Thursday Morning Links

by | Jan 18, 2024 | Daily Links | 364 comments

Will they keep filling it?

Looks like McCarthy will be back in Dallas next year.  The ACC and Florida State are about to go at it. Maybe they should do a trial separation or something. I think that relationship is gonna end soon. Bama is losing everybody in the wake of Saban retiring. And Pegula has been bounced at the Australian Open.  And that’s pretty much it for sports.

“Deadname,” lol. These aren’t reincarnated candidates. And this law isn’t some nefarious attack against trannies. Also, it’s been on the books for decades. Sorry, but you’re responsible for knowing what hoops you have to go through to run for office. But seriously…”deadname” is a retarded term.

I wish they’d pick up the pace. This fucker needs to go for refusing to do his job and enforce existing laws that have been on the books for ages.

Get your shit together!

Oh, this is just super. Can’t wait for India to jump into the mix too. I’d imagine they’re just looking for an excuse to start lobbing bombs in Kashmir.

Oh this is just terrible! I feel so bad for them, having to deal with 1/100th of what Texans have been going through for the last three years.  I hope they manage to survive.

Yeah, no shit! Men, this is our moment to shine. Our chance to finally say “I told you so” with a smug look on our faces. What a magnificent day.

Crooked

When you’ve lost the Daily Beast… I wonder when this will finally come to a head. And I wonder how it will somehow become the fault of white men.

The next time a Canadian talks shit about America, show them this. That entire country has gone to shit.

This is a bit of a shock. I wonder why I didn’t see anything about it in the national outlets. I figured they’d have gone bananas over it.

Here’s a good one I don’t think I’ve played before. I enjoy some of their stuff. This is probably my favorite. Probably due to my age.  Anyway, enjoy them both.

And enjoy this lovely Thursday, dear friends.

About The Author

sloopyinca

sloopyinca

364 Comments

  1. UnCivilServant

    Can’t wait for India to jump into the mix too.

    India might take the stance of “Let them fight”.

    • Lackadaisical

      *India just eating samosa on the sidelines, laughing*

  2. Nephilium

    Do you know a way around needing to list your “deadname” on your candidacy papers? Be transitioned long enough that you don’t have to report it. If it’s a new true you, don’t you want it to be old enough to run for office?

    • Suthenboy

      Or they could just list the name so we know what we are dealing with….what they have been up to in the past.

      • R.J.

        Indeed. You cannot just say “Hi! I’m Tina Twinklefairy for congress!” and omit the fact that you were previously John Backbeater, a notorious thug who had jail time. All names have to be revealed, it has been that way forever.

      • Nephilium

        Ackshually… (pushes up non-existent glasses) the Ohio law was passed in the mid-90’s (1995 IIRC).

        I will say that the election boards doing this to the transgender candidates are not covering themselves in glory here. At least to me, they seem to be obstructionist, and derelict in their duties to notify the candidates of the rules. Per local stories, several of the election board members have said they were unaware of this law.

      • R.J.

        Now that is a problem. The forms you fill out to apply as a candidate should specify that you must list out that all previous names and addresses. That’s a standard here for any type of legal form.

      • rhywun

        All previous addresses? Good grief.
        I could specify, completely, maybe five out of thirty or so.

      • R.J.

        I have them all on a list if needed.

      • juris imprudent

        For the Pennsylvania background check for someone supervising minors (applied to all fire company officers because of our junior/cadet program) I had to list every address I’d ever lived at. That took some effort. My security clearance didn’t even require that.

      • rhywun

        I have them all on a list if needed.

        I have a list – just as an exercise in curiosity. It’s just missing a LOT of data.

      • Bobarian LMD

        Why does R.J. have rhywun’s addresses?

        Stalker?

      • Lackadaisical

        Yeah, I started making comments before looking into it in depth, and none of their forms do seem to have anywhere to put previous names.

        Kind of a dumb omission. How do you even comply with the law? I guess you’d have to look it up yourself and see what it says.

  3. Not Adahn

    Two nuclear armed shitholes poking each other? Don’t care.

    • Drake

      Who thought Afghanistan would be the most stable and peaceful country in the region?

      • Suthenboy

        Alexander the Great? The Arabs? The Mongols? The Mughis? India? The English? The Germans? The Russians? American idiots?
        I dunno, pick one.

      • UnCivilServant

        Grecian Bactria lasted fairly long, and was stable. So Alexander’s conquest was successful.

      • Lackadaisical

        Outside of foreign meddling int heir internal affairs, they don’t seem to have a particular history of making trouble for others (Who hasn’t conquered Delhi every now and again?).

      • Bobarian LMD

        To busy making trouble for themselves to be worried about others.

  4. Rat on a train

    Men actually are better with directions than women, study says
    Never ask my wife to navigate. She is worse than the stereotypical 2LT.

    • Suthenboy

      My stepmother is absolutely unable to make the connection between what she sees on a map and what she sees on the ground. She is not the only one…I have known a number of women that just cannot make that connection. It amazes me because it comes so. natural to me.

      • Fourscore

        My wife doesn’t understand how north is always up on the map, regardless of what direction you are driving.

      • Suthenboy

        That got a laugh out of. me. That is exactly what I am talking about. There is a certain kind of three dimensional thinking that most women are just not capable of.
        I find it odd since there are other kinds of three dimensional thinking that they are better at than we are. Seems like one 3d thinking should cover it all….but it doesnt.

      • robc

        I don’t know where you are driving, but maps are usually 2D.

      • Bobarian LMD

        Contour lines are an approximation allowing 3D projection on a 2D map.

      • Drake

        This – or that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

        The only time she navigates is when we are in a shopping mall.

      • DrOtto

        Yep

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      “turn left here… why’d you miss the turn?”
      “uh, because you told me as we were in the intersection… I’ll turn left up here at the next crossroad”
      *turns left*
      “wait what are you doing? I said turn left!”
      “I did turn left”
      “oh, I meant right”

      • Nephilium

        /thinks back to friends and acquaintances who would request “my way” or “your way” when driving because they couldn’t quickly determine left/right

      • R.J.

        My favorite is the wife saying “LEFT!” and putting her entire arm and pointing finger in front of my eyes while I am driving.

      • DrOtto

        And then meaning right

      • Suthenboy

        Stop spying on us!

      • Lackadaisical

        ^SOOOOO much this.

        I usually just dot he opposite of what direction she says as it is more likely to be what she meant.

        Using GPS solves lots of these issues.

      • Homple

        If I miss a turn, the lady’s voice on the GPS just says “Recalculating.” while she figures out what to do next. She does not remind me of all the bad things I’ve allegedly done in the last couple of years.

      • Rat on a train

        The new AI GPS will remember all the times you did not follow directions.

      • Homple

        Probably going to happen, My wife’s car gives her a grade on her driving at the end of every trip.

      • Rat on a train

        “Oh, it’s you again, Homple. Are you going to ignore my directions again. Why do I bother?”

      • pistoffnick

        “Recalculating.”

        Calm your tits, GPSwoman! I need gas , a piss, and an egg salad sandwich.

      • Homple

        I had a GPS when I lived in Germany. The GPS lady’s voice was pleasant and she spoke in formal German. “Biegen sie links ab” she would say in her soothing voice, instead of barking out “Links abbiegen!” She was my sort-of girlfriend and I still miss her.

      • Rat on a train

        “I know Noel is off Mine not far from Lansdowne. Lookup whether I turn left or right at Mine?”
        “Are we heading towards church?”
        “No. We went from church to the restaurant. We are heading south on Lansdowne now.”
        “Are we heading toward Benchmark?”
        “No. We are heading south on Lansdowne approaching Mine. Do I turn left or right to get to Noel?”
        “Right”
        *Turns right. Drives a bit. Pulls over to lookup. Determines it was left than third right*

    • hayeksplosives

      I am a good navigator and can easily read maps.

