Friday Afternoon Links – The Sexist Links of the Week

by | Jul 24, 2020 | Daily Links | 374 comments

Politics are annoying. Here’s some interesting stuff.

On Monday Space X not only landed their rocket but also managed to catch both the payload fairings.

I have no desire to do this, but I’m glad other people do.

Campfires on the sun.

There’s a comet out. Hang around after dark and look just below the big dipper. Binoculars help.

Infrared Zeppelin

Perseverance is now powered up and ready to launch next week.

Actual photos of exoplanets.

Texas preparing for a flood of Covid deaths.

Never apologize.

About The Author

Mad Scientist

Mad Scientist

Mad Scientist enjoys racing, wrenching, and telling his wife to take the dog if she wants a long walk on the beach.

374 Comments

  1. Yusef drives a Kia

    I love Rockets, Elon is a Mad Genius,

  2. UnCivilServant

    Actual photos of exoplanets.

    Now that is cool.

    Kinda reminds me of the Voyager picture of Earth from the outer solar system.

    • hayeksplosives

      V’Ger!

  3. Count Potato

    Mad Scientist is SPACE HAT.

    • zwak

      Does that make HM ASS HAT?

  4. Grosspatzer

    Campfires on the sun

    Those pictures are cool. But where are the campfire girls?

    • SugarFree

      They burned up, dummy. C’mon!

      • Grosspatzer

        Right, they were hot! /10-year-old me

  5. Count Potato

    “Federal agents violently clashed with about 2,000 Portland protesters overnight just hours after the Justice Department said it was investigating the use of force during demonstrations and President Trump threatened to send 60,000 officers into more cities.

    The bloody standoff between protesters and authorities, which lasted into the early hours of Friday, marked the 57th straight day of unrest in Oregon’s largest city as residents continue to demonstrate against racism and police brutality.”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8556899/Federal-agents-violently-clash-Portland-protesters-57th-night-unrest.html

    What a complete shitshow. And no, they are not “protestors”, they are not “demonstrating”, and it’s not “against racism and police brutality”.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Spread those lies DM! keep getting them clicks!
      Fuck i hate that Rag!

      • Count Potato

        It’s almost every outlet.

    • The Other Kevin

      Of course they’re not protesting. They have no demands. They are being destructive just to be destructive.

    • Rhywun

      as residents continue to demonstrate against racism and police brutality

      Yeah, it’s preposterous that we are still expected to believe this.

      • Count Potato

        Yet, people do, because they hear it constantly.

    • leon

      Federal agents violently clashed with about 2,000 Portland protesters overnightjust hours after the Justice Department said it was investigating the use of force during demonstrations and President Trump threatened to send 60,000 officers into more cities.

      The bloody standoff between protesters and authorities, which lasted into the early hours of Friday, marked the 57th straight day of unrest in Oregon’s largest city as residents continue to demonstrate against racism and police brutality.

      I couldn’t find how many showed up to the BLM standoff with Bundy, but the feds are rapidly approaching a “It doesn’t matter how legitimate you think your claims are, there aint enough of you to do anything about it”.

    • hayeksplosives

      An African American described having Asian and white neighbors who wanted to engage with him to hear what he thinks of all this.

      To his great annoyance, a white “protester” then came up and said “don’t talk to him! Fuck the police!”

      He was rather miffed at the lefty white SJW telling him who to talk to and assuming how he felt.

      • The Other Kevin

        This might be my white privilege talking, but I think I’d be pretty insulted right now if I were a black person, and people were out there doing this stuff “on my behalf.”

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        +3/5

      • invisible finger

        You joke, but didn’t over60% of Native Americans polled not get offended by “redskins”?

        Natives called Europeans “White Man” and now we’re supposed to capitalize black, but Native Americans are a people of color which cannot be uttered.

      • whahappan

        I thought it was 90%.

      • Dry_Gin_Wet_Farts

        I’ve seen two polls from recent years. Both show 90%+ approval. Turns out the Indians like things named for them. They also prefer to be called what they call themselves. Indians.

    • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

      I wonder about the charge that the Feds’ presence escalated the situation, because it seems to me that the Feds’ presence only made the media start paying attention to it.

    • R C Dean

      Federal agents violently clashed

      They truly do frame this as the feds being the instigators, piling onto a bunch of people just peacefully strolly down the road singing Kumbaya.

      I wonder about the charge that the Feds’ presence escalated the situation

      Well, the feds are fighting back. I guess in a sense that’s escalation.

      From what I have seen (granted, the limited POV of videos), if they could kettle the “protestors” attacking the courthouse, I think they could (and should) arrest every single one of them. Antifa isn’t stupid, though. I have seen videos where they warn their goons against getting kettled.

      Of course, the feds also have a ton of data from cell phones that they could use to arrest people. I’m the antifa shotcallers carry burners, but you might even be able to use data from those to locate or identify them.

      • Sean

        It’s got to be a goldmine of useful data.

  6. Grosspatzer

    ASTHROS is tentatively scheduled to launch off Antarctica in December 2023.

    Sloopy hardest hit?

    • Gdragon

      Garbage cans hardest hit? 😉

      • invisible finger

        I larfed.

      • Grosspatzer

        LOL

  7. Rebel Scum

    Texas preparing for a flood of Covid deaths.

    There will certainly be a large wave outbreak.

    • TARDIS

      The tide will not be in their favor.

      • Overt

        Water they going to do when that surge hits?

      • Grosspatzer

        Drown their sorrows?

      • Fourscore

        Now you’re sandbagging me.

