Let's Drop "Mansplaining" In Favor Of "Voxsplaining"

In a troubling harmonic convergence of this and that, Glenn links to an annoying article that pretends "mansplaining" is not deliberately sexist and offensive, but of course it is, and is meant to be. (And yes, I caged my inner Sheldon Cooper and ignored the author's scarecrow/hypotenuse/squares, not roots problem. Almost).

This definition of mansplaining is offered:

In case you’re late to this word party, here’s the first definition of that delicious neologism from the Urban Dictionary: “Delighting in condescending, inaccurate explanations delivered with rock solid confidence of rightness and that slimy certainty that of course he is right, because he is the man in this conversation.” And the example: “Even though he knew she had an advanced degree in neuroscience, he felt the need to mansplain 'there are molecules in the brain called neurotransmitters.' ”

I think we can preserve the value of the word communicating a combination of condescension and misinformation while eliminating the sexism by simply substituting "Voxsplaining". I am inspired by this ode to confiscatory taxes by Matt Yglesias. His launch point:

The Laffer Curve — the idea that tax cuts can sometimes increase tax revenue — is one of the most influential and widely debated ideas in the past two generations of American politics. Beloved by the right and despised by the left, one thing that both sides have tended to agree on is that knowing what side of the curve we're on should be a key driver of tax policy.

But in an era of surging inequality, it's time to revisit that assumption. Maybe at least some taxes should be really high. Maybe even really really high. So high as to useless for revenue-raising purposes — but powerful for achieving other ends.

Oh, we will experience the Laugher Curve all right. It's hard to pick a favorite bit of absurdity but here are a few candidates:

With the growing concentration of wealth an increasing subject of public concern, it's time to reconsider whether the application of Laffer-style reasoning to very prosperous individuals is appropriate.

Imposing a marginal tax rate of 90 percent on inheritances worth over $10 million, for example, would probably raise very little revenue. Rather than pay $90 to Uncle Sam for the chance to send $10 more to their kids, rich people would give the money to a tax-exempt charitable institution instead. That wouldn't help balance the budget — in fact, it would hurt those efforts — but it would help break the doom loop of oligarachy whereby concentrated wealth breeds political power breeds greater concentration of wealth.

Reihan Salam of NRO was thoughtul and interesting about the current scope of Big Philanthropy. Let me add this - if Matt doesn't yet realize that foundations, including scary right-wing foundations, can have political power he has lost track of progressive boogeymen such as Scaife, Koch, and now Walton.

And if Matt thinks that an heir to Sam Walton who can control the disbursements of a multi-billion dollar foundation somehow lacks for access, clout and A-list invitations, well, yikes. 

Here Matt illustrates the power of positive wishful thinking:

Even more intriguing would be to apply the same principle of taxation-as-deterrence to very high levels of income.

About twenty years ago, Congress and the Clinton administration took a step that they thought would curb what they thought was excessive CEO pay. They said that salaries of over $1 million wouldn't be deductible from the employer's corporate taxes. Since that time, CEO pay has gone further up. Now the typical S&P 500 CEO earns 311 times more than his median employee. The reason isn't that tax deterrence doesn't work, it's that the authors of the law left a loophole big enough to drive $10 million through — you can deduct whatever payment you want as long as you jigger your compensation scheme to label it "performance based."

Imagine a world in which we not only closed that loophole, but imposed a 90 percent marginal tax rate on salaries above $10 million. This seems unlikely to raise substantial amounts of revenue. If you really really really really desperately wanted to give your CEO a raise, you would have that option. But for every extra $1 you give him, you'd have turn over $9 to the government. Why not use that same $10 to give raises to three or four people lower down the food chain who pay lower taxes?

So let's see - the last time we tried this Lucy's accountants pulled away the football before Charlie Brown could kick it. But this time will be different!

If Matt had some familiarity with Pikkety's work he might recall (as Mickey did) that back in the high-tax 60's the high earners saw a notional top rate above 70% yet paid an effective rate of 32.2% (p. 18, Table 3a). After the deplorable Reagan and Bush tax cuts, the 2004 top rate was 35% and the high-flyers paid an effective rate of (Table 3b) 26.2%.

