So? And What Does THAT Have To Do With Anything?

So? And What Does THAT Have To Do With Anything? - [Niedermeyer's Dead Horse]

Remember Ace's caution about not destroying careers over one's personal opinions? Well, in this case, he used Olbermann as an example thus I'm not sure many agreed, but his point stands: We cannot micromanage the lives of those around us.

When outside the context of work, and when not specifically conflicting with the terms of a contract or causing direct harm to the organization by which one is employed, one's personal statements should not be used as a hammer to destroy his or her career.

Now, of course, as in most things in life, there are exceptions:

You believe in animal sacrifice and apply for a job at a pet store? Nuh uh.

You have swastikas tattooed on your arms and now want to serve kosher foods? Nope.

You've actively perpetrated a lie which resulted in great loss to property, and frightened an entire community, but want to be trusted with national news? Apply to MSNBC!

See, I told you there were exceptions.

I don't need to rehash Ace's more articulate post, but I do want to provide an example of just what it is he has been talking about.

A few days ago I was waiting for my takeout pizza and killed the time by doing something I rarely do: I picked up the local indy rag and was immediately drawn to the cover story.

Meet Jacksonville's Newest Port Consultant:
Dr. Dr. Herbert Barber Jr.
(that's not a typo) thinks the country's going to hell, really dislikes the "ugly" poor, and believes Obama is "more anti-American than any ten thousand terrorists."
Now he'll help decide the fate of one of the most important (and expensive) infrastructure projects in Northeast Florida.

I snorted upon reading it, and that's just the cover. Literally, it was sort of a choking and snorting sound all at once. And I said to myself, "So? What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

Intrigued, and thinking that there must be significantly more to the story for even an indy rag to be so jacked about the guy, I continued to read the entire piece. It was at this point that my snorts became a smirk, then a smile, then outright laughter and I heard the words "Here's your pizza!" so I decided to finish reading it at home.

It's a good thing I did. Otherwise, I would have missed out on one of the most rollicking fits of laughter that I've experienced in some time.

The author literally hates this guy.

It seems that Dr. Dr. Herbert Barber (Dr. Dr., funny, eh?) has written a book about how America is going to hell in a handbasket and openly hates Obama with the fierceness of a thousand raging infernos. Still, what does that have to do with his contract as a port consultant?

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing. And, if you read the entire FIRST piece (please do) you'll find that the author, essentially, admits as much: The Dr. is eminently qualified for his position and brings an impressive resume' to bear, yet he is an "asshole" and the author resents his tax dollars being used to enrich him.

Which brings me to... "First" piece?

Yes. The author wrote this piece on February 11, expending 1,781 words on it then wrote a second piece, which was published in print and online, dated February 18. In the second piece he no longer uses the word "asshole" to describe Dr. Barber but expends another 2,171 words on him.

I'm beginning to think maybe the author doesn't care for this consultant fellow.

This author has a soapbox from which to preach his point of view. He can scream at the masses that "assholes" should have no place on the government dime and be assured that, mostly, the only readers who will ever cast their gaze upon his words are the regular readers of Folio who are, by and large, leftist hipsters and those desperate enough to seek out their horoscopes (or wish quietly to themselves that someone might mention them in the "I Saw You" section). But, as a "reporter", he also has access to our city leaders to not only inquire of their views, but to attempt to shape them. I find THAT, to borrow his own words, "patently offensive."

If you have the time, read both pieces. I found them both interesting because, let's face it, it seems Dr. Dr. Barber had Obama pegged long before many Conservatives did. I also find the piece wildly entertaining because the author is all about the feels and writes with the emotional clarity and intellectual maturity of, well, a leftist hipster who would be published at an indy rag.

See there, that's ME judging a fella by his personal beliefs. The difference, of course, is that they are reflected in his work product.

So, eff him. The hypocrite.

UPDATE and thanks to Frankly for finding it: The Consultant has been terminated though will likely keep most of the $60k.

Now, this strikes me as playing rather fast and loose with the taxpayer's money AND it shows how thin-skinned and partisan city government has become here in Jax.

It also proves that Folio Weekly is precisely what most of us have known all along, a Social Justice Warrior with cheap ink.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 11:55 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 The personal is now the political. It's what the Left wanted and they should get it, good and hard.

Posted by: toby928(C) at February 28, 2015 12:04 PM (rwI+c)

2 My son went to high school with a black kid first name: Mister.

Parents wanted him to get respect or something.

Posted by: nip at February 28, 2015 12:07 PM (jI23+)

3 I am constantly being threatened with physical harm or death on the internet for expressing my personal opinion. I also have progs trying to find out personal info so they can, they think, get me fired. They have also hacked and deleted my accounts. So, screw them.

Posted by: Bruce J. at February 28, 2015 12:10 PM (iQIUe)

4 I was discussing this this morning with Mrs928 and I have her tepid agreement to practice personal business bigotry. To the extent that I am aware and can avoid it, not a single penny of my money to libs, foreigners or pervs, or those that employ them, for the duration of the crisis.

Luckily for me, Mrs928 is a good ethnic cook.

Posted by: toby928(C) at February 28, 2015 12:12 PM (rwI+c)

5 See: Atlanta Fire Chief

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 28, 2015 12:12 PM (vPh3W)

6 Hmmmm
T has a doctorate in business and her law degree
Does that make her a Dr Dr too?

Or just the opposite yeti....aka a hot chick with brains?

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 12:13 PM (r3m4C)

7 NDH, Folio is a crappy newspaper but you knew that already.

Posted by: dantesed at February 28, 2015 12:14 PM (88xKn)

8 T has a doctorate in business and her law degree
Does that make her a Dr Dr too?
-------------

Yes.

