Old, but new...
A reminder?
A little country...
It's so, well, obvious...
An oldie, but a goodie...
So I liked the name...
Sunday, 25 February 2018
Music Montage
I was going to put this up for Saturday night, but I had to get some sleep before the snow removal project. It's time for one of those lighter posts, this time with a musical mix of new and old. So if you've got a snow day sit back and relax and enjoy a few selections I've come across.
Old, but new...
A reminder?
A little country...
It's so, well, obvious...
An oldie, but a goodie...
So I liked the name...
Old, but new...
A reminder?
A little country...
It's so, well, obvious...
An oldie, but a goodie...
So I liked the name...
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125 comments:
Nah, just a bunch of whites. Where's the diversity? Where are the Wakandans in leading roles?
Also listen to the last 20 seconds of the first vid. "White Power!" they shout.
Positively racist, this blogpost is.
Something that's not been getting much attention, and probably ought to…. It was disclosed late last week that the Russian government was implicated in ordering that attack by Russian mercenaries on American troops at Deir Ezzor (sp?), Syria early last week. Let's repeat that for emphasis:
The Kremlin approved an attack by Russian mercenaries on American troops! We know that happened.
Trump has done squat about it, being too busy tweeting ‛No Collusion’ in response to this news.
Also listen to the last 20 seconds of the first vid. "White Power!" they shout.
Er, no, I think they are saying "fight back". :) Maybe it's in the ear of the beholder?
The Kremlin approved an attack by Russian mercenaries on American troops! We know that happened.
Yes, it was Mr. Troll Factory who was the intermediary in that. He was just doing Putin's bidding.
I don't know if the bottom line on that was first and foremost to attack US troops, but to grab that oil field and the Americans were just in the way. Either way their health and well being were of no concern to Putin.
Trump has done squat about it, being too busy tweeting ‛No Collusion’ in response to this news.
And apparently their health and well being were of little concern to Mr. Trump either. All military parades aside.
I think the orange alien atop his head must've tightened its grip during that one.
Like something out of one of those horror movies it has taken up residence and is controlling all thought processes.
Lynnette, those vids brought back a few memories alright. Paper Lace?! :) I remember my big sis' playing that one to destruction on the record player when it came out. On checking I see that it was their only hit in the USA. Billy Don't Be a Hero was a bigger hit over here. I think their sound was anachronistic even in the early 70s though :)
We Built This City has all the 80s sounds -- Slap bass? check! Gated reverb on the snare drum? check! Synth brass power chords? check! (probably a Roland Juno but could be a Yamaha DX7). I wasn't surprised to see the song was written by Bernie Taupin of Elton John fame -- King of Blandsville! :)
Final Countdown ... the less said the better. I have to admit I was in danger of dying from blandness. Probably just my taste has changed (a lot!). Dierks Bentley I'm not very familiar with, but he seems to be from that genre of "light pop with a southern drawl" dressed up as country. Actually I dunno, most pop music doesn't seem to do it for me anymore except for a few nostalgic twinges. For light entertainment I probably prefer something like this.
Ahh, Celtic Woman goes to Istanbul.
The snow has arrived at last. Well, one or two flakes anyway. The proper stuff (if it materialises) comes later in the week. Drove around the carpark of the local supermarket for fifteen minutes watching people try to ram each other out of the way for parking spots. It would normally be empty at midday on a Monday. The weather news has filtered through to the masses and total panic has set in. It's hilarious. You'd think North Korean nukes were arriving imminently and the last of the iodine tablets were on special.
Snowing in Rome too, for the first time in six years apparently. And Moscow may be about to beat it's February low temperature record ... getting down near -30 Celsius. London is set to be colder than the North Pole (which is running more than 20 degrees above average temps and is actually above freezing just as Arctic sea ice is supposed to be reaching its maximum). Strange weather indeed.
"President Donald Trump on Monday said that he would have personally
run into a Parkland, Florida., school during the shooting there earlier this
month, even if he were unarmed."
NBCNews
Lynnette, those vids brought back a few memories alright. Paper Lace?! :)
Indeed. The star of the show.
We Built This City has all the 80s sounds
Yet, possibly still relevant today. We'll see...
Final Countdown ... the less said the better. I have to admit I was in danger of dying from blandness. Probably just my taste has changed (a lot!).
Oh no, you're right, definitely snooze worthy. It just fit, right there, somehow, that's all. :)
Dierks Bentley I'm not very familiar with, but he seems to be from that genre of "light pop with a southern drawl" dressed up as country.
Okay, I admit it, I threw him in because he's cute, I like his voice, and the song was catchy. :)
Your review was kind of to be expected, Petes, I'll try to do better the next time I'm in a musical frame of mind. ;)
I'll listen to your link tonight when I have more time.
The snow has arrived at last. Well, one or two flakes anyway.
Like scouts getting the lay of the land.
The weather news has filtered through to the masses and total panic has set in. It's hilarious.
Kind of exciting at the same time. They'll be disappointed if it's a fizzle. They won't have anything to tell their Grandkids. ;)
And Moscow may be about to beat it's February low temperature record ... getting down near -30 Celsius.
Well, now that we've had our snow we are set to have our major meltdown this week. The temps are supposed to be consistently around 4 Celsius (40 F).
It's kind of been like that all winter. Strange weather, indeed.
"President Donald Trump on Monday said that he would have personally
run into a Parkland, Florida., school during the shooting there earlier this month, even if he were unarmed."
Of course, sure, ya betcha.
I hear that the Supreme Court has declined to hear the case on DACA. It seems that so far our checks and balances are still holding.
Trumptweets: Four morning tweets on the Russia investigation. Somethin’s got him bothered this morning.
For light entertainment I probably prefer something like this.
lol! Interesting way to argue.
WITCH HUNT!
But if it waddles like a duck and quakes like a duck it very well may be a duck.
It seems that Mueller is looking back at any dealings that Trump may have had with the Russians before the 2016 campaign.