  8. Rebel Scum

    6 Reasons Franklin D. Roosevelt was the WORST

    1. Literally Rounded Up 120,000 Japanese Americans, and put them in Concentration Camps.
    2. FDR Outlawed Private Ownership of Gold.
    3. FDR was Pen Pals With Mussolini, Whom he Admired.
    4. The Roosevelt Administration was Infested with Soviet-Russian Spies.
    5. FDR Hated the Press and Suppressed Free Speech.
    6. The Roosevelt administration seized and destroyed crops while Americans starved

    • Suthenboy

      Alternate list title: Top six reasons FDR is a Progressive hero

    • Tom Teriffic

      7. During WWII Roosevelt was actively sending nuclear weapons plans and materials to the Russians.

    • Tejicano

      How about the first federal gun ban?

      I realize that the NFA could be seen as simply being more even handed in trampling ALL rights rather than just focusing on a few of them. He was into equality – see?

  9. Count Potato

    “Three longtime SoulCycle instructors quit while slamming the fitness brand for remaining ‘silent’ on BLM, claiming it is ‘supporting racism and bigotry’, and ‘prioritizing profit over people’

    Three SoulCycle instructors have publicly resigned from their roles while accusing the company of ‘supporting racism and bigotry’ and ‘using the bodies’ of black women in ‘performative activism’.

    All three women – who have each worked for the fitness brand for more than five years – took to Instagram to call out SoulCycle for failing to promote inclusion and diversity within the company, while slamming its leadership for ‘prioritizing profit over people’.

    One instructor – Mary Kate Hurlbutt – accused the popular spin studio of ‘passing over… qualified [Black, Indigenous and people of color] for promotions’, while one black instructor – Soeuraya Wilson – claimed that SoulCycle had consistently used her images in ad campaigns in order to appear more diverse, but continued to ‘support racism and bigotry’ behind the scenes. ”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8556785/Three-SoulCycle-instructors-quit-accusations-racism-bigotry.html

    It sounds much like the CrossFit situation Ozy wrote about and that yoga studio in Denver. How is anyone supposed to able to run a business?

    • Grosspatzer

      Mary Kate Hurlbutt??? Best timeline ever.

    • Animal

      How is anyone supposed to able to run a business?

      You’re not. Feature, not bug.

      • mrfamous

        You bastard! My ass had been drug free for quite some time, too.

    • mrfamous

      “How is anyone supposed to able to run a business?”

      A feature, not a bug.

    • Nephilium

      Oh. My. God.

      The spin studio I went to has sent me zero political messaging, and hasn’t had any political messaging in the classes I go to (they do offer to do fundraising classes for different charities, I avoid those classes).

      So… should I up my subscription with them?

    • invisible finger

      Entrepreneurship be raciss.

    • Suthenboy

      “How is anyone supposed to able to run a business?”

      You arent. BLM is an explicitly marxist/communist organization.

    • Rhywun

      publicly resigned from their roles

      That’s classy.

      PS. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

      • invisible finger

        At least I can drink while working from home. Who the fuck has a meeting on Friday at 4:30 pm???

      • hayeksplosives

        I hear you, brother! I have another 1.5 hours of meeting to slog through.

        Not sure if (static noise) my phone signal can hold up…

      • Ted S.

        Somebody in the mail room was having trouble with their printer all week, and the IT guy came in and “fixed” it twice, only for it not to work and constantly be out of paper when everybody could see the paper bin was quite full.

        It turned out a faulty driver meant it was configured only to print on A4 paper instead of US letter-sized paper, so the printer kept giving error messages about not having paper.

      • UnCivilServant

        Well, it was out of A4 paper.

      • Negroni Please

        PC load letter? WTF does that mean?

      • Nephilium

        Paper Cartridge empty. Load Letter sized paper.

      • TARDIS

        +1 pc load

        That’s the new .38 spl round, right? It squirts salty ham tears right out of the muzzle.

      • Nephilium

        KK: I know what the reference is from, and it still annoys me that they had “IT People” claim to not know what it means.

      • Lackadaisical

        He lives.

    • Tom Teriffic

      And any visit to Taufledermaus is, by definition, worthwhile.

  10. Animal

    Actual photos of exoplanets.

    Man, how I’d love to go Out There. I’ve read about it, written about it, dreamed about it, but I’m never going to get to do it. But what an adventure!

    • UnCivilServant

      I just want to see what’s out there.

      • Count Potato

        Space, mostly.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Why do you think I want be a Cylon Raider? Off and Away!

      • Rhywun

        Because maybe some day Starbuck might crawl inside and manipulate you?

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I would be the one manipulating, IYKWIMAIKYD

      • UnCivilServant

        Hold on, find out which starbuck he’s talking about first.

      • pan fried wylie

        He’d be a robot starfighter, does it really matter if the pilot is male or female?

      • Count Potato

        I could never get into that show. Was the bad acting on purpose?

      • Rhywun

        I don’t even know who you are any more.

      • Count Potato

        That’s just the drugs talking.

        Are you feeling better?

      • Rhywun

        I’m not on any drugs, so I guess?

        One day at a time.

      • Chafed

        You got a shout out in last Sunday’s GlibFit Rhywun. Take a look.

      • Rhywun

        ?

        Best scream ever.

      • Overt

        We watched the entire thing, but only because we were so far in and heard that it was ending. As soon as it was clear that the writers had no idea what they meant when they said “These are the Cylons and they have a plan”, it was really just about the closure for me…kind of like how the family of the victim decides to watch the murderer get the chair.

    • Suthenboy

      Count yourself lucky.

      Most of what is out there is likely lifeless hellscapes and where there is life it will probably be inhospitable and appear nightmarish to us.

      • bacon-magic

        Portland?

      • Animal

        That would be the fun part.

    • bacon-magic

      We need to get off this rock, it’s the next step in our evolution.

  11. KibbledKristen

    I was involved in SpaceX’s “return to flight” after their test fire disaster with Zuck’s satellite. It was amazing & emotional.

    • bacon-magic

      Now that’s freakin’ cool.

  12. KibbledKristen

    Texas preparing for a flood of Covid deaths.

    What you did there? It has been seen bby me.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Yes, but you can’t hear, with the Telephones down,

      • Dry_Gin_Wet_Farts

        Pasting the link into the comment works. WordPress is weird.