Posted by: Doctor Jill Biden at February 28, 2015 12:15 PM (vPh3W)

9 NDH, Folio is a crappy newspaper but you knew that already.

***

The only time you find me reading it is when I'm sitting somewhere waiting on my takeout order and my cell phone is in the car.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:16 PM (DmNpO)

10 Dr. Dr? http://youtu.be/FwNOmS78q-o

(SFW - unless they hate 70's rock)

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 28, 2015 12:16 PM (UVfht)

11 I saw Good And Hard open for Hole at Lion Country Safari in '98.

Posted by: jwpaine at February 28, 2015 12:17 PM (a3NCX)

12 See: Forrest Mims III

Posted by: RNB at February 28, 2015 12:17 PM (1/fQ0)

13 Oh, no! Don't evolve into another Doctor thread. Kill it.., kill it with fire.

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 12:18 PM (vPh3W)

14 Oh, no! Don't evolve into another Doctor thread. Kill it.., kill it with fire.

I think I tried that, let me check my notes.

Posted by: Dr. Mengele at February 28, 2015 12:19 PM (UVfht)

15 To the extent that I am aware and can avoid it, not a
single penny of my money to libs, foreigners or pervs, or those that
employ them, for the duration of the crisis.

Posted by: toby928(C) at February 28, 2015 12:12 PM (rwI+c)

I wouldn't include foreigners (those here legally), but otherwise, absolutely.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 28, 2015 12:20 PM (oKE6c)

16 Dr. J was pretty good

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 28, 2015 12:21 PM (rDqRv)

17 I think they'd better be careful with this "No Assholes in Government" standard.

Given that our entire government right now is staffed by them.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 28, 2015 12:21 PM (72D6h)

18 I wouldn't include foreigners (those here legally), but otherwise, absolutely.

It's a tough call but I'm not going to make the distinction. The legals aren't supporting us in the fight. I've already turned down a contractor on the basis that he uses green-card workers. Only native Americans at Casa928.

Posted by: toby928(C) at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (rwI+c)

19 Oh oh...

So the progs bring their perversions to bear on someone with a different view?

Color me shocked!

Posted by: Gmac- Pulling in feelers in preperation... at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (74McK)

20 Completely OT, but I just saw a mattress commercial where they adverted "0% APR."

Who finances a mattress set?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (UMBjg)

21 I think they'd better be careful with this "No Assholes in Government" standard.

Given that our entire government right now is staffed by them.

***

I had to cut out part of the post because I started heading down a completely different rant about that.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:23 PM (DmNpO)

22 There's a reason they used to call those local print sources 'Libels'.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (POPOp)

23 20 Completely OT, but I just saw a mattress commercial where they adverted "0% APR."

Who finances a mattress set?
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (UMBjg)

Good mattresses are expensive as hell.

Posted by: Insomniac at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (mx5oN)

24 Who finances a mattress set?
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (UMBjg)

A better question is: Who buys a repossessed mattress?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (rDqRv)

25 ...and Dr Brown.

Because Black Cherry Soda is awesome.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 12:28 PM (POPOp)

26 Barber's book is more or less the longform version of the comments section at WorldNetDaily. That is to say, he's something of a right-wing nut, the kind of guy who makes Glenn Beck look like a reasoned bleeding heart by comparison.

That is as far as I got.

Posted by: Economics Loo at February 28, 2015 12:28 PM (mi0R9)

27 A better question is: Who buys a repossessed mattress?

How does a mattress get possessed?

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 28, 2015 12:28 PM (UVfht)

28 24 Who finances a mattress set?
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:22 PM (UMBjg)

A better question is: Who buys a repossessed mattress?
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (rDqRv)

Heh. I just pictured a tow truck pulling up outside a bedroom door.

Posted by: Insomniac at February 28, 2015 12:28 PM (mx5oN)

29 I can understand the sentiment of not wanting assholes working for the government, but it begs the question... who gets to decide who the assholes are?

Everyone's an asshole in somebody's opinion.

Based on what little I know of this Dr. Dr. fellow, he strikes me as a perfectly reasonable chap.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 12:29 PM (5pg79)

30 Can you lease a mattress?

I wonder what they charge for over-mileage?

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 12:30 PM (POPOp)

31 A better question is: Who buys a repossessed mattress?
Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (rDqRv)

Heh. I just pictured a tow truck pulling up outside a bedroom door.

*****

30 years ago I worked in the collections department at a furniture company. They financed and did repos.

A woman once told me that if we tried to repossess her daughter's furniture we'd better do it in a hearse because we were going to need it when we were done.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:31 PM (DmNpO)

32 Barber's book is more or less the longform version of the comments section at WorldNetDaily. That is to say, he's something of a right-wing nut, the kind of guy who makes Glenn Beck look like a reasoned bleeding heart by comparison.

That is as far as I got.

***

Did you make it to the part where he admitted to only reading the Google synopsis?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:33 PM (DmNpO)

33 31
A woman once told me that if we tried to repossess her daughter's furniture we'd better do it in a hearse because we were going to need it when we were done.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:31 PM (DmNpO)

Good grief. It's not an uncommon attitude, apparently. I was chatting with a tow truck driver who use to repossess cars. He quit after nearly being beaten to death by the guy whose car he was about to tow.

Posted by: Insomniac at February 28, 2015 12:34 PM (mx5oN)

34 Good thing the author doesn't work at the IRS or Dr Dr would be getting an audit. Though the author is using what little ounce of power s/he/it has - raise a hue and cry in hopes that their confederate obamao sycophants will use their ounce(s) of power to gangbang Dr Dr.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:34 PM (NaeCR)

35 #10: I clicked on your link expecting the late, great Robert Palmer. Here he is, for others in my boat...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxgW2SPl6KQ

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 12:34 PM (5pg79)

36 Good grief. It's not an uncommon attitude, apparently. I was chatting with a tow truck driver who use to repossess cars. He quit after nearly being beaten to death by the guy whose car he was about to tow

***

My mother and stepfather tried the repo biz for a very short period of time. It paid really well and they quickly learned why that was. They quit the first time they were shot at.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:36 PM (DmNpO)

37 I clicked on your link expecting the late, great Robert Palmer. Here he is, for others in my boat...

I thought about it, but that song is "Bad Case of Loving You", which, despite the lyrics, didn't quite line up with the good Doctor Doctor's title.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 28, 2015 12:37 PM (UVfht)

38 >>30 years ago I worked in the collections department at a furniture company. They financed and did repos.

When I was in high school I worked in the warehouse and delivery department of a furniture company. Had to pick stuff up a few times. The mattresses went directly in the burn pit outback. I still remember one that looked like it had enough body fluids on it to fill a 55 gallon drum. It gave off a particularly nasty smell as it burned.

