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Monday, March 11. 2019

The Unintended Benefits Of Vaccines

Americans are consuming more and more stuff. Now that other countries won’t take our papers and plastics, they’re ending up in the trash.

They have enuf of their own

China's Cultural Revolution had "Struggle Sessions." What about the US?

New Conservative Hire at CNN Demoted from Editor to Pundit After Pressure from Liberals

Sarsour explaining how she, CAIR and other Mu$lim organizations took control of the House, protected Omar, and demanded Pelosi rewrite the censure to include all forms of hate.

No Application Necessary - In Britain, “positive discrimination” keeps a qualified candidate off the police force.

"If even a successful businessman and entrepreneur like Governor Hickenlooper can't openly support capitalism in the Democratic primary, it's clear this is Senator Sanders' party now."

Why Brooklyn’s trendy brand of ‘socialism’ is ultimately doomed

For once, I find this piece by Kevin Williamson incomprehensible

Ocasio-Cortez: In US ‘If You Don’t Have A Job You Are Left To Die’:

Ocasio-Cortez also said during her interview that automation could potentially allow for more time to focus on art, inventions, the sciences and “enjoying the world that we live in.”

800-Year-Old French Basilica of St. Denis Heavily Vandalized in No-Go Suburbs — 19th Century Stained Glass Windows Destroyed

They need to be taught to COEXIST

Swedish social democracy, so often viewed by American and West Europeans with envy as a model society, is in deep trouble.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 06:49 | Comments (50) | Trackbacks (0)

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Re: The U.S. military,

This is the nature of modern warfare. All targets are vulnerable. If it comes to war between the U.S. and China/Russia the ONLY strategy that has a chance to keep them from winning and destroying us is a massive nuclear attack in the first hours of the conflict. Followed up by another nuclear volley on anything that survives the first attack. But to put it simply we won't do that! However both Russia and China will so we will lose the next world war and we will lose it in the first 24 hours.

#1 Anon on 2019-03-11 09:00 (Reply)

Anon: If it comes to war between the U.S. and China/Russia the ONLY strategy that has a chance to keep them from winning and destroying us is a massive nuclear attack in the first hours of the conflict. Followed up by another nuclear volley on anything that survives the first attack.

To which, of course, they will respond with their own nuclear weapons. "So much winning!"

Keep in mind that a conventional war won't be fought in the U.S., but over places like Taiwan or the Baltics. The first use of nuclear weapons would be disastrous. The purpose of wargames is to find weaknesses, and to address them, so as to prevent a war through miscalculation.

The most important component of American defense is strong alliances throughout the world. Instead of husbanding these relationships, the U.S. has been spurning its allies, cozying up to autocrats, and largely ignoring cyberattacks by adversaries. This can be more politically destabilizing than even military weaknesses, though this needs to be addressed as well.

#1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 09:42 (Reply)

Zbot: The most important component of American defense is strong alliances throughout the world.

Correctamundo! We don't need a strong military. We need friendship!

Love wins!

You're welcome.

#1.1.1 ZachriHell on 2019-03-11 10:46 (Reply)

When you have a powerful military, it is amazing how many people want to be your friend.

#1.1.1.1 Rusty on 2019-03-11 11:09 (Reply)

Zachriel: The first use of nuclear weapons would be disastrous.

That's kind of the idea. Derp.

#1.1.2 Captain Obvious on 2019-03-11 11:15 (Reply)

To which, of course, they will respond with their own nuclear weapons. "So much winning!"

Of course they will respond. But the first country to fire 2000 nukes at the enemy will most likely have the most of their country, infrastructure and military left after the last nuke is used. Russia and China understand this much better than we do and your comment is the proof. You seem to believe that we could keep it "conventional". That is of course foolish. Why? Because: the first country to fire 2000 nukes at the enemy will most likely have the most of their country, infrastructure and military left after the last nuke is used. Simple as that. There is no middle ground. There is no being nice and hoping they will too. What in the hell do you think Russia or China would do if we were kicking their butt in a conventional war??? There is absolutely no other choice. I wish it weren't true. But it is and any nuclear power who does not understand that will be toast in the next WW.