It appears that Mueller is moving into locking down collusion between the Russians and Team Trump during the 2016 campaign as well. NYT
[Lynnette]: "They'll be disappointed if it's a fizzle. They won't have anything to tell their Grandkids. ;)"
Not exactly the stuff of legend yet but we got two or three inches overnight with plenty more forecast in the next couple of days. Then on Friday we have a deep depression coming up from Biscay which the French have dubbed Storm Emma. That's allegedly going to bring 70 mph winds and dump epic snow as it collides with the cold air from Siberia. But if it keeps pushing north it could bring milder weather and the snow will be gone as quickly as it arrived. That prospect hasn't quelled the Oirish fear of a zombie apocalypse, so supermarket shelves are still getting emptied and there's a run on fuel for heating.
Wayne LaPierre, speaking to the CPAC in Maryland: "Der turk ur gurns". Apparently European commies are trying to take over the House and Senate because they hate individual freedom. Asshole.
Hmmm. Maybe not just an Oirish thing :)
The Pennsylvania-based church known as the ‘World Peace and Unification Sanctuary’ is holding a blessing ceremony for AR-15 rifles this morning. CBSNews
Notwithstanding his testimony under oath to the contrary, Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone was in direct contact with Wikileaks during the 2016 presidential campaign. CBSNews
(I actually don't think it's a big deal whether he communicated with Assange directly or through a series of intermediaries, except for the fact that he got caught lying about it, and I think most reasonable persons had already assumed he was lying about his involvement with both Wikileaks and the Russians.)
After enduring eight hours of grilling before the partisan-riven House Intelligence Committee yesterday, senior White House Advisor and long-time Trump Whisperer, Hope Hicks has announced her pending retirement from the Trump administration. No specific date has been decided, but she's outta there soon and wants it known today.
(I can't help thinking of the rats abandoning the ship analogy.)
It appears that Mueller is moving into locking down collusion between the Russians and Team Trump during the 2016 campaign as well. NYT
It appears that Mueller might have the evidence for a conviction of Manafort and Gates on criminal dealings with the Russians. The question is whether or not there is anything on Trump or, as the article says, is he simply "clueless"? Given his affinity for PUtin and the Russians it is hard to believe he is completely innocent.
Not exactly the stuff of legend yet but we got two or three inches overnight with plenty more forecast in the next couple of days.
Ahh, normally in the middle of winter that would be worth shoveling, because of the freezing. But in March when the sun is stronger it will eventually melt, so maybe just drive over it. Here we have had a lot of melting going on since the 6 1/2 inches on Saturday/Sunday, so it is starting to look like only a shadow of itself. These last couple of snowstorms have actually been more akin to March snows because of the rapid melting afterwards.
Apparently the Arctic has been a lot warmer than normal, getting close to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, making it about 50 degrees above normal. This seems to be all part of the same system that is bringing Europe the colder weather.
Dick's Sporting Goods has announced it will discontinue selling semi-automatic weapons or the larger capacity magazines, as well as raising the age a person has to be to buy a gun in its stores.
Dick's weapon ban
I know it is a drop in the bucket, like the article points out, but it is a start. There are also a number of companies which are ending special discounts for members of the NRA.
(I can't help thinking of the rats abandoning the ship analogy.)
Funny, that thought had occurred to me too.
A welcome but bizarre turnaround for Trump on gun control. Maybe the looney left's best hope is that Trump will wake up one morning and find he is a Democrat (again) ;-)
[Lynnette]: "Apparently the Arctic has been a lot warmer than normal, getting close to 35 degrees Fahrenheit, making it about 50 degrees above normal."
Yeah, the average for January and February (coming up to the annual sea ice maximum) is a flat line at -30 C. Lately it's above freezing, and it's not just a blip of a day or two. The graph for this year is crazy looking.
"This seems to be all part of the same system that is bringing Europe the colder weather."
Yes, it seems to be an extreme negative swing of the Arctic oscillation. The same occurred during our last big snow in 2010, which also coincided with snow on the US Atlantic coast. Changes in the jet pattern seem to allow the Arctic cold to break out to lower latitudes. I don't remember hearing about quite such wild Arctic temperature swings back then, though.
Another covering of snow last night. Some of the previous night's snow melted in yesterday's sun, but the temperatures are bitter so much of it stayed and has now been augmented. The really big snow is due Thursday night/Friday.
Schools are closed. The grocery delivery guy didn't show up yesterday, and I doubt the refuse collection will show up today. No reports of anyone eating each other yet ;-)
"Maybe…Trump will wake up one morning and find he is a Democrat
(again)"
Considerably more likely that he will be awoken by a phone call reminding him that he forgot to clear his new position with Glenn Hannibaugh.
Perhaps you will recall the deal for a financial package that he put together with "Chuck and Nancy", only to renounce it a few days later, or even the ‘I'll sign whatever they bring me’ pledge on the DACA issue?
Any Democrat (or Republican, or even dedicated Trumpkin for that matter) who believes that he means what he says is a fool.
TrumpTweets: Looks like the speculation that Trump could announce protective tariffs as early as today against Chinese steel and aluminum may be correct.
And, just for fun, Putin has announced that Russia has perfected a "next generation" of nukes that cannot be intercepted by any means at America's disposal. (This isn't exactly news; our missile interceptor program remains unreliable in spite of all efforts.) The major point to note here is that Putin's effectively threatening a first strike with nukes now; that's new. ABCNews
It appears that I guessed wrong. No tariff announcements are coming out today, according to White House sources.
White House Meltdown
Well, Trump did say Russia was laughing at us, he just didn't get the reason right.
The tumult of the past week has fueled a deep and seething anger within President Donald Trump -- not an uncommon emotion for the insolent commander in chief -- but one that allies and aides say has escalated as he faces a new gauntlet of problems, including the encroaching Russia investigation.
His soothing communications guru is leaving. His obstinate attorney general has turned openly defiant. His son-in-law and senior adviser was stripped of his security clearance at the behest of his chief of staff. His Cabinet secretaries keep spending an inordinate amount of taxpayer dollars on luxuries. His most loyal allies in Congress describe his meetings as "surreal."