Posted by: Aviator at February 28, 2015 12:38 PM (sQzB6)

39 The big money is in crime scene cleanup.

Nobody wants to be cleaning brain matter off of grout at 3am.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 12:39 PM (POPOp)

40 Doctor Doctor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APyl6Cnbfzw

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at February 28, 2015 12:39 PM (W5DcG)

41 Did you make it to the part where he admitted to only reading the Google synopsis?

Heh, ya. I saw that and waded through it.

I'm having trouble sticking with the heavy reading. A word or two and I abandon the whole thing. Someone on the horde once made the comment that you might well recognize that something is crap and you wade through it hoping to find some improvement by the end. He went on to say, it doesn't get any better.

Posted by: Economics Loo at February 28, 2015 12:39 PM (mi0R9)

42 23

Good mattresses are expensive as hell.

Posted by: Insomniac at February 28, 2015 12:26 PM (mx5oN)

My latex core mattress plus steel frame set me back ~$2000. Gotta flip and rotate it regularly (especially given that I'm a fatass) but it's pretty comfy. Didn't finance it, though. Well, I charged it but then immediately paid it off...

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at February 28, 2015 12:39 PM (+FyX1)

43 True, Blanco. But it's still the first thing that comes to mind for me whan I hear "Doctor, Doctor".

The second thing I think of is a short-lived sitcom from the late 80s starring Matt Frewer, who's more famous for playing Max Headroom. He appeared more recently as Moloch the Mystic in Watchmen.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 12:40 PM (5pg79)

44 This is why I wasn't fond of the Brian Williams headhunt or all the ones before it. Going after guys to topple them one at a time because we don't like them doesn't accomplish anything significant and just encourages stupid retaliation.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 12:41 PM (39g3+)

45 "He quit after nearly being beaten to death by the guy whose car he was about to tow."

Repossessors are not generally protected under the various state laws as I know. It's dangerous and you just might get beaten or killed doing it.

I know people "rent" furniture from places, pay $25/wk for six months for an entertainment center than costs $400, oy, but I just don't recall seeing financing for a mattress.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:41 PM (UMBjg)

46 I thought about it, but that song is "Bad Case of Loving You", which, despite the lyrics, didn't quite line up with the good Doctor Doctor's title.

Yeah, but everyone who isn't a pedant or an Obama voter normally IDs the Robert Palmer song as "Doctor Doctor".

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 12:41 PM (6QHER)

47 Dr. Dr.?

http://youtu.be/pxXc7W99oG8

Posted by: johnd01 at February 28, 2015 12:42 PM (VGqjW)

48 Whoa
No one mention the cray cray Dr Amy Bishop yet?
What is wrong with you?

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 12:43 PM (r3m4C)

49 I worked with a guy that had his car 'accidentally' repo'd.

Said the repo man polititely asked him to open his garage so he could repo it, so he did. Then he had to call the bank to get it all sorted out the next day, get a taxi to the repo yard...

I told him he should have locked the door, called 9-1-1 and told the cops that some a-hole is trying to steal his car, which is in a closed and attached garage.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:43 PM (NaeCR)

50 The second thing I think of is a short-lived sitcom from the late 80s
starring Matt Frewer, who's more famous for playing Max Headroom. He
appeared more recently as Moloch the Mystic in Watchmen.

Missed that show. Must have been while I was out of the country.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 28, 2015 12:43 PM (UVfht)

51 Crap. Bertram beat me to it.

Posted by: johnd01 at February 28, 2015 12:43 PM (VGqjW)

52 This is why I wasn't fond of the Brian Williams headhunt or all the ones before it. Going after guys to topple them one at a time because we don't like them doesn't accomplish anything significant and just encourages stupid retaliation.

***

Brian Williams is a different story. Williams was entrusted to report accurately the major events in this country and elsewhere and made himself a part of the story as often as possible. He did so through blatantly lying about his experiences. He destroyed his own credibility and that of his employer with him.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 12:45 PM (DmNpO)

53 #44: Brian Williams is a different situation. He's paid to tell you facts about things that are happening. When he intersperses those facts with self-glorifying embellishments, he loses all credibility as a relayer of facts.

For example, if you depend on his report of seeing a body float by his French Quarter hotel window after Hurricane Katrina to argue about the extent of flooding after that storm, you're gonna look like an idiot.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 12:45 PM (5pg79)

54 >>The second thing I think of is a short-lived sitcom from the late 80s
starring Matt Frewer, who's more famous for playing Max H.

I thought that was more MacGyver than sitcom?

I liked that show. Not as much as Riptide.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 12:47 PM (POPOp)

55 49. Depending on the local laws if the paperwork was in order the popo would have sided with the repo guy

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 12:47 PM (r3m4C)

56 Forget financing beds. Just down the road from me, in "The Good Shot City" you can rent rims for your ride.

That's right Holmes, you don't have to pay full retail to the man! Rent the bad ass rims you need to your '88 Caprice!

*Note-the official motto for the city is "The Good Life City". Yeah no.

Posted by: weirdflunkyonatablet at February 28, 2015 12:47 PM (TlarD)

57 Indy papers are the worst for this sort of garbage. We have the "Reader" here in San Diego - about 10-20 weekly pages of poorly written sub-amateur counter-cultural navel gazing and 100 pages of ads.

Bad enough, but I recently read my college town's indy paper for the first time in years and it kicked a hole in the floor of what I thought could be achieved in newsprint.

If Matt Tabbi and Melissa Harris Perry had a lovechild midwived by Frank Rich and mentored in journalism by Seymour Hirsch, they'd be on the short hire list for that rag. Anyone to the right of that need not apply.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 12:47 PM (QKIQb)

58 RE: Brian Williams and Katrina

Who reported cannibalism at the super dome?

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:48 PM (NaeCR)

59 I'm not saying he should be out of his job because he's a fabulist or a liar, I'm saying the huge push to get rid of Williams and the cheering when he was toppled was misguided and didn't accomplish anything meaningful.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 12:48 PM (39g3+)

60 Yeah, but everyone who isn't a pedant or an Obama voter normally IDs the Robert Palmer song as "Doctor Doctor".

Welcome to Pedants'R'Us, aka AoSHQ.