    • pan fried wylie

      “Record rainfall results in spike of COVID deaths.”?

  13. The Late P Brooks

    “Three longtime SoulCycle instructors quit while slamming the fitness brand for remaining ‘silent’ on BLM, claiming it is ‘supporting racism and bigotry’, and ‘prioritizing profit over people’

    *tunes tiny violin*

  14. Rebel Scum

    Narrative, set, match.

    Pelosi said, “Let me say this president has been the biggest failure practically in the history of our country. A pandemic that is rolling. Trump virus I call it, it’s rolling like a freight train. It took nearly 100 days, just about 100 days to get the first 1 million. Just under 50 days to get to the second million, just over 25 days to get to the third million and now, just, what, 14, 17 days to get to the 4 million mark of people infected.”

    She added, “Just think if he had thought that these overrated tests weren’t overrated a long time ago how many lives could have been saved. But you said it very well, 4 million people, 18 straight weeks of people filing for unemployment insurance, a time when people are—millions of children are food insecure. Just so many people going to food banks who never thought they would. Evictions imminent because the moratorium will end. People are hungry. They’re concerned about their housing, the jobs, and the rest, and the Republicans are saying, well, let’s just wait around until Monday to see what we might be able to come to terms with among ourselves. Two months and eight days ago we put forth the HEROES bill, very responsible, lean and mean, exactly what we needed to open up our economy by testing, testing, testing, rewarding our heroes with assistance to state and local government and money in the pockets of the American people. In a very strong way. This all will expire in, like, a week.”

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      All Must Be Infected! Even if your not………………

    • Nephilium

      18 straight weeks of people filing for unemployment insurance

      Fuck you, you mendacious cunt. Could the massive amounts of people filing for unemployment have anything to do with the fact that the governors closed THE FUCKING BUSINESSES!

      • Grosspatzer

        You silly boy. Don’t you know governent creates jobs? What do businesses have to do with anything?

    • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

      It took nearly 100 days, just about 100 days to get the first 1 million. Just under 50 days to get to the second million, just over 25 days to get to the third million and now, just, what, 14, 17 days to get to the 4 million mark of people infected.”

      now do the debt, oh expert of the exponential

      • leon

        lol. Beat me to it.

    • leon

      “Let me say this president has been the biggest failure practically in the history of our country. A pandemic that is rolling. Trump virus I call it, it’s rolling like a freight train. It took nearly 100 days, just about 100 days to get the first 1 million. Just under 50 days to get to the second million, just over 25 days to get to the third million and now, just, what, 14, 17 days to get to the 4 million mark of people infected.”

      That is how exponential things work.

      • pan fried wylie

        Now let’s list some other exponential trends that also don’t involve any people dying.

    • Grosspatzer

      She chose the wrong career. Evil witches abound in every film genre, she could have made bank without even taking acting lessons. But instead she chose DC over Hollywood.

      • Negroni Please

        I believe lich is the term for an evil undead witch

      • Rhywun

        Oh, she’s making bank.

      • Grosspatzer

        In a sort of Robin Hood way, robbing the rich tax cattle and giving to the poor connected. As opposed to actually earning a living.

        How’s it going?

    • Suthenboy

      Shorter Pelosi: “Look what you made us do!”

    • Rhywun

      The DNC should be ashamed of itself for parading her in front of the cameras instead of letting her get the mental help she so obviously needs.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        They consider themselves lucky to have someone that sociopathic in charge.

      • Suthenboy

        Well….she did pal around with Jim Jones. That is pretty difficult to top.

      • invisible finger

        I’d bet $200 she’s either on anti-depressants or has a cocaine habit

      • Grosspatzer

        Why not both?

      • Ted S.

        Damn your nimble fingers!

    • Chafed

      Do we live on the same planet? That bill is anything but lean and mean. Testing doesn’t stop a virus from spreading. People are in financial distress in part from the virus and in larger part from state governments shutting down businesses.

      • pan fried wylie

        People are in financial distress in part from the virus

        I live on a planet where this statement is not true.

  15. Rebel Scum

    Gotta start the indoctrination young.

    A shocking video shot in Portland, Ore., and posted on Facebook Thursday afternoon, shows young children carrying signs reading, “F*** The Police,” “Eff Trump’s Goons,” and “F*** Ted Wheeler [Portland’s mayor].” This happened as part of the Black Lives Matter demonstration in front of the Justice Center in downtown Portland. The children appear to be pre-kindergarten age. When prompted, they raise their fists in the style of a Black Power protest and say, “F*** the police!” The caption says this occurred outside federal courthouse in Portland, scene of nightly protests against police brutality that have deteriorated into riots for almost two months.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      I despise people who do that to their kids.

    • pan fried wylie

      Did Hitler ever use children as human shields? Nikki prolly has, so this can’t be The Worst, I guess.

  16. SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

    does anybody have the link to the glib astronomy article from a few months back? I couldn’t find it in a cursory ddg search.

    I want to buy a telescope to use this fall, and want to make sure I’m taking the right considerations into account.

    • Mad Scientist
    • Suthenboy

      What price range?

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        sub-$700 with a manual mount, and I’m fine buying used. I couldn’t care less about it being super portable, but I’m not getting anything super big in that price range.

  17. Nephilium

    For those looking for a small oasis of a special brand of insanity, I’ve set up a happy hour for tonight.

    As a heads up, I’m currently planning on being on an island next week, far away from my home computer. So someone else will need to step up to host. I may try to join in, from an island, with a drink in hand.

    • Nephilium

      *sigh*

      I’ll kick it off tonight at 19:30 Eastern.

    • KibbledKristen

      Thanks Neph!!

      Palomas tonight again

      • Nephilium

        I’ve got two options for ice cream maker cocktails in the fridge at home. Tom Collins and Greyhounds. The choice is up to the girlfriend. Currently getting wings and beer at a local bar.

