There may be a light at the end of the tunnel with the Rolling Stone/'Jackie' story, but as more details emerge the darkness is gathering. Remember how Jackie's three friends were texting back and forth with her mysterious beau, a junior from chemistry class seemingly invented to incite Randall's jealousy?
Three friends of the alleged University of Virginia rape victim are growing more skeptical about her account, saying they have doubts about information she gave them and why she belatedly tried to get herself deleted from the Rolling Stone article that engulfed their campus in controversy.
The friends say among their concerns is the fact that the woman, named only as “Jackie” in the article, gave them a cellphone number so they could text a man she said she was seeing around the time she alleged she was gang-raped at a fraternity house.
Eventually, the friends ended up with three numbers for the man. All are registered to Internet services that enable people to text without cellphone numbers but also can be used to redirect calls to different numbers or engage in spoofing, according to multiple research databases checked by The Washington Times.
“That definitely raises some red flags,” Alex Stock, a University of Virginia junior and friend of Jackie, told The Times. “I think as more details come out I definitely feel a little more skeptical. This is all new territory for me. I’m not too technologically savvy.”
Uhh, he's not too savvy? He's a college kid! I am an Unfrozen Caveman blogger!
The friends say Jackie first gave them a cellphone number in fall 2012, shortly before they came to her aid when she reported she was gang-raped at a fraternity house. All four were freshmen at the time, striking up a friendship in their first weeks on campus.
Jackie told her friends that the number belonged to an upperclassman who courted her, and then lured her back to a college fraternity party where the gang-rape occurred.
The cellphone number, when matched through telephone databases, is an Internet phone number that came through on two of the friends’ phones with an Internet domain attached. Several database phone searches confirmed that Internet domain matches an Internet phone and SMS text service called Pinger.
Internet phone numbers enable the user to make calls or send SMS text messages to telephones from a computer or iPad while creating the appearance that they are coming from a real phone. They also let users create multiple, untraceable phone numbers for little or no cost while concealing their true identity.
The friends said they believed that Jackie may have had a crush on Mr. Duffin but that he was interested only in friendship, and that the mystery upperclassman entered the picture shortly afterward.
...
Mr. Duffin told The Times that Haven purportedly was texting from three numbers in total.
Mr. Duffin said Jackie gave him one cellphone number to text, but when he sent the first text, he received no response.
Instead, he received a response from a second phone number he did not recognize. The sender announced himself as Haven explaining that his phone was not working so he was texting from a friend’s phone.
Haven then said he would start texting from a third number that was his BlackBerry device, according to the friends.
Mr. Duffin said he eventually asked Haven for a photograph, which the upperclassman sent from the BlackBerry number. Last week, The Washington Post confirmed that the man depicted in that photograph never attended U.Va., but did go to high school with Jackie.
The Times called all three numbers supplied by the friends. The third ‘BlackBerry’ number was forwarded to a voice mail with a female voice asking the caller to leave a message, and the other two were “not in service.”
All three phone numbers were labeled as an “Internet Phone” on a database background check; two were labeled as “Pinger Internet Phone,” and the other from “Enflick Internet Phone,” services that allow users to send SMS text messages from a computer or iPad without having a phone number.
The BlackBerry number also came through on Mr. Duffin’s cellphone as a regular 10-digit phone number, but also ended with a suffix, @textfree.us, a domain address associated with Pinger.
On Pinger’s home page, the company writes, “Pinger gives you your own real phone number so you can call or SMS [text] any phone, even if they don’t have Pinger. Call or text from your phone, iPod, iPad or computer.” Another page says, “Free texting from the Web — get a free texting number, send free unlimited texts.”
Enflick Internet Phone’s home page says, “Our free app turns any WiFi enabled device into a phone.”
Pinger and Enflick did not respond to email messages seeking comment.
A while back I wrote that "Jackie is not a covert operator and the police will track the cell phone trails pretty quickly". I no longer stand by that speculation. But if the next plot twist is that the Rolling Stone outed a CIA operative, you read it here first!
DID I SAY 'WEIRDER'? Now the three amigos have provided a name for the FIB (Fake Internet Boyfriend): Haven Monahan, a name with no detectable internet footprint anywhere in this country outside of this story. But have people scoured Amazon for bodice-ripping heroes?
