Saturday Morning Open Thread

I bet there is new news to go with the Fake News and the old news.

Comments

[narciso]

intereating I had heard the originals for the last two, but not the first, well I bid adieu for the night.

[jim nj]

So I'm watching over-the-air TV and the movie ended, next up, The Legend of Black Charley. Check IMDB to see if it's any good, turns out the original title was The Legend of Ni**er Charley.

Decided to watch My Name is Nobody, instead. A quirky Sergio Leone spaghetti western. 7.5 stars, it's a classic.

History books. I've read tons of history books. I can't read them as fast as I can read fiction. Fiction, when well written, pulls you along. History tends to make you pause and consider what you've read. And if it's a military campaign, I have to keep referring to the campaign maps to keep it straight.

I think history books are harder to process than fiction books. Fiction pushes you forward to learn more, the more you read the clearer the story becomes. History books aren't like that. You can't move forward without properly understanding what you've just read. And I have the habit of reading a history and considering the what-ifs. I'm looking for the lessons to be learned.

I can, and have, re-read history books. I can't do that with fiction, unless it's so long ago that I read it that I've forgotten the plot.

[daddy]

Offa is also crediting with establishing the use of the penny as the standard monetary unit in England, with the same silver content as coins in circulation in Francia, helping assist both national and international trade.

[daddy]

Thanks for your 11:29 link on the disintegration of our age old reading skills, Miss Marple. Very much of that rings true to me.

I know in my case that it used to be when I got in a plane it was my wonderful looked forward to time to get to altitude, pull out a book, and read basically uninterrupted for 6 to 8 hours at a stretch, and pre-personal computer days I'd continue that passion for reading on layovers.

Once I got a laptop, that greatly reduced my constant reading of books on layovers, but I was still completely free to read books in flight.

Then about 6 months ago I learned how to download JOM threads and links to articles from Drudge, Instapundit, Lucianne, etc, so that now once I hit altitude I first pull out the iPad and read all that crap, then pull out a book once I've slugged through those dozens of articles and hundreds and hundreds of comments. I have noticed lately that on my standard length 3000 mile legs from Anchorage to Indy or Memphis, or Indy to England etc, I now spend almost the first 2,000 miles just reading all the internet stuff I've downloaded, and rarely do I get to whatever book I've been reading until only about a thousand miles left to go. That has to be taking a toll on my interest and concentration in traditional book reading. I'm glad to know tho' that it ain't just me suffering the effects of our new technology.

[clarice]

Good morning JOM!https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/02/the_mueller_dogs_bark_but_the_caravan_moves_on.html
daddy, Janet, Jimmy k. your names are in neon today

[gentlejim]

Dammit, Clarice, I just finished your article and was getting ready to post that. Well done once again. Thanks for your work.

[daddy]

Beautiful work, Clarice!

It is as if you are a Master Chef, who selected the finest ingredients from the news of the last week, sliced and diced, and boiled and pureed them all into a marvelous confabulation that you then ran thru a Thermomix and pulled out of the oven at a piping hot 385 degree's F, then sprinkled with seasonings from around the globe, and served, "Voila!" on a silver platter to the finest gourmet's of facts on the planet. Magnifique!

(All the links but the very last one work beautifully.)

What's for dessert:)

[daddy]

What's for dessert?

Never mind, Clarice, found it!---Cheesecake, from "the winsome Russian Spy Anna Chapman"

A female Russian spy posing as an American accountant, for instance, used a false identity to burrow her way into the employ of a major Democratic donor in hopes of gaining intelligence on Hillary Clinton’s department, records show. The spy was arrested and deported as she moved closer to getting inside State, agents said...

Thank goodness they caught her before she could get close to Hillary!

[clarice]

Thanks!I'll check the last link, daddy and see if someone is awake there to fix it.

[clarice]

Here's the last link:https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-17/cia-argues-public-cant-see-classified-information-it-has-already-leaked-favored

[daddy]

Over at National Review Kevin Williamson uses the F word 7 times in his first 7 sentences, at which point I say to Kevin and his column, F you.

[clarice]

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/16/peter-thiel-silicon-valley-move-la-conservatives-welcome

A glimmer of hope for California

[daddy]

Thanks, Clarice.

I remember reading that when you linked it a few days back in The Daily Caller.

