Althouse: At the Sunrise Café...

January 2, 2021

At the Sunrise Café...

... you can talk about whatever you want.

123 comments:

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: A winter's day
In a deep and dark December
I am alone
Gazing from my window
To the streets below
On a freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow
I am a rock
I am an island

yeah, it's not December, not by a window,rocks arent sentient, etc.; 1/2/21, 6:34 PM
Original Mike said...: Do we know the history of that rock? Is it a bad rock?; 1/2/21, 6:45 PM
Narr said...: Since we're talking about artists. As a general rule, if you hain't seen a great painting in person, you have no idea. Van Gogh comes to mind easily, as already mentioned.

In Berlin last year there was a big to-do about Adolph von Menzel (1815-1905). I knew some of his big history paintings, but he was much more than that-- a realist, he has also been called the proto-Impressionist, and you can see why (even with Google goggles).

His drawings, sketches, and lithographs are amazing.

Narr
Be sure to see his "portrait of the artist as a right foot"; 1/2/21, 6:57 PM
Big Mike said...: @ingachuck’stoothlessARM, first thing that came to my mind, too.; 1/2/21, 6:58 PM
Arashi said...: Well gee, the rock is partially white, so I think that makes the rock racist. It should be cancled.; 1/2/21, 7:02 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: something for @n.n.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eqw8CN-XcAEVZ9i?format=jpg&name=small; 1/2/21, 7:25 PM
Readering said...: Sad that AA's blog has become a gathering place for political loons.; 1/2/21, 7:44 PM
Ken B said...: Michael K, who had previously stated that SARS had “no human contagion” predicted 20,000 deaths total from COVID.
Was he right? Was he close?; 1/2/21, 7:44 PM
DavidUW said...: There are only two conceptions of human ethics, and they are at opposite poles. One of them is Christian and humane, declares the individual to be sacrosanct, and asserts that the rules of arithmetic are not to be applied to human units. The other starts from the basic principle that a collective aim justifies all means, and not only allows, but demands, that the individual should in every way be subordinated and sacrificed to the community—which may dispose of it as an experimentation rabbit or a sacrificial lamb.; 1/2/21, 7:48 PM
DavidUW said...: And the latter describes both communism and "social justice"; 1/2/21, 7:48 PM
Michael K said...: Blogger Ken B said...
Michael K, who had previously stated that SARS had “no human contagion” predicted 20,000 deaths total from COVID.
Was he right? Was he close?

That's a lie but I avoid this blog so will not respond further.; 1/2/21, 7:50 PM
320Busdriver said...: Sad when your blind side tackle and highest paid lineman in NFL (Bakhtiari)tears the ACL in practice right before you embark on a deep playoff bid. Rogers will need to keep his head on a swivel.; 1/2/21, 7:54 PM
I Callahan said...: Dr K was a lot closer than the 2.2 million number that the loons on your side were throwing out last March.; 1/2/21, 7:56 PM
320Busdriver said...: Larry King is in hospital with covid. RIP; 1/2/21, 8:02 PM
David Begley said...: Rudy Giuliani says 200k fraudulent votes in Dane County.; 1/2/21, 8:06 PM
Darkisland said...: Blogger Ken B said...

Michael K, who had previously stated that SARS had “no human contagion” predicted 20,000 deaths total from COVID.
Was he right? Was he close?

Much closer than the numbers the govt tells us.

They are telling us 300m or so. They are off by a factor of 10.

According to the CDC.

Now if you want to talk about deaths with that may only be off by a factor of 7 or 8.

John Henry; 1/2/21, 8:17 PM
n.n said...: Ingachuck'stoothlessARM:

A welcome image. A nice sentiment. A silver lining. Thanks. Happy New Year!; 1/2/21, 8:22 PM
Darkisland said...: Fauci is now saying that the vaccine does not protect against the Kung Flu, it only mitigates it if one gets it.

If he is not lying to us once again, that means it is not a "vaccine" in any normally accepted sense of the word.

So it sounds like it is mainly for the protection of the pharmaceutical companies.

If you get a "medicine" or a "Drug" from a pharmaceutical company and you have a reaction, you can sue them.

If you get a "vaccine" from a pharmaco and have a reaction, they are immune from any lawsuits. All you can do is ask the govt to help you. You can't even sue the govt. All you can do is put in a request and hope you get something.

Pretty good immunity it seems to me. Just not for the person taking it in the arm.

John Henry; 1/2/21, 8:25 PM
Darkisland said...: Apologies, Michael. I did not remember you predicting, but did not remember you not predicting either.

Some people predicted in the range of 20-30m and those are the ones I was referring to.

John Henry; 1/2/21, 8:27 PM
chuck said...: Michael K, who had previously stated that SARS had “no human contagion” predicted 20,000 deaths total from COVID.

I don't recall him saying either or those things, especially the death total. Could you supply a link to the relevant comments? TIA.; 1/2/21, 8:27 PM
Inga said...: “Sad that AA's blog has become a gathering place for political loons.”

True and every day that passes the lunacy becomes worse, really, where will it end?; 1/2/21, 8:31 PM
Original Mike said...: "I don't recall him saying either or those things, especially the death total. Could you supply a link to the relevant comments? TIA."

