Thursday Afternoon Links

by | Apr 6, 2023 | Daily Links | 249 comments

 

MOSTLY PEACEFUL FRENCH RIOTS OVER PENSION REFORMS CONTINUE: Nationwide protests against the French government’s plan to raise the retirement age for most workers from 62 to 64 have now entered their 11th day. The government triggered special constitutional powers last month to push the controversial legislation through parliament without a vote[…] BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has played no part in the pension reforms. But workers targeted the company because of its work for private pension funds.

GLIBS AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: Canadian company used 200-foot long railway to comply with Jones act. US court not amused, declares that the working railroad which actually shipped things was, somehow, not a real railroad. Fuck you, Judge Gleason, and show us where in the Jones act a minimum ship-by-rail distance is specified.

NRA – DOD’s SEEMINGLY GOOD INTENTIONS COULD HURT HUNTERS, SHOOTERS IN MILITARY: If they impose this on servicemembers you can be damn sure that we will hear the argument that these are commonsense gun restrictions and that if our servicemembers can live with them then so can you.

ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS LAWS AGAINST MISPRONUNCIATION OF WORDS: The proposed law seeks to stop “Anglomania,” which the bill’s text says “demeans and mortifies” Italian language and culture, and could even penalize Italians who mispronounce words like “bruschetta.” [Updated with link which was missing when this article was originally published.]

CLARENCE THOMAS HAS RICH FRIEND, TAGS ALONG ON VACAYS; LIBERALS OUTRAGED: Crow and his firm have not had a case before the Supreme Court since Thomas joined it, though the court periodically hears major cases that directly impact the real estate industry. Cry harder, Pro Publica.

FAT ACTIVIST SEEKS TO BAN WEIGHT DISCRIMINATION IN NYC: Ms. Abraham was among a group of people who testified recently on behalf of a bill that would prohibit discrimination in New York City based on a person’s weight or height in employment, housing and access to public accommodations. I wonder if the NYC government will have to install special fat people seating on buses and subway cars.

AUSTRALIAN CHARGED WITH PURLOINING PLATYPUS, TAKING IT ON SHOPPING TRIP: Australia, where even the cute wildlife has venomous spurs.

GLIBS WRITERS ALERT: Swiss says everything in Pending has been scheduled. We have content scheduled through next Tuesday (April 11). Please get your drafts into Pending, and your ideas into Draft.

 

Yep, it’s actually called “Mom Water,” and each flavor is a woman’s name. “Karen is Lemon Blueberry flavored Mom Water, and she is bold, daring, and unique.”

About The Author

Tonio

Tonio

Tonio is a Glibs shitposter, linkstar (Thursday PM, yo), author, and editor. He is also a GlibZoom personality and prankster. Tonio is a big fan of pic-a-nic baskets. His hobbies include salmon fishing, territorial displays, dumpster diving, and posing for wildlife photographers.

249 Comments

  1. Brochettaward

    FIRSTLO

  2. Count Potato

    The Jones Act is stupid.

  3. Cowboy

    Howdy,

    Surprised no links about Clarence Thomas. The left is going wild with those “bombshells”.

    • Tonio

      Um…

      • Pat

        I BUY IT FOR THE ARTICLES I SWEAR

    • Pat

      I only saw a headline on it 10 minutes ago.

      It’s not a good look for Thomas, tbh. On the other hand, it’s SOP for the D.C. parasite class. It’s also hilarious that the race-obsessed left is still seething about Clarence “Uncle” Thomas 30 fucking years later.

      • The Last American Hero

        It’s not like he took a paid trip to pedo island.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      The true believers are all over it.

      https://democraticunderground.com/100217800999

      Billionaire who funded Clarence Thomas’s vacations also gave thousands of dollars to Kyrsten Sinema
      and Joe Manchin

      A Republican megadonor has been secretly funding lavish vacations for Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, according to a new ProPublica report.

      But Texas billionaire Harlan Crow’s largesse goes far beyond yacht trips and resort stays with the top conservative jurist. It also includes thousands of dollars in contributions to congressional Democrats known for bucking their party.

      According to an Insider review of federal campaign finance data, Crow has given a total $5,800 to Democratic-turned-Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s campaign account and $5,000 in May 2022 to Getting Stuff Done PAC, a leadership PAC tied to the Arizona senator.

      Crow first contributed $2,900 to Sinema’s campaign in June 2021 before giving another $5,800 in November 2021 — prompting the campaign to refund half of it after Crow apparently exceeded federal contribution limits.

      Thousands! THOUSANDS! No mention of the $30M of foreign money that was funneled to the Obama campaign, or the money laundering antics of ActBlue that are well into the millions if not much higher. Or Soros and his $150M of donations, or Zuckerberg, or dumpy crypto man-child…

      • Michael Malaise

        Insert Pete Davison-as-Chad-from-SNL “Okay” GIF here.

    • Spudalicious

      “Here’s your sign.”

  4. Pat

    Canadian company used 200-foot long railway to comply with Jones act. US court not amused, declares that the working railroad which actually shipped things was, somehow, not a real railroad.

    That’s fitting. US courts are not real courts.

    • rhywun

      Absurd 200-Foot ‘Railway’

      “We are not amused.”