Intelligence officials can selectively release classified information to trusted journalists while withholding the same information from other citizens who request it through open records laws, CIA lawyers argued Wednesday.

In a motion filed in New York federal court, the CIA claimed that limited disclosures to reporters do not waive national security exemptions to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

That was why I commented we were devolving from Banana Republic status to Banana Cream Pie Republic status.

[Captain Hate]

I think history books are harder to process than fiction books. Fiction pushes you forward to learn more, the more you read the clearer the story becomes. History books aren't like that. You can't move forward without properly understanding what you've just read. And I have the habit of reading a history and considering the what-ifs. I'm looking for the lessons to be learned.

I can, and have, re-read history books. I can't do that with fiction, unless it's so long ago that I read it that I've forgotten the plot.

I couldn't disagree more with almost all of this. Maybe you're reading too much poorly narrated history, of which there's a lot. Rereading fiction is almost always rewarding unless you're reading trash. Nabokov used to lecture his students at Cornell that you don't really read a work of fiction until you reread it.

[hoyden]

I don't feel bad about not reading books so much. I'm not a fast reader and there is only so much time in a day for reading (4-6 hours) and between JOM, PL, Insty, their ancillary links, and various hobby sites, my plate if full.

When I do read a book I will often pick up one I've read before that still speaks to me, such as Charles A Lindbergh's "The Spirit of St. Louis".

[Beasts of England]

A menagerie of happiness this morning: Clarice's Pieces; daddy's photo selections; JimNorCal listening to Widespread Panic; and sunshine for the first time in a week...

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Good morning!

Clarice, excellent Pieces!

Down in the comments there is a guy ErikKC2 who seems to be advocating illegal activity, including armed revolt. You might want to alert the site manager.

[Captain Hate]

Regarding the yammering about reading and the Internet, you realize that being on the Internet, where you're providing written feedback, is a much different experience than reading, no?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Captain Hate,

Yes, I realize that. And the lure of being able to provide feedback is part of what makes us on screens more than reading books.

Attention span is also part of the problem.

My first clue about this was when I attempted to read a classic book that I had enjoyed when in high school, Quo Vadis. Yes, I read it in high school, and even did a book report on it.

My eyes glazed over at the solid pages of text. I couldn't seem to process long paragraphs and I thought I was losing my mind. I gave up and chalked it up to age.

Now that I know this is a real problem, I am embarking on a retraining of my brain by reading a series of mystery books that I borrowed from a friend. I intend to start out reading in short segments and work my way up to an hour or two.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

He's loaded for bear this morning!

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
49m49 minutes ago

Never gotten over the fact that Obama was able to send $1.7 Billion Dollars in CASH to Iran and nobody in Congress, the FBI or Justice called for an investigation!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
30m30 minutes ago

Finally, Liddle’ Adam Schiff, the leakin’ monster of no control, is now blaming the Obama Administration for Russian meddling in the 2016 Election. He is finally right about something. Obama was President, knew of the threat, and did nothing. Thank you Adam!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
20m20 minutes ago

I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said “it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer.” The Russian “hoax” was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia - it never did!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
11m11 minutes ago

Now that Adam Schiff is starting to blame President Obama for Russian meddling in the election, he is probably doing so as yet another excuse that the Democrats, lead by their fearless leader, Crooked Hillary Clinton, lost the 2016 election. But wasn’t I a great candidate?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

This was retweeted by President Trump:

Mike Pence
‏Verified account @mike_pence
9h9 hours ago

Big night. Largest-ever Dallas County GOP Reagan Day Dinner. As I told the crowd, under President @realDonaldTrump: Promises Made, Promises Kept! America is back and we’re just getting started!

[Captain Hate]

Memeorandum has the usual pisspot of worthless trash, including some Bush supporting codger vowing never to write another check to the GOP unless they act to ban assault weapons. Good riddance, old man; fossils like you have been propping up the Bushes, Romneys, McCains, Collinses and the rest of the RINO trash for too fucking long. It's been a new day starting on 11/8/2016 and you and your ilk became yesterday's news forever.

[Captain Hate]

Greatest troll ever.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43103192

Plane crashes in mountainous area of Iran. 66 feared dead.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

He's not done!

