quote:

Liberals are for recycling all day long. By definition using fossil fuels is recycling.

posted:

The government gave the reason for no Social Security cost of living increase as low gas prices. Now wouldn't that mean you should not see any increased gas prices for a year? Yes would be the answer.
Not with Obamonomics As I drove down Rancho Vista Boulevard this morning the gas station that is near 30th Street West has had its price at $2.99 for quite some time now. But today it is $3.05.
This makes no sense whatsoever other than the government has screwed the seniors of this country again. There should be some kind of uprising here I say impeach President Barack Obama.
So people must find ways to fight this. I no longer tip; tips are gone for at least a year. And I am very seriously considering changing my health coverage to where my prescriptions that I pay for now would be a zero cost. Citizens must fight against Obamanomics. Impeach!

quote:

So people must find ways to fight this. I no longer tip; tips are gone for at least a year.

Pope Guilty posted:

Yesterday I saw gas for $1.76, I dunno what he's on about. Gas is cheaper than it's been in like a decade.

quote:

World War III
Roger Cohen

“Mommy, please tell me again, how did World War I begin?”

“Sweetheart, I already told you, that was long ago. A century is a very long time.”

“But, Mommy, please.”

“Well, it’s complicated. Do you really, really want to know?”

“Yes, Mom.”

“It’s a sad story. The world was organized in one way, and that way collapsed, and in the process millions of people were killed.”

“Wow. How was it organized before?”

“There were things called empires. They controlled vast territories full of different peoples, and some of these peoples wanted to rule themselves rather than be governed by a faraway emperor.”

“O.K.”

“The Austro-Hungarian Empire was one of them. It had lots of grand palaces in its capital, Vienna, where people danced at fancy balls. It governed parts of a poor corner of Europe called the Balkans where its rule was disliked. One day in 1914, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne and his wife were assassinated in a Balkan city called Sarajevo by a young man, a Bosnian Serb, who wanted the freedom of the south Slavs from imperial rule.”
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“That’s sad, Mommy. Guess the music stopped. But so what?”

“The empire got really angry. It told Serbia to do a bunch of things or face war. The ruler in Vienna was confident because he had a close friend, a rising power called Germany. Serbia also had a good buddy, a country called Russia, which is big. Anyway, Serbia kind of dithered around, like you with homework, so Austria-Hungary went to war against it.”

“And then?”

“Then Germany declared war on Russia, whose friend was France, which didn’t like Germany for various reasons. Soon Germany attacked France through Belgium. That made Britain cross. It went to war against Germany. Another empire — a sickly one — called the Ottoman Empire, eventually joined the German and Austro-Hungarian side. Later the United States, a rising power, came in on the British and French team. After a few years, more than 16 million people were dead. The Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, German and Russian empires had collapsed.”

“All because a couple was killed? Mom, that’s weird.”

“Sometimes little things get bigger, people lose patience and perspective, there’s a spark and you get a big mess.”

“Mom, it couldn’t happen again, right?’

“Nope.”

“Are there any empires left today?”

“Some people call America an empire even if it doesn’t have an emperor. It is the most powerful country on earth, with soldiers all around the world and different peoples that rely on it for direction and protection. But America’s getting weaker.”

“So, Mommy, is it kind of like what you said about the world being organized one way, and then being organized in another way, and lots of people dying in the process?”

“Not exactly, sweetheart. Dying where?”

“In Syria. Mom, what’s Syria?”

“It’s a small country with different peoples and religions that came into being when the Ottoman Empire got so sickly it collapsed.”

“Why are people fighting there?”

“It’s complicated. Do you really, really want to know?”

“Yes, Mommy.”

“Well, there was this brutal, remote tyrant behaving like an emperor and some of the peoples in Syria rose up against him. The tyrant started shooting them. America and Britain and France, among other countries, didn’t like that, and they said they’d kind of support the rebels, but didn’t really.”

“Why?”

“Because, like I said, America is sickly. It’s getting weaker.”

“Okay. Then what?”

“The tyrant had a big friend called Russia. He had another quite big friend called Iran. They both really did support him.”

“So he won?”

“Not quite. Many of the people who wanted to get rid of the tyrant were Sunni Muslims. They had the backing of Saudi Arabia, which is Sunni Central and hates Iran and has supported Sunni fanatics. Turkey, which was the successor to the Ottoman Empire and hates the Syrian tyrant, also got on the rebel team. But Turkey hates another people in Syria called the Kurds even more than the tyrant — so much it’s been ready in a sneaky way to help one group of Sunni crazies who slit throats, kill Kurds and shoot people in Western cities.”

