‘Missiles Fired At’ Russian Passenger Plane Flying Over Syria

Missiles were fired at a Russian plane containing 159 passengers as it flew over Syrian airpace, according to Russian media .

Russia’s Interfax News Agency reported the threat around 22:00 in Moscow (14:00 EDT).

The crew of the Airbus A330 spotted a “threat to safety” and took evasive maneuvers to avoid two ground-to-air missiles, an informed source told Interfax (via Russia Today). The missiles reportedly exploded in the air near the plane.

re: #1 Kragar

I misread that as Serbia on first glance. Oops.

Syria, sadly, makes much more sense.

Still funky mp3 player, but it works.

re: #3 freetoken

File not found

re: #5 Kragar

Strange, it works for me, even though the mp3 player since yesterday has been acting like these are mp4 files and opening a box large enough for videos.

And the link in #3 is for a server that normally people can access.

Did you reload and try again?

re: #6 freetoken

Strange, it works for me, even though the mp3 player since yesterday has been acting like these are mp4 files and opening a box large enough for videos.

And the link in #3 is for a server that normally people can access.

Did you reload and try again?

I got the same even after reloading.

Weird.

Here, try some Vivaldi, see if it works:

Tonight’s special track is from Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, second song:

(It’s from a different server, so hopefully it’ll work)

My dearest kittens,

We provide you with food, shelter, and a litterbox that is cleaned on a (more-or-less) regular schedule. We tolerate your quirks, pet you when you come and cuddle, and provide wet food as an extra treat.

In return, I’d like to ask that if you feel the need to vomit tonight’s dinner, you choose to do so on the tile floor - or if this is too difficult, the wooden floor is also acceptable. If you desperately have to do it on the carpet, please choose any carpet other than the rug I brought back from Mexico.

Thanks,
me

PS: No matter what, the bed is totally off-limits.

re: #10 klys

My dearest kittens,

We provide you with food, shelter, and a litterbox that is cleaned on a (more-or-less) regular schedule. We tolerate your quirks, pet you when you come and cuddle, and provide wet food as an extra treat.

In return, I’d like to ask that if you feel the need to vomit tonight’s dinner, you choose to do so on the tile floor - or if this is too difficult, the wooden floor is also acceptable. If you desperately have to do it on the carpet, please choose any carpet other than the rug I brought back from Mexico.

Thanks,
me

PS: No matter what, the bed is totally off-limits.

Wait until they get old and cranky.

My Siamese FO (who was about twenty at the time) was irritated that he couldn’t get to the litterbox since the apartment cleaner was in that bathroom. I caught him peeing on the bed.

Luckily I go the sheets stripped and into the laundry before anything soaked through.

And I’ve cleaned up cat vomit everywhere - including the bed. You develop a 6th sense about them starting to hack and getting them shifted off furniture or onto easily cleanable surfaces.

re: #12 Feline Fearless Leader

Wait until they get old and cranky.

My Siamese FO (who was about twenty at the time) was irritated that he couldn’t get to the litterbox since the apartment cleaner was in that bathroom. I caught him peeing on the bed.

Luckily I go the sheets stripped and into the laundry before anything soaked through.

And I’ve cleaned up cat vomit everywhere - including the bed. You develop a 6th sense about them starting to hack and getting them shifted off furniture or onto easily cleanable surfaces.

If home, yes. Unfortunately I suspect the rug incident tonight happened while we were out to eat.

When I met the husband, he had a Burmese cat who sounded like she had smoked a pack a day. A friend of his had adopted her but then had to give her up when moving in with someone else, so he took both cats. Narya had passed away by the time I met him, but Coco was the first cat I ever lived with and I adored her.

She never had hairballs and rarely through up; the only time she ever peed outside of the litterbox was the Saturday it became so clear that something was wrong - we were at the emergency vet within 20 minutes of that. She still managed to jump down from the bed in order to do so on the floor.

She was almost 18. We ended up letting her go in a large part because I promised her I would be there at the end and if they’d done surgery there was a significant chance she wouldn’t wake up, just from the anesthesia. So instead we brought her her catbed so she could curl up in it one last time and said goodbye.

And fuck, now I’m crying again and it’s been almost 3 years.

re: #13 klys

If home, yes. Unfortunately I suspect the rug incident tonight happened while we were out to eat.

When I met the husband, he had a Burmese cat who sounded like she had smoked a pack a day. A friend of his had adopted her but then had to give her up when moving in with someone else, so he took both cats. Narya had passed away by the time I met him, but Coco was the first cat I ever lived with and I adored her.

She never had hairballs and rarely through up; the only time she ever peed outside of the litterbox was the Saturday it became so clear that something was wrong - we were at the emergency vet within 20 minutes of that. She still managed to jump down from the bed in order to do so on the floor.

She was almost 18. We ended up letting her go in a large part because I promised her I would be there at the end and if they’d done surgery there was a significant chance she wouldn’t wake up, just from the anesthesia. So instead we brought her her catbed so she could curl up in it one last time and said goodbye.

And fuck, now I’m crying again and it’s been almost 3 years.

That’s very sweet. Damnit, can’t sleep, jump on LGF, now I’m crying :)

Similar thing when we brought our 15yo in to be put down (Cancer). She had a sore where they had to aspirate a growth and it just never healed, so she had to wear a bandage and a cute little tshirt.

Well the wife didn’t want me to take the shirt off of her so she could keep the wound covered while she ‘moved on’ at the vet. I insisted and ultimately took it off (and the bandage) so she could die with dignity. I believe my exact words were ‘she wasn’t born with a tshirt on, she isn’t gong to die with one on’.

re: #14 geoffm33

That’s very sweet. Damnit, can’t sleep, jump on LGF, now I’m crying :)

Similar thing when we brought our 15yo in to be put down (Cancer). She had a sore where they had to aspirate a growth and it just never healed, so she had to wear a bandage and a cute little tshirt.

Well the wife didn’t want me to take the shirt off of her so she could keep the wound covered while she ‘moved on’ at the vet. I insisted and ultimately took it off (and the bandage) so she could die with dignity. I believe my exact words were ‘she wasn’t born with a tshirt on, she isn’t gong to die with one on’.

It’s indicative of how much they steal our hearts with their own furry little ones, isn’t it?

My heart breaks again every time I remember her, so weak because she hadn’t been able to eat for 2 days, finding the energy to crawl back into the catbed that she’d spent so long curled up in at home. We let them take her in it for cremation, because I wasn’t going to be able to see it around the house again without her.

I love the three kitties we have now but I miss Coco all the time. Except possibly the 3am wakeup meows, because she was loud.

re: #15 klys

It’s indicative of how much they steal our hearts with their own furry little ones, isn’t it?

My heart breaks again every time I remember her, so weak because she hadn’t been able to eat for 2 days, finding the energy to crawl back into the catbed that she’d spent so long curled up in at home. We let them take her in it for cremation, because I wasn’t going to be able to see it around the house again without her.

I love the three kitties we have now but I miss Coco all the time. Except possibly the 3am wakeup meows, because she was loud.

And THAT is why I am awake right now :)

Going to try to sleep again, good night!

re: #15 klys

It’s indicative of how much they steal our hearts with their own furry little ones, isn’t it?

My heart breaks again every time I remember her, so weak because she hadn’t been able to eat for 2 days, finding the energy to crawl back into the catbed that she’d spent so long curled up in at home. We let them take her in it for cremation, because I wasn’t going to be able to see it around the house again without her.

I love the three kitties we have now but I miss Coco all the time. Except possibly the 3am wakeup meows, because she was loud.

I miss the Siamese (and his brother that passed four years earlier as well.) And still remember a lot of their escapades. And he did the 3:00 am wake-up meows if he wasn’t left a snack right before I went to bed. There were reasons he was nicknamed “His Imperial Crankiness” in his dotage.

The “new” cats are still really settling in since they haven’t been here that long (< 3 months.) Still socializing and developing the social hierarchies and such. And very much more cat-cats than people-cats since they interact with each other a lot and I am treated as a service and not as an equal. Though I do get approached for cuddles now and then even now.