      I also can read a schematic and build the circuit it represents and vice versa.

      I don’t know if the two things are related. 🤷‍♀️

      • Suthenboy

        They are.

      • Fourscore

        A schematic is a road map with a few road blocks along the way

      • Name's BEAM. *James* BEAM.

        Those damn schematics would be so much easier to read if they weren’t littered with devices and components.

      • one true athena

        Perhaps this is the ability that makes us Mythical. Because I am also the navigator for us. It’s a lot easier on the phone now but I would print maps for wherever we were going. Plus I am kickasz ‘with going back to wherever I’ve been

    • KK, Plump & Unfiltered

      I’m always the navigator on road trips. I’ve only ever gotten completely lost once – in downtown Baltimore after midnight. That was fun.

      • KK, Plump & Unfiltered

        I got lost because I was both driving and navigating while the MAN in the passenger’s seat was taking a little nappy nap.

      • UnCivilServant

        I only got lost once. It was in Nottingham. I eventually had to stop at a Tesco and buy an atlas to find my way to the hotel.

    • ron73440

      I am good with maps, be they road maps or topographic maps with a compass.

      I suck at trying to drive somewhere on memory.

      I try to pay attention while driving because I know I have to come to that place again and can’t do it.

      It is extremely frustrating because in almost every other area, I am smarter than average, but I can’t remember driving directions to save my ass.

      I even make wrong turns to places that I drive to often, my wife is the opposite, she can drive anywhere on memory and knows all the backroads where we live, but in a new place with a map, she is useless.

      • juris imprudent

        I suck at trying to drive somewhere on memory.

        Weird thing – if I drove there, 99% likelihood I can get there again. If I wasn’t driving – maybe 50%.

      • slumbrew

        Very much the same. Even if my intentions are good I zone out a bit when I’m a passenger.

      • Nephilium

        Same here. I won’t remember the street names, nor be able to give directions to someone else, but if I drove somewhere, there’s a very high likelihood that I’ll be able to get back there. Growing up here, it was always easy to find your way back to home. Head north until you hit the lake, find either 2 or 90, and use them to get home.

      • ron73440

        That’s what pisses me off about it.

        If I’m a passenger, I have no clue and if I’m driving, I have almost no clue.

  5. Lackadaisical

    ‘Another trans candidate in Ohio faces disqualification vote for omitting deadname’

    Good? Voters should be able to look up your whole history, knowing all names you’ve used is vital in that.

    Why do Democrats want to destroy Our democracy(tm)?

    • Suthenboy

      Because they want total power to rule by dictat? Just spitballin’ here.

    • Lackadaisical

      “But Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that the law should be amended and that the county boards should stop disqualifying transgender candidates on these grounds. DeWine did not say how it might be amended.”

      Sorry, and some Republicans too.

      • Fourscore

        Anyone wanting to run for office should be disqualified. It ain’t their gender, it’s their motivation

      • Suthenboy

        ^This X 100^
        Seeking power should be a disqualifying factor.
        Half joking….people should be pressed into service based on competence.

      • R.J.

        True. It’s like when you hear people aspire to be managers. Those people need mental help.

      • UnCivilServant

        Management is the only route to a higher pay grade, I had no choice.

      • Not Adahn

        Technical skills go stale. Working the system is evergreen.

      • Lackadaisical

        Stochocracy is the only legitimate form of government? It might not be any worse than the current situation.

      • juris imprudent

        Maybe he should change his name to eWine (D)?

      • R C Dean

        It would be amusing to see the law amended as DeWine wants, and next election there’s four or five candidates on the ballot “named” Mike DeWine.

      • Nephilium

        Life imitates Fargo (minor spoilers for the current season).

  6. Not Adahn

    Re: Canadian toboggan ban,

    One of my favorite parts of Quebec in the winter are these little ice slides thy have scattered about. People will take their bundled-up-like-Charlie-Brown toddler, send them down the slide, across the streets and sidewalks, bowling over packs of tourists. I’ve never seen the kid injured, though some tourists smacked the ice with a disturbing sound.

  7. Suthenboy

    Re: Stinky’s link in the last thread
    Nixon outraged the nation and his own party by calling his political opponents ‘enemies’. It was unthinkable then that that would extend to voters.
    These banana republic monkeys have to go. Keeping lists and treating voters of any stripe as enemies is beyond the pale.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Pretty disturbing, eh? Unfortunately Jordan strikes as another Trey Gowdy, meaning all bark and little bite, without the weird hair and little if anything will come of it.

  8. Not Adahn

    Does the chick in the video ditch her children and run off with Justin Hayward, or does she have a one night stand in which she realizes he’s gotten tubby and goes home with the itch scratched?

    • sloopyinca

      Nothing happens. I think she just saw they were playing locally and got a ticket and went to see him again after all these years.
      You can see at the end of the video he’s swept away by his life and she’s left alone in the hallway to deal with her own. He’s long since accepted that and it looks like she’s finally doing the same since there was nothing keeping her from just continuing to walk down the hallway and catching up with him, yet she doesn’t.

      • Not Adahn

        I absolutely love the ’60s flashbacks with the guru meditating as everyone parties.

        ’80s fashion were the peak of full-skin coverage styles, imo.

      • UnCivilServant

        I hate Guru Mediation.

        It means the website’s down.

      • Not Adahn

        I thought that was “guru nap?”

      • UnCivilServant

        *Prods Guru*

        Err… Turns out the Guru’s dead.

  9. juris imprudent

    Well, this is interesting.

    At an undetermined date, in an undisclosed location, the Biden administration began operating a secretive new court to protect Europeans’ privacy rights under U.S. law.

    Officially known as the Data Protection Review Court, it was authorized in an October 2022 executive order to fix a collision of European and American law that had been blocking the lucrative flow of consumer data between American and European companies for three years.

    Yet another reason to hate the tech corporations – I’m looking at you Google, and FB.

    • Not Adahn

      DPRC? Surely that’s the name of a communist country.

      • juris imprudent

        Democratic People’s Republic of Canada?

    • Sensei

      You have got to be kidding me…

    • Nephilium

      Alphabet and Meta. Don’t let them hide behind their parents.

    • R C Dean

      “Officially known as the Data Protection Review Court, it was authorized in an October 2022 executive order”

      So the President can just set up courts, secret ones at that, with a stroke of the pen?

      That must be in the Constitution in invisible ink.

      • juris imprudent

        With treaty implications no less.

      • Sensei

        It’s a living document!

      • sloopyinca

        But remember: republicans are a threat to democracy.

      • Not Adahn

        Democracy = rule by Democrats. It’s right there in the name!

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        It was hidden behind the penumbra my man.

      • R.J.

        I don’t know if I can look at your new avatar for long. I may have to cover it with a sticky note every time I scroll. Well done.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        You even seen the pic of him at the beach with the even weirder getup? I thought about it but it’s NSFW so a no go for an avatar.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        And a quick search shows that was actually someone else. Bummer…still a weirdo though.

      • R.J.

        Yes! I posted that one night during a rant. Absolutely horrible.

    • Lackadaisical

      ‘Officially known as the Data Protection Review Court, it was authorized in an October 2022 executive order to fix a collision of European and American law that had been blocking the lucrative flow of consumer data between American and European companies for three years.’
      ???

      “And critics worry it will tie the hands of U.S. intelligence agencies with an unusual power: It can make binding decisions on surveillance practices with federal agencies, which won’t be able to challenge those decisions.”

