Althouse: At the Snowman's Café...

February 22, 2021

At the Snowman's Café...

... come on in, everybody!

70 comments:

BarrySanders20 said...: He got braces! Or is that a mustache? Like the song and dance routine. Wonder what he's singing? I think Singin' in the Snow (to the tune of Singin' In the Rain).; 2/22/21, 8:41 PM
farmgirl said...: ?
No one on open thread? We have so much snow here, as well. NEK- it’s a place. It’s supposed to warm up soon. I hope.; 2/22/21, 8:43 PM
narciso said...: What i was referring to

https://mobile.twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1363957858019266561?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet; 2/22/21, 8:44 PM
Whiskeybum said...: Good Grammar rule for Feb. 22:

Do not string a large number of prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.; 2/22/21, 8:46 PM
DavidUW said...: New cases keep dropping and all the tyrants can do is talk about staying closed until 2022; 2/22/21, 8:46 PM
narciso said...: But of course, you didnt see this coming

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/1364034032736985089; 2/22/21, 8:48 PM
stevew said...: There is snow at my home but not where I presently am. I cannot say I miss it yet, but I will. There will be walks and golf before I return home. I did not get an invite to Mar-A-Lago; it is close.; 2/22/21, 8:52 PM
Unknown said...: Cntrl F at https://www.memeorandum.com/

Trump = 27
Biden = 18; 2/22/21, 8:52 PM
narciso said...: https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2021/02/22/insanity-wrap-151-climate-czar-john-kerry-proves-were-all-insane-n1427244; 2/22/21, 8:53 PM
Mark said...: I for one am grateful that the government keeps running those public service announcements telling us to wear masks and keep our distance from other people. Without those CONSTANT impositions, people would never know that they are supposed to do that.; 2/22/21, 9:00 PM
narciso said...: https://rumble.com/ve2zbp-where-are-the-january-6th-weapons-julie-kelly-with-sebastian-gorka-on-ameri.html; 2/22/21, 9:00 PM
Joe Smith said...: I've only been to DC a couple of times, both with no fences (that don't work) and no razor wire (which is pretty effective).

Does it look better now or worse?

Should I order chain link fences and razor wire for my house so I can be like all the cool kids?

Please advise...; 2/22/21, 9:01 PM
narciso said...: Dont forget the minefield

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HRcD-62Tsn4; 2/22/21, 9:03 PM
Mark said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/22/21, 9:07 PM
iowan2 said...: Todays high was 42f.last Monday we were at -26f but yesterday brought another 4" of snow. But this is what normal looks like in the Midwest.; 2/22/21, 9:10 PM
Narr said...: Order only through the Amazon portal, Joe.

All the snow has fled from here, save little shaded spots; low 50s today, low 60s tomorrow.
I'm glad to see it go.

Water pressure still low and boil advisory in place; at least we have hot water for showers.

Narr
Dog got his first real walks in a week today; 2/22/21, 9:11 PM
StephenFearby said...: Among the things I really didn't need to know...

Wikipedia (citing a 2016 article in the NYT):

"[Merrick] Garland is partially colorblind so he uses a list to match his suits and ties."

In his testimony before the Senate today, Garland came across as a nebbish.; 2/22/21, 9:16 PM
MadisonMan said...: My brother still has snow where he shoveled next to his driveway. I don't think the city ever plowed his street.; 2/22/21, 9:17 PM
Mark said...: You know, taking Captain Pike back to Talos never made any sense. The Big Brain People were evil sadistic torturers who tried to enslave him while they got their voyeuristic jollies. Sure they had some telepathic ability to make people live a Matrix existence, but deep down they were exploitive monsters. There is no reason to believe that if he went back that they would suddenly become benevolent and caring.

Then again, he was all too happy to leave Vina with them. All because in Gene Roddenberry's future paradise, there was no room for disfigured, disabled people. The loving thing would have been to say to Vina and the Talosians, "No, Vina. No, you are not staying here. You are coming home with us, with your people. You are one of us and we care about you. And we have the humanity in the 23rd century to not have Nazi-like bigotries." But he didn't.; 2/22/21, 9:18 PM
MadisonMan said...: Mom went to high school with Geoffrey Hunter. (Well, Hank McKinnies Jr).; 2/22/21, 9:20 PM
Mark said...: Fuck the Amazon portal, Joe. And fuck Amazon.

