Althouse: Sunday morning.

February 2, 2020

Sunday morning.

6E7C905A-1148-4C8D-AAE7-A6107C474CF2_1_201_a

196 comments:

Limited blogger said...: Velvet Underground; 2/2/20, 10:42 AM
tim in vermont said...: Wuhan Flu in Boston now. Is it headed back home to Harvard? It’s a good thing we. didn’t impose flight restrictions on flights out of China! Brought back by a student who went home to Wuhan for the break.

People who say it’s all hype don’t know anything about the Spanish Flu and maybe should do a little web searching. It’s possibly all hype, but there is no way to know that. The models for the growth of disease in a population are pretty good, once the parameters are known, and we don’t now the parameters yet. We just know that the Chinese injected HIV DNA into a coronavirus strain. Since this is the first time an artificial virus has broken out of the lab, I don’t know how people can be so sure it’s just hype.; 2/2/20, 10:43 AM
WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...: Glorious!; 2/2/20, 10:46 AM
Jimmy said...: beautiful sunrise for 02/02/2020. I love the contrast with photos taken in same place in other seasons.; 2/2/20, 10:53 AM
rehajm said...: The fire’s coming! Run Bambi! Run!; 2/2/20, 10:54 AM
Big Mike said...: Now this has to be something other than type #1!; 2/2/20, 11:00 AM
pacwest said...: We just know that the Chinese injected HIV DNA into a coronavirus strain. Since this is the first time an artificial virus has broken out of the lab,

I can't find anything to confirm this statement. Do you have info on this?; 2/2/20, 11:04 AM
rcocean said...: Great picture. such a pleasure after all the clouds.; 2/2/20, 11:07 AM
robother said...: Nature's comment on Super Sunday?; 2/2/20, 11:10 AM
Karen said...: Glory glory everywhere!; 2/2/20, 11:18 AM
Bay Area Guy said...: Beautiful Sunday in Nor Cal for Super Bowl party. Beer, nachos, bbq brisket, more beer, chicken wings, margaritas, and beer -- Go Niners!

As for politics, well, let's take the view from 30,000 feet to keep our sanity high and intensity level measured:

1. Hillary Presidency in 2016 -- #Fail
2. Russian Hoax, Soft Coup 1 -- #Fail
3. Ukraine Hoax impeachment ---#Fail

Life is good.; 2/2/20, 11:45 AM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: You and Meade need to visit Arizona, Professor. We've got sunrises galore. (Sunsets too!)

Sunrise Piestewa Peak

Downtown Phoenix

Scottsdale sunrise; 2/2/20, 12:00 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Am I the only one worried about an elderly woman running at predawn hours on ice and snow?; 2/2/20, 12:00 PM
traditionalguy said...: Good day to pray to the rising sun in the East, but you would need ice and snow knee pads from Amazon.; 2/2/20, 12:02 PM
Big Mike said...: Anyone else notice that today's date is a palindrome? 02022020; 2/2/20, 12:04 PM
Big Mike said...: Per the Old Farmer's Almanac:

Update: Punxsutawney Phil—who hails from wester [sic] Pennyslvania—did not see see his shadow, which, according to legend, means an early spring and warmer temperatures are coming. Of course, even the organizers of the annual Groundhog Day event acknowledge that having a roden [sic] to forecast the weather is mostly a way to break up winter monotony.

OTOH, accuweather.com seems to be predicting a late spring.; 2/2/20, 12:09 PM
Inga said...: “I can't find anything to confirm this statement. Do you have info on this?”

Maybe he’s trying out a script for a new movie.; 2/2/20, 12:12 PM
TickTock said...: Re injection of HIV DNA. I followed a link to that story early yesterday. Led to a pre publication article by a team of Indian medical researchers. Comments to the article - which sounded pretty convincing - made it sound like the researchers didn't know what they were talking about. Apparently the DNA sequence is fairly common. Think the link was in an article yesterday in Zero Hedge if you want to find it yourself.; 2/2/20, 12:21 PM
Iman said...: I wish I could send a photo of the view of Laguna Beach coastline and the Pacific I am seeing as I write this from our 3rd story studio apt.

Juxtaposition; 2/2/20, 12:24 PM
Arashi said...: There are articles on the internet that are hinting, after looking at the published genome data for the wuhan flu, that several of the sequences are similar to sequnces from HIV. Here is a link for more info:

Don't beleive the conspiracy theories; 2/2/20, 12:25 PM
Curious George said...: Sunshine today! Feels great plus high temps!; 2/2/20, 12:26 PM
donald said...: My girlfriend has been telling me that for a while now Big Mike. She’s got a little degenerate gambler in her.; 2/2/20, 12:27 PM
Curious George said...: "Big Mike said...
Anyone else notice that today's date is a palindrome? 02022020"

You didn't.; 2/2/20, 12:32 PM
tim maguire said...: Some HIV drugs have shown effectiveness against the flu, but the claim that the similarities can’t be by chance have been rejected by most scientists who have weighed in.; 2/2/20, 12:33 PM
Ralph L said...: We need to know what time the photo was taken for our records.

donald, you need to go to Gamblers Anonymous.; 2/2/20, 12:40 PM
Wince said...: Bill, Republic of Texas said...
"Am I the only one worried about an elderly woman running at predawn hours on ice and snow?"

Ah-ah, ah! Ah-ah, ah!

Elderly woman running on the ice and snow
From the predawn sun, where cruel neutrality flows

The hammer of the blogs
We'll drive our trolls to new sites
To fight the horde, don't reply
Comment moderation, I am coming!