Pikkety manages to calculate a higher overall rate for high-earners in 1970 by imputing corporate and unheritance taxes to them. Why (or whether) these tax rates are additive or should be weighted by, for example, revenue raised is left unanswered. Also left unanswered is why (or whether) a healthy fifty-something executive cashing a big bonus in 1970 should be worried about inheritance taxes well down the road, when that road may include tuitions, alimony, bequests, reversals of fortune and changes in tax law.

Finally, Matt has forgotten that back in the day corporation lavished perks rather than paychecks, which makes the comparison of stated income a bit suspect. RJR Nabisco bought multiple corporate jets which the chairman could use or lend at will; did that make him poorer than a magnate who has bought his own jet?

As to the idea that if the top executives are paid less the beneficient corporation will blithely pay the underlings more, well, sure. Or they might cut prices, or raise the dividend, or get everyone a free subscription to Vox. To be fair, part of the compensation of hanging around in the Number Two (or Ten) spot is the prospect of a promotion and the associated jackpot. Reducing the jackpot reduces the expected value of future compensation for the current underlings, and they may get balky if their expexted lifetine compensation is cut. Sort of like seeing all the waiters and hostesses fleeing Manhattan and heading back to Nebraska if Broadway stops paying actors.

Matt expanded on his fever dream:

Of course, the CEO might threaten to quit if he can't get his raise. But what are his realistic options? Every company in the country would be faced with the same dilemma — why waste the salary budget on paying confiscatory tax rates rather than on hiring and retaining front-line workers? That might turn around the deplorable stagnation in earnings that typical households have faced over the past several decades:

Hmm. That reminds me of some Big Mac math which had libs arguing (among other things, and until updated away) that by reining in the $8 million paid to the McDonalds CEO McDonalds could dramatically raise their $4.7 billion payroll. Total payroll could rise by 0.2% if the CEO were paid nothing; for someone earning $40,000 per year that is an $80 raise. I am not sure that kind of money will turn around the deplorable stagnation that is not actually happening anyway.

I lack for time but not targets. Carry on!

A QUICK HIT:

"Of course not every highly paid person in the United States is an executive at a large company."

Do tell.

Comments

[Danube on iPad]

It's old-fashioned, garden-variety envy, dressed up in all sorts of costumes.

[narciso]

Scaife went broke in the divorce, Koch is frustrated six waves from Sunday, whereas candidates for the Timchenko test, like Steyer, and Soros, seem to get all the cards.

[rich@gmu]

>>>And if Matt thinks that an heir to Sam Walton who can control the disbursements of a multi-billion dollar foundation somehow lacks for access, clout and A-list invitations, well, yikes.<<<

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/fashion/white-house-hosts-next-generation-young-and-rich.html?_r=0

yikes indeed!

[jimmyk on iPhone]

Haven't these clowns heard of "From shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations"? All a rich person has to do is have 3 or 4 kids and the wealth is dissipated by the time it gets to his grandchildren. Unless he goes into politics, in which case it lasts longer. So the only real concentration of wealth is in the political class, and they get it by extortion rather than producing anything of value.

[henry]

Ugh. Time to switch from coffeesplaining to beersplaining, then drag more firewood inside. B***s***ing was such a good word for for this.

[rich@gmu]

>>>I am not sure that kind of money will turn around the deplorable stagnation that is not actually happening anyway.<<<

I'm not following this point. It might be my coffee hasn't fully kicked in.

[peter]

that's a gem of a post, jimmyk@ 1:05

[Jim Eagle]

jimmyk,

Lot of very large private companies family owned on their 5th generation of ownership (ie. Cargill, Mars, Bechtel) I oftne wondered wthat their genetic-business secret was becuase they are truly the excption and not the rule.

All this talk of Piketty makes my head hurt.

[rich@gmu]

think this link explains what I'm confused about ...