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
2m2 minutes ago

If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!
======================================

1. Whoever thought we would have a guy in the Oval Office who said "laughing their asses off?" And typed out for all to read in public!

2. I am sure the Eric Erickson types are clutching their pearls.

3. This is why I have trouble reading books - the real-life plot and characters are far more interesting, and I am afraid I will MISS something! LOL!

[Jane]

Ed, Henry,

I'm a hermit too. People don't get it, but I love it.

[Ralph L]

a green line rift of some sort at the Welsh Boundary
This is why the English call it the Welsh Marches. England is marching one way, Wales another, ergo fault.

[James D.]

Wonderful Pieces (as usual), Clarice!

[sbw]

Decided to watch My Name is Nobody, instead. A quirky Sergio Leone spaghetti western. 7.5 stars, it's a classic.

jim_nj, a great and under-appreciated movie.

Paraphrasing, Nabokov, you haven’t seen it until you have seen it twice. A parody where every word and scene has something in it, and yet throwaway trash. (The gravestone with Sam Peckinpah’s name on it.) Dali doodling on a napkin.

[sbw]

I’ve certainly seen it 50 times and probably more.

[Captain Hate]

Has Mueller discovered the Russian interference that kept Curb Dive from visiting Wisconsin? Maybe some really strong vodka?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.lifezette.com/polizette/heres-guy-might-know-fbi-clinton-email-probe-sabotaged/

Please read this. It's the first I have heard of a mysterious guy with information showing up at FBI headquarters.

[James D.]

Insty linked a really appalling OpEd co-written by an Alabama district attorney and sheriff, defending civil asset forfeiture, a couple of days ago,and i meant to mention it here but forgot.

Here it is:

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/02/dont_gut_civil_asset_forfeitur.html

The best quote (although it's all horrible) is this:

Meanwhile, sending the proceeds of forfeiture to the state's General Fund would result in fewer busts of drug and stolen property rings. What incentive would local police and sheriffs have to invest manpower, resources and time in these operations if they don't receive proceeds to cover their costs?

What incentive would they have? How about that busting drug and stolen property rings is already their job? If they're saying that Alabama police and sheriffs will only do the jobs they've sworn to do (and are paid to do) when there's additional profit in it for them, well, that's an argument for replacing the whole lot of them, isn't it?

[Captain Hate]

I don't know how many times I've watched Lonesome Dove but it was at least double digits just on the old VCR.

[sbw]

Clarice’s Pieces -- Must read. Proper context for reading Russia/Trump news.

If this doesn’t set your resolve to drain the swamp, nothing will.

#Persist!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Hmmmm...I've watched My Name is Nobody two or three times and each time to revel in what I consider to be one of the all time truly monumental awful movies; stupefyingly so.

[anonamom]

FWIW--lengthy post on association between aspartame and Parkinson's disease, for all you doubters from the other day.

(I have no basis whatsoever to judge reliability of this post.
Came from my Twitter feed, which may be full of #FakeNews, from how it differs so drastically from what NYT and CNN want to tell me. ;-)

But "don't ingest any #FakeFood" is a good starting place, no?)

http://realfarmacy.com/michael-j-fox-will-never-find-cure/

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

OK, President Trump has responded to a guy I follow on Twitter. The best way to see this is to go to the Tweet and see what he said and what the President said.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/965221024496279552

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
57s57 seconds ago

Great Pollster John McLaughlin now has the GOP up in the Generic Congressional Ballot. Big gain over last 4 weeks. I guess people are loving the big Tax Cuts given them by the Republicans, the Cuts the Dems want to take away. We need more Republicans!

[clarice]

Those are the best DJT tweets.

[simply stupid]

Had Missed daddy's comment that Clarice included in her pieces about the comedy gold of the Russians sending the low man on the totem pole to the U. S. for trial but that is the stupidity in this indictment if anyone were actually prosecuted the DOJ would have to reveal their sources and methods and actually to the Russians something that they are unwilling to share with the public in the Nunes and Schiff memos. At the end of day there were no sources and methods that is why the Tsanrnovs, Orlando shooter , San Bernadino Alaskan shooter in Ft.Lauderdale and the latest Florida shooter flew under the radar.It is do not expose how corrupt and bbumbling idiots we are to the public.

