Althouse: At the Winter Walk Café...

January 19, 2018

At the Winter Walk Café...

... it's not as bleak as it looks.

May I encourage you to shop Amazon through the Althouse Portal.

65 comments:

Mr. Groovington said...: Looks nice actually.; 1/19/18, 8:23 PM
Big Mike said...: @Althouse, I hope you get good royalties on pet supplies, because the wife and I put in a big order (also bought a book).

Plus I disagree with sodal ye. You were right the first time -- it looks bleak.; 1/19/18, 8:40 PM
StephenFearby said...: ... it's not as bleak as it looks.

After what's been bruited about over the last 24 hours, not if your name is James Comey or Bruce Ohr, etc etc.; 1/19/18, 8:41 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I walked over to the shoreline and stepped into a hole and got my foot wedged in. Had to be pulled out!

I think it was some sort of animal hole!; 1/19/18, 8:53 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Thanks for using the portal .; 1/19/18, 8:54 PM
Big Mike said...: Welcome.; 1/19/18, 9:11 PM
chickelit said...: A portal in every storm.. a hole in one.; 1/19/18, 9:20 PM
Tommy Duncan said...: 130 miles northwest of Madison we had beautiful dawn and even better sunset. I took our dog out a few minutes ago and it felt like Spring.

Our dog (Daisy, a Maltese) had surgery yesterday for a luxating patella and ACL tear. I carried her to her favorite spot in the back yard tonight, allowed her to do her duty and carried her back into the house. That will be our routine for a week or so. The veterinary staff for the surgery was amazed at what a tough little trooper she is for a small breed dog. I value toughness in my kids and my pets. So far I've been blessed in that regard.; 1/19/18, 9:20 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: It was a lovely day here. I took a nice long walk in a park and had to unzip my heavy winter coat because I got overheated.; 1/19/18, 9:38 PM
traditionalguy said...: Oh, no. Not your beautiful new purple trimmed walking boots.; 1/19/18, 9:51 PM
Etienne said...: I think it was some sort of animal hole!

I think it was a shithole. ba-dum ching...; 1/19/18, 10:03 PM
cf said...: 1. The reports about Rand Paul's attacker pleading guilty today leave off this telling background: Dr. Rene Boucher was an anesthesiologist and PAIN management specialist.

He knew what he was inflicting.

These times are wretchedly dangerous for decent, free people. . .

2. I am So Celebrating President Trump's Inauguration Eve anniversary night tonight!; 1/19/18, 10:18 PM
FullMoon said...: "A 15-year-old gained access to plans for intelligence operations in Afghanistan and Iran by pretending to be the head of the CIA to gain access to his computers, a court has heard.

From the bedroom of the Leicestershire home he shared with his mother, Kane Gamble used “social engineering” – where a person builds up a picture of information and uses it manipulate others into handing over more – to access the personal and work accounts of some of America's most powerful spy chiefs .

The teenager persuaded call handlers at an internet giant that he was John Brennan, the then director of the CIA, to gain access to his computers and an FBI helpdesk that he was Mark Giuliano, then the agency’s Deputy Director, to re-gain access to an intelligence database.

He also targeted the US Secretary of Homeland Security and Barack Obama's Director of National Intelligence from his semi-detached council house in Coalville.
Mr Lloyd-Jones said that it was a common misconception that the group were hackers when in fact they used “social engineering” to gain access to emails, phones, computers and law enforcement portals.

Gamble, who has pleaded guilty to ten offences under the computer misuse act, first targeted Mr Brennan and gained access to his Verizon internet account by pretending first to be employee of the company and then Mr Brennan himself, building up an increasingly detailed picture.

At first he was denied access to his computers as he could not name Mr Brennan’s first pet, but on later calls the handler changed the pin and security questions.

He used similar methods to access Mr Brennan’s AOL account and eventually Gamble was able to access his emails, contacts, his iCloud storage account and his wife’s iPad remotely.
Former CIA director John Brennan was one of the officials targetted by Gamble

Mr Lloyd-Jones QC said: “He accessed some extremely sensitive accounts referring to, among other things, military operations and intelligence operations in Afghanistan and Iran.”