Now in the latest chapter of the monopolistic and totalitarian war to control information, Amazon has shut down sales and de-listed the book "When Harry Became Sally: Answers for Our Transgender Moment," by Ryan Anderson (formerly of Heritage and now at Ethics and Public Policy Center) because it questions the lie about men being women, etc.; 2/22/21, 9:24 PM
Original Mike said...: Blogger MadisonMan said..."My brother still has snow where he shoveled next to his driveway. I don't think the city ever plowed his street."

The city often doesn't plow our street. Takes several inches before they do.; 2/22/21, 9:30 PM
Mark said...: So I was at Home Depot the other day. (That's right, screw the "The".) I need a little squirt of caulking to seal the tub drain, but of course I had to buy an entire tube.

Anyway, I was over at the pallets up front looking at the cartons of five different kinds of paper masks. First one, Made in China. Second one, Made in China. And so on and so on.

And of course, Biden demanding that we all wear (and thus have to buy) tons of masks.; 2/22/21, 9:30 PM
NCMoss said...: Captain Pike reminds me of the president; you never know how much he's all there.; 2/22/21, 9:30 PM
Joe Smith said...: "You know, taking Captain Pike back to Talos never made any sense."

Was Pike the guy that looked like Joe?

Blank, thousand-yard stare? Looked like he was thinking of his next pudding cup?

Roddenberry was a genius at predicting the future...; 2/22/21, 9:32 PM
Mark said...: In other news - just an FYI for about 80 percent of you:

You should know that you are now on Merrick Garland's list. You are extremists. When he talks about coming after domestic terrorists, he is looking at you. He is coming for you. You will be watched, you will be monitored. You are suspect.; 2/22/21, 9:34 PM
narciso said...: They brought back anson mount on discovery, he looks little like jeffrey humter (i cant think of a modern analog); 2/22/21, 9:38 PM
narciso said...: He died of a brain hemorrhage from an explosion on set, of a movie about the chicago mob.; 2/22/21, 9:41 PM
William said...: Freezing rain today. I don't think there is any upside to freezing rain. The ducks probably hate it too....Your snowman looks ebullient and energetic. I don't think that' the right pose for late in February. Okay for December or even January, but it's not in keeping with the season. Even snowmen know that winter is a drag in February.; 2/22/21, 9:41 PM
Joe Smith said...: "He is coming for you. You will be watched, you will be monitored. You are suspect."

The libs are starching their brown shirts and polishing their jack boots in preparation for the festivities.; 2/22/21, 9:41 PM
Humperdink said...: I heard an audio clip today of Merrick Garland's answer to an (illegal) immigration question. I haven't heard that many stammers, ums, and pauses in a 90 second clip since Obama was caught without a teleprompter.; 2/22/21, 9:42 PM
wildswan said...: I'm still stuck at Measure for Measure in my Shakespeare project. Evidently I really, really don't want to read it. Can I just skip ahead? So difficult when it's self asking self. I've read a few scenes and I know there hasn't been a day in my life when I wanted to read any more. And no living person is ever going to mention this play - no one ever has as long as I've lived. What 2020 is to years this play is to Shakespeare. But something holds me, clogs me - wide Sargasso sea.; 2/22/21, 9:44 PM
Howard said...: Global warming is going to topple racist frosty the snowman statue. Gaia is woke AF.; 2/22/21, 9:46 PM
MartyH said...: Any thoughts on the SC not taking 2020 election cases, particularly PA’s? It seems smarter to establish parameters today rather than wait for another Bush/Gore “selected not elected” rushed one off ruling after a future election.; 2/22/21, 9:49 PM
narciso said...: Did you take it as a challenge:

https://m.theepochtimes.com/chinese-spyware-code-was-copied-from-americas-nsa-researchers_3706106.html; 2/22/21, 9:49 PM
Mark said...: What other books has Amazon banned (and effectively burned)?; 2/22/21, 9:52 PM
narciso said...: They tried to ban berenson