Posted by: Blanco Basura at February 28, 2015 12:49 PM (UVfht)

61 "I liked that show. Not as much as Riptide."

"Riptide?" With Screamin' Mimi?

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at February 28, 2015 12:49 PM (UMBjg)

62 Who reported cannibalism at the super dome?

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:48 PM (NaeCR)

The beef industry?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at February 28, 2015 12:49 PM (rDqRv)

63 Leftists are evil.

That. Is. All.

Posted by: Jukin at February 28, 2015 12:49 PM (WGm5T)

64 I have long worked for organizations that have in one way or another, a clause that made it clear: don't do anything that makes us look bad, or you will be terminated.

Now, some of those places will allow lefties to openly spout their lefty thoughts and feelings without repercussions, so the only problem I have there is the double standard.

But I can't complain about the double standard, because I might get fired.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 12:50 PM (Dj0WE)

65 Garrett: Who invokes Dr. Brown, then touts Black Cherry?
It's Cel-Ray Tonic or nothing.

Posted by: Little Miss Spellcheck at February 28, 2015 12:51 PM (4pyhg)

66 Forget financing beds. Just down the road from me, in "The Good Shot City" you can rent rims for your ride.

I've seen those all over. You can guess the kind of neighborhood they're generally found near though.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 12:51 PM (6QHER)

67
I'm not saying he should be out of his job because he's a fabulist or a
liar, I'm saying the huge push to get rid of Williams and the cheering
when he was toppled was misguided and didn't accomplish anything
meaningful.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 12:48 PM (39g3+)

Right. Because it would have been more valuable to point out that this is who our media are, and this is what they do.

If you are trying to reach LiVs though, it would fall on deaf ears. So... YEAH! BRIAN WILLIAMS IS A POOPHEAD!

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 12:52 PM (Dj0WE)

68
Snack time!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/goatslive

Posted by: Bruce J. at February 28, 2015 12:55 PM (iQIUe)

69 RE: Brian Williams and Katrina

Who reported cannibalism at the super dome?

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:48 PM (NaeCR)

Hellooooo...

Posted by: Shep and FauxNews at February 28, 2015 12:55 PM (Dj0WE)

70 The personal is now the political. It's what the Left wanted and they should get it, good and hard.

Yup. Any time I get an alleged "friend" on facebook posting liberal drivel on my time line, it inevitably comes wrapped with the bow of "racist" attached to it. Or some such nonsense. I have taken to personal attacks on these people. First I school them. Mercilessly. Then I point out that they claim be to be a friend while at the same time libeling me. Finally I inform them they had best unfriend me if they expect a safe zone in which to spout their hatred. It has the benefit of having an audience of 200 people watching the takedown.

As an added bonus, someone - almost always a young girl - tries to come to their rescue. Then I get the chance to school yet another skull full of mush. It is harsh. It is unpersuasive. But my goal is to shut them up and to keep them from using fb as a forum. It works.

Posted by: ObjectionSustained at February 28, 2015 12:56 PM (w07g5)

71 >>I'm saying the huge push to get rid of Williams and
the cheering when he was toppled was misguided and didn't accomplish
anything meaningful.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor

Lots of laughs at his expense and it's hard to put a value on the pleasure of seeing a smug asshole take up the ass.

Posted by: Aviator at February 28, 2015 12:56 PM (sQzB6)

72 Depending on the local laws if the paperwork was in order the popo would have sided with the repo guy

Posted by: Navycopjoe

That is what I would expect.
What's the law on "Oops, I repo'd the wrong car?"

Another story, I was working a military construction project on an Air Force base and the site-work sub-contractor went bankrupt. We first heard about it when the repo man (with tractor trailer and low boy) got stopped at the gate.
We asked that the security forces vet the guys paperwork and coordinate a non-work day for the repo. No problems, security forces even escorted the repo and the scheduled time.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 12:57 PM (NaeCR)

73 >> it's hard to put a value on the pleasure of seeing a smug asshole take up the ass

This.

Posted by: Reggie Love at February 28, 2015 12:58 PM (POPOp)

74
If you go to the link and scroll down to the bottom there's another story dated Feb. 26 claiming the consultant's contract has been terminated. And taking some credit for it.

Posted by: Frankly at February 28, 2015 12:59 PM (Dv0Nc)

75 Who reported cannibalism at the super dome?

Ahhh, found it, Randall Robertson, Huffington Press

linky in nic

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 01:00 PM (NaeCR)

76 I'm saying the huge push to get rid of Williams and
the cheering when he was toppled was misguided and didn't accomplish anything meaningful.

I'll take our victories against the Media-Industrial Complex where I can find them.

Note that the Left considers Williams so much of a loss that Media Matters has been tasked with doing nothing but trying to destroy Bill O'Reilly over a story he told once 30 years ago.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 01:00 PM (6QHER)

77 I'm more inclined to draw the line in private vs. public employment re: a strict "relevant to the job" standard. Williams' lies impact his cred which is pretty much the only non-generic quality an anchor can bring to the table. They're all presentable, reasonably well-spoken, etc... Olbermann being a dick, not so much.

Political views held by government employees, appointed or otherwise, call for a somewhat different perspective. If the guy appointed to my port district's consultancy job has political views that might suggest he's prone to overreaching his position, misusing his access and authority, etc... I think that's fair game. I can devil's advocate that it's a fair beef for a lefty to screech about how a guy appointed to work on a government spending project hates government spending, although I'd counter that having at least one guy like that in the room is a bonus.

Clearly NDH's example is more about personal hatred than any principled objection like that, so I agree with the conclusion, as well as both Ace and NDH's general point that we should think twice before calling for someone's job.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:01 PM (QKIQb)

78 When my Hash isn't here, it's out shooting dogs and college bound males in hoodies.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 01:01 PM (POPOp)

79 Hey, for $10 you could win a $20,000 truck, except I have already bought the winning ticket, but go ahead and help the NRA.

http://tinyurl.com/nndesvz

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 28, 2015 01:01 PM (0FSuD)

80 #6: Nah, lawyers don't go by Dr., even though the law degree is technically called a doctorate.

