Category: Daily Links

I’ll ape sloopy here and start with sports, because there was actually sports yesterday. Los Angeles doesn’t really deserve a football team, and yesterday they showed that they don’t actually have one. Alex Smith may have played his last game as a Chief, and played pretty damn well until Tennessee discovered the winning strategy- knock out KC’s go-to tight end. It’s official- Jon Gruden, who was a good-not-great coach, wins the NFL lottery. And I pre-gamed with Swiss Servator, which involved Deschutes Black Butte Porter and Deth By Cherries oatmeal stout. SP and I polished off a credible Barbera d’Alba with the Atlanta-LA game; a bit more volatile acidity and higher alcohol than I like, but the requisite low tannin and snappy acidity that we want in a pizza wine. And I’m paying for all of this as I type. GodDAMN, this keyboard is loud!

 

OK, on to Links. This I found amusing, showing that Portugal is really just the European equivalent of West Virginia. “Careful, Daddy, you’ll crush my smokes!”

 

Socialism. It’s just misunderstood. If we go socialist, we’ll ALL be wearing $700 jackets and living in million dollar third homes. The concept of “some animals are more equal than others” seems to have evaded this fellow’s reading.

 

This has gotten surprisingly little coverage in the US, but is certainly… suggestive. In other coverage, the real reason for Iran’s economic woes is exposed: unfettered capitalism, cuts in welfare, and lack of regulation. Bonus: a quote from Esfandyar Batmanghelidj, who should have been played by Adam West.

 

Hopeful headlines notwithstanding, I predict that we’re stuck with Sessions, the worst AG since Janet Reno, for quite a while. Of course, as we talked about yesterday, Team Blue has suddenly discovered their love for him.

 

This story reminds me greatly of a classic scene in Blazing Saddles.

 

A guy who led perhaps the most interesting life of all time has died.

 

And Old Guy Music, without which I’m sure your Sunday morning is not complete. I have rather, ummm, eclectic tastes in music, but I admit that I’ve shamefully neglected European classical in these various posts. I’ll correct this oversight with my favorite classical piano lyric piece, “Wedding Day At Troldhaugen.” Grieg rocked. This guy does a delightfully rollicking version of the song, and in retrospect, this should have been our wedding music instead of whatever stupid pop song was on the witness’s boombox (long story, but let’s just say that one has to do a bit of searching to find a wedding chapel in Vegas that will pretend that an 8 year old is at the age of consent).

STEVE SMITH HAPPY TO SEE FUNNY GLIBERTARIAN PEOPLE AGAIN. WAS AFRAID MOST OF YOU FROZE. STEVE SMITH DOES NOT LIKE FROZEN PEOPLE. MAKE RAPE COLD AND IMPERSONAL. NOT REALLY STEVE SMITH’S STYLE. SO STEVE SMITH SAY RELAX, AND HE GIVE YOU LINKS TO ENJOY. THEN GO DOWN TO CABIN ALONG TRAIL, HELP CAMPERS BY BUILDING NICE WARM FIRE. THEN RAPE. STEVE SMITH HAS TO DO HIS THING.

• YOU KNOW WHO NEED TO RELAX? CLIENT #9.
• “THE CROYDON CAT KILLER“…NOT QUITE JACK THE RIPPER, BUT HIM NEED TO RELAX TOO. IN JAIL CELL.
• STEVE SMITH THINK HE HAVE TO PAY VISIT TO COMPETITOR. BY PAY VISIT, MEAN RAPE.
• STEVE SMITH KNOW CANADA PEOPLE RELAXED. BUT MAYBE CANADA AIRPORT PEOPLE GET TOO RELAXED ON JOB?

There is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to adjust the video. (((We))) are controlling the links. If (((we))) wish to make them louder, (((we))) will bring up the volume. If (((we))) wish to make them softer, (((we))) will tune them to a whisper. (((We))) can reduce the focus to a soft blur, or sharpen it to crystal clarity. (((We))) will control the horizontal. (((We))) will control the vertical. For the next four hours, sit quietly and (((we))) will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to… The Morning Links.

 

Five Dimensional Chess!!!!

 

Did you know that wypipo in Appalachia have something major in common with black bodies in inner cities? It’s true. They have no agency, no ability to leave, no way to look at any other options. They need to be saved from the ravages of capitalism by superior sorts who live in the Right Areas and think the Right Thoughts. And whatever you do, as a Right Thinking Journalist, make sure to obscure the reasons people freely make the choices they do.

 

In today’s good news, Banjos and Sloopy’s kids have a new role model.

