winsor

You confuse ethnicity with ideology. Japanese is ethnicity, Islam is ideology. To use the Teutonic example, someone whose forebears settled in Lancaster County and still spoke German, but read Mein Kampf and said "this is badly written drivel, that nobody with half a brain could accept!" is not much of a threat. Someone, OTOH, who read Mein Kampf and said "gee, this is enlightening! Why, I can find no fault with any of these marvelous revelations!" is a real problem. Similarly, someone who reads the Koran and says "this is seriously fucked up" is not a problem, regardless of their ethnicity. Again, if someone reads the Koran and says "gee, this is enlightening! Why, I can find no fault with any of these marvelous revelations!," they have demonstrated a malignant disconnect in their cognitive processes, and anyone that fucked up in the head is justifiably scary. Someone I knew that had a few mental wiring issues complained that someone with cancer got sympathy, but that someone with mental illness did not. I pointed out that someone with cancer was not likely to snap and do irreparable harm to themselves and/or anyone within range. The mental illness that is Islam is one of the most pathological forms of mental malware out there. Don't get me wrong, the group that venerates a means of executing Jews gives me pause, putting the symbols of their mode of execution hither and yon, but that is a separate issue. Islam, in any form and in no uncertain terms, specifies the use of self-destruction as an offensive tactic. I thus hold accountable to anyone who adheres to that ism. The bastardization of Bushido that was used to further the Imperial Japanese goals had a similar self-destruct offensive mechanism, which was a show stopper for Americans for sure. I know my father had a complete change of perspective the first time he saw Kamikazes in action. In the military, one has to swear an oath to put on the uniform. In wartime, anyone wearing that uniform is fair game to the opposition. We are at war, regardless of whose fault that is, and anyone who has sworn an oath to Islam has opted for the other side. Their choice. Admittedly, letting on that one has concluded that Islam is seriously evil after claiming to be Muslim places one at the risk of being treated as an apostate, which is fatal, so people may consider the risk of infidels to be trivial compared to the very real risk of the True Believers around them. In any event, equating Japanese ethnicity with Islam is either uninformed or disingenuous. BSBD, Winsor

What is "lazing?" I've know a lot of lazy Christians, as well as lazy Muslims. You "paint" a target with radar, you "sparkle" the target with a laser designator. Lazing is target identification for precision munitions. So someone cannot spell, and doesn't know what the "s" in laser means. "ztimulated," of course.

Because the identity of the belligerent has a very real impact on what we call terrorism and what we call war. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

What is "lazing?" I've know a lot of lazy Christians, as well as lazy Muslims. You "paint" a target with radar, you "sparkle" the target with a laser designator. Lazing is target identification for precision munitions.

All religions are flawed by their very nature. The made-up universal religions (Scientology, Mormon, Islam, et al.) are singularly bogus, but Islam stands out as being virulent and pathological. Since the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was on board with Nazi Germany, saying that his fatwa was but the Islamic contribution to the Final Solution is not a stretch at all. My copy of the Koran and my copy of Mein Kampf sit beside each other. Frankly, given the choice between Nazis and Muslims, I'll take Nazis any day - they bring a lot more to the party than sheer fecundity. In any event, despite the relatively benign manifestation of Islam in some peoples and locales, Islam is one of the most toxic and destructive mental illnesses out there. Reza Aslan is likely one heck of a nice guy, and quite bright, but he is the one that does not get it. He distinguishes between Daesh and Hezbollah the way a toxicologist distinguishes between cyanide and ricin. Netanyahu's point is that they are equally lethal, so it's a different conversation. The Prince of Peace Muhammad was not. He was a vicious, perverted psychopath, and those who follow him should be viewed with that in mind. BSBD, Winsor

I'm reminded of an editorial cartoon during the Southeast Asian War Games, showing a B-52 dropping ordnance. The caption from the cockpit says "do what I do, kid - pretend there's nobody down there."