Gamble, who is now 18, later posted sensitive information on Twitter and Wikileaks and taunted officials about his access, sometimes using the tag #freePalestine and claiming it was because the US Government was “killing innocent people”.

Gamble used similar techniques to hack the home broadband of Jeh Johnson, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and was able listened to his voicemails and send texts from his phone.

He bombarded Mr Johnson and his wife with calls, asking her: “Am I scaring you?” and left messages threatening to “bang his daughter”, the court heard.

Around October 2015, when Gamble turned 16, gained access to Mr Giuliano’s home accounts by pretending to be the FBI boss and using the information gained he accessed the FBI’s Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (Leap).; 1/19/18, 10:24 PM
narciso said...: Yep we're doomed:
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/286417/; 1/19/18, 10:37 PM
Chance said...: This seems althouse bloggable.

https://www.chronicle.com/article/What-s-So-Dangerous-About/242256?cid=wsinglestory_hp_1; 1/19/18, 10:37 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Stable genius at work.

“Right now, a number of state laws allow a baby to be born from his or her mother’s womb in the ninth month. It is wrong. It has to change.”

Donald Trump; 1/19/18, 10:47 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: unless somebody at the NY Times hit the missile alert button "by mistake".

https://twitter.com/PolitiBunny/status/954565328121417728

Initial reports show the democrats own the shutdown.

Trump snookered the democrats into playing a familiar play from their old playbook.

After a few days or a week, Republicans could threaten to "go nuclear" (change the vote rules to re-open the government) and the self inflicted wound the democrats dealt themselves will be very much exposed.

Maybe that will be enough to sower the democrats into playing that game again, at least until another weak-kneed republican is at the helm, again.; 1/19/18, 10:54 PM
Original Mike said...: ”I think it was some sort of animal hole!”

I’m thinking it was a portal.; 1/19/18, 10:55 PM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/19/18, 10:59 PM
wwww said...: It does not look bleak. It looks beautiful.

Winter is a stunning season.; 1/19/18, 11:00 PM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/19/18, 11:05 PM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/19/18, 11:06 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: The Trump Shutdown, good work on the 1st anniversary of his Inauguration. Congrats. Can’t wait to see what Wall Street does.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/369882-trumpshutdown-becomes-top-trending-hashtag-worldwide

A hashtag linking a potential government shutdown to President Trump became the top trending topic on Twitter on Friday night.

#TrumpShutdown, a hashtag used by Democrats ahead of Friday night’s deadline for Congress to pass a government spending bill, shot to the top of Twitter’s “Worldwide” trending topics?; 1/19/18, 11:13 PM
narciso said...: You're a silly puppy, kraus, schemer is the one piddling, his wingman Durbin screwed up; 1/19/18, 11:16 PM
wwww said...: Here, also, it was lovey to walk in the snow today. Tonight we're bundled inside but out the window I can see how the lights shine against the snow. peaceful.

William Carlos Williams

All the complicated details
of the attiring and
the disattiring are completed!
A liquid moon
moves gently among
the long branches.
Thus having prepared their buds
against a sure winter
the wise trees
stand sleeping in the cold.; 1/19/18, 11:18 PM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: Seen on Twitter

“For the first time in history, a party that controls all three branches of government is responsible for a government shutdown. Once again, @theRealDonaldTrump is making history for all the wrong reasons. #TrumpShutdown #RepublicanShutdown”; 1/19/18, 11:30 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: ”I think it was some sort of animal hole!”

Our new yard has what appears to be a fox hole in one corner. Need to put a wildlife camera back there.; 1/19/18, 11:44 PM
wwww said...: Will Rahn on twitter:

Don’t do this often, but seeing as we’re all going to be working late, I feel like I might as well start a Twitter argument.
You know what? I hope Trump kills all the sharks. Sharks do nothing but make us feel vaguely anxious in the ocean.

Imagine never having to worry about sharks again. Trump can make that happen. Trump should follow through on his instincts and kill all the sharks.

You know what could be a good, high-paying, fresh air job that doesn’t require a college degree?

Shark hunting. That’s what.

Our Navy has a $132 billion budget. And you’re telling me we can’t use it to make sharks a thing of the past?