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2021/02/how-editor-chronicle-philanthropy-colluded-splcs-daniel-greenfield/#.YDRXawBkR70.facebook; 2/22/21, 9:53 PM
DavidUW said...: I am also colorblind and I organize my clothes by what the tailor told me.; 2/22/21, 10:02 PM
William said...: @wildswan: Measure for Measure is Shakespeare's metoo play. It has an ending that will floor you....Why not just go to You Tube or Acorn and watch rather than read the play. Some of the antiquated language is made clear by the action. The plot has some hooks that keep you interested.....I went through all of the BBC productions of Shakespeare's plays. My life is a chronicle of wasted time, but you don't hate yourself so much after watching a Shakespeare play rather than watching some dumb Netflix series.; 2/22/21, 10:04 PM
Mark said...: I mentioned earlier about how "Young girl, get out of my mind. My love for you is way out of line" little Alyssa Milano on "Who's the Boss?" is now almost 50 years old.

Fifty!; 2/22/21, 10:07 PM
Lawrence Person said...: The Cheap Prepper’s Guide for Cold Weather And Other Disasters.; 2/22/21, 10:15 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: How To Confound Your Alien Captor.; 2/22/21, 10:58 PM
Mark said...: -- BREAKING --

Naomi Wolf has announced that if she knew that Biden was going to keep us locked down, she never would have voted for him.; 2/22/21, 11:02 PM
Kathryn51 said...: narciso said...
He died of a brain hemorrhage from an explosion on set, of a movie about the chicago mob.

narciso, I never knew that about Jeffrey Hunter. Remember well "The Menangerie" - although at the time, I wasn't clear (to this tween) why or how the 2-part episode came about.

I also hate the fact they killed off Pike in the re-boot movie #2.; 2/22/21, 11:28 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: I saw the original of "The Cage" in a theatrical release a few years ago. It held up quite well.

Of course, when I say "original", that's a little iffy as they had upgraded quite a lot of the effects with CGI. I thought it worked pretty well, but I'm not sure I can approve of the practice.

Although I admit I would like to see ST TAS re-released with some actual, you know, animation, instead of that Filmation drek.; 2/22/21, 11:38 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Good Grammar rule for Feb. 22:

Do not string a large number of prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

If you find yourself walking through the valley of the shadow of death -- Keep walking.; 2/22/21, 11:39 PM
Michael McNeil said...: Carried forward from the last “Snowman's Cafe” a couple of nights ago. There was a discussion of a particular incident in The Expanse (as well as 2001: A Space Odyssey). The earlier portion of the discussion can be read here.

Continuing that talk:

My main point is, I don't think anyone can withstand taking a single breath at -400 F… I'm not a doc, but I've got to believe your lung tissue would be toast, as it were.

I didn't earlier critique all your points such as this one, but in my view (sorry) it provides yet another illustration that your physical intuition in this department requires and deserves an upgrade.

It's true that if one were to breathe in air (nitrogen + oxygen) at a temperature of, say, a few degrees warmer than -300°F. (nitrogen boils at -320°F. [77 K], and oxygen at -297°F. [90 K]) at standard pressure — it would nearly instantaneously freeze your lungs.

Why? Because air (these gases) is a substance, which therefore has a temperature — together with incorporating significant heat capacity — but containing little actual heat, at -300°F. temperature.

If one were to breathe in such super-cold gases, heat would promptly flow (via conduction and convection) from the alveoli of one's lungs into the breathed-in air, quickly warming it up — and in inverse proportion freezing your lungs.

Now, consider the same thing, except this time breathing vacuum rather than super-cold air.

The (near) vacuum of space contains essentially no substance, and hence (as noted before) has effectively no temperature. While one can regard that nullity as being extremely cold (such as at or near absolute zero), it's also true that (within the solar system, as well as probably nearly everywhere else) what particles there are traveling through space are generally moving quite fast, which indicates high temperature, not low.

But whether one regards space-vacuum as being cold or hot, either way vacuum — containing no matter — has fundamentally zero heat capacity.

Hence, if one “breathes vacuum” (a misnomer, since vacuum is non-material — essentially the alveoli and passages of your lungs contain a void), what happens? The alveoli cannot lose heat to the vacuum — as the vacuum cannot accept any heat. There is no such thing as conduction or convection through vacuum. (Vacuum, indeed, makes an excellent insulator, which is why it's employed as the insulating layer in thermos bottles.)

All the lung's alveoli can do to cool off (with one exception I'll get to) is radiate at infrared frequencies — which is all then re-absorbed on the far side of each alveola, with no temp. change.