“Mom, I’m confused.”

“Syria has broken up, like the Ottoman Empire. Russia is bombing some enemies of the Syrian tyrant. America is bombing the throat-slitters. So is France. Turkey shot down a Russian plane. Russia is angry. The Kurds want the state they didn’t get 100 years ago. Saudi Arabia is fighting a region-wide war against Iran. That war is most intense in Syria, where hundreds of thousands are dead.”

“All because some folks wanted to get rid of a bully?”

“Sometimes little things get bigger, there’s a spark and it’s a big mess.”

“Mom, what would World War III be like?”

“Don’t worry, darling, everything is different now.”

“Totally?”

“Totally. We have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Happy Thanksgiving, my love.”

icantfindaname posted:

from Roger Cohen at the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/27/opinion/world-war-iii.html

maybe it's just me but I don't think it's physically possible to get any more insufferable and condescending than this. like literally using the framing of a parent talking down to a small child. holy poo poo gently caress you roger cohen. also with the Serious People beltway consensus that the US is in decline and has to dole out concessions to Russia, China, Iran, etc, RIGHT NOW or bad things will happen. what those things are doesn't matter just do it, quickly, no time to think

icantfindaname posted:

from Roger Cohen at the NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/27/opinion/world-war-iii.html

maybe it's just me but I don't think it's physically possible to get any more insufferable and condescending than this. like literally using the framing of a parent talking down to a small child. holy poo poo gently caress you roger cohen. also with the Serious People beltway consensus that the US is in decline and has to dole out concessions to Russia, China, Iran, etc, RIGHT NOW or bad things will happen. what those things are doesn't matter just do it, quickly, no time to think

quote:

Polícia da indignação

Há uma nova profissão nos dias de hoje: polícia da indignação. A medida é o ataque terrorista ao jornal satírico Charlie Hebdo, que resultou em 12 mortos. Logo após o ataque, apareceu um slogan em defesa da liberdade de expressão, 'Je suis Charlie', partilhado nas redes sociais por muitas pessoas que se solidarizaram com as vítimas e com um modo de vida que condena a violência como resposta ao insulto. A partir desse momento, sempre que há um massacre, aparecem os polícias a reclamar pela dose de indignação que pensam ser devida a qualquer ocasião terrível. Pergunto o que pretendem estas pessoas. Será que minimizam o ataque ao Charlie Hebdo? E por que será que reclamam para si um direito especial de exigir ao próximo que se indigne de igual modo com o que de mais terrível acontece no mundo? Quem lhes conferiu esse direito? E desde quando a indignação passou a ter um valor moral? Há quem queira tornar a sua vida impossível. E a dos outros também.

quote:

Thanks. I have been longing for an article on the lighter side of beheading.

quote:

The admiring tone of this piece makes me itch.

quote:

I nearly cannot believe what I am reading here, nor can I fathom some of the comments about understanding this culture. Frankly, the notion of "sensitive" murderers is nearly too much to bear, even for a progressive liberal, of which I am one.

While I understand that young people sometimes find the "wrong" path within which to place their alienation, and also get the idea of "know thine enemy," this embrace of an ostensible 'sensitive self' among killers makes me feel sick, as to be sure did Hitler's nationalistic appeal to Germany.

It is simple such a perversion of the humanitarian place of the arts in our lives --- you know, the idea that art, and music and philosophy make us more human.

This story, along with the photo of the doe-eyed "Slaughterer" is both repugnant and terrifying and has no place in an international newspaper, other than to further glamorize the slaughter of innocents by the otherwise artistically engaged.

quote:

I don't often write in response to articles even when I think they are interesting or inane. However, I must express my anger at your editorial staff printing this article. I don't want my subscription to the NYT to sponsor this sort of propagandist dribble whether intended that way or not.
At the very least there should have been an exploration of the IS defectors' stories to see why the "egalitarian camaraderie, poetry, acapela singing, & gourmet meals" where not enough to keep the defectors there.
I suspect that the brutality, rigidity, & hypocrisy of the regime was too much for independent thinkers, who then left before their minds & souls were totally corrupted.
I suspect some of the IS who cry during prayer, do so with regret for the corruption of their faith & their own abhorrent behavior. Attempting to leave means death if caught, so some may cry with despondency at the results of their misguided choice to join at all. I imagine for some recruits it would be nauseating to sing & eat gourmet meals after watching or participating in beheadings, rape, & other repellant cruelty.
Those who have left IS would make a far better topic NYT!
1) what (in detail) attracted them in the first place?
2) what (in detail) caused them to leave?
3) what about them "immunized" them from staying & partaking further in that "meal" of inhumanity?
4) what gave them the courage to leave?
Common sense: Governments may need the info in this article, the public does not!

quote:

How fun! Jihadists as hipsters. Is this some kind of joke? For shame NY Times. I can't believe my eyes. This is the lowest excuse for an editorial I have ever seen.