On we sweep, with two-day delivery
Our Amazon Portal is complementary; 2/2/20, 1:18 PM
Seeing Red said...: Did Phil see his shadow?; 2/2/20, 1:20 PM
narciso said...: about that dhs memo, that the Hawaiian judge regarded so seriously,

https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/02/al-qaeda-leader-arrested-phoenix/; 2/2/20, 1:21 PM
Seeing Red said...: They can’t stick a recession on Trump either.; 2/2/20, 1:21 PM
narciso said...: well that's a possible choice,

https://twitter.com/thomasjoscelyn/status/1223619266722902017?s=20; 2/2/20, 1:24 PM
Ann Althouse said...: “ You and Meade need to visit Arizona, Professor.”

Brewers spring training in a Phoenix... have talked about that.; 2/2/20, 1:45 PM
MadisonMan said...: Sunshine
On my Shoulder
Makes me Happy.

Sunshine on the water
Looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always
makes me high.; 2/2/20, 1:45 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Just finished watching 'American Factory'. Take home message - any American worker who can be replaced by a robot, artificial intelligence or other non-human device will be replaced.; 2/2/20, 1:59 PM
Big Mike said...: @Seeing Red, see my comment at 12:09; 2/2/20, 2:00 PM
Big Mike said...: @Curious George, did too; 2/2/20, 2:01 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Wuhan Flu in Boston now. Is it headed back home to Harvard? It’s a good thing we. didn’t impose flight restrictions on flights out of China! Brought back by a student who went home to Wuhan for the break.”

Shouldn’t be petty here, but the most vocal defender of the Chinese here (Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding) is apparently a Harvard researcher.

Here is the article that got Zero Hedge permanently banned from Twitter for having committed thought crimes: Coronavirus Contains "HIV Insertions", Stoking Fears Over Artificially Created Bioweapon.; 2/2/20, 2:09 PM
Howard said...: Very lovely picture. Looks like a storm is coming.; 2/2/20, 2:13 PM
Seeing Red said...: Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
Just finished watching 'American Factory'. Take home message - any American worker who can be replaced by a robot, artificial intelligence or other non-human device will be replaced.

You actually needed to watch something to tell you that?

You are disconnected.; 2/2/20, 2:22 PM
Seeing Red said...: Via Lucianne:

Sen. Bernie Sanders has put nationalizing health insurance at the center of his presidential campaign, but his proposal to fight climate change also calls for a government takeover of a fundamental segment of the economy — electricity production. Sanders has laid out a $16 trillion climate change plan that would transition U.S. electricity generation away from fossil fuels to renewable resources like wind, solar and hydropower by 2030. That’s far faster than any other Democratic candidate's target and sets a pace that rivals like former Vice President Joe Biden say is unrealistic. And like Sanders' healthcare plan, the green energy....

Saddam controlled Iraq’s electricity, just saying.; 2/2/20, 2:24 PM
David Begley said...: Ann:

If you and Meade don’t stop in Omaha this time I’ll really be pissed!

We’ll go to M’s Pub in the Old Market. Restored after a massive fire. Plenty of nice hotels in the Old Market. Quick tour of Creighton with me, that is, if you want it. Three great pieces of art at CU and one is exceedingly rare. CU campus has nothing like Wisconsin’s Humanities building.; 2/2/20, 2:26 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Seeing Red said...
You are disconnected.

As someone who has actually built robots to automate tasks I suggest that you may want to check your bitch-o-meter.; 2/2/20, 2:30 PM
tcrosse said...: That sky! Why, it's nacreous!; 2/2/20, 2:30 PM
JackWayne said...: ARM, to be followed by the Butlerian Jihad.; 2/2/20, 2:37 PM
Seeing Red said...: I’m a tail-end boomer.

What do you think the message has been for most of my generation’s life?

And why do you only think it’s only going to be Americans?; 2/2/20, 2:39 PM
Seeing Red said...: Even Dr. Who had a robotic dog.; 2/2/20, 2:41 PM
Hagar said...: Trump's environments presumably are routinely swept for electronic devices, but can the sweepers be trusted?
And even if they are, are they infallible?

It's not just Trump, but also his family and,of course, any senior White House employees who must live with the suspicion that their every move, even in their bedrooms, are recorded and may show up on the social, or not so social, media at any time.; 2/2/20, 2:44 PM
Jimmy said...: "Just finished watching 'American Factory'. Take home message - any American worker who can be replaced by a robot, artificial intelligence or other non-human device will be replaced."
been happening for a long time. cotton gin, Ford Motor....
the lefts obsession with raising the minimum wage has accelerated things. and obviously the use of computers in every industry has made it easier, and cheaper, to hire software, not people. and not just in America.; 2/2/20, 2:44 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: More about the main accuser of Zero Hedge (from Wikipedia, after some apparent recent edits): Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding.

Eric Liang Feigl-Ding (born March 28, 1983) is an American public health scientist who is currently a Visiting Scientist in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.[1] He is also the Chief Health Economist for Microclinic International. His research and advocacy have primarily focused on obesity reduction, cancer prevention, and drinking water safety. Feigl-Ding is a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow,[2] and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.[citation needed]

Feigl-Ding was also a candidate in the 2018 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district,[3] as an advocate for public health, drug safety, and science.[4]

In January 2020, Feigl-Ding made a number of false or misleading tweets regarding the 2019–20 Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.[5][6][7]
...