      • Sean

        Wings aren’t real food.

      • Nephilium

        That’s why I got them. I decided to try one of the places dry rubs. I need to remember not to do that again.

        Goldie Hot or Fricken Stupid Hot FTW.

      • KibbledKristen

        What did Yoda say about trying?

      • hayeksplosives

        Midiclorians was the shark jump of the Star Wars franchise.

      • TARDIS

        *applause*

      • KibbledKristen

        My reaction when I heard “midiclorians” was the same as when I heard “the planet Zeist”

      • Chafed

        How did any of you get that far? I saw the ewoks and bailed. It was clear Star Wars was no longer about storytelling. It was just about merchandising.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Asshole

      I want an island too.

      • Nephilium

        I don’t own it. Just taking the girlfriend there next weekend. It’s technically in Ohio.

      • This Machine

        Wait, Put-In-Bay?

        You must wanna get R A T C H E T.

      • Nephilium

        Yep. The girlfriend has never been there. As all of our other trips have been cancelled this seemed like an appropriate time. We may fit a trip in to go to Cedar Point. They’ve dropped the reservation system due to lower than expected attendance.

      • This Machine

        Nice! If she’s never been before, she’s in for a treat.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Do I need a password?

      • Nephilium

        One is by default required. The link should get you in with it (it’s embedded in the link).

        Meeting ID: 862 4926 3447

        Password: 779976

  18. Scruffy Nerfherder

    That cake idea was stolen from the Hannibal tv series. But that would have sounded too uncultured.

    • Chipwooder

      Dr Lecter was very cultured, though. Even when he ate people, he managed to turn them into haute cuisine.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Season 3 was such a letdown

  19. grrizzly

    Got this by email from Zagat.

    A Portland Chef Organizes Restaurant Workers As “Chef Bloc” Protest

    “Watching the sheer brutality that the Portland Police were inflicting on these protesters, that was the biggest turning point for me. … Seeing the bloc of moms and dads protesting, and seeing the way that everybody was trying to come together—those moms and dads were the biggest inspiration for me. I said, ‘If we can get some chefs and line cooks in here, then we could stand in solidarity. And we can also highlight issues that are specific to our industry as well.’”

      • Chafed

        The feds ought to relocate the federal courthouse and their offices to the suburbs. After that, the denizens of the Portland can do what they like. It seems as if they really want the place to go to hell.

    • Suthenboy

      That is some mendacity there.
      Are we over run with commie cockroaches?

      *Searches for can of Raid*

      • Chipwooder

        We aren’t, but Portland certainly is.

    • Chipwooder

      I cannot possibly roll my eyes enough.

    • invisible finger

      “issues that are specific to our industry”

      Cheapskate customers don’t tip 50%?

      • Suthenboy

        I wonder what he will have to say while he is slinging gruel in a camp for deplorables while he waits for his turn against the wall.

    • The Other Kevin

      Thanks buddy! We’ll be sure to burn down your restaurant last!

      • hayeksplosives

        “Hey, Sully. Remember when I said I’d kill you last? I lied.”

      • UnCivilServant

        You need more of a pause so the other person can respond.

      • Grosspatzer

        Well, he did let him go.

    • Grosspatzer

      When Portland implements commonsense knife control he’ll be unemployed.

      • invisible finger

        No, he’ll get an exemption. But he’ll be required to cut each customer’s food to their liking.

    • Rhywun

      When I was a kid, I used to love going to protests, throwing rocks at cops and stuff.

      LOL

      Normal Portland childhood, I guess.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Ahh, the heady days of the WTO riots.

        Five says he didn’t even grow up in Oregon.

      • Nephilium

        No bet.

        /remembers stories from older SHARPs.

    • KibbledKristen

      This whole situation is confusing to me because I hate both cops and rioters, and for the same reasons.

      • kinnath

        Rival gangs.

      • TARDIS

        One has spiffier uniforms tho.

      • kinnath

        Are we the bad guys?

      • TARDIS

        Well, we are outnumbered, so yeah. Wait, do we have uniforms?

    • Negroni Please

      Bike brigade? More like bitch brigade. I thought the whole point of joining a gang was so they would have your back when someone kicks the shit out of you.

      • The Other Kevin

        It’s more like a gang from a cartoon. “Let’s go Teen Gang!”

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        “6Th Graders!!!!”

      • Rhywun

        Scooters, assemble!

    • Drake

      I cannot comprehend living in Portland or Seattle. The day I snapped I would make the news.

    • RAHeinlein

      Inspirational.

    • Gustave Lytton

      I will donate to that guy’s legal fund.

      • Chafed

        #MeToo

  20. Scruffy Nerfherder

    Looks like WaPo settled with Sandmann

    • The Other Kevin

      He can’t tell how much he got, but it would be hilarious if he donated a specific high-dollar amount to the Trump campaign.

    • C. Anacreon

      Free Amazon Prime for five years!

    • Drake

      Enjoy that sweet Bezos cash!

  21. The Late P Brooks

    I like how those brave bikers all immediately jumped to their brother’s aid.

    “Whoa, doood.”

    Peace out.

    • Viking1865

      Cops will track him down and arrest him for assault.

      • TARDIS

        That’s a big ass Zeppelin.

        Fun Zeppelin

    • Not Adahn

      Yeah, the guys is guilty of assault, but that dude’s comrades are straight-up cowards.

    • Grosspatzer

      “Pinkflow Cooler”. Should be a big hit with the incel community.

      • Sensei

        I’ve given up trying to find retail motherboards and GPUs that don’t have RGB LEDs.

        My case is totally closed so I don’t seem them. And they can be handy for illumination when troubleshooting.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        That crap is annoying

    • Nephilium

      Ok. WTF is with Youtube trying to show me an ad for a Kickstarter to “sanitize my phone” before every video now?

      • Sensei

        It knows…

      • Rhywun

        They must have just changed their ad code because I get ads before every video now whereas before they were blocked.

