Kind Of A Big Deal - One

Bahrain normalizes ties with Israel. The Bahraini leadership is backed by the Saudis so this is a useful weathervane but... the Saudis are unlikely to take the plunge themselves any time soon:

Its importance is mostly because it’s an indication that the new leadership in Saudi Arabia supports normalization,” Ms. Fontenrose said. “Bahrain doesn’t make a foreign policy move without Saudi Arabia’s express permission.”

Toby Matthiesen, a research fellow at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, said that the Saudis “could be testing the waters” for their own normalization with Israel. But, he noted, Saudi Arabia participated in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and has a long history of support to the Palestinian cause, and its autocratic leaders are sensitive to public opinion on such issues.

After Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful Saudi crown prince, appeared to make an overture toward Israel in 2018 by saying in an interview that Israelis “have the right” to a homeland, his father, King Salman, quickly countered with a rare public rebuke.

Israeli experts hold little hope of normalization with Saudi Arabia as long as King Salman retains power, saying that the country’s custody of Islamic holy sites complicates its ability to strike a deal with Israel if the Palestinians see it as a betrayal.

“I hope I’m wrong, but I cannot imagine them signing a normalization of relations with us,” General Gilead said.

Baby steps are fine. FWIW, King Salman is 84, so tick-tock.

 

 

Comments

[peter]

ON the other hand, henry @ 1:40, not charging tax meant that every internet seller gave a nearly 9% discount to residents of the blue hell states--that couldn't have helped the small local businesses.

[peter]

Henry @ 1:06 I think there is only one gas station in all of Long Island that sells zero ethanol gas--

[lyle]

Since I was the only one offended by that ignorant Hindu cartoon about a month ago, I guess not.

Sorry, no idea what you’re referring to but was that what prompted your hiatus?

[rse]

More--

This guide is intended for foundations, nonprofit organizations, human resource professionals and any individual or organization looking to advance racial equity. In the sections that follow, we offer insight into our own racial equity journey as a resource for yours. We want to give you a better sense of the role of board leadership; how we approached reviews of internal policies and practices; and how and where we leverage our networks, research and voice. Whether you are exploring this related to your service – on a board of directors, as a member of senior leadership, as a human resources professional – or as an individual seeking to help your organization advance toward racial equity, this guide is for you.

Aug. 1, 2020

https://www.wkkf.org/resource-directory/resources/2020/08/one-journey--racial-equity--diversity---inclusion-at-the-w-k--kellogg-foundation

Would make me want to give up cereal except I already had.

[peter]

According to this web-site, there are zero ethanol free gas pumps in New York State.

https://www.pure-gas.org/

[lyle]

Non-ethanol gas is everywhere here.

[peter]

FWIW, CH, I've come a long way in my sensitivity to Dago and Wop jokes.

[GUS]

All whites are racist. Real benign, nice racial joke??

[Captain Hate]

if I was going to pick one guy here who understood the value of offensive jokes I figured it would be you.

It really hit me the wrong way by using Biden level stereotypes and counting on there being no stigma for ridiculing Hindus, unlike more deferred to ethnic groups. I don't like cheap shots particularly from "smart conservative blogs" that are otherwised ignored by me. Maybe I'm overly sensitive but it bothered me then and still does.

[henry]

Peter, I see it as the blue hell residents voting themselves non competitive tax rates. The fair answer would be to tax at the warehouse door / storefront— “the world builds a path to your door”. Let me comply with taxes where I am (Continuing nexus rules if in state), and let taxes be a weapon in facility location. TheN nothing would be tax free, but an excess tax rate in a blue hell would be punished. You (collectively) voted for that, don’t make me pay for it.

[jimmyk]

But COVID really has impacted supplies.

Not to get nitpicky, but as I and others have stressed, it's the idiotic governors and mayors, along with people like Fauci doing their utmost to panic everyone, that has had the impact, not COVID itself. Not picking on you cc, just hoping that if enough people start saying this, it will start to catch on.

I've had no problems with Amazon, incidentally. Maybe it's easier being in the big city.

[Narciso]

Yep

https://mobile.twitter.com/AlexBerenson/status/1304779544885370881

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Choice at the pump would allow zero ethanol gas

The local Racetrac here carries zero ethanol. It's all I use for lawn equipment.