What T needs is to become a Reverend Doctor. Then she'd be Dr. Rev. Dr. T, Esq.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 01:02 PM (5pg79)

81 Yup. Any time I get an alleged "friend" on facebook posting liberal drivel on my time line, it inevitably comes wrapped with the bow of "racist" attached to it.

***

ahhh yes. "Racism".

I've made it perfectly clear on twitter that they can call me whateverthefuck they want and I will not give a damn.

Scream "Racist!" if you'd like, you'll only go horse waiting on me to defend myself.

BTW, Monday night ,on Fashion Police, the fashion-critic show once anchored by Joan Rivers, one of the critics made a joke about a young black girl in dreads looking "like she smelled of patchouli and weed".

Who could have predicted the outcome?/

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:02 PM (DmNpO)

82 I wouldn't include foreigners (those here legally), but otherwise, absolutely.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at February 28, 2015 12:20 PM (oKE6c)

Why not include them. The dreamers are here legally, another 5(^?) million more will soon be legal. I think most agree this lawlessness will continue but by god they will be legal. H1Bs up the ass all legal and mostly unnecessary.

Posted by: Bob from table9 at February 28, 2015 01:03 PM (WNERA)

83 @81: You sure the girl was black? She looked whiter than a Canadian in the picture I saw.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 01:04 PM (6QHER)

84 79. You mean the guys who helped the child killer Hairy Reid?

Pass

(We are all lifetime members here of course)

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:04 PM (r3m4C)

85 >>Who could have predicted the outcome?/

Me.

Posted by: Don Imus at February 28, 2015 01:04 PM (POPOp)

86 If you go to the link and scroll down to the bottom there's another story dated Feb. 26 claiming the consultant's contract has been terminated. And taking some credit for it.

***

Thanks. Off to check it out.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:05 PM (DmNpO)

87 >>You sure the girl was black?

Looked white and gold to me.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 01:06 PM (POPOp)

88 80. She said she likes that idea
It would look good on her business card

I need to go back for my doctorate so I can add to my title
Ego boost of course

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:07 PM (r3m4C)

89 "Note that the Left considers Williams so much of a loss that Media
Matters has been tasked with doing nothing but trying to destroy Bill
O'Reilly over a story he told once 30 years ago."

Williams commands outsized sympathy for some reason. Armchair pscyhing, I'd say a lot of journos and pundits, including the oleaginous shitweasel that runs Media Matters, think "that could have been me." Brian Williams lies are to journalists what Bill Clinton's were to monogamy. Almost everyone saying "everybody does it" really means "I do it."

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:07 PM (QKIQb)

90 Note that the Left considers Williams so much of a loss that Media Matters has been tasked with doing nothing but trying to destroy Bill O'Reilly over a story he told once 30 years ago.

They don't consider him a valuable asset or anything, they know he's easily replaced by the next liar and leftist in line. What they're doing is exactly what I noted in the first comment: tit for tat, retaliation. That's all headhunting gets us.

Not that O'Reilly would be any sort of loss, really.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:08 PM (39g3+)

91 But. But. Credentials.

Posted by: Dr. Dr. at February 28, 2015 01:09 PM (wVWRM)

92
@81: You sure the girl was black? She looked whiter than a Canadian in the picture I saw.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 01:04 PM (6QHER)

Are you sure it was a girl?

Posted by: Shep and FauxNews at February 28, 2015 01:10 PM (Dj0WE)

93 My dilemma: hang with the crazy chick wearing a soccer jersey and a thong watching bad movies on Spike or go shooting with the crazy chick wearing a soccer jersey and yoga pants

Either way = craycray

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:10 PM (r3m4C)

94 Unsock

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 01:11 PM (Dj0WE)

95 NDH, I used to think that is the proper response. Then I realized tbese people are not used to the pushback. I don't argue or defend. My goal is to shame them. Good and hard. And it is personal because, in my estimation, we are down to hand-to-hand combat.

Posted by: ObjectionSustained at February 28, 2015 01:11 PM (w07g5)

96 The only time you find me reading it is when I'm sitting somewhere waiting on my takeout order and my cell phone is in the car.
Posted by: Niedermeyer's
-----------------

Our local free rag out-circulates the local paper, which is a Prog rag, but not Prog enough for the hipster population. I pick up a copy whenever I can, just to toss it in the trash. My blood pressure can't stand actually reading the thing.

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 01:11 PM (vPh3W)

97 In the mythos of the Old Folk Music Movement, young Robert Zimmerman got radicalized because he had to help in his uncle's furniture business, repossessing furniture among thrown-out-of-work miners in Hibbing MN. Part of the hagiography.

At about the same time, Frank Sinatra thought of himself as a big liberal. So it shouldn't be surprising to see a Dylan album of Sinatra hits. It is, though. Other than "The House I Live In," Sinatra never had his Bobby Darin moment, even though he knew a lot of guys who...went...to the mattresses.

You know that label you're prohibited from tearing off? Other than a symbol of government oppression, I think it's there to prevent reselling the repo's.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at February 28, 2015 01:11 PM (xq1UY)

98 You're forgetting the most important doctor of all: Dr. Ron Paul.

Posted by: Dr. Fritz at February 28, 2015 01:13 PM (UzPAd)

99 Note that the Left considers Williams so much of a loss that Media Matters has been tasked with doing nothing but trying to destroy Bill O'Reilly over a story he told once 30 years ago.
-----------------

Leonard Pitts wrote a column last week that was an uber hit-piece on FNC. Insanely over the top spluttering.

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 01:13 PM (vPh3W)

100 I thought the free rags where just published so fags and hooks could advertise?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 28, 2015 01:14 PM (0FSuD)

101 Some of these micro-rag paper-poopers are certified loons and run their unread rags like little fiefdoms. They delight in making tempests in teapots for local government officials for no other reason that they get to play kingmaker.

Posted by: Zap Rowsdower at February 28, 2015 01:14 PM (MMC8r)

102 Thanks, Frankly. Update posted.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:14 PM (DmNpO)

103 98 nooooooo!!!
You're going to summon the insane if you mention his name!!

