Can it get any richer than serial legitimizer of dictator’s elections, Jimmy Carter, calling on the GA Secretary of State to resign? Jimmy, your heart may be in the right place, but you’ve had your head all the way up your ass on this issue for 30+ years.
I’m hoping this was one of you guys, running a Ron Swanson-style campaign of benevolent incompetence and mayhem. If so, we’ll start a GoFundMe for you.
I’ve had some thoughts on how our civilization should already be having 3-day weekends at the least, in perpetuity. Usually these thoughts are output from a brain lubricated by adult beverages, and are spouted to others likely lubed, who assure me that I make complete sense. Sober reflection on these ideas has not been easy, putting them in some kind of logical order nearly impossible. A stream of consciousness is my best option, as usual…
I often wonder why, as time has slugged along, with all the labor saving technology and increased division of labor, we went from single income households to dual, rather than to the lone-breadwinner-of-yore’s having to work less hours while maintaining his/her/their/its standard of living? How do we convert our technological advances into the laid back, gold backed, paradise of a Galt’s Gulch, sans the holographic projection head in the sand BS?
Given, we have better standards of living and more stuff now than “back in the day” – cell phones, video games, computers, jet skis, etc. – and most everything is now generally safer and better and thus more expensive relatively. Is that solely what’s taking up my extra money, money that could be converted to leisure time? Of course not.
There’s insurance, that oft mandated fave of crony capitalists, to use as a tool to transfer wealth to the unproductive. We all know the obvious fixes for that mess.
There are the insane levels of gubmint spending, most of which go to unnecessary bureaucracy. It’d probably be cheaper just to put all those leeches on welfare rather than making shit up for them to do. Or just eliminate the jobs. Either way, if I had only to pay 10% in income taxes rather than 30%, I’d be freed from 2.7 months of slave labor each year! That should at least allow me to work 4 days per week as opposed to 5. 3 day weekends achieved!!!
And I imagine the end of scarcity economics, especially with the upcoming mining of asteroids. As the prices of things decrease, will we just consume more, buy even more stuff to utilize our disposable income? Will gubmint reg’s increase and the cost of things go right back up with them? Will the gubmint tax/enslave us more, knowing the productive can afford it when the prices of goods are falling? Will we keep the productive peeps working the status quo 40+ hours a week while the headcount of welfare recipients rises as less and less labor is needed to keep civilization running?
Most likely, the answer would be a combination of all, as the various ambitious incompetents hustle to jack their pie.
In this context, I could see a Universal Basic Income as an interim step to spreading out the leisure that should come from the end of scarcity economics and from ever increasing productivity, until the prices of life deflate and a new economy is normalized. This however, assumes our society would recognize that a new economic situation was evolving into existence; and that *leisure time, rather than wealth, should be distributed.*
(Not to say that anything *should* be distributed, as in forced, but getting from hither to thither, from our current situation to Libertarian paradise, naturally wouldn’t happen instantaneously.)
As I see it now, my increased productivity – due to whatever factors – doesn’t result in my having to work less hours. The nonproductive, via gubmint sanctioned/administered theft, are taking it and converting it into leisure time for themselves. I want it back!!!
Sloopy is getting a bit frazzled, so I am stepping in to do the Linkings this Morgen. If you hear reports of a naked, woad painted man running up and down the streets of Houston, crying out “Freedom!” – I can neither confirm nor deny that is sloopy. So, on to the Substitute Linkings…
Sports – I shan’t say a word about it. Nope. Can’t make me. I don’t care how well the NFL turned out yesterday… *shakes fist toward the East*
History and Birthdays – Many events occurred today, many people of note were born on this day. For a moment, stop and reflect on them.
California pauses, only so slightly, on its march to madness. I am sure this will end up in front of the SCOTUS and Kaliforniuh will be beaten like a drum.
I wonder if we could get some of our politicians in front of a Bangladeshi court? Seems a bit like piling on…but, when it happens to a politician, I have a hard time clinging to my principles.