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101373237

>>>Unfortunately, this myth of wage stagnation is being used to dismantle piecemeal the very economic freedoms that cause incomes to rise. We see this in proposals to increase the minimum wage, raise taxes on businesses, and to expand redistribution programs.<<<

[narciso]

Well it's the same Bialystok play with climate change, which frustrates fracking, with Matt Ridley pointed out, has less impact on the earth then others,

[jimmyk]

Those are the exceptions, JiB, but surely we shouldn't be designing a whole confiscatory tax system because of a few success stories (never mind that it's a silly goal to begin with). That would be as crazy as tearing down the entire health care industry for the sake of getting a few million people insured. Oh, wait, never mind.

[Clarice Feldman]

Who is funding Klein's dreckorama? I read somewhere it is 8 figures worth. Hard to believe.

[Clarice Feldman]

Mars' secret is they are privately owned by the family. I don't know about the tohers.

[Clarice Feldman]

OOps, sorry JiB, I missed you'd noted the private ownership. Then there are the Kennedy's who life off a tax free trust in Tahiti--Certainly occasioned by some special elgislation at the time.

[narciso]

Eight figures, and the most amateurish enterprise, since Cop Rock;

'friends don't let friends, take Vox seriously,

http://libertyunyielding.com/2014/04/27/cliven-bundy-donald-sterling-lefts-purity-problem/

[jimmyk]

Who is funding Klein's dreckorama? I read somewhere it is 8 figures worth. Hard to believe.

It is great to see the left pouring money down the toilet. Better that than on Hillary's campaign. Now if we could just get the Kochs to buy CBS or the NYT...

[jimmyk]

I fear we will be stuck with Clintons for at least another generation as Bill and Hill only managed to get over their mutual abhorrence to spawn one child, who married into another crooked political family.

I say a 90 percent tax rates on politicians' ill-earned estates first, and then we can talk about who's next.

[narciso]

the Stark/Lannisters, or Harkonnen/Tleixaxu,

[Jim Rhoads f/k/a vnjagvet]

Clarice's Pieces this morning was an excellent example of how facts do matter in making out a powerful case against an MFM meme of the day. Note that it has garnered over 500 comments thus far. I wonder how many hits it got.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

jimmyk @ 1:58 -
I think of the Clintons and Mezvinskys as political crime families.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

Clarice, your latest is beautifully sobering.

[BumperStickerist]

For the life of me ...

Yglesias expounding on economics
Klein on healthcare
Marcotte on "{topic}in relation to her vagina"

... these are the people The Left considers as creators of marketable product?

Yeesh ... Mencken was right: You cannot go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

[jimmyk]

You cannot go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.

Not sure--the NY Times is surely testing that proposition.

[Clarice Feldman]

Thanks.

Amazing, isn't it how these pundits keep falling for this same make believe? Foley, Libby, Duke LaCrosse, Trayvon Martin, Cliven Bundy...I can stop any time....

[BumperStickerist]

good article(s), Clarice ...

On the topic of 'mansplaining' - and for the benefit of all us swinging-dick men who don't understand the concept, because, face it, we have better things to occupy our minds

Mansplaining is the same thing as a woman explaining to you how you should interact with your five year old child.

Only, it's okay for that to happen because.

Just "because." I'm told "It's a girl thing" and apparently we wouldn't understand.

[narciso]

Now if they really go after Volodya's stash at Gunvor, katie bar the door,

[rse]

Clarice-

I am not sure they fall for it so much as they have been trained to push erroneous mass beliefs as a means for the media, just like with ed, to supposedly alter reality. Racism does not have to be real, but the perception that it exists needs to be. As long as that exists, minorities or women or other groups see their group identity at risk instead of being a conglomeration of individuals.

Yesterday the research I was doing pulled up the meaning of equity. Equality is not sufficient to redress disadvantage, nor ensure equality of outcomes. So we are to get constant meddling by the political class paying themselves well to supposedly prosecute equity.

[Jim Eagle]

Clarice,

Because, we are unexplainable and the left needs to make shit up to explain 1) common sense, 2) life xperience dictates reasoning and 3) we believe in more than the unicorn and free stuff.