Don't hold your breath. I doubt he's being honest. He's been lying about me for months.; 1/2/21, 8:36 PM
n.n said...: They are telling us 300m or so. They are off by a factor of 10.

Cases: past, possible, probable, and progressive. Also, a conflation of causes.

Less than 3,000 deaths attributed to the virus in Japan.

We have had a low-risk, inexpensive, effective early treatment: HCQ cocktail, that has reduced hospitalization and deaths by 80 to 90% globally. There has been another treatment: Ivermectin protocol, since late spring, that has reduced hospitalization and deaths by 90 to 100%. The virus and disease have forced a 4% mortality in the high risk population (i.e. older with co-morbidities), and less than 1% in every other class. There are known nutrient deficiencies (e.g. vitamin D) in certain populations that engender its progress. Washing hands reduces fecal transmission. Restricted use and disposal of masks reduces viral and bacterial infections. Aside from Planned Parent/hood (i.e. the early exponential contagion), bad choices in medical facilities, and spread of social contagion, there is no cause for excess deaths and collateral damage.; 1/2/21, 8:36 PM
Inga said...: Yesterday in Salem, OR, Proud Boys were fighting with police. They were tear gassed and arrests were made. On a live stream of the event I saw Back the Blue supporters throwing down their Back the Blue flag and stomping on it.

Lunacy abounds.; 1/2/21, 8:38 PM
n.n said...: it only mitigates it if one gets it.

If he is not lying to us once again, that means it is not a "vaccine" in any normally accepted sense of the word.

That is a vaccine. A vaccine does not prevent infection, but primes the immune system to proactively respond to an alien pathogen and mitigate its progress, which will ideally prevent the disease.; 1/2/21, 8:39 PM
Inga said...: Police Clash With Trump-Supporting Proud Boys in Salem, Oregon, Arrests Made; 1/2/21, 8:44 PM
JML said...: Inga, I must have missed all your posts with links to antifa and blm clashes with police. Can you reshape those with us?; 1/2/21, 8:53 PM
Narr said...: I hate it when people I disagree with come here and make comments I don't like or talk about boring things.

Narr
Am I doing this right?; 1/2/21, 8:55 PM
JML said...: Narr: Spot on!; 1/2/21, 8:58 PM
walter said...: Watch out Spielosi,
Next time they're coming for your Sub-Zeros and designer ice cream.; 1/2/21, 8:58 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: Leonardo/Crowdstrike involvement in election fraud?

Italygate: is the Italian government directly involved in the US election fraud against Trump?

https://lacrunadellago.net/2020/12/29/italygate-is-the-italian-government-directly-involved-in-the-us-election-fraud-against-trump/?lang=en

more:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1345229465840828417.html; 1/2/21, 9:09 PM
Joe Smith said...: "As a general rule, if you hain't seen a great painting in person, you have no idea."

At another exhibit at the same museum, they had an all-Dutch show with a Rembrandt or two, with Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' as the highlight of the show.

I'd always loved the 'Girl' painting (as have many) for not only the subject but the beautiful blue color of her headdress...

It is far more beautiful in person...prints and computer screens can't approach the real color.

The other great thing was seeing so many incredible paintings I'd never seen before from 'minor' artists...

Print and LCD screens cannot capture the 3-D quality nor the color range of a great painting...; 1/2/21, 9:11 PM
Francisco D said...: Narr said...I hate it when people I disagree with come here and make comments I don't like or talk about boring things Am I doing this right?

Most intelligent people like to have a reasonable discussion with people they disagree with. IMO, most of the trolls are not trying to be reasonable or to have a discussion. The dumb ones (e.g., Inga and steve uhr) are just here for our amusement.; 1/2/21, 9:12 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Share it or bear it:

DEPLORABLES

[2016 Hillary Clinton “Deplorables” speech]

[Chorus x 2]

Y’all got Biden/‘cause you slippedy-slidin’
but y’all can’t hide/ all that lyin’ inside
So, come to Daddy/and start to confidin’
about how you was tryin’/to be so sly
Crack Emcee/the O.G. on the street
You can fool yourself/but you can’t fool me:
I know the okey-doke/I know the Clinton Machine
Ain’t shit been clean/since 2016

[Verse 1]

Attention!
Attention!
Got some politics
media can’t mention:
They got us hangin’ in
animated suspension
‘cause they know
Evil’s now in ascension

And they know it’s all the fault
of the Clintons
Don’t make me repeat
that damn sentence:
He’s a rapist and a liar
She makes people tired
and they make the rest of them
act demented

He spoke for Joe Biden
at the convention
Did you forget he did
Ricky Ray’s lynchin’?
Did you forget Paula Jones?
Juanita Broderick all alone?
Democrats know the truth
and how they bent it

Hunter Biden smokes
more crack than me
He should be known
as The Crack Emcee
except I’ve never ever slept
with my brother’s wife
with my Daddy walkin’ ‘round
sayin’ that’s alright

What the fuck
is wrong with you?
You rewarded them
for not bein’ true
You got Oprah Winfrey hangin’
with every quack and con artist
while all the rest of you fools
be actin’ retarded

Kamala Harris went
with Montel Williams
Now you KNOW truth
done left the buildin’
Now she’s Vice President
and y’all get the credit then
for helpin’ niggas
rippin’ off women

[Chorus x 2]

[President Trump 2020 “Election fraud” speech]

Prince Harry’s now
out there with Meghan
Runnin’ ‘round town
always beggin’
They said they wouldn’t live here
Now they in L.A..
What the fuck we got to do
to make these two go away?