#1.1.3 Anon on 2019-03-11 16:32 (Reply)

Anon: But the first country to fire 2000 nukes at the enemy will most likely have the most of their country, infrastructure and military left after the last nuke is used.

"I'm not saying we wouldn't get our hair mussed, but I do say no more than 10 to 20 million killed, tops! Uh, depending on the breeze."

Anon: You seem to believe that we could keep it "conventional".

Of course it would likely stay conventional. That's because the homelands would not be under direct threat.

#1.1.3.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 17:25 (Reply)

"Of course it would likely stay conventional. That's because the homelands would not be under direct threat."

Really!!! A war with Russia or China and the homeland is not under threat!? You live in a dreamland.

IF Russia and the U.S. ever go to war nukes will be used. It makes zero since tactically or strategically to use one nuke or two nukes. Once that dog is unleashed you MUST use as many nukes as it takes to end it, period! AND the first country to do that will most likely still have most/more of it's military and infrastructure intact. This really isn't rocket science (pun intended). Every military leader and every world leader worth their title (obviously I don't mean Pelosi and AOC types) knows this intuitively and through war gaming.

The ONLY smart thing to do with a provocation that cannot be ignored and must be responded to with a large commitment of force would be to use all diplomacy, make nice, ask for peace talks and unleash a monstorous barrage of nuclear weapons aimed at every large military target, every industrial city or complex and any target that can be used against us. The ONLY possible way to survive a nuclear war is to be the firstist with the mostist. Any other choice is suicide.

But no worries. This takes guts and strong leadership at all levels in the government. We don't have that and probably haven't since the early 60's. We will not be first and we will not survive. They will follow YOUR advice.

#1.1.3.1.1 Anon on 2019-03-11 18:58 (Reply)

Anon: Really!!! A war with Russia or China and the homeland is not under threat!?

If China invades Taiwan, it would create a crisis that could involve U.S. troops, but would not be a direct threat to the U.S. homeland. That's why U.S. planners war game, so as to being able prevail in a limited war. There is no prevailing in a nuclear exchange, certainly not against Russia.

Anon: Once that dog is unleashed you MUST use as many nukes as it takes to end it, period!

Even after a U.S. first strike, Russia would still have sufficient nuclear weaponry to destroy the U.S.

#1.1.3.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-12 06:17 (Reply)

Who are you talking to, Dad? Does your speaker need to be constantly used or it'll seize up? What does that dumb arrogant robot is hopelessly pedantic mean?

#1.1.3.1.1.1.1 Rotebot, inquiring of the Void on 2019-03-12 07:23 (Reply)

If China invades Taiwan our Pacific fleet would be involved in protecting Taiwan. If China were to do this they wouldn't make that decision carelessly they would intend to succeed and would us an overwhelming force and overwhelming firepower. That area is in their backyard so they would have a huge advantage. Consequently the Pacific fleet would lose big time and probably two aircraft carriers would be destroyed along with much of their accompanying ships. About 1/3rd of our navy and upwards of 20,000-30,000 sailors killed. In that fleet would be 2-4 subs with nuclear weapons. Do you really believe that as the U.S. fleet incurs these loses they would not use those nukes that are right there???
Also unsaid and unknowable is that in the minutes before entering that theater of operation nuclear bombs would be delivered to both carriers and nuclear missiles to missile frigates, to be used as a last resort. These would not sit in the hold of the carrier. They would be loaded on a plane just before entering the fray and they would stay aloft and out of sight/reach until called into action.

Then there is Guam and bases on Japan where American forces would prepare for the battle. These too must become targets of the Chinese, and on and on. There is no way short of us just walking away from it all that it would not go nuclear.