I've been told NOT to use it in my car as the car is calibrated for ethanol. Hell if I know if that is accurate or not but not taking any chances.

[henry]

Peter, in addition many states required consumers to file and pay “use tax” on purchases from out of state. That should have covered the 9% discount plus an added paperwork burden, favoring local business. Except no one, including the local business people, voluntarily paid the use taxes.

[Captain Hate]

FWIW, CH, I've come a long way in my sensitivity to Dago and Wop jokes.

Extraneous taking me to task made me dial back my comments on your swarthy ethnicity.

[lyle]

I’ve had no problems with Amazon. But I STILL haven’t received my t-shirt from that gun range that Porch turned us on to back in, what, June?

[MissMarple2]

Sure enough, I hear kittens in there but cannot find them.

Then son and DIL stopped by to drop off the cat carrier they used to transport kitten #3 to their home last weekend, and I did get him to fix the weedeater. (Youngest grandson is at a play date with a friend.)

Then I went to get a bottle of wine and had to wait because there was a sub at the register and she was slow, because the owner, who is usually there on weekends, was at a "gender reveal" party for some relative.

Is this now a THING? Am I going to get invites to GENDER REVEAL parties? No. I refuse! I think it's creepy and why can't I just get a card saying "It's a boy!" and that is the end of it?

[BeastsEngland]

If any of our dog lovers would like to vote for my grand pup Malley in the Garden & Gun ‘Good Dog’ contest, the link to her photo is below. Just takes a second. Please don’t make me rely on late mail-in ballots for a victory... ;)

http://wshe.es/OPv03d99

[Captain Hate]

My main gripe with Amazon is their van drivers parking on the wrong side of streets.

[Captain Hate]

Just voted for Malley.

[MissMarple2]

I voted as soon as I saw your post, Beasts!

Malley currently has 19 votes. I don't know if that's good or bad.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

22 votes and it looks like you can vote again in 30 minutes!

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Oops once every 24 hours. Derp.

[lyle]

The wife still drops a fiver on the Weekend WSJ for some reason and I still can’t believe how obnoxiously lame it has become. The front page of the Review section:

The New Geopolitics Of Energy

Subhed:

Power is shifting from longtime oil giants like Russia and Saudi Arabia to innovators like China—and maybe the U.S.

“Innovators.”

Oh, and there’s this teaser for the inside pages:

Music Man

At 250, Beethoven is the perfect composer for an era caught between traditional and revolution

FTS

[lyle]

Now 26 votes with mine. Go Malley!

[hrtshpdbox]

vote for my grand pup Malley

Done.

[caro]

29 votes! Malley looks just like the only dog we had when I was a kid. “Fritz”, of course.

[Momto2]

I voted for Malley - such a beautiful dog!

[Captain Hate]

The wife still drops a fiver on the Weekend WSJ for some reason and I still can’t believe how obnoxiously lame it has become. The front page of the Review section

One thing Rupert improved greatly imo was the entertainment and culture portions of the paper. Unfortunately the primary reasons for my long term subscription declined badly so... But I used to do likewise before deciding why bother.

[Jack Lillywhite]

Interesting how the Notre Dame professor designed the seating system at ND stadium.

[Captain Hate]

More masks falling

https://legalinsurrection.com/2020/09/uw-madison-doctoral-student-reveals-her-own-racial-fraud/#more-328464

[henry]

Oh noes!!!eleventy!! The US isn’t #1 on social progress anymore!

This calls for Champaign fermented in SJW tears.

https://twitter.com/marketwatch/status/1304851311729537024?s=21

[caro]

I love hardware stores. When we moved part time to St. George I found Hurst Hardware. (Now an Ace). I think I spent at least 2 hours roaming the aisles so I would know what I could buy there. Along with the huge hardware inventory, amazing nuts and bolts drawers where you can just buy one of each, they have a super fabric department. And the weirdest women’s clothing you can imagine.

I bought a 90 degree vice for a project I am working on. Later saw it at HD for $10 less but I do support local. They recommend masks for customers but do not require them. Yay.

cc has a great fastening selection, too. 😏

[BeastsEngland]

Thanks so much y’all!! She’s a sweetie and loves me a bunch, so I got that going for me...

[Captain Hate]

Has Marketwatch always been such douche tools?