None of the people defending sharks in my feed would ever befriend one

“Kill the Sharks!” would be a great Trump rally chant

People say it would be bad for the ocean if Trump killed all the sharks. Tell that to all the sea creatures that sharks routinely devour.

“If Trump kills all the sharks a delicate ecosystem will collapse!” This is, of course, impossible to know because we’ve never tried it. We’ve never had a president BOLD enough to try it.

To the people who have unfollowed me because of this thread: I’m glad you’re gone. I have no time for cowards in my feed.; 1/20/18, 12:16 AM
Yancey Ward said...: I have miles to go before I blog.; 1/20/18, 12:19 AM
sarkariexaamresult said...: It is such a nice blog and the way you explained everything is amazing.
For free govt job alert; 1/20/18, 12:35 AM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Inga said...

Seen on Twitter

All sorts of asinine things are seen on Twitter, including that brain dead tweet.; 1/20/18, 12:51 AM
chickelit said...: Freeman Hunt said...Our new yard has what appears to be a fox hole in one corner. Need to put a wildlife camera back there.

Cameras shoot believers and unbelievers alike, don't they?; 1/20/18, 1:49 AM
n.n said...: In the spirit of #MeToo and #TimesUp

Tu m'as promis
et je t'ai cru

Tu m'as promis le soleil en hiver et un arc en ciel
tu m'as promis le sable doré j'ai recu une carte postale
tu m'as promis le ciel et la terre et une vie d'amour
tu m'as promis ton coeur ton sourire mais j'ai eu des grimaces

tu m'as promis
et je t'ai cru

tu m'as promis le cheval ailé que j'ai jamais eu
tu m'as promis le fil d'Ariane mais tu l'as coupé
tu m'as promis les notes de Mozart pas des plats crassés
tu m'as promis d'être ta reine, j'ai eu pour sceptre un balai

tu m'as promis
et je t'ai cru
tu es foutu
tu-tu-tu...
tu es foutu
tu-tu-tu...; 1/20/18, 2:02 AM
Curious George said...: Inga said...
Seen on Twitter

“For the first time in history, a party that controls all three branches of government is responsible for a government shutdown. Once again, @theRealDonaldTrump is making history for all the wrong reasons. #TrumpShutdown #RepublicanShutdown”

Wow, our resident dullard #IngaKnew found an equally ignorant tweeter that doesn't understand that it was the Democrats that shut down government. The GOP house passed a CR, and the requisite number of Republicans to pass in the Senate. But as our dullard doesn't understand, the Senate requires 60 votes for cloture, and EVERY DEMOCRAT voted for shut down. They put illegal aliens before Americans. That's your democratic party? And why?

Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri: “The fight to protect Dreamers is....a critical component of the Democratic Party’s future electoral success..."

Shame. Shame. Shame...; 1/20/18, 4:31 AM
rhhardin said...: Crank up the brightness and contrast in a photo editor to make it look like it really does, with the snow pretty much whited out. The camera takes snow as average background and glooms up the entire picture.

Or you can do it in the camera settings if you remember to.; 1/20/18, 5:06 AM
Big Mike said...: Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri: “The fight to protect Dreamers is....a critical component of the Democratic Party’s future electoral success..."

One might imagine that the way forward for future electoral success might lie in abandoning identity politics and focusing on making life better for all Americans. Apparently one would be silly to believe that.; 1/20/18, 5:23 AM
Kevin said...: In one day Inga's source went from Adam Schiff to anonymous Twitter posts.

And sadly, she was moving up the information food chain.; 1/20/18, 5:36 AM
Big Mike said...: The government is shut down. Five red state Democrats— Manchin, Heitkamp, McCaskill, Donnelly, and Jones (the new guy from Alabama) — cored “aye,” but five Republicans — Graham (of course), Flake (of course), McConnell (for tactical reasons), Paul, and Mike Lee — voted “nay.” Not clear what Paul and Lee objected to in the bill.; 1/20/18, 5:49 AM
Kevin said...: Why is Inga not on here railing against the Democrats voting against funding CHIP?

Have the Twitterbots not informed her?; 1/20/18, 5:57 AM
Humperdink said...: Inga posted: "“For the first time in history, a party that controls all three branches of government is responsible for a government shutdown."