 

And yet more Absolute Disaster, if we don’t take action RIGHT NOW, with a primary action being “more grant funding.” No more fish, Mrs. Paul’s Hardest Hit.

 

In sports news, ESPN is struggling to find announcers and commentators who have undergone chemical castration.

 

And finally, one more “journalist” is actually a psychiatric expert, who is able to make remote diagnoses in the service of patriotism. Tell you what, I’ll make a remote diagnosis of Chuckie Pierce: he is suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome.

 

Yes, yes, I know, y’all can’t wait for Old Guy Music. Because I have my finger on the pulsing penile vein of American culture. I read a deep academic analysis of this song, discussing how the relative sizes of the pianist and the vocalist are related to the power dynamics between white 1950s British culture and the racialism of modern London. or something. I dunno, I just thought it was a nice song and a cool video, but that’s because I’m not as smart as woke academics. In any case, have fun today- I’ll be drinking beer with Swiss and watching football with SP. There’s worse ways to spend a Saturday.

The first week of the year is really fun for me professionally. I get to spend all day every day doing yearly regulatory compliance documentation, which adds exactly zero value and redefines the word “tedium.” This has not improved my mood, so don’t be pissing me off in the comments. Get it? GET IT???

 

As a devoted hater of the Redskins, I can only comment… What the fuck is a glass purse?

Cooke allegedly hitched up her skirt to moon the officer…

Alas, no pix.

 

“I hear your brain hurts, Trebek… and your mother is still a whore!”

 

More leftist autophagia. #methree

 

I like how Team Blue doesn’t even pretend to principles.  There’s a refreshing honesty about it. Team Red has not gotten to that level yet- they still pretend that they’re honest, even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

 

Speaking of which, smoke weed or you’re going to have the shit punched out of you. Mike, meet Jeff. Go to it!

 

Old Guy Music! And you thought you could get away without it. You were wrong. I can watch this one again and again and not get tired of it.

Well it looks like the cold is starting to move out of here. Its already 40 degrees! Apparently they’ve named the winter storm now, which is retarded as shit, but whatever.  Good luck with Grayson, east-coasters.  It doesn’t look pleasant.  And remember, its all Donald Trump or the GOP in general to blame for not taking global warming seriously enough.

On America’s hardcourts, Wichita State won, Michigan State won, Arizona State lost, Arizona won, Cincinnati won, Ohio State won and Gonzaga won.  On the fields of Europe, Spurs drew with lowly West Ham, Barca drew Celta Vigo, and Real Madrid won big. On the frozen ponds, Carolina, Philly, Montreal, St Louis, MINNNNEEEESSSSOOOOOOOOODA, Colorado, Edmonton, Calgary, Phoenix and Dallas were your winners.

No more sports, you say?  OK, fine.  Then here come…the links!

Justice Dept launches new “pay-for-play” investigation of Hillary Clinton and Clinton Foundation from her days at the State Department. Let’s hope they actually do their job and make public what everybody knows anyway: that the Clinton’s entire enterprise was based on buying access and padding the pockets of the family who were “dead broke” when they left the White House but are rolling in dough just 16 years later.

Al Gore quoting Michael Mann about why these recent cold snaps are the fault of man-made global warming would be hilarious if it weren’t so terrifying to know that those two grifters have had more influence on the world, and have caused more money to be diverted from legitimate power production programs to “green energy” scams in the third world, resulting in continued poverty, than they ever should have. Thanks, assholes.

A man wants to get transferred to a women’s prison. Yeah, I bet he’s not alone and about every dude on his cell block wants to go with him. If he gets his transfer, I’m sure this will end well.

The writers at the LA Times will begin voting today on whether or not to form a union.

In their call to unionize, the LA Times Guild cited ballooning executive salaries, including a $15 million consulting contract that Tronc approved for one of Ferro’s other firms.

“There’s a reason they’ve been fighting so hard against us,” guild members wrote. “They want a free hand to give us less and less.”

So it looks like its as much about wealth envy as needing safeguards against mistreatment.  Well good luck to them! I hope they succeed and the owners get rid of them all.

North Korea has agreed to meet with South Korea officially for peace talks. Kim says its not about nukes but I find it hard to believe that his willingness to sit down at the negotiating table is a coincidence with someone finally standing up to his bullshit threats rather than giving away the farm and funding his regime in exchange for false promises.

Iran protesters spotlight the nation’s shady dealings in the Syrian war. You know, the pallets of cash we sent them in order to buy the weapons Obama sent them through Libya. So I guess maybe we got some of that money back through some CIA front, but I doubt that happened either.