They on the other hand believe in nothing unless someone makes it something to believe in.

[maryrose]

What a wonderful day! Two former Popes canonnized.@ miracles for Pope John Paul and 1 for Pope John the 233rd.
I remember when the Mass changed from Latin to English after Vatican II. My brothers were happy they no longer had to fake it and mumble through the Confiteor while they were serving Mass.
My brother told me recently that manu
y times he was taken out of Math class along with his twin to serve a 10:00 am funeral Mass.
JIB:
It is possible for Frederick to take the ACT earlier than junior year and sometimes grade school take promising students as part of the Midwest talent search and administer a shortened version to use as a predictor for future success.
We gave a practice PSAT to our sophomores and if the same math still applys a combined score of 210 including the verbal math and writing portions is a fair predictor that the student will become a National Merit Semi-finalis. How is Frederick as a test taker? Is he consistently in the 95th percentile?
A few years ago Dartmouth was taking only the very top students from eacH graduating class.Also students can apply early decision or to the Honors College of different universities.
h

[maryrose]

I watched FNS before Captain's warning and my husband and I were cheering the total beat down of the weird harridan they had on calling the ruling a RACIST decision. Gratz had her on the ropes so bad she used the dog
] whistle expression Jim Crow laws before Wallace mercifully cut her off.
clarice: Once again a wonderful "Pieces" that comes exactly at the right time.
Porch: we must keep fighting the lies and the red herrings. The ground ifs definitely shifting in our favor.
Word on the street is that Boehner may want to retire after this Congress. That would not surprise me.I do not correct or apologise for the multiple errors cause that's how I roll.

[Jim Eagle]

maryrose,

Thanks for that. Right now I want him to focus on his 5th grade assignements and work. He is doing well and reached into the 88 percentinle on his Iowa testing. We do Iowa instead of FCAT since we are a parochial school. His problem is "challenge" and that is why he goes to Embry-Riddle in the summer for Aviation and Math. Robotics is always too early in the summer for him but he loves Aviation.

I don't want him to think he has to be Ivy League but to be what he wants to be. Right now that is Marine science and Aviation. Which means he wil probably major in Political Science and end up being a world class chef:)

[maryrose]

JIB:
88th percentile is excellent for a fifth grader. He obviously is a good test taker. His varies interest will be helpful to him and his passion for music and aviation make him the sort of well-rounded student universities are looking for. His parochial education will help him tremendously with writing skills and his love of science is a plus. Be sure he takes honors classes when they are available. The self-discipline will teach him to continue his good study habits.I remember subbing for an AP Biology class. When I called for the homework papers every single one of them was on my desk in a trice.

[Clarice Feldman]

Marine science?--UCSB--room overlooking the Pacific Ocean and spending all day on boats with California girls in bikinis. Smart choice of major--but I think I'll start sending him uCSB brochures with pics of the boats, fellow students and dorm rooms.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

My br-i-l Manfred, a naturalized American citizen, read Clarice's Pieces and responded, "Clarice Feldman for president."

Clarice is eligible and qualifies beyond a doubt.

[Laura White]

My daughter took the ACT last Wednesday. One question asked if you had negative 12 and a negative 10 on a number line (number lines!!), what would the difference be? Answers included 11, -11, 0, 2, and (I believe) -2. Not a serious instrument.

[Clarice Feldman]

Thanks, frau. I do have a certified b.c. but I can't personally attest that it is accurate..the whole birthy thing is sort of a blur.

[Jim Eagle]

Clarice,

He lives down the road from Marineland where he has swam wkh the Dolphins 4 times, surfs the sea and takes care of 4 turtle nests on the beach. He even has a friend who wears a bikini when they go swimming:)

But UCSB does sound pretty exoctic but only if the Wolverine ends up there:)

[Clarice Feldman]

Heh--If you don't behave, I'll start sending him publicity shots from there..extremely cute girls in the marine biology dept BTW.