Now we're going have to buy silver dimes

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:14 PM (r3m4C)

104 Dylan isn't that big a leftist, really. He might have been once but he despises hippies today.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:15 PM (39g3+)

105 It is odd anyone even noticed an article in one of those free weekly coffee house/record store rags. I mean people look through them while they eat a sub but does anyone really pay attention to what they say?

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:16 PM (39g3+)

106 You sure the girl was black? She looked whiter than a Canadian in the picture I saw.

***

Nobody subscribes more to the "one drop" theory than blacks themselves.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:16 PM (DmNpO)

107 At least he didn't use the word 'niggardly'. He would never work again. Of course, he may have that problem now.

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 01:17 PM (vPh3W)

108 Dylan was a beatnik, not a hippie.

Posted by: Dr. Fritz at February 28, 2015 01:17 PM (UzPAd)

109 but does anyone really pay attention to what they say?
Posted by: Christopher Taylor
---------------

Ours is considered the Paper of Record by the Prog community.

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 01:18 PM (vPh3W)

110 "That's all headhunting gets us."

I'm not going to withhold criticism of Williams or anyone else out of concern that the Left will witch-hunt someone on "my side." Nor am I concerned that it's a waste of time. Newsmen shouldn't be retailing lies and we've let the bar slip far below where it should be for too many years. Pour enourager les autres.

And if O'Reilly's collateral damage, so be it. If "Killing Patton" is any indication of his overall approach to facts and storytelling, he's a better fit for "Inside Edition" than news, history or biography. Too willing to dangle clickbait consipiracy theories and otherwise heavily pet, albeit not outright rape, the truth.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:18 PM (QKIQb)

111 I'm not going to withhold criticism of Williams or anyone else out of concern that the Left will witch-hunt someone on "my side."

***

Too much like fear of "antagonizing" the terrorists argument.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:19 PM (DmNpO)

112 I'm not going to withhold criticism of Williams or anyone else out of concern that the Left will witch-hunt someone on "my side."

You misunderstand. Criticizing someone and pointing out their flaws is fine, I'm not condemning that. Trying to topple people and cheering like we scored the winning touchdown in the Superbowl when it works is the problem.

Headhunting is seeking out targets to destroy and making a big deal out of it like we've solved cancer. Its stupid and pointless and actually counterproductive.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:20 PM (39g3+)

113 What T needs is to become a Reverend Doctor. Then she'd be Dr. Rev. Dr. T, Esq.
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 01:02 PM (5pg79)

I pity the foo.

Posted by: Doctor T at February 28, 2015 01:21 PM (W5DcG)

114 Gardening thread up for those so inclined.

Decided to put it up a tad early b/c I'm not sure how much longer I'll be awake. Bad headache and not much sleep.

Posted by: Y-not at February 28, 2015 01:21 PM (9BRsg)

115 "Good mattresses are expensive as hell."

And are one of the things that people forget to lifecycle-cost.

Is a mattress that costs 1.5x but lasts 2x worth it? To me, sure.

The problem is that the mattress industry now have the same problem that plagues so many other industries. Lack of design and manufacturing consistency, year over year.

I can buy a mattress from a particular company, wear it out, and go back, and ask for _the exact same model_ again, and either it won't be offered any longer, or it'll be a different mattress entirely in terms of its construction being sold under the same name. Arrrrrrrrrrgh!

The old mattress is dying right now. Well, I think it's fine but the missus wants to ditch it. And I have no idea where to find its like.

Posted by: torquewrench at February 28, 2015 01:21 PM (noWW6)

116 Dylan isn't that big a leftist, really. He might have been once but he despises hippies today.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:15 PM (39g3+)

I don't claim to know anything about Dylan's beliefs, but I do know he was once declared by pop culture to be the poet of a generation. Now he is parodied by pop culture, when he is referred to at all, and pop stars make more money in a week than he made in his career.

I suspect if he now hates them, it's not coming from a perspective of disagreeing with their politics.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 01:22 PM (Dj0WE)

117 They'd have to turn O'Reilly into a massive liability to jeopardize his spot at Fox, unlike Williams who was ultimately expendable.

O'Reilly's show is a)named after him and b) kills in the ratings.

Williams, not so much.

Posted by: Zap Rowsdower at February 28, 2015 01:23 PM (MMC8r)

118 I may never read it, but Dr. Barber has now sold one more book.

Fuck SJWs.

http://t.co/VnS3m1cQOC

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:25 PM (DmNpO)

119 "Headhunting is seeking out targets to destroy and making a big deal out
of it like we've solved cancer. Its stupid and pointless and actually
counterproductive."

Agreed there. If the scalp's the only point, or if you exaggerate what it means, you're on the wrong track. I'm not going to sit in my mom's basement sockpuppetting advertisers on MSNBC to fire Dead Head Ed ala the kook prof at Kent State re: Limbaugh.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:25 PM (QKIQb)

120 It's quite humorous that you think your angelic behavior will matter a whit to sociopaths and psychopaths that lead the other side. They are not good people who are mistaken and doing this by accident. They are despicable assholes. You don't beat people trying to kick you in the balls by turning the other cheek.

Posted by: baldur5 at February 28, 2015 01:26 PM (u1vrW)

121 You misunderstand. Criticizing someone and pointing out their flaws is fine, I'm not condemning that. Trying to topple people and cheering like we scored the winning touchdown in the Superbowl when it works is the problem.

***

One particular chap on Twitter was not only cheering, but jumping up and down, pitching a tantrum, and DEMANDING that he receive credit for Williams' demise.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:27 PM (DmNpO)

122 I hesitate to post this link, but here it is. It is typical of what the local 'Independant' rag prints. Reading it requires a strong stomach. The author is blissfully unaware of projection.
http://tinyurl.com/lfsvd37

Posted by: Dr. Hook at February 28, 2015 01:27 PM (vPh3W)

123 Re: Brian Williams. Do you really think they will stop going after our side if we stop going after them? Never. Gonna. Happen. A few heads on pikes may keep the remaining villagers in line.

As an aside: I don't think conservatives had much to do with Williams' fall from grace. His wounds were self inflicted. Even NBC could not allow the continued damage to its brand.