I am immune to cats and their charms. I would be glad to keep one around my place for rodent control but my landlord will not allow pets.

So, this is going to push a few people’s buttons. I’m not presenting it as necessarily the best art photography campaign I’ve ever seen, but I do think the results are kind of awesome.

Jonathan Hobin is a Canadian photographer whose series In the Playroom features a range of children reenacting some of the most brutal news stories of our generation, from JonBenet Ramsey’s death and the Siegfried and Roy tiger mauling to 9/11 and the threat of nuclear war. At first glance it’s hard to tell if the children in the photos understand the horror they’re conveying or if they’re just having a lot of fun. Regardless, many people have reacted strongly. The photos have been described as sick, pure shock, and tasteless, self-indulgent masturbation. Even the children’s parents have been vilified for their involvement.

If you’re in Canada this week, In the Playroom is coming to Toronto for an exhibition at the Gladstone. I gave Jonathan a call at his home in Ottawa to talk about the criticism he’s received, the way kids absorb the news, how his entire series is a criticism of Western media, and whether or not we’re all giant kids playing adults. Oh, and he was nice enough to give us some photos that have not yet been shown anywhere online. So take a look for yourself.

re: #19 goddamnedfrank

So, this is going to push a few people’s buttons. I’m not presenting it as necessarily the best art photography campaign I’ve ever seen, but I do think the results are kind of awesome.

I understand the reaction, but every kid ever playing soldiers, cowboys & Indians or firemen is reenacting some tragedy they have heard about.

New (England Conservatory of Music) Grass:

re: #19 goddamnedfrank

Reminds me of how they have a primary school class act out scenes in The Big Fat Quiz of the Year, which, by the way, are all on youtube and you should watch them, especially the ones with Noel Fielding and Richard Ayoade.

I expected to actually be cheesed off by this Canadian thing but I’d say there’s a lot of artistic merit there.

Wingnut sent me this valentine:

@richardbmusic @n4lrb4me @viciousbabushka twitter.com/R4TTL3H34D/sta…

— Rattlehead (@R4TTL3H34D) April 30, 2013

So I sent this back:

.@r4ttl3h34d .@richardbmusic .@n4lrb4metwitpic.com/cn2y4o

— Vicious Babushka (@viciousbabushka) April 30, 2013

Rock with your cockatoo out:

The ricin case gets more bizarre…

Authorities now believe that it wasn’t an Elvis impersonator who mailed a letter tainted with the poison ricin to President Obama — it was a Wayne Newton impersonator.

James Everett Dutschke, 41, was denied bond Monday on a charge of making and possessing a biological weapon.

He said little in court.

But he is a true renaissance man. In addition to being a martial arts instructor in Tupelo, Miss., who dabbled in local politics, Dutschke also is an impersonator of “Mr. Las Vegas” himself, Wayne Newton, NBC News reported.

Meanwhile Elvis can’t go home…

Kevin Curtis’ lawyers say home is unlivable after federal search

SFZ is back! Yayy!

I also have a cat story.
An adorable Siamese showed up here on the farm a couple of months ago and I keep hoping she’ll find her way back to her real home.
She hasn’t.
Anyway, a few weeks ago she got suddenly and very suspiciously “fat”.
Last night, she was suddenly skinny.
Looks like today will be spent searching for a stash of kittens.
Siamese kitty the day she showed up

Twenty years ago today the World Wide Web went public: gizmo.do/EijJD4Q

— Gizmodo (@Gizmodo) April 30, 2013

My parents had a cat. By the time I had my first baby, Sam (the cat) was very old and all he wanted to do was snooze on the heat vent. My son, who was 2 years old, chased him all over the house shrieking “Getcha! Getcha! Kitty tickle tickle!”

Poor old Sam ran to hide underneath the bed, in the farthest corner.

CERN celebrates 20 years of a free, open web by restoring world’s first website -engt.co/ZOVXbM

— Engadget (@engadget) April 30, 2013

re: #28 NJDhockeyfan

Heh, so I can now tell folks that my birthday is also the anniversary of the Internet going public. Sweet.

STAY CLASSY WINGNUTS
(I apologize for the C-word this wingnut called me, but I dont’ know how to edit Tweets)
TOTALLY CLASSY WINGNUT TWEET

re: #31 Targetpractice

Heh, so I can now tell folks that my birthday is also the anniversary of the Internet going public. Sweet.

Happy birthday!

re: #29 Vicious Babushka

My parents had a cat. By the time I had my first baby, Sam (the cat) was very old and all he wanted to do was snooze on the heat vent. My son, who was 2 years old, chased him all over the house shrieking “Getcha! Getcha! Kitty tickle tickle!”

Poor old Sam ran to hide underneath the bed, in the farthest corner.

Sherman was remarkably tolerant when I had my house guests for four weeks after Sandy flooded them out. Their four-year-old daughter used to follow him around the apartment, and also react and want to see what was going on whenever he started meowing. (20-year-old Siamese who was deaf, arthritic, and blind in one eye. He meowed a lot about things, especially having these interlopers disturbing his routine!)

I think what spoiled him was realizing that there were suddenly 2-3 people around who would give him pets at his beck and call. Preferred lap to snooze in the evening was mine, but there was a backup available!

:)

In Bryanland, “courage” is measured in units of Douchbaggery.

Chris Broussard, by going on ESPN and calling homosexuality a sin, has shown far more courage than Jason Collins.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) April 30, 2013

re: #33 NJDhockeyfan

Happy birthday!

Thanks.

Really, it’s hard to believe that I’m old enough to remember when roaming the Internet was limited to college kids, academics, and the early adopters. Before the oncoming storm that was the widespread usage of AOL *shudders*.

re: #36 Targetpractice

Thanks.

Really, it’s hard to believe that I’m old enough to remember when roaming the Internet was limited to college kids, academics, and the early adopters. Before the oncoming storm that was the widespread usage of AOL *shudders*.

Ah, Usenet!

re: #35 Vicious Babushka

In Bryanland, “courage” is measured in units of Douchbaggery.

“Courage” in this case being to regurgitate bile and hatred on-air, knowing that dipshits like Bryan will have his back when ESPN looks to shit-can his ass.

re: #36 Targetpractice

Thanks.

Really, it’s hard to believe that I’m old enough to remember when roaming the Internet was limited to college kids, academics, and the early adopters. Before the oncoming storm that was the widespread usage of AOL *shudders*.

I prefer remembering my first login account from 1987. I was post-“The Great Renaming” when the Usenet hierarchy was changed but way before “The September That Never Ended” when AOL hooked into Usenet & WWW.

Usenet, FTP, Gopher were the tools of that day & age. Unix was its backbone & TCP/IP its blood…

re: #36 Targetpractice

Thanks.

Really, it’s hard to believe that I’m old enough to remember when roaming the Internet was limited to college kids, academics, and the early adopters. Before the oncoming storm that was the widespread usage of AOL *shudders*.

First, another happy birthday wish. Second, if it’s hard to believe then you’re still young and have many, many more befuddlements in store. “Daddy, what’s a pay phone?” “Why don’t they call on their cell?” “Why did they make these movies in black and white?” “What’s an 8-track?”

I figure you’re going to have fun explaining life before solar panels and 3d printers, just at a minimum.

re: #39 William Barnett-Lewis

The cool place to hang out at U of C was on /test.

re: #40 kirkspencer

First, another happy birthday wish. Second, if it’s hard to believe then you’re still young and have many, many more befuddlements in store. “Daddy, what’s a pay phone?” “Why don’t they call on their cell?” “Why did they make these movies in black and white?” “What’s an 8-track?”

I figure you’re going to have fun explaining life before solar panels and 3d printers, just at a minimum.

Why is repeating something over and over like a “broken record”? A broken record is what get you into the Guiness book!

re: #40 kirkspencer

First, another happy birthday wish. Second, if it’s hard to believe then you’re still young and have many, many more befuddlements in store. “Daddy, what’s a pay phone?” “Why don’t they call on their cell?” “Why did they make these movies in black and white?” “What’s an 8-track?”