      Yeah, I don’t think a secret government ‘court’ run by Eric Fucking Holder is going to be upholding anyone’s rights. Pull the other one.

      • Lackadaisical

        ‘Rajesh De, an appointed judge who previously served as the NSA’s top lawyer, told The Boston Globe in 2015 that he sought to ensure that the agency’s actions are within what a reasonable person would expect from their government.’

        You are reading a lot into that statement, especially from a lawyer. Lawyers who work for the government are mostly there to make sure the government doesn’t get into trouble, not that the spirit of the law gets followed. In 2015 a ‘reasonable person’ would expect the government to torture the ‘terrorists’ to get whatever information needed to keep ‘us’ safe, ala 24.

        Oh look, I checked Wikipedia and this guy doesn’t give a shit about privacy ( Sledge, Matt (February 28, 2013). “Rajesh De, NSA General Counsel, Defends Warrantless Wiretapping Program”. Huffington Post. Retrieved October 1, 2014.) Shocker. Politico is a bigger establishment mouthpiece than… huffPost was in 2015? nice job.

      • Lackadaisical

        I left out the article’s quote that triggered my response: “Experts called for this story say the judges are considered independent decision-makers without bias toward the government’s surveillance programs.”

        Also, the use of unnamed ‘experts’ *chef’s kiss*

    • Homple

      Also, another reason to hate the “Biden” “Administration”.

  10. Sensei

    I should just stop reading the news. From one of my industry rags:

    Tom Cotton, the junior Republican senator for Arkansas, introduced the “Woke Endowment Security Tax Act” following the congressional hearing on antisemitism at college campuses.

    The proposed law would excise a one-time 6% tax on 10 secular American universities with the largest endowments. The estimated $15.7 billion in proceeds would be used to aid Israel and Ukraine as well as increase security on the Mexico-America border, under the proposal.

    It’s A-OK when Team Red confiscates money for their pet causes, but not Team Blue when it does the same. I’d love to see these universities with huge endowments be ineligible for federal aid and loans, but that’s not going to happen.

    Of course this has zero chance of happening, but it plays well right? Why actually do something about the invasion from the south.

    • juris imprudent

      He threw a fish at you, bark and clap your flippers.

    • R.J.

      How the Hell does that make any sense?

      • Sensei

        It punishes the right people. Forget the morality or legality of the action.

        Makes perfect sense.

      • UnCivilServant

        To punish academia, we don’t need to do anything unconstitutional, just ban them from recieving federal funds.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        1) all public universities, being state agencies, are banned from carrying an endowment. All such funds are to be disbursed immediately to students and alumni to pay back the overcharges in their tuition. Any and all donations provided to the university must be associated with costs incurred in the same year.

        2) all private universities carrying an endowment larger than one year’s operating expenses are ineligible to receive any taxpayer money. Those with a smaller endowment are only eligible to receive state funding for in-state scholarships.

      • Sensei

        Do you have a newsletter? I’d like to subscribe!

      • UnCivilServant

        Too much wiggle room. Cut them loose. No special tax status, no government funds, no government run schools.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I’d be fine with that. While we’re at it, there are a few universities that need to be razed and the ground salted.

      • Certified Public Asshat

        I’m fine with taxing universities to pay for student loan forgiveness.

        aid Israel and Ukraine

        But fuck this guy.

    • rhywun

      Christ, what an asshole.

    • Lackadaisical

      Cotton is a retard, and I’ve been very disappointed with some thinkers (okay, mostly Jordan Peterson) for sucking up to him so much. Like most politicians he is shiny and looks good from 100 feet away, but as soon as you get up close, it is actually a turd wrapped in tinfoil.

      • Certified Public Asshat

        Withot Jordan Peterson’s wisdom, no one would clean their room.

      • Lackadaisical

        I like JP a lot, and sadly, some young people have never had someone give them good guidance in life…. but sometimes he is just too conventional of a thinker.

      • sloopyinca

        Based on your description, we should call him, and those like him, a “Jackson Pollock Politician.”

  11. Not Adahn

    Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar

    It loses something in the nontranslation.

    • Lackadaisical

      Sounds like a delicious snack.

      Have you tried the Marg Bar? I put some Sarmachar spice in this time.

      • DrOtto

        I like my Marg Bar with salt on the rim.

    • juris imprudent

      In late September, federal agents were alerted to a Facebook post…

      Federal agents??? How was this ever a FEDERAL CASE?

      • WTF

        Facebook posts cross state lines, duh!

      • Rat on a train

        That network traffic likely passed through Virginia. Why hasn’t the state brought charges?

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      Somebody took the oppression Olympics too far. You’re supposed to shoot at the targets in the non-binaryathlon , not at the bobsledders.

    • rhywun

      “diagnosed with bipolar disorder”

      No way.

  12. Rebel Scum

    A little-used Ohio elections law, unfamiliar even to many state elections officials, mandates that candidates disclose any name changes in the last five years on their petitions paperwork, with exemptions for name changes due to marriage. But the law isn’t listed in the 33-page candidate requirement guide and there is no space on the petition paperwork to list any former names.

    It’s basically a trans-genocide.

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      This form of lawfare is beyond the pail, but charging Jan6 people under sarbanes oxley is a-okay.

      • Nephilium

        I’m not sure I would even call this lawfare. The only lawsuits are from the candidates who were removed from the ballots, not from anyone looking to have them removed.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I’m not sure what the term is for selective enforcement of obscure laws for political gain.

      • Nephilium

        I don’t think there is selective enforcement. There’s already a name change exemption for marriage, and most people don’t change their names on a regular basis. I think I’ve got a handful of friends/acquaintances who have changed their names in their lifetime. I think you would need to find a divorcee who went back to their maiden name and didn’t list their married name on their application to find selective enforcement (while it says marriage name changes are an exemption, I wouldn’t think that carries over to divorce name changes).

        It also doesn’t apply to candidates who had previously complied with the law if memory serves (so first time running, comply, and then you’re exempt).

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Gotcha. Yeah, I didnt dive into the details enough to know there were exceptions

      • kinnath

        beyond the pail and into the bucket.

      • Bobarian LMD

        Wednesday’s your turn in in the barrel.

    • Grummun

      “Little used” because 99.99%* people running for office haven’t changed their names in the last five years?

      *down from 100% only in the last 6 months.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Married women could’ve possibly encountered this before. That it hasn’t come up makes me think this is being selectively enforced.

      • kinnath

        The article says that a name change associated with getting married is excluded from the reporting requirement.

    • R.J.

      I like it. That could double as a shooting range for pellet guns.

      • Fourscore

        The turkeys (real ones) came early (ier) this morning, as the days get slightly longer. They cleaned up their breakfast, now they are sleeping (huddled) under the trees. Looks like Jonesboro. Just black blobs with no heads.

      • R.J.

        Nice. Gotta love them turkeys.

    • Drake

      1 bedroom, 1 bath with a 3-story swing? So basically the house is one big hallway.

      • Not Adahn

        I assume it’s luxe, Bucharest-style.

    • Lackadaisical

      Does the thot come with it?

      • Not Adahn

        I think that’s a subscription service.

      • Lackadaisical

        I didn’t realize that is what they meant by ‘you won’t own anything and be happy’.

      • Grummun

        TaaS?

    • Tres Cool

      I know where that neighborhood is.

      Fun fact- Camp Washington Chili > Skyline

  13. Lackadaisical

    ‘Yeah, no shit! Men, this is our moment to shine. Our chance to finally say “I told you so” with a smug look on our faces. What a magnificent day.’

    The only possible response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5_HhqcbF_0

    (NSFW)

    • nw

      I have found that giving directions instead of an address,
      despite requests for just an address,
      to be more correlated with age than sex.