A welcome but bizarre turnaround for Trump on gun control. Maybe the looney left's best hope is that Trump will wake up one morning and find he is a Democrat (again) ;-)
I don't think anyone is getting their hopes up too high on that one. He is as
mercurial as the wind.
I don't remember hearing about quite such wild Arctic temperature swings back then, though.
No, even the scientists are rather shocked.
It reminded me of one of the things that the author of The Weathermakers said, climate change may be abrupt.
The grocery delivery guy didn't show up yesterday, and I doubt the refuse collection will show up today.
Last Sunday the paper guy didn't show up. I ended up getting the Sunday paper on Monday. Kind of annoying. It's Minnesota for heavens sake! We only had 6 1/2 inches. *sigh*
A lot of it has melted now with the high temps. They are talking measurable snow the beginning of next week though.
And, just for fun, Putin has announced that Russia has perfected a "next generation" of nukes that cannot be intercepted by any means at America's disposal.
Then we will have to find another means. At least our intelligence agencies aren't complete idiots.
And then, behold, Trump announces he's gonna impose tariffs soon. Details to follow. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing over there, and neither hand knows where Trump's gonna go next.
This probably means that Trump's Chief Economic Advisor, Gary Cohn, once of Goldman Sachs, will be headed for the exits in short order--but he'll be preceded by H.R. McMaster, (NSA) who's getting the boot as soon as Mattis (Secretary of Defense) can arrange a soft landing for him.
This on top of the Ambassador to Mexico is headed for the exits as well. And, of course, Hope Hicks has already announced that she's quiting her job to pursue other offers that haven't actually been offered as of yet.
Jared Kushner's gonna hang in there though, long as he can. (And rumors are that General Kelly, now Trump's Chief of Staff, isn't on safe ground either. Kelly's position isn't made any safer by Kushner hangin’ in there.)
[Lynnette]: "It's Minnesota for heavens sake! We only had 6 1/2 inches."
LOL. Well, for once we might outdo you. Seems like the zombie apocalypse has arrived in the form of Storm Emma. It tried to snow all day but got going for real after sundown. Temps came up a few degrees and got some light rain, but that rapidly turned back to snow with high winds. It is now belting down at a rate that -- if it continues to tomorrow as forecast -- could be measured in feet rather than inches. Got widespread power outages too, although it only went out here for twenty minutes so far. To top it off we've got a full moon tonight and spring tides along with high winds pushing water onto the south and east coasts. Thankfully this is once-in-a-generation kind of stuff ... not twice a week like Minnesota ;-)
Well, it's been snowing non-stop for many hours now, but after reaching 4 to 6 inches it stopped accumulating even though it's still snowing heavily -- I think the temperature is a degree or two above freezing here on the coast. Just a few miles inland there's a foot and a half of snow and six foot drifts. Hopefully it'll all come to a messy end over the next couple of days as the depression that was Storm Emma pushes north with higher temps. For now though, a lot of Ireland, Wales and southern England are having a bit of a white out, with freezing nights to come.
And then, behold, Trump announces he's gonna impose tariffs soon.
Yeah, just when I was thinking about steel siding for the house.
Just a few miles inland there's a foot and a half of snow and six foot drifts.
That's the kind of snow that would set even a hardy Minnesotan back on his heels.
Got widespread power outages too, although it only went out here for twenty minutes so far.
That isn't good. You don't want to lose power when it's cold. Hopefully that won't continue.
My furnace was out this morning. For some reason it had tripped the breaker, don't know why, it seems to be working fine now. But it was a little chilly this morning. :(
I spoke too soon. It turned colder and the snow started accumulating again. I reckon we got a foot here, but down the coast at my other home from home I hear there are eight foot drifts. If I'm lucky I'll just lose the guttering again, like eight years ago. Up here the snow has not been as bad but our flooding fears were realised due to the east wind and spring tide. Don't know how to post the video I was whatsapp'd of a fire crew braving the coastal floods, but here's one of what must be our local village idiot -- a woman who decided she would take a swim. Mind you, she has stiff competition from the woman in England who had to be rescued from the snow after she decided to take the kids to McDonalds in a blizzard and another whose car ran off the road after she made her husband "take her out to see the snow".
After a fairly bad Thursday afternoon, the American stock market seemed fairly stable today. (Down a little from Thursday, but not remarkably so.)
We all have our village idiots. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that some people just never let themselves be confused by facts. *sigh* You'll have to listen to the video to see what I mean.
TrumpTweets: "IF YOU DON’T HAVE STEEL, YOU DON’T HAVE A COUNTRY!"
Trumptweeters: "A nation WITHOUT BORDERS is not a nation at all."
It appears we now MUST have a steel wall, except for the aluminum portions of said wall. Else all of North America is Mexico (or Canada, or someplace else).
(On an entirely different subject: There's word running around the White House press corps that Trump is lookin’ to be in the first stages of what used to be known as a "nervous breakdown". I guess the next couple of months will tell the tale on that.)
... but here's one of what must be our local village idiot -- a woman who decided she would take a swim.
Okay, we've had the sightseers and the diners who aren't smart enough to stay home but, as far as I know, we've never had swimmers during a snowstorm. That really is one for the record books.
It does sound like you have a major storm on your hands. One that would even make us sit back and take notice, despite our reputation for extreme winter weather.
If your house is well made and has a nice sloped roof you should be okay. Sometimes there are issues with flat roofs and heavy snow. Given the time of year the snow shouldn't stick around too long. As long as you don't run out of power you can just hibernate for a bit until the roads are clear again. :)
They appear to have a major storm on our east coast as well. Quite a few people are already without power. We are still in the melting phase again here. They are talking some snow again next week, but probably not as much as last Sunday.
After a fairly bad Thursday afternoon, the American stock market seemed fairly stable today.
They appear to be getting twitchy about a possible trade war. Strange, they don't seem to be too concerned about Putin's bellicose nuclear threat, though.