      /author

  5. Count Potato

    How many gun stores are on DOD property?

    • Count Potato

      “Of course, trying to slow the rate of suicide among service members is a laudable goal, as it is a problem that needs and deserves attention and successful solutions. However, attempting to do so by curtailing the right to keep and bear arms of those hunters, target shooters and others in the military is a misguided tactic, at best.”

      Suicide is means invariant. Restricting guns won’t do anything.

      • The Other Kevin

        +1 Fentanyl overdose

      • Count Potato

        Those are most often accidental.

      • The Other Kevin

        My clumsily delivered point was, if you wanted to off yourself, you could easily find some of that illegal fentanyl that’s pouring over the open southern border.

      • Count Potato

        OK, and a dozen other ways.

      • Pat

        “We gave you that gun for killing sandpeople, how dare you think you can turn it on yourself!”

      • Rat on a train

        You can’t buy a gun due to the risk of suicide. Here, take this government owned weapon and ammunition.

    • Bobarian LMD

      PXs sell guns and ammo now. That is specifically what they’re going after.

      • Bobarian LMD

        I personally have purchased three different weapons on DOD property.

      • juris imprudent

        How many that didn’t walk out of the armory?

      • Fourscore

        Fifty years ago I bought several guns at the Torrejon, Spain Air Base Rod and Gun club, stored them in a closet in my government quarters. Not once did the full semi automatic shotguns turn on me or anyone else, though they did take on a lot of clay pigeons and Spanish speaking ducks.

  6. Shpip

    Ms. Abraham was among a group of people who testified recently on behalf of a bill that would prohibit discrimination in New York City based on a person’s weight or height in employment, housing and access to public accommodations.

    Third story walk-ups hardest hit.

    • Tonio

      They assure us they are “healthy at any size.” But I can certainly see this transmogrifying from “I want to rent your third story walk-up” to “you have to install an elevator because I can’t walk up three flights with my groceries.”

      • Bobarian LMD

        “NOBODY could walk up three flights with your groceries, you fat bitch!”

      • rhywun

        Jesus… like they aren’t already doing everything in their power to destroy the housing industry here.

        That’s a terrifying prospect.

      • Sensei

        Between all the post COVID sidewalk dining, scaffolds and illegally parked scooters on the sidewalk I also continuously now dodge texting land whales with the phone all the way on the right side and the massive shoulder bag jutting out over the left shoulder.

        They literally take up the space of two people.

    • Count Potato

      Looks like a third story walk-up might be the best thing for her.

    • Timeloose

      Ms. Abraham was among a group of people who testified recently on behalf of a bill that would prohibit discrimination in New York City based on a person’s weight or height in employment, housing and access to public accommodations.

      Stairs, sidewalks, park benches, floors, shoes, and stools hardest hit.

      • R.J.

        “I’m overweight, but I’m not a victim,” he said. “No one should feel bad for me except for my struggling shirt buttons.”

        Heh. Good quote.

      • Ted S.

        Nobody loves a fat man except his grocer and his tailor.

        The Narrow Margin

  7. Stinky Wizzleteats

    I’m fine with the Italians protecting their language against the Anglo menace. English is a guttural bastard language that has the aesthetic appeal of a drunken orangutan trying to speak with clicks and grunts. Italian on the other hand sounds like someone singing a happy song.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      What do you have against drunken orangutans?

      • grrizzly

        The other day I saw a sober orangutan shit in front of me.

      • pistoffnick

        “Right turn Clyde”

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        What were you doing in SF?

    • pistoffnick

      Italian on the other hand sounds like someone singing a happy song.

      Umberto, the exchange student from Parma, had the entire gaggle of 8th grade girls following him around.

      The exchange student from Liberia the next year didn’t get the same warm welcome.

      • The Hyperbole

        Going to need more info before I blame it on the accent, we had Danish exchange students two years in a row, the first – Magnus was tall, handsome, played guitar, and was funny – had all the chicks swooning, the next year – Radmillo while tall was lanky, goofy looking and socially awkward, he ended up playing D&D with the nerds.

        Radmillo was also the most racist person I have ever met.

      • Brochettaward

        But he was not the most insufferable. No one could take that title from you.

      • Brochettaward

        As if you’ve ever experienced the exquisite euphoria of a First.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Get a room you two.

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        Firstkake?

    • Grosspatzer

      Note to Italian language police: emulating France in such matters is not a good look. Also, VA FON GOOL.

    • Mojeaux

      English is a guttural bastard language that has the aesthetic appeal of a drunken orangutan trying to speak with clicks and grunts.

      Still better than German and Russian.

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        Ohhh, Archie! 💋 ❤️ 🍑

        I love what he says in Italian. “I am Italian in spirit but I married a woman who prefers working in the garden to making passionate love: a great mistake!”

      • Ted S.

        Ahem. Dutch.

      • rhywun

        Seriously.

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        Gallic. Specifically the Irish version.

    • The Last American Hero

      You’ve obviously never heard Romans.

    • juris imprudent

      +1 Wanda

    • UnCivilServant

      I disagree.

      Having heard the Italian operators arguing with family over the phone, there is nothing happy about Italian.