      • Lackadaisical

        ‘New in town? Okay, to get where you’re going Just turn left over by the old Kmart that burned down ten years ago’

      • DrOtto

        So you’re in Minneapolis?

      • DrOtto

        And it was only 4 years ago.

      • Bobarian LMD

        Not that K-Mart, the other one.

      • Homple

        I like coordinates and a map better than an algorithm.

      • Lackadaisical

        Too few people understand how to input coordinates for me to trust them from the average joe. Otherwise I could see that for sure.

      • Rat on a train

        Meet me at 18STH80623353.

      • UnCivilServant

        Terrible neighborhood.

      • Name's BEAM. *James* BEAM.

        And so difficult to get to!

      • Rat on a train

        In what3words it is `oracle.collapsed.sneezing`.

      • UnCivilServant

        What nonsense is that?

  14. Rebel Scum

    This fucker needs to go for refusing to do his job and enforce existing laws that have been on the books for ages.

    They insist they are because they decided to call illegal aliens “asylum seekers.” It’s word-fuckery. Ain’t it magical?

  15. Rebel Scum

    The Pakistan Armed Forces completed a “series of highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision military strikes” against Pakistani terrorists in Iran’s Siestan-o-Baluchistan province as part of an intelligence-based operation named “Marg Bar Sarmachar,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

    Now tell me where Osama bin Laden was.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      I suspect those two nations worked out a tit for tat arrangement ahead of time, that way they both win while being able to sow patriotic fervor and jingoism.

  16. Sensei

    Here, have another one.

    Some of the 2017 GOP tax cuts are starting to expire, and Republicans want to revive provisions coveted by corporations. These include a deduction for domestic research and development, bonus depreciation for equipment, and a greater deduction for interest payments…

    The problem, and it’s a big one, is the price that Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith is willing to pay to get Senate Democrats to agree to the business breaks. The deal announced Tuesday would expand and further entrench the $2,000 per child tax credit. The overall deal would cover the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years and cost roughly $78 billion.

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/congress-child-tax-credit-business-tax-breaks-republicans-democrats-ce733e80?st=jzh2at3ynulxpx9&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

    • juris imprudent

      See – cutting taxes!! No time to work on the border or cutting spending.

    • Rat on a train

      How much would eliminating SALT deductions offset?

    • Lackadaisical

      ‘The deal announced Tuesday would expand and further entrench the $2,000 per child tax credit. The overall deal would cover the 2023, 2024 and 2025 tax years and cost roughly $78 billion.’

      Why is ‘giving money’ (actually not taking) from families any worse than giving tax breaks for ‘research’?

      Fuck researchers, we need more kids.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        cost roughly $78 billion

        No. Fuck off. It’s not your money.

      • Lackadaisical

        Not stealing is a cost. Every year not stealing costs me $100 trillion dollars.

        Does anyone thank me? No.

      • WTF

        That formulation really pisses me off. Letting people keep their own money is not a “cost” that needs to be “paid for”.

      • Certified Public Asshat

        The problem is r&d expenses under section 174 are now required to be capitalized and amortized instead of immediately deducted. There is still an R&D credit available, but in a sane world the code would allow you to just deduct your expenses when incurred and not have a credit on top.

        When the TCJA needed revenue offsets, it could have have just eliminated the r&d credit instead of creating a new code section to cap and amortize r&d expenses.

    • PieInTheSky

      eh what is one more drop in the ocean

  17. rhywun

    My favorite – also a function of time and place.

    • Timeloose

      Nice choice, certainly a time and place song. I do like the earlier 60’s tunes more, but the mid to late 80’s was awash with aging 60’s bands making new “easy listening” or adult contemporary music filled with synths. I’m looking at you Starship.

      The only exception to this trend was the Kinks. I don’t think they have ever made a bad record.

      • Not Adahn

        I think the ’80s was the last decade to believe that Pop Music could also be High Art.

      • DrOtto

        If (Jefferson) Starship (Airplane) had ever been good, that would have been a good observation. You’re spot on about the Kinks.

      • Timeloose

        This was one of the last tunes they did. Pretty clear they had a producer that wanted them to sound like a “LA Strip band”
        Terrible video, but it has a very empathic early career cameo by a certain hot counselor.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpAHSRPadKI

      • rhywun

        Yeah, their older stuff is technically “better” but it was before my time. This one just makes me grin when I hear it.

    • Sensei

      I remember buying that on vinyl.

  18. Rebel Scum

    When it comes to navigating, men really are better than women at finding their way — but it has nothing to do with a biological advantage, a new study found.

    I refuse to ask for directions.

  19. Rebel Scum

    I wonder how it will somehow become the fault of white men.

    A white man criticized her. Therefor, racism.

    If the DA prosecuting Trump prolonged an investigation to justify a hefty salary for a romantic partner, that is a genuine conflict of interest that would require her dismissal.

    She should have already been dismissed and her sham case dismissed with prejudice.

  20. Rebel Scum

    The city called the number of banned hills “dynamic,” and reportedly noted that the number may vary depending on the year if site conditions change.

    Safety first!

    The city also advised fun-havers to avoid using “dangerous” discs and tubes and reminded everyone to not partake in the joy of bringing a family pet to the park.

    “Please leave your pets at home. Pets may get excited, become hard to control and could cause injury,” the city declared.

    So sayeth the minister of fun.

    Canada is not a serious country. But neither is the US at this point.

  21. Rebel Scum

    A federal court has reversed an order that required Texas to remove floating barriers from the Rio Grande.

    Good.

    The defeat for the Biden Administration comes as President Joe Biden invited congressional leaders to the White House to discover a path forward on the border.

    There’s still no agreement in Congress to tackle the border crisis, but some Senate leaders are hopeful for action as soon as next week.

    Perhaps you cuntes should be enforcing immigration laws meant to deter and remove illegal aliens. Oh, wait. You just call them “asylum seekers” and invite them to invade our country.

    • Sean

      Whoah.

    • Lackadaisical

      I once had a 20′ long sheet of ice fall off the bus in the next lane over and take out my headlight.

      People like this suck.

    • Fourscore

      Ticket worthy in MN. Vehicles need to be cleaned of after a snow to prevent a dump along the way.

      • Sensei

        Same in NY where that picture was taken as well as NJ.

  22. PieInTheSky

    Oh, this is just super. Can’t wait for India to jump into the mix too. I’d imagine they’re just looking for an excuse to start lobbing bombs in Kashmir.

    Pakistan should nuke Iran while they have nukes and Iran does not.

  23. Sean

    I played https://squaredle.com/xp 01/18:
    *18/18 words (+2 bonus words)
    ⏱️ In the top 18% by speed

    I played https://squaredle.com 01/18:
    52/52 words (+16 bonus words)
    📖 In the top 9% by bonus words
    🔥 Solve streak: 116

  24. Rebel Scum

    Oh…

    How far can a liberal democratic government go in using unorthodox tactics to dismantle an “illiberal” system? Poland’s premier Donald Tusk faces this question as he tries to restore the rule of law after eight years in power for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party — and it has broad resonance given the rise of illiberal populists in many democracies. The scale of the task in wrenching key institutions out of the hands of PiS appointees, and in the face of a president who is siding with the opposition, means the ends so far justify the means. Tusk has stayed within the spirit of the law. But he must proceed with care to avoid inflaming divisions in a highly polarised society.

    The whole article screams that Poland has been captured by globalist thugs.

    • Lackadaisical

      ‘the ends so far justify the means.’