There's word running around the White House press corps that Trump is lookin’ to be in the first stages of what used to be known as a "nervous breakdown". I guess the next couple of months will tell the tale on that.
Bullies don't usually have much stamina when under pressure.
The storm on the east coast of US. I am starting to think our weather here really isn't so bad. I would even take the cold compared to these monster storms that seem to be everywhere now.
Lee: "The major point to note here is that Putin's effectively threatening a first strike with nukes now; that's new."
Nope. This is the result of Dubya's decision for the USA to withdraw from the ABM-treaty in 2002. The Russians said in response at the time that then they would have to up the ante on their offensive missile capabilities. Took them some time but now they are apparently there, technologically.
For every action there is usually a counter action. This one is all on ya'll.
"Nope. This is the result of Dubya's decision for the
USA to withdraw from the ABM-treaty in 2002."
Arguments about what may or may not be the root cause of the Russians' new first strike posture does not address the fact that it's a new posture for them. Your argument is irrelevant. (And arguments about whether or not they're actually ‛there, technologically’ aren't relevant to that question either; so I'll just skip that one too.)
On another subject… I seem to recall that Marcus was a free-trader at one point. It should be interesting to see how he finesses Trump's new tariffs into support for Trump in spite of the imposition on trade.
Tell us about tariffs Marcus.
The orange tendrils are sinking deeper into whatever little gray cells Trump might have possessed. The alien has metastasized.
His presentation was apparently well received by an upscale Republican audience (non of those populist rabble whom they rely on to supply the votes). So, we're lookin’ at a .01% who're afraid that the system is getting away from them. (And I believe they are correct.)
So, we're lookin’ at a .01% who're afraid that the system is getting away from them. (And I believe they are correct.)
I suspect you are right. Something that our adversaries are quite good at exploiting.
I'm listening to Condoleeza Rice on Fareed Zakaria's show this morning. A very intelligent woman.
The thing to remember here is that the .01% have the resources and the incentive to recover their position. This will likely involve them somehow realigning themselves in a coalition that doesn't rely upon the semi-populist ‛social conservatives’ who've been pretty much losing the culture wars. The .01% will have to figure out a new political alignment with a voting bloc which is on the winning side of that one. It looks difficult today, but I don't discount their ability to manage the problem. In fact, they appear to be working on that already--the corporate entities dropping their connections with the NRA are but the most recent example.
Writer for Al-Monitor claims that Israel and Iran (through their Hezbolla proxy) are preparing for a new war probably to be fought out on Lebanese and Syrian territory.
Lee:
"On another subject… I seem to recall that Marcus was a free-trader at one point. It should be interesting to see how he finesses Trump's new tariffs into support for Trump in spite of the imposition on trade."
Ideally free-trade is where I would like us to be. I think some exceptions can be made for national security reasons, such as putting up tariffs on some food-stuffs to maintain your domestic food security for instance. But those exceptions should be few and well argued ones.
But it also has to work both ways. To have free trade in one direction and tariffs in the other is insane. (This also goes for investments. If we're not allowed to own for instance land in a foreign nation we should mirror that for their nationals in our countries - but that's a different issue).
I can't really comment on Trump's new policies because I don't know if his claim that the US is currently being treated unfairly is a valid one.
"I don't know if his claim that the US is currently
being treated unfairly is a valid one."
That's just white noise laid down to confuse the dedicated Trumpkins. The claimed legal basis for Trump declaring the tariffs himself, without any congressional authorization, is that the tariffs are necessary to our ‛national security’, i.e. we must not allow the hostile military power known as Canada (the largest foreign supplier of both steel and aluminum) to make further inroads into our domestic markets.
Trump has been tweeting on tariffs this morning. TrumpTweets
It seems that he now wants to compromise ‛national security’ (i.e. remove his new tariffs on steel and aluminum) if only Canada and Mexico will give him concessions on various subjects other than steel and aluminum in the current re-negotiations he's started on the NAFTA treaty.
I may be wrong, but I think he's just shot himself in the foot there. This would appear to effect an admission of what we all knew already; i.e. there was no national security issue at work here, and I wonder if he'll not find a legal challenge to his tariff decision now has a solid chance of success.
Lee: "That's just white noise laid down to confuse the dedicated Trumpkins. The claimed legal basis for Trump declaring the tariffs himself, without any congressional authorization, is that the tariffs are necessary to our ‛national security’, i.e. we must not allow the hostile military power known as Canada (the largest foreign supplier of both steel and aluminum) to make further inroads into our domestic markets."
Well, I have close to zero real insight into the USA:s trade agreements and/or various tariffs. I would have to start from almost scratch and read up on it before forming an opinion, and I'm just not interested enough to make that effort, at least not now.
I did get a feeling that this could very well be mostly posturing for the base that got him elected. Something he thinks he can do and point to as an accomplishment when it comes to "making America great again". And if he's stopped he can tweet (again to his base) about how un-American this is by those who stopped him. I did get kinda that feeling. But again, I am not well read on the actual details here.
And I thought the supposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels was a much more interesting thing. I read an article from a Solar-installment firm's CEO and a Trump donor, who was less than impressed. He claimed any benefit to US Solar Panel makers would be more than offset by the negatives to US Solar Installers, which is a larger industry in both terms of money and jobs, when prices go up and entire projected solar farms become economically unfeasible.
"I did get a feeling that this could very well be mostly
posturing for the base that got him elected."
Ya think? He had a very bad week last week and White House leaks described him as ‛spoiling for a fight’. The tariff announcement did change the subject, briefly this time. That trick's working less well these days as it becomes obvious as his go-to move.
Post Script:
Folks in Europe (and elsewhere) are gonna think Trump just blinked when hit with widespread condemnation and resistance.
I don't know how he could have discredited his tariffs any worse than his twitterburst from this morning.
Lee:
"Folks in Europe (and elsewhere) are gonna think Trump just blinked when hit with widespread condemnation and resistance."