This UVa story is veering into Monti T'eo territory (anybody else remember that one from 53 weeks ago?). He had a fabricated girlfriend, did Jackie have a fabricated rape?
BTW TomM-- what type of espresso maker did you buy and what type of grind are you using? Jeez, no stop posts.
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 09:16 AM
Oh Yeah First AGAIN
Posted by: GMax | December 16, 2014 at 09:17 AM
Ahem....
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 09:19 AM
Serial Liar tells unbelievable tale to another serial liar with publishing rights in a left wing rag. Rest is just sordid details of lying, treachery and left wing activism. Apparently pinger is cheaper than a burner. Who knew?
Posted by: GMax | December 16, 2014 at 09:20 AM
Sly devil that TM - ending the post with the word "first".
Posted by: Jeff Dobbs | December 16, 2014 at 09:24 AM
@9:24-- and the Leftwing UVa Pres uses the lie to shutdown frats. She needs to be run out on a rail.
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 09:30 AM
She needs to be run out on a rail.
Yes, she does. But what she'll get instead - if anything - is a gentle nudge out the door and an incredibly generous retirement package that me and Janet and Rich will have the great honor of helping to pay for.
Posted by: James D. | December 16, 2014 at 09:40 AM
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
Jackie has a future in paid activism.
Posted by: henry | December 16, 2014 at 09:56 AM
NK,
BTW, if you or loved one are coffee lovers then I suggest the SAECO Vienna Plus for the larger cup of java. If you like those capsule fueled espresso makers we have a Nespresso that makes a mean single or double expresso plus a wide selection of flavors.
When this UVA story is proved completely false, a lie, a damnable lie, the MSM and their leftist cohorts will blame it all on the conservative blogosphere for the unrelenting expose of a poor girl's most ugly trauma instead of just allowing the narrative to live.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | December 16, 2014 at 09:59 AM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2875535/President-Trump-Apprentice-star-says-s-substantial-chance-ll-run-2016-slaps-GOP-White-House-hopeful-Ted-Cruz-born-Canada.html
Posted by: Threadkiller | December 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM
Yesterday New York magazine ran a story about a young lad who had made $72,000,000 by his senior year of HS investing.
the New York Observer notes today he made it all up.
If they did want to fact check would they know how?
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 10:02 AM
TM,
My son uses one of this services on his I-Pod. Some also allow calls to be made but require a credit card for this added service.
The interesting thing is that they all require a valid e-mail account. This might help to narrow down the owner.
Jackie*****@****.com ?
Posted by: Bori | December 16, 2014 at 10:03 AM
The NY Post ran with the story also it should be noted.
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 10:03 AM
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pakistan-school-attack-taliban-militants-kill-126-peshawar-take-hostages-n269011
How many lone wolves were involved?
Posted by: Threadkiller | December 16, 2014 at 10:06 AM
Maria Bartiromo is reporting that Jeb Bush is tweeting he is setting up exploratory to run for president.
Posted by: glasater | December 16, 2014 at 10:11 AM
In keeping with the pattern of far lefties obsessing, and taking unpopular positions, on fringe issues like streetcars and carriage horses, here we have the would-be 404 successor:
Elizabeth Warren Says Gay Men Should Be Able To Donate Blood
As if donating blood is some kind of civil right or entitlement, or as if one is harmed by not being allowed to donate.
Posted by: jimmyk | December 16, 2014 at 10:14 AM
When Jackie's lost TM, as she finally seems to have,,who's left? Sylvia? KaKa?
Most critics of this DoE mandated college inquisition of men because of the faked up "rape culture" neglect to consider that colleges are chock full of disturbed young people. Schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms often make themselves first apparent in about freshman or sophomore year--and like the Salem Witch Trials-- these procedures are IVs nourishing neurasthenics.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 10:14 AM
jimmyK-- Fauxchaontas is tapping the gay donors now and shoving HildaBeast off of her Hag perch. She's definitely running in '16. Buy popcorn.