      They always do, right up until you realize you’ve walked the path right to hell. *eyeroll*

    • PieInTheSky

      restore the rule of law – by completely ignoring it one presumes

      wrenching key institutions out of the hands of PiS appointees – the spoils system…

      Tusk has stayed within the spirit of the law. – ah so no the actual law just the spirit…

    • CPRM

      Donald Tusk just makes me think about how good the first couple seasons of House of Cards was before it started to suck and then they me too’d Kevin Spacey.

      • The Last American Hero

        It should have ended in season 3 either with him in an orange jumpsuit (the happy ending), or him losing the election and riding off into the sunset. Fast fwd 25 years to his death, where he gets memorialized as a “steady hand on the wheel during a time of national crisis”.

  25. PieInTheSky

    @KonstantinKisin
    : What does socialist intifada mean?

    🇵🇸 protester: If I’m being honest with you I just got this at the stand over there. I don’t actually know the definition of the word Intifada.

    None of them knew what Intifada means but happy to hold signs with it on.

    https://twitter.com/ArchRose90/status/1747640890770792544

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Isn‘t that a chickpea based dish with a light chicken gravy?

      • Rebel Scum

        chickpea based

        I never liked Hamas.

    • juris imprudent

      In related news

      Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals 2.6 million missing workers. That is, if the employment-to-population ratio were the same today as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020, 2.6 million more people would be employed today.

      Who are these missing workers? In short, they are potential workers without children.

    • rhywun

      There are some other words they are ignorant of. “Genocide” and “apartheid” come to mind.

    • sloopyinca

      That’s fantastic.

  26. Rebel Scum

    Schmoobs, you anti-American cunte.

    NEW: Senator Chuck Schumer says Democrats will only fund border security if it is tied to sending more money to fund the war in Ukraine.

    Borderline treason.

    “We said we have to do both. There were a couple of people in the room who said, let’s do border first. We said: ‘We have to do both together.'”

    Since Biden took office, illegal border crossings are up 277%. (U.S. Customs and Border Patrol)

    Your government thinks Ukraine is more important.

    No. you need to cease funding a proxy war in Ukraine. We have no business there and it is no benefit to the average American. And you need to enforce existing immigration laws to stop and reverse the invasion that is currently happening on the US border.

    • Not Adahn

      Meh. He’s calling the Repubs bluff.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Correct and they’ll fold and do a trade because most of them really do want to fund that debacle.

      • The Last American Hero

        It will be the classic Wimpy “I’ll glady revisit immigration enforcement tomorrow for a Ukraine war today!”

    • creech

      “Ukraine. We have no business there and it is no benefit to the average American. ”
      If we don’t stop them there in Ukraine, we will someday see ravaging hordes invading the United States. Oh, wait just a minute…

  27. PieInTheSky

    Drill in the dock

    It can be legitimate to use music as evidence in criminal trials

    https://thecritic.co.uk/drill-in-the-dock/

    On Thursday 30 November, The Times reported on calls to restrict the use of rap music as evidence against defendants in criminal trials. Art Not Evidence, a campaign group, claimed that the use of rap, and more particularly drill, as evidence was racially discriminatory and “irrelevant, unreliable and highly prejudicial” to defendants. The use of such music in trials, it said, stifled creativity. In an open letter, the group called on the government to limit the music’s admissibility. The group also believes that police officers should not be used as expert witnesses in giving opinions on rap in respect of defendants. The Labour MP Nadia Whittome, who has written about the issue in rather vague terms, will apparently be introducing legislation this year.

    The academics and lawyers who support Art Not Evidence overstate their case. When examining cases in the Court of Appeal where rap is mentioned, it is clear that the evidence is often relevant in proving an issue at trial. While that evidence may be prejudicial, its probative value is not outweighed by the prejudicial effect. Further, fears about the prejudicial effect of the evidence may be remedied by careful directions to the jury about the use to which the evidence may be put.

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      Next up from the “Art Not Evidence” brigade, “Entertainment Not Kiddie Porn”

    • Nephilium

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t this tied to the cases where the lyrics were admissions to crimes, and used as further evidence as to guilt?

      Victimless crimes shouldn’t exist, but you also shouldn’t document yourself breaking the laws and then publicize the documentation.

      • Common Tater

        That someone said something in a song shouldn’t be evidence, as lyrics are often fiction.

      • Nephilium

        It could very well be circumstantial evidence, especially if the lyrics confirm non-public information about the crime. Wouldn’t be enough to convict on its own, but could add to a case in my mind.

    • PieInTheSky

      There is no division from the left. division is always one sided

      • Rebel Scum

        Obviously any disagreement with the left is divisive and just playing politics.

    • R.J.

      I need an orphan genetically engineered to take its plates to the sink after eating.

      • PieInTheSky

        plate? luxury

      • R.J.

        Touché.

    • Not Adahn

      Good use of the “hook your opponent’s leg and split their skull” technique.

      • Lackadaisical

        Right? Clearly the Indian is about to win. Though I do think he is on some PEDs.

        ‘And although Hochul has not made a formal statement regarding the matter yet, some believe that the bust of Christopher Columbus within the capitol building’s “Million Dollar Staircase” will be next.’

        Italian-Americans hardest hit. I know the guy who got the coveted position of ‘liaison to the Indian-American community’ or whatever it is called. ~$130+k/yr to tell Indians to vote for Democrats. Not bad work if you can get it.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        I hear that certain tribes would begin an attack with vigorous leg humping which would throw their opponents so off their game that they were easily dispatched. For whatever reason it didn’t really work on about five percent of the population though.

    • R.J.

      To replace it with a painting of a fat alcoholic Indian eating from a bag of chips?

      • Rebel Scum

        That’d be the right way to troll.

        It’s like if I owned the Redskins when idiots wanted the name changed. I would have said “Ok. Have it your way. The Washington Redskins will now be the Washington Savages.”

    • Nephilium

      Not tied to the new federal regulations regarding Native American art and artifacts? (Local news has a story about it behind a paywall).

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      About time and make sure that instead of bestowing it to a preservationist it’s destroyed or recycled for some woke cause.

    • slumbrew

      No days off for that dude. No carbs, either.

      • Not Adahn

        Benefits of an all-buffalo diet.

    • Rebel Scum

      And while there is certainly some debate as to whether or not the artwork should be removed,

      No. There should be no debate. Leave it where it is.

      Gov. Hochul believes wholeheartedly that the depictions are offensive to Native American residents of the state and, therefore, shouldn’t be in a government building.

      Because it makes them look strong? You people (leftists) apparently want all imagery of native Americans removed from society.

      • Suthenboy

        Bingo. Same for blacks. Not just imagery, you aren’t even allowed to mention that they exist.
        They are foam at the mouth racists and all of their whining is projection.

    • rhywun

      I only got a couple paragraphs but yeah I am so goddamn tired of this totalitarian, Maoist bullshit.

    • slumbrew

      Who was the artist, Tom Of Finland?

  28. Lackadaisical

    So, here is the crazy question.

    Anyone have experience being a sperm donor?

    • PieInTheSky

      On purpose?

      • Lackadaisical

        Yes, like to a sperm bank.

    • Nephilium

      In a clinical setting? No.

      • Sensei

        Nice.

    • Lackadaisical

      I keep decrying how dumb everyone around me is and how there aren’t enough kids, and here I am hoarding all the good sperm. Just trying to help the world out.

      Looks like the closest facility is in Orlando which might be a deal breaker for saving the world.

      • Lackadaisical

        On second thought, it is mostly it is my Wife’s fault, so if things go wrong, you can all just blame her.

      • kinnath

        Skip the middle man perhaps?

      • Lackadaisical

        I’m pretty concerned about financial and personal repercussions.