Geokinesis posted:

fishmech posted:

Allotments means those British community gardens here, right? Is he really complaining that women are gardening?

Geokinesis posted:

quote:

AB202 requires professional sports teams to consider cheerleaders “employees under existing employment laws,” instead of independent contractors. It was proposed by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego, a former Stanford University cheerleader, now cheering for excessive government. Being a cheerleader for a pro team obviously has fringe benefit lacking at other jobs, such as working closely with players making an average $1.9 million a year in the NFL and $5 million in the NBA. Six of 32 NFL teams don’t even have pro cheerleaders, meaning the jobs could be kicked through the goalposts of life.

quote:

Editor, Times-Dispatch:
Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s State of the Commonwealth address left me somewhat confused. He promised to take care of our veterans because our federal government won’t — and yet, he still wants to expand Obamacare. If the feds won’t fund the care of our veterans, what makes him think they will fund the expansion?
He also wants to increase funds for education. I applaud that — except most of the increase will go to providing free breakfasts for the students. Isn’t it the responsibility of the parents to provide breakfast (and lunch) for their children? Isn’t this just another socialist program? No wonder socialist/communist Sen. Bernie Sanders thinks he should run for president on the Democratic ticket.
This also raises the question to whom do the children belong. During World War II it was understood that it was the parents — not the state. Has that also changed?
L. W. Roller.

Deport The Irish posted:

I remember saying it pretty often as a kid (boy scouts maybe?) but the blank expressions weren't ELITE GOVERNMENT MEMETIC CHEMTRAIL MIND CONTROL. It was a bunch of kids being bored and wanting to get this bullshit over with.

Alter Ego posted:

I have one memory of replacing the words in the Pledge with (what I thought) were humorous replacements, only to get hauled bodily out of my fifth-grade classroom by my teacher and read the loving riot act for DISRESPECTING THE FLAG .

Good times.

Jack Gladney posted:

A rare freeper who never bought a computer. I wonder how many crazy letters to the editor have become freep posts instead.

quote:

In this presidential cycle, the “gig economy” has been under attack, notably from Democrats like Hillary Clinton, who said that it is “raising hard questions about workplace protections and what a good job will look like in the future.”

But far from being the labor problem of our era, the gig economy is actually a solution — one with power to change things far beyond car-sharing and odd jobs. It could help transform not just the private sector, but government as well, adding flexibility to unemployment programs and decreasing dependence on a welfare system getting out of control.

[...]

Social science data is clear that keeping safety net beneficiaries working is better for their careers and long-term economic well-being. The value of work cannot be overstated, and the 1996 welfare reform embraced this principle by transitioning welfare to a system of so-called workfare, with able-bodied individuals who receive government benefits being required to work in some capacity.

[...]

Historically, some opponents of workfare have argued that work requirements are untenable because the government cannot find a job for every welfare beneficiary. That may have been true years ago, when a “job” was binary and full time, but today the gig economy offers the solution: It can easily and quickly put millions of people back to work, allowing almost anyone to find a job with hours that are flexible with virtual locations anywhere. Much of this work is well above minimum wage and it can further the careers of workers as well. With a wide array of different employment options, workers can choose jobs better tailored to their skill-sets and upgrade their skills, which can advance their careers.

What do these jobs look like? For those willing and able to drive, Uber and Lyft enlist anyone to be a driver — assuming they pass a background check — and offers special financing or rental discounts for vehicles. Currently, the average Uber driver makes about $19 an hour, and in cities like Los Angeles and New York, their earnings are even higher.

For those who don’t drive, the options are nearly endless. They could deliver goods and groceries for Postmates and Instacart, assemble furniture on TaskRabbit or mow lawns and plow driveways with PLOWZ & MOWZ. Or if they have the know-how they could offer photo shoots, voice lessons, mural painting, tennis lessons, or painting a house on Thumbtack. Amazon’s MechanicalTurk, Fiver and other companies pay for general tasks that can usually be done on a computer or phone anywhere across the country. Those with particular skill-sets have other platforms available: Coders can do freelance work on Elance, Upwork, and Scalable Path, house cleaners can list themselves on Handy, graphics designers can submit bids and graphics on 99 Designs, and lawyers can draft legal contracts on UpCounsel. People with general interpersonal skills could be a virtual personal assistant on Zirtual.com. There’s an easily available job for just about everyone in the gig economy.