I don’t need
their lecturing bit
If he ain’t a Prince
then she ain’t shit
but a former B-actress
TV number-turner
and they both
big ass hypocrites

Her Mom is a
yoga instructor
Alec Baldwin’s lying wife
should abduct her
They can take a boat to Spain
rearrange both their brains
and come back and do
something productive

I don’t know
where you think this is goin’
I think even
Hillary out hoin’
Chelsea don’t look like her
or Bill
A blood test?
Oh no she never will

They’re just
America’s Addam’s Family
Infecting our country
See?
She hangin’ with rapists
and even murderers
What the fuck did we do
to ever deserve her?

[Chorus x 2]

Let’s have a talk
about Obama
What the fuck is up
with Michelle’s Momma?
Didn’t she hear
his climate change speech?
How she let ‘em
buy a mansion on the beach?

Is that nigga
one of Oprah’s clowns?
Everybody knows the way
she get down
She be makin’ rapists
into innocent men
How the fuck is she
and him ever friends?

She be listenin’
to Shirley MacLaine
and I’m supposed to
believe this nigga got a brain?
James Arthur Ray?
John of God?
Where’s the President
come in here Y’all?

What the Hell
are you voting FOR?
It’s got a smell
I can’t ignore
but this media
certainly can
Every woman huh
Every man

They talk about
anything fucking else
but what they all keepin’
to themselves
is this NewAge Nazi shit
that’s corroding every bit
of the American way of life
I first noticed it in my wife

And now
it’s gotten to the nation
and we could take to
Battle Stations
we gotta head them off
at the pass
This Democrat cult
can kiss my ass
I ain’t goin’ for it
Y’all
Crack Emcee
Lick my balls

[Chorus x 2]

[More 2020 President Trump “Election fraud” speech]; 1/2/21, 9:14 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: does this mean little girl's dresses will be half off??

Joe Biden
@JoeBiden
· Dec 30, 2020

With just over 20 days until Inauguration Day, there’s never been a better time to stock up on @BidenInaugural gear. Head to http://store.bideninaugural.org to find everything you need.; 1/2/21, 9:37 PM
Wandering Badger said...: Does anyone know of a valid study that assesses the reality of the COVID death numbers ?
How many are truly due to COVID vs died with COVID but with other potential causes (e.g. would have died from flu due to underlying issues) vs died from other causes but happened to have COVID (e.g. accidents, gunshots, etc). Are the criteria for numbering COVID deaths consistent across the world (doubt it). Believe the US medical community is financially motivated to designate deaths as "COVID".; 1/2/21, 9:46 PM
stevew said...: Watched Peter Jackson's version of Tolkien's LOTR trilogy again. It is a Christian tale, Frodo is Jesus, even though he doesn't die, directly.

That photo is of a winter scene. We had rain overnight, at my rental on the coast. There was 3" or so of snow up the road away from the water. That should change soon.

Narr and Francisco D have identified the essence of it.; 1/2/21, 9:50 PM
stevew said...: Also, I'm 63, in good health and so am not worried about contracting Covid. Note that having been exposed, closely, back in March, to someone that had a confirmed case and was quite ill for about a week to ten days, my doctor says I am considered to have had it. Which is nice.; 1/2/21, 9:55 PM
FullMoon said...: Inga had a birthday.; 1/2/21, 10:04 PM
LA_Bob said...: stevew,

I'm in the same boat as you, just more recently. A friend was "cleared" to end quarantine back on 12/23 after being fairly ill since 12/12 (positive test result was 12/15). I was there for the swabbing and there for the results and there to help her understand quarantine (from the nice lady on phone reading from a script). I can't imagine I didn't get infected. Never had a symptom, so I should be good to go.

I'm considering an antibody test in January. I might be able to get a "nasal antibody" test, which is supposed to be where the action is. I'd be thrilled to test positive.

http://high-fat-nutrition.blogspot.com/2020/12/igg-iga-and-sniffing-virus.html; 1/2/21, 10:10 PM
FullMoon said...: 1. Why does Althouse post things that don't interest me)
2. Why doesn't Althouse post about (current big deal)
3. I usually skip past ( so and so) but this time
4. I usually don't respond to (so and so) but..

5. I never read (NYT, WaPo)
6. I canceled my subscription to (left wing rag) in 1977

7. Althouse finally gets it about (such and such)

8.Why is ( so and so ) still here?