I figure you’re going to have fun explaining life before solar panels and 3d printers, just at a minimum.

Hell, I remember pay phones. I still remember phone booths. I remember when car phones were a sign of wealth, “brick” cellphones were rarely seen outside of Wall Street, and pagers were something doctors had. And I’d trade black-and-white and 8-track for explaining life before DVD/Blu-Ray, DVRs, and MP3s.

Latest Wingnut outrage:

Tsarnaev family received $100,000 in welfare!

OMG they lived on $10,000 a year.

re: #44 Vicious Babushka

I still don’t get what the point of that is. Why the hell does it matter? What relevance would it have to future policy?

re: #45 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

I still don’t get what the point of that is. Why the hell does it matter? What relevance would it have to future policy?

Welfare funds terrorism! They’re coming here and sucking up our tax dollars! We need more welfare reform, starting with throwing out all the immigrants!!

re: #45 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

I still don’t get what the point of that is. Why the hell does it matter? What relevance would it have to future policy?

THEY TUUK ARE MUNNY!!11!!

re: #46 Targetpractice

Yep. We should only accept a better class of immigrants, the sort who don’t need welfare. Policy wise, forbid welfare for immigrants.

Sigh. Time to restart Chromium to get the memory from the leaks released. It’s almost as bad a memory management as Windows 3.1 was ;) Thankfully it’s far superior browser in everyother aspect.

BRB.

re: #38 Targetpractice

ESPN has already responded.

The ESPN statement on Chris Broussard’s comments on today’s Outside The Lines:

“We regret that a respectful discussion of personal viewpoints became a distraction from today’s news. ESPN is fully committed to diversity and welcomes Jason Collins’ announcement.”

re: #50 lawhawk

ESPN has already responded.

Ah, ye olde non-apology. “We’re sorry that anybody was offended.”

ESPN Sportscaster Trashes First Out NBA Player: Jason Collins Is Not ‘A Christian’ | ThinkProgress thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/04/2… #uniteblue #ctl

— GEOFFREY(@jeffreynola) April 30, 2013

re: #52 Vicious Babushka

See, I don’t really mind him expressing his discomfort and whatever, that’s to be expected, but saying that the other dude is not a Christian is just.. come on. That’s such a dick move.

Hah, dick move.

re: #50 lawhawk

What part of “respectful discussion” does ESPN not understand?

re: #10 klys

My Sis-in-law had a cat who hated guests. When we were staying there, she took a crap on our bed.

Puke would have been welcome. :-D

File under “Republican Hypocrisy”:

Ariz. Governor Signs Bill Requiring Buyback Guns To Be Resold

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona cities and counties that hold community gun buyback events will have to sell the surrendered weapons instead of destroying them under a bill Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law Monday.

The bill was championed by Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature who argued that municipalities were skirting a 2010 law that was tightened last year and requires police to sell seized weapons to federally licensed dealers. They argued that destroying property turned over to the government is a waste of taxpayer resources.

Democrats who argued against the bill said it usurps local control and goes against the wishes of people who turn over their unwanted weapons to keep them out of the hands of children or thieves.

re: #55 Joanne

My Sis-in-law had a cat who hated guests. When we were staying there, she took a crap on our bed.

Puke would have been welcome. :-D

Feline overlords know how to express their displeasure.

re: #23 Vicious Babushka

That was freaking awesome!

re: #31 Targetpractice

Heh, so I can now tell folks that my birthday is also the anniversary of the Internet going public. Sweet.

Happy birthday!!

LOL AWESOME

Why does #GOP #Congress fight SO hard4the 1%?They’re on the PAYROLL!Clean the House 2014twitter.com/Cat4rights/sta…”#Sequester #UniteBlue #p2

— Joe Spataro, MD (@doctorjoe56) April 19, 2013

re: #54 darthstar

What part of “respectful discussion” does ESPN not understand?

Considering the culture at ESPN, this is “respectful discussion”. After all, ESPN offices in CT have been home to rampant sexual discrimination, unwanted sexual advances, and harassment that has all too frequently occurred.

How disappointing. The first picture uploaded wasn’t a cat.

Image: first-photo-published-to-the-internet.jpg

re: #62 darthstar

How disappointing. The first picture uploaded wasn’t a cat.

Image: first-photo-published-to-the-internet.jpg

What Usenet group was it posted to?

re: #62 darthstar

How disappointing. The first picture uploaded wasn’t a cat.

Image: first-photo-published-to-the-internet.jpg

The left hand of the girl in the red dress looks ‘shopped.

re: #61 lawhawk

Considering the culture at ESPN, this is “respectful discussion”. After all, ESPN offices in CT have been home to rampant sexual discrimination, unwanted sexual advances, and harassment that has all too frequently occurred.

Well it has to live somewhere. Can’t have all that crap out on the street.

re: #62 darthstar

How disappointing. The first picture uploaded wasn’t a cat.

Image: first-photo-published-to-the-internet.jpg

Physicists’ Wives!

Prehistoric internet pr0n!

Hearing going on now to determine if SYG will be used in the Zimmerman case.

The death toll from the Bangladesh factory collapse is hurtling towards more than 400 (and some are now wondering if the death toll may be far higher based on the stench emanating from the pile of debris that was once an eight story tall factory complex that was illegally built three stories too tall). This disaster is the latest in a string of grisly incidents resulting in hundreds of deaths among garment factory workers in the past year across Bangladesh.

With that backdrop, other factory workers have taken to the streets in protests, and riots have again broken out with dozens of injuries reported. The protests have been for better work conditions and demands for the death penalty to be imposed against the factory owners.

The cost of cheap clothes is treating the labor that makes them as disposable as the products themselves.

A year and a half earlier, Walmart shareholders had voted down requiring annual safety reports from suppliers, saying it “could ultimately lead to higher costs for Walmart and higher prices for our customers. This would not be in the best interests of Walmart’s shareholders and customers and would place Walmart at a competitive disadvantage.”

Walmart is hardly alone at this - other manufacturers, retailers, and distributors have made the same analysis and opted out of more stringent safety requirements to maximize their profits.

That leaves a customer in a precarious position. On the one hand, they want to get stuff for cheap, but they’re not willing to pay for it (even if it’s adding only a few cents per item - even if it’s $1 per item, a factory making 1 million would have more than enough to cover safety improvements, or pay employees better).

At the same time, a couple of Western retailers are going to provide compensation to families of victims.

Authorities have seized the property of factory owners as the investigation continues.

#STOPTheFuckingStupid #UniteBlue twitter.com/ShadowBard/sta… #tgdn #tcot #MinimumWage #LivingWage #Walmart #jobs

— Vicious Babushka (@viciousbabushka) April 24, 2013

re: #67 blueraven

Hearing going on now to determine if SYG will be used in the Zimmerman case.

Zimmerman just testified and said he understands that his attorney will not be using pre-trial immunity (SYG)

re: #69 Vicious Babushka

If they need welfare to get by, then they should go find real jobs!!

re: #68 lawhawk

The death toll from the Bangladesh factory collapse is hurtling towards more than 400 (and some are now wondering if the death toll may be far higher based on the stench emanating from the pile of debris that was once an eight story tall factory complex that was illegally built three stories too tall). This disaster is the latest in a string of grisly incidents resulting in hundreds of deaths among garment factory workers in the past year across Bangladesh.

With that backdrop, other factory workers have taken to the streets in protests, and riots have again broken out with dozens of injuries reported. The protests have been for better work conditions and demands for the death penalty to be imposed against the factory owners.

The cost of cheap clothes is treating the labor that makes them as disposable as the products themselves.

Walmart is hardly alone at this - other manufacturers, retailers, and distributors have made the same analysis and opted out of more stringent safety requirements to maximize their profits.