That is why Rosenstein even said in his presser that the indictment is no guarantee of conviction, the government would fold like a cheap suit if it ever got to trial as to avoid revealing anything of substance. Meanwhile keep the oil flowing and support our allies in Middle east drop the Iran nuclear deal and lets see what happens.

[Davod]

Those Alabama police are represented by the Alabama (not police but) Bounty Hunters] Association.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

clarice,

Aren't they, though?

I think that he's down in Florida and since he won't play golf out of respect for the victims of the Parkland shooting, he's busy on Twitter!

I am enjoying the heck out of it!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

James O'Brien‏Verified account @mrjamesob

My youngest has had my old phone for a couple of years. Just for games, which I download for her before disconnecting the internet. Still has my old contacts though & it turns out she’s been messaging my dad, who died 5 years ago. I may have something in my eye.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWQackrWsAARb3U.jpg

[Extraneus]

While explaining the silliness of the indictments, Mirengoff makes a good point:

Russia/the Soviet Union has long tried to influence our politics, as have other adversaries. The U.S. too has often tried to influence the politics of other nations. (If we aren’t employing underhanded methods to influence political outcomes in adversary nations, shame on us). Indeed, it’s possible to infer from the indictment that Russia’s interference campaign, which began in 2014, was retaliation for our interference in Ukrainian politics that year.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/02/a-silly-indictment.php

[Davod]

Alabama Police - New economic model - work on commission only.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

unseen1
‏ @unseen1_unseen
4m4 minutes ago

The resistance is so stupid they made the Black Panther into a Trump like character and the evil dude into a BLM like character and they don't even know it.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Yes, I know we haven't decided if this guy is trustworthy or not, but I couldn't resist posting this story:

https://truepundit.com/cnns-jake-tapper-moves-up-town-into-plush-4-million-suburban-d-c-mansion-hides-ownership-through-lawyer/

Lots of pictures of the fancy digs courtesy of Zillow! LOL!

[JimNorCal]

MissM reports Trump tweet: "But wasn’t I a great candidate?"
(big grin) Indeed you was, God-Emperor, indeed you was.

[Davod]

Has Jake claimed the Homesteaders rebate?

[clarice]

Tapper's home is not in a suburb it's in a part of DC where I live, but, yes, where did he get the money to buy it ad why buy it thru a lawyer?

[sbw]

Ig: one of the all time truly monumental awful movies; stupefyingly so.

Absolutely! Isn’t that wonderful?

[Davod]

Maybe Tapper's home is owned by his trust. Is that possible?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

daddy,

This is a guy you might enjoy following on Twitter. Today he's providing tranlations of Sumerian and Babylonian letters.

https://twitter.com/PaulMMCooper/status/955458643192934400

[clarice]

Could be , Davod, but it doesn't appear that he or his wife come from wealthy families. Perhaps it's owned by CNN as a corporate perk..who knows? The house across the street from me is rented often by media companies in order to house their people.

[clarice]

NEW THREAD.

[Another Bob]

Where did Tapper get the money for a $4M house? Easy - he's been paid that much by CNN.

Buying through trusts is pretty common for reasons of taxes and privacy.

[Another Bob]

Read the link. Tapper has to be making more than $300k.

[hrtshpdbox]

I've watched My Name is Nobody two or three times and each time to revel in what I consider to be one of the all time truly monumental awful movies; stupefyingly so.

83% of audience reviewers liked it on Rotten Tomatoes. BTW, Sergio Leone produced, didn't direct.

[Ed]

"...I think history books are harder to process than fiction books. Fiction pushes you forward to learn more, the more you read the clearer the story becomes. History books aren't like that..."

For entertainment just read collections of today's breaking news. Then let your imagination soar. I've been doing this since the Clintoon nineties. "No one would write fiction like this!!!" echoes in my memories. Except it wasn't fiction, or dark humor. It was the true facts beneath the news.

[Ed]

It's always nice to greet a sunny day with some Clarice's Pieces seasoned with Daddy's spicy pictures.

Another archive worthy column, Clarice.

Random thoughts over first cup of coffee (always black): It's Sunday already? Where'd the week go? I must be having fun.

Good mornin', y'all. Now must rekindle the fire...Jack took himself for another walk, and left the damned door open again.

[Janeprobably about 10 minutes after getting there]

Great Us v Canada curling game on.

Great lunch with Clarice!