Feigl-Ding was born in Shanghai, China, and his family immigrated to the United States when he was five years old.[citation needed] He was raised in Central Pennsylvania, and was an alumnus of the Pennsylvania Governor's School for Health Care.[8] As a child, doctors diagnosed that he had developed a baseball-size tumor in his chest. He received an initial disease prognosis of less than five years to live,[9] but he survived with medical treatment he received at Hershey Medical Center.
...
In 2018, Feigl-Ding ran in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district.[24] He campaigned on a progressive platform advocating science, healthcare for all, public health, and not taking corporate PAC money.

Which is to say that he is a Chinese native, teaching at a Harvard school that appears to have had some Chinese funding, who is their primary apologist in this country, and is also a left wing nutcase. (I don’t think that the negative edits in Wikipedia will survive very long).

In regards to the permanent Twitter ban of Zero Hedge, probably no one who reads it regular ever treats it as definitive. It really isn’t meant to be. Much of what they publish turns out to be accurate. Or at least mostly accurate. Some though turns out to be widely inaccurate. So, you may see an article claiming that the economy is Exploding, on the same page suggesting that it is ready to collapse. I think that they see their job as getting information out fast, so that traders can benefit. I think that a lot of the pushback on the publicity on the 2019-nCoV Wuhan virus is coming from the Chinese government, which is partially worried about their reputation, but probably worried about what this is going to do to their economy. If the Chinese government actually weaponized the bat version of the 2019-nCoV virus by splicing in 4 strands of the HIV-1 virus, and then negligently allowed it to escape into the public, they would be see by many as international criminals and pariahs. They have a large middle class that has risen out of peasantry through Chinese businesses being an integral part of the international manufacturing supply chain. Which getting back to the Zero Hedge angle - should you buy or sell anything Chinese related right now?; 2/2/20, 2:48 PM
narciso said...: ah classic dr. who, available on pluto tv, I don't see how the war against the machines would work in the long run, a theme of the misbegotten picard series,; 2/2/20, 2:49 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: JackWayne said...
Butlerian Jihad

I have read Dune, a long time ago, but did not remember this.

Jon Michaud said ...
Perhaps one explanation for “Dune” ’s lack of true fandom among science-fiction fans is the absence from its pages of two staples of the genre: robots and computers. This is not an oversight on Herbert’s part but, rather, a clever authorial decision. Centuries before the events described in the novel, humans revolted and destroyed all thinking machines. “The god of machine-logic was overthrown,” Herbert writes in an appendix, “and a new concept was raised: ‘Man may not be replaced.&#8217 ” There is no Internet in Herbert’s universe, no WikiLeaks, no cyber war. This de-emphasis on technology throws the focus back on people. It also allows for the presence of a religious mysticism uncommon in science fiction. It’s a future that some readers may find preferable to our own gadget-obsessed present.; 2/2/20, 2:53 PM
Seeing Red said...: Obama covered this with ATMs.; 2/2/20, 3:02 PM
Seeing Red said...: And big worms.; 2/2/20, 3:03 PM
Seeing Red said...: If we didn’t do what we were told Klaatu? Would fry us.

Skynet.; 2/2/20, 3:06 PM
JackWayne said...: Herbert was also responding to Asimov whose Foundation series of nearly 20 books had kindly robots directing human affairs to a soft landing.; 2/2/20, 3:08 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: “Which getting back to the Zero Hedge angle - should you buy or sell anything Chinese related right now?”

Let me add that I am an enthusiast utilizer of AliExpress, a Chinese based seller of black and gray market goods. Some of their stuff is sketchy, but a lot of it is great, sold at a fraction of the cost that it sells for in the white market. A friend of mine built high end mountain bikes for his kids and himself, and bought most of the parts there, and hasn’t had a problem. The parts ran about 1/4 the white market price but are indistinguishable. We build MSRs (guns) together, and he is satisfied by their optics, while I am less enthused. Still with optics often running more that the cost of the guns they are ousted on, Its sometimes a good gamble to take on Optics for guns that you aren’t going to risk your life with. Most everything else is just great. interestingly, they got caught recently shipping silencers into the country, without the required FFL license. The ATF apparently ended up running around the country trying to find all of the unpermitted silencers shipped by the Chinese (likely AliExpress - I saw some ads last night that showed items that look like silencers marked “No Longer Available”. But then the legal treatment of silencers in this country is ludicrous.; 2/2/20, 3:11 PM
narciso said...: not a regular regime,

https://babalublog.com/2020/02/02/cuban-and-venezuelan-nationals-caught-in-chile-coordinating-violent-protests-to-dismantle-democracy/#comments; 2/2/20, 3:30 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Politico headline:

"Rivals warn Sanders campaign plans to game Iowa results"

The polls must show a big win for Sanders. The Dems are already closing Sanders' win illegitimate.

Where have we seen that play before?; 2/2/20, 3:31 PM
Hagar said...: A lot of what is called socialism is just humans preferring shared misery to unequal happiness.

Isn't there a Commandment about envy? At least in some translations?; 2/2/20, 3:33 PM
Narr said...: "Gort! Klaatu borada niktoe." One of the great SF movies and lines.

My trouble with Dune, despite the clever way Herbert was able to exploit history, and some well-imagined elements, is the default to "jedi mind control" (or whatever FH called it).
Might as well throw in orcs and evil wizards.

Narr
Harkonnen Tours, Ltd.; 2/2/20, 3:36 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: ARM had to watch a movie to learn automation is a big threat to the labor force. Where has he been since at least the 80s?

He's as thick as his avatar.; 2/2/20, 3:36 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Closing = calling.