That leaves a customer in a precarious position. On the one hand, they want to get stuff for cheap, but they’re not willing to pay for it (even if it’s adding only a few cents per item - even if it’s $1 per item, a factory making 1 million would have more than enough to cover safety improvements, or pay employees better).

At the same time, a couple of Western retailers are going to provide compensation to families of victims.

Authorities have seized the property of factory owners as the investigation continues.

Let’s face it. The customer would be more willing to pay for it if typical wages had kept pace with inflation.

I despise much about Walmart, but if the choice is a week’s worth of groceries there or skipping a day’s worth while shopping somewhere else, well, then Walmart gets my money. (digression - Was only true while I could count on getting something from Walmart. These days that’s a gamble and so I go to the competitor anyway, eat a little less, and live with it.)

re: #72 kirkspencer

Let’s face it. The customer would be more willing to pay for it if typical wages had kept pace with inflation.

I despise much about Walmart, but if the choice is a week’s worth of groceries there or skipping a day’s worth while shopping somewhere else, well, then Walmart gets my money. (digression - Was only true while I could count on getting something from Walmart. These days that’s a gamble and so I go to the competitor anyway, eat a little less, and live with it.)

I refuse to shop at Walmart, I will go to other stores and their prices are competitive with Walmart. I used to shop at Whole Foods but I don’t go there anymore either since their CEO revealed what a douchenozzle he is.

WTF DERP
Wingnuts choose such weird dichotomies.

#YouMightBeALiberal if you congratulate an #NBA player for coming out, and ignore the death of an American hero, Chris Kyle #tcot #TGDN

— Bryan Ridenour (@youthpastorbry) April 30, 2013

What did Chris Kyle do that was so heroic? He gave a gun to somebody who should not have been given a gun, and for some reason there were no “good guys” at the shooting range that day.

re: #74 Vicious Babushka

WTF DERP
Wingnuts choose such weird dichotomies.

Chris Kyle, a man who they wouldn’t have given a shit about if there were no Iraq War.

Obama press conference at 10:30 ET…20 minutes

re: #76 Targetpractice

Chris Kyle, a man who they wouldn’t have given a shit about if there were no Iraq War.

Or if he was gay.

re: #76 Targetpractice

Chris Kyle, a man who they wouldn’t have given a shit about if there were no Iraq War.

Wingnuts should be grateful that Obama hasn’t used Chris Kyle as an example of why we need gun control.

Virgin Galactic’s powered test flight (broke Mach 1 barrier):

A few more powered flights will take place later this year, and progressively expand the flight parameters until they’re ready for passenger flights.

re: #80 lawhawk

Virgin Galactic’s powered test flight (broke Mach 1 barrier):

[Embedded content]

A few more powered flights will take place later this year, and progressively expand the flight parameters until they’re ready for passenger flights.

A new plaything for the 0.01%

For everybody else: meh.

re: #78 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Or if he was gay.

Pretty much the case yes.

Fox News is all aflutter with BOMBSHELL news about Benghazi!!
“Whisteblowers” are being threatened by the Obama admin.

Yep and so was Bob Woodward. //

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

A new plaything for the 0.01%

For everybody else: meh.

Hey, it’s good for science, and for inspiring kids to be scientists.

Honestly I think it’s telling that outside Mike Wallace (the former Steelers WR) and the idiot on ESPN that most of the response to Collins coming out has been positive. We get down on the jock community but the response of his teammates and fellow players has shown that many are over that hump. I never got the old paranoid fear about showering with a gay dude. Always thought it was silly and paranoid.

re: #75 Vicious Babushka

He apparently was a good sniper. Not sure what the wingnuts want us to do with that.

re: #81 Vicious Babushka

So were cars, planes, and trains.

And space tech always seems to inspire kids to think big - and think about science in general.

Sure, the first flights will be $200k a pop, but it’s the first attempts to commercialize space travel and will set the stage for new technologies and materials used in other applications (but also for use in aerospace). Not too shabby all around.

re: #86 Bulworth

He apparently was a good sniper. Not sure what the wingnuts want us to do with that.

They apparently want him treated like a hero who died in combat.

re: #84 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Hey, it’s good for science, and for inspiring kids to be scientists.

Well, it is more sexy than fracking.

re: #56 Targetpractice

Isn’t the whole purpose of gun buy back programs to take the guns out of circulation?

re: #86 Bulworth

He apparently was a good sniper. Not sure what the wingnuts want us to do with that.

Sounds to me that Other Loony Toon Bryan wants us to mourn him. Chris Kyle was a hero and his death sad but he was murdered outside of combat. Hell, I would ask them why don’t they support helping more vets like the one who killed Kyle get back into society after having being at war rather than giving cliches about bootstraps. Collins’ decision to come out is noteworthy because a gay professional team athlete can feel more comfortable being open about who he is. When Kobe Bryant, arguably a top 5 player of all time is supporting your decision, it’s got to feel a lot more easier than someone being a judgmental prick.

re: #88 Vicious Babushka

They apparently want him treated like a hero who died in combat.

Well I’m confused. For many years it seemed wingnuts didn’t want us reciting the names of those killed “over there”. Because Freedom and the Liberty or something.

re: #86 Bulworth

He apparently was a good sniper. Not sure what the wingnuts want us to do with that.

Having killed people while wearing a US Military uniform is enough, in wingnut land, to make one a walking god completely immune to reproach of any kind for any reason, and an inspirational hero to all people.

I really don’t want any lectures from wingnuts about supporting and respecting the military. Sorry wingnuts but when you have Bryan Fischer claiming that one of our latest CMOH winners “feminized” Medal of Honor because he saved lives then you’ve got no credibility on this. So tell Bryan off or otherwise stop trying to lecture us about Kyle.

Obama Press Conference?

Any leaks on the twitters as to what it’s about?

re: #70 blueraven

Zimmerman just testified and said he understands that his attorney will not be using pre-trial immunity (SYG)

Heh, I’m guessing the “Trayvon Martin Had It Coming” squad will be weighing in soon.

I have a bad feeling that the ultimate lesson from this whole mess is that in FL, you can get away with shooting unarmed black kids as long as you kill them first.

re: #95 iossarian

Obama Press Conference?

Any leaks on the twitters as to what it’s about?

As I’ve heard it, he intends to announce a veterans job program proposal.

I seem recall much Outrage when Nightline or some other show was going to recite the names of Americans killed in Afghanistan and Iraq and how the mere fact of reciting their names was exploiting them and opposing the war or something. Now one former soldier is killed back home in America after his service was complete and now nothing else can be talked about, ever, except BENGHAZI!

re: #97 Targetpractice

As I’ve heard it, he intends to announce a veterans job program proposal.

Apparently, Republicans have already opposed it because it because of Black Guy/White House Syndrome.

In all seriousness, assuming that’s what the speech is about, I cannot absolutely wait to see how the GOP will try to shit on this

re: #98 Bulworth

I seem recall much Outrage when Nightline or some other show was going to recite the names of Americans killed in Afghanistan and Iraq and how the mere fact of reciting their names was exploiting them and opposing the war or something. Now one former soldier is killed back home in America after his service was complete and now nothing else can be talked about, ever, except BENGHAZI!

Wingnuts love to make up random dichotomies, I guess that is easy to express within the Twitter limits.

Murder defendant George Zimmerman will not have a ‘stand your ground’ hearing before his trial; waives right in court - @orlandosentinel

— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) April 30, 2013

After all the talk of SYG, it’s not going to be utilized by the defense in the case. Zimmerman will still have the ability to claim other defenses (including self-defense), but prosecutors have just cleared a significant hurdle.

re: #101 lawhawk

After all the talk of SYG, it’s not going to be utilized by the defense in the case. Zimmerman will still have the ability to claim other defenses (including self-defense), but prosecutors have just cleared a significant hurdle.

My understanding is that they’ve waived the right to a pre-trial hearing, with understanding that SYG can still be invoked during the trial itself.

re: #100 Vicious Babushka

Are heroes better than yur heroes because Freedom and Gunz!!

re: #99 Mattand

Apparently, Republicans have already opposed it because it because of Black Guy/White House Syndrome.