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 10:17 AM
9/11 Terrorists In GITMO Get Copies Of CIA Interrogation Methods As A Heads Up For Trial Proceedings
http://weaselzippers.us/208231-911-terrorists-in-gitmo-get-copies-of-cia-interrogation-methods-as-a-heads-up-for-trial-proceedings/
Simply amazing
Posted by: Jane | December 16, 2014 at 10:17 AM
JiB, we have had a now older SAECO whole beans to fresh coffee maker for a number of years now. One feature I enjoy if you flip through the various screens is a running tally on how many cups it has brewed since day one. I like to multiply that figure by the current cost at Starbucks and speculate that the machine has paid for my kids' education.
Posted by: Old Lurker | December 16, 2014 at 10:20 AM
JiB-- I grind my own espresso and dark roasted coffee beans, and I have separate old fashioned Coffee brewer and espresso makers. A new Keurig/Coke bev machine is in my future though, when it is previewed next spring. My wife is on their marketing consulting team.
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 10:24 AM
Whatever happened to the multiple stories about Hollywood producers & directors abusing young boys? Where's the "Hollywood rape culture" meme?
Posted by: Janet - I wish my family had a poncho | December 16, 2014 at 10:29 AM
http://dailycaller.com/2014/12/14/here-are-eight-campus-rape-hoaxes-eerily-like-the-uva-rape-story/
Interestingly, most of these were perpetrated by activists.
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 10:32 AM
Various hair salons and such offer Keurig coffee..never found one I could stand. I love my nespresso and for regular coffee I love our Dutch made Technivorm,We've had it for years and it's very durable and makes great coffee.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 10:33 AM
Maria Bartiromo is reporting that Jeb Bush is tweeting he is setting up exploratory to run for president.
Hopefully the explorers are eaten by cannibals.
Schizophrenia and bipolar symptoms often make themselves first apparent in about freshman or sophomore year--and like the Salem Witch Trials-- these procedures are IVs nourishing neurasthenics.
This, but I think there are even less exotic reasons.
We're dealing with children in adult bodies. Most of them have been helicoptered and hyper-managed by parents for their entire lives and have no idea of what it is like to make decisions on their own (and face consequences), much less live separately from people who justify and validate Precious Snowflake's every thought, word, and deed as being JUST THE GREATEST THING EVAR.
I have long had a theory that the unifying force behind all bad social behavior is the need for attention. In this case, that attention comes in the form of victim affirmation by the self-styled societal elite, which is sought to take the place of the parental affirmation they can't live without. So they'll get it where they can, when they can, however they can. Including making shit up.
That's a lot of armchair psychology from me. Now I must get back to writing my soon to be bestselling pop-psych self help book, Boot-In-The-Ass Therapy: A Radical Approach to UnFcuking Yourself, You Navel-Gazing Prat.
Send a pajama boy to a seminar near you. Operators are standing by.
Posted by: Soylent Red | December 16, 2014 at 10:40 AM
"Hopefully the explorers are eaten by cannibals."
Heh!
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 10:44 AM
Don't they test donated blood?
Posted by: Jane | December 16, 2014 at 10:50 AM
Great site!
Posted by: Thedevilcorp.wordpress.com | December 16, 2014 at 10:51 AM
DOOM™®
Posted by: MarkO | December 16, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Also to Soylent's theory: As long as you have publications like Rolling Stone and New York Magazine so desperate to front a left-wing narrative there will no lack of participating fantasists to help them.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | December 16, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Good analysis Soylent. On FB we were comparing Asian and American child rearing and I can confirm my Japanese-Amereican d-i-l says there's all too much self esteeming going on,Her kid is never praised for natural talents, only for working hard.
I think the Dems would be well advised to stop using the word "culture", remember "culture of corruption" and now "rape culture"--2 major fails once put to the test of truth.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 10:54 AM
Uncle Fester, Carita, Lurch, now Pugsley has checked out too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/10/arts/television/ken-weatherwax-pugsley-on-the-addams-family-dies-at-59.html?ref=obituaries
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 10:54 AM
great idea, let's make the entire donated blood pool more dangerous than it already is to pick up a few votes to further a lying fraud's career. total win win
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Posted by: Soylent Red | December 16, 2014 at 10:40 AM
I told my daughter at 13 years old that she was making decisions for herself from now on. I believe it was the right thing to do, since she could make decisions and hopefully we could pick up the pieces of bad decisions earlier and easier. She will be 22 in a month and I worry not about her, even though I have not spoken to her since Thanksgiving. Helping her with issues today merely involves short walks and talks around my neighborhood and I am truly grateful she lives her own life.
