will have to be good in the private sector. This shit is fucking insane and has to stop or there won't be anything left to save. Orwell is having a freaking fit in his grave.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i] [/b] [/s] [/u] at March 18, 2014 04:31 PM (qyfb5)

202 In a further raping of our collective childhood, it seems they are making a new Peanuts short film. Will Charlie Brown come out of the closet? Or does Snoopy have a two legged stalker? I really don't want to find out.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 04:31 PM (YYElT)

203 IIRC each engine on a 777 has a generator. Then there are the batteries. And the pilots can lower the RAT and let the slipstream spin it and generate electricity. So if all three go *poof* at the same time its pretty catastrophic and well you will be looking for glitter wreckage. Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 08:29 PM (YYElT) In the scenario the writer presents, the transponders aren't turned off due to power loss but by the pilots pulling the buses to cut the juice if they believe there's an electrical fire

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 04:38 PM (aTXUx)

204 201 In a further raping of our collective childhood, it seems they are making a new Peanuts short film. Will Charlie Brown come out of the closet? Or does Snoopy have a two legged stalker? I really don't want to find out. Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 18, 2014 08:31 PM (YYElT) Well, you know they'll eliminate that Jesus-y stuff they had in the originals and in the comic strips. Don't want the kiddies to think there is any greater power than Burrak Hoosane Ohbahma, mmm mm mmm mmm mmm

Posted by: kbdabear at March 18, 2014 04:41 PM (aTXUx)

205 No crash/explosion or nukes detected (so far). See link:

http://tinyurl.com/pwyp66t

So...it landed?

I am relieved it was not star wars explody up at 45,000 feet and resulted in tiny pieces and radioactive particles. So, there's that!

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 04:41 PM (baL2B)

206 Title of link above (duh)

"Flight MH370: No explosion or crash detected, UN N-watchdog says"

Posted by: ChristyBlinky, Bossy Redneck Queen at March 18, 2014 04:49 PM (baL2B)

207 Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at March 18, 2014 08:27 PM (qyfb5) I don't drink anymore but I'd buy you a shot of good bourbon. I think we were separated at birth.

Posted by: tangonine at March 18, 2014 04:52 PM (x3YFz)

208 Reading this thread randomly is funny as hell.

Posted by: Orlandocon ette at March 18, 2014 05:05 PM (SldZ2)

209 Ace: the CBD lawsuits affect PRIVATE LAND as well, which is why private land states like TX and OK have been so freaked put about them. TX did this to handle the dune sagebrush lizard problem: http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/24/oil-lobbyists-oversee-threatened-lizard-protection/ There will be a similar program if the lesser prairie chicken gets listed.

Posted by: stace at March 18, 2014 05:28 PM (9PXzx)

210 "Here's what's going on:" News Flash: the Potomac Two Step has been going on for decades.

Posted by: anon a mouse at March 18, 2014 05:33 PM (gXRIG)

211 I'd rather have the James Bond car collection than the James Bond woman collection. Unless, of course, it's the women from the last 10 -15, ah hell, 20 years. The first ones not so much. Cars are forever, though.

Posted by: Erowmero at March 18, 2014 05:34 PM (1gcFZ)

212 @163 I did a Google search to find out about the ex parte warrant. Weasel Zippers: http://bit.ly/1gB4Vg4 examiner.com: http://exm.nr/1gAV89J guns.com: http://bit.ly/1gySosR

Posted by: mr_jack at March 18, 2014 05:50 PM (TMG3G)

213 Oh doG, I just clicked through on not one, but two vids involving cats. That squirrels were the attraction is no excuse.

Posted by: AltonJackson at March 18, 2014 05:58 PM (JMmQ9)

214 For the record, the EPA has been infamous for this little trick for decades.

When they want to propose a rule, they have to go through the publication process, receive public comment, hold hearings, there is time to mount opposition (even from within the Administration, especially when Republican) and block it.

BUT if they get one of their greenie groups to sue, they can just settle and get a consent decree "ordering" them to do the same thing with no public input.

Posted by: Adjoran at March 18, 2014 09:06 PM (QIQ6j)

215

Posted by: Vic[/i] at March 19, 2014 02:26 AM (T2V/1)

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