In all seriousness, assuming that’s what the speech is about, I cannot absolutely wait to see how the GOP will try to shit on this

First guess? They’ll either go with “There’s Obama spending more money!” or “This is interfering in the free market!”

DERP
And if women didn’t have abortions:

DON’T MAKE ME PAY FOR FOOD STAMPS FOR THAT N[CLANG] SLUT’S BASTARDS!!11!1

Abortion is the leading cause of deaths among blacks.#genocide #tcot #p2 #ocra #OpSLAM #uniteblue twitter.com/GregWHoward/st…

— Greg Howard (@GregWHoward) April 27, 2013

re: #104 Targetpractice

First guess? They’ll either go with “There’s Obama spending more money!” or “This is interfering in the free market!”

My guess is that it will be “Obama is exploiting our vets for political purposes!”

re: #102 Targetpractice

My understanding is that they’ve waived the right to a pre-trial hearing, with understanding that SYG can still be invoked during the trial itself.

It can be requested but no guarantee at all. Not a good chance I think.

re: #106 Feline Fearless Leader

My guess is that it will be “Obama is exploiting our vets for political purposes!”

A good bet. Or they’ll agree to some of it but hold it up because of the chance that some of the vets are ZOMG ILLEGALS. Remember when they held up the 9/11 first responders relief benefits because of that? Yeah thanks for saving people on 9/11 but you may be an illegal immigrant, so sorry no benefits for you and yours.

re: #107 blueraven

It can be requested but no guarantee at all. Not a good chance I think.

Not really much choice. The defense doesn’t have the unlimited resources of the state, it’s been reliant on private donations to get this far. It’ll be lucky if it gets to the trial in a month’s time having deposed all the witnesses it wishes to call, done the research it feels it needs, and obtained the services of any experts it intends to have testify.

Mother of Michigan 7th grader describes The Diary of Anne Frank as “pornographic”

FUCK YOU ADOBE

re: #93 GunstarGreen

Having killed people while wearing a US Military uniform is enough, in wingnut land, to make one a walking god completely immune to reproach of any kind for any reason, and an inspirational hero to all people.

Unless that hero is a liberal.

first 2 part question…Ed Henry, Fox News

What about Syria?
Benghazi!!

re: #110 bratwurst

I have seen more “pornographic” material on the evening news. Does she let her daughter watch the evening news on television? Does she pre-screen that too?

re: #109 Targetpractice

Not really much choice. The defense doesn’t have the unlimited resources of the state, it’s been reliant on private donations to get this far. It’ll be lucky if it gets to the trial in a month’s time having deposed all the witnesses it wishes to call, done the research it feels it needs, and obtained the services of any experts it intends to have testify.

I really hate to sayit, but I am convinced Zimmermann will walk. Given the way the case was handled, it will be hard for the state to come up with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

re: #32 Vicious Babushka

STAY CLASSY WINGNUTS
(I apologize for the C-word this wingnut called me, but I dont’ know how to edit Tweets)
TOTALLY CLASSY WINGNUT TWEET

Rattlehead? What an appropriate name, for I bet his head rattles every time he moves it. All that empty space and just a few, mostly non-functioning brain cells.

re: #110 bratwurst

Mother of Michigan 7th grader describes The Diary of Anne Frank as “pornographic”

Hmm, it seems there is a passage that is questionable, that was not included in any previous editions.

re: #115 Sol Berdinowitz

I really hate to sayit, but I am convinced Zimmermann will walk. Given the way the case was handled, it will be hard for the state to come up with evidence beyond a reasonable doubt.

I’m personally expecting another Casey Anthony, where he will be acquitted on the murder charges, but caught on a minor charge that nets either no jail time or less than 5 years.

re: #117 Vicious Babushka

Hmm, it seems there is a passage that is questionable, that was not included in any previous editions.

OMG, young girls have a clitoris? That little bud of sinfulness that the Devil planted between their legs to lead men astray?

We know how certain cultures deal with it…both figuratively and physically…

re: #110 bratwurst

Mother of Michigan 7th grader describes The Diary of Anne Frank as “pornographic”

Oh, dear, Anne was interested in boys. And she had sex with Peter, talking about how she felt about it (though not describing the act itself). ooo, booga booga SEX, in front of 7th graders (~12 year olds).

Why do I think this is a woman who wants to pull half the Young Adults books off her library’s shelf as well?

re: #118 Targetpractice

I’m personally expecting another Casey Anthony, where he will be acquitted on the murder charges, but caught on a minor charge that nets either no jail time or less than 5 years.

That is my Best Case prognosis…it will be hard to let him walk without causing another round of protest, riots and more wingnut outrage at those who cannot accept justice.

From the people who refulse to accept the outcome of a free and fair election…

Sooo, 15K for catering at your daughter’s wedding? No problemo!

FBI agents are looking into the ties between Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, R, his wife Maureen, and the chief executive of Star Scientific, Jonnie R. Williams Sr, a major campaign donor to McDonnell who paid for $15,000 worth of catering at his daughter’s wedding. McDonnell did not disclose the donation in his 2012 filings

re: #120 kirkspencer

Oh, dear, Anne was interested in boys. And she had sex with Peter, talking about how she felt about it (though not describing the act itself). ooo, booga booga SEX, in front of 7th graders (~12 year olds).

Why do I think this is a woman who wants to pull half the Young Adults books off her library’s shelf as well?

Uh yeah, but I think that fixating on the ZOMG SEX parts in a group of excited teenagers kind of destroys the message that the book is intended to convey.

If they want graphic sex they can read Twilight or any of that other teenage crap.

re: #123 Vicious Babushka

Uh yeah, but I think that fixating on the ZOMG SEX parts in a group of excited teenagers kind of destroys the message that the book is intended to convey.

If they want graphic sex they can read Twilight or any of that other teenage crap.

I think it just highlights the fact that she was a girl with the same thoughts and feelings as they have. I don’t see anything wrong with it.

re: #117 Vicious Babushka

Hmm, it seems there is a passage that is questionable, that was not included in any previous editions.

Because tweens and teens NEVER think about sex.
at.all.ever.
That mom needs to keep telling herself that…

//

re: #110 bratwurst

Mother of Michigan 7th grader describes The Diary of Anne Frank as “pornographic”

How exactly did her mother hear about this pornography? This is nothing more than another piece of manufactured outrage.

re: #126 CarleeCork

How exactly did her mother hear about this pornography? This is nothing more than another piece of manufactured outrage.

Apparently her kid showed it to her.

re: #127 Vicious Babushka

Apparently her kid showed it to her.

well, if sex education wasn’t such a bad thing in schools, the kid could have asked a teacher about it instead of getting mom all embarrassed and stuff…

Question about Guantanamo hunger strikes.

Obama goes into long answer and says he is going to have another go at closing it.

re: #127 Vicious Babushka

Apparently her kid showed it to her.

I like how the outrage isn’t that she had to hide in a fucking attic for 2 years to avoid being hauled off to be forced into disease-ridden slave labor at a death camp, but rather that she mentioned her sinful naughty bits.

re: #130 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

I like how the outrage isn’t that she had to hide in a fucking attic for 2 years to avoid being hauled off to be forced into disease-ridden slave labor at a death camp, but rather that she mentioned her sinful naughty bits.

This passage was not included in the edition that I read in the 1960’s.

*FACE PALM*

Guess what, Obama? What if people don’t want health insurance? What if someone is just scraping by and can’t afford it? #tcot #tgdn

— Marissa (@builtmybusiness) April 30, 2013

re: #131 Vicious Babushka

This passage was not included in the edition that I read in the 1960’s.

No, it wasn’t. Most of us older folk read the edition that was edited by her father, Otto Frank. He removed the sex bits. He also removed passages that spoke poorly of himself.

re: #131 Vicious Babushka

Quoted from another site, because I can’t figure out how to directly link to the comment:

What is lost in excluding the passage is giving these 7th grade girls (who are after all on the cusp of puberty themselves) a possibly very meaningful and wholesome understanding of their own their own journey to womanhood and how that sometimes awkward and confusing experience is universal across time and culture.