9. (So and so) is here, I'm gonna read a book

10. Oh, great, another boring (so and so vs so and so ) thread

11. If you ignore so and so, they will go away..

12. If it was me, I would have..

13. Why didn't they just.....?

14. I never heard of ( that celebrity ), why should I care?

15. Thank God for moderation..

16. Moderation sucks!

17 I hate it when people I disagree with come here and make comments I don't like or talk about boring things (Narr); 1/2/21, 10:12 PM
FullMoon said...: On "The Voice", many of the contestants are more talented than the judges.

The difference could simply be that one big break. Being in the right place at the right time.

Being seen and heard by someone with influence.

Knowing someone who knows someone.

Good luck to CrackMC, who may be one lucky break from fame and fortune.; 1/2/21, 10:16 PM
Joe Smith said...: "[Chorus x 2]"

I recommend the decaf...; 1/2/21, 10:18 PM
Inga said...: “Inga had a birthday.”

No, I didn’t.; 1/2/21, 10:25 PM
Rt41Rebel said...: Happy Birthday Inga!; 1/2/21, 10:30 PM
Inga said...: “Happy Birthday Inga!”

Well thanks, but I didn’t have a birthday recently.; 1/2/21, 10:33 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: the pale blush of dawn breaks
the cold curse of Winter's frigid frown

Harmony in Silver and Rose; 1/2/21, 10:38 PM
FullMoon said...: Coming soon, pushin' seventy.; 1/2/21, 10:39 PM
stephen cooper said...: "To understand is finally to make fact after fact coincide with our mystery"
"To love another is to understand the reason God found for creating the creature we love"
Don Colacho.

I have four more days to enjoy Christmas carols along with the rest of the world. After the sixth, I will still enjoy Christmas carols - I like them and listen to them all year (and I play them all year - this year I learned several carols on the ukelele, and next year I plan to rent a glockenspiel for a couple months and invite some friends over to play the piano parts) - but it will be a little different.

I live in a neighborhood where a lot of husbands and fathers and sons (and to a lesser degree, wives and mothers and daughters) are deployed overseas or on or under the oceans, and I think I am used to the sight of Christmas lights in autumn, for the father or son who will be gone at Christmas time, or in spring, for the father or son who missed the Christmas lights last December.

I always try to find a new Christmas carol every year - some years I find a few, some years none. This year it was Sia's Candy Cane Lane, which might be no good but I love the way the first two notes, played on a glockenspiel, sound like a doorbell - and then the song is about inviting friends out to have a good time, to look at the Christmas lights, and to just be happy that Christmas is coming. And I was older than 50 the first time I heard, with lyrics, Berlioz's farewell of the Shepherds.; 1/2/21, 10:39 PM
Inga said...: “Coming soon, pushin' seventy.”

I’m younger than Althouse. But there’s nothing wrong with 70 year olds. Lots of old people here.; 1/2/21, 10:47 PM
effinayright said...: Readering said...
Sad that AA's blog has become a gathering place for political loons.
**************

You sound like that crazy guy in "Psycho", talking to himself about the fly walking across his nose.; 1/2/21, 10:51 PM
effinayright said...: Inga said...
“Happy Birthday Inga!”

Well thanks, but I didn’t have a birthday recently.
************

WHAT? You didn't appropriate Christmas as your birthday?

You let an opportunity for self-aggrandizement go to waste--something lefties are trained not to do.; 1/2/21, 10:53 PM
walter said...: Romney is PISSED at Cruz! Bet Ted's scared.; 1/2/21, 11:10 PM
Crazy World said...: Good on Oregon for finally fighting back! Thanks Inga, saw that earlier & it made my day. Lovely memories of our freedom life there.; 1/2/21, 11:11 PM
Readering said...: Bill Barr looked ahead and said, get me out of here.; 1/2/21, 11:13 PM
walter said...: Bill Barr became an obstructionist political windbag in protection of Joementia inc.; 1/2/21, 11:19 PM
Joe Smith said...: Watching a streaming sci-fi show. Also just finished a different streaming sci-fi show.

In both shows, it seems like a large contingent of characters are written as gay.

Is there a gay pandemic in our future?

Not sure how there are any people left to explore space if such a large portion of future mankind are gay.

Why can't Hollywood just tell some entertaining stories and quit using their platform for propaganda?

They never miss a chance to push their 'progressive' agenda down the throats of the audience, whether we want to see it or not.; 1/2/21, 11:39 PM
eddie willers said...: At another exhibit at the same museum, they had an all-Dutch show with a Rembrandt or two, with Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' as the highlight of the show.

That show came through Atlanta and since "Girl" had been my screensaver for a decade I went. The line moved through various setups with "lesser" paintings into a large room of Rembrandts into a last room with the Vermeer spotlighted alone before exiting into the souvenir shop.

But it was while I was snaking my way through that I was stopped in my tracks by a stunning little painting. So lifelike, and yet but you knew it was a painting at the same time. It was a small, colorful bird anchored by a little gold chain. The card said "The Goldfinch" by Carel Fabritius.

Two weeks later I am in the bookstore when a new Donna Tartt novel comes out and I see that painting on the cover! It MUST be fate, so I bought it.

Worst "serious" novel I have ever read.