Autocorrect is ARM level stupid.; 2/2/20, 3:38 PM
narciso said...: I guess neuro linguistic programming, might be a close analogue,

https://sinocism.com/p/wuhan-virus-travel-bans-economic?r=2e&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=twitter

the idea is that which is broached in the lucy film, what could result by a larger utilization of brain capacity,; 2/2/20, 3:39 PM
narciso said...: we call it autocucumber, with it's potential for malapropism,; 2/2/20, 3:40 PM
rehajm said...: A lot of what is called socialism is just humans preferring shared misery to unequal happiness.

The options are: Some people are poor. Everyone’s poor.

Some prefer the latter.; 2/2/20, 3:44 PM
narciso said...: that yes minister sketch is more on point,

https://dailycaller.com/2020/02/01/church-of-england-apologizes-sex-married-heterosexual-couples/; 2/2/20, 3:45 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: Did Phil see his shadow?

dunno, but we're getting 4 more years of Trump!; 2/2/20, 4:01 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Brewers spring training in a Phoenix... have talked about that.

2/2/20, 1:45 PM

I went there 4 years ago - before they opened their new facility. It was a lot of fun.; 2/2/20, 4:07 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Blogger Bill, Republic of Texas said...
Nothing of value; 2/2/20, 4:07 PM
gspencer said...: Placed $20 bet on KC by 4; 2/2/20, 4:14 PM
rehajm said...: I’m taking SF and the point(s)...; 2/2/20, 4:27 PM
Yancey Ward said...: I would like to see the Chiefs win since they ain't won or even been to the big game in 50 years. Time for another win.; 2/2/20, 4:31 PM
rehajm said...: What do the Democrats and this year’s Super Bowl have in common?

No patriots...; 2/2/20, 4:33 PM
rehajm said...: ...which is not absolutely true.; 2/2/20, 4:34 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Until they make robot clowns, ARM and Chuck's jobs are safe.; 2/2/20, 4:34 PM
rehajm said...: ...for the niners. True for the Democrats.; 2/2/20, 4:35 PM
Francisco D said...: My stepson has the Chiefs so I took the Niners. They are the better team running the ball and on defense.

I prefer the SB go to KC, but I am a LLBF (life long Bears fan) and have a bias against AFC teams.; 2/2/20, 4:42 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Yancey Ward said...
pathetically weak attempt at humor; 2/2/20, 4:45 PM
n.n said...: married-heterosexual-couples

A boy, a girl, marriage, a couple. Is there any other kind?; 2/2/20, 4:51 PM
n.n said...: Breaking news: PETA empathy for-profit cancels Punxsutawney Phil leaving groundhog destitute; 2/2/20, 4:52 PM
n.n said...: Socialism is the art and science of minority capital and control.; 2/2/20, 4:54 PM
Beasts of England said...: I’m rooting for the Chiefs. We have a hometown player - Reggie Ragland - on their defense. Nice kid.; 2/2/20, 4:54 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: NBCNews:

John Kerry overheard discussing possible 2020 bid amid concern of 'Sanders taking down the Democratic Party'

Oh yeah, Sanders is going to win big tomorrow.; 2/2/20, 4:55 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: Blogger Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
Blogger Bill, Republic of Texas said...
Nothing of value

Blogger Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...
Yancey Ward said...
pathetically weak attempt at humor

And that is why ARM is a Beloved Commenter. He gives as good as he gets.; 2/2/20, 4:59 PM
n.n said...: Speaking of cancel culture: TikTok cancels abortion survivor in a transnational cover-up of one-child/selective-child legacy. Their voices will never be heard.

Breaking news: The tell-tale hearts beat ever louder. The wicked solution, the liberal choice, the progressive religion ("ethics"), will never be forgotten.; 2/2/20, 4:59 PM
Big Mike said...: John Kerry overheard discussing possible 2020 bid amid concern of 'Sanders taking down the Democratic Party

@Bill, more likely he and his stepson Chris Heinz were also involved in kickbacks and corruption, and he wants the immunity from prosecution that apparently comes from being a Democrat candidate for President.; 2/2/20, 5:00 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: Don't know if I can bear to watch the game. It's not the game that's a pain in the ass.

It's the Great Diversity Crusade and Holy Woke Corporation ads.

The sanctimony of corporate America stinks to high heaven.; 2/2/20, 5:04 PM
rehajm said...: I’ve watched the ads. Nowhere near as woke this year...

That get woke go broke thing might be true; 2/2/20, 5:06 PM
Big Mike said...: Socialism is the art and science of minority capital and control.

@n.n., not really. Socialism is the art of putting people in charge of making major economic decisions who no rational person would put in charge of cleaning latrines.; 2/2/20, 5:12 PM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: Bill, Republic of Texas said...
ARM is a Beloved Commenter.

Not clear to me why my anondyne precis of a likely Oscar winning documentary in a cafe thread attracted so many personal comments. It would be hard to make a less controversial statement, and it wasn't even my statement. Go Pats.; 2/2/20, 5:12 PM
Mark said...: Yep, that was a quick shot of O.J. in that 100-year retrospective.; 2/2/20, 5:12 PM
Big Mike said...: If only every one of you could spend some time in DC meeting the people who would be in charge of your lives in the event that the federal government became a socialist government. You would tear Lizzie Warren and Bernie Sanders to pieces.; 2/2/20, 5:14 PM
Mark said...: Actually, Chris Heinz distanced himself from Burisma and cut ties to Hunter Biden. Just because Kerry is his mom's husband doesn't mean that he is also lacking in the ethics that Kerry doesn't have.; 2/2/20, 5:16 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: 2 brain farts, one sad, one funny

1) Biden slams Trump's response to coronavirus: This is no time for "hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering" http://hill.cm/hIuIIAQ

2) Stadium manager to groundskeeper, after he finished painting
the KC logo in the endzone:

"Nice work--...but who are the Chefs?; 2/2/20, 5:25 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: "That get woke go broke thing might be true"

If we look at the Fortune 500 how many are woke?