      • Nephilium

        Yeah. Rare ads for a long time, now a Kickstarter ad before every video I try to watch.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Just leave already. Let Portland own their problems.

    • RAHeinlein

      “The city has also constructed fences during the nearly two months of protests in Portland following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The first such fence was erected May 30 around the downtown Justice Center and gained a cult social media following as orders to not damage the fence were regularly given by officers.”

    • Rhywun

      ??

  22. tarran

    Every week I get a summary mailed by microsoft about activity drawn from the set of our corporations Yammer pages which consists of the ones to which I haven’t subscribed.

    For the past three weeks this summary has been dominated by links to conversations happening the in LGBTQ + Allies yammer page or the African American Kinship Village page. The SJW rot is spreading. Words like “privilege”, “whiteness” abound.

    There are three affinity groups our corporate overlords have seen fit to create: The LGBTQ++, the African American Kinship Village & the Veterans group. I have quietly discarded every email inviting me to join them (the previous two allow non-members in as allies). The veterans group is whiny too – albeit at about 5% of the whininess in the other groups.

    And they have classes on inclusion and cultural sensitivity that have appeared on our company training portal. I expect the announcement that we all have to take them is coming soon.

    The nice thing about working from home is that I can keep the webcam off, play the stuff in the background and get actual work done.

    But starting my own business is looking ever more attractive.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      How do companies have time to allow that crap?

      • UnCivilServant

        People with 5% of a FTE job trying to justify not being laid off.

      • Mad Scientist

        They fear if they don’t the employees will lose even more productivity. I mean, I work for a company that employs a huge number of Indians, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Viet Namese, South Africans, Germans, Irish, Ukrainians, etc., etc. There are some Muslim guys that come into my server room a few times a day, roll out their carpet thingies, and pray facing Mecca. No one cares. I’m not sure how we could get more diverse, and yet we have these inclusion and diversity training programs annually.

    • Overt

      Yes, I wrote about this a couple weeks ago. Our company (in the fortune 50) has these Employee Diversity Groups. Essentially, once a CEO hires a Chief Diversity Officer, and they have the EDGs in place, you have lost the company. The CDO has built a network of activists that know how to weaponize HR against any person who crosses them or pushes back against their increasingly marxist nonsense.

      Two years ago, these diversity groups were hosting Kwanza and Pride mixers. Today they are having White Fragility struggle sessions every lunch hour. And there is nothing that anyone can do about it. If you push back, they will complain about a hostile atmosphere. And if the CEO decides they have gone to far, they have to deal with the PR nightmare of all these people turning out to condemn said CEO on the Twatter.

      It is the Soviet Union’s Political Commissars.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Unions must be jealous of that power. They used to have it.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        this… but what many don’t realize is how much most of these c-suites are true believers. They’re not doing this to placate the mob. they’re doing this because they think it is the right thing to do.

  23. UnCivilServant

    I don’t have to say this often, but I was wrong. The results were not what I was predicting.

    • Nephilium

      Not the link I was expecting.

      • Nephilium

        What I think of when I see I Was Wrong as a link.

      • Nephilium

        Hell. I keep getting this stuck in my head after every mention of True Believers.

    • LCDR_Fish

      Very cool

    • EvilSheldon

      Me neither.

    • Not Adahn

      I knew he was a vet, but not an armadillo whisperer.

      • Not Adahn

        DezzarTac
        1 day ago
        The armadillo is your friend. Be a good friend and buy it a gun. Arm a ‘dillo.

      • Sensei

        OT. From our conversation earlier. Intel has completely fucked up 7nm and today announced it may have to outsource. Stock got crushed and multiple downgrades.

      • Not Adahn

        Considering a single scanner at that node will run you north of half a billion…

        oopsie.

      • Not Adahn

        When we scrapped our 7nm program, a lot of people were pretty livid, considering that we had spent 4 years and had yielding die.

        But the number crunchers said we couldn’t make a profit on it.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        They’re having a bad decade it seems.

    • UnCivilServant

      Huh, the YouTube walk now has me watching a cooper making a wooden bucket.

  24. hayeksplosives

    Helpful guidance from Pennsylvania.

    BARS AND RESTAURANTS

    Alcohol can only be served as part of a meal.

    Snack foods do not count as meals

    Customers can’t order more drinks once meal is finished.

    Casinos cannot provide drink service on casino floor

    This is from the Alcohol Control Board. This has NOTHING to do with covid and everything to do with MOAR GOVERNMENT CONTROL. From the party that is “liberal” and “tolerant.”

    • Sean

      Irish coffee hardest hit.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      I don’t get the casino one.

      • hayeksplosives

        It’s the alcohol control board. They are pushing the STOP button on everything in their jurisdiction. None of it makes sense.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Ah

        The alcohol commissioners are typically wannabe tyrants with power complexes. That makes more sense.

      • Nephilium

        PA has some insane alcohol laws already. So why am I guessing that every bar patron in PA is going to leave a bite of food on their plate as they drink all night?

      • mrfamous

        “Are you finished with that?”

        Not for at least two years. HANDS OFF!

      • Nephilium

        PA bars institute place holder food.

        /thinks of story of the PA bars that “technically” offer food. But you’d have to be dead drunk to order it.

      • pan fried wylie

        placeholder food

        “Hey, don’t put your finger in my ice cream.”

        “That’s Crisco, $5,000 fine.”

        “Crisco is food.”

    • Count Potato

      None of that makes any medical sense.

      • Rebel Scum

        It is not intended to. It is meant to control your behavior.

        It is interesting that leftists favor such social and economic regimentation while calling people who disagree “fascist”.

      • pan fried wylie

        Projection is not “interesting”.