As for "bad social behavior", I see those today as Character Defects which I have found to be rooted in Self-Centered Fear (FEAR - Fuck Everything And Run). I believe these behaviors are "taught/learned".
If debugging in the process of removing defects, then programming is what put them there.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | December 16, 2014 at 10:58 AM
I have long had a theory that the unifying force behind all bad social behavior is the need for attention.
"I" Trouble. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVsWOeJsilk
"I trouble, I trouble.
Everyone is looking out for number 1.
Me, myself, & I trouble...what's there to be done about this I trouble, I trouble..."
Posted by: Janet - I wish my family had a poncho | December 16, 2014 at 11:01 AM
'Maria Bartiromo is reporting that Jeb Bush is tweeting he is setting up exploratory to run for president."
I pray Romney gets in now, so they can cancel each other out.
Posted by: Jane | December 16, 2014 at 11:09 AM
Don't they test donated blood?
Yes, but the test is not 100% effective. Specifically it doesn't pick up recent HIV infections.
Posted by: jimmyk | December 16, 2014 at 11:11 AM
Her kid is never praised for natural talents, only for working hard.
By my observation, the Wolverine has many natural talents so they would have to over-esteem her in shifts if they stuck to that basis.
Also for you coffee snobs...
I need a replacement bean grinder. My old one has been martyred in the cause of my wakefulness. I'm a French press-er so I need something where I can adjust the grind. I'm soliciting suggestions. Non-religion-specific Mid-winter Holiday is coming up.
Posted by: Soylent Red | December 16, 2014 at 11:14 AM
soylent, by Bodem has been very reliable
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 11:16 AM
my
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 11:16 AM
BillyJeff goes out on a limb; Bill Clinton: Eric Garner ‘didn’t deserve to die’, bravely standing up to all those people saying he did.
Has anyone, outside of some lunatic neo-Nazi, claimed he deserved death?
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 11:17 AM
PD-have had a few arguments with hubby where I had to get back up from the older kids that it's not a matter of 'trusting' the younger child. She can be naive and could easily get herself in a bad situation absolutely accidentally.
Soylent-I had other parents who could not understand why I told my oldest (the boy) that there were plenty of smart people in the world and he needed to get over himself. He did. He remains wickedly smart but it is what he does by his efforts that matters to him.
Posted by: rse | December 16, 2014 at 11:17 AM
Jeb Bush has coincidentally been in the news just about every day for the past two weeks.
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 11:22 AM
I was only reporting for the JOM board to decide :-)
My first thought was "sheesh" Jeb's going to suck all the oxygen out of Scott Walker's run for president. But I think Gov Walker has some pretty aggressive guys working for him so all may NOT be lost.
Posted by: glasater | December 16, 2014 at 11:27 AM
Querida I meant to say, probably Grandmama is dead too . and if you are looking for a coffee grinder, why not ask Tom? He is obviously going through about a pound a week
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 11:27 AM
Stirewalt:
Cruz not to blame for gun control backer’s confirmation, but the Senate is a dangerous place - Did you hear? Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz’s weekend stunt to slow down a budget vote over President Obama’s temporary amnesty totally backfired. Not only did it fail, but because of the blunder, one of the president’s key political supporters, Vivek Murthy, an aggressive gun-control advocate, was able to win confirmation as surgeon general. Here’s what the LAT said: “Not only did Congress clear the $1.1-trillion spending bill without restrictions on immigration policy, but Democrats used the rare Saturday session to speed up the confirmation process for nearly two dozen nominations that would have otherwise languished.” And it was everywhere on Monday as the instant and absolute Washington conventional wisdom. Except that it’s not true. While the weekend session may have allowed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to jam through a few more low-level nominees, the calendar was not the issue in the Murthy nomination. But the aggressive Cruz shaming shows exactly how dangerous a place the Senate can be if you want to run for president – especially if you want to, you know, do things.