[Clarice Feldman]

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Z0-erjQ7Bs/Tgnixxf2hhI/AAAAAAAAOB4/XIVG4Lb-eyA/s1600/2.jpg

[Jim Eagle]

He just wamts to play with his friemds:

[Jim Eagle]

I can;t see the photo on safari. some one tel me they can see him with his Dolphin buddy.

[Jim Eagle]

One more time:

[Jim Eagle]

I give up. There is a dopjom there be;eive me.

[Jim Eagle]

..Dolphin....

[Centralcal on iPad]

JiB I can see it both times and I'm using Safari on iPad.

[Jim Eagle]

CChat ,

Did I ever tell you that you are one of my favorites? But you are. thanks.

[henry]

Same as cc JiB. I also appreciate Clarice's display of marine biologists.

[Threadkiller]

Speaking of blurred birthy things:

Sources Inside Kapiolani Hospital Dispute Claim 1961 Hospital Records Don't Exist

http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/04/sources-inside-kapiolani-hospital.html

[Jim Eagle]

Were the hell did DDhat come from:)

[Jane]

I just realized something and I have no idea if I am disturbed by it. I'm listening to coverage of Donald Sterling on CNN. I just don't give a shit. Obama has made me think that "racism" is nothing but a mechanism played by democrats to manipulate people.

Racism has always seemed really weird to me. With regard to sexism, I have always thought the person who feels that way is missing out on me. I guess I feel the same way about racism. It no longer seems like the burden it used to seem like. Anyone else feel that way?

[anonamom]

JiB, according to this, just play up that Belgium blood, and Dartmouth will be rolling out the red carpet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/upshot/getting-into-the-ivies.html?rref=opinion&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Opinion&pgtype=article

[pagar]

Finally, the truth comes out!

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-London/2014/04/26/Former-NASA-Scientist-Global-Warming-is-Nonsense

[James D.]

I know envy is a sin, but...

Ezra Klein and his juiceboxers are vapid, soulless twits who decrease the world's store of knowledge every time they open their mouths, and someone gave them $10 million to run their dishonest, crappy website.

Meanwhile, I'm beating my head against the wall to sell 1-2 books a day, at $0.35 income to me per book.

This makes me both depressed and, I have to admit, kind of angry.

But I know envy is a sin, so I shall try to stop thinking along those lines.

[anonamom]

sorry--I neglected to preview.
(I don't understand how that happens, or why the whole thing isn't linked, but you can copy and paste---)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/upshot/getting-into-the-ivies.html?rref=opinion&module=Ribbon&version
=context&region=Header&action=click&content
Collection=Opinion&pgtype=article

[henry]

Jane, I grew up in places that were segregated, and later in places where racism was a real problem. That world no longer exists, except for the odd NBA owner. Racism is no burden in the society I live in, it is not practiced there. Today the people who should racism are it's biggest believers. It will be their downfall, but I'm not sure how long that will take.

[henry]

Shout, not should.

[daddy]

Just caught a segment of Chris Wallace between another "wise Latina" and a white female litigant who brought the recent Anti-AA case to the Supremes.

I thought the white lady did a fine, non-passionate job of praising the decision, whereas the Latina lady said it is Jim Crow all over again. Guess I'm a racist.

Also caught the Howie Kurtz segment where he was interviewing some Media commentary type trying to explain why David Gregory is stinking up the ratings. Thought that was an interesting exercise in 2 guys trying desperately to say Gregory stinks without actually saying Gregory stinks.

[Jane]

Henry,

You made me feel better. Thanks

James, your time will come. I'm sure of it.

[daddy]

Anybody knows how much Tax Piketty pays?

[narciso]

I imagine a good portion of francs;

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2014/04/david-brock-says-he-doesnt-know-if-media-matters-worked-with-sharyl-attkisson-before-group-attacked/

[daddy]

"Clarice Feldman for president."

Seconded!

[James D.]

I'd vote for Clarice!

[narciso]

Ditto,

[James D.]