        It seems like a lot of these agreements are not so ironclad once a judge starts looking at them.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I wouldn’t touch it with a ten foot pole. Even just the chance of becoming collateral damage as laws continue to change to accommodate kids for the gays is enough to avoid the sperm banks.

      • juris imprudent

        Oh, a one man campaign to stave off Idiocracy?

  29. PieInTheSky

    Thread of bad maternal health research that caused needless panic.

    1. Breastfeeding was linked to higher offspring IQ. But the effect disappears in sibling control studies (same mother breastfeeds one child but not the other)

    2. Epidurals were associated with ADHD and autism, even after covariate adjustment.

    But the effect disappears in sibling control studies

    3. Infections during pregnancy were linked to ADHD and ASD.

    But when you look at infections 1 or 2 years *before* pregnancy, you see the same relationship. It must be spurious.

    https://twitter.com/Chris_Said/status/1747810648103260666

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      Science, in its modern form, is deeply compromised and should not be trusted when making any real decisions. Change my mind.

      • Not Adahn

        Science that produces a physical product, particularly one that can be purchased by consumers or incurs liability for the manufacturer is presumptively legitimate.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        *pushes “food science” and “agroscience” to the front of the stage*

        I think you’re on the right track, but there’s another level of nuance missing. Scientists created many of the products and systems that have led to the long term issues we’re starting to see with processed food and Chem Ag.

      • Common Tater

        Engineers — scientists rarely design products.

      • Lackadaisical

        ‘Change my mind.’

        Why would I want you to have the wrong opinion?

        I take any ‘study’ with a grain of salt so large that it might ACTUALLY affect my health.

      • UnCivilServant

        Is it a “grain” when it can crush a house?

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      #1: Makes sense-those who are willing to breastfeed tend to be more invested in their kids and will read to them, teach them this and that, etc.

      • Certified Public Asshat

        #1 makes sense just in that proper nutrition would lead to better health outcomes overall.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        It’s a multifacated issue-we should apply for an NIH grant for us to parse out the relationships.

      • juris imprudent

        Be sure to emphasize male breastfeeding as a facet.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        If the grant’s big enough I’ll be happy, well not happy but I’ll do it, chestfeeding as well. Maybe that’s the dataset I can farm out to ChatGPT.

    • Lackadaisical

      ‘3. Infections during pregnancy were linked to ADHD and ASD.

      But when you look at infections 1 or 2 years *before* pregnancy, you see the same relationship. It must be spurious.’

      Hm, what if infections influence sperm/egg quality. Or people who get infections have something else wrong with them? ‘It must be spurious’ is a bit of a leap in logic.

      • Contrarian P

        Well maybe not spurious, but how would you go about avoiding infections years before you got pregnant? If a study shows that something that cannot reasonably be avoided causes problems, it’s basically useless information.

        As an example, I read a study once that showed that if your cardiac arrest is witnessed by someone, you have a much better chance of survival than if nobody sees you arrest and they just find you later. Not only is this “well, duh” level true, there’s no application for it. Everyone who could possibly have a cardiac arrest (i.e. everybody) cannot be monitored by another person at all times. The information provided in the study was functionally pointless as it’s not possible to change anything in the human experience as a result.

      • Lackadaisical

        ‘Well maybe not spurious, but how would you go about avoiding infections years before you got pregnant? ‘

        Be in better general health?

        ‘ it’s basically useless information.’
        Maybe.

      • Contrarian P

        It doesn’t really matter what health you’re in. Perfectly healthy people get colds, the flu, covid, or whatever. If you have other children, you’re very likely to catch whatever the seasonal virus is from them. Women get UTIs. Yes, you can reduce your risk of infection to a degree in certain ways, but it cannot be eliminated or even reduced to a point even approaching zero.

        What do you do if you’ve had a cold? Don’t have kids until you have a five year virus free period? Women don’t have forever to have babies. Many viruses have very mild symptoms so you might not even know you’ve had one. Pregnancy itself has been shown to alter the efficacy of your immune system. Is there a way to time pregnancy so you won’t get sick?

      • Suthenboy

        As I recall the vast majority of UTIs in women can be eliminated if they and their partner would just WASH THEIR HANDS
        See if you can figure out what that means.

      • Contrarian P

        I’d have to see the evidence on that. I’m not aware of that study. Frankly, I’m not sure how you’d even conduct it without a ton of confounding variables. There may be some degree of risk reduction, but I highly doubt it’s anything close to a majority.

        The genital area has a lot of bacteria in it and it’s not possible to sterilize it.

  30. Fatty Bolger

    With access to space on the line, the U.S. is eating its seed corn

    Sure, letting competitive private industry take over has expanded our access to space exponentially, and will soon create capabilities far beyond anything previously achieved.

    But won’t you think of the lobbyists and public teat-suckers?

    • PieInTheSky

      “An unforeseen consequence of this success is that the Space Force, the Air Force, and NASA have deprioritized rocket research and development efforts that would foster continued independent space access. Some programmatic officers would suggest there is no need for the government to continue to pursue rocket science. SpaceX is doing the required R&D, so why spend money on anything other than what’s needed for deep space?”

      how was that research going for them?

    • Not Adahn

      Hasn’t the primary focus of NASA been diversity outreach for more than a decade?

    • R.J.

      I hate everything about that article. Elon should be one of many private companies competing to improve space. NASA became a dinosaur as soon as it landed on the moon. R&D belongs to private industry. That’s who drives things forward.

    • Timeloose

      NASA has no reason to build or directly fund new rockets. It can pay for payload to orbit or beyond, but use an NRE or contract. Don’t own, operate, or have control over the US or international space infrastructure. They have experts that can collect, supply, support, and sell know to USA based and allied entities. Focus on the big science and learning of space exploration, astronomy, and how it can support the interests of the USA.

      Leave the hardware to those that have proven they can do it faster, cheaper, and better.

    • slumbrew

      Commercial flight? Do you even Davos, bro?

      • R.J.

        He does it like a boss. Do you think his hair had a separate seat?
        Speaking of which, I can’t wait to see his hair pop up in new Hat and Hair episodes….

      • juris imprudent

        Donald’s hair has a crush? An inferiority complex? So many possibilities!

      • R.J.

        You listening, CPRM? This is comedy gold here.

        I even have a hair model:

        https://a.co/d/5bYgv9h

    • Rebel Scum

      Looks like a threat to democracy. I am sure there is an Argentine Lula the WEF/globalists can install in the next election.

      • juris imprudent

        Election? Listen pal, this kind of threat to democracy demands action before another election – there must be a coup!

    • The Other Kevin

      That makes me happy. Despite the (ex) government employees protesting, seems he’s pretty popular. That WEF speech was one of his best, but boy was that applause tepid.

  31. prolefeed

    To be fair about the dead named candidates thing: If you have a 33 page booklet listing (almost) all of the requirements for running for office, but omit a rarely invoked law that requires something, but with no place on any of the official forms asking you to list that information to comply with said law:

    That seems like something calculated to give incumbents an advantage over poorly funded challengers. Like, say, libertarians.

    • Nephilium

      I agree completely, and feel that the election board members were derelict in their duty to inform the candidates about the requirements, and should be removed (especially the ones who said they weren’t aware of the law).

      • R.J.

        Agreed. Forms and instructions must spell out the full letter of the law. I call Shenanigans. Get the tar and feathers.

      • Lackadaisical

        Another everyone is terrible story?

        Sounds about right. *starts heating the tar*

  32. Rebel Scum

    I suspect “based” also gets flagged.