  8. DEG

    Built around 2012, the Bayside Canadian Railway was operated by a subsidiary of American Seafoods to circumvent the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, known as the Jones Act. The law requires shipping between American ports to be handled by American-built, American-flagged vessels, with an exemption for goods moved by rail in Canada. The Bayside Canadian Railway used this loophole to push semi-trucks containing foreign-shipped seafood 100 feet down a short railway and back, ostensibly fulfilling the Jones Act’s rail shipping clause.

    The U.S. Department of Justice disagreed when it became aware of the railway’s operations following a tip in August 2021.

    Nine years. It was a good run.

    Other restrictions recommended in the report include requiring anyone living in military housing on DOD property to register all privately owned firearms with the installation’s arming authority and to securely store them in a locked safe or use a locking device.

    I thought registration of guns by those living in base housing was already required? Someone I used to know who was in the Navy in the early 00s refused to live in base housing because he didn’t want to register his guns.

    • Bobarian LMD

      I don’t think it is a DOD policy, but is left up to the Post Commander. Who all do it.

      I can’t bring a gun onto FT Knox without it being registered, and declared, and for a specific purpose.

      Purposes being hunting or target shooting on a designated range.

      • DEG

        I don’t think it is a DOD policy, but is left up to the Post Commander. Who all do it.

        Right. I remember that now.

      • Fourscore

        Times have changed, clays and dove hunting on Ft Hood, circa 1975. No nothing, find a pace where the doves were flying and sit down and wait. Required a TX hunting license.

      • Rat on a train

        Fort Richardson had a hunting lottery for licenses which were restricted to specific days and training areas.

      • Bobarian LMD

        That is how Knox works now. And you have to buy a post hunting permit on top of KY (but that might be only deer).

    • Rat on a train

      When I was unit armorer, privately owned firearms of personnel below god rank had to be stored in the arms room or off post.

  9. Count Potato

    “ITALIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS LAWS AGAINST MISPRONUNCIATION OF WORDS: The proposed law seeks to stop “Anglomania,” which the bill’s text says “demeans and mortifies” Italian language and culture, and could even penalize Italians who mispronounce words like “bruschetta.””

    OK, I’ll take your word for it. Spanish speakers generally pronounce French and Italian words as though they are Spanish.

    • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

      A French Lisp?

  10. Count Potato

    “Under Queensland’s conservation laws, it is illegal to take “one or more” platypus from the wild, with a maximum fine of Aus$430,000 (US$288,000). ”

    That’s an expensive duck.

    • Semi-Spartan Dad

      Somewhat relatedly, bearded dragons are arguably the most common lizard kept as pets around the world. Relatively small, easy to care for, and docile. Great pets. The originals were smuggled out of Australia in (I think) the 80s and bred by thousands of breeders into dozens of different color and scale pattern morphs. I even exported a breeding trio to a collector in Malaysia when I ran a small hobby enterprise.

      Ironically, although Aussies can look out their windows and see hundreds of thousands of wild bearded dragons sunning on posts in their backyards, these lizards are illegal for them to keep as pets.

  11. Ted S.

    Yep, it’s actually called “Mom Water,”

    Relevant

  12. The Bearded Hobbit

    broos CHET a?

    • Nephilium

      At least at one local restaurant: “Tomato bread”.

    • WTF

      Broos KET a

      • Spudalicious

        This.

      • Michael Malaise

        It’s Manicott.

        And FAZJHOOL.

    • Bobarian LMD

      Soggy toast.

    • Brochettaward

      Not to be confused with The Three Eyed Firster formerly known as The First Of All Firsters.

      • Bobarian LMD

        Soggy Post.

      • Aloysious

        Mike S?

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        BrosKAKE!

  13. The Late P Brooks

    ts operator was lucky not to be fined $350 million.

    Fuck you, The Drive.

    • db

      That was my reaction

  14. Bobarian LMD

    “DOD’s SEEMINGLY GOOD INTENTIONS”

    assumes facts not in evidence.

    There were no good intentions, this is just a reach for greater control.

  15. The Other Kevin

    I don’t blame Italy. Anyone who pronounces it “eyeTALyen” should do time in prison.

    • Count Potato

      Good thing that Terry Bradshaw could afford a top lawyer.

    • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

      Raises hand.

      Also, Ay-rab

      (but I’m being ironic)

    • Pat

      You mean it’s not pronounced “ittle-EEyen”?

    • Bobarian LMD

      You mean a proper mid-west pronunciation?

      I once pronounced it that way in a NY sub shop, and got a dirty look and a correction, and probably some spit in my poorly made sandwich.

      • The Other Kevin

        Example: Those eyeTALyens need to warsh the nucular residue off their hands.

  16. Scruffyy Nerfherder

    MOAR KRAZYTOUN

    https://democraticunderground.com/100217801109

    “Andrew Weissmann, a former lead prosecutor in Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s office, was asked on MSNBC about Trump’s attack on Judge Merchan and his family. Noting that he had prosecuted Mafia cases in the past, Weissmann said, ‘You do not have this behavior from a mob boss. There is a rule in organized crime. You do not do this with respect to prosecutors. You don’t do this with respect to the judge. You certainly don’t go after their families. It’s bad business to do that.’”

