Althouse: At the Sunrise Café...

May 4, 2022

At the Sunrise Café...

... you can write about whatever you want.

44 comments:

Jaq said...: $6.50 diesel in Vermont. I drove down to Saratoga on an errand and saw not a single RV. I can’t imagine what this is doing to independent truckers. Tractors and combines run on diesel, heating oil is basically diesel fuel. This is a mess, this war that Biden could have avoided with a phone call, if Vindman types would allow it. I mentioned that to three people on the road and all three agreed that Donald Trump would have avoided this war.; 5/4/22, 8:09 PM
farmgirl said...: We have 2green tractors. Spent over 900$ yesterday on air and oil filters and the fluids necessary to get them ready for Spring work. Pretty soon the thieving may start. Things are not good in the real world.; 5/4/22, 8:34 PM
Caroline said...: My French cousin is visiting. He remarked on an important story in the French press today— that Russia has agreed to a 3 day cease fire, and that Vlad Putin is undergoing a cancer operation. Seems bizarre. We discussed a coup perhaps. Then I check the American press, which is 100% unhinged Womyn clamouring for the right to dismember the flesh of their flesh, the bone of their bones. We are not a serious civilization.; 5/4/22, 8:54 PM
Beasts of England said...: I apparently left my debit card on top of the pump at the Marina this afternoon and someone is having a grand ol’ time at my expense. To Wells Fargo’s credit, they did send me an alert that $6,200 had been used by something named as ‘Cash App’, but calling the number referenced in the text is a circular nightmare. Thieves should be burned alive.; 5/4/22, 8:57 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Fan voting for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2022 has now ended and the results are in.

Duran Duran finished out on top with over 900,000 votes. A closer margin presented itself between Eminem's second place standing at roughly 680,000 votes and Pat Benatar following close behind in third with a little over 630,000 votes. Eurythmics (442,000) and Dolly Parton (393,000) came in at fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Link to story

Duran Duran is NOT in my Ultimate 80's Playlist. Sorry.; 5/4/22, 8:58 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: JD v Amber Heard defamation judge declined Heard's motion to dismiss JD's case against her, citing that there was enough credible evidence to hear more.

Worth a shot, considering she's going to have to put on the performance of her life in front of a likely unfavorable jury.; 5/4/22, 9:29 PM
walter said...: "I can’t imagine what this is doing to independent truckers."
Driving them to become trucking company employees, very likely.; 5/4/22, 9:35 PM
Howard said...: Was at a Spring String Fling this evening. Elementary to High Schoolers. The Kids played and behaved beautifully. Celebrated May the Fourth by playing the Star Wars theme.

The guys were hard at work fixing the interstates tonight on the drive home.

Didn't voluntarily pollute anyone with my esoteric and vaguely conspiratorial political opinions. (Just agree with the crazy man and move along); 5/4/22, 9:39 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: "The ump show festival this year is unreal"

Link to twitter video

Baseball needs to fix this shit. It's intolerable, unacceptable and Jackie Chiles might even say unbearable. Today, MLB is the laughingstock of the professional sports world.; 5/4/22, 9:46 PM
madAsHell said...: The democrats lost the Roe v. Wade thing when they said "Men can get pregnant!!".; 5/4/22, 9:50 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: My hunch is the Chief Justice is going to step in and save the human right to abortions, just like he saved Obamacare, like a good Romney Republican that he is.; 5/4/22, 10:12 PM
n.n said...: This is a mess, this war that Biden could have avoided with a phone call, if Vindman types would allow it