#1.1.3.1.1.1.2 Anon on 2019-03-12 12:17 (Reply)

Anon: If China were to do this they wouldn't make that decision carelessly they would intend to succeed and would us an overwhelming force and overwhelming firepower.

Sure, and if they were to risk it, they would quite likely do it in such as way that it would be a fait accompli before the Americans could react. Then the Americans would have to dislodge them from Taiwan. Nuclear weapons would not help achieve either country's goals, so no. The U.S. would not use a preemptive first strike killing hundreds of millions of people in order to stop a conventional attack.

#1.1.3.1.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-12 12:32 (Reply)

QUOTE:

For once, I find this piece by Kevin Williamson incomprehensible

It may help if you recognize the distinction between conservatism and rightism.

#2 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 09:14 (Reply)

Yeah, we get it. Rightists have cooties. So does Trump.

Sad to see KW walk right up to an insight about why we are getting a nationalist-populist party (and a international-socialist one) in 2019, stumble over it, dust himself off, and keep going.

#2.1 Christopher B on 2019-03-11 09:53 (Reply)

Christopher B: Rightists have cooties. So does Trump.

Williamson was referring to those on the right saying leftists have cooties; "New York City and Washington-based institutions are Them, and Them have cooties, even if Them are in actual fact church-going Evangelical veterans who live in Tennessee". Cooties is another name for identity politics, many on the right having retreated to tribalism.

#2.1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 10:25 (Reply)

Zbot: many on the right having retreated to tribalism.

I know! My friends on the Congressional Black Caucus were saying this just the other day.

#2.1.1.1 ZachriHell on 2019-03-11 10:53 (Reply)

That is incorrect. Tribalism is only how we define it. It's a tragedy of the campus. You're welcome!

#2.1.1.1.1 zachismyhero on 2019-03-11 12:34 (Reply)

You miss the obvious. The left stands for socialism/communism/fascism. They have always stood for this but lately they have become more honest about their agenda. They want to take your money and your constitutional rights. NO! They must take your constitutional right before they can take all your money. They are going to rule over us by hook or by crook. They steal elections, they allow massive illegal and legal immigration to dilute the votes of citizens. They intend to rule over us and once they have all the power they intend to rule over us ruthlessly. There may be individuals on the left who don't want this or don't recognize that they are supporting this by supporting the left but that is a distinction without a difference. Everyone who votes in the rabid left is an enemy of our constitutional democratic republic. Period.

#2.1.1.2 Anon on 2019-03-11 16:40 (Reply)

Anon: The left stands for socialism/communism/fascism.

Fascism is on the political right. The political left is a wide spectrum of beliefs, most of which do not include taking all your money and ruling over you ruthlessly.

#2.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 17:30 (Reply)

LOL
Tell me you didn't smirk just a little as you wrote that crap.

#2.1.1.2.1.1 Anon on 2019-03-11 19:01 (Reply)

So you admit to an utter ignorance of the history of the subject on which you write.

So until you can explain why the American Communist Party was trying to get stevedores loading ships heading for England to strike on 21 June 1941, but 2 days later was all for getting the ships loaded you'd best stop displaying your ignorance.

#2.1.1.2.1.2 William O'Blivion on 2019-03-12 00:00 (Reply)

William O'Blivion: So until you can explain why the American Communist Party was trying to get stevedores loading ships heading for England to strike on 21 June 1941, but 2 days later was all for getting the ships loaded

Because the American Communist Party was aligned with the Soviet Union, which was invaded by Germany at that time.

#2.1.1.2.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-12 06:11 (Reply)

American Communist Party is alive and well and works hand in hand with the American Democrat party. A surprisingly large number of our congresspeople are communist or owe their allegiance to communists.

#2.1.1.2.1.2.1.1 Anon on 2019-03-12 12:22 (Reply)

Anon: American Communist Party is alive and well and works hand in hand with the American Democrat party.