Very few folks in Europe (and elsewhere) are going to spend a single thought at this. I am overly interested in US politics, especially its foreign politics, and even I just can't be bothered with this; it's all in the Twitter-sphere for now as far as I am concerned. The vast majority is just gonna see the headline and think "that Trump" or "them Americans", and go about their day.
You ARE the nation in the world with the most impact on others. But sometimes you tend to think everything revolves around ya'll. And it doesn't.
I'd have thought that folks'd be interested in a new set of tariffs even if they weren't interested in American politics. I'll havta take your word for Europeans not caring if their exports to America take a tariff hit.
But, lot of folks in Europe will be interested in the subject, even if they don't move in your particular circles, on account of the matter will effect their personal political standing with their constituency or will effect their economic prospects. They will be the ones likely to conclude that Trump just flinched.
Lee: "I'd have thought that folks'd be interested in a new set of tariffs even if they weren't interested in American politics. I'll havta take your word for Europeans not caring if their exports to America take a tariff hit."
They will be, if it comes to pass and there are real life consequences. Which there may or may not be.
Most people over here have been so saturated with "Trump articles" this last year I doub't many folks put any faith in them, other than thinking "Trump seems geat!" or "that Trump is an idiot!", based on their pre-concieved wiew of Preznit45, with the latter being a majority, over here.
It's mostly about perception mind you.
Obama was hailed as a saint because he was sun-tanned (as Berlusconi said) and well spoken. We gave him a peace prize even, while he was drone-striking like never before and never in 8 years closed the Gulag in Guantanamo. But he had the right public image.
Trump is the opposite. A WHITE MALE and OLD with a YOUNG whife!!!111 How dare he!?!?!?
That was NOT supposed to happen! Not in Current Year!
... I wonder if he'll not find a legal challenge to his tariff decision now has a solid chance of success.
It doesn't sound as if it's a popular move with conservatives in Congress either. Paul Ryan is out front calling for Trump to change his mind.
From Lee's Al-Monitor article:
A source close to Hezbollah fighters, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor that the recent February faceoff between Israel on one side and Iran, Hezbollah and Syria on the other was an ambush staged by Tehran.
Ambush or not I didn't think that would bode well.
We are currently having our own version of Ireland's storm panic. They are predicting a large amount of snow for this afternoon into tomorrow. So the powers that be have closed schools. Of course, right now the roads are fine and even the little snow we've had doesn't amount to much. There will be some red faces if this storm decides to fizzle.
In the end, Trump is a temporary aberration, an unexpected pot-hole in the road. The Republican Party was already dying (Trump couldn't have taken them on and won otherwise) but it does have the potential for a few death rallies in it. The DailyBeast makes the point I've been asserting, but perhaps more eloquently.
Our storm is a distant memory around here already. Snow was clearing by Sunday night, mostly gone by Monday, and having a beautiful spring morning today with temps at 10 degrees. Those on higher ground and the areas that had the eight foot snow drifts, though, are still in the thick of it and will take some days for the thaw to take hold.
Now we have a new problem -- water supplies! The water company is always quick to blame consumers for leaving taps dripping to avoid freezing pipes in a cold spell. But that can't explain reductions in water supplies and rationing which they are saying could last for months! It seems that our tottering water infrastructure has sprung a lot of leaks during the cold. Normally I'd put it down to our lack of maintenance on the Victorian pipework that we got courtesy of the Brits, and that haven't had sufficient attention since we invited them to leave. But the Brits are having an even worse problem, with council workers on the streets handing out bottled water.
Why don't you have the same problems in Minnesota? Our cold is much less frequent and less deep than yours. Are your water mains buried deeper or something?
Pete: "Now we have a new problem -- water supplies! The water company is always quick to blame consumers for leaving taps dripping to avoid freezing pipes in a cold spell."
WHAT? You're supposed to be a first world nation, aren't you? That sort of "solution" to a cold spell isn't even relevant for summer holiday homes here (yeah, I am aware we're more used to sub zero temperatures but still). How difficuly is it to insulate pipes and have a thermostat that ensures the indoor temperature stays a few degrees above freezing? Not very.
Also, blaming the "gubmint" or a previous colonial power is just lazy. Just get your own houses in order. It's far from rocket science after all.
Lee:
"In the end, Trump is a temporary aberration, an unexpected pot-hole in the road. The Republican Party was already dying (Trump couldn't have taken them on and won otherwise) but it does have the potential for a few death rallies in it. The DailyBeast makes the point I've been asserting, but perhaps more eloquently."
I see it somewhat different. I believe the attacks against Trump will spur a counter attack on the Dems and that the Republican party is well set up for the next few elections.
That said, if ya'll are dead set at continuing the "browning" of America then inevitably, by numbers alone, your country will more and more resemble Mexico today. Good luck with that.
I have a very hard time trying to understand you and your "multiculti" utopia. If you exchange a population with another population it stands to reason you'll have a society along the lines of the latter. No?
Again: let's do the hypothetical experiment where every German is sent to Congo and every Congolese is sent to Germany. The countries are more or less the same size and the populations are more or less equally large.
How do you think that would play out?
Would the Congoleze now in Germany start producing like hell and churn out the best cars and other machinery in the world? And would the Germans suddenly in Congo start to divide into tribes and warring eachother in a horrific way?
Is it all just a question of geography in your minds? Are you completely insane?
"I have a very hard time trying to understand you and your 'multiculti'
utopia."
Well, that's what ya get for mixing me up with your imaginary friends, Scooter and Nils. Unlike your imaginary friends, I'm pretty much solidly in favor of integration and not much of a fan of your imagined ‘multiculti utopia’. I don't even really understand what that's supposed to be other than a backroom perhaps darker recesses of your mind. So, I really can't help ya with difficulties you're experiencing in comprehending your own imagination.
Are your water mains buried deeper or something?
I don't know what depth they are at, but I do know we have a special insulation called "snow". If we are fortunate it arrives, and stays, before the sub zero temps that can cause pipes to freeze. I know there have been issues with some people who have pipes running under their driveways, which lack snow cover, where their pipes have frozen. But it has to get very cold for an extended period. Those who live in mobile homes should have their pipes insulated because they are connecting under the house to a water source and this space is open to the cold air.