Not to mention giving young boys an opportunity to glimpse and understand the process young women go through and perhaps develop some sensitivity to it.

Not to mention teaching all of them something about their humanity - and the humanity of these people who were set apart as different and marked for murder by the millions - in order to develop in them a sense of empathy for the suffering of others.

I have two young daughters. When they read the book, I’ll make sure it’s the unedited version.

Parents made a big deal out of Kaffir Boy as well based on the author’s description of boys being raped in exchange for food. I don’t see any reason for sheltering teens from real life.

14 Hairless Cats That Look Like Vladimir Putin

re: #136 NJDhockeyfan

It will not let me go past the sign in screen.

Poor Anne. A German girl who knew her in school spoke of the last time she saw her, Or just heard her, pleading for some food from the other side of the camp wall. Chilling, horrific, and Never Again.

re: #135 Sionainn

I have two young daughters. When they read the book, I’ll make sure it’s the unedited version.

Parents made a big deal out of Kaffir Boy as well based on the author’s description of boys being raped in exchange for food. I don’t see any reason for sheltering teens from real life.

Especially as seventh graders have access to material much MUCH more graphic online.

re: #137 PhillyPretzel

It will not let me go past the sign in screen.

Same here but I did get in there once.

Morning, Lizards.

I’m waiting for a call from my vet to go and pick up my old dog. We took him to hospital last night due to a cyst on his back that ruptured and were told it had to be removed ASAP.

The good news is that his blood work came back and there are no indications of any type of cancer. What a relief. Cody is a handful at his age - mostly blind, slow moving and damned stubborn. I’m pretty much his seeing-eye human at this point. But I couldn’t imagine life without him. So happy he’s gonna be around for another while.

re: #140 NJDhockeyfan

Same here but I did get in there once.

You and Sir Andrew Aguecheek!

(Been re-reading Twelfth Night recently - that was my old English teacher’s favorite line from the play - such pathos!)

Bryan digs in Teh Derp

Jason Collins proves no one “born that way.” Identical twin is straight. Concordance rate should be 100% but is only 6.7%.

— Bryan Fischer (@BryanJFischer) April 30, 2013

Full reference:

shakespeare.mit.edu

SIR ANDREW
  I was adored once too.

END THIS DAMN #TeaQuester!! #EPICFAIL #StuckonStupid #GOPfail #GOPLIES #DitchMitch #Dems2014 #uniteblue #FORWARD twitter.com/jimmacpam/stat…

— JimMcCarthy Jr. (@jimmacpam) April 30, 2013

re: #139 bratwurst

And in many of the books by Judy Blume! Right there on the shelf…ermehgerd!

re: #129 blueraven

Question about Guantanamo hunger strikes.

Obama goes into long answer and says he is going to have another go at closing it.

That would be nice. Late, but nice.

re: #141 makeitstop

Pets are such blessings at any stage of the game…glad this recent spell is not more serious…

re: #145 Vicious Babushka

this is so fitting given they just left to go on recess…probably by plane:)

re: #144 iossarian

Full reference:

shakespeare.mit.edu

“They flee from that sometime did seek me”poetryfoundation.org

Returning veterans - you can get a job at Walmart!

/sad trombone

re: #149 DisturbedEma

this is so fitting given they just left to go on recess…probably by plane:)

Yeah, they didn’t like the flight delays.

re: #90 Bulworth

Isn’t the whole purpose of gun buy back programs to take the guns out of circulation?

And the whole purpose of the resale requirement is to defeat that purpose.

No matter what the question, “more guns” is the answer. Or in this case “no fewer guns.”

re: #141 makeitstop

Good to hear. May Cody continue to be a handful for many years to come.

re: #133 kirkspencer

Interesting…I know the play was edited as well, one specific passage had to do with Anne’s statements about the treatment of Jews. It was changed to say something along the lines of that in her time, it was her people, and that in other times it was other groups. I remember my drama teacher pointing it out and not being sure why it was changed at all.

re: #152 Vicious Babushka

Sucks to live like us Muggles, huh Congress? Sorry in a Harry Potter escapism mood…

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

It’s really too bad that some people can’t read. They have to depend on Faux TV and Talk Radio for information.

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

Well there is Medicaid expansion.

Welfare!! Takers instead of Makers!! Free Stuff!! Handouts!!!Food Stamp president!!

Wingnuts list “Acts of War”

Barack Hussein Obama’s list of crimes is growing….. #tcot #tgdn #teaparty twitpic.com/cmpv4a

— Carl Quance (@CinderellaMan2) April 29, 2013

re: #148 DisturbedEma

Pets are such blessings at any stage of the game…glad this recent spell is not more serious…

Thank you.

The dog barely makes a peep when he’s here, but the house still seemed less alive last night. Today I get to bring him home, and that makes me happy.

re: #137 PhillyPretzel

It will not let me go past the sign in screen.

Try clicking the “stop loading” icon as soon as the page appears. That worked for me.

Obama: U.S. has evidence chemical weapons were used in Syria

U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the United States now has evidence that chemical weapons were used inside of Syria, but there is no indication of who used them and how.

In a surprise press conference on Tuesday morning, Obama told reporters he’s got to make sure he has the facts before deciding how to respond to evidence that chemical weapons were used.

Obama said there is “some evidence” that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government used chemical weapons against his people. But he said that’s a preliminary assessment based on intelligence information.

I’m curious to see how the US and the rest of the world will respond now that Obama has said chemical weapons were used in of Syria.

re: #105 Vicious Babushka

DERP
And if women didn’t have abortions:

13 million more Blacks since 1973 would have been about 5 million more Obama voters. They really don’t get demographics.

Hyperbole much?

ABORTION MACHINE!GLENN BECK: “Gosnell is the biggest mass murder of African American children in the history of the world.”#tcot #tgdn #p2

— Chris Denhart (@ChrizDDv3) April 30, 2013

re: #163 Decatur Deb

13 million more Blacks since 1973 would have been about 5 million more Obama voters. They really don’t get demographics.

People DO realize that this argument infantilizes African Americans? It kinda assumes that they really didn’t want to use abortion and had no pressing reason?

re: #162 NJDhockeyfan

Obama: U.S. has evidence chemical weapons were used in Syria

I’m curious to see how the US and the rest of the world will respond now that Obama has said chemical weapons were used in of Syria.

Kind of depends on who used them and how, doesn’t it?

re: #165 gwangung

People DO realize that this argument infantilizes African Americans? It kinda assumes that they really didn’t want to use abortion and had no pressing reason?

It presumes that they were all rounded up in an SS-like aktion and forced to have ABORTIONS AGAINST THEIR WILL.

re: #166 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Kind of depends on who used them and how, doesn’t it?

I had heard last year that the US and Israel had plans to go in and secure the chemical weapons if there was a threat of them being used. I’m curious to see if that report is true.

re: #168 NJDhockeyfan

I had heard last year that the US and Israel had plans to go in and secure the chemical weapons if there was a threat of them being used. I’m curious to see if that report is true.

Oh god I fucking hope not.

re: #159 Vicious Babushka

Wingnuts list “Acts of War”

It’s telling that the useless waste of air that made that graphic can’t even fucking spell the word “Imploding”.

Bunch of useless inbred fucks.

re: #169 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Oh god I fucking hope not.

The reports on chem weapons are just weird—they’re not the kind of thing that can be useful in close quarters fighting. Yesterday there was a description of a battle in or around a Sarin plant. That would be suicidal.

WINGNUT DICHOTOMY

Obama’s handling of Chris Kyle vs Jason Collins. #tcot #teaparty #gop #uniteblue twitter.com/s33k_truth/sta…

— S33k Truth (@s33k_truth) April 30, 2013

Somehow, Chuck Doherty died in Iraq.