The Slavic Spring directed from Kiev is one cause. Catastrophic Anthropogenic Immigration Reform didn't improve the situation. "G"reen, intermittent, and toxic deals are another. Obamacares is the principal cause of shared, shifted, forward-moving prices backed by the full credit and debt of the American-citizens. Trump bought us some time in Springs avoided and concluded, production of green and reliable energy, addressing labor polices in labor arbitrage (e.g. practical and actual slaves) and environmentalism in environmental arbitrage, and confronting the Obamacare cover-up of industry monopolies and practices, Mengele mandates, etc.; 5/4/22, 11:43 PM
Rt41Rebel said...: Ultra-MAGA! I like it. It's right up there with Basket of Deplorables.; 5/4/22, 11:55 PM
Readering said...: I think I am more worried about the leak that the US has provided intelligence to help Ukraine successfully target Russian generals than I am about the leak of a months old first draft of a USSC majority opinion ending federal constitutional protections for abortions.; 5/4/22, 11:59 PM
StephenFearby said...: NYT May 4

U.S. Intelligence Is Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals, Officials Say

"WASHINGTON — The United States has provided intelligence about Russian units that has allowed Ukrainians to target and kill many of the Russian generals who have died in action in the Ukraine war, according to senior American officials.

Ukrainian officials said they have killed approximately 12 generals on the front lines, a number that has astonished military analysts.

The targeting help is part of a classified effort by the Biden administration to provide real-time battlefield intelligence to Ukraine..."

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/04/us/politics/russia-generals-killed-ukraine.html

The NYT URL above includes:"us.politics/, which seems rather strange given that the article says "The targeting help is part of a classified effort by the Biden administration..."

Except that releasing the highly classified sources and methods information to the NYT for publication has all the earmarks of being made solely for crass political benefit...to show midterm voters that the Biden administration is finally right on the ball doing something useful.

The problem: releasing this type of highly classified information will be quite detrimental to the Ukrainian resistance assuming the Russians are able to wise up.; 5/5/22, 3:10 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Abortion on demand is why “death tolls” are unlikely to mean anything for the foreseeable future. Notice how Ukraine has no death toll mentioned in reports. It’s not something noticeable. I lay that at the feet of the devaluation of human life. I see it every day when I pass the shanties under the overpass practically everywhere in Atlanta. Life is just not worth two nickels.; 5/5/22, 3:23 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Trending r/dadjoke:

“I noticed that ever since RBG died, the US supreme court has become...

Ruthless.”; 5/5/22, 4:00 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: What Caroline said 👆🏽; 5/5/22, 4:10 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: All the Supremes are saying is give your arguments a chance.

Who wants to have to argue for the human right to abortions?

Nobody. That’s what the rage, is about, right there.; 5/5/22, 4:22 AM
Jaq said...: Things bad enough for you yet, Howard? Most of the people I know in Vermont and Upstate New York are like farm girl. You might not mix much with people who work for a living. But I am sure that diesel prices and fertilizer prices will be fine and that this war is very popular with the people paying the price.

$1,200 to fill your heating oil tank? Slava NATO!; 5/5/22, 5:32 AM
Jaq said...: Readering, come on man, WW3 is gonna be lit!; 5/5/22, 5:34 AM
Jaq said...: Xi gave $2 billion dollars to the Biden family to “manage” with ten percent for the big guy and Biden shut down the program to seek out Chinese spies as ‘racist’ and when that high level Chinese spymaster defected, he did it to the DIA because the other agencies were so compromised, so I think Putin already knew. What a tangled web Biden has woven, maybe that MIT guy can tell us how to untangle it.; 5/5/22, 5:42 AM
Lurker21 said...: Senator Proxmire was mentioned here a week or two back. He has been accused of being a publicity seeker and an anti-intellectual know-nothing. But he was able to get the publicity politicians crave without being a clown or an ideologue or a vicious partisan. Reading the Madison Cawthorne saga and thinking about other leading lights in today's Congress, I was reminded of Proxmire and sort of miss the guy.; 5/5/22, 6:52 AM
Lurker21 said...: I liked The Crown, so I tried to watch Spencer, last year's Diana flick. Couldn't do it. It was too moody and atmospheric. I felt like I was going to have to relive a bad marriage or relationship. I'll come back to it at some point. Watching Treadstone, a rather trashy but suspenseful Bourne Identity spinoff series, instead.; 5/5/22, 6:56 AM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: Seen at ZeroHedge: "Cost-Of-Living Set To Overshadow 'Partygate' In UK Local Elections
...despite media's best efforts, only 1 in 3 Brits give a shit about 'Partygate'..."