      • pan fried wylie

        (unless we’re talking, like, laser dots on the moon. then I’m listening…)

    • Count Potato

      “Outrage as Cuomo tightens NYC outdoor dining rules to force struggling bars to sell a ‘substantial amount of food’ with drinks and not just $1 snacks after threatening to close ALL restaurants”

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8548801/Cuomo-tightens-NYC-outdoor-dining-rules-force-bars-sell-substantial-food.html

      “Beware the COVID menu police: California cracks down on outdoor restaurants with new rule that requires customers to order a ‘meal’ with alcohol – and wings, cheese sticks, calamari and fries are NOT considered meals”

      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8550183/California-lists-foods-arent-meals-COVID-dining-guidelines.html

      SCIENCE!!!!!

      • hayeksplosives

        I have a long history of eating items from the appetizer menu as a meal.

        FUCK. OFF. SLAVER.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        maybe that the way to attack it. good job you sexist assholes, you just banned something that disproportionately impacts women!

      • pan fried wylie

        My typical chinese takeout order consists of two quarts of soup and some combination of appetizers.

      • Nephilium
    • Ownbestenemy

      So a dessert cocktail is no longer acceptable? Or are fine dining exempt from these rules…

    • Dry_Gin_Wet_Farts

      Customers can’t order more drinks once meal is finished.

      Once I’ve ordered a meal, my drinking is done anyway.

      Casinos cannot provide drink service on casino floor

      Isn’t this the whole mechanism of casino profits? You get $40 worth of “free” drinks. Drop $1000 in the slot machine that pays out $34 in winnings.

      It’s like they are trying to crash the economy, or something.

      *adjusts tin foil hat*

    • Mad Scientist

      I’m surprised it’s not already illegal to fly a drone in Portland.

    • Drake

      Surprised they haven’t shot anyone with a laser after a couple of them were blinded. This shit is getting way too real – turning into Khe sanh.

  25. The Late P Brooks

    The Feds appear to taking the insurrectionists seriously.

    Clearing airspace for the drones pig-shit-dumping choppers.

    • Chipwooder

      Soon to be followed by the commie-dropping helos?

    • TARDIS

      Good, now let’s clarify treason and sedition.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Well you see an Eight Ball is slang an…………ooohh
      Nevermind

      • TARDIS

        You made me look that up. One extra tall can for you.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Thankee!

    • Fourscore

      Asking for Belushi? He knows the price he paid.

  26. Sean

    Biden commercial touting his Ebola response as an accomplishment. ?

    • hayeksplosives

      Proper Ebola response: cancel travel plans to affected village in Africa.

      That bug burn itself out too quickly to be a real epidemic threat.

  27. The Late P Brooks

    Mad Scientist- know anybody with a Datsun Z or 510 (roadster, maybe) who wants set of period-correct slotted “mags”?

    • Mad Scientist

      I know a few. Got a photo? How much?

    • pan fried wylie

      High capacity? *ducks*

    • one true athena

      oh wow, memories. I drove my mom’s 69 Datsun 510 during high school. I remember the speed topping out at about 75 (pedal on the floor, car shaking like it’s about to fall apart), even though the speedometer went to 120. lol

  28. pan fried wylie

    I had a question from the morning links, RE: UFOs

    Top secret aircraft being tested out of the Skunk Works.

    Do military aircraft have to have FAA-mandated lights on them, specifically brand-new ultrasecret machines.

    I can’t imagine what seeing a B2 in a dark (even dark-ish) sky with no typical blinking lights would be like. Freaky, at the least.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      They’re generally limited to military airspace. I don’t know about the lights. I imagine the military thumbs its nose at the FAA because they can.

      • pan fried wylie

        I didn’t realize military air space was a thing. Like, in the sense that it restricts where military aircraft go. I figured it was for restricting non-military aircraft.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        It’s usually an altitude exclusion for non military aircraft. Sometimes it’s a geographic area across all altitudes.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        IIRC everything over 60,000 is considered military.

      • Ownbestenemy

        Not necessarily. It must be designated via TFR or via normal airspace maps.

        So Groom Lake is permanently a restricted airspace and they may expand it with a TFR if exercises are going on.

      • Dry_Gin_Wet_Farts

        I’m not aware of any civilian aircraft with a service ceiling over FL450. I could be wrong, though.

      • Ownbestenemy

        True…FAA only regulates up to FL600

      • Ownbestenemy

        All aircraft have the lights but don’t always mean they will use em. If military craft are in anything other than military controlled airspace, they are supposed to use them like any deplorable flying a plane.

        Out in restricted airspace it becomes more complicated.

      • Ownbestenemy

        FAA and military have an actually good relationship so long as they each follow the rules.

      • Rebel Scum

        They all ‘have’ the lights, but probably do not use them if they are secret projects.

    • hayeksplosives

      It is, especially on a clear night in the high desert in the American West. You are looking at the perfect starry sky.

      Suddenly a slight shimmer catches your eye, and you realize you are looking at the absence of starlight.

      Freakiest are the quiet helicopters, because they hover. First one, then another, and another.

      • pan fried wylie

        The perfect starry sky. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. Sigh.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        It’s Awesome, literally

      • pan fried wylie

        But not ‘fantastic’.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        No, it’s quite Real looking……………

      • pan fried wylie

        This guy gets it.

        NOT EVERY FUCKING WORD MEANS ‘GOOD’, GODDAMIT.

      • LCDR_Fish

        Get out to sea. Floating on the equator a few hundred miles off the coast of Panama (minimal onboard lighting) – you can see everything. Even better than lying on the beach on Mindoro.

      • pan fried wylie

        I’ve never been to sea either. Rowboat on a manmade lake, tourboat on the Chesapeake. That’s the entirety of my watercraft experience. Unless tubing counts.

        I’m not a fan of water I can’t see the bottom of.

      • dbleagle

        A moonless night far from shore is amazing. There are so many stars visible it is hard to pick out the constellations. Then the moment you realize you see the Great Andromeda Galaxy with your unaided eyes is “Wooooooh”.

  29. The Late P Brooks

    I will follow up with pics and price tomorrow. And a contact method.