Too little, too late, knucklekopf. Wait…I did that wrong. Let me try again… “You know who else wanted to remain Chancellor of Germany?”
OK, go to it, in the comments.
“Oh…one more thing…”
Oh, one more thing…I know several of you speak jive, but does anyone speak Brit Tabloid? WTF kind of headline is this?
Today’s recipe is super quick and easy. It’s for vegan tortilla soup. You basically throw the ingredients in a pot and simmer til it tastes good. I’m not even kidding.
This week’s alignments: Sol-Mercury-Saturn. Something bad is ending, or at least we will find out about it this week. Anything bad in particular? Hard to say. There are indicatiors that it refers to a venereal disease or genital dysfunction (Venus retrogade in Scorpio) though this could also indicate some gossipy person catches a sudden case of STFU. The stronger indicator (Saturn) indicates the trouble ceasing has something to do with… sea-goats. Does that mean anything to you? If sea-cows are manatees, does that make sea goats narwhals? Walruses?
This week, Derpetologist and Mustang are going to get laid. Or possibly divorced. There’s a crapton of ambivalence in the skies this week. We’ve got Sol-Terra-Venus(retrograde) with Mars in opposition. Which means home/love with both benevolent and malign influences and martial aspects either resisting or the root cause of them. Very two faced.
Speaking of two-faced, Gemini gets a visit from the moon, which is the classic sign of betrayal. If the moon were waxing, you could see it as an expansion of your circle of friends, but the moon is waning, so back-stabbery it is.
My apologies for brevity, I’m moving kinda slow this morning. Much alcohol, much superb food, much stimulating conversation with hyper-intelligent people, much late-night, not much sleep. The Wonder Dog was thrilled because she got pizza. She is less thrilled about the imminent drive back home today, trapped in the back seat for seven hours.
The EU is so much more progressive and caring than we are. Yet again. Silly people, you should know better, keep your insults restricted the the Jew blood libels. At least their hands aren’t tied by some crappy old piece of parchment penned by a lot of old dead white guys like a hundred years ago or something.
Old Guy Music today is old, but not obscure. For whatever reason, this song was stuck in my head yesterday. So here’s my attempt to stick it in YOUR head today.
Good evening, my dear Glibs. This is coming to you from [REDACTED] where OMWC and I are visiting RAHeinlein and family. I know, you wish you were us. Well, you aren’t. So we shall enjoy ourselves immensely on your behalf. We’re only doing it for you.
This coming week here at Glibertarians.com is–again–jam-packed with terrific posts from your fellow community members.
We’ve got your links, morning, afternoon, and some miscellaneous evenings, thanks to Sloopy, Brett L, OMWC, and possibly those SMITH boys and their compatriot, the giant floating stone head. Maybe even some relievers stepping in here and there.
On Sunday, we have Not Adahn’s informative (and sometimes worrisome) forecast for the week, and Web Dom is graciously moving over to the traditional Sunday afternoon food post time so we can run Gordilock’s account of a meeting with NYS LP gubernatorial candidate Larry Sharpe on Monday night. Earlier on Monday, Plisade stops by with a pondering.
Tuesday, Evan from Evansville takes us along on a fascinating trip and banginglc1 goes on another kind of journey.
On Wednesday, which happens to be Halloween, get ready for more SugarFree! The midday and evening spots are both his. If that doesn’t put a fright into you, nothing will.
Thursday brings an extremely useful post from defense attorney ElspethFlashman. You will definitely want to read this first part of a great three part series. Then, after BakedPenguin’s NFL Pick-’em, I have a little poll for you.
On Friday, Animal submits a report from the hunt and Saturday brings mexican sharpshooter’s review of the week.
Whew. What a line-up! I’m exhausted just writing about it.
OK, I’m heading back to the party. Try to behave in…the Saturday Night Open Post!
While I was doing my shopping for the latest Glibertarian Beer it Forward I found something fun in the import section.