    New documents obtained by the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government reveal that the federal government flagged terms like “MAGA” and “TRUMP” for financial institutions if Americans used those phrases when completing transactions. Individuals who shopped at stores like Cabela’s or Dick’s Sporting Goods, or purchased religious texts like a bible, may also have had their transactions flagged. This kind of pervasive financial surveillance, carried out in coordination with and at the request of federal law enforcement, into Americans’ private transactions is alarming and raises serious concerns about the FBI’s respect for fundamental civil liberties.

    In light of these revelations, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) has requested transcribed interviews from Peter Sullivan, Senior Private Sector Partner for Outreach in the Strategic Partner Engagement Section of the FBI, and Noah Bishoff, former Director of the Office of Stakeholder Integration and Engagement in the Strategic Operations Division of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

    Anything conceivably “right-wing” is bad, mkay. It was all in that DHS document from awhile back.

    • R.J.

      Dick’s Sporting Goods is a liberal operation. They banned certain gun sales early on. I never go there.
      Other than that, they can kiss my ass (KMA).
      As other have said, raze their buildings to the ground, and salt the earth.

      • R.J.

        Heh. Adjust your phrasing and shop elsewhere. The government is so slow it would take them two years to change reports and adapt.

      • db

        +1

      • ron73440

        I bought three 12′ kayaks at Dick’s a couple months before they showed their true colors and haven’t been back since.

        The kayaks are real nice though.

      • R.J.

        No doubt. It’s not the kayak maker’s fault that Dick’s went commie. I just won’t set foot in there post the announcement, just like you.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Ditto. I can get the same quality of stuff from Bass Pro/Cabelas or Academy, anyway.

      • Fourscore

        I was there in the before time. They asked for my ID, while I was flattered I left my .22 ammo on the counter. 70 years ago I was buying ammo in Podunkville and no one was concerned.

      • R.J.

        My father in law works at Academy, so I go see him when I want something. Bonus time is coming, so I may be driving out to see him soon.

    • juris imprudent

      I have an idea for the new FBI HQ – a really big ditch.

    • creech

      Certainly the ACLU is all over this case, right?

  33. db

    Moody Blues! Fuck Yeah.

  34. The Late P Brooks

    Renowned legal analyst

    Mary Trump has blasted one of Donald Trump’s attorneys as “incompetent” for disagreeing with the judge in the former president’s New York trial.

    ——-

    Mary Trump said previous exchanges between Kaplan and Habba were “bad for Donald and his incompetent attorney.”

    After Kaplan denied a number of pre-trial requests from Trump’s lawyers, Habba was recorded as saying “I don’t know how to try this case, Your Honor.”

    Kaplan said: “I have heard you, I have considered what you have to say and I have ruled… In my courtroom, when the ruling is made that is the end, not the beginning of the argument.”

    ——-

    Last week, Kaplan issued an order that said Trump could not discuss: DNA; funding for litigation; Carroll’s previous romantic relationships and sexual experiences; Carrol’s choice of counsel and “suggesting or implying” that Trump did not sexually abuse her.

    Trump cannot say he did not make statements in 2019 “with actual malice,” or that Carroll lied about being sexually assaulted, Kaplan wrote.

    Habba began her argument by saying “President Trump defended himself,” before she was cut off.

    “I don’t know how to try this case, Your Honor.”

    You can’t. That’s the point.

    • juris imprudent

      ♫♪ Remember what the door mouse said… ♫

      • db

        Two in the chest and one in the head?

        Wait, no, wrong rhyme

    • Common Tater

      So a jury decided he didn’t rape her, and then the judge overruled the jury?

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Stop it! You’ll have an aneurysm trying to think this one through.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I’m having a vague recollection from law school that there’s some aspect of the defamation case where you have to presume the falsehood of the statement. Perhaps that’s for JMOL? I haven’t been paying enough attention to know what stage this case is in.

      • Common Tater

        “In the United States courts, a motion for judgment as a matter of law (JMOL) is a motion made by a party, during trial, claiming the opposing party has insufficient evidence to reasonably support its case. It asserts that the evidence allows only one result: victory for the moving party, even if a jury has found otherwise. JMOL is also known as a directed verdict, which it has replaced in American federal courts.”

        IANAL, but that sounds like bullshit.

      • Lackadaisical

        That is pretty terrible. Sounds like it is against the constitution, but I suppose it might not count for civil cases.

        See also Judges adjusting Jury awards of damages one way or another.

      • juris imprudent

        You think the judge is interested in what the law is in this case?

      • Common Tater

        Don’t they at least have to look like they are?

    • Certified Public Asshat

      At least he can talk about Russia.

    • Rebel Scum

      Kaplan issued an order that said Trump could not discuss: DNA; funding for litigation; Carroll’s previous romantic relationships and sexual experiences; Carrol’s choice of counsel and “suggesting or implying” that Trump did not sexually abuse her.

      Trump cannot say he did not make statements in 2019 “with actual malice,” or that Carroll lied about being sexually assaulted, Kaplan wrote.

      IOW he is not allowed to defend hiimself.

      • juris imprudent

        It does cut down on the length of the proceeding.

  35. Common Tater

    “New Orleans’ Dem Mayor LaToya Cantrell faces FBI probe over cozy relationship with her bodyguard whose wife dumped him over ‘affair’ after footage showed them spending HOURS together in city-owned apartment during work days”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12976333/New-Orleans-Dem-Mayor-LaToya-Cantrell-faces-FBI-probe-cozy-relationship-bodyguard-wife-dumped-affair-footage-showed-spending-HOURS-city-owned-apartment-work-days.html

    Corruption? In New Orleans?

    • Tres Cool

      I’m no doctor but Id say that just stopping your meds is ill-advised.

      “So I wanted better for myself,’ she explained. ‘I wanted to change because it just became a lot. I’m only 24 years old, taking 10 to 12 pills every single day. So I kind of just went cold Turkey.'”

      • Contrarian P

        Well, I am and it depends a lot on what meds. She sounds like a complete attention whore quite frankly (everything in my life is immediately available to the world on social media), but medications were originally developed, at least in theory, because they provide some benefit to function and longevity. Yes, it’s easy to argue that drugs have gone off the rails and are way overprescribed, but if she truly has lupus and it’s severe enough, then her risk of stroke is quite elevated compared to the general population and it probably wasn’t a great idea to just stop taking all of her drugs.

        It sounds like somebody talked her into quitting all medications and going “natural” months ago. Unfortunately the idea of nature has been fetishized unbelievably. “All natural” is all over the place now like it means it’s great for you. Arsenic is a completely natural substance. So are pigeon shit and bat guano. None of them are a great thing to be ingesting. Similarly, very little research has been done on many compounds that are sold as supposed health aids. I have no idea why sea moss is a great thing to be taking, but methotrexate isn’t.

      • Sensei

        I’d lay dollars to doughnuts one of those was an SSRI. Never had a need to research what happens when you don’t taper off those.

      • Tres Cool

        As someone that was on an SNRI (effexor) once, let me tell ya- that’s a motherfuck to get off off.
        Now I’m hopelessly dependent on baclofen. Another med that doesn’t seem to bring me much benefit, but the withdrawal is something else.

      • Common Tater

        Be careful, baclofen can raise your blood sugar.

      • Contrarian P

        You’re very likely correct given her apparent other mental health issues. Obviously I don’t know what medications she was on, but you’re right as far as stopping them cold turkey. The discontinuation syndrome can last 4-6 months.

        I’m not aware of any evidence of a heightened stroke risk from discontinuation of those meds, so I’m not sure it’s germane to her current issues. Then again, I’m not sure that she actually had a stroke as I can’t see her chart, specifically her MRI results. It’s all speculation quite frankly.

      • Tres Cool

        “…pigeon shit and bat guano. None of them are a great thing to be ingesting.”