The Dark One posted:

http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/1/uber-welfare-sharing-gig-economy-000031


It keeps going.

The Dark One posted:

http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/1/uber-welfare-sharing-gig-economy-000031

The Dark One posted:

http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/1/uber-welfare-sharing-gig-economy-000031


It keeps going.

zakharov posted:

I just went through the TaskRabbit application process and apparently they accept 5% of applicants. Seems like an option for everyone.

quote:

But on our Capitol Hill street, it was only the grown-up hustlers peddling their shoveling. The precious snowflakes called neighborhood children?

“I got them outside to help me shovel, but then they just ended up playing in the back yard,” said the toughest, strictest dad I know, a square-jawed guy who manages construction sites.

Seriously?

“It was such a rare storm,” he said. “I had to let them play.”

I knew he was a softie.

quote:

While the blizzard was still howling on Saturday, my boys and I suited up for the pre-shovel.

That’s an important lesson, to keep shoveling as the snow falls, I explained.

They scooped, pushed and scraped. Then got bored.

The shovels are swords! And lightsabers!

“Get back to work!” I yelled.

And they did, trying to scrape up the snow they just stomped on.

“No, no, no. You have to shovel it before you tamp it down. Where is your logic? Your technique?” I said. Yikes. I sounded like my dad.

More scraping, scooping, then whining.

“I’m tired. My hands are cold.”

“My feet are cold.”

“The ice shards are flying into my face and cutting me up!”

The dread hit me. If this is their work ethic, what kind of future will they have? Will these kids, defeated by 20 inches of snow, ever make it out of my basement?

My 9-year-old says he wants to go to Georgetown University because he saw a lacrosse game there once. And he likes the bulldog.

“Georgetown? You think you’ll make it into Georgetown with this work ethic?” I warned as he tried to weasel out of shoveling. “College will be, like, impossible if you think clearing off these steps is hard.”

“Can we go inside and have hot chocolate?” they whined.

They won’t even make it out of high school.

quote:

As school was closed for the big dig-out, I tried again to inspire some hustle in my little childlumps, whose only hustle was to get a sleepover going.

“There are still lots of cars buried out there,” I said. “I bet you can make enough money for that Lego Poe Dameron X-Wing you want.”

No spark in their eyes. What’s going on? Should I introduce them to Gordon Gekko? Am I raising a Bernie Sanders army?

“Mom. You say we have too many Legos,” one cleverly pointed out.

“We just want to play with our friends,” the other said.

Probably down in the basement.

quote:

All over social media, folks were telling kids to get off their Xboxes and get to work.

quote:

Have you stopped to think about the non-stop pressure on him to be a success at work (read earn eye-watering amounts to keep his status on today’s property ladder) and home (understanding boyfriend, killer chef, potentially hands-on dad, all while resembling a Men’s Health cover star)?

It’s not sympathy we want, though – just a little understanding that it’s 
a pretty tough time for men right now. And just as men should do everything they can to empower and support the women in their lives, there needs to 
be a bit more consideration about what we’re up against, too.

quote:

Men have never before had so little freedom to vent our testosterone, say what we want, and ultimately feel like men. And this is a problem. Today it results in lads wrapping cars around trees or taking sexual risks.

quote:

Today it’s all the more important given the culture so many men have to spend their days twisting their inner selves to fit into, one where the wrong type of compliment could land you in court for sexual harassment. Nothing affects a man’s mood like how he is doing in 
the workplace. Throw in an overly aggressive boss and you have genuine mental mayhem. One corporate guy 
I know feels nauseous before meetings with his line manager – a woman who tears strips off him, leaving him close to tears. Does he talk about it? Hell no. It’s no surprise many of us secretly hanker back to the Mad Men era – untouched by political correctness, technology and blurred gender lines.

quote:

If you look between the legs of our closest relations in the animal kingdom, on the spectrum between the small-balled monogamy of a gibbon and the rampantly promiscuous chimp with his whopping testes, the male human falls in the middle. In ape world, size matters, as an indication of sexual behaviour. And based on the size of our testes, we aren’t designed for monogamy.

quote:

Extensive research has convinced me that it’s time to recognise that while women are grappling with glass ceilings, for men it’s more like glass cages. Trapped in bodies barely changed since caveman days, we’re living through the most absurd and unchartered time to be a man – and that’s not just a ‘man’ problem, it’s everyone’s problem.