“Reid’s decision to move Murthy first suggests it was the most important nominee in his mind. Even in the absence of a Saturday session, we could have expected to see a final vote on Murthy on Wednesday. And for all the talk about retiring and defeated Senator Democrats wanting to flee town, they have a powerful incentive to stay. Reid delayed the process of passing the tax extenders package by nearly a week. As the clock runs on the extenders, which pretty much everyone wants, Reid will be busy processing nominees.” – Cruz spokeswoman Katherine Frazier in an email to Fox News First.
“Everyone knows Harry Reid planned to jam forward as many nominees as he could after the omnibus passed. He made this clear to members last week, and his spokesperson confirmed so publicly. Unfortunately, there are many on both sides of the aisle who want to distract from the more important debate over the President’s unilateral action to grant amnesty.” – Dan Holler, communications director for Heritage Action in an email to Fox News First.
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 11:31 AM
This is all of a piece, and it is pretty clear to me in hindsight that when "raising awareness" became an unquestionably virtuous pursuit all the rest was bound to follow.
Sociopath narcissists freely fly their look-at-me freak flags to garner that adoration they feed upon like vampires.
And the crowds adore because even the non-narcissists want to feel good about themselves at no cost other than declaring that they "care."
Posted by: FTL | December 16, 2014 at 11:35 AM
Jeb Bush has coincidentally been in the news just about every day for the past two weeks.
If you listen carefully, you can hear the gentle whisperings of Our Betters, telling us how we should think...
Hope you find that every bit as comforting as I do.
Posted by: Soylent Red | December 16, 2014 at 11:37 AM
rse - that is why I believe kids should make decisions early and often, with assistance from parents (while they will still listen to them). Many times, my daughter would come to me with a decision and rationale for making it - I played a game of "did you think about this-that". She would inevitably take it very well and go off to consider new information/angles.
I know she was looking for "atta-girls", but I did my best to refrain from those resorting to "how did it work out" instead. Eventually, she stopped asking for "acceptance" and realized my love was not subject to such conditions. She not only had my love, but my trust which I believe was very empowering to her.
Posted by: PDinDetroit | December 16, 2014 at 11:47 AM
Totally agree with Soylent's 10:40. Add to it: the beta males who major in women's studies exacerbate the problem because they want to nurture and protect (and sleep with) the poor victims. Thus the Jackies of the world can always find a boyfriend to whom they can peddle their tales.
I think the "raising awareness" excuse is usually an after-the-fact justification for the pathological lies. It is provided to the liars by activists as a defense/rationalization, but is not the prime motivation.
Posted by: Porchlight | December 16, 2014 at 11:50 AM
Bodum Bistro electric burr around $100
Posted by: peter | December 16, 2014 at 11:52 AM
Jeb Bush has coincidentally been in the news just about every day for the past two weeks.
That tells me that for the media he is the most vulnerable of all the GOP condidates and should be actively promoted as the "clear" choice.
Posted by: Jim Eagle | December 16, 2014 at 11:52 AM
As if donating blood is some kind of civil right or entitlement, or as if one is harmed by not being allowed to donate.
I've been wondering who would be the first pandering jackhole to float this. What a shocker that it was this lying bint.
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 16, 2014 at 11:57 AM
Hope you find that every bit as comforting as I do.
I'm pretty sure I do.
I thought the left was hoping to run against McCain in '08 and Romney in '12. Seems strange that they'd be afraid of more conservative Republicans, but that's they way it appears. This year, my bet is they're hoping to run against Jeb because they know that even Romney would kick Hillary's fat ass.
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 11:57 AM
While I find Jeb wholly inadequate to the task at hand and disagree with his immigration and common core positions and find his 'bypass the conservatives' primary idea troubling, his actual record of governance does seem considerably more consistently conservative than McCain's or Romney's and even W's.
Those are admittedly pretty low bars but I'm of the mind he would be less of a lesser evil than some others I have actually voted for.
Walker, Perry, Cruz or even the ping-pong ball Paul would be far preferable to me, but I couldn't see my self sitting 2016 out because of him, especially considering the likely masked (or not) Trotskyite the GOP candidate will be facing.
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Or what Jack said.