Never heard of the "American Democrat party". In any case, there is no evidence that a significant portion of the U.S. Congress are "communists or owe their allegiance to communists."

#2.1.1.2.1.2.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-12 12:34 (Reply)

Hickenlooper was on Face the Nation yesterday and actually said he WAS a capitalist (though not a proud one) and he opposed the term because it was "creating divisions".

I'm calling BS on that.

Capitalism is something to be proud of. It promotes trust, mutual exchange, and inititiative. Socialism requires divisiveness, limited choices, and promotes bucking the system just to survive (unless you're connected).

There's no such thing (as Hickenlooper suggested) as only a little Socialism. Yes, it's true we have limited amounts of it here - but where has it gotten us? To calls for more because "It's WORKING" (not really) in the areas we have it.

As Thatcher said, eventually you run out of other peoples' money.

“Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.”~Bastiat

#3 Bulldog on 2019-03-11 09:16 (Reply)

Bulldog: There's no such thing (as Hickenlooper suggested) as only a little Socialism.

All modern developed economies are mixed, meaning they have "a little socialism" as well as robust markets. Sweden voted to cut back on government involvement in their economy, and the government sector shrank accordingly.

Bulldog: Yes, it's true we have limited amounts of it here - but where has it gotten us?

Social Security dates to the 1930s, the GI Bill to the 1940s, the Superhighway System to the 1950s, and Medicare to the 1960s. That period saw the U.S. grow into the greatest economic power in world history, with a trading network that spanned the globe.

#3.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 09:58 (Reply)

Only a progressive idiot like yourself could point to 70 trillion dollars in unfunded liabilities and proclaim "We're the greatest!"

Do you go home to your husband and tell him "I just ran up $700,000 on the Visa card! Let's go out and celebrate!"?

#3.1.1 Rusty on 2019-03-11 10:42 (Reply)

Dad's a girl? I thought Dad was a clattering, lying site robot, which means s/he-it has a gigantic monochromatic Cyclopsian eyeball with at least some likelihood of a minor todger. DAD!

#3.1.1.1 Rotebot, on robot gender ID on 2019-03-11 11:41 (Reply)

Social Security's a Ponzi scheme, that I'm surprised has lasted this one.

GI Bill post WW2 - those soldiers were owed, IMHO, the chance to get some of their life back that was spent in the military.

Interstate system: designed as a way to get troops and trucks cross-country quickly. Railroads just weren't so hot, but they made it work during WW2 because they had to.

Medicare... sigh. Started when the actuarial tables gave you maybe a year or two on it. Now? a lot more. Didn't have anything to do, IMHO, with the post-WW2 prosperity boom. We were about the only producing country left. It would have taken an incredible amount of incompetence to NOT have had a boom.

#3.1.1.2 JLawson on 2019-03-11 13:31 (Reply)

JLawson: Social Security's a Ponzi scheme

That is incorrect. A Ponzi scheme siphons off principal which is meant to be securely invested. Social Security is not a principal investment, but an income transfer from young to old.

JLawson: GI Bill post WW2 - those soldiers were owed, IMHO, the chance to get some of their life back that was spent in the military.

Sure. Still, one of the largest government programs in history, with massive investments in education and housing.

JLawson: Interstate system: designed as a way to get troops and trucks cross-country quickly.

That was the excuse because they weren't sure at the time whether it would fly under the Constitution's Commerce Clause. Still, a massive government program.

JLawson: Medicare... sigh. Started when the actuarial tables gave you maybe a year or two on it.

That is incorrect Medicare started in 1966. Life expectancy at age 65 in 1960 was 14.3 years, in 2010 it was 19.1 years. Part of that difference is due to, wait for it, Medicare.

JLawson: It would have taken an incredible amount of incompetence to NOT have had a boom.