It's true that — with the former (14-psi) air pressure released from pressing in the lungs and on the skin — the body's blood will then probably begin boiling: producing bubbles of vapor in the blood, together with vapor which escapes from the lungs. Such blood vapor bubbles might eventually (if one lived that long) produce a stroke or heart attack.

Beyond that, passing from liquid-water to water-vapor consumes heat.

{Continued on the next page: page 2}; 2/23/21, 12:09 AM
Michael McNeil said...: {Continued from previous page; page 2}

As an aside, let me mention a somewhat similar misapprehension I've seen folks suffer from concerning lakes of water on the planet Mars. There's evidence that vast quantities of water may have been released (from time to time in distant past eras) from natural underground reservoirs on Mars — which then roared away downhill, eroding great river valleys and canyons that we can see from orbit, then ponding in lakes and seas.

How could such lakes of water persist on Mars? Mars' atmosphere is too thin to support liquid water, thus any water released in liquid form is automatically above the boiling point. I've often seen folks imagine that such lakes and even seas could and would flash instantaneously into vapor.

Not so, though — liquid-water rivers and lakes would freeze. As the surface starts to boil, heat is correspondingly sucked out of its waters — until, rather quickly, at least the water surface freezes thick enough to obstruct further boiling.

Water continues to sublimate (pass directly to vapor) from the frozen lake surface, however, but at a far slower pace — and then only until dust and perhaps other debris (e.g. sand) gets blown onto the lake surface, obstructing further sublimation.

Such a dust- and debris-covered “lake” (or glacier) could last for a long time — indeed, we appear to see any number of them on Mars, most of which likely have been there for many millions of years.

=–=–=

Back to the problem at hand. In the case of a human floating unprotected in space, something similar would be happening in the lungs. Water vapor released from the (probably slowly) boiling blood in the bloodstream and lungs, as it escaped out the nose and mouth, would carry away heat.

Thus, the lungs (likely some time after death), and probably the body as a whole (depending on sunlight — out in the asteroid belt there isn't much), would ultimately freeze, but I believe it would take a while.; 2/23/21, 12:10 AM
rhhardin said...: My driveway has untouched snow except for footprints and bicycle tire ruts on either side of the footprints.; 2/23/21, 4:31 AM
Humperdink said...: Google the term "Bill of Rights" and this is what you get:

"The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. ... It guarantees civil rights and liberties to the individual—like freedom of speech, press, and religion. It sets rules for due process of law and reserves all powers not delegated to the Federal Government to the people or the States."

I'd give it 3 Pinocchios.; 2/23/21, 4:37 AM
Humperdink said...: Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski writing in Foreign Affairs (1997):

"Although China is emerging as a regionally dominant power, it is not likely to become a global one for a long time. The conventional wisdom that China will be the next global power is breeding paranoia outside China while fostering megalomania in China. It is far from certain that China’s explosive growth rates can be maintained for the next two decades. In fact, continued long-term growth at the current rates would require an unusually felicitous mix of national leadership, political tranquility, social discipline, high savings, massive inflows of foreign investment, and regional stability. A prolonged combination of all of these factors is unlikely."

Fascinating to read the experts in hindsight. But hey, his expertise landed Mika a plum job.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-art-being-spectacularly-misguided-oracle; 2/23/21, 4:57 AM
Humperdink said...: "Mike Hernandez, president of the University of Connecticut’s student government, is being accused of supporting white supremacy due to his recent veto of a senate resolution that called on the university to defund its police department.

In addition to serving as president of UConn’s Undergraduate Student Government, Hernandez is the vice president of the Connecticut Young Democrats and an Hispanic immigrant."

Another white Hispanic takes one for the team.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/02/student-body-president-at-uconn-faces-white-supremacy-accusations-for-opposing-defunding-police/; 2/23/21, 5:20 AM
J. Farmer said...: @Humperdink:

Fascinating to read the experts in hindsight. But hey, his expertise landed Mika a plum job.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-art-being-spectacularly-misguided-oracle

I am not a fan of Brzezinski's, but this is not some phenomenally bad take on China. While he may have underestimated China's ability to maintain sustained economic growth, it is indeed today a "regionally dominant power" and still far from a global power. In terms of GDP per capita, China is far behind the United States. In terms of military power, China is even further behind. It also lacks America's cultural power and fantastic geostrategic position.; 2/23/21, 5:40 AM
Humperdink said...: " this is not some phenomenally bad take on China."