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Aaron Sorkin is appropriately blasted for his email sanctimony: http://hotair.com/archives/2014/12/16/sorkin-morally-treasonous-media-dishonorable-for-reporting-off-of-hacked-sony-documents/
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 11:58 AM
JiB,
Not only that but on the off chance that he does win, he is their most acceptable choice.
Posted by: Bori | December 16, 2014 at 11:59 AM
I guess I'm ok with everybody being in the fray for 2016 provided the RINOs accept defeat and actively support the winner the way we were forced to do with Romney, whose father notoriously declined to support Goldwater.
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 16, 2014 at 12:02 PM
Burr grinders are supposed to be the best, Soylent, but the one I had just didn't work very well.This inexpensive Krups is our favorite and it appears it is adjustable grind.http://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Electric-Coffee-Grinder-Stainless/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418749286&sr=8-3&keywords=amazon%2F+coffee+grinders
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 12:02 PM
At second glance--YOU adjust the grind by eye on the Krups.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 12:04 PM
NK--I must say I think Sorkin has a point. While all the titillating SONY gossip is fun, doesn't the coverage encourage mor invasion of privacy by hackers.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 12:05 PM
Clarice-- I have a Krups like that. It's OK, except it doesn't get fine enough grind for true espresso (although I've never run it for 15+ minutes to find out if that would get it done)
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 12:06 PM
Soylent's post is absolutely bang on, but should be the beginning of the analysis here, not the end.
The desire for affirmation/approval is a feature not a bug of the human condition, imnsho, so the question becomes how to re-order the thinking from this form to a better one. Iow, what can be said or done to encourage your average prog to feel affirmed by supporting reason rather than unreason?
Posted by: exdemocrat | December 16, 2014 at 12:07 PM
I'll add another vote for the Krupps grinder. It is simple, reliable, and works very well.
Posted by: DrJ | December 16, 2014 at 12:09 PM
Iggy,
We could do worse than Jeb. At least he's been a governor (my main requirement).
Posted by: Porchlight | December 16, 2014 at 12:10 PM
even Romney would kick Hillary's fat ass.
I'd hate to count on Romney beating anybody after that fold job in 2012.
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 16, 2014 at 12:12 PM
I don't know exdem--maybe airdropping them into Peshawar and giving them the choice of understanding the Taliban or defending themselves and asking them to report back the results of the test.
Maybe housing them in the ghetto or behind a convenience store counter and see if it's better to be armed or unarmed,on alert or walking carelessly with an ipod in hand.
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 12:13 PM
Iow, what can be said or done to encourage your average prog to feel affirmed by supporting reason rather than unreason?
The game is rigged. There is no way for reason, truth, reality, and their attendant rigors and unpleasantness to compete with the idea that simply thinking the "right" thoughts and mouthing the "right" platitudes is a short-circuit path to virtuousness.
But have a look at the headlines. Reality is swinging her cluebat with wild abandon. As bad as it is going to get, at least some idiots will finally have some sense knocked into them.
Posted by: FTL | December 16, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Since this is a Fractured Fairytale thread, I'd like to nominate the Putin Forced to the Wall idiocy for inclusion. The collateral damage thingy is going to call into question the wisdom of a "strategic move" involving application of the infallible Merde Touch.
Draghi might be able to sweep Raffeisen under a EUrorug but SocGen also has to deal with a French economy that even inclusion of the Hookers & Blow segment is unable to revive. SocGen will make for a very lumpy EUrorug.
Posted by: RickB | December 16, 2014 at 12:17 PM
Clarice-- What is 'legimate' news and scandal journalism is besides the Sorkin point. Sorkin's productions for decades have been about heroes uncovering inconvenient facts about the powerful, indeed his 'fictional' shows have mostly been about feeding the curiosity of viewers about what goes on 'behind the scenes'. Sorkin literally has the least credibility of anyone in the world to question publication of powerful Hollywood gossip. His 'fictionalized' accounts of such gossip has made him millions.
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 12:19 PM
--Iow, what can be said or done to encourage your average prog to feel affirmed by supporting reason rather than unreason?--
Medical science has not advanced this far yet and will not for many years.
Besides where would we get all the new brains?