I consider some potentially soon broke, and nearly all, over 95% certainly, "woke."

This makes this whole thing-to-be-repeated "get woke, go broke" something arising the ire of my truth-o-meter.

Was it Glenn Reynolds feeling his oats, as it were it as?; 2/2/20, 5:28 PM
Iman said...: Tubby Riefenstahl should go on a hunger strike to protest Bloomberg buying his way in!; 2/2/20, 5:31 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: So what's the palindrome where the words are the same back and forth, not the mere letters?

I'd look it up and report, but I have a feeling most here who would benefit from my reportage know anything I have, am, or will report.

Those that don't already won't care or learn.

I feel as though Stephen Cooper may be wrong: I'm no faith healer at all.; 2/2/20, 5:33 PM
n.n said...: Biden slams Trump's response to coronavirus: This is no time for "hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering"

Discrimination of Viral-Americans is deplorable. Discrimination of Fetal-Americans is progressive. Ok.; 2/2/20, 5:37 PM
Iman said...: 49ers by 10... take it to the bank.; 2/2/20, 5:40 PM
n.n said...: Socialism is the art of putting people in charge of making major economic decisions who no rational person would put in charge of cleaning latrines.

Yeah, Water Closet was a wake-up call about the people... persons who speak truth to facts. h/t Deep Plunger; 2/2/20, 5:44 PM
narciso said...: Ahem

https://nationalfile.com/john-bolton-took-six-figures-from-ukrainian-oligarch-clinton-foundation-donor/; 2/2/20, 5:48 PM
narciso said...: They lie with abandon

https://mobile.twitter.com/LegInsurrection/status/1224112161347207168; 2/2/20, 5:50 PM
narciso said...: Someof the themes discussed earlier

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1NZiTVPXmNM; 2/2/20, 5:52 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: It's alright
http://www.songlyrics.com/alice-in-chains/no-excuses-lyrics/

"There comes a time
Got no patience
For search for peace of mind
Layin' low
Wanna take it slow
No more hiding
Or disguising truths I've sold

Everyday it's something
Hits me out so cold
You find me sittin' by myself
No excuses, that I know

It's okay
Had a bad day
Hands are bruised
From breaking rocks all day
Drained and blue
I bleed for you
You think it's funny
Well, you're drowning in it too

Everyday it's something
Hits me out so cold
You find me sittin' by myself
No excuses, that I know

Yeah, it's fine
We'll walk down the line
Leave our rain
A cold trade for warm sunshine
You, my friend
I will defend
And if we change
Well, I love you anyway

Everyday it's something
Hits me out so cold
You find me sittin' by myself
No excuses, that I know"; 2/2/20, 5:54 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Herbert was also responding to Asimov whose Foundation series of nearly 20 books had kindly robots directing human affairs to a soft landing.

Nope. At the time Herbert wrote Dune, Asimov had quit the Foundation series, leaving it at three books. It wasn't until much later in his life that he came back to it and started tying his "robot" series into it. (Most wish he hadn't).

Whatever Herbert's grand motives, it can't have hurt that he knew John W. Campbell (editor of Astounding/Analog magazine where Dune originally appeared) was a sucker for stories involving psi.; 2/2/20, 5:56 PM
rhhardin said...: Kroger was out of gallon jugs of drinking water. Is that a superbowl thing?

Normally I carry three gallons home on the bicycle but none today. Lots of iron in the well water.; 2/2/20, 6:02 PM
Mark said...: Every well-stocked bar has Kroger water, served straight-up or on Kroger-water rocks.; 2/2/20, 6:08 PM
Christy said...: Powerful Trump Super Bowl ad just aired. Appealing middle age woman of color, incarcerated for non-violent drug charges, getting out of jail into the arms of a loving family and thanking PDJT.; 2/2/20, 6:10 PM
rhhardin said...: I'm watching Spiral (up to Season 4 now), a pretty good police series. French. The usual series faults in plot structures but good. I have the feeling that the plot from year to year follows what actors are available. The police beat suspects up there, but the hot and seriously focussed lady captain in charge is the focal point.; 2/2/20, 6:13 PM
narciso said...: Indeed:

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1224119370839994369?s=20; 2/2/20, 6:16 PM
rhhardin said...: The distilled water has the best taste. The alternatives are municipal or spring. All of those were gone too. $0.88 a gallon.

I normally microwave it and stir in instant coffee, but others take their water differently.; 2/2/20, 6:16 PM
rhhardin said...: The dog drinks well water. She doesn't seem to mind the iron.; 2/2/20, 6:18 PM
rhhardin said...: The French justice system seems to be based on the revolution.; 2/2/20, 6:20 PM
narciso said...: Largely

https://mobile.twitter.com/pspoole/status/1224123352924794886; 2/2/20, 6:20 PM
rhhardin said...: It takes a season or two of Spiral to figure out who the continuing characters are. Makes it easier to follow the plot than having strangers turning up all over.; 2/2/20, 6:23 PM
rhhardin said...: The Chiefs and somebody. I've heard and read it but have forgotten it again. Nobody remind me.; 2/2/20, 6:25 PM
rhhardin said...: They're named after a Santa Fe train. It went through Kansas.; 2/2/20, 6:26 PM
Shouting Thomas said...: My hymn for this week:

How Great Thou Art.; 2/2/20, 6:27 PM
rhhardin said...: The autotrain was called the auto da fe. The autos was Detroit though.; 2/2/20, 6:28 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Big Ol' Daddy King Pimp BetaM3 didn't respect Alice or Layne any more than any other, okay.