    I’m thinking they ought to be worth $75/ea.

    • hayeksplosives

      This is an unfortunate post to use the signature “Late P Brooks” unthreaded format..:

      • pan fried wylie

        Only if there’s more than one “anybody want this thing/stuff” post above it.

    • Mad Scientist

      OK. I know a guy who does restorations on Zs. I’ll forward to him.

  30. mrfamous

    Central Planning, Arizona gym edition:

    https://ktar.com/story/3427706/arizona-releases-draft-of-requirements-for-gyms-to-reopen-but-no-date/

    Anyhow, looking for suggestions for escape trip out of town. Think I’ve narrowed it down to either the Pensacola general vicinity or Sioux Falls, SD. Pensacola could be riskier because who knows what could be going on with COVID madness by the time I fly out. South Dakota seems like it’s just gonna be South Dakota regardless.

    • This Machine

      I lived in Navarre/Ft Walton Beach area for a couple years, it’s about 45 minutes up the road from Pensacola and I’d go there on occasion if I had friends or family in town. It’s clean and fairly casual and there are plenty of good restaurants and bars (that hopefully are not defunct right now). One of our other commenters may be able to give you more up to date info though.

    • Fourscore

      Rapid City, SD, nice town, nice location

    • Gender Traitor

      Yikes! It’s been a while, but I remember reading some of his columns at Townhall some time ago. Did he ever write anything about the Clintons?

    • Count Potato

      “Of the shutdowns caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Adams tweeted, “This evening I ate pizza and drank beer with six guys at a six seat table top. I almost felt like a free man who was not living in the slave state of North Carolina.”

      Adams, who is white, ended the tweet with: “Massa Cooper, let my people go!”

      Several Change.org petitions calling for his removal from the university gained thousands of signatures. UNCW issued a statement in June calling Adams’ tweets “vile” but stopped short of firing him.”

      It’s all so tiring.

      • hayeksplosives

        Wait, he was fired for THAT?!? That is considered a vile tweet on a platform that encourages women to celebrate their abortions?!?’

        Isn’t is obvious he was drawing an analogy? When I heard “vile tweet” I assumed he said some David Duke level stuff.

      • Nephilium

        He settled with the University and got a pretty hefty retirement boost.

    • grrizzly

      After the controversy, Adams announced he’d be retiring early and recently reached a $504,702 settlement with the university for lost salary and lost retirement benefits.

      While not millions, it’s still comfortable enough not to feel desperate. Suicide doesn’t seem likely.

    • TARDIS

      Every time you post these, I have the same thought. Why is the world afraid of female nipples?

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        *runs away while flailing arms*

      • TARDIS

        I just bonked my face into my new monitor, asshoe. I don’t care about my face, but I almost knocked it off my desk. I don’t want to buy a another right now.

      • Gender Traitor

        Why is the world afraid of female nipples?

        I have that same thought every weekend when I want to put on a tee shirt or other knit top and go out in public. #FreeTheTaTas

      • UnCivilServant

        It’s not the entire set we take issue with, it’s that most of those that are freed we wish would not be. For the record, I am also opposed to bare moobs.

        #putonashirtman

      • Gender Traitor

        Pro tip: A tie-dyed tee shirt with a large screen-printed graphic hides a multitude of sins. Or at least two.

      • pan fried wylie

        Tape on a couple roman candles, a boombox blasting a recording of some dude yelling “chicken spears” and you’re good to go!

      • TARDIS

        Agreed. When I am over 200 pounds; shirt,always.

  31. Derpetologist

    Anybody got a funny headline idea? I was thinking something along the lines of: Chuck E Cheese Wants Federal Aid to Flatten Whack-a-Mole Curve

    1940s Lumberjacks felling Redwoods in Northern California
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_FjfIQQfo

    Turns out they used to grow in many places, but then climate change and logging took a toll. The coastal ones were used for construction because they resist fire, termites, etc. The Sierra Nevada ones were protected from logging, even at the time.

    It would be cool if genetic engineering could be used to make a smaller, faster growing tree with the characteristics of a redwood.

    • Nephilium

      Sears wishes it had held out for another year to get a Federal Bailout.

      Punk concert promotes social distancing with individual mosh pits

      Buffalo strikes back against Cuomo with Buffalo Sandwiches

      • Derpetologist

        Order Restored in Portland After Mayor Blows Conch

        Ore-Ida Renames Redskin Potatoes ‘Potatoes of Color’

        Biden Announces Running Mate: Alligator Hand-puppet Named Snappy

        Math Declared Racist Because Answers Are Forced to the Back of the Book

      • Nephilium

        I like the last one. You could probably work in a 3/5ths joke in that as well.

      • Derpetologist

        [scribbles on notepad]

        5 out of 4 people have trouble with fractions.

      • Nephilium

        With COVID-19 testing showing a positive rate increase of 150%, everyone has been infected.

      • Derpetologist

        If present trends continue, 10 billion people will be infected with COVID by the year 2000!

      • Nephilium

        Derp:

        Obligatory

      • blackjack

        9 out 5 schizophrenics?

      • blackjack

        9 out OF 5

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Scientists Create Woke Singularity In Lab, Discover New Queer Particle

      • Derpetologist

        There is an Oh-my-god particle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh-My-God_particle

        ***
        The Oh-My-God particle’s energy was estimated as (3.2±0.9)×1020 eV, or 51 J. This is 20 million times more energetic than the highest energy measured in electromagnetic radiation emitted by an extragalactic object.[4] It had 1020 (100 quintillion) times the photon energy of visible light, equivalent to a 140 grams (5 oz) baseball travelling at about 26 m/s (94 km/h; 58 mph).
        ***

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Maybe it would be better as “Gender Scientists”

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Retail Outlets Minimize Overhead Costs By Giving Product Away To Mobs

        “We found that it was much cheaper since we didn’t have to pay a cashier or replace any broken windows.”