Enjoy this.

Take care and bundle up! And then have a good day and a great weekend!

OK, it’s cold. It will get colder tomorrow. But I am not going to complain about it. Nosiree! In fact, these links will be nothing but sunshine!

• Consider visiting the warm and friendly islands!
• It is always nice to see a friend offer a helping hand!
• It is nice to see some friends get together for a fun time down at the pub.
• Citizens of a great metropolis should be naught but delighted at their choice of public servant to lead them to a shiny new future!

Isn’t it just a delightful day!

This week keeps dragging on and on. And it seems to be getting colder as it does. I know its gonna finally get into the 50s here today and back into the 60s on the weekend so I’m not gonna bitch too much.  But still…I hate cold weather. And most of a week in the 20s and 30s for me suuuuucks.

Not too much going on in the sports world yesterday. This article was written.  You know, heaven forbid a team hire who they want without wasting other people’s time and money checking off a stupid box. It’s insulting to professional coaches and insulting to what are essentially the token blacks being brought in for no reason other than to comply with a race-based rule. Maybe some players should propose a Rooney Rule for white receivers and running backs. That would get panned as racist, while on the other hand, this desire to judge people by the color of their skin rather than the content of their character coaching ability is viewed as “progress” of some sort.

In hoops, Brett’s Seminoles took down the Tar Heels last night. Kentucky barely beat LSU. Oklahoma rolled. Miami fell to Ga Tech. Clemson, UVA and Purdue all won. On the ice, the Red Wings and Blackhawks took care of business. And across the pond, Arsenhole and Chelski played to a draw.

Didja get all that? Do you really care? Doesn’t matter. Time to move on anyway into…the links!

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on the move to stamp out “sedition.”  That can’t be a good sign and I hope the move is condemned by the leaders of free countries.  But don’t count on the leader gf Froglandia to do so. He’s too busy calling Trump out for his “inflammatory comments” that have been little more than supportive of the people protesting the barbaric assholes who throw gays off of water towers and stone unescorted rape victims to death.  Way to stand up for freedom, Macron…you worthless, cowardly piece of shit.

I swear, this current storm is like a movie plot. If only it had waited until The Day After Tomorrow then it wouldn’t be causing so much havoc.

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit this morning near Berkeley, CA. No word from local authorities if its because of man-made global warming or if it was Trump’s fault personally. Either way, there’s no way it could have been a naturally-occurring event.  Serious traffic delays are expected.

There was a fire at the Clinton house in Chappaqua, NY. No injuries were reported and it was quickly contained.  And all we have to do now is wait for the “surprising” news that it unfortunately burned up [insert something that was either under subpoena or had been requested under FOIA] but that the former SoS and President were doing their best to comply with [insert name of agency that had demanded it be turned over].

As the latest member of the Kennedy cabal family enters the political world, so does mudslinging. This time its accusations of racism. And I can’t see how its gonna help him any.  Who knows, maybe he was just doing what Kennedy’s do best before going out in public: getting drunk.

I’ve had to discipline employees in the past.  But I didn’t do it quite like this. In the guy’s defense, I’d like to see photographs from the time for a little context.

And last but not least: Houston keeps winning!

This album cover reminds me of this week for most of the country. Plus I like the song.

Good luck out there, friends. Stay warm.

I know we want an “authentic” work environment, here at the office. But I didn’t realize that meant “The Alps in Winter”.

At least 7 engineers, HVAC mavens (and one beat down rep from the architect) have trooped around our work area, trying to figure out what to do about the permafrost on our floor and icicles hanging from the ceiling tiles. For some reason they won’t listen to my Napalm suggestion. Wimps.

But enough of my trivial problems. We have some Links to get to!

• I was actually quite disappointed in this. I mean, come on, how can you see “Bomb Cyclone” and not think “Follow up to the Sharknado movies?!” Bah.
• Further evidence of the superiority of socialized medicine!
• I am not sure I agree with number 3. But a casus belli is a casus belli.
• That is quite enough cold…how about a little fire? “But scanner reports said it was a bedroom fire and has been extinguished.” I expect PRIME snark from all of you about this one.