When the Dubrovka Theater and Beslan School were taken similarly by Chechen assholes, it took Spetsnaz to sort things out. It wasn't pretty. It is hard to convey to a civilian how violent and effective your basic grenade can be, and Generals in the Great War took your position regarding the effectiveness of storming automatic weapons, to the detriment of those tasked to do so. A few skilled practitioners with Kalashnikovs in commanding positions are as compelling as Maxims against No Man's Land. Limiting the death toll to less than 100 in a venue with over 1,000 in attendance was no small feat. The French security forces are the Varsity, and when taking French hostages on French soil, one's life expectancy may be conveniently measured in minutes. BSBD, Winsor

Obama disgust sensation

I'm sure they used carbon-based explosives and propellants to effect this dastardly deed. If it releases carbon dioxide it's bad, m'kay?

With enough nanothermite, anything is possible.

Some sort of 'trinity mystery' perhaps?

Shirley, you jest.

Well, since they feel unloved, they have resorted to the kind of charm that is sure to win over those who were skeptical. Who would have thought that they could be so endearing?

Must be politifacts too http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/nov/08/ben-carson/carson-defends-west-point-scholarship-story/ Perhaps you will explain for us how he met with Gen. Westmoreland in Detroit on a day that Gen. Westmoreland wasn't in Detroit. Okay, so it was General Motors. Honest mistake.

Calling people deniers is on a par with making reference to the same biased website for every citation. It dispels any notion of impartiality; if that is the goal, mission accomplished. Either extreme is suspect, for precisely the same reasons. A) "This is true - the science is settled!" B) "The whole thing is bullshit!" C) "What say we put this in perspective, shall we?" I don't give a lot of credence to either A or B. BSBD, Winsor

Dr. Carson was set up. General Westmoreland's double was in Detroit that day, who decided to tell the young, naive Cadet Carson that he had a scholarship to West Point just to discredit him. I can only guess who was behind the cunning plot, but I suspect it was Bush operatives. Relying on the gullible good nature of the young Carson was absolutely reprehensible.

Al Gore is a jerk any way you cut it. Humanity is been a factor in climate by virtue of agricultural and urban modification of the surface and such things as carbon dioxide levels. Such issues as 'climate change' are but symptoms of a more compelling issue, which is the sheer volume of humanity. Even if we resolve the perceived carbon emission 'crisis,' our burgeoning population will necessarily reach critical mass, where we have stripped the planet of the finite resources necessary to survive. When we require food at a greater rate than it can be produced, the seed corn will not last long. Hungry people do not make wise decisions based on long term goals. If you are under the illusion that we would not behave in such a short sighted manner, I give you the U. S. economy, where we deal with unsustainable debt by mandatory borrowing. We focus on symptoms, rather than problems. We are spending money faster than we can make it, and we are in hock up to our eyeballs? Borrow more! We have 6 billion people on our planet and counting, and a lot of whom want to drive cars, so carbon dioxide levels are rising? Make more Priuses! When I consider the limitations of supposedly bright people, and the fact that we encourage stupid people to breed, I lose faith in Nihilism. What the hell, it was fun while it lasted. Enjoy yourselves, it's later than you think! BSBD, Winsor

Agreed. Someone once gave me a copy of some tabloid paper (I think it was the Star) when I was hospitalized, and I flipped through it out of boredom. There was a sensationalized story of a two headed baby, and I recognized it as being the same case reported in the New York Times a few days earlier as a badly malformed set of Siamese twins. If I was to make mention of this incident, I would likely refer to the Times account rather than the Star. If you come across something in whatthefuckgiveswiththat.com, you would be well served to cross reference the account to the reputable source before posting. Correct data from a suspect source do not hold much sway. BSBD, Winsor

The good thing is that AGW is so overwhelming a threat that everything else pales in comparison. I, for one, lay awake at night, trembling in fear. Damn you Al Gore! Why could you not allow us just a little blissful ignorance?

