winsor

The Paris Agreement. Going full blown nuclear for the next 100 years while we sort out fusion. Full speed ahead. Fusion we have wired. We have installed a continuous cycle fusion reactor with radiant energy transfer, at a moderately safe distance from population centers. 93 million miles away, IIRC.

Castro is a case in point for what may be expected for what fills the power vacuum after a despot is overthrown - the cure is as bad as or worse than the disease. When Dick Nixon was forced out of office, my father - no fan of Tricky Dick - noted that the fact that we underwent 'regime change' with hardly a ripple spoke volumes for our system of government, flawed though it may be. Batista was truly dreadful in many of ways, and his government was a study in corruption, but the 'beards' were the kind of people who give revolutionaries a bad name. Like the recent election, being critical of one side does not imply support for the other. The both suck out loud. I suspect that Cuba's isolation serves the same purpose as did the Wall between the BRD and the DDR (East and West Germany), somewhat of a social filter between the brilliant achievers in the West and the truly mediocre denizens of the East. After seeing the former West Germany awash in Ossies, South Korea seems to have rethought the benefits of reunification. It is said that a people get the government they deserve. If so, those who remained in Cuba after the Revolution are the pits. BSBD, Winsor

We have fucked up, we are bankrupt, workers are being laid off and the losses will result in the implosion of the US Dollar. I am pretty sure your career presumed a working knowledge of Elementary School Arithmetic, and running the numbers shows that going to historical norms for interest rates (say 3% to 4%) will result in us paying more in interest alone than we receive in taxes. Bernie Madoff commented to the effect of "why are you mad at me? The US Government is a Ponzi Scheme." He should know. We live in a world where we seem to think that a new source to support our addiction solves the problem. Whether it be petroleum, debt or narcotics, the model is the same (though you can, arguably, grow more poppies...). Given that we are, in the grand scheme of things, irrevocably fucked, I think a big picture approach is in order. The two candidates that floated to the top of the most recent election cesspool are truly despicable human beings, so we may as well focus on what they bring to the table regarding the imminent implosion of our way of life. On the one hand you have an Ivy League Attorney that never had an honest job in her life, whose stock in trade is to (with remarkable success) bullshit her way through problems to which ordinary mortals would have succumbed. Good for her. The other is a gold-plated child of privilege who represents to worst of the rapacious developers that have laid waste to the urban U.S.. I guess that someone who has experience with large operations that have spent way more than they can take in, and has successfully regrouped to one extent or another, has the edge over someone whose skill set is limited to Byzantine machinations. All things being said, it is akin to being aboard the Titanic and having to choose between someone someone who says that we're unsinkable and should go back to our staterooms, or someone with some experience using lifeboats. I go with the asshole at the davits. If you think I'm being unrealistic, do the math. BSBD, Winsor

The military trainer who most impressed me was a Mustang, who bore no resemblance to the F. Lee Armey type of D.I.. It seems he was a First Sergeant at a Fire Base that came under attack somewhere in Vietnam. A lucky shot with a mortar took out all of the officers, who were being given their orders by the C.O. as the battle broke out. The First Sergeant took over, rallying the troops, calling in fire support and repelling the attackers. The next morning a Colonel orbiting the base in a LOH radioed to speak to the Commanding Officer. Being told that the person who had successfully organized the defense of the base was an E.M., the Colonel's response was basically "not anymore, Lieutenant." One of his duties after attending OCS was training recruits, and he was a 1st Lt. when I met him. Compared to the typical instructors at the time, he was truly remarkable. When he said that his goal was to prepare us so that as many as possible would make it home, it was clear that he was serious and people paid attention. I certainly did. OTOH you have Herbert Sobel, C.O. of E 2/506 through their training phase. Roundly hated for being capricious, vindictive, and an all around officious prick, a number of his company later admitted that his approach likely contributed to the number of his Company that survived the war. They still hated his guts for preparing them for just how unfair their lot in life was to become. Personally, I'll take Lt. Smith telling me to show respect for the enemy and to avoid being blinded by anger. Having someone screaming at me and being a total asshole never seemed to be an effective approach. YMMV. BSBD, Winsor

What about the ones who rely on corporate funds? Pure as the driven snow, I assume. Either way, "follow the money..."

Aux quais!

This is pretty much why I take Climate Change orthodoxy with a grain of salt. I have seen World Class Experts who could argue equally strongly for either a thesis or its antithesis using the same data, depending on what preconceived notion they wanted to support. When you have 'creationists' plying their trade, it is easy to dismiss their nonsense out of hand. 'Social Scientists,' OTOH, are given more credence than is their due on far too many subjects, supporting the perception of the field as trivial. For the record, humanity has an impact upon the environment. Having said that, anyone who focuses on 'Climate Change' (tm) above all other human concerns is certifiably delusional. Invoking 'Science!' (per Thomas Dolby) as justification for doing so borders on argumentum ad verecundiam, and is effectively bullshit in the grand scheme of things. Science is born of skepticism. Belief is anathema to scientific method, and conclusions based on belief are generally worthy of dismissal. BSBD, Winsor

Switzerland did pretty well, and they were smack dab in the middle of the playing field. And surrounded by mountains. And with a moral compass made of gold. Our President Elect is gold plated.

Switzerland did pretty well, and they were smack dab in the middle of the playing field.

“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.” William F. Buckley Jr.

Well, it tastes great. And it's less filling.

Yeah, but over 3 million of Hillary's votes were cast illegally by non-citizens. In addition, it is a proud tradition for Democrats to vote early, vote often, and vote long after they are dead. Trump's voters, OTOH, are all upstanding, law-abiding, God-fearing Citizens who would never stoop to such tactics. I read it on the internet, so it's the truth.