Not real enough.; 2/2/20, 6:33 PM
Maillard Reactionary said...: Professor, do you find that running on a tilted surface like that (if you do) tiring?
I don't suffer from any joint issues but even a long walk on the beach (the wet, firm part) is very tiresome to me.

It makes me feel like I should have a platform shoe on the seaward foot.

Separately:

rhhardin: If you think that distilled water has the best taste, that goes a long way towards explaining why you put instant coffee into it before consumption. Have you ever tried the stuff they make by pouring hot water through crushed coffee beans?

One of the few things that are good about where I live is that the water that I pump out of my 35 foot deep well tastes great untreated, although it's too acid (pH ~5.6) to not neutralize before letting it into the pipes. Still pretty good then, too.

Most of the iron in the soil here was leached out a long time ago. Some of it is locked up in a kind of sandstone which was the basis for an iron industry in the 18th century.; 2/2/20, 6:34 PM
rhhardin said...: Stabat Mater. Lots of suspensions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufy4AGOFVAI; 2/2/20, 6:40 PM
traditionalguy said...: The all pullman passenger train from Chicago to Los Angeles was called The Super Chief.Once it got to Kansas City and turned west on the Grand Canyon Route of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa it was express all the way to LA without passenger stops.Railroads were the pride of the Great Plains cities.The trains made their existence and growth possible.; 2/2/20, 6:43 PM
Yancey Ward said...: ARM,

You are right- that was weak and unfair- I shouldn't have lumped you in with Chuck.

My apologies, Chuck.; 2/2/20, 6:44 PM
Joe said...: I don't remember the last time I watched television. Decided to watch the Super Bowl. I'd forgotten just how annoying and bad commercials are. Tried watching the pre-game show (because I didn't know what time the game started); just as annoying. Why is this crap even a thing anymore?; 2/2/20, 6:46 PM
Beasts of England said...: Seems like a quick first half. Decent game, though...; 2/2/20, 6:48 PM
Mark said...: Rather ZZZ so far. Been clicking over the the Breaking Bad marathon.; 2/2/20, 6:50 PM
Yancey Ward said...: If the Niners can stop this drive before half time, they will be well set, I think. KC has been crushing teams in the 2nd quarter.; 2/2/20, 6:51 PM
Mark said...: It's a small thing, but the teams being basically the same color doesn't help.; 2/2/20, 6:51 PM
Yancey Ward said...: I see Bill Kristol officially declared himself a Democrat. Will Chuck come out of the closet?; 2/2/20, 6:53 PM
Joe said...: White and red are now basically the same color?; 2/2/20, 6:55 PM
JackWayne said...: I, Robot, Caves of Steel and End of Eternity were in early 50’s.; 2/2/20, 6:55 PM
Big Mike said...: Some of these Super Bowl commercials, I’m not sure what the product is that they’re advertising. Anybody else feel that way?; 2/2/20, 6:56 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Asimov's unification attempts for Foundation and Robots was less than successful to me. I have never felt the desire to reread those books.; 2/2/20, 6:57 PM
Joe said...: Yancey; same with me. Asimov's later books got pretty lame.; 2/2/20, 6:59 PM
WK said...: Quit reading the Dune series when I realized there was never going to be an end to them. Similarly, stopped reading King’s Dark Tower series because there was so much time in between book I had to go back an reread to figure out where things left off. Supposed to be entertaining but too much investment for any gains.; 2/2/20, 7:00 PM
madAsHell said...: Whoa!!! I just saw the google Alexa commercial. Some grieving husband telling Alexa everything he remembers about his departed wife.

I found it absolutely frightening.; 2/2/20, 7:00 PM
john said...: Blogger madAsHell said...
Whoa!!! I just saw the google Alexa commercial. Some grieving husband telling Alexa everything he remembers about his departed wife.

You might have also caught the "Me and Loretta" title. From John Prine, certainly one of his most moving songs.; 2/2/20, 7:04 PM
Mark said...: Refs and current passing rules are ruining the game. Too many defensive pass interference calls, too many defensive holding on passing plays called, too many offensive pass interference calls.

Practically every passing play in crucial situations ends up getting a flag. Too much.; 2/2/20, 7:05 PM
Joe said...: Wasn't it a Google Assistant commercial (Alexa is Amazon)? I found it idiotic and pointless.

(The "funniest" commercial was the Jason Momoa one, but I can't tell you what it was for so it was a failure.); 2/2/20, 7:06 PM
Mark said...: Red, white, yellow and red, white and mustard are, yes, basically the same.; 2/2/20, 7:08 PM
narciso said...: Rocket mortgage,; 2/2/20, 7:10 PM
Mark said...: Caught a bit of Kizzy and Chicken George on Sundance.; 2/2/20, 7:11 PM
Yancey Ward said...: "Quit reading the Dune series when I realized there was never going to be an end to them."

I read all but the very last one co-written by the son of Herbert. When I read the description of the last novel, I just said, "Fuck it all."; 2/2/20, 7:13 PM
Jersey Fled said...: This might be the worst halftime show ever.; 2/2/20, 7:15 PM
madAsHell said...: Anybody else feel that way?