Well, you're not really being cooked - it just feels like you are. Please see the 1st photo I linked to where the man is using his child to shield himself from the sun. If a meat thermometer says your body temperature is 165F, you're cooked. The picture you cite appears to be a freeze frame action shot of someone playing with a kid in the water. Nothing about it looks like the kid is being used as a sun shield (the other people in the shot look pretty blase).

I think 'uncomfortable' is a bit of a understatement. So, you're been shown to be wrong about the temperature in Houston, but you're going to stick to your guns that 165F wet bulb temperature is no big deal? I know that 165F probably refers to the heat index of the 95F wet bulb temp that Bill was talking about earlier, but be careful - I was already rebuked in another thread for the saying the same thing. But to answer your question - ya, heat waves are a big deal and lots of people can die. I think 700+ died in Chicago during a heat wave 20 years ago. 600+ died in Pakistan earlier this year, and those temps didn't even break the record high for that area from 1979 when CO2 emissions were lower. The record heat index of 178F back in 2003 didn't seem to be as deadly - nor did the 165F back in July - here's some pictures: http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2015/08/01/rtx1mfvg.jpg http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_article_large/public/2015/08/01/heat.jpg Assuming you are not simply joking, please look up the terms 'temperature,' 'wet bulb temperature' and 'heat index.' 165F is 'medium' for cooked meat, 165F water is scalding, where immersion will cause burns immediately. This is the kind of temperature that can be sustained in a hot sauna for maybe 15 minutes. You are not likely to find much of anywhere that is that hot on the surface of this planet.

Carson is toast. Part of his appeal is his apparent honesty. Since it is becoming apparent that he is a lying piece of shit, his numbers are likely to tank. Clinton, OTOH, is a lawyer, so 'truth' to her depends on what the definition of "is" is. BSBD, Winsor Apparently his poll numbers among inner city blacks have tanked since it was revealed that he didn't really stab anyone. He did not say that he stabbed anyone, he said that he attempted to do so, but demonstrated consummate incompetence with edged implements. This apparently led him to the conclusion that he would be a gifted surgeon. Evidently, his admission that his attempt at establishing street cred by senselessly stabbing his homey was a total failure was the source of derision in the hood. Had he successfully disemboweled the target of his disrespect, he would have gained the admiration of the uptown crowd. I am actually dismayed that, being as poor a liar as he is, he would seek to rely on dishonesty at this point. For him to outdo someone like, say, Hillary Clinton at mendacity and prevarication is out of the question - it's like pitting a Cub Scout Pack against a platoon of Recon Marines. A full scholarship to West Point? Please. Had he said he was promised an appointment to the Academy by someone with the stroke to make it happen, that could be plausible. The way he phrased it makes it bullshit coming and going. I suspect we are looking at the Dunning Kruger effect here. The fact that he appears unaware that there are people who know the difference is disquieting. Maybe he's just trying to make Trump look good. Since I don't think doing so is possible, I am impressed by how bad he now looks. Some religions have followers that show up for social reasons and may or may not care one way or another about the belief system. His is one that requires the kind of suspension of disbelief that Ed Wood would envy, which is also disquieting. In all fairness Mormon is on a par with Scientology for keeping the bullshit meter pinned, but at least the last guy knew from black ink and had some idea about how to turn an enterprise around. Alas, in politics as in many things, the scum rises to the top. I despair at quite what particular sleazewad/fuckwit we will have as the Grand Poobah on the next go around. I wish I could watch this one from afar. BSBD, Winsor

You get the government you deserve. For the USA, that is the best government money can buy. I want a refund.

Carson is toast. Part of his appeal is his apparent honesty. Since it is becoming apparent that he is a lying piece of shit, his numbers are likely to tank. Clinton, OTOH, is a lawyer, so 'truth' to her depends on what the definition of "is" is. BSBD, Winsor

Paul/Webb