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        Student’s given ‘A’ for Critical Studies essay, but is expelled because essay was plagiarized from a Klan pamphlet.

      • Derpetologist

        I like the premise.

        Uganda Changes Its Name to Wakanda to Boost Tourism

        “Really, it’s just 3 letters. Why not give it a try?”

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        CNN mistakenly accuses rioter of cultural appropriation after mistaking galvanized pipe for a peace pipe

    • Gustave Lytton

      One problem is young trees have much wider grains (really growth rings). Faster growth is the opposite of what make those redwoods and other old growth so good.

      Here’s a now old timer using a spring board, like seen in the video, today

      https://youtu.be/oESB6Fw5wHk

      • dbleagle

        During the military camp building boom during WWII local woods were often used. The standard WWII barracks had single beams of wood running the entire distance of the floors and roofs. Each barracks was ~90 feet long and thousands were constructed. These tight grained long beams are often no longer available at any price- the trees just don’t exist.

        NC used the heart of Long Leaf Pine, in California is was redwood, Washington and Oregon . When the Army decided to finally get rid of the last of these about 10-12 years ago (less some for historical purposes) each state decided a different path. NC permitted the resale of the wood. So Ft Bragg etc. sold the barracks at a profit- the buyers touched up the wood and resold some glorious timber.

        California prohibited the sale because lead based paint, and worse than that lead based paint thinned out with lead based gasoline was used. The wood was also prohibited to burn or to place in a standard landfill. So the California taxpayers (with generous Fed assistance I am sure) constructed special hazardous material landfills to take the debris and seal it. Millions were spent on burying millions of dollars of valuable redwood.

        Idiots.

  32. Sean

    Dave Portnoy interviews Trump. 2020 keeps delivering.

  33. Fourscore

    I wore a bandana mask to Walmart today, told the greeter the last time I wore one was when I was 10 years old and needed to help Roy R at the Saturday matinee. Shit, then I remembered it was only the bad guys that wore masks…Gabby Hayes could have kicked my butt.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Did you get yourself some Trigger burgers?

    • Derpetologist

      Roy Roger’s is basically the same as Arby’s but I like RR better.

      Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, was a cargo plane pilot in WW2. He flew over the Himalayas many times.

      Himalaya means home of snow in Sanskrit. The correct pronunciation is hi-MAH-lah-yah.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Derp is our very own Cliff Claven

      • Derpetologist

        Did I ever tell you guys about the time I tried to work for the Post Office? I think I did.

  34. IntraveneousWoodChipper

    “ NASA to send football stadium-sized balloon to study light from newborn stars”

    NOTHING. LEFT. TO. CUT.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      It is not cost-effective for NASA to send people into space. Let the private guys do it.

      SLD aside, NASA unmanned probes have mostly worked out to be science treasure troves, generally for the cost of a few days of our continuing war effort.

      /science geek

  35. pan fried wylie

    From https://www.glibertarians.com/2019/11/whats-up-doc/

    Now make a closed fist and extend your arm. Place it just below Jupiter and look at 5 o’clock.

    For clarification, my arm is on axis to Jupiter and the clock face is normal to the axis?

    • dbleagle

      The planets have changed relative positions since that was published. Around 9pm local time look in the southeast. You’ll see a really bright star, that is Jupiter. With Jupiter as the middle of a clock look around the nine o’clock position about two-three spread thumb- pinky distances away. There will be a bright star (about 1/3 as bright as Jupiter) there. It is often a bit yellowish- that is Saturn. (Neither Jupiter or Saturn will twinkle like a star often does.)

      Mars comes up a bit later and is very red. Venus is in the morning now.

  36. Nephilium

    Gods damn it. Someone set a world record this weekend. They climbed over 68,500 feet in 24 hours. All by riding up one hill over and over.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      I can think of better ways to spend 24 hours.

      • Mad Scientist

        I can certainly think of better hills to climb.

      • pan fried wylie

        Most importantly, did they survive?

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      Clearly a Sisyphean effort….

    • Fourscore

      Life’s challenges, Neph, now you have a goal. I’m convinced you are the person that could best that number,
      even if it took you all day. Must also have unclimbed 68.5K feet, as well.

    • Rhywun

      Where is the rest of him…?

    • Rhywun

      “Smash the system” is catchier.

  37. LCDR_Fish

    Nearly 40 and I just participated in my first medical research study. It’ll all be worth it when I get that $150.

    https://uvahealth.com/clinicaltrials/brain-research-study-healthy-volunteers

    I did get to watch netflix while lying in the MRI for 90 min.

    This project is actually a partnership with a few other universities across the country – Utah, etc as well as a USAF medical unit – so might show up in your local area if you search for open projects.

    • KibbledKristen

      I made some scratch in college at NIH.

    • Chipwooder

      Heh….way back when I was a UVA student, a friend of mine used to make extra money by doing those medical studies all the time.

  38. Rhywun

    I just saw Biden’s mask-porn commercial. Good grief… he’s angling for the Karen vote, isn’t he.

    • hayeksplosives

      And he will get it.

      I apologize for womenkind.

    • hayeksplosives

      Green AF.

      • Sean

        Pure awesomeness.

    • Drake

      That is awesome.

  39. Sean

    Robby and his hair are on Tucker again tonight.

    • Drake

      The hair was extra dreamy.

    • Rhywun

      You know… I’ve never seen Robby’s hair and Donald’s hair in the same room.

    • Rhywun

      Nice.

  40. Don Escaped Spring Training

    no zoom that I can find ?

      • Don Escaped Spring Training

        well played

    • The Hyperbole

      Neph always calls it “happy hour” see comment 19

  41. Chipwooder

    Whoever it was who was asking about Pensacola…..I lived there for years, though I moved away in 2011. I’ll answer any questions I’m able to.

    Personally, if I was headed to the region for a vacation, I’d head further west to Baldwin County AL and go to Gulf Shores or Orange Beach (where I also lived for a little while).