Yet, that boom did include massive government expenditures, including Social Security, GI Bill, Superhighway System, and Medicare.

#3.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 14:39 (Reply)

Zbot: Yet, that boom did include massive government expenditures, including Social Security, GI Bill, Superhighway System, and Medicare.

Like winning a thousand dollar lottery, then purchasing a G-5 private jet on credit.

Baby Boomers get to fly to Cancun. Grandkids get the maintenance costs and fuel charges.

#3.1.1.2.1.1 Rusty on 2019-03-11 15:50 (Reply)

Socialism is a political system, a form of government. Capitalism is not. Capitalism is something quite natural and simply exists like the laws of physics. What we usually think of when we refer to a capitalist society is a "free" society. You are free to work harder and make more, free to save and keep your wealth, free to create a company and become rich. In a socialist system you are not free; you are "kept" and pretty much a slave. It is no coincidence that a socialist/communist/fascist government MUST confiscate all guns. Step 1 in becoming a totalitarian government is confiscate all guns.

#3.2 Anon on 2019-03-11 16:46 (Reply)

Wow! I looked over your links today and right away said, "BD sure has lots of Z bait out today" and sure enough there it is as the 2nd post!

#4 FRP on 2019-03-11 09:25 (Reply)

The United States spends around $700 billion a year on its military but following a series of wargames over the past couple of years, “blue” forces continue to lose and lose big to simulated war with great powers like Russia and China.

"Those who forget history......." Quantity becomes a quality in combat! Logistics wins wars! He who gits thar fustest, with the mostest STUFF, wins!

The US won WWII because of logistics: Think Liberty ships,
M-1 Garand rifles, Higgins boats, jeeps, Dodge heavy-duty trucks, P-47 ground support aircraft and Sherman tanks! Not superior technology, just reliable AND thousands more than the Germans or Japanese could produce!

#5 Old Codger on 2019-03-11 10:52 (Reply)

You're hitting on a potential issue that should be remembered. generally in blue force/red force exercises, the rules are generally stacked in favor of the Red Force, to the extent that it is assumed that they will have equal logistical and technological capabilities, that is their trucks won't break down, their officers are as competent, and their weapons are as effective as the Blue Force. I've also seen reports that a non0-trivial number of these Red Force wins are due to using tactics that would be virtually unthinkable to an officer fully steeped in the adversary nation's culture and doctrine.

#5.1 Another Guy named Dan on 2019-03-11 12:47 (Reply)

So our "boomer" sub force is kaput, too! Don't think that's gonna happen!

#5.1.1 Bob in Stafford on 2019-03-11 16:18 (Reply)

KDW, Jonah Goldberg, and the National Review have been dead to me for some time.

#6 WalkingHorse on 2019-03-11 10:56 (Reply)

I often find Kevin Williamson incomprehensible. He could start by referring to the Democrat Party, not democratic, which it is not. Now I know why National Review has not remained on my list of must-reads. He needs to study some history written by people with diverse perspectives (as should one specific MF troll who seems to think that quantity -- vs. quality -- of comments is going to win over people who actually investigate issues before sharing their views).

MF's links are great and I applaud the variety, but the sheer effort of facing dozens of comments responding to an AI robot has become more than tedious.

#7 jma on 2019-03-11 11:03 (Reply)

jma: He could start by referring to the Democrat Party, not democratic, which it is not.

"Democrat" and "Democratic" are just two versions of the same root word; nounal and adjectival form respectively; so choosing one over the other doesn't change the meaning, though the adjectival is correct grammatically. Regardless, being a proper noun, it is the "Democratic Party".

#7.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 11:11 (Reply)

QUOTE:

A proper noun is the name of a particular person, place, organization, or thing. Proper nouns begin with a capital letter.

You're Welcome!

Democrat, the name of an organization, is not a proper noun? Gibberish.

They changed the name of the party, so as to appear to be more like something that they are not. Like all things on the left, what is behind the curtain, is not what is shown.