[henry]

CH, yes. As far as I can tell, but they have been upgrading to douchier tool status daily.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

From CTH:

FORMER BIDEN CAMPAIGN STAFFER: Joe Biden is in the early stages of dementia and is on medication for it.
"This is the big one, and the one I have the least direct experience with, but it’s been an open secret for some time. Anyone who has had a relative with Alzheimer’s or dementia can tell you, there are good days and bad days. On the good days, when Joe is at his most lucid, his campaign manager Jen will send him out for photo ops or TV interviews… make hay while the sun is shining, you know? On the bad days, Jen just tells the press pool “No Joe today,” and they’re all like, “Okay, cool!” Most of the time, he’s just a little foggy and gets really agitated. But one of my co-workers told me that back in May, there was a day where he thought he was running against Gary Hart in the ’84 primary again. Joe went under wraps for several days after that.
He’s been more lucid recently because his physician, Dr. O’Connor, put him on Namenda. Jen apparently was worried about someone finding it out, because she insisted that he prescribe it under a series of phony names, and then have the interns pick it up. I bet there are a lot of pharmacists in Philly wondering why there are so many young people on Namenda.
The dementia medication has had, um… unfortunate side effects.
There’s no dancing around this… the medication has made Joe incontinent. Though his “good days” have increased dramatically, he can barely get through a press event without running to the bathroom. That’s why he didn’t take questions after announcing Harris as his running mate. They weren’t afraid of the questions, the press loves him… they were afraid he was going to piss his pants on-camera. Lately, Jen’s been having closed-door meetings to discuss which brand of incontinence pads would be best to purchase. Seriously, a group of paid staffers sat around and discussed which brands were the least visible, the least likely to leak, and wouldn’t audibly “crinkle.”
That’s around the time I left the campaign. I can’t be a party to this sick game anymore. I never really liked Joe Biden, but he deserves better than to be thrust into the public eye when he should be in memory care. His wife should put a stop to this, but she’s way too excited about being “First Lady” to care about her ailing husband."

[CCGirl]

Jimmy - yes not COVID, I agree. We talk about it all the time about it in the store. There is still a giant fear factor going on out there. People see what they want to see. They don’t listen to reason. I think part of it is due to COVID, and most of it due to govt and “experts,” and the media. The COVID part was early on. Also the China issue. I think even if all shut downs are lifted there will be a long delay in straightening out the supply lines. People will be hoarding for some time, and so will govt.

Small business can’t compete with Amazon at all. The reason the local store owner charges twice what Amazon does is because the suppliers’ cost is in many cases more than Amazon’s retail price. Then there is the cost of a brick and mortar store. It’s fine if one wants to buy through A, but don’t complain when your local store closes. Also all the employees at the local store generally buy local. The owner donates local. Yes, it’s all capitalism, but it’s also quality of life stuff. What do you want your town to look like? All box stores full of low info employees, or a town where you can get some good advice on the product or problem? I think a mix of both works. I buy from Walmart and Amazon when needed, but I choose to support two local pet stores. I want them to stay here, so I skip Chewy and Petco, etc. I pay more, but I like the people.

Who will fill all these commercial buildings if Amazon and our state govs kill local businesses?

Buy where you want, and what you want. Just don’t be surprised when your community looks different down the road.

Now I am feeling cranky. Grrr.

[GUS]

Is Notre Dame still in bizniss? They suck.

[hrtshpdbox]

..there was a day where he thought he was running against Gary Hart in the ’84 primary again.

They knew something was terribly wrong when Joe started making jokes about No Excuses jeans.

[Buckeye]

Malley got my vote!

[Old Lurker]

Help from old movie fans...

There was a movie - I want to say Jack Lemmon's "How to murder your wife" that featured a cement mixing machine next door that constantly made a "Glomedy Glom" sound that figured into the murder plot.

My neighbor has been building a big ass house for two years, and I have been hearing that cement mixer sound all summer. I want to confirm the movie so send it to him and tell him how that sound was part of a murder plot. Hint. Hint.

Do I have the right movie?

[MissMarple2]

Stephanie,

That explains President Trump asking for a drug test for both of them at the end of August:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-calls-for-drug-tests-before-biden-debate

[Buckeye]

Yep, the Duke vs. ND game is a yawner.