We have never let the tap drip in winter. Nor have we been without water unless there is some kind of leak. Like you I would be asking questions of where your water is leaking. :(
The latest storm was pretty much a typical March snowstorm. They have it worse out east.
Is it all just a question of geography in your minds? Are you completely insane?
You are ignoring the history of each country. Who governs is critical to the development and success each country experiences.
Gary Cohn, late of Goldman Sachs, has resigned as Trump's chief economics advisor (effective date yet to be announced). The announcement was made by ‛White House officials’, in an apparent attempt to preempt any announcement from Cohn himself.
It is perhaps also relevant that Cohn had been approached about taking over the job of Chief of Staff, in replacement of the current Chief, ex-general John Kelly. Apparently Cohn wasn't interested in taking that job. Kelly may not be long with this White House either.
Lookin’ like a lot of defense lawyers are snitching out somebody else's client from the West Wing of the White House these days. All them lawyers seem to want somebody else's client to be the one in the headlines.
Lee: "Unlike your imaginary friends, I'm pretty much solidly in favor of integration and not much of a fan of your imagined ‘multiculti utopia’"
I think you might mean assimilation Lee, as in immigrants need to assimilate and (largely) adopt the culture of their new country.
Integration means instead that newcomers adopt to their host country AND the original inhabitants adopt to the newcomers in equal measure. You wanna adopt to the ways of Mexico and Central America that's on you. I tend to think that'd be a hard sell amongst most people who've thought about it though.
Integration is precisely aimed at that not yet seen but somehow still highly praised "multiculti utopia".
Assimilation means accepting immigrants but they have to also in return accept the laws of the land and adapt to the culture there.
Lynnette: "You are ignoring the history of each country. Who governs is critical to the development and success each country experiences."
So it's just a coincidence that no country in Africa has had a good ruler or they would be all Wakanda at this point, right?
What about Haiti? Developed by the French (yes I know based on slave labor) and then taken over by the Blacks. The USA has gone in three times to try and fix that broken natin. Building roads, putting up a telephone network, etc. It still just collapses every damn time.
You can even see the difference from space. The island is called Hispaniola and the western side is Haiti, 95% black with black rule. The eastern side id the Dominican Republic with 14% whites and 70% "mixed". In areal footage you can see Haiti is a stripped land, no forests left, while the Dominican Republic is lush and green.
GDP/capita in Haiti: $1.800
GDP/capita in the Dominican Republic: $17.000
Is that just a coincidence and Haiti is just unlucky in your mind?
Also, how is it that currently while the Black Suprematists, led by Julius Malema, in South Africa are talking about confiscating white owned land without compensation, that Zimbabwe are starting to beg the white farmers (that they ethically cleansed) to please come back and put an end to starvation? Kinda funny, no?
South Africa to take white's land:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-01/why-land-seizure-is-back-in-news-in-south-africa-quicktake-q-a
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5443599/White-South-African-farmers-removed-land.html
Julius Malema: "'We are not calling for the slaughter of white people - at least for now'"
How very reassuring! Not for now. I would feel perfectly safe as a white minority in SA at the moment. They won't slaughter me with achetes right now! Let's go on farming to feed them all.
Zimbabwe begs whites to come back (after killing lots of them and ethnically cleansing most of the remaining ones):
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/22/white-farmer-gets-land-back-under-zimbabwes-new-leader/
https://qz.com/458137/mugabe-is-asking-back-the-white-farmers-he-chased-away/
Also, additional information, the Black majority currently in SA now were NOT the original inhabitants. The country was largely empty when the Dutch settled it in the 1600's. There were some bush people, and their decendants now constitute less than 1% of the population.
The big bulk of the blacks came precisely because the whites had developed the land and there was paid work available.
So the "you whites stole our land!" is a fallacy. It never happened in South Africa.
Golf tees? Really?
This week, ProPublica reported that the Trump Organization ordered 12-inch replicas of the presidential seal to be used as tee markers at Trump golf courses. To review: A private, for-profit company -- one where the President's name appears everywhere you look, and one that continues to direct money, to the President's benefit, despite his official position -- is trying to further cash in by using a symbol that represents the chief servant of the American people?
*SIGH*
All them lawyers seem to want somebody else's client to be the one in the headlines.
It seems like they have quite a few options to choose from.
"…AND the original inhabitants adopt [sic] to the newcomers
in equal measure…"
I presume you mean ‛adapt’ where you wrote ‛adopt’.
Be that as it may…
You are also mistaken about the meaning of the word ‛integration’ (at least in English--I'm not gonna speculate on what the word means in Swedish).
Integration can be enforced by law or even by simple social pressure. Done right, integration will lead to assimilation. However, it's apparent the Swedes ain't nowhere near doin’ it right, and that may well be on account of you don't seem to understand the concepts to begin with.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"Golf tees? Really?"
I saw that. Way low on the list of things, but tacky as hell nonetheless.
Integration means instead that newcomers adopt to their host country AND the original inhabitants adopt to the newcomers in equal measure. You wanna adopt to the ways of Mexico and Central America that's on you.
Integration doesn't necessarily mean that people adopt the least favorable cultural traits of others. Many of the Mexican and Central American workers are very hard working, adding to the economic growth in the US. Of course, you will always find a criminal element, but that is also true of native born citizens. Food, music and clothing influences have also been incorporated into our country.
But, Marcus, the US is a much larger country than is Sweden. We also have immigrants from many different countries who bring to us all sorts of differences. In the case of Sweden you have a smaller country that could very well be overwhelmed by the influences of immigrants if you are not careful with your immigration policy. That is something that your government, and those who elect them, need to address. That you haven't is kind of on you.
So it's just a coincidence that no country in Africa has had a good ruler or they would be all Wakanda at this point, right?