    That’s fucking rich. Andrew Weissmann is probably among the top three most corrupt federal prosecutors of the past four decades. That SOB has bent every rule there is and railroaded countless defendants.

    • Semi-Spartan Dad

      You do not have this behavior from a mob boss. There is a rule in organized crime.

      There were rules to our legal system too. Mobbed up guys are well treated in prison and go along with the system.

      The rules are starting to break. Families are going to start being considered fair game when political prisoners begin being disappeared into solitary for years without trial and without access to their families or lawyers. Not much incentive for peacefully surrendering and taking your chances in court. This is an incredibly dangerous road the government has pushed the people into.

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        Misunderstanding the rule for the reason is a pretty big problem, and at this point, all of our institutions are failing in just that regard.

  17. The Late P Brooks

    This just in:

    Wealthy successful people generally prefer the company of people who are not actively trying to destroy their lives and livelihoods. Film as soon as the spy drone gets back.

    • Pat

      She could pronounce it like an orc and I don’t think any male of the species would be inclined to call her on it.

      • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

        I don’t get it, but y’all do you. With a pic of Giada, apparently

      • Pat

        Well you don’t have to make it sound so tawdry…

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        She’s a bobble head. I don’t understand it either, much like I don’t understand wanting to date a PEZ dispenser.

    • Bobarian LMD

      I personally blame the DOD. Trump was talking about getting us out of there much earlier, but I believe the military leadership and the direct civilian overwatch “slow-walked” any actions or requests.

      So they failed to prepare and hoped to out-wait the CinC.

      Biden added some fuckery by twisting timelines and agreements at the end.

      • Ted S.

        I would have deployed everyone in the Pentagon to Afghanistan.

      • R C Dean

        “Alright, boys. Remember, you’ll be last ones out, or it’s a firing squad for you! Have fun!”

    • Lord Humungus

      Nothing we could do – it was set in stone. /derp

      • Ownbestenemy

        We had an agreement! US has never gone back on agreements…ever

    • Dr. Fronkensteen

      But the Trump administration “provided no plans for how to conduct the final withdrawal or to evacuate Americans and Afghan allies,

      Thereby preventing the adults in the room to figure it out. What a dastardly plan by the evil cartoon villain.

      • The Other Kevin

        Just like all those alleged train regulations he got rid of by executive order, but were totally impossible for Biden and his crew to add back.

      • R C Dean

        And by “Trump administration”, don’t they mean the very same people who were still at the Pentagon and State when the actual withdrawal occurred?

    • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

      Nope. He is the one who went to the auction and raised his hand the highest, he is the one who was in the cat-bird seat when the final call was made.

      He is the one who gets the heat.

  18. Tundra

    GLIBS AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN REGULATORY COMPLIANCE:

    I love that! More proof that government regulators are light years behind the regulated.

    • Grosspatzer

      Before the illegal NYC weed emporiums realized they could get away with just giving a large middle finger to the authorities, they came up with a brilliant compliance dodge. “Purchase this dollar store tchotchke for $50 and we’ll throw in a bag of weed as a thank you gift.”

      • rhywun

        I can’t believe the city isn’t sending SWAT teams into every one of those establishments instead of all but ignoring them.

        It doesn’t fit the pattern.

      • Sensei

        Think which groups operate them.

      • Bobarian LMD

        The important question: Are they paying their taxes?

  19. Lord Humungus

    Hello, peeps.

    Tales from the Wasteland:

    I finally have a third antique booth, this one at a store that specializes in Mid Century stuff which suits me just fine. The first month I broke $1k of income and I haven’t even started expanding my space with more shelves, etc. The problem right now is inventory. I have plenty of art but statues, glassware, etc is getting hard to find. The thrifts are bare and the estate sales are getting rarer for some unknown reason (have people stopped dying?). I’ve even started going to church sales but pickings across all three have been slim. An indicator of the economy? Or people just aren’t doing Spring cleaning yet? Who knows?!

    I’m thinking of closing my least profitable booth – I rarely make more than $200 a month there after expenses – and, with the cost of inventory, rent, gas driving out there – I would be surprised if I was breaking even. Apparently over 40 vendors have moved out since this location opened up a year ago. But…. ::sigh:: it does have _some_ sales.

    EF had a rotten client who did ended up with things, well, not in his favor after he took his divorce all the way to a trial. The judge is pretty notorious for siding with the wives, but this client of EF’s doesn’t see it that way. Instead he is accusing EF of malpractice (on some very sketchy grounds). It will probably go nowhere – EF hasn’t been grieved in her 10 year career – but is still pisses her off due to the honor of it all. She does do the best she can for every client no matter how much of an asshole they are.

    • Pat

      Weirdly, I was just thinking the other day “I haven’t seen Lord Humungus around here in a long time.”

      Perhaps the COVID bonanza in estate sales is tapering off?

      • Lord Humungus

        I’m still around – just busy most days working out, shopping for the booths, buying art, blah blah blah. It’s a better life than my corporate days though I miss the steady income.

    • Mojeaux

      Close the $200 booth. Srsly, not worth your time.

      Midcentury kitsch decorating is in vogue right now, so you’re going to have a hard time getting stuff at a reasonable price.