This is my review of Brauerei Heller — however you pronounce this:
The bottom line with this beer is that it is a German style known as a Rauchbier. A Rauchbier is a style best known for the malts being smoked. There is no definitive style, as nearly any German style beer can be smoked, it just depends on what you happen to like. That day, I picked the Bock. The style is said to have originated in the city of Bamberg where the cloisters at the local cathedral caught fire, as they were apparently wont to do. This fire ravaged throughout the city and was eventually put out, but not before the effects of the smoke took affect to the local breweries. They breweries themselves did not burn down but many of their ingredients were smoked, and they didn’t realize it at the time. Turns out people liked it, thus Rauchbier is a thing.
This Cathedral, I guess its cool and all….
When I tried to verify if this story is true, I came up a bit short. The best I could to was verify the cathedral does exist, and it did burn down around the time the origin story takes place.
The cathedral is cool and all, but to be honest there really wasn’t anything there that pops out. Let’s instead talk about the Orloj, or sometimes known as the Prague Astronomical Clock. It has an interesting history if you are in to that sort of thing. What really stands out is the city councils reaction to such a mechanical wonder.
Upon its completion in 1493, the updated Orloj was undoubtedly the envy of the world, and the Prague city council agreed that Hanuš had fulfilled his promise to the city. In fact, many in the council argued the master had fulfilled it too well—after all, if Hanuš could create such a marvel for the people of Prague, what was to stop him from creating an equally impressive or better work for a rival? In secret, a rogue group of councilmen met to discuss ways of preventing such a loss of prestige for the city. The plan was set into action the day of Hanuš’ payment. Shortly after receiving his gold, the master was waved into an antechamber, held down, and his eyes were burned out with a red-hot iron poker. The newly blinded Hanuš was rightfully furious, and local legend says he retaliated in two ways. Firstly, he laid a curse upon the city of Prague—whenever the Orloj stopped working, the city would suffer horrible misfortune. Secondly, and more accurately, Hanuš sent an apprentice into the tower at night and had the man smash the inner workings of the movement. Prague’s new crown jewel had been broken, and Hanuš’ designs were so far ahead of their time that no one could repair the clock until 1552.
Too bad Hanuš was wrong again, as they stopped the clock for restoration recently. You have to admit it is cool.
So the moral of the story is…don’t build things for the government?
How is the beer? it will be polarizing, because as it turns out it really is smoky. Many craft brewers will take this style and compare it to bacon, and market it as a bacon flavored beer (i.e. Rogue VooDoo Maple Donut). In a way it does remind me of bacon to some degree. Otherwise it adds a unusual complexity to what is otherwise, a competently made beer. Brauerei Heller — however you pronounce this: 3.5/5
SP and I are traveling again, this time en route in deepest Iowa on our way to perform a ritual of liver-bashing with our dear friends, the RAHeinlein family. And fittingly, we passed the Field of Dreams tourist trap along the way. Emphasis on “passed.”
But you’re here for news and snark, not to watch our vacation slides.
“Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most,” Mattis said. He did not mention de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name at any point.
Yes, we need to preserve that stability for which the Middle East is known. On the bright side, there’s no indication (yet) that Trump is going to follow in the footsteps of Bush/Obama and start a couple of new wars there.
“The accused bomber plastered a picture of me on the side of his van, with a crosshairs target over my face. Actually, the target is over my neck, which I’ll take as a minor concession on his part,” [rich piece of shit pretending to defend the working class Michael] Moore said in a statement.
“The threat of right-wing violence against figures on the American left is not new. It is not an aberration. It is not a violation of norms. It IS the norm,” Moore added. “Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News Channel and right-wing radio have preyed upon those who’ve seen their American Dream go up in smoke, and they have helped to create a generation of angry and violent conspiracy theorists who will believe any lie that is perpetrated on those airwaves. These angry right wing men have been openly encouraged to act on those lies, even as late as this very morning when Trump was tweeting his doubts that the bombs were real.”
Several thousand Central American migrants turned down a Mexican offer of benefits if they applied for refugee status and stayed in the country’s two southernmost states, vowing to set out before dawn Saturday to continue their long trek toward the U.S. border.