**Bonus sports/legislative trolling link!** (h/t SugarFree)

 

This week already feels weird. It feels like a Tuesday. No wait, it feels like a Friday. Or a Monday. Or…well anything but a Wednesday.  Damn, its hard together back in the work mode. Which is probably not what RichRod was thinking when he checked his email this morning or late last night in N. Nogales, AZ. This is sure one hell of a weird way to lose your job. And one hell of a way for a school to let you go for losing to Purdue. Because from what I can read of the story, the “shocking” headline notwithstanding, they’re paying him as if he was fired without cause, the “accuser” refused to cooperate or hand over anything to substantiate her claim of…what exactly?  And they never once mention anything he might have done wrong.

His workday was marginally worse than the grounds crew in Melbourne, after the ICC rated the MCG “poor” following an uninspired fourth test draw in the Ashes series. The Limeys have already been embarrassed in the five match series, having failed to retain (correction from earlier post there) the silverware or even be competitive, but this at least moves the spotlight away from their poor play and onto someone else.

The Las Vegas hockey team keeps rolling. As does Man City in soccer, who all but have the EPL locked up just over halfway through the season. Crystal Palace and West Ham also won to move further away from the bottom of the table.  And Kansas looks to be in jeopardy of not winning the Big 12 (with ten teams) this year after dropping another conference game at home.

That was a schizo sports update, I know. But most of you don’t come here for that anyway. You come for…the links!

Replying with all the seriousness Kim Jong Un deserves, Donald Trump takes to twitter after Kim’s “I’ve got a button” remarks. LOL. I mean, that’s all I can do is laugh. If we’d have had this kind of statesmanship instead of bowing and scraping and giving free food and aid every time the little nutcase made a threat while building nukes, perhaps we wouldn’t be dealing with a little nutcase with nukes making threats now.

Germany doesn’t believe in free speech. Because those poor, sensitive immigrants wan’t read words like this without getting bomb-y.  But the words are the problem…not the ensuing bombiness, right Merkel? Not to be outdone, England piles on the anti-speech wagon too. Funny that the guy is tagged with being right-wing when the real Nazis were socialists in every sense of the word, which last time I checked was pretty far on the right side of the spectrum.  ooh, maybe the Commies and Socialists “switched sides” like the Dems and GOP are said to have done sometime right before or after a majority of Dems voted against the civil rights bill.

Dammit, Jim. I told you to delete everything once we were done! That’s what I’m imagining the latest correspondence between a certain woodland walker from New York and a certain unemployed former civil “servant” went like.  I’m grabbing the popcorn.

Doing their best to fuck up the gravy train, the union representing the snowplow and trash truck drivers in Chicago set a strike vote for Sunday. I don’t get it. Does the city manage all trash service exclusively?  Because in a city that is rapidly growing and will be larger than Chicago very soon, we let neighborhoods or individuals negotiate with competitive trash service.I know their users pay a fairly low rate, but perhaps opening it to competition and getting rid of the legacy costs might be worth considering. As to the low rate, I pay about $100 a year for trash service that comes twice a week for garbage and once a month for large items.

More hilarity as Oregonians voice their displeasure at having to learn a new skill. If you can’t pump gas or change a tire (sorry to any people out there who lack the basic skill or cognitive ability to learn how to work a jack or lug wrench), you shouldn’t be able to drive a car.

OK, this is a dick move. But I’m having a hard time ginning up too much anger at the offending party when the masses of the “aggrieved” are such assclowns.

Trying to keep the music going strong early in 2018.

Have a great day, friends!

You’ll pardon me, please, for these links. Until we got that burn barrel of old memos going, it was too cold to type around here. But, the Links must go on. So I added a few copies of old audit reports to the Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht and it has warmed up enough to not only type, but to give you the high quality links you deserve!!! OK…that might sound a bit snarky, in light of the links I have actually managed to put up. Anyway, enjoy or scorn, as you will.

• The SKY(lab) is falling! No, really. OK, it is a Chinese space station, but still…
• Kids these days! Back IN MY DAY, we didn’t need to shoot people dozens of times to get a kill. Who do these punks think they are, the police?
• #RailFail – But with the all-knowing, all-seeing government keeping a grip on the railroads of the UK, how could anyone be displeased with a bit of a fare hike? I mean, they could just go to a competi…oh. Or drive a car to London…oh. Suck it up Albion, you made your socialist choice.
• This link gives us two early candidates for understatement of the year, 2018.  “While many would prefer money, cash distribution in Nigeria’s northeast is fraught with risk.” and “Reports of corruption in the humanitarian crisis relief efforts are rife. Those involved, such as government officials, aid workers and soldiers, are alleged to skim from the top before distributing aid.”

So there you are. I’ll leave you to comment, as I need to go find a couple more sets of something in hard copy to burn.