Actually, with the exception of our trolls, I'd vote for anyone on here...but I'd hate to do it, because I wouldn't wish the job on anyone.

[narciso]

True, instead they offer us the 'turtles all the way' down ticket, Solon, Lurch, Hillary,

[daddy]

Pager,

I love your link at 06:26. He sure tells it straight.

I hope this Anti AGW NASA Scientist is given the worlds biggest soapbox to shout from, and it's good to see Breitbart continuing to expand it's output.

[pagar]

"I'd vote for Clarice!" Me too!

Like James D. says "I'd vote for anyone on here , except the trolls." JOM has some of the most intelligent posters I see anywhere on the conservative sites I visit.

[daddy]

Here's good friend MayBee "Womansplainin'" to Althouse about her praise of Maureen Dowd>

MayBee said...
I remember when the lefties like Althouse and Dowd thought people deserved to be protected from government overreach, even if their views were unpopular.

4/27/14, 5:06 PM

I'm surprised MayBee hasn't been banned by Althouse.

[Skoot]

"...And race matters for reasons that really are only skin deep..."

Cliven Bundy?

Nope. Obama's legacy, the wise latina.

[Happy, happy, joy, joy Ignatz]

-- Racism is no burden in the society I live in, it is not practiced there.-

Racism is no longer measured by disparate treatment but by disparate achievement.
The only "actions" AA "affirms" are sloth and entitlement.

[anonamom]

great suggestion from a commenter on that ignorant post of Ann's:

The Godfather said...
So here's the deal: Next Sunday we have a round table "conversation on race in America", with Bundy, Sterling, Rev. Wright, and Sen. Reid, moderated by Al Sharpton. I'd listen to that even it was on MSNBC.

That would definitely get everything all straightened out.

[fdcol63]

We're seeing the fruits of affirmative action right now:

President Obama.

[narciso]

Re the French Krugman, I think Kyle Smith has the proper level of snark, directed at him,

[Jane]

Clarice,

When you become president I want a job. I might want to be in charge of firing IRS employees, or VA employees, or maybe involved in prosecutions or something that is a good spot for a person with a vendetta. Maybe trying this administration for treason might be the right spot.

[narciso]

I mean you can't take le Twit seriously;

http://nypost.com/2014/04/26/ridiculously-far-left-economist-is-candy-for-liberals/

[Captain Hate]

Clarice, if you need somebody to clean house at State, please keep me in mind. There will be so many exploding gasbags it will cause everybody's ears to pop.

[Danube on iPad]

Before I'd vote for anyone at JOM - or anywhere else - I'd need to do an allegiance check.

[narciso]

If you're lucky, you could earn headlines like this;

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0081FFC3B5F147B93C5AB178FD85F438585F9

[Jim Eagle]

Jane,

Huckabee is on Justina's case. On my way to bed. Busy day. Tired. Slaap leeker.

[pagar]

Daddy, did you read the Link inside the "Global Warming is Nonsense"

that was written by Judith Curry

" As glaring errors were uncovered (especially the Himalayan glaciers) and the IPCC failed to respond, I started to question whether it was possible to salvage the IPCC and whether it should be salvaged. "

My question is why would anyone want to salvage them? IMO, they have cost the world trillions.

http://judithcurry.com/2010/10/25/heresy-and-the-creation-of-monsters/

[daddy]

Narciso.

Thanks for that excellent link at 07:49. Many fun lines such as this:

Piketty’s book — call it “Capital II: The Wrath of Karl”

[narciso]

This fellow seemed to really tick off Thomas and Isaacson, in their tale of 'the best of all possible worlds' the Wise Men,

[Bela1]

Gosh. Good thing they fixed that awful bug. Missed many a birthday, Passover & Easter wishes to everyone. I'm a day late, and a dollar short, but I hope everyone enjoyed themselves.

Happy Spring!

JIB, I enjoy your photos of the little guy! He's growing up before our eyes!
What a great kid! You ought to be proud!

Great Pieces today Clarice!
I'd vote you in as POTUS any day of the week! You're heart is always in the right place & you certainly aren't afraid to speak your mind. Keep giving the lefties heartburn. I sure as hell try my best.