Perhaps it is the term you just used that is the problem? Or perhaps it is the systemic corruption that seems to be incorporated into a lot of these countries. We might also want to look at Venezuela as well when we are talking failed states. Their type of government, and their "rulers", have lead directly to the problems they have today.
"BEIRUT — U.S.-allied forces in eastern Syria said
Tuesday that they are withdrawing from the front lines
of the war against the Islamic State in order to battle
the United States’ NATO ally Turkey elsewhere in the
country….
"Citing disappointment with the United States, the
Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)
said they were pulling fighters off the front lines in the
province of Deir al-Zour, where Islamic State fighters
have been putting up a fierce fight in a pocket of
territory on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River.
"The holdouts there are thought to include some of the
most senior leaders of the organization who escaped
the cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria last year
…."
WashingtonPost
"Citing disappointment with the United States...
Why should they feel any different from anyone else?
But in all honesty I'm not sure that anyone else in the White House would have been more inclined to assist them more. Obama never seemed to want to take on Turkey either.
I was equally critical of our policies towards the Kurds (use them but not be of any use to them) when it was Obama sitting on his hands.
Lynnette:
"Perhaps it is the term you just used that is the problem?"
I'm not clear on what term you are referring to here, so I can't really answer that question. (was it even a question? It ended with a question mark so I guess it was).
Lynnette:
"Or perhaps it is the systemic corruption that seems to be incorporated into a lot of these countries. We might also want to look at Venezuela as well when we are talking failed states. Their type of government, and their "rulers", have lead directly to the problems they have today."
Of course there are basket case countries outside of Africa also. In white countries too, we have had those communist basket case countries where an insane ideology breaks society apart. But Africa is on a whole other level really. So many countries, so little progress (despite what PeteS claims).
And Venezuela is commie. Them politics can never work, no where no how. The BEST showcase for Communism is prolly Cuba. In all commie countries I would have selected Cuba (I don't rate modern China - it's not Commie any more) to live in. And Cuba still SUCKS.
Any thoughts on why Zimbabewe suddenly decided to try and lure back them white farmers? I mean they've had about 30-40 years or so to turn the blacks they gave the whites land to into actual farmers and somehow that hasn't seemed to work out. Or they would not invite the ones they used to kill off and run out of the country back all of a sudden.
I'm thinking we have a racial/cultural component here, one that is aptly described by the tale of the ant and the grasshopper. But then I am apparently racist so I can't ever be right, right?
What's your explanation? How come Zimbabwe has decided, after 30-40 years, that killing or hounding out whites was not such a hot idea after all?
Lynnette:
"Integration doesn't necessarily mean that people adopt the least favorable cultural traits of others. Many of the Mexican and Central American workers are very hard working, adding to the economic growth in the US. Of course, you will always find a criminal element, but that is also true of native born citizens. Food, music and clothing influences have also been incorporated into our country."
Oh boy, you almost hit all the PC pro migrations keys there. Good job! It's hilarious to see how you check all the boxes of the mass migration playbook. Really funny.
Now, let's debunk them.
Lynnette: "Many of the Mexican and Central American workers are very hard working, adding to the economic growth in the US."
Why don't you just finish that statement with "they're gonna pay our pensions" and you'd be complete.
Yes GDP is increased by immigration, the economy grows. So did 9/11. So would be blowing up the Golden Gate Bridge and rebuilding it. It too would add to GDP. Is it a good idea just because it adds to the GDP? No, not necessarily.
First of all GDP is complete bullshit in measuring the wellbeing of a society. You have to look at GDP per capita, and also how the money is distributed, for Macro Economics to suggest anything about the wellbeing of the population. And the lower middle class in the USA isn't doing so well right about now, hence Trump.
Second: YOU moreso than I seem to be concerned with Climate Change. How does ever increasing populations in high consuming nations vibe with your fear of environmental collapse?
Lynnette: Of course, you will always find a criminal element, but that is also true of native born citizens."
False analogy. You well know that the crime rate among immigrant populations basically everywhere are way higher than among the established, largely working natives. There's no native american MS13, is there?
Lynnette: "Food, music and clothing influences have also been incorporated into our country."
Ahhh, the PIZZA ARGUMENT. I see that a lot. Funny that in Malmö there are at least 30 sushi restaurants but close to zero japanese people. How can that be? What a mystery! No mass immigration of Japanese and still we manage to make sushi? A conundrum!
You think you need 20 million mexicans in order for ya'll to make a fucking Taco? I say it only takes one American going to Mexico and sampling one and then taking the recipe (probably altered) back home.
We do NOT need mass migration of Yanks to learn how to cook a fucking burger in any corner of the world, after all. And there are burgers to be had in every corner of the world FYI.
I don't have time at the moment to research Zimbabwe, but I will see what I can find later...as well as reply to your last comment, Marcus.
I just have a quick question, perhaps for Lee, since it pertains to the US specifically.
Is there no way that anyone can stop Trump from running off a cliff with tariffs?
"Is there no way that anyone can stop Trump from
running off a cliff with tariffs?"
In fact there is. The Constitution vests the power to set tariffs in Congress, not the Presidency. The President has the power to declare ‘national security’ as the basis for a tariff because the Congress delegated that power to him in prior legislation.
This means they can un-delegate that power; they can pass a new law blocking him on this. (He'd probably veto that, so they'd probably need a veto-proof majority; although he might let it ride as a means of getting his ass out the crack he's gotten himself into here; not likely but might….)
However, this would require that the Republican Congress stand up to Trump. Ain't gonna happen. They're afraid of him again. Actually, they're afraid of the dedicated Trumpkins who're turning out in Republican primaries in numbers sufficient to swamp any Republican resistance.
Might be a legal challenge available as well on a couple of grounds I can think of; no doubt an actual lawyer could think of even more. (Less likely to work, but there's an outside chance there.) For that to get filed, first the tariffs have to be set, and that ain't been done yet.
I've been reading that the West Wing is all stirred up by this Stormy Daniels story, and that doesn't seem logical at first.