Jim Acosta,CNN's adolescent reporter, used the same logic in a question to Mick Mulvaney at a press conference yesterday. Mulvaney mocked Acosta mercilessly for knowing that it takes 60 votes.

Inga, a political newsy herself, reveals her complete unadulterated ignorance with her post. Inga is not ignorant regarding the 60 vote threshold. She knew that. Nope, Inga is a fool for thinking such stooooopidity would fly on this forum.; 1/20/18, 6:19 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “And by “Trump’s most loyal and faithful defenders,” I mean the Kremlin.

#ReleaseTheMemo is the top trending hashtag among Twitter accounts believed to be operated by Kremlin-linked groups, according to Hamilton 68, a website which tracks Russian propaganda online.

Hamilton 68 is spearheaded by Clint Watts, an expert on foreign actors using American social media. Watts has testified before Congress multiple times on the matter.

How is it that every time the redcappers start frothing and MAGA-twitching, Russians are the ones pushing the buttons and making them dance?

What was discovered about the hashtag is that over the last several days, it has increased by an astounding 286,700 percent. It’s been used 100 times more by the Kremlin-based accounts being monitored by Hamilton 68.

Also, those accounts are linking to WikiLeaks.org and the submission page.“

https://www.redstate.com/sweetie15/2018/01/19/social-media-lights-calls-congress-releasethememo/; 1/20/18, 6:26 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “Jim Acosta,CNN's adolescent reporter, used the same logic in a question to Mick Mulvaney at a press conference yesterday. Mulvaney mocked Acosta mercilessly for knowing that it takes 60 votes.”

There were 50 Republican votes.; 1/20/18, 6:29 AM
Humperdink said...: "There were 50 Republican votes."

So?; 1/20/18, 6:36 AM
Jose_K said...: And of course, the BBC did not spare the cheap shot attack against BB; 1/20/18, 6:37 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: This is on Trump’s head.

“According to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Trump agreed to a deal that included protections for DACA and even some funding for a border wall.

"In exchange for strong DACA protections, I reluctantly put the border wall on the table for discussion," Schumer said. "Even that was not enough to entice the president to finish the deal."”

http://www.businessinsider.com/government-shutdown-senate-vote-fails-after-no-trump-gop-democrat-deal-2018-1?op=1; 1/20/18, 6:40 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “There were 50 Republican votes."

So?”

Count on your fingers, it might help.; 1/20/18, 6:43 AM
iowan2 said...: First, I dont now the motives of persons that make the claim about Russia bots pushing one direction or another. My limited knowledge informs me that conclusions about such sourcing of actors is highly subjective.

Setting all that aside, I dont think foreign actors in general and Russia specifically, care much about Dems or Republicans. Throwing the US govt into turmoil and sowing seeds of doubt in the general populace, is a much greater motivation, than swinging the shift of power in our two party governance. Having laid that out, IF, IF bots are pushing a particular narrative, it is to sow discontent, not advance a political philosophy in the United States.

Unless you're a partisan, blinded by the us vs them battle. Strangely, playing into the motives of those commanding the bots.; 1/20/18, 6:46 AM
Humperdink said...: It's fruitless to argue with commie-pinko libs ..... "Never try to teach a pig to sing, it wastes your time and annoys the pig".; 1/20/18, 6:48 AM
Humperdink said...: Fen's Law also applies here.; 1/20/18, 6:49 AM
Gahrie said...: “Right now, a number of state laws allow a baby to be born from his or her mother’s womb in the ninth month. It is wrong. It has to change.”

I'm betting it's supposed to be "torn" not "born".; 1/20/18, 6:50 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: In the meantime, Trump whines about “missing his party”.; 1/20/18, 6:51 AM
Humperdink said...: "Oddsmakers have pulled the AFC title game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New England Patriots off of the board.

On Friday morning, oddsmakers at market-setting sportsbook Bookmaker.eu became concerned enough to take the game off the board entirely, meaning they’re not currently accepting wagers on this matchup until there’s more clarity regarding the severity of Brady’s injury."

http://dailycaller.com/2018/01/19/oddsmakers-wont-let-people-bet-on-the-afc-title-game/

Wowee.; 1/20/18, 6:51 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: INGA... "Some funding".