Another effect of the SCOTUS leak is to distract us from the efforts of Biden and others to escalate the current planetary economic war into a planetary nuclear war.

We need a poll here. Two polls:
..Does the US have a vital national interest to defend in Ukraine?
..Does US involvement in the Ukraine conflict raise significantly risk of WW III?; 5/5/22, 6:58 AM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: If there were a constitutional right to privacy, how would it be stated?
.."Congress shall make no law prohibiting [affecting]...."; 5/5/22, 7:14 AM
Josephbleau said...: As in the old song, there is a log in the bottom of the lake.; 5/5/22, 7:19 AM
Jaq said...: Zero Hedge is verboten readink!; 5/5/22, 7:41 AM
Iman said...: So the NYT says we’re helping Ukraine by targeting Russian generals, killed 12 so far.

WTF is wrong with these people?!?!; 5/5/22, 8:15 AM
Christopher B said...: Readering said...
I think I am more worried about the leak that the US has provided intelligence to help Ukraine successfully target Russian generals...

Welcome to the party, pal. Just remember the pointed heads you think are geniuses at handling this situation are also the ones who planned the Bagram Bugout and Kabul Klown show.; 5/5/22, 8:43 AM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: NATO nations in Europe spent decades partying on the American dime. Their militaries are woefully inadequate for the task of preventing Russian invasion of Ukraine or other border states, if in fact that is something they want to do. Ukraine's fate is on them. I'm not willing to risk the blood of any more Americans in what is yet another European border war. When Germany, et al., decided to spend their marks and euros on welfare rather than defense, they set the current crisis in motion, and it's unlikely that there is any possible outcome that they will be satisfied with.
We can't even afford to be sending them all the weapons that we are sending to the Ukrainians. When replaced, the replacement weapons will be paid for with money borrowed from our grandchildren. The EU has the technical resources to build Javelins, drones, guns, and other kit needed for the defense of eastern Europe. We can license them to build it, earn a fair return for the American taxpayer, and make sure that our defense and economic capability is such that anyone who messes with an American anywhere regrets it greatly.; 5/5/22, 9:37 AM
Joe Smith said...: 'Zero Hedge is verboten readink!'

They have some on-point articles.

But the comments section is full of Jew-haters.

It's weird, so I tend to stay away...; 5/5/22, 9:42 AM
Robert Cook said...: "If there were a constitutional right to privacy, how would it be stated?
'...Congress shall make no law prohibiting [affecting]....'"

Don't you think the 3rd, 4th, and 9th Amendments provide a basis for a Constitutional right to privacy?

Also, if you believe we have no Constitutional right to privacy, doesn't this undermine all our other rights? What is more fundamental to individual liberty but the expectation and guarantee of being able to live one's life without fear the government may pry or intrude into one's personal life and behavior?; 5/5/22, 9:42 AM
Curious George said...: Hey Althouse, a Bob Dylan impersonation https://www.facebook.com/reel/511072673994863/?s=ifu; 5/5/22, 9:48 AM
Rusty said...: tim in vermont said...
"Things bad enough for you yet, Howard? Most of the people I know in Vermont and Upstate New York are like farm girl. You might not mix much with people who work for a living. But I am sure that diesel prices and fertilizer prices will be fine and that this war is very popular with the people paying the price."
He brags about how smart he is, but he hasn't made that connection yet. I think that if you have to brag about how smart you are you just might be a Biden voter.; 5/5/22, 9:52 AM
Rusty said...: "Don't you think the 3rd, 4th, and 9th Amendments provide a basis for a Constitutional right to privacy?