Have a great week everyone!

[James D.]

something that is a good spot for a person with a vendetta. Maybe trying this administration for treason might be the right spot.

Jane, I think you're going to have to get in line for that...

[sbw]

James D.: I'm beating my head against the wall to sell 1-2 books a day, at $0.35 income to me per book. This makes me both depressed and, I have to admit, kind of angry

Time to recalibrate. Giving birth to a book is a hell of an achievement. That is what you are responsible for. Since you cannot control the whims of others, be proud of what you accomplished.

The bonus of your books is that now you have something you can throw at someone any time you want.

[daddy]

I wanna' be Robespierre in Clarice's cabinet.

[Clarice Feldman]

I thank you all for the confidence you have reposed in me..Luckily there's no morals clause on the nomination forms..and I know I can count on TM to explain all the fusty accounting stuff to me. As for Capt and Jane, they are sure to be my chief head loppers.

God Bless America
Balloons. More balloons. Damn..BALLOONS!!

[daddy]

Pager,

Another excellent read. Seems the web is full of great reads today, following the lead of Clarice. Loved this from Judith Curry:

What happened? Did the skeptics and the oil companies and the libertarian think tanks win? No, you lost. All in the name of supporting policies that I don’t think many of you fully understand. What I want is for the climate science community to shift gears and get back to doing science, and return to an environment where debate over the science is the spice of academic life. And because of the high relevance of our field, we need to figure out how to provide the best possible scientific information and assessment of uncertainties. This means abandoning this religious adherence to consensus dogma.

Thats from 4 years ago, but unfortunately they didn't the IPCC fanclub didn't take her advice and have instead doubled down on the consensus GAIA Worship.

[narciso]

Well, daddy, they must raise consciousness about the Mutant Star Goat or Sky Dragon, although they risk death by unsanitized telephone,

[Stephanie spring sprung baseballs back umm ummm umm]

First executive order:

Every congressperson, bureaucrat, or judge has their assets confiscated above 1000% of the amount they had upon entering government (increasing in percentage for every year over 10 years of service)

[narciso]

So 'turn' that series about the Culpeper ring, is coming up, and I find it pretty good,
an episode or two back, they introduced Major Andre, a smooth scoundrel, who will be who Benedict Arnold will betray the plans to,

[Clarice Feldman]

daddy, you can be my Robespierre,the official historian and archivist and my advisor re NASA and the FAA. How's that?

[narciso]

They have some 'splaining' to do;

http://dailycaller.com/2014/04/27/naacp-took-grants-from-clippers-owner-donald-sterling-defended-him-in-the-press/

[daddy]

Count me in Clarice. And I'll work for free:)

[Stephanie spring sprung baseballs back umm ummm umm]

The weather channel coverage of the tornado outbreak is really good tonight. NSSL has some new software with some really interesting angles that actually show the debris ball and debris in the tornado reflecting up to about 20,000 feet.

Everyone in the path of this outbreak needs to stay on high alert. Was out with a friend Friday night who is a big muckety muck with GEMA and he said this looks to be bad all the way through the Carolinas on Wednesday.

[DrJ]

daddy,

I'd love to have someone work for me without that pesky compensation issue getting in the way. Interested? :)

[narciso]

Seems to me, they are opening up, with all cannons, but mostly shooting cotton balls,

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2614326/Ukip-surges-lead-European-election-contest-Poll-gives-Nigel-Farages-party-31-support.html

[Clarice Feldman]

narciso, of course will head the DNI or whatever the heck they call out make believe intel agency these days.

[Frau Edith Steingehirn]

Clarice, I think your cabinet is coming together nicely. Many are here on JOM.

At your inauguration will you--after oath of office--sing "Seeräuber-Jenny," or use a pre-recorded/giant TV screen version?
Let those who are not with you quake.

For a real.long.time.

[narciso]

Since Intelligence has not played a part, for quite some times, i'll go 'old school' and rename it the Office of Strategic Services.