Most Republicans feel that those who do not have jobs good enough to give them healthcare should be left to fend for themselves. Most of these people are "urban" types. Meaning poor. Republicans tend to be not willing to pay taxes that go to providing free healthcare to those who are seen as a burden on society and unworthy. That is the bottom line. Literally. Sad. The "Affordable Care Act" is as solid a misnomer as the "Federal Reserve," which is neither Federal nor a reserve. Six years ago it cost $10,000 a night for a bed in a local hospital. Add in the services that were not included, and things began to get expensive. Why on earth do they charge $10,000 a night? Why does a dog lick his balls? Rather than implement an elegant set of rules that addressed the core issues that lead to insanely overpriced 'health care,' the ACA simply said that everyone would be required to subject themselves to the existing price structure (or worse, as things got further out of hand), and somehow get someone else to pay for it in the case of the indigent or working poor. Those who got stuck with the tab would be labeled 'the rich.' Obama himself said in one of his Senatorial speeches that solving the problem of people without health insurance by requiring it was like solving homelessness by requiring everyone to have a home. As Rocky the Flying Squirrel noted, "that trick never works." If the law had addressed the fundamentals of exactly why the price structure of medical care is so detached from reality, I suspect there would have been more people on board with it. The fact that the law was but a further flight of fantasy was infuriating. YES, there were and are some serious structural problems with the health care system in the country and NO, this is not a solution. If anything, the ACA is eine Schlimmverbesserung, the closest concept in English being that the cure is worse than the disease, which is apt. I'd love to have someone implement changes that resulted in affordable health care that did not fuck over health care providers, but the ACA does not even come close. I have a real problem with trying to fix medical care by tasking Ivy League Attorneys to do so; let me get this straight - you think Doctors charge too much so you're going to get Lawyers to set things straight? Have you lost your fucking mind? Bottom line: there is a real problem, but this is nothing similar to a solution. BSBD, Winsor

When you figure that a large part of Hillary's votes only count for 3/5 of a real vote, Trump won by a landslide.

I largely agree with your sentiments and hope that, when a fast decision is made that must be accurate and elegant, he does not fuck it up. I hope he surprises me and pulls it off. The bottom line is that, as dreadful an option as he is, Hillary was a significantly worse choice for a long list of reasons. If nothing else good comes of this, the entertainment value of witnessing the wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst the Hillary supporters is priceless. BSBD, Winsor

Thanks.

You made a claim. Refusing to back it up is indeed a form of failure. I think what you'll find is that most hip-hop (which I actually listen to) is not racist unless you count black pride as racism. If minorities being proud of their culture is racist, then sure, lots of hip-hop artists spew racial hatred. Otherwise, unless you can point out actual racial hatred in hip-hop lyrics, you got nothing. You must be right. It is impossible that I could not give a rat's ass what you think - should you choose to do so.

I think that not all muslims are wanting to kill every 'infidel.' Not all Germans were members of the Nazi party. Not all Russians were members of the Communist party. Yet you seem to want to lump them all together. That is like saying that I am like all the other old, white men in the country. I did not & do not support Trump. IMO each of us is an individual and should be judged that way; and only that way. Jerry Baumchen You are right to the extent that the 'Third Reich' included any people who were not Nazis. I was referring to adherents, rather than those who were merely present. I did not mean to imply that an accident of birth or geography is a determining factor. In each case the fundamentals were laid down by seriously malignant characters, though the German had more to recommend him than did the Arab. There were Nazis who were not on board with the 'Final Solution,' and there are Muslims who are the equivalent of 'Sunday Christians,' but the rule book for each ism is pretty clear. If you CHOOSE to lump yourself together, get used to the ramifications.

Yeah, you got me on that one. I am, of course, at your beck and call, and responsible for meeting your every demand. I've failed.

Do you have examples of hit-hop artists spewing racist hate, or is it just your feels? Yes, I do. I do, however, leave this exercise to you. If you are unable to figure it out on your own, I can see no reason to expect better results if you are spoon-fed.

I call bullshit on all the quivering about 'racism.' If you want to bitch about 'racism, but only care when it is white vs. 'other,' expect your complaints to fall on deaf ears. If, OTOH, you decry racism when it includes any and all sources, I'm with you. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are professional racists, compared to whom David Duke is but a rank amateur. I think they are all assholes, and those that tolerate one but not the other side are assholes as well. I do not engage in untoward behavior against followers of any particular psychopath, but consider Islam and the Third Reich to be largely interchangeable. It ain't Godwin if there is a history of their alliance. I agree that hip hop/rap 'artists' spewing racist hate is no excuse for those who respond in kind. However, anyone who gives them a pass forfeits their right to bitch about much of anyone else behaving in so reprehensible a manner. BSBD, Winsor

We should stick with international observers. Dated but appropriate.

Ooh, ooh, I know, I know! Stop saying "you're fired?" And create jobs for the needed guards at the new gulag political prisoner system. We should simplify the legal code, as well. "If it is not mandatory, it is forbidden!"

Ooh, ooh, I know, I know! Stop saying "you're fired?"

I wish people would stop with this "more qualified" (or most/best/whatever) misleading crap. I'm sure John Stumpf could be considered more/most/best "qualified" for a CEO position, but that doesn't mean anyone really wants him to be a CEO anymore. I'm unclear what you're even attempting to say. Hillary has been in politics for a long time. Has served as a Senator and Secretary of State. Was in the situation room as Secretary of State sitting beside the President when Bin Laden was was killed. It's not a matter of the subjective. Hillary is OBJECTIVELY more qualified than Trump to be President. There's nothing misleading about it whatsoever. I realize she has been on the scene for quite a while, but I'm kind of fuzzy about what she has actually accomplished. Help me out on this one.