      I FLOVE midcentury kitsch.

      • Michael Malaise

        I am looking for a turntable/stereo combo for my basement. Ballpark says $2500-$3000.

    • Toxteth O'Grady

      I have too much stuff from every era: come liquidate my excess stock.

      Estate sales are part of my problem. Sometimes they’re run by prisses and other times by “Eh, five bucks for that pile” type (and in between).

      • Toxteth O'Grady

        PS. Sorry about the difficult litigious client. Some parties are in family court for understandable reasons (ask me how I know).

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        You learn the companies. I do a variation of what LH does, and over the years I have learned to avoid some companies, and to be really friendly with others. Ask about their baby, get some prices knocked down. We have plenty of sales here right now, but not much in what I deal in. And that is kinda dragging me down.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      Fuck

      Off

      And

      Die

    • Pat

      as characters sing a song about white supremacy

      Springtime for Hitler?

    • Bobarian LMD

      I’m just as likely to watch this as I am to watch the original.

      • Tundra

        The original at least had ONJ in leather.

        Yum.

      • Michael Malaise

        Beautiful, but needed a sandwich or two.

    • rhywun

      Where do I sign up?!

    • The Other Kevin

      This reminds me of the D&D story the other day. People watch movies and TV, and play fantasy games, to be entertained and get away from their current reality. If I wanted to see a woke lecture, I would watch an actual woke lecture.

    • Ownbestenemy

      We’ve completely raped the 80s and 90s….time to do the same for the 70s.

      • Count Potato

        There have been plenty of 70’s remakes.

      • Ownbestenemy

        Remakes that have done the current iteration that we are seeing?

      • Count Potato

        Yes?

    • R.J.

      “A bunch of old men smoking…”
      It was field research! Honest!

      • Grosspatzer

        Thursday night glibflick? A change of pace is always welcome.

      • R.J.

        Absolutely. The sequel to WolfCop is tonight! Pull up a chair and light a pipe. Celebrate Canada, land of Festus.

      • Ted S.

        The Passover Plot is available on YouTube.

      • R.J.

        WolfCop isn’t in The Passover Plot, sadly.

      • Ted S.

        I also watched Solarbabies, which is a hoot.

    • Tonio

      ‘Also, when my top fell off and I was running around with all those kids. You know I’m a method actor, so I really was topless, and I think I scarred some of those kids for life. So that was more nerve-racking for them, but they deserved it. ‘

      Um, wut?

      • Pat

        That must have been some movie.

      • Nephilium

        You know. I feel like I should hunt down this movie and see how scarred I would be seeing her run around topless.

    • Bobarian LMD

      Most shocking thing in that article?

      Aubrey Plaza is 38.

    • The Other Kevin

      That’s just terrible. I’ll have to look up that movie just to see how terrible it was.

      • Count Potato

        It’s OK for a silly teenage sex comedy.

        I think Black Bear is probably her best movie.

      • Zwak tastes the soup, but never counts the beans.

        I just watched one with her, Emily the Criminal, and it was really good.

    • R.J.

      I object! That statue is clearly not worth three million dollars!

      I was joking in my mind that it would be some cement atrocity that looked like a wadded trash bag before I clicked on the link….

      I was right.

      • Count Potato

        That RR doesn’t look like it’s worth the money either.

  20. Fatty Bolger

    Rebekah Jones is the former Florida state employee who fabricated a “whistleblower” story about the state hiding COVID numbers, which was later proven false. She’s claiming her son was arrested on trumped up charges for sharing memes with friends, in retaliation against her by the state, but apparently the real reason is a little different:

    Rebekah Jones’ son arrested in Florida after allegedly threating to shoot up school, stab students
    https://www.pnj.com/story/news/crime/2023/04/06/rebekah-jones-son-arrested-in-florida-what-we-know-about-digital-threat-allegations/70088634007/

    • Count Potato

      She’s been a fraud and grifter her whole life.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      Jones is one crazy bitch. And the True Believers among the Left love her.

      • EvilSheldon

        Sure, but just think of all the clout she’ll have at the next wine mom brunch…

        “My little Xander is an environmental activist!”

        “Well, my little Lorna just came out as trans!!!”

        “Well, my little Nathan is a political prisoner in Florida!!!!!”

    • Tonio

      Wasn’t she the one who also stated that DeSantis pointed a gun at her kids head even though he wasn’t there when her residence was searched by the police?

      • Fatty Bolger

        Dunno about DeSantis, but she definitely said the cops did, which turned out to be yet another lie when the bodycam footage was released.

        Also, she wouldn’t open the door when they showed up, even though they were knocking and calling her phone. She finally opened it after 20 minutes, and said that her lawyer had told her she didn’t have to open the door (obviously another lie).

    • Shpip

      “Okay so it’s been like 3-4 weeks since I got on my new antidepressants and they aren’t working but they’re suppose to by now so I have no hope in getting better so why not kill the losers at school.”

      When did doping up thirteen-year olds on antidepressants become a thing?

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        Almost thirty years ago

        Now it’s give them hormone blockers or hormones for starters, depending on direction of transition, and when that fucks them up, give them SSRIs, and when that fucks them up even worse, give them trazodone.