Posted by: ObjectionSustained at February 28, 2015 01:28 PM (w07g5)

124 Saw an ad for help wanted, a truck driver/repo man to repossess trailers. Can you imagine a sadder job--picture a diaper-tyke in the dirt yard watching a man tow his house away?

Posted by: spongeworthy at February 28, 2015 01:28 PM (RaRml)

125 Dylan is tragically overrated as a performer.

And the Celery Soda is gross, Ms Spellcheck.

One day we will have to examine the kyriarchy of Dr Brown's flavors.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 01:29 PM (POPOp)

126 Also, O'Reilly's show isn't the news; it's an opinion show. When you get right down to it, it's okay for a purveyor of opinions to be a self-aggrandizing blowhard. I'll make fun of such a guy all day, but it's okay.

I never called for Keith Olbermann to be fired from MS-NBC for the same reason. I even argued against them firing Olbermann when his campaign contributions (forbidden by his employer) came to light. I mean, it's not like we didn't already know where he stands politically.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 01:30 PM (5pg79)

127 And off to shoot with both craycrays
The girls are talking smack to each other as usual

I wonder if I can sell them both on eBay?

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:30 PM (r3m4C)

128 127. And no Garrett, you can't bid on either

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:31 PM (r3m4C)

129 ...the only readers who will ever cast their gaze upon his words are the
regular readers of Folio who are, by and large, leftist hipsters and
those desperate enough to seek out their horoscopes (or wish quietly to
themselves that someone might mention them in the "I Saw You" section)

Heh. I think every city in America with a population of > 100,000 has one of these "alt-weekly" newspapers, written by and for rat bastard commies, filthy hippies, and the LBGTXYZBBQ crowd.

They're usually pretty funny, but the real comedy gold in is to be found in the 'Personals' ads. You can just about smell the rank sweat, patchouli, and daddy issues.

Posted by: OregonMuse at February 28, 2015 01:32 PM (Ugi0+)

130 In my local free weekly, their movie reviewer's review of the movie Ender's Game didn't talk about the movie at all. It was just vituperative and profane rant against the author of the book the movie was based on. Author stated somewhere his personal belief marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman. That message isn't in the movie at all.

Posted by: Moonbat_One at February 28, 2015 01:32 PM (LISqP)

131 truck driver/repo man to repossess trailers.

That would make a good reality TV series.
Have the film crew show up first and get he family to sign releases.

They'll have to toss all personal possessions and household furnishing out on the ground before hauling the trailer off.

Posted by: Burnt Toast at February 28, 2015 01:32 PM (NaeCR)

132 And off to shoot with both craycrays

The girls are talking smack to each other as usual

I wonder if I can sell them both on eBay?

Posted by: Navycopjoe (thugging through the doghouse) at February 28, 2015 01:30 PM (r3m4C)

How much for the younger one?

Posted by: Bill Clinton's Pedo Island Friends at February 28, 2015 01:34 PM (Dj0WE)

133 One particular chap on Twitter was not only
cheering, but jumping up and down, pitching a tantrum, and DEMANDING
that he receive credit for Williams' demise.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:27 PM (DmNpO)

This sort of thing is why I think Tweetland is Satan's invention. Otherwise sane grownups behaving like middle schoolers and/or piranhas over the dumbest nonsense.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 01:36 PM (Dj0WE)

134 "I hesitate to post this link, but here it is. It is typical of what the
local 'Independant' rag prints. Reading it requires a strong stomach.
The author is blissfully unaware of projection."

A professed Prog attorney I work with sounds much the same as that guy. Basically, the welfare system is a necessary "bread and circus" tactic to placate angry brown people she publicly patronizes but privately fears and condescends to. As for population concerns, like that author (and Justice Ginsberg) she's an enthusiastic pro-choicer, particularly for poor brown women choosing to abort their kids rather than send them to school with her special snowflake whitey-white grandkids.

They're advocating Margaret Sanger meets Emperor Nero as a minority outreach policy but we're the racists.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:37 PM (QKIQb)

135 I manage to get along with no FB, Twitter, or texting.

Throwback.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 28, 2015 01:38 PM (vPh3W)

136 >> And no Garrett, you can't bid on either

Now you've made me feel way too creepy, Joe. I might need to take a second shower.

Posted by: Garrett at February 28, 2015 01:38 PM (POPOp)

137 Ncj - Does the auction include firearms?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 28, 2015 01:40 PM (vPh3W)

138 I manage to get along with no FB, Twitter, or texting.

Throwback.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 28, 2015 01:38 PM (vPh3W)

I use texting as a means to communicate with people I have to, but really don't want to talk to.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 28, 2015 01:40 PM (Dj0WE)

139 Oh happy day! My kilt has arrived with the mail!

Posted by: Country Singer at February 28, 2015 01:42 PM (nL0sw)

140 If you don't eye for an eye, you're the only one blinded.

Posted by: toby928(C) at February 28, 2015 01:42 PM (rwI+c)

141 >>>Oh happy day! My kilt has arrived with the mail!
<<<

Book thread is tomorrow.

Posted by: Dr. Fritz at February 28, 2015 01:44 PM (UzPAd)

142 Posted by: Dr. Fritz at February 28, 2015 01:44 PM (UzPAd)

Touche.

Posted by: Country Singer at February 28, 2015 01:46 PM (nL0sw)

143 #139: Now I'm imagining a country singer on-stage wearing a kilt and a cowboy hat while playing guitar or banjo or fiddle.

It's kind of a glorious sight, but I don't think cowboy boots would work with it.

Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at February 28, 2015 01:46 PM (5pg79)

144
Used to actually read a few parts of the local indy crap - well, just restaurant/food related stuff and reviews, actually.

Then, in 2008, The Great National Degradation touched even that obscure corner, ending my last contact with printed or conventional "news" or information. The restaurant reviews started featuring non sequitir snarky asides about Bush (baseless, as usual, or rather based on the make-believe world the NPR types live in). OK. Done with that. In any case I didn't respect or trust the reviewers' judgement or tastes as much as my own, I just looked to reviews for the very basic, black/white thumbs up/thumbs down sort of vibe.