So much for fate.; 1/2/21, 11:45 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Stephen, someone here at Althouse some years ago suggested Annie Lennox' rendition of The Holly and the Ivy and it's become one of my favorite holiday listens. Her strident voice sets the mood perfectly.; 1/2/21, 11:46 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Eddie! I loved The Secret History and abandoned The Little Friend, sorely disappointed, maybe a third of the way through? I'm so sad to hear that The Goldfinch is likewise awful.

I am reading Lonesome Dove and it's delightful. I'm a sucker for good dialogue and boy does Gus McCrae get off some good zingers.; 1/2/21, 11:49 PM
gadfly said...: @Readering said...
Bill Barr looked ahead and said, get me out of here.

Methinks, at Trump's behest, Billy Barr stepped outside the law and needs a pardon while his partner-in-crime needs a zipped lip.; 1/2/21, 11:51 PM
eddie willers said...: I too read The Secret History and thought it was good....for a first novel. It didn't reach the hype it generated, but was a good enough read that I thought The Goldfinch would be as beautiful as the painting.

It's the only book that I ever gave up on completely. I put it down somewhere between 400-500 pages and never picked it up again. Ghastly.; 1/3/21, 12:07 AM
gadfly said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/3/21, 12:13 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Saw WW84 in a real theater last night. First time since before the plague.

Wish I could say it was as good as the first one.

Wish I could say it was good.

Well, at least I can say Gadot did as well as anyone could with what they handed her.; 1/3/21, 12:22 AM
narciso said...: Secret history was good, her followup work not so good as with volpi and gabriel vasquez or vollmann for that matter (klingsor, costaguana, and europa central respectively); 1/3/21, 12:23 AM
narciso said...: I gave on gojira a monster tale from godzillas perspective by mark jacobsen whi o rehabilitated a predator like frank lucas (the basis for american gangster)
I gave up entirely on infinite jest.; 1/3/21, 12:26 AM
narciso said...: As pointed out she did well in material like fast and furious and even keeping up with the jones (barely) pedro pascal should be fined for the hammiest portrayal since kingsman 2, yes he was understated villainy in the equalizer. (A man who could puncture a colleaguez rib cage and then be non chalant about that); 1/3/21, 12:31 AM
narciso said...: So much trite american fiction, one of the best spy/forensic tales i pilgrim was written by a formet australian political reporter and coproducer of the road warrior.; 1/3/21, 12:34 AM
narciso said...: Terry hayes, he has a followup like a philadelphia experiment in the modern era that has been delayed for an infinity.; 1/3/21, 12:36 AM
narciso said...: Mark helprin who is an american who lived abroad in israel wrote a number of e
Interesting ones besides winters tale, like memoir from an ant case.; 1/3/21, 12:38 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: pedro pascal should be fined for the hammiest portrayal since kingsman

I don't know why they made his Maxwell Lord pretty much completely different from the well established comicbook character (Who I liked best as a somewhat shady good-guy in the 80s Justice League International, but still the bad-guy version isn't anything like the movie either).; 1/3/21, 12:44 AM
narciso said...: I caught the undoing on hbo its based on a novel by jean korelitz that was tedious the flight attendant by bohjalian was interesting but the adaptation was very klinky.; 1/3/21, 12:45 AM
narciso said...: Terrible take, hes a tech ceo kind of lex Luthor (gene hackman had the right mix of humor and malice) but not this pathetic schlub, others have done the character justice.; 1/3/21, 12:49 AM
narciso said...: Klunky because the dubai setting was pivotL and the russians were the major players.; 1/3/21, 12:52 AM
narciso said...: Lord if i remember correctly was creating a satellite surveillance web kind of like winter soldier. Not this mcguffin of a plot.

Now tenet was too complex for some, but this was too stupid for most; 1/3/21, 12:57 AM
narciso said...: Speaking of len deighton, the real spare hardboiled spy thriller. There is a fellow ex army type simon conway who is said to be 'deighton on acid); 1/3/21, 1:00 AM
narciso said...: The undoing is about a well to do oncologissts whose perfect facade desintegrates leaving a very flawed person .; 1/3/21, 1:03 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: One good thing about going to WW84: I found out from the trailers that the 80th anniversary showing of The Maltese Falcon will be in theaters on 24 & 27 Jan as a Fathom Events presentation.; 1/3/21, 1:09 AM
narciso said...: In previous performances pascals motivations are clearer in kingsman he is just driven by pain and grief , in the equalizer hes an operator who made himself totally amoral after mccall steps out of the picture (but denzel is the avenging angel here); 1/3/21, 1:10 AM
narciso said...: I was more a chandler rather than hammett fan but that is a good one.; 1/3/21, 1:11 AM
narciso said...: I read chandlers screenplay of double indemnity (for billy wilder) before i saw the film); 1/3/21, 1:14 AM
narciso said...: Thats enough pondering for tonight arrivi derci.; 1/3/21, 1:15 AM
gadfly said...: @The Crack Emcee said...
Share it or bear it:

Wow Crack! Lots of time spent on your presentation.