After all…. Who doesn't know by now that Trump's a whore-monger and serial abuser at least as bad as anything ever even rumored to be true about Bill Clinton?
And then it occurred to me…. Melania has been noticeably chilly to the Great Leader these past few weeks.
So, could be this is actually person problems spilling over into the West Wing.
typo there:
"So, could be this is actually personal problems spilling over into the West Wing."
I notice that Kim Jung Un, leader of a nation where there's no significant lighting after dark (see pic), has issued an invitation to Trump and Trump has accepted.
Get this clear in your head--Trump is going to visit Kim on Kim's home ground--Kim ain't comin’ to Trump--Trump has been called to come to Kim. And Trump appears to have accepted that.
MotherJones has published two excerpts from the book, Russian Roulette, by Michael Iskoff and David Corn. The second excerpt is here. The subject is the uncovering of the Russian meddling in our last election and what was, and was not, done about it and why. Lynnette will, no doubt, want the book.
You're right that does sound interesting. I actually have a Barnes and Noble coupon that I could use...:)
I am actually currently reading a fiction book about Russia and the CIA, Red Sparrow, which you may have heard of because it's in the news with the movie coming out. With another former Russian spy, and his daughter, suddenly falling victim to some kind of poison or gas, it seemed timely.
There is also the real life "Red Sparrow" in the news offering to give up the goods on the Russia/Trump election connection, if we get her out of prison. I assume if there is anything to it that she will find herself buried.
And then it occurred to me…. Melania has been noticeably chilly to the Great Leader these past few weeks.
Yes, I have noticed that too. It actually kind of surprised me, because it makes me wonder if she actually thought he was the faithful sort when she married him?
However, this would require that the Republican Congress stand up to Trump. Ain't gonna happen.
No, like so many things it will take a turnover in Congress to get anything done.
"…it makes me wonder if…"
She probably had no illusions about him being the faithful sort. My guess is that she merely demanded that he not embarrass her, and he agreed, but he's not kept up his end of that one.
And, before we wonder on into more of Trump's newest diversionary romps, let's mention for the sake of Petes, who so enjoys imagining up reasons that Trump might be all above board after all…
The recently front-paged secret meeting between Team Trump and various ner-do-wells in the Seyshelles back in the fall of 2016 was the second attempt by Team Trump to set up a secret ‘back channel’ communications channel between Team Trump and Putin, one to be kept secret from American intelligence agencies. WashingtonPost
Second time that's happened. The first time it was Kushner at Trump Tower in New York; this time Trump's representative was Erik Prince of Blackwater fame. Putin's man on the job was Kirill Dmitriev, long time investment advisor to Putin.
Second time that's happened.
(Step right up there Petes; the Great Orange Leader needs you now.)
wonder ≈ wander with a typo attached
And, just cause… "ne'er-do-wells"
A quick comment before I run and do errands(before the snow starts again).
For Marcus:
Here's a short YouTube history lesson on Zimbabwe "land reform".
Okay, one more...
The recently front-paged secret meeting between Team Trump and various ner-do-wells in the Seyshelles back in the fall of 2016 was the second attempt by Team Trump to set up a secret ‘back channel’ communications channel between Team Trump and Putin, one to be kept secret from American intelligence agencies.
Makes you kind of wonder what exactly they were interested in chatting about to the Russians behind our intelligent agencies' backs.
Makes me wonder if they tried a third time. Did they just keep on tryin’ until Trump finally got a secret channel through to Putin?
What say you about this thing with North Korea? Is it for real, or is it some kind of sop for the masses orchestrated behind the scenes by those who might have a "back channel" to our president to make him look good? Or put another way, will the US actually get anything of what they want with this meeting or will we be out maneuvered by a good con?
"What say you about this thing with North Korea? Is it
for real…?"
It's real for Kim. North Korean dictators have been trying to get a photo op showing them being treated as the equal of the President of the United States, going clear back to the first Great Kim, Kim Il-sung. None of our prior Presidents were willing to grant them that photo-op.
Lee: "Get this clear in your head--Trump is going to visit Kim on Kim's home ground--Kim ain't comin’ to Trump--Trump has been called to come to Kim. And Trump appears to have accepted that."
Nope. Wrong. Of curse they'll do that meet, if it takes place, at a neutral place. Sweden has been suggested (since Sweden's embassy in NK is basically a stand-in for yall's) and also Switzerland (since it's historically neutral). No-body thinks Trump is gonna go to NK. And that Fatty Mc. Nuke would travel to the US is ludicrous to even imagine.
Swedes are talking about it being in Sweden. Over here speculated locations are all in Asia.
Lynnette:
"For Marcus:
Here's a short YouTube history lesson on Zimbabwe "land reform"."
A complete LIE. A "blackwashing" of history.
The truth: Whites in Rhodesia farmed their fertile lands and did so with great success. So great a success that they fed Rhodesia, employed a grea many locals, and could export their surplus to feed half of then Africa.
Then the communist guerillas under Mugabe siezed control. The remaining whites were killed or chased away and the farmland was given over to Mugabes trustees.
40 years later they are pleading with the white farmers to come back. Why?
In them 4 decades shouldn't the blacks mave managed to copy the farmwork done by the whites? Even if they acknowledge Mugabe's militias were ill equipped to run farms, why not find capable blacks within the country?
Because they DO turn to whitey, as my previous articles state. WHY is that in your mind?
Lee:
"Swedes are talking about it being in Sweden. Over here speculated locations are all in Asia."
Could very well be. My point still remains. It aint gonna be in the US or in NK.
Just dropped by to see if anyone was enthusing about the fact that -- no matter how this eventually turns out -- Trump has already done more on the international stage than Obama managed in eight years. Nope. Just the resident troll doing what the resident troll does.
"It aint gonna be in the US or in NK."
It was never gonna be in North Korea. That's why Trump had the South Koreans here flattering him outrageously, and making the actual, official announcement.
... Trump has already done more on the international stage than Obama managed in eight years.
Well, he has certainly had an effect, I will grant you that.
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