        The psychotherapy and pediatric professions are filled with pill-pushing pieces of shit.

      • Derpetologist

        Homosexuality was classified as a mental illness until 1974. There’s a lesson to be learned from that.

        If men want to pretend to be women or vice-versa, fine. Employers should be free not to hire them for that reason. And the pretenders should stick to their own sports and bathrooms.

        Transgender = Transpretender.

      • Michael Malaise

        There is a media-medical-pharmaceutical-industrial complex that is destroying lives.

    • juris imprudent

      Someone stuck it in crazy.

    • Not Adahn

      Rebekah Jones confirmed there were no guns in the residents and the only weapons were kitchen knives, which she has stored in a locked box.

      Legal beagle glibs, am I allowed to draw inferences from that or nah?

      • Ted S.

        It’s progjection, all the way down.

    • Sensei

      Heck yeah. I’ll take it.

    • Fatty Bolger

      That’s great!

    • Pat

      Institute for Justice is one of the few organizations to which I’d be inclined to write big checks if I was the type of person who could write big checks.

      • Sensei

        I give them money as part of my “forced” corporate giving.

        Naturally, no employer match unlike many other charities.

      • creech

        Tell your employer IJ fights for gender rights and see how fast a match kicks in.

    • limey

      That’s trucking good news!

      • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

        LIMEY

      • Gender Traitor

        All our little lost sheep are coming back to the fold! 😊🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

      • limey

        Baa.

        *waves at the mythical women*

      • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

        Huzzah!!

    • Tonio

      W00t! Thanks for that update.

      However:

      In addition to awarding Jerry interest on his money, the court also ruled that Jerry is eligible to seek attorneys’ fees, including for the lawyer he had paid out of pocket before IJ stepped in to represent him pro bono.

      “Eligible to seek,” not automatically awarded.

      And, of course, none of the cops will suffer any repurcussions for this, and there’s nothing to stop them from doing it again in the future.

      • Spudalicious

        It’s absolutely heinous.

  21. Brochettaward

    The Italians are weak. Firsters found guilty of debasing Firster culture are punished to death by seconding.

  22. Pat

    No One Is Above The Law? Give Me A Break

    Lock Donald Trump up, or don’t lock him up, but don’t tell me that “no one is above the law.” It’s one of the most ludicrous fantasies peddled by the left.

    Plenty of people are “above the law.” James Clapper, who lied under oath to Congress about spying on the American people, is above the law. John Brennan, who lied about a domestic spying operation on Senate staffers, is above the law. Unlike Trump advisor Peter Navarro, Obama’s Attorney General Eric Holder was never going to be handcuffed and thrown in prison for ignoring a congressional subpoena. He is above the law.

    Trump’s 2016 opponent, Hillary Clinton, is also above the law. The then-Secretary of State set up a private server in her home to circumvent transparency surrounding her slush-fund foundation. She sent 110 emails containing marked classified information, and 36 of those emails contained secret information. Eight of the email chains contained “top secret” information. Every one of those instances was a potential felony punishable with up to ten years in prison.

    We learned all of this from James Comey, then FBI director, who noted that Hillary had been “extremely careless” in conducting her business. Comey didn’t recommend charges because, he claimed, the state couldn’t prove Clinton’s intent — even though “gross negligence,” not intent, was the only standard he needed. Gross negligence and extreme carelessness are synonyms. Comey concocted a new standard to protect Clinton because she is above the law.

    When Hillary’s husband, also above the law, perjured himself under oath, Democrats argued that puritanical conservatives were only pursuing Bill because of some trumped-up charge over “sex.” Using that logic, Trump’s campaign finance charges related to Stormy Daniels’ “hush money” are also about sex. This is different because Trump is the boogeyman, and everyone knows he’s guilty of something. The important thing is getting that mug shot.

    • Brochettaward

      You could write a very lengthy book on ways the Clintons are above the law.

    • Count Potato

      America, where even a crackhead can be above the law.

      • Pat

        Lol. Holy shit that’s priceless. I guess the “never trust anybody over 30” crowd doesn’t have to worry about anyone actually remembering the Clinton administration and the raison d’être for MoveOn.

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        Anyone who pays attention to MoveOn is already in the “almost too stupid to breathe” category.

      • The Other Kevin

        No need for a trial, he’s been indicted so obviously he’s guilty.

    • Derpetologist

      Someone I thought was my friend dragged me into court and lied about me under oath. When I proved it to the judge with documents, he took no action.

      It turns out perjury isn’t a felony if you have the right friends. Said person also still has a TS/SCI clearance.

  23. The Late P Brooks

    Just skimmed through an article at Politico, I think, about the Biden admin reaction to Chinese diplomatic dealmaking in the Middle East. It sounds a lot like Peewee Herman saying “I meant to do that,” as he gets off the ground and brushes sticks and grass off himself.

  24. Derpetologist
    • Brochettaward

      Derpy, did you find your First?

    • Pat

      Specs? Is it SBC-based?

      • Derpetologist

        It’s a Raspberry-Pi 4, which runs on a flavor of Linux called Raspbian.