Humperdink for the win!; 1/20/18, 6:52 AM
Curious George said...: "Inga said...
“Jim Acosta,CNN's adolescent reporter, used the same logic in a question to Mick Mulvaney at a press conference yesterday. Mulvaney mocked Acosta mercilessly for knowing that it takes 60 votes.”

There were 50 Republican votes."

Yes, every Republican voted "Yes." Every Democrat voted "No."

So explain how this in on the GOP.

Dullard.; 1/20/18, 6:58 AM
Humperdink said...: Just watched Alan Dershowitz give an interview. Derchowitz must have been medicated with some sanity pills over the last year or so. I have never agreed with the guy, but he has come over from the dark side on some issues.

In addition to becoming amenable to some of Trump's policies, Dershowitz suggested a constitutional amendment that if congress can't agree on funding the government, funding levels revert to the previous year's levels until they pass a budget.

Makes sense to me.; 1/20/18, 7:01 AM
iowan2 said...: 5 Republicans voted for shut down, 5 Democrats voted to avoid. Those 10 both had political cover. Republicans allowed some Red state Dems the ability to tell their state that the voted to keep the govt going.If all the Republicans would have vote for cloture, it would have forced the Dems to vote against.; 1/20/18, 7:08 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: McConnell never had the REPUBLICAN votes to pass the CR.

Republican votes=50; 1/20/18, 7:09 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: “Yes, every Republican voted "Yes." Every Democrat voted "No."”

#GeorgeDumbMonkey; 1/20/18, 7:12 AM
Inga...Allie Oop said...: My last one, before leaving for warmer climes...

“Michael Wolff, author of the tell-all book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, suggested that President Trump is having an affair.

Comedian Bill Maher asked Wolff on HBO’s “Real Time” on Friday if there was a segment of the book that Wolff is surprised hasn’t gained more attention. In response, Wolff alluded to an anecdote he omitted from the book about Trump that had been circulated and added he did not include it in the book because he could not confirm it was true.

“I didn’t have the blue dress,” Wolff said, a reference to evidence from the Monica Lewinsky scandal during Bill Clinton’s presidency.

Maher then asked if the anecdote was related to someone Trump is sleeping with "right now."

“Yes,” Wolff said. “You just have to read between the lines.”

“Now that I’ve told you, when you hit that paragraph, you’ll say bingo,” he added.””

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/michael-wolff-suggests-trump-is-having-an-affair-right-now/article/2646550; 1/20/18, 7:25 AM
Tommy Duncan said...: Another "Inga thread" that has deteriorated into name calling and stupidity. Funny how that happens...; 1/20/18, 7:35 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/20/18, 9:43 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Big Mike said...
The government is shut down. Five red state Democrats— Manchin, Heitkamp, McCaskill, Donnelly, and Jones (the new guy from Alabama) — voted “aye,”

Because they didn't want Trump or the RNC calling each of them the Senator from Mexico." That's OK, there are others to wear the name. Lots of vulnerable Ds. To mix it up, this one or that one can be the Senator from El Salvador," etc.

For me, I love a shutdown. Do essential services only, forever. If you can't fire all the nonessential govt employees, I want them to get no back pay for the duration of the outage. So at least we cut the deficit a few billion, and can lower future budgets accordingly.

If there's a guy on Earth to keep the government running on a minimal amount of money, it would be President Donald Trump.; 1/20/18, 9:46 AM
Kevin said...: Shorter Schumer: I told Trump we'd take everything we asked for if he'd take a vague promise to fund a fraction of one of his items.

Having dealt with Republicans for decades, Schumer was surprised it didn't work.; 1/20/18, 10:40 AM
Bruce Gee said...: ”I think it was some sort of animal hole!”

Ah. So close to the second coming of Alice.; 1/20/18, 4:38 PM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Republicans allowed some Red state Dems the ability to tell their state that the voted to keep the govt going.If all the Republicans would have vote for cloture, it would have forced the Dems to vote against.
Wait, what? Oh, right, Republicans are stupid.; 1/20/18, 4:50 PM