[GUS]

ccgirl, I love your posts, the longer the better.
I was in FLEET FARM this a.m.. There is a shortage of TP still. We make TP here in Wisconsin.
Covid is NOT going away. You will see people in your store wearing masks, until the day you die. The FEAR is what the LEFT WANTS.

[CCGirl]

Thanks, Caro! I have customers who say it’s still the same now as it was when they were kids coming in with their parents. We really have not changed.

A seasonal customer bought two sweatshirts with our unique logo on the back. He said he gave them to daughter and boyfriend who live in Austin. So Porch if you see a sweatshirt sporting a Mass hardware store - that’s me!

I fixed the dishwasher rack. Looks the springs went so the door drops low, and the loaded lower tray now slides out. Sigh. Now the fridge keeps sliding out when we try to open a door. I know how to fix that. Hubs went shopping. He finally found this particular brand of wash that helps my excema, and I of course dropped it and broke the bottle.

I shall brave my weird blue town and walk to the local pet store.

[GUS]

CCGIRL, Can you share the brand of your excema wash?

[Narciso]

Done beasts.

[anonamom]

Nantucket used to blame high prices on "we are an island" and that worked for years until somebody noticed that all that crap still arrives in a big tractor trailer and the only "extra cost" is the time and cost on the Ferry.

They need to tell you the truth--"All the money we need for the year is made in three months' time you are here."

[Melinda]

OL-

Try the trailer:: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi463996185?playlistId=tt0058212&ref_=tt_pr_ov_vi

[asw]

37 I voted ;)

CH I wondered if that annoyed you. Ethnic humor is really is taboo these days. I'm sorry about that. But when you think about it was testament to how far Indians have come in this country that they dominate several whole fields of commerce.

When my family came it was NO Irish Need Apply.

[anonamom]

Anyway I have the utmost respect for what he's done with his life.

Boy, I sure don't. Impressed with his business achievements--but not him.
I do hold great respect for men who are faithful to their children's mother.

I'm very dogmatic about that--I don't expect every marriage to last forever, but get your fanny out from under the family roof before you start bed hopping.

Change my mind.

[Melinda]

SWC-

On speculation as to why the young lady from Durham's team resigned:

https://www.redstate.com/shipwreckedcrew/2020/09/12/speculation-on-why-durhams-chief-deputy-resigned-today-requires-inside-knowledge/

Pretty interesting.

[Captain Hate]

asw, I don't mind ethnic humor per se and there are plenty of things to rag on Indians about such as never being prompt about being anywhere. The concept of being on time in Delhi is very fluid.

Whatever. It's over with. I vented and it's a done deal for me.

Next!

[Narciso]

Line

https://mobile.twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/1304836690675027968

[Narciso]

I wasnt too keen on some of thr jibes when rubio and cruz were running. But thats water under the bridge.

[Melinda]

"AnteFa is a myth!"::

Lara Logan
@laralogan
As a journalist, my next question would be: “what else is planned?” Besides the 50-day siege of the White House and the call to action month in January that is all over anarchist sites. Is the intent to remove Trump from office regardless of the election result?

Andy Ngô @MrAndyNgo
Ngo exclusive: Jett Thomas, 36, has been arrested in Portland & charged w/1st-degree felony arson, felony unlawful use of a weapon, 2 counts of felony criminal mischief & more. Law enforcement says Thomas tried to set a NW Portland hotel gas pipe on fire.

https://twitter.com/laralogan/status/1304870820825702407

[Melinda]

I have a sudden sense of fashion changing abruptly as black no longer becomes acceptable as wearable for anything except funerals.

[Jane]

Malley now has 48 votes! (Mine must have counted a lot!)

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

Football! With FANS!

Woot! Go Jackets!

[Jane]

Caro,

I think you took me to cc's store more than once!

[Jane]

Steph,

Can you provide a link?

[Melinda]

Voting Chicago style here....

[Old Lurker]

Thanks Mel...I THINK that's the movie but will have to watch it to see if my cement mixer is featured.