I often wonder how New York's Russian Turncoat and Mafia Gangster has avoided your wrath for all these years. “Fat Tony” Salerno, boss of the Genovese crime family, and Paul Castellano, boss of the Gambino family, dictated that Trump Plaza and Trump Tower be built from mafia-controlled concrete. Reputed mob figure, Robert LiButti, tied to John Gotti, was involved in Trump's gambling operations and "pump and dump" sales at failed Trump SoHo.; 1/3/21, 1:17 AM
Lawrence Person said...: Dear Judicial Watch: Do you think you could stop mailing me so much crap?; 1/3/21, 1:20 AM
virgil xenophon said...: Joe Smith@ 9:11PM/

TOTALLY AGREE! As well as the effect of the scale which can't be duplicated in printed material (I remember standing in front of one of Dali's massive "melting clocks" works at the Tate and thinking that nothing in print does it justice.) Same for viewing effect of brush-strokes at close view..which one simply cannot do other than in person.; 1/3/21, 1:22 AM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: There is a Dali museum in St. Petersberg Fl, of all places, that is quite nice. I tried to go the the Dali museum in Paris once, but got lost and it looks like I'll probably never get back there.; 1/3/21, 1:43 AM
Humperdink said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/3/21, 5:40 AM
Humperdink said...: Hillary 2016: One-half of Trump supporters belong in a basket of deplorables.

Readering 2021: Sad that AA's blog has become a gathering place for political loons.

Both comments from supporters of the political party that endorses 4th trimester infanticide.

And we are the nutcases?; 1/3/21, 5:42 AM
Rory said...: "I am reading Lonesome Dove and it's delightful."

The minor character Wilbarger, virtually omitted from the miniseries, is a great character.; 1/3/21, 6:02 AM
Howard said...: Good morning everyone. Life is good here in the real America. It's amazing how people who live primarily in in the meat space care very little about politics. Getting on the road to Live Free or Die and go sledding with the grandkids. Please don't turn me in to Charlie Baker.; 1/3/21, 6:04 AM
alanc709 said...: If COVID killed so many people, why was the death toll for 2020 in America no different than any other year? Shouldn't all those COVID deaths cause a spike in the death rate?; 1/3/21, 6:15 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: The people who believe that Trump supporters are political loons also believe that men can bear children and menstruate. Their elected president, Joseph R. Biden, is a practicing Catholic who believes in infanticide and can't tell you how many genders there are. He is also senile and shoots blood out of his eyes.; 1/3/21, 6:19 AM
Humperdink said...: Headline: "Massachusetts Lowers Age Of Legally Obtaining Abortion Without Parental Consent To 16"

And we are the loons?; 1/3/21, 6:20 AM
alan markus said...: Blogger Inga said...
“Sad that AA's blog has become a gathering place for political loons.”

True and every day that passes the lunacy becomes worse, really, where will it end?

Well, for some people, perhaps the end could be discharging all debts and getting on a slow boat back to country of origin.; 1/3/21, 6:25 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: "Massachusetts Lowers Age Of Legally Obtaining Abortion Without Parental Consent To 16"

Boys as well as girls! Now that is progress!; 1/3/21, 6:25 AM
Doug said...: Stephen Cooper- I was excited to discover that you are a ukulele player - as an I? What are some of your favorite Christmas carols to perform on the ukulele? Do you play soprano, concert, tenor? Baritone?; 1/3/21, 6:27 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: An example of the blindness of our elites. From article in The New Republic , on the need for artists to "organize."
. . . The Observer reported recently, shed 260,000 jobs between 2000 and 2018 (far outstripping the losses in coal mining, it adds).
How can you compare job loss among journalists to job loss among coal miners? Most journalists have college degrees and come from middle class families. They have resources. They can do some other white collar job, or improve their job prospects by getting a graduate degree.
The coal miners? They got a job and nothing else. The "art workers" have more in common with the bosses who lay off or fire the coal miners than the coal miners.; 1/3/21, 6:32 AM
Iman said...: True and every day that passes the lunacy becomes worse, really, where will it end?

Best case scenario: it will end with the medical professionals increasing your dosage and some counseling.; 1/3/21, 7:03 AM
stevew said...: Out for a walk at sunrise today, a daily trip, and noticed that the half-dozen or so people I saw were not wearing masks. Most, like me, didn't even have one visible. It is probably too much to hope that this trend will continue and expand.; 1/3/21, 7:07 AM
Tank said...: Churchy LaFemme: said...
There is a Dali museum in St. Petersberg Fl, of all places, that is quite nice. I tried to go the the Dali museum in Paris once, but got lost and it looks like I'll probably never get back there.

There’s a good one north of Barcelona too if you’re in the area.; 1/3/21, 7:09 AM
Rusty said...: Blogger gadfly said...
"@Readering said...
Bill Barr looked ahead and said, get me out of here.

Methinks"
Don't do that. You're not good at it.; 1/3/21, 7:41 AM
Fernandinande said...: Michael K, who had previously stated that SARS had “no human contagion” predicted 20,000 deaths total from COVID.
Was he right? Was he close?

Michael K said...
...
"Agreed and I'm predicting (sorry KenB) that final death figures will be close to 20k. In other words, a bad flu season.

I see the economy largely open by May 1."; 1/3/21, 8:02 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Lewis Wetzel said...