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced what he called the “You are at home” plan, offering shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans in Chiapas and Oaxaca states if they applied, calling it a first step toward permanent refugee status.
Oops.
On Friday evening, Irineo Mujica, whose organization People without Borders is supporting the caravan, accused Mexican immigration agents of harassing migrants in an effort to stop the group’s advance. He urged them to travel closely together.
“They are terrorizing us,” he said.
As someone who is strongly pro-immigration, I confess to being horribly embarrassed and offended by these assholes.
Speaking of assholes, it’s interesting to see the conundrum when the Border Patrol is faced with the choice between more power and support for their organization and more power and support for their union. Guess who wins?
[Union president] Judd appeared in TV ads for McCaskill and Tester. In the McCaskill ad, Judd said: “Those ads against [Senator Claire] McCaskill [D-Misery] on immigration just aren’t true. She was one of only four Democrats to vote to end sanctuary cities.” Judd also praised McCaskill’s record on border security.
In its 361-word September endorsement of McCaskill against Republican challenger Josh Hawley, NBPC wrote: “Sen. McCaskill has risen above the partisanship of Washington to genuinely listen to the concerns of Border Patrol agents and to fight for the increase in resources and staff needed at the border.”
When NBPC announced its endorsement of [Senator Jon] Tester [D- On His Way Out], also in September, Judd said:“The Republicans don’t own border security [as an issue] … There are Democrats that do support border security. There’s a lot more that run away from it unfortunately, but Sen. Tester is not one who does that.”
Who loses? Yep, us. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had an administration that concluded that the 100 mile Bill-of-Rights-free-zone given to the Border Patrol gestapo was blatantly unconstitutional? I know, that’s crazy talk.
llinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has an ad out this week depicting a mock wedding between Democratic rival J.B. Pritzker and state House Speaker Michael Madigan. The 30-second TV ad, titled “Unholy Union,” features an officiator and stand-ins for Pritzker and Madigan at the altar.
In the ad, the two characters swear to “honor and obey” each other. The officiant concludes, “By the power vested in me, I now pronounce Illinois fucked.”
Good on ya. You’re still a piece of shit, though, just like your Team Blue opponent, so we’re of course voting for Kash Jackson, nee Benjamin Winderweedle.
The most amusing part is the faux outrage.
Meanwhile, the ad drew a backlash from gay rights groups. “We are deeply disappointed by Gov. Rauner’s new campaign ad that mocks marriage equality by tying two of his opponents together in a parody wedding,” Brian C. Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, said in a statement. “The governor should be ashamed of using the LGBTQ community for comedic value to make a political hit.”
HAHAHAHA!
Remember when civil rights groups were pro-free speech? That seems like a distant memory…
…a group of civil rights and advocacy groups are weighing in with advice on how big tech services can better identify and remove hateful activity.
In a new report, six organizations — including Center for American Progress, Color of Change and Southern Poverty Law Center — have drafted a series of policy recommendations, such as:
Make it clear to users that engaging in hateful activities is grounds for termination.
Use both technology and human employees to help remove hateful activities.
Routinely test any technology that’s used to screen content for bias.
Allow users — but not government — a way to flag hateful content, and create a trusted flagger program for vetted human-rights organizations.
Provide the public with a regularly updated report summarizing hateful actions taken on its platforms and the company’s response.
“Vetted human-rights organizations,” of course meaning “Center for American Progress, Color of Change and Southern Poverty Law Center.” It’s always nice to see the transparency of fund-raising and power-grabbing trumping any sense of principles.
Old Guy Music. This song came up at work yesterday when it was playing on the stream of one of my senior chemists- when it first came out, I used the intro as an example of English dialects that are absolutely incomprehensible to American ears. Many years later, I had a Cockney friend translate it for me. Nonetheless, Mick Abrahams is a great blues guitarist, this is a great song, and goddam it, you ought to listen to it.
Too bad Hanuš was wrong again, as they stopped the 