The company he was working for claimed it was a heart attack. The company delayed shipping his body back for weeks. When they did, they shipped it back without his heart. Then they told the family they’d have to pay for the cost of shipping back the heart. When the heart came, a significant portion had been removed, and there was no sign of a heart attack.

courthousenews.com

Literally cutting out a guy’s heart. What the fuck?

re: #160 makeitstop

There is a sense of quiet presence with older pets, you just know when they are there…I think your heart hears them

re: #173 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Somehow, Chuck Doherty died in Iraq.

The company he was working for claimed it was a heart attack. The company delayed shipping his body back for weeks. When they did, they shipped it back without his heart. Then they told the family they’d have to pay for the cost of shipping back the heart. When the heart came, a significant portion had been removed, and there was no sign of a heart attack.

courthousenews.com

Literally cutting out a guy’s heart. What the fuck?

I saw that on an episode of NCIS!

re: #171 Decatur Deb

The reports on chem weapons are just weird—they’re not the kind of thing that can be useful in close quarters fighting. Yesterday there was a description of a battle in or around a Sarin plant. That would be suicidal.

You mean this one?

Rebels battle Syrian army near chemical weapons site

Syrian government and rebel forces battled near a chemical weapons site in Damascus Sunday, a day after unsubstantiated reports surfaced of an Israeli air strike on a similar site near the capital.

President Bashar Assad’s army counterattacked for the third day in an attempt to drive rebels out of main areas of the capital Damascus. Reuters reported that the battles took place place near the Scientific Studies and Research Center in the Barzeh district of the capital, which has been reported to be a chemical weapons site.

…Both Israel and Western governments are concerned about the fate of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles, one of the largest in the world, and the possibility that such weapons of mass destruction could fall into the hands of Syrian rebels or Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Sunday’s clashes followed a Maariv report, citing the Free Syrian Army, which claimed that Israeli jets struck a chemical weapons site near the Syrian capital.

Neither the Syrian nor Israeli governments responded to the report, which didn’t specify which site was allegedly struck.

Bad shit going on out there.

re: #171 Decatur Deb

The reports on chem weapons are just weird—they’re not the kind of thing that can be useful in close quarters fighting. Yesterday there was a description of a battle in or around a Sarin plant. That would be suicidal.

It’s like they’re a fetish or something. Chemical weapons are not, except in ideal circumstances, superior to conventional weapons. They cost more, they expire quicker, they are harder to use, etc. etc. They are terror weapons, area denial weapons.

But the problem is once you make them, and you have them sitting around, well, why not use them? Especially if you’re out of the conventional shells/bombs/forks.

re: #166 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

Last I heard Israel couldn’t confirm Sarin…did I miss it?

re: #175 Vicious Babushka

I saw that on an episode of NCIS!

Truth imitates fiction.

re: #179 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

Truth imitates fiction.

Maybe that’s where they got the idea?

re: #159 Vicious Babushka

Initial Caps Make Everything More Believable.

re: #168 NJDhockeyfan

I had heard last year that the US and Israel had plans to go in and secure the chemical weapons if there was a threat of them being used. I’m curious to see if that report is true.

There’s plans alright - the military games out all kinds of scenarios. But from what I’ve seen and read, it would take something like 65,000 troops to do the job across Syria.

Syria has a robust chemical weapons production infrastructure and has dispersed those weapons to sites across the country. Many are secure thus far, but others are far less so and are in areas where battles are still being fought (one major facility is on the outskirts of Aleppo).

Airstrikes would be problematic because it could disperse the weapon agents (sarin, GB, etc., and some of those persist - meaning that exposure could occur for hours or days after the attack occurs). It could also open up previously secure sites to terrorists gaining access or 3d party bystanders scrounging around coming into contact with the weapons.

Sending in special forces presents its own problems - they need to have sufficient expertise in dealing with dismantling and neutralizing the agents, whether they’re in warheads or stored separately. That takes time and exposes those missions to Assad forces looking to restore their control.

There are a multitude of problems - and while the most beneficial outcome is a peaceful transfer from Assad to another entity/regime that allows dismantling of the WMD programs in an orderly fashion, that’s not likely to occur unless someone gives Assad a golden parachute and entices him to quit the country. And that’s something that he’s resisted (and why the war continues).

That said, there may be plans for the US or Israelis (or even Turkey or Jordan) to go in and secure some of the larger storage facilities to keep them from falling into the hands of AQ affiliated groups - perhaps if there’s intel showing that they’re on the verge of getting into those facilities. Not necessarily to dismantle or destroy, but to act as a securing force preventing anyone from getting at them. It would require UN action as well, and it might be something on which even Russia and China would support, but that’s far from clear - perhaps something along the lines of a WMD rapid reaction group to secure those sites from use. Complicating matters is that Syria isn’t a signatory to the CWT.

re: #181 jaunte

Initial Caps Make Everything More Believable.

I’m Still Trying To Figure Out How Increasing Food Stamps Is A War Crime

re: #178 DisturbedEma

Last I heard Israel couldn’t confirm Sarin…did I miss it?

Syria accused of chemical weapon use by Israel

A senior Israeli military intelligence official said on Tuesday that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad used chemical weapons last month in his battle against insurgent groups.

It was the first time that Israel has accused the embattled Syrian leader of using his stockpile of nonconventional weapons.

…”To the best of our professional understanding, the regime used lethal chemical weapons against the militants in a series of incidents over the past months, including the relatively famous incident of March 19,” Brun said. “Shrunken pupils, foaming at the mouth and other signs indicate, in our view, that lethal chemical weapons were used.”

He said sarin, a lethal nerve agent, was probably used. He also said the Syrian regime was using less lethal chemical weapons, and that Russia has continued to arm the Syrian military with weapons such as advanced SA-17 air defence missiles.

Sounds like nothing is definite but the pictures of the bodies appear to be victims of sarin.

re: #176 NJDhockeyfan

You mean this one?

Rebels battle Syrian army near chemical weapons site

Bad shit going on out there.

Yeah—probably the report I saw. Bad reporting going on out there, too.

re: #185 Decatur Deb

Yeah—probably the report I saw. Bad reporting going on out there, too.

That was CBC, not CNN.
//

re: #185 Decatur Deb

Accurate and good reporting is tough in Syria when Assad controls the media outlets and prevents independent journalists from getting into the story to cover things. Reporters will attempt to find their own way, but that also means dealing with rebel groups who have an agenda of their own.

And if Obama had called Kyle’s family, we don’t know 100% that he didn’t but made it a private affair, they’d accuse him of exploiting the tragedy of his death. Fuck them. Oh and I see Fischer’s claiming that because Collins’ twin is straight and twins are genetically identical ergo homosexuality is a choice. Wonder how he explains a twin who is a murderer and another who is not. Man Fischer’s an idiot. Honestly, I’m of the thought that even if homosexuality is a choice, I don’t care.

re: #183 Vicious Babushka

I’m Still Trying To Figure Out How Increasing Food Stamps Is A War Crime

It’s Giving Aid And Comfort To The Enemy, If The Enemy Is People Who Can’t Afford To Buy All Their Own Food.

re: #182 lawhawk

I don’t know if we have the troops needed. We are stretched thin.

re: #184 NJDhockeyfan

Ah, thanks I missed that

Jerusalem museum exhibits mysterious ancient Hebrew stone as scholars debate its meaning

JERUSALEM — An ancient limestone tablet covered with a mysterious Hebrew text that features the archangel Gabriel is at the center of a new exhibit in Jerusalem, even as scholars continue to argue about what it means.

The so-called Gabriel Stone, a meter (three-foot)-tall tablet said to have been found 13 years ago on the banks of the Dead Sea, features 87 lines of an unknown prophetic text dated as early as the first century BC, at the time of the Second Jewish Temple.

Scholars see it as a portal into the religious ideas circulating in the Holy Land in the era when was Jesus was born. Its form is also unique — it is ink written on stone, not carved — and no other such religious text has been found in the region.