"An example of the blindness of our elites."

I think we lose because of convoluted examples.

I simply point out, in 2018, so many Democrats got scared Oprah would run against Trump they started admitting she's misled everyone for 30 years.

Then I'd show them a picture of Obama awarding her 2013's Presidential Medal of Freedom for misleading everyone for 30 years.

Then wait for it to *click*.; 1/3/21, 8:12 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: True and every day that passes the lunacy becomes worse, really, where will it end?

With them eating our lunch, naturally, because y'all don't know how to fight. They got the black CNN - I can't get y'all to promote and share a free song because there's swearing in it.

You deserve to lose.; 1/3/21, 8:16 AM
William50 said...: WORLD'S FIRST WOODEN SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED BY JAPAN IN 2023

HIROYASU ODA, Nikkei staff writer

December 24, 2020 05:22 JST

TOKYO — Japanese logging company Sumitomo Forestry and Kyoto University are planting the seeds for a 2023 launch of the world’s first satellite made out of wood.

The partners announced their intentions on Wednesday, saying the aim was basic research and proof of concept.

They have agreed to conduct research on tree growth and the use of wood materials in space. They hope to promote technology for using wood in extreme environments on Earth.

Wood does not block electromagnetic waves or the Earth’s magnetic field. This enables devices such as antennas and attitude control mechanisms to be placed inside a wooden satellite, allowing for simpler structures. In addition, when a wooden satellite de-orbits and plunges back to Earth, it would burn up completely without releasing harmful substances into the atmosphere or raining debris on the ground.; 1/3/21, 8:26 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Tapped in a couple days ago with a discussion by people I know who know more than most about COVID-19. Present are some who have done biological warfare research, and others are national security types. Consensus is, of course, that it was very likely created by the ChiComs. Back to the likely location having been the Level 2 virology lab right next to the fresh market in Wuhan, instead of the Level 4 lab 20 miles away there. Which, of course brings up the question of why they would be doing this sort of work at a Level 2 facility, if the released virus would kill as many people as it has. In any case, no consensus still on whether it was done by gene editing or forced evolution in a human based medium (actual medium - or possibly their dissident Muslim populations - which they are already harvesting organs from). Still can’t agree whether it was released accidentally, or intentionally.

Mention was made earlier that the Japanese haven’t been hit very hard. Yes, they are a fastidious people, who often wore masks before the pandemic. But they also share a fair amount of genetics with the Han Chinese who apparently developed the virus, and also seem less susceptible. There was a notable set of photos a couple days ago, showing Wuhan streets packed on NEw Years eve, while the only ones in Times Square celebrating were Mayor DeBlasio and his wife. This suggests that the Han Chinese may be significantly less susceptible to the virus that they developed than the rest of us. Could this be by design? It is interesting to me that there has been almost no talk of this, whatsoever, this entire year. Could this have anything to do with the candidate who was bought by the Chinese being the presumptive new President? If the Chinese owned Biden weren’t the Dem candidate for President, would we have looked more closely at the racial and ethnic aspects of susceptibility to the coronavirus? Esp since Blacks seem to be hit worst, and maybe Hispanics next worst.

Several theories here. One is that NE Asians (including Han Chinese, Japanese, Koreans) are less susceptible to this sort of coronavirus because they have historically faced it much more frequently. Another is based on blood type - O type blood seems to be the best for survival, and Han Chinese appear to have a higher percentage of people with O type blood than most ethnic groups. (One sub thought there - that possibly the higher Black susceptibility may be the result of a serious viral attack inadvertently triggering sickling, as apparently happened to George Floyd when he ODed on Fentanyl). Finally, there is the question of comorbidities. Nothing you can do about age. But in our country, at least, Blacks may be the most debilitated by obesity, with Hispanic and American Indians not far behind. But the funny thing there is that the Chinese, now kinda becoming a middle class country, apparently are starting to see a very serious obesity problem themselves.

Coming full circle now. New variant now, out of the UK has hit our shores. Supposedly more virulent. Maybe. Interestingly, it has almost two dozen unique mutations. Most new variants in a viral outbreak have one or two mutations. If there are more, you just look harder, until you find the intervening variants. There are theories how a new variant can spontaneously arise with over 20 unique mutations. I don’t find them overly plausible, esp with a virus that itself seemed to spring out of nowhere, that showed none of the genetic residue that you would have expected when crossing the species barrier (where, at a minimum, the spikes would have had to have changed to attach so strongly to Human unique ACE2 receptors). It is interesting to note that there are far more variants and ancestors on the SARS-1 family tree, than the SARS-2 family tree, from where they had a common ancestor, AND evolution on the SARS-2 tree seems maybe 3-4x as rapid (based on their mutation rates).; 1/3/21, 8:52 AM
narciso said...: I didn't even know there were two labs in the same city, yes a level 2 facility seems to have been an odd place to handle such a thing,; 1/3/21, 9:08 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: With the talk above about fatality rates, and my thoughts that maybe NE Asians may be less susceptible to this coronavirus because these peoples have developed their lesser susceptibilities through historically a lot more exposure to similar coronaviruses, I was thinking about some second and third level questions. One thought is that a century ago, we would have just suffered through the pandemic. Maybe even 20 years ago. No massive shutdowns, or other infringements on our liberties.