        I wrote a program in Python with the goal of factorizing 100-digit semi-primes. This is believed to be impossible in a reasonable amount of time and is the basis for the supposed security of RSA encryption. It took 2 minutes to factorize an 18-digit semi-prime. Not bad for an amateur programmer and 40 lines of code. It crashed when I tried to factorize a 46-digit semi-prime. Stack overflow maybe? Not sure what the biggest number a 64-bit system can handle. 2^64 maybe?

      • Ownbestenemy

        2^63-1 for a signed integer

      • Pat

        Nice. An RPi 4 running LibreElec is currently serving as my living room media center. I only use Debian for servers. My desktops run Void.

        Oil cooling is awesome for the memes, if no other reason. I still vividly remember the pics of a Northwood P4 system built inside an oil-circulated fish tank in all their 1024×768 glory from back around the time I built my first PC.

      • Derpetologist

        There is an oil-cooled Japanese computer called Tsubame KFC. They put some rubber ducks in the oil tank as decorations.

        The mineral oil I used is the same as in a high-voltage transformer. I’ve impressed people by showing them it’s perfectly safe to stick your finger in the oil pool when the computer is on, because the oil doesn’t conduct electricity.

        Later, some small insects drowned in the oil pool, so my computer literally has bugs. They are dead and do not interfere with its operation.

        Computers are about as small as they’re ever going to be, and improvements in software are few and far between. Better heat transfer is about the only area left for progress.

      • Pat

        Green dye and some shredded carrots would really sell it…

        Oil cooling at datacenter scale would be interesting. Maybe someday it’ll allow us to build them without nuclear cooling towers attached.

      • Ownbestenemy

        The data center in Vegas off of Blue Diamond is no joke. They also claim 100% “green” energy by literring the adjacent deserts with acres amd acres of solar farms

      • Pat

        I had to look it up. I’ve driven past there on Decatur probably about 500 times and not known that’s what it was.

      • Derpetologist

        Microsoft did an interesting and successful experiment with an underwater data center.

        Submersion isn’t necessary. It would make more sense to use the water of Lake Superior for cooling, as it is the coldest lake in the US.

        I envision a cooling pool with vertically mounted shipping containers. The containers would be filled with mineral oil and the pool with cool lake water. The computers, switches, etc, would be lowered in vertically from a mezzanine, like control rods in a nuclear reactor.

        In terms of heat transfer, it would basically be a big gasoline engine scaled up. As the pool bottom would be lower than the lake, there would be no need for pumps to replace the water lost to evaporation.

      • Pat

        I remember hearing about that back when they were first sinking it, but never saw the followup. It’s an intriguing concept.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        Tying in the 6600s. . .

        Back in the days of megacomputers I envisioned a giant mainframe in polar orbit. One side would be solar cells for power and on the back (in the shade) the computer would operate at a nice cool 4 degrees K.

      • Pat

        One side would be solar cells for power and on the back (in the shade) the computer would operate at a nice cool 4 degrees K.

        4 degrees Kelvin? No quantum computing for you, buddy.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      While in college I had a work-study job at the local AFB in the computer center. I was a tape-hanger, paper-loader, and sometimes-operator on two CDC 6600 computers. During the time that I was there they brought in the new, sooper-dooper 7600 (later renamed the “Cyber 76”).

      CDC even offered me a job after graduation. They folded (as a corporation) not long after.

    • UnCivilServant

      Is this the day for all the long-absent Glibs to stop by?

      • Ownbestenemy

        We must subsume the lost

  25. Animal

    Swiss says everything in Pending has been scheduled. We have content scheduled through next Tuesday (April 11). Please get your drafts into Pending, and your ideas into Draft.

    I have another Profile in Toxic Masculinity in the works, should be in Pending in the next couple of days. Use as y’all see fit.

  26. The Late P Brooks

    Conjuring tricks, cont’d

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is set as early as next week to propose new rules to spur sweeping cuts in vehicle emissions pollution that will push automakers towards a big increase in electric vehicle sales, sources told Reuters.

    The proposed rules are expected to cover the 2027 through 2032 model years. Environmental groups and some automakers think the proposal will result in at least 50% of the U.S. vehicle fleet by 2030 being electric or plug-in hybrids – in line with a goal President Joe Biden outlined in 2021. The administration has not backed calls by California and others ban the sale of new gasoline-only light-duty vehicles by 2035.

    In December 2021, the EPA finalized new light-duty tailpipe emissions requirements through the 2026 model year that reversed then-President Donald Trump’s rollback of car pollution cuts.

    One big question is whether the new EPA rules will be as aggressive as California’s effort to ramp up zero-emission vehicles and phase out new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035.

    California Air Resources Board Executive Officer Steven Cliff told Reuters in December the federal government should “look at stringency that’s equivalent to our rules … We’re 68% zero emissions in 2030 so modeling that and looking at that as an option for 2030 is absolutely critical.”

    “We just pull these numbers out of thin air. It’s your job to meet them. Get cracking.”

    • rhywun

      Delusional.

    • Brochettaward

      It will force auto makers to increase sales of electric vehicles. Can anyone spot the flaw there?

      No. What you are trying to do is force what people want to buy off the market.