Yes.; 2/2/20, 7:16 PM
Jersey Fled said...: Choreography looks like it came from a strip club.; 2/2/20, 7:17 PM
Mark said...: "For the time being one has to say: We are all Democrats now.”

Bill Kristol might be eager to embrace the slaughter of millions of innocent babies, the destruction of the family, the repudiation of objective truth (particularly regarding the human person and in all manner of political discourse), an entitled government ethic that thinks that the fruits of your labors and other property belong to the government, and worse, as all being better than Trump, but, NO, "we" are NOT all Democrats now.; 2/2/20, 7:18 PM
Joe said...: Dune: I reread it relatively recently and stopped at God Emperor of Dune. (I read most of the truly awful books by Brian Herbert. Beyond the horrible writing and story telling, they badly break the canon of the original books. It's almost like Brian never actual read his father's books; he certainly didn't respect them.); 2/2/20, 7:19 PM
Mark said...: Says Kristol --

The Party of Slavery is preferable to Trump.
The Party of Secession -- the destruction of the Union and deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans -- is preferable to Trump.
The Party of Segregation is preferable to Trump.; 2/2/20, 7:21 PM
madAsHell said...: Wasn't it a Google Assistant commercial (Alexa is Amazon)? I found it idiotic and pointless.

Yes, Alexa is Amazon. Idiotic and pointless......I dunno. I feel like it's a Ray Bradbury short story.; 2/2/20, 7:23 PM
Ralph L said...: Stripper Pole!; 2/2/20, 7:23 PM
Francisco D said...: Does the JLo and Shakira halftime show seem a little political?; 2/2/20, 7:23 PM
Mark said...: Other than being Irving and Gertrude's son, what the hell has Bill Kristol ever done to commend himself to anything?

Any time he has stood on his own, he has proven himself an ass.; 2/2/20, 7:24 PM
Mark said...: Even Essie Cup is dissenting.; 2/2/20, 7:27 PM
Beasts of England said...: ’Stripper Pole!’

‘Does the JLo and Shakira halftime show seem a little political?’

Stripper poll?; 2/2/20, 7:27 PM
Greg Hlatky said...: Bloomberg ad on gun violence. Which is mostly Democrats shooting Democrats.; 2/2/20, 7:31 PM
Ralph L said...: new cafe post; 2/2/20, 7:34 PM
Narayanan said...: Ring World - don't remember if it was series.

Interesting planetary engineer concepts.; 2/2/20, 7:38 PM
narciso said...: Yes it was by larry niven, it would be intriguing if they adapted it.; 2/2/20, 7:41 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Look if J. Depp could have, being from Kentucky, portrayed dutifully Rayon Givens this wouldn'd be a thing.

H. Thompson was a talented, great in his way which was singular, writer.

Depp never was and never should have considered himself as such.

He'll make good, get over. As he has from day 1.; 2/2/20, 7:50 PM
narciso said...: Yes sandworms of dune made no sense.; 2/2/20, 7:56 PM
narciso said...: Well it was a character like naive hunter starting out,; 2/2/20, 7:59 PM
Michael McNeil said...: FYI, folks: There is no DNA in either Coronaviruses or HIV. Both virus types are RNA viruses, though Coronaviruses are not retroviruses — that is, they don't insert their genome (after translation into DNA) into the targeted organism's genome.; 2/2/20, 8:04 PM
Jeff said...: The John Prine so g you're thinking of is Hello In There.; 2/2/20, 8:04 PM
Iman said...: 49ers by 10 so far... sweet!; 2/2/20, 8:16 PM
Iman said...: Shakin’ dat ass... thumbs up? Thumbs down?; 2/2/20, 8:18 PM
Narayanan said...: stories involving psi.

McCaffrey has multiple series stories involving psi.

Herbert is different with "inheriting" and absorb past minds conscious and quest to read future; 2/2/20, 8:34 PM
Gahrie said...: If you're going to do Ringworld, you have to start with Pak the protector.; 2/2/20, 8:39 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: This is a real link to real text and life and more.

In the deep...; 2/2/20, 8:45 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: More women coaches can solve all NFL problems.

Bigots.; 2/2/20, 9:02 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Congrats Bay Area Guy.

You don't have to be more obnoxious now.

You win, again, sir.; 2/2/20, 9:03 PM
Guildofcannonballs said...: Kobe who?

Mahomes baby baby baby.; 2/2/20, 9:05 PM
Bruce Hayden said...: So, Trump’s halftime ad touted his criminal system reforms, while Blumberg's ad pushed gun control. I thump’s as was better, but I am a gun owning Republican so that shouldn’t be a surprise.; 2/2/20, 9:25 PM
exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...: Congrats to Chiefs fans! I was rooting for KC to win!; 2/2/20, 9:39 PM
Narr said...: I dropped Dune after Dune and whatever the second one was; Ringworld started strong but got goofy by number three or four and I gave up (we've had this discussion before).

Asimov's guides to everything leave a lot to be desired.

Narr
Especially the history and politics; 2/2/20, 9:45 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: The second "Dune" book was Dune Messiah, and I (and many others) thought it awful. The series took off again after that. Props to Herbert on subverting our expecations though: Paul was too reluctant to do what had to be done and his story turned out disasterously (albeit mostly off screen). Leto had the gumption to actually make the cruel sacrifice necessary to save humanity.; 2/2/20, 10:14 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: If you want non-fiction Asimov, his science essays in F&SF were always entertaining. They are collected in many Doubleday volumes. I assume many are dated by now by recent discoveries, but that's the fate of all old science writing.; 2/2/20, 10:17 PM
gadfly said...: Our stable genius is overworking his brain again. Kansas City, here I come! We got a crazy NFL football team there, but Kansas City in Kansas has none.

“Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on a great game, and a fantastic comeback, under immense pressure,” Trump posted Sunday night in a message to his verified Twitter account. “You represented the Great State of Kansas and, in fact, the entire USA, so very well. Our Country is PROUD OF YOU!”; 2/2/20, 11:14 PM
narciso said...: Well there is the point of where did the ribot series end (its too bad i robot is the only treatment) and where does foundation begin. According to some accounts the robot series is about 2000 years in the future.; 2/2/20, 11:24 PM
narciso said...: Dune messiah was in part about muadib approaching singularity; 2/2/20, 11:25 PM
Yancey Ward said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/2/20, 11:33 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Yes, you can stop reading the Dune series at "God of Emperor of Dune" for a good ending. I didn't necessarily think "Heretics" and "Chapterhouse" were bad, but then the guy died. I know he supposedly left notes for how to finish, but I kind of felt like that was a convenient lie.; 2/2/20, 11:34 PM
narciso said...: Robot series, they are on a similar timescale dune occurs in the year 10,991, and thats by their calendar not ours; 2/2/20, 11:36 PM
narciso said...: Gregory benford did a prequel series on hari seldon.; 2/2/20, 11:57 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Just to give our youngest readers a feeling for what life was like before the internet:

"Chapterhouse Dune" was published in 1985. I was an avid fan, and after "Chapterhouse", I waited and waited for the next novel. It never came of course because Herbert had died in 1986, but I didn't know this until around 1990 or so.; 2/2/20, 11:57 PM
narciso said...: His son started publishing prequels in 1999;; 2/3/20, 12:04 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Yeah, it's hard to imagine now. You had no idea what movies, books or albums were coming out: They just appeared.

When "Star Wars" premiered, I had never heard of it.

Heck, pre-Interenet, I spent over ten years looking through every used record store in every town I would find myself in for a particular album that was out of print. Now it's one google search away.; 2/3/20, 12:05 AM
narciso said...: I heard about star wars i didnt see till 1980, on laser disk, the first sequels hwir to empire came out in 1991? I found thar in the local waldenbooks in coral gables; 2/3/20, 12:11 AM
narciso said...: Waldenbooks is a strange artefact now only seen in the wonder woman sequel and i think stranger things.; 2/3/20, 12:12 AM
narciso said...: Oh

https://mobile.twitter.com/davereaboi/status/1224158275047804928; 2/3/20, 12:19 AM
Student Accommodation Handler said...: Amazing.thanks for sharing
Luxury Private Student Accommodation; 2/3/20, 1:26 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: A couple years ago I put up bookcases in my garage, and put together my collection of science fiction and fantasy for the first time ever. Prior to that, I had had the books in 2-3 different locations, mostly in boxes. 182 linear feet. (13 rows of 14 ft shelves). Probably gave away half a hundred duplicates that I found during the merge. Now, there are going back into boxes for our expected move later this month. Won’t be as bad though this time because they are already alphabetical by author, and deduplicated.

I noted that I was missing a lot of the books I had bought and read in the latter 1960s through the mid 1970s, and in terms of the discussion, that meant most of Asimov, as well as Heinlein, and a couple other authors. Back then, those were probably my favorite authors. Didn’t find any Foundation books, but some of the robot books. Reread one of my Heinleins, and found it amazingly juvenile. But they hadn’t been that bad in HS. Still reread “Starship Trooper” at least once a decade. And I have happily read his “Stranger in a Strange Land” several times.

I do still have most of Frank Herbert, and ended up giving away a couple of the first books that were duplicates. Reread the first 3-4 maybe a year ago, but I lost steam when the time scale went from a couple years in a book, to thousands. His son wasn’t nearly as good, but I mostly didn't buy his prequel books because they were oversized, which meant that they don’t fit in my bookcases/book shelves, and were more expensive. I tend to do that in protest - only buying standard paperbacks, and I drop authors who try to gouge by publishing only oversized books. Foundation worked across the millennia, because, I think, they were designed to highlight the long history. Dune - not so much.

Ringworld was decent, but I lost interest after maybe one sequel. I don’t think that Niven was that good of a story teller, but rather had some interesting ideas about the universe. I liked him best when he teamed up with Pournelle. I think some of their collaborations survived better than his Ringworld books. What I liked about them was their takeoffs on real physics. So, for example, they talk about solar sails, instead of treating interstellar travel as a deus ex machina, very quickly if not instantaneously traveling dozens, if not hundreds of light years. Where the space travel is just a plot device.; 2/3/20, 2:23 AM
Narr said...: Ringworld, Niven. Riverworld, Farmer (PJ). I'm getting old enough to confuse one for the other-- I meant Riverworld, sorry. I missed Ringworld entirely.

Narr
My bad; 2/3/20, 10:19 AM
madAsHell said...: The second "Dune" book was Dune Messiah, and I (and many others) thought it awful.

Wow!! You're right!! "Dune Messiah" was the second book. For years, I thought the second book was "Children of Dune"......which sucked.; 2/3/20, 10:28 AM
traditionalguy said...: The Cancer causation is still a mystery. But the the best way to describe the war with our cancers is to say our immune system is the warrior that eliminates cancer cells until it is either overwhelmed or some cancer cells figure out how to deceive our immune system.

To understand the ways of cancer wars try listening to " An Elegant Defense.The Extraordinary New science of the Immune system." And that book is 5 years old already. The good guys are winning the war.; 2/3/20, 3:42 PM
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