We have four generations, starting in the 1850s, buried in NW LP MI. Several of the men had a wife buried on either side of them. One had the kids, then died in childbirth. The second wouldn’t have kids, and would outlive their husband by decades. There is a four sided grave marker, for four brothers who all died at about 2 years of age in August, of something that came through every other summer or so. The girls survived better, but the result was that there was a single surviving male for maybe 3 generations, then with my mother, there were none. A male family line that went back to 1630 in this country, and fought in every war between then and WW II (Captain in Revolutionary War, Col in WW II), died out. Death through medical issues, whether child rearing, or disease has been commonplace, at least since humans started living in cities. It has mostly been in our lifetimes (of the geriatric crowd here) that this has changed dramatically. I remember polio, and getting the first measles vaccine. Remember the sugar cubes (I think that was polio, but not sure)? And with the crash in medically related fatalities, esp in our children, it became apparent that a lot of kids were also dying from accidents. 50-60 years ago, when we were kids, we ran wild outside. Not anymore.

I had noted that minivans replaced station wagons as womb symbols in suburbia. Where we live in NW MT, minivans almost always indicates someone in a sect that preaches no birth control, and pushes larger families, like the Mennonites and some Lutheran offshoots. The basic problem is that seat belt requirements now make almost anything else impractical for more than 2 kids (except here on the freeways in PHX, where the cops don’t blink with a half dozen family members in the bed of a pickup - that’s just what the recent Hispanic immigrants do here).

Just as death rates for disease and accidents have plummeted over the last century, so have birth rates. During the Revolutionary War, families may have had a dozen kids. Now, it seems mostly they have two, which is unsustainable long term, given that some will continue to die growing up, and more importantly, more and more people are having no kids. Another consequence is that humankind is rapidly building up a lot of bad genes in our gene pool.; 1/3/21, 9:38 AM
Michael K said...: Bruce, I now skim comments looking for you and narciso especially. Otherwise I'm outta here.; 1/3/21, 10:36 AM
Chuck said...: ...We have four generations, starting in the 1850s, buried in NW LP MI. Several of the men had a wife buried on either side of them. One had the kids, then died in childbirth. The second wouldn’t have kids, and would outlive their husband by decades. There is a four sided grave marker, for four brothers who all died at about 2 years of age in August, of something that came through every other summer or so...

Those were the good old days.

#MAGA.; 1/3/21, 10:36 AM
walter said...: Be careful, Howie.
Remember what we learned here about winter weather induced snot as a vector.; 1/3/21, 10:48 AM
mockturtle said...: Bruce @8:52, thank you for the interesting post. There were several articles [one of which I bookmarked but has since disappeared] by Chinese scientists saying the same thing. Basically, that for the SARS1 virus to naturally evolve to the complexity of the SARS2 in that short a time frame would be impossible. I shall continue to believe this was an engineered virus. Whether deliberately or accidentally released is, or should be, a question of crucial importance.; 1/3/21, 10:53 AM
mockturtle said...: Crack:
About your song,
It's much too long.; 1/3/21, 10:56 AM
mockturtle said...: And, Bruce, now that the Chinese are genetically modifying their soldiers, it would come as no surprise that they engineer viruses.; 1/3/21, 11:07 AM
Old and slow said...: In Arizona there is no law against passengers riding in the back of pickup trucks. It's a feature, not a bug...; 1/3/21, 11:35 AM
Joe Smith said...: "Methinks, at Trump's behest, Billy Barr stepped outside the law and needs a pardon..."

Are you fucking kidding? Barr won't step inside the law, which is the entire problem.

First Sessions and then Barr, two of the biggest failures of Trump's term. Trump needed a wingman.

"I tried to go the the Dali museum in Paris once, but got lost and it looks like I'll probably never get back there."

If you do ever go back and he's there, please say 'hello' for me...; 1/3/21, 12:18 PM
stephen cooper said...: Doug - Silent Night was the first one I played (on soprano ukelele, chosen due to long-ago memories and associations), after that Adeste Fideles, Angels We Have Heard on High, and O little Town of Bethlehem - choices made because those are four that I love to play on piano.

Any suggestions for carols or hymns that sound really good on ukelele after practicing a while - I can't usually tell until I have practiced a while.

IHMMP - That is a beautiful song you recommended!; 1/3/21, 12:51 PM
Jim at said...: Once again, Inga runs her mouth about the Proud Boys or whoever and completely and ignores this; 1/3/21, 4:31 PM
Lewis said...: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2paSwpzOvg

Just so you understand, about him, I was saying early in the lock-down.; 1/3/21, 9:41 PM
Lewis said...: Only, I've just realised, it's boring.; 1/3/21, 9:52 PM
Lewis said...: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhZUsNJ-LQU

Happy New Year, Anne; 1/3/21, 9:59 PM
Lewis said...: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI-5uv4wryI; 1/3/21, 10:06 PM
Lewis said...: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3lwAs4NDxM

Like me, stupid; 1/3/21, 10:33 PM