#7.1.1 zachismyhero on 2019-03-11 13:19 (Reply)

Re: Ginsberg

Who is in her house watching her work? Are the darlings of the Democratic party (nurses, etc.) "helping her with her job" while she 'recuperates'? Who is inside and really "knows/sees/hears" what is being done to make it look as if she is still functioning?

She has always just been a place holder--review her senate hearings and watch her listen to the voice in her earpiece for answers. Don't like the thought of that? Take a look back at the videos. Why? What do you mean -- it can't be? Take a look.

#8 faculty wife on 2019-03-11 11:11 (Reply)

faculty wife: Who is in her house watching her work? Are the darlings of the Democratic party (nurses, etc.) "helping her with her job" while she 'recuperates'?

She's back: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returns to Supreme Court following cancer surgery

#8.1 Zachriel on 2019-03-11 11:17 (Reply)

So. The very first Gothic basilica in Europe, a huge 800 year-old A Christian edifice located smack in the middle of a newly-imposed Muslim no-go zone, is heavily vandalized. If only there had been a precedent, some indication of a potential problem....

[url]=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr-3vo0ir38] Choose the Form of your Destructor [/url]

The Choice is made. The Traveler has come.

Pop Art imitating Life.

#9 Aggie on 2019-03-11 11:46 (Reply)

We visited St. Denis about ten years ago. On our way to the church from the Metro, we were stopped by a French cop and advised the area wasn't safe for tourists (even back then) and we should go back to our hotel, right now. We told him all we wanted to do was tour the cathedral then we'd go back. The cop shrugged, said okay, but we shouldn't be there after dark.

We weren't.

#9.1 sixtyville on 2019-03-11 14:13 (Reply)

Russia’s passive-aggressive reaction to SpaceX may mask a deeper truth
"Elon Musk has built the ship of the future."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/03/with-dragon-russian-critic-says-roscosmos-acting-left-behind/

#10 feeblemind on 2019-03-11 13:13 (Reply)

"new-conservative-hire-at-cnn-demoted-from-editor-to-pundit-after-pressure-from-liberals/" Libs can't tolerate conservatives = libs are against diversity of thought and speech.

Kevin D. Williamson: Forget it Jake, it's the National (Irrational) Review.

Sweden is killing itself slowly. Bummer.

#11 Sam L. on 2019-03-11 14:30 (Reply)

Recycling: I don't recycle to "save the earth"; I recycle because I have to pay to have my trash hauled off and I want to keep the rates down. Once a month or so I haul the recycled paper, steel cans, and plastic to the recycling center. Aluminum cans I crush and save up until I have several trash bags full. Then I haul them to a place where they pay for them. Our vegetable trimmings go on our compost pile down below the deck. I water the pile every evening, if you know what I mean.

#12 snopercod on 2019-03-11 14:37 (Reply)

I agree about recycling. I do much the same as you because not to would simply be wasteful and we should minimize our garbage to reduce the need for unsightly and dirty landfills.

Lofty environmental ideals are a wonderful thing but taken to extremes they can have unintended consequences. I lived in the UK for several years until 2007.

As councils made both rubbish collection and recycling an expensive, byzantine bureaucratic procedure, public reaction included a big upswing in illegal tipping.

No tipping doesn't mean paying off the garbageman; it means taking those extra two bags of garbage and that old washing machine out somewhere in the countryside and tipping them out by the side of the road or in some woods.

#12.1 JJM on 2019-03-11 18:02 (Reply)

They need to be taught to COEXIST.

Or else one side or the other will eventually cease to exist.

Not a threat, just recognition of the inevitable.

#13 Bill Adams on 2019-03-11 14:44 (Reply)

Sweden. Put the cover on the Petri dish and check back again in a couple of years.

#14 Arty on 2019-03-11 20:04 (Reply)

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Monday, March 11. 2019

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