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 12:19 PM
Soylent,
You definitely want a burr grinder for French press (and espresso). Blade grinders produce too much dust (though they are fine for drip grind).
I have the same Krups blade grinder that I purchased as a freshman in college in 1987. Still going strong. Tip from my college roommate (now a Microsoft millionaire, incidentally): if your blade grinder is the small kind like the one I have, pick it up and gently shake it as it grinds, which distributes the coffee for a more even result.
Posted by: Porchlight | December 16, 2014 at 12:19 PM
http://community-wealth.org/content/milwaukee-wisconsin
has the Democracy Collaborative focusing on acertain JOMers' closest major city.
Honestly my reaction to jeb wanting to run after reading about all the Chinese and Middle East investors in his venture funds and what appears to be deceit in ed was to quit shopping and come on home.
I wonder if others will feel like "everybody has enough now". It is hard to feel good about a future with another Bush ready to have government in action mode when that is already killing us.
Posted by: rse | December 16, 2014 at 12:22 PM
You recall, of course, that MoDo still pines over her days with Sorkin. He has a literal dog in this fight.
Posted by: MarkO | December 16, 2014 at 12:23 PM
I remember being at the big local R victory party in '94 when the House got taken back from the Ds. We were watching the results on a big screen TV and when Jeb lost in Floriday and W won in Texas I had a fellow precinct committeeman turn to me and say "the good Bush lost".
Posted by: glasater | December 16, 2014 at 12:27 PM
Reality is swinging her cluebat with wild abandon.
Reality hasn't even knocked off the doughnut and taken a full cut.
As much as I bag on hipster pajama boys, there is an entire generation of Millenials (and, to be fair, members of other age-groups too) across the socio-economic scale who live their life without critical thinking skills, or the drive to go beyond the "truth" their Gramscian teachers and professors impart on them.
When SHTF, in whatever form that eventually takes, these are people who are simply unequipped to handle adversity. They have been conditioned to be that way so that The State can handle the adversity for them. They will mope, and hashtag, and "make a difference" and all the rest, but when it comes down to it, Uncle Sugar will be looking after them, just as their parents have always done.
And Uncle Sugar will tell them it's OK, it's not their fault, it's the H8terz and wreckers and 1% capitalists that caused all this mess. And they will meekly accept that line of reasoning and obey. Disputing the accepted wisdom will put them outside the warm womb of dependence.
How would I fix this? Take a look at the things the left hates and you will have your clues: stable families, homeschooling, hard work and training in relevant skills, the practice of critical thinking and the ability to formulate and articulate rational ideas, developing an understanding and appreciation for beauty and order, inculcating adventurous spirits, free will and responsibility.
Posted by: Soylent Red | December 16, 2014 at 12:35 PM
rse, they are doing as well as you might expect. Lots of redevelopment orgs give crony access and corruption new life, but nothing gets built except the ritzy stuff on the lake. The Park Easy redevelopment is a bunch of vacant land as developers refuse to invest with all the preconditions.
Posted by: henry | December 16, 2014 at 12:35 PM
My biggest objection to Jeb is the two previous Bushes who won the office.
One blunted the Reagan Revolution which elected him and gave us the rapscallion BJ, while the other gave us the predecessor to Common Core in NCLB, gave us huge spending and a long war, both of which birthed Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid and told us ‘I’ve Abandoned Free Market Principles To Save The Free Market System’ to justify TARP and handed the keys over to the grotesque clown now in charge.
They should change the family name to Pyrrhus.
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Is there any fact checking done?
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=353769
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 16, 2014 at 12:40 PM
Soylent, Megan McArdle knows what she's talking about (put me onto the Thermomix)--she recommends a specific burr grinder here:http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-12-12/the-annual-holiday-giving-guide-kitchen-edition
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 12:41 PM
Couldn't quite get the point of your 12:17 comment Rick.
Barry deserves credit for the drop in oil and the collateral Euro damage is not worth the risk?
In any event this is an interesting read from back in August from Barry's former Russian ambassador, a guy who, surprisingly, actually seems to know what he's talking about and to have been qualified for the job.