Curators at the Israel Museum, where the first exhibit dedicated to the stone is opening Wednesday, say it is the most important document found in the area since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A few pictures from around Ground Zero:

#1WTC awaiting the tip of its spire twitter.com/lawhawk/status…

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) April 30, 2013

Looking across Ground Zero at the Memorial Grove and #4WTC with #1WTC in foreground twitter.com/lawhawk/status…

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) April 30, 2013

The spire for #1WTC awaiting being hoisted and at the closest that all but select few will ever get to experience twitter.com/lawhawk/status…

— lawhawk (@lawhawk) April 30, 2013

The spire is about 100 feet tall, and when it’s finally hoisted and attached, it will bring the building to its symbolic height of 1,776 feet.

Really, what is the point of releasing all these spambots on Twitter? They don’t link to pr0n or malware, they just repeat wingnut talking points. Which in a way is kind of worse than pr0n but why would somebody do it?

re: #172 Vicious Babushka

Because one guy died and the other guy….what exactly?

I’ve wondered what the wingnut strategery about teh gay was going to be. I guess this is the best they’ve got. Also, too: Benghazi.

re: #194 Vicious Babushka

Really, what is the point of releasing all these spambots on Twitter? They don’t link to pr0n or malware, they just repeat wingnut talking points. Which in a way is kind of worse than pr0n but why would somebody do it?

For the same reason companies will sell you a large number of twitter followers: Social Media exposure.

re: #196 GunstarGreen

For the same reason companies will sell you a large number of twitter followers: Social Media exposure.

Are the creators of these spambots selling them to get certain topics trending? Because once the spambots swarm a topic, it becomes worthless.

re: #193 lawhawk

So this building is done? Hadn’t realized they had actually started rebuilding. #Doh

re: #193 lawhawk

This kinda sounds like a really big fuckin deal.

I see we had a little problem with our embedded MP3 files above - it’s fixed now.

LOL…Billboard advertisement in Columbia, SC uses Mark Sanford as literal poster boy for ashelymadison.com “discreet married dating service”

Life is Short. Have an affair

hss-prod.hss.aol.com

re: #201 blueraven

LOL…Billboard advertisement in Columbia, SC uses Mark Sanford as literal poster boy for ashelymadison.com “discreet married dating service”

Life is Short. Have an affair

hss-prod.hss.aol.com

Photoshopped?

Finland released a ton of WWII pictures. Some are really cool.

re: #198 Bulworth

1WTC will be completed and ready for occupancy some time next year. They’re still cladding the exterior upper floors and the podium base (they waited to do so in order to expedite materials being delivered to upper floors) and they can finish out interior spaces now that most of the building is sealed. The building is supposed to be LEED Gold certified.

4WTC should be ready for occupancy this fall.

re: #202 Dr. Matt

Photoshopped?

Nope

charleston.patch.com

Hey Charles, I have a suggestion: A ‘refresh featured pages’ button. Right now, in order to see if there are new pages, I have to open a page. This is a very trivial thing, but if there was some button up there that refreshed the list that’d remove a step.

re: #202 Dr. Matt

Photoshopped?

Nope.

abcnews4.com

re: #201 blueraven

I look forward to the day the owner of Ashley Madison just makes all the info public.

re: #208 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

I look forward to the day the owner of Ashley Madison just makes all the info public.

Never happen, man. Pimps got a code…

re: #207 Decatur Deb

Nope.

abcnews4.com

HAHAHA. Awesome

Beck: Conspiracy Theorists Work to ‘Plant the Seeds of Doubt Whenever and Wherever They Can’

Beck then went on to suggest that this is part of some sort of intentional disinformation campaign designed to confuse people and it is working because her claims ring true to those who do not trust America, which is a growing number of people since 9/11. Beck said that since people know that they cannot get the truth from the government or the media, conspiracy theories can more easily take root.

To prove his point, he said that in the aftermath of 9/11, nobody believed “the Truthers” because “we never would have believed that before” but now “all they have to do is plant the seeds of doubt whenever and wherever they can.”

And this, Beck suggested, is exactly what Tsarnaev’s mother is doing, leading him to declare that “I can’t help but wonder, is somebody coaching her”?

re: #200 Charles Johnson

Thanks. It seemed weird, but the players still worked to make sound.

re: #208 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

I look forward to the day the owner of Ashley Madison just makes all the info public.

Those commericals use to come on everyday on Sirius radio. I was pretty shocked such a site existed. I’m willing to make a Rmoney bet that 98% of the female profiles are fake.

re: #210 Dr. Matt

HAHAHA. Awesome

I like Sanford’s line from that article. Paraphrasing: My affair made me a better person because now I’m all humble and stuff.

That word “humble” - I do not think you know what it means.

Schlafly Wonders Why Immigration Officials Didn’t Check if Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Was Lying in his Citizenship Oath

In a syndicated column today, the Eagle Forum founder seizes on a report that some of the bombing suspects’ family members – all legal immigrants – received occasional welfare and food stamp assistance. “Tamerlan [Tsarnaev] can be said to have financed his radicalization with welfare handouts from our taxpayers,” she charges. She is also shocked that Tamerlan received a court-appointed attorney when he was charged with domestic violence in 2009.

Later in the column, Schlafly demands to know what immigration officials did when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taking his citizenship oath “to assure that Dzhokhar was not using the Koran-authorized practice of taqiyya, i.e., tell a lie in order to advance Muslim objectives.” Officials should have been tipped off, she says, by the first name of his older brother, which is common in Central Asia.

Later in the column, Schlafly demands to know what immigration officials did when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was taking his citizenship oath “to assure that Dzhokhar was not using the Koran-authorized practice of taqiyya, i.e., tell a lie in order to advance Muslim objectives.” Officials should have been tipped off, she says, by the first name of his older brother, which is common in Central Asia.

Yeah, we should all know when someone is practicing taqiyya. Jeebus.//

re: #214 iossarian

I like Sanford’s line from that article. Paraphrasing: My affair made me a better person because now I’m all humble and stuff.

That word “humble” - I do not think you know what it means.

Guy and his supporters must be delusional. You can’t get elected after that crap even in a licentious hellhole like NYC.

en.wikipedia.org

re: #209 Decatur Deb

Never happen, man. Pimps got a code…

This guy has a weird, weird, anti-marriage philosophy. I don’t think his motivations are the same as a pimp. He’s a deeply strange guy.

re: #211 Kragar

So Beck isn’t the real conspiracy theorist, the real conspiracy theorist is the bomber’s mother? FALSE FLAG!! //

re: #218 Glenn Beck’s Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut

This guy has a weird, weird, anti-marriage philosophy. I don’t think his motivations are the same as a pimp. He’s a deeply strange guy.

Hi$ motivation$ are the $ame.

re: #220 Decatur Deb

Hi$ motivation$ are the $ame.

Maybe. I think he might actually want to use the info to try to force the issue socially. Which isn’t really possible, but… anyway, you’re probably right.

re: #215 Kragar

Schlafly Wonders Why Immigration Officials Didn’t Check if Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Was Lying in his Citizenship Oath

Maybe Mrs Schlafly can explain how taqiyya is different from the Xtians’ “Lying for the Lord”.

re: #211 Kragar

*facepalm* Rather rich coming from a guy who peddles more conspiracies this side of Alex Jones.

re: #117 Vicious Babushka

Hmm, it seems there is a passage that is questionable, that was not included in any previous editions.

Questionable? Seems to me, what she wrote was quite accurate.

re: #211 Kragar

Beck: Conspiracy Theorists Work to ‘Plant the Seeds of Doubt Whenever and Wherever They Can’

To prove his point, he said that in the aftermath of 9/11, nobody believed “the Truthers” because “we never would have believed that before” but now “all they have to do is plant the seeds of doubt whenever and wherever they can.”

And this, Beck suggested, is exactly what Tsarnaev’s mother is doing, leading him to declare that “I can’t help but wonder, is somebody coaching her”?

Reverse 1-1/2 somersault with 3-1/2 twists, degree of difficulty 3.3.

re: #132 Vicious Babushka

The Republican party is sure good at attracting idiots. What’s their secret?