        +2 CoVID/histoplasmosis

  36. The Late P Brooks

    For the children

    Gov. Gavin Newsom saved California Democrats from themselves Tuesday night by killing their proposal to ban youth tackle football just as it threatened to become a national GOP talking point about government overreach in an election year.

    The ban that aimed to protect young athletes from lifelong brain injuries was also rekindling the ire of parents who have protested over their rights in the liberal state — emotional fights that had previously centered around issues like vaccine and mask mandates and school policies on transgender students.

    Newsom’s veto announcement came just a day before a planned Fox News segment featuring the bill’s main opponent, a longtime youth football coach.

    “I am deeply concerned about the health and safety of our young athletes, but an outright ban is not the answer,” Newsom said in a statement shared first with POLITICO. “My administration will work with the Legislature and the bill’s author to strengthen safety in youth football — while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”

    ——-

    “I think it’s a tough conversation to have,” said the bill’s author, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, prior to Newsom’s announcement. “We all like freedoms and rights. But every once in a while the government steps in,” said the Sacramento Democrat.

    Freedoms and rights are too precious to be handed out to just anybody.

    • ron73440

      We all like freedoms and rights.

      But we hate the responsibility they come with.

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      We all like freedoms and rights. But every once in a while the government steps in

      Yeah sure buddy. “every once in a while”

    • Grummun

      Voluntary choice to pursue a course of action that has a risk of brain injury: No!

      Mandate to accept an injection that has a risk of heart injury: Yes!

    • juris imprudent

      It is scary when Newsom is the voice of sanity in that state.

      • Common Tater

        It was probably for political not sanity reasons.

      • juris imprudent

        He can be right for the wrong reasons.

    • Not Adahn

      Dick Morris is reduced to doing NewsMax interviews?

      Ain’t that a Ray of Sunshine.

  37. The Late P Brooks

    I’m having a vague recollection from law school that there’s some aspect of the defamation case where you have to presume the falsehood of the statement. Perhaps that’s for JMOL? I haven’t been paying enough attention to know what stage this case is in.

    The judge has already ruled that there must be an ironclad assumption of guilt. They’re only there to haggle over the size of the award.

    Wouldn’t it be awesome if the jury awarded her one shiny nickel, based on what her “reputation” is actually worth? I’m not holding my breath.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      If Alex Jones can be on the hook for a billion for saying shit how much can they stick him for given the right jury? The civil courts have been weaponized beyond belief.

    • Sensei

      The venue was carefully selected to minimize that possibility.

    • Rebel Scum

      It’s the Alex Jones treatment.

  38. The Late P Brooks

    Repeated hits to the head lead to a chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, which first manifests as behavioral problems and memory loss, then can mimic Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. While most CTE studies focus on professional athletes, research suggests the condition is cumulative and the damage can start very young. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying tackling until kids are older.

    Speaking of people who deserve to be face down in a ditch, the American Academy of Pediatrics wouldn’t be a bad place to start.

    • Lackadaisical

      You’re not wrong, but mostly for other reasons.

      Now, circumcision…

      • Tres Cool

        I don’t remember my circumcision but I know it hurt like hell.

        I couldn’t walk for a year.

      • juris imprudent

        Can we just cut this short?

  39. Rebel Scum

    Because democracy or something.

    At a Davos speaking engagement, Kerry had the following to say regarding the intersection of democracy and Climate Change™:

    If you wound up with a different President who was opposed to climate crisis, I got news for you. No one politician anywhere in the world can undo what is happening now…The only issue for all of us is not whether or not we can get or will get to a low carbon, no carbon economy globally. We will. The only question is, will we get there in time to meet the challenge of the scientists in order to avoid the worst consequences of this crisis. That is what is at stake.

    Low/no carbon is bad, actually. But you know that.

    • Urthona

      Also, no president — no matter how left wing — can have any impact on global warming.

      None have so far.

    • Drake

      Climate change seems to have frozen a pipe to my half-bath. Not sure how worried I should be about it in a 2-year-old house.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Good photographer…I feel like I could look like that with the right lighting.

      • juris imprudent

        A set of kleig lights backlighting you and blinding the viewer?

      • Ted S.

        No; lighting that shows off his tits.

    • B.P.

      I had a 1988 528e.

      • Sensei

        Ahh the eta engine.

  40. Common Tater

    “Hunter Biden’s Hollywood bong-smoking attorney Kevin Morris to face grilling on Capitol Hill days after prosecutors say cocaine was found on president’s son’s gun pouch”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12975693/Hunter-Bidens-Hollywood-bong-smoking-attorney-Kevin-Morris-face-grilling-Capitol-Hill-days-prosecutors-say-cocaine-presidents-sons-gun-pouch.html

    Maybe having a lawyer that looks like a complete dirtbag isn’t such a good idea?

    • R.J.

      That guy makes me look normal.

    • The Other Kevin

      I’m not worried for Hunter, we have a precedence where people’s lawyers aren’t pulled into such cases.

    • db

      Is that why Hunter ditched the gun in a dumpster? The gun pouch was too small for the gun *and* the cocaine, and something had to go?

      • Drake

        He could have ditched the ammo and crammed coke into the cylinders. Coke-gun!

      • Fourscore

        Hunter writes his bio, “No Room for Cracky”

  41. The Late P Brooks

    Sensei- I don’t remember ever seeing wheels like the ones on the car anywhere. They look oversize (diameter).

    The wheel in the trunk is a factory wheel. I had a set of 14s on my 2002.

    • Sensei

      I liked the factory design at the time and still do.

  42. The Late P Brooks

    No one politician anywhere in the world can undo what is happening now…

    Start slashing subsidies and see what happens.

  43. Common Tater

    “Moms for Liberty founder Bridget Ziegler SOBS at school board meeting as furious parents demand she resigns after her husband Christian Ziegler was accused of raping woman ‘who was part of their ménage-a-trois

    One resident read the lyrics of Katy Perry’s I Kissed a Girl hit song to the board.'”

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12978917/Moms-Liberty-Bridget-Ziegler.html

    Sounds like bullshit.

    • Lackadaisical

      ”Turns out that you are a hypocrite of the worst order,’ said John Smeallie, a retired deputy superintendent of Maryland schools, during the meeting. ‘Despite your attacks on the LGTBQ-plus community, it would appear that you are a part of it. Certainly a B, maybe a plus.”

      John sounds like a grade-A asshole.

      • Contrarian P

        I don’t get the reasoning at all. You had a threesome, so now you must cosign everything this supposed community advocates? You’re not allowed to disagree with anything?

        I mean there are plenty of lesbians who find the idea that men can become women to be invalid. I don’t think they’re disqualified from lesbianhood, much less womanhood, because they don’t find common cause with their alleged compatriots.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        I don’t get the reasoning at all. You had a threesome, so now you must cosign everything this supposed community advocates? You’re not allowed to disagree with anything?

        I mean, if I were a parent looking for a stalwart opponent to what I saw as sexual degeneracy creeping into the school system, and I found out the person I believed to be a stalwart opponent was actually engaging in said degeneracy, I’d be a bit pissed.

        How many times have we spiked the football on “family values” politicians and preachers caught in infidelity here?

      • Contrarian P

        Again, I’m not sure I see the logic. You can be opposed to porn in schools but look at porn yourself. Similarly, I don’t think discussing heterosexual intercourse with six year olds is appropriate, but obviously somebody has to engage in it for the species to continue.

        Obviously the issue here is that one of the participants is alleging rape, but otherwise I’m not sure what someone’s conduct in their own home as an adult has to do with a discussion of public policy regarding compulsory education.