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 12:45 PM
They should change the family name to Pyrrhus
Beautiful :-)
Posted by: glasater | December 16, 2014 at 12:49 PM
I think the cluebat has begun its worth on the millenials. Take Gallup latest finding among the most Democratic segment of that demographic slice:
Posted by: GMax | December 16, 2014 at 12:50 PM
I won't make any judgement on Putin until Narciso shows up.
Posted by: glasater | December 16, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Not Jeb.
But if Jeb is elected, may we please have a Congress strong enough to keep his flaws in check.
Posted by: sbw | December 16, 2014 at 12:51 PM
http://www.theminorityreportblog.com/2014/12/16/mcclintock-video-smart-growth-isnt-so-smart/
Posted by: Threadkiller | December 16, 2014 at 12:51 PM
Fight looms over $3 billion Obama administration payment to UN-linked climate fund
And guess who was at the Dec 11 mtg in Lima? (Right click for the full size grifters.)
Posted by: Extraneus | December 16, 2014 at 12:54 PM
--may we please have a Congress strong enough to keep his flaws in check--
If Sam Johnson hadn't said what he did about second marriages he would have had to say it about that forlorn hope, SB.
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 12:59 PM
Grifters Anonymous meeting...
Posted by: PDinDetroit | December 16, 2014 at 12:59 PM
Why stop at grinding and brewing your coffee and go all way short of growing your own: Get a roaster!
http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-NESCO-COFFEE-BEAN-ROASTER/dp/B00MGA61PA/ref=sr_1_19?ie=UTF8&qid=1418752952&sr=8-19&keywords=coffee+bean+roaster
Posted by: Jim Eagle | December 16, 2014 at 01:05 PM
NOT ONE DIME
pass it on.
Posted by: GMax | December 16, 2014 at 01:06 PM
#NotOneDime
Posted by: PDinDetroit | December 16, 2014 at 01:08 PM
When SHTF, in whatever form that eventually takes, these are people who are simply unequipped to handle adversity.
I agree, but another way to look at this is that the bar for SHTF is lowered for these people.
I would bet that a major chunk—maybe even a majority—of Romney's notorious 47% are hanging at the back of the pack only because the safety nets deny the devil his cut of the hindmost.
The silver lining to moral hazard is that this helplessness is effectively a choice for most of these Eloi, and that option is going away.
Posted by: FTL | December 16, 2014 at 01:09 PM
About the massacre in Peshawar--seems the outfit involved had as deputy chief someone Obama released from Gitmo:
Via Stephen England:
"In late November, the United States is confirmed to have released from our custody Latif Mehsud, the deputy chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, also known as the Pakistani Taliban.
"They are the organization behind this morning's massacre in Peshawar."
Posted by: clarice | December 16, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Grifters Anonymous meeting...
Hah!
Posted by: Janet - I wish my family had a poncho | December 16, 2014 at 01:12 PM
We could do worse than Jeb. At least he's been a governor
No doubt, but I have grave doubts that he would win. He will be another Romney, failing to inspire the base, yet failing to attract centrist either. Plus it just looks bad to trot out another Bush, like Rs can't find fresh faces.
Posted by: jimmyk | December 16, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Iggy,
Sorry for the lack of clarity. BOzo and the EUtopians are being applauded in the MFM for the "success" of sanctions, coupled with the KSA move in maintaining supply levels, in restraining Putin from nibbling on neighbors. The sanctions will prove as effective as those placed upon Iran with the added benefit of the corollary damage being inflicted upon the EUtopian financial system.
The tertiary effect is going to be a strengthening of bonds within the Eurasian Co-Prosperity Sphere as China assures itself of lower oil/gas prices, as will India.
A credible threat of the use of force might dissuade a thug like Putin but sanctions imposed by rotting fantasists are unlikely to curb his reaction to the theft committed by the IMF in Cyprus or the theft planned for the Ukraine.
Posted by: RickB | December 16, 2014 at 01:14 PM
I don't watch much football, but even I have noticed Brady emphatically cursing in a couple of games lately, something I don't recall seeing him do before.
Something new or just me not paying attention?
Posted by: Iggy | December 16, 2014 at 01:15 PM
Speaking of Hashtags, did Moochelle ever get her girls back?
Posted by: NKtesting | December 16, 2014 at 01:16 PM