I'd say a mere 180 degrees.

"It also lacks America's cultural power"

Wut??? Thanks goodness for that.; 2/23/21, 5:51 AM
iowan2 said...: and still far from a global power. In terms of GDP per capita

Because its Gross Domestic Product. Not individual production. Your distinction is meaningless.; 2/23/21, 5:52 AM
iowan2 said...: 6 AM and the temp was 32, have lost a couple of degrees coming into dawn. But this is the first night temps did not dip below freezing. Its a sign of spring I always note.; 2/23/21, 6:32 AM
Humperdink said...: " In terms of military power, China is even further behind. It also lacks America's cultural power"

You may be right both counts here. I suspect our transgender armed forces far outnumber China's.; 2/23/21, 7:10 AM
Jersey Fled said...: And he's reading this ...

https://twitter.com/i/status/1364008103834869762; 2/23/21, 7:17 AM
Jersey Fled said...: I've been waiting for liberals to wake up. Naomi Wolfe.

https://youtu.be/Q886o3Ap1sw; 2/23/21, 7:29 AM
Jersey Fled said...: Incidentally, note the reference in the above Naomi Wolf interview to the alliance of government power and corporate power. She notes the parallel to Facist Italy in the 1920's.

She's exactly right.; 2/23/21, 7:34 AM
Jersey Fled said...: I'll shut up now.

Fled; 2/23/21, 7:34 AM
stevew said...: @Mark RE: Home Depot. I've heard that some people purchase the super large quantities of something or other at the store, use the little bit that they need, and then return the rest. For example: purchase 10' of drier vent hose, cut and install the 18" required, stuff the 8.5' back into the box and return it. Full refund. Would be tough to do with caulk though.; 2/23/21, 7:42 AM
Jersey Fled said...: When I was in college, I worked part-time at Sears in the hardware department. We had a guy who would show up every Friday night, buy all the tools he needed for his weekend project, and return then every Monday.; 2/23/21, 7:55 AM
Humperdink said...: ^^^ Takeoff on the old story of ladies buying dresses on Saturday, wearing them to church on Sunday and returning them Monday. But then who goes to church anymore?; 2/23/21, 8:02 AM
tcrosse said...: There's no business like snow business like no business I know....; 2/23/21, 8:04 AM
Curious George said...: "He died of a brain hemorrhage from an explosion on set, of a movie about the chicago mob."

Nope. He was injured from that. He died of a fractured skull six months later in a fall down a three step stairway.; 2/23/21, 8:20 AM
320Busdriver said...: There must be a way to get Fauci to resign in disgrace, no?; 2/23/21, 8:40 AM
J. Farmer said...: @Humperdink:

I'd say a mere 180 degrees.

For that to be true, China would have to be a global power. It isn't. It has no ability to project military force on a global scale. It has only one significant overseas military facility in the Horn of Africa. Its nuclear capabilities remain small.

Wut??? Thanks goodness for that.

Public diplomacy is an important part of international relations. The US benefits from speaking the lingua franca, from having research universities that are magnets for global talent, from producing a huge amount of mass media (film/TV/music), from being a global tourist destination and center of cultural exchange, and from being home to a number of iconic global brands (Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Disney, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).; 2/23/21, 11:13 AM
J. Farmer said...: @iowan2:

Because its Gross Domestic Product. Not individual production. Your distinction is meaningless.

If you want to compare the total sizes of the US and Chinese economies, the fact that China has a population more than quadruple our own is not "meaningless." It's true that total income and per capita income have different implications for geostrategy and power politics, but even in that case GDP (PPP) is not a particularly useful measure. In terms of GDP at official exchange rates, the total size of the US economy is still about 50% larger than China's. This is also reflected in China's respective clout at the IMF and World Bank compared to the US.; 2/23/21, 11:22 AM
Narr said...: I sold ladies' shoes for a year in college. More than once, I would ring up a big purchase--a dozen pair of shoes for $600-800 in 1972 dollars--for couples who had obviously been having a good time of a Saturday evening, only to have it all come back Monday morning. (Commission lost.)

Narr
Then there were the bridesmaids . . .; 2/23/21, 11:47 AM