Also, if you believe we have no Constitutional right to privacy, doesn't this undermine all our other rights? What is more fundamental to individual liberty but the expectation and guarantee of being able to live one's life without fear the government may pry or intrude into one's personal life and behavior?"

I find this observation on your part quite interesting. Because at one time you insisted that the source of our rights originates with the state. And if true, that the states are the source of our rights, then there would be no right to privacy. But since our rights are inherent in our existence then you are right there is an expectation of privacy.; 5/5/22, 9:57 AM
Jaq said...: Remember when the US embargoed Japan over the loss of Viet Nam to the French empire? That’s where this war is right now, we are in the process of making it impossible for Russia to to export there oil. $6.50 diesel will seem like a bargain. I remember when we shut down Keystone, oil from an ally, and now the Saudis won’t take our calls. But I hope you guys are getting little boners from all of this war talk.

Rice production in Asia expected to drop by 36 million tons due to high fertilizer prices. If my figuring is correct, and I hope it’s wrong, that’s one ton of rice for every 220 people gone. Normal rice production from those countries is about 400 million tons. Here’s hoping it all works out great and we teach Putin a lesson and the world loves us after.

Hey, we are waist deep in the big muddy! March on!; 5/5/22, 10:00 AM
Readering said...: The USSC conservatives took a different view of privacy rights when the government started placing tracking devices under cars and going through cell phones taken from people stopped, all without a warrant. You mean you could do that to me?; 5/5/22, 10:12 AM
gahrie said...: What is more fundamental to individual liberty but the expectation and guarantee of being able to live one's life without fear the government may pry or intrude into one's personal life and behavior?

I agree. I would hate to live in a country where I had to tell the government what I did for a living and how much money I made doing it every year.

I would hate to live in a country that told me I had to wear a seatbelt in my car, or a helmet when I ride a bike or motorcycle.

I would hate to live in a country that told me I have to wear a mask, undergo a body search and produce ID in order to ride on an airplane.; 5/5/22, 10:22 AM
Jaq said...: Is vaccination status ‘private’? If not, then this is not about privacy. Abortion is a political issue to be decided by voters through their legislatures. Not that I don’t think a genuine right to privacy would be a good thing.; 5/5/22, 10:24 AM
Iman said...: “You mean you could do that to me?”

Relax… only if the focus was on communists.; 5/5/22, 3:52 PM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: Abortion is a political issue to be decided by voters through their legislatures. Not that I don’t think a genuine right to privacy would be a good thing.

Correcto-mondo! Abortion involves three parties, the mother, father and baby. That means it's a political issue to be settle in the state legislatures. The lefties think the unborn baby is just property, to be dispose of according to the owner's desires. We fought the Civil War over this issue. The Democrat Party never changes, always in favor of slavery.; 5/5/22, 4:58 PM
Robert Cook said...: "I agree. I would hate to live in a country where I had to tell the government what I did for a living and how much money I made doing it every year."

All nations and governments tax their citizens, and the framers of the Constitution knew the people would have to support their own nation via taxes.

"I would hate to live in a country that told me I had to wear a seatbelt in my car, or a helmet when I ride a bike or motorcycle."

This is a matter of public safety. Car manufacturers are required to install seat belts, and, though drivers are required to wear them, many people probably do not. I see plenty of people riding motorcycles without helmets, (especially where I live now). So, the laws may differ state to state. Do you really feel your privacy is violated by being mandated to use safety devices when operating dangerous machines?

"I would hate to live in a country that told me I have to wear a mask, undergo a body search and produce ID in order to ride on an airplane."

Again, a matter of public safety. All our rights are limited to the extent our behavior may harm others around us. For a free society to be functional, members of the society should understand why they are obliged to observe practices that will contribute to the safety of all, even if at the minimal inconvenience of the individual.; 5/6/22, 9:03 AM
Robert Cook said...: I should add: all the straw man examples you named have to do with public behavior. Our expectation of privacy in public is not that which we expect in our homes.; 5/6/22, 9:05 AM