[Melinda]

Well THAT's going to incense some locals:

Cara TXZEAL
@Cara_TXZEAL
Chicago‘s Fraternal Order of Police Endorses Donald Trump for Reelection breitbart.com/2020-election/… via @BreitbartNews

https://twitter.com/Cara_TXZEAL/status/1304873353841381376

[CCGirl]

Gus, CeraVe. Tepid showers, minimal bathing when possible (but still not anything European!), followed by over the counter 1% hydrocortisone cream in affected areas, with a blast of Aveeno skin relief moisturizing cream all over. Topical and moisturizer 2x per day. It’s quite a regimen, but it helps me. I’ve done topical prescriptions, and eucerin cream, but so messy and sticky, and I eventually want to put on clothing - Ha!

I don’t know what else to say about retail store prices. Every store is in a different boat. Do they own the building, or is the landlord sticking them on the rent? Did they take on a lot of debt by building up their business pre covid, and now have the bank leaning down their throats? Or is he just a jerk who takes advantage of the seasonal customers? How much is his health insurance? Or is he married, and his wife has it through her job? My brother’s health insurance is something like $18,000 per year. You need to sell a lot of batteries to cover that whopper. My point is that there are numerous factors in this so called free market society. Wholesale price, community, and seasonality are just some of them.

[GUS]

Funerals and riots.

[jimmyk]

Hey, no one gets more abuse here than short people, but I don't care. I figure the abusers are just compensating for their shortness in other dimensions, IYKWIMAITYD.

[Melinda]

GUS-

Where do I apply for a Flying Pig hunting license this year? I think this year's flock is going to finally get cleared for its own season!

[Melinda]

narc-

Little green men have appeared in Belarus

Franak Viačorka
@franakviacorka
Belarus women are fighters ✊

https://twitter.com/franakviacorka/status/1304766906889629696

The women are going around and unmasking the goon squads, who then run. Looks like oligarchic mercenaries.

[anonamom]

ND has fans. Just not too many, and they are masked.

[clarice]

CARO!! anyone you like. I have no preference. This one looks ok? email me with your phone no and I'll give you my address and credit card number.

[clarice]

oops, caro--signsonthecheap

[Melinda]

Isn't That an interesting data point:

Exclusive: Data shows that half of 2019 donations to ActBlue came from untraceable 'unemployed' donors

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-data-shows-that-half-of-2019-donations-to-actblue-came-from-untraceable-unemployed-donors

[Old Lurker]

What we did (and are doing) to ourselves was LUNACY.

https://reason.com/2020/09/11/the-covid-19-death-toll-is-rising-much-faster-in-the-u-s-than-in-sweden-which-now-has-fewer-deaths-per-capita/

[Melinda]

Doxxing Secret Police? That's bold.

NEXTA
@nexta_tv
Editorial announcement.

We at @nexta_tv became in possession of the personal details of almost all the current officers of Lukashenko's police.

It will no longer be possible to hide behind the masks. If the police violence won't stop, this information will be made public.

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1304455966704971777

[MissMarple2]

https://pjmedia.com/columns/david-limbaugh/2020/09/11/heres-why-i-believe-trump-will-win-n921915

[Melinda]

FEMA activated in WA to head to OR to fight the arson, I mean, fires.

[MissMarple2]

Spoke to my nurse sister who is a Trump supporter. She thinks that there will be a lot of violence after the election.

Meanwhile, I got an unsolicited absentee ballot for my ex-husband, who has never lived at this address. It purports to be from the Marion County GOP but I am going to call them on Monday and get his name removed from their rolls.

[Melinda]

Heh:

Ted Cruz
@tedcruz
Some professor seems to be under the mistaken impression that, if child pornography is produced overseas, U.S. companies can distribute it here in the United States without facing criminal liability.

Although perhaps a popular view in the faculty lounge, that is not federal law.
Quote Tweet

Daniel W. Drezner
@dandrezner
· 5h
Ted Cruz is apparently unaware that he’s upset about a foreign film. And I wonder how many other outraged folks are clueless about that simple fact. twitter.com/sentedcruz/sta…

https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1304878691311398912

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

ABC tv Jane

[clarice]

STePHANIE..Do you have a link to the Biden staffer statement? I can't find it. Thnx.

[caro]

Clarice, plastic or aluminum? Two sided? What size?

[lurkersusie]

New

[clarice]

Cato plastic is fine as is one-sided.

[Jim Eagle]

PNEU!

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

It's on my FB page, Clarice. I copied it from someone else.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

It's on their FB page. Conservative Treehouse.