    • R C Dean

      “the proposal will result in at least 50% of the U.S. vehicle fleet by 2030 being electric or plug-in hybrids”

      *outright, prolonged laughter*

    • Ownbestenemy

      Ahahahahaha

    • Tundra

      Absolute gold!

    • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

      That account is tagged in most of their recent tweets 🤣

      • Ownbestenemy

        It’s like being a child listening to adults say silly terms that are sexual. Snickers all about

  27. Tundra

    I let Spotify roll after I got done listening to the Neds. It’s been a glorious mix of 90s awesome. Bob Mould (& Sugar), Teenage Fan Club, Belly.

    And this gem.

    So, so excellent.

  28. The Late P Brooks

    Automakers have raised concerns the administration will require them to spend significant sums to improve the efficiency of internal combustion vehicles that will be phased out in the next decade. “Every dollar invested in internal combustion technology is a dollar not spent on zero carbon technology,” The alliance said.


    If you want to talk about money down the drain….

    Why aren’t you spending trillions on fusion , and teleportation, then?

    • Tundra

      Eat shit, alliance.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      They really are in a dumbed if you do, dammed if you don’t situation.

      The federal government is malicious.

  29. Pat

    A global wave of censorship

    On think-tank Freedom House’s ‘world freedom index’, happy Finns top the charts as the ‘most free’ country in the world, scoring 100 out of 100. Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen is rather unlikely to agree with such an assessment.

    Last week, the long-serving politician and grandmother marked the one-year anniversary of her acquittal for ‘hate speech’ charges. Her alleged crime? In 2019, Räsänen criticised her local church for its sponsorship of a Helsinki Pride parade. She tweeted a picture of some Bible verses alongside a question, asking how supporting Pride could be justified in accordance with the church’s teaching. Prior to this, Räsänen had also shared her Christian beliefs in a radio debate and in a church pamphlet written nearly two decades ago, both of which were used in the case against her. As a result, she was prosecuted for voicing beliefs that fall foul of today’s reigning social orthodoxy.

    Finland has the fewest police officers per capita in Europe. Yet the Finnish state poured enormous resources into prosecuting Räsänen for her peacefully expressed opinion.

    So why pursue a criminal conviction for something as innocuous as tweeting some Bible verses? Because the authorities wanted to make an example of her. For having views that differ from the establishment, Räsänen endured over 13 hours of police interrogations, months of waiting for court proceedings and an onerous and invasive trial. All for a mere tweet. Although she has now been exonerated, this was a punishing process. And it didn’t just affect Räsänen herself. It also sent a chilling message to the Finnish public – that what happened to Räsänen could happen to you, too.

    If state censorship like this can happen in Finland, which supposedly tops the world’s freedom charts, then imagine how bad things must be for free speech elswehere. Indeed, all across the world nowadays, people are being criminalised for expressing views that challenge the prevailing politically correct orthodoxy.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      Anyone that uses the descriptor “happy” for Finns doesn’t know what they’re talking about.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      And five bucks days Sanna Marin had a hand in that prosecution.

    • rhywun

      Freedom House got skin-suited some time back. Their ratings are bullshit.

    • Fatty Bolger

      Wife just told me about this. I can’t wait.

      • R.J.

        I hope to watch his live feed. Elon has good live feeds.

    • KK the Porcine Pearl-Eater

      Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! I’ve been waiting for Starship to start testing again!

    • R.J.

      You sure that isn’t a Daily Ray of Sunshine?

      • Bob Boberson

        My handle is based on the “Chad Chaderson” who told Bill Weld to
        Fuck off. I esteem these hecklers even higher.

  30. Scruffyy Nerfherder

    I’d like to thank Tonio for introducing me to mom water.

    • Brochettaward

      Less regulated Firsters than myself have been known to sell their bathwater to admirers. I would never stoop to such a thing. I am not here to encourage perversions and fetishization of Firsters.

      Is this something similar?

    • Dr. Fronkensteen

      Phrasing

      • Scruffyy Nerfherder

        We’re not doing that anymore.

      • rhywun

        Boom!

  31. The Late P Brooks

    The federal government is malicious.

    Also in that article. NHTSA is preparing to drop new mileage rules. I can’t wait to see that. They’ll outlaw horsepower one way or another.

    I’m surprised they haven’t done what the Europeans have done for 100 years, and tax displacement.

    • Scruffyy Nerfherder

      “And tax displacement”

      I look forward to my new sextuple turbo two cylinder.

  32. Scruffyy Nerfherder

    How to get a prime spot in the doghouse.

    When your wife asks you what the phone call was about, announce loudly that it was a reminder that my spouse’s extended warranty needs to be renewed.

    Totally worth it though.

    • Derpetologist

      There is a Gilbert and Sullivan opera about 2 guys stranded on a desert island. For the first few months, they don’t talk to each other because they are British and had not been properly introduced by mutual friends. Later, they bond by complaining about their wives.

      Henny Youngman was a comedian famous for rapid-fire one-liners and was the first to say “take my wife, please”.

    • Brochettaward

      That would be considered a First in the Firsting world and the submissive Firster who just lost would have to service the other.

  33. Brochettaward

    Crowder ran an ad for a meat provider called Good Rancher (http://goodrancher.com). Sign up and you get 1.5lb of bacon every month for the year. I am…tempted.