On another theme thats cropped up above: when I have some work done on the house in the coming year, I certainly will not even consider any contractor that cannot gurantee/demonstrate legal status for all workers. And an especially nice little touch on that topic is having to avoid hitting the illegals hanging out near the Home Depot entrance - the traffic pattern there is very hazardous (with the way idiots now drive, too fast) already, and now there are pedestrians to avoid while negotiating all the other hazards. One time one of these vermin blocked my way, not even paying attention to what was going on, nearly causing me to get rear-ended severely. He then made threatening gestures and gave nasty looks. Thanks, cretinous racist amnesty supporters!!

Posted by: rhomboid at February 28, 2015 01:47 PM (afQnV)

145 When you get right down to it, it's okay for a purveyor of opinions to be a self-aggrandizing blowhard. I'll make fun of such a guy all day, but it's okay.

Yeah, I agree. He's a jackass, but he's not doing news reporting.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 28, 2015 01:49 PM (39g3+)

146 On another theme thats cropped up above: when I have some work done on the house in the coming year, I certainly will not even consider any contractor that cannot gurantee/demonstrate legal status for all workers. And an especially nice little touch on that topic is having to avoid hitting the illegals hanging out near the Home Depot entrance - the traffic pattern there is very hazardous (with the way idiots now drive, too fast) already, and now there are pedestrians to avoid while negotiating all the other hazards. One time one of these vermin blocked my way, not even paying attention to what was going on, nearly causing me to get rear-ended severely. He then made threatening gestures and gave nasty looks. Thanks, cretinous racist amnesty supporters!!

***

Which city was it that forced Home Depot (Lowes?) to build shelters with bathrooms for the illegals hanging out in their parking lots?

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:53 PM (DmNpO)

147 Twitter is OK in small doses but when I see people responding to arguments by saying "look at how many followers you have," it shows its shallowest side. When everyone with a cellphone thinks they have a "web presence" they need to police, protect and promote, it's another rung down the ladder of Net Narcissism. Facebook much the same. As something to share with a close circle of people who might give a shit about your day to day existence, OK, but unless you're actively chasing celebrity, punditry or activism of some sort, shake yourself once in awhile.

A couple months back or so Y-Not got some wanna-be Twitter Conservative Thought Leader all wee-wee'd over something and he was thoroughly taunted by the Moron commenters when he returned fire in her post. Mike something or other, IIRC. Good example of what I'm talking about - vastly overrating his own gravitas, super-thin skinned. He ran back to limited character land and said he'd never come here again.

Haven't missed him much.

Posted by: SocietyIs2Blame at February 28, 2015 01:56 PM (QKIQb)

148
No Twitter or FB for me. Hasn't even crossed my mind, any more than buying a harp, or joining a stamp-collecting club.

Sort of kinda on-topic ("news"), for those still on this dying-ish thread.

So last night I actually (this is quite rare) click on an AP story to find out what happened re DHS approps. Bear with me here, I isolate myself from the ludicrous distortion and propaganda that now passes for news, so I am freshly shocked each time I encounter it.

Completely distorted framework, top to bottom. Congress, you see, is "verging on dysfunction". Congress. Not Dems, who are blocking funding to ensure an obvious lawless, unconstitutional, racist bit of arbitrary presidential excess is NOT blocked.

Repubs, you see, have this need to show they can "govern". Which means, obviously, just rubber-stamping anything sent to them. That is "governing".

And, of course, the obligatory idiotic quotes from human garbage like Peter King. God, what an offensive, pernicious airhead he is. The McCain of the House, I guess.

Way down in the article, a thin and uninformative reference, not explanation, to the actual issue.

And THIS is what passes for news and information in the US. Even with how unbelievably bad things are (and I'd say many here vastly underestimate how bad things are), it's astonishing that it's not much worse, considering that 95% of the population (with no background or experience or habit of seeking out info and thinking for themselves) has this absolute crap forming their view of what's happening the country.

Posted by: rhomboid at February 28, 2015 01:57 PM (afQnV)

149 A couple months back or so Y-Not got some wanna-be Twitter Conservative Thought Leader all wee-wee'd over something and he was thoroughly taunted by the Moron commenters when he returned fire in her post. Mike something or other, IIRC. Good example of what I'm talking about - vastly overrating his own gravitas, super-thin skinned. He ran back to limited character land and said he'd never come here again.

***

Heh.

Ace is the king of Twitter takedowns. It doesn't happen every day, but when someone gets too high and mighty, he shreds them in a most humorous way.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at February 28, 2015 01:59 PM (DmNpO)

150 Dylan isn't that big a leftist, really. He might have been once but he despises hippies today.

Dylan made an explicitly pro-Israel anti-Palestinian album in the early 80s. The hippies largely pretend it didn't happen.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 01:59 PM (6QHER)

151 Heh. I think every city in America with a population of > 100,000 has one of these "alt-weekly" newspapers, written by and for rat bastard commies, filthy hippies, and the LBGTXYZBBQ crowd.

They're usually pretty funny, but the real comedy gold in is to be found in the 'Personals' ads. You can just about smell the rank sweat, patchouli, and daddy issues.
Posted by: OregonMuse

I know this is a dead thread but have to comment: I spent years in the Austin area when one day, on business, I was at a pizza place in Miami. Picked up the weekly and it had most of the same writers as the Austin weekly. A few months later in Baltimore--same thing. At the bottom of the publisher's info page I discovered that ALL those weeklys (ies?) are owned by the same company. I knew the editor of the Austin one slightly, a guy named Louis Black, who was a self identified Marxist/Progressive (although surprisingly wealthy and living in a posh part of town). One day he wrote a column explaining that the Weekly was not a newspaper at all but rather a media outlet for viewpoints and communities. That really says it all. Just like the guy who started up BoingBoing and a dozen other "progressive" websites, the politics are the main engine while the band info, want ads, sex ads, etc are extra gravy to sell it to the rubes. They are the evolution of the '60s underground papers with professional communists running the show.

Posted by: Hopped Up On Something at February 28, 2015 02:00 PM (nSj9w)

152 When you get right down to it, it's okay for a purveyor of opinions to be a self-aggrandizing blowhard. I'll make fun of such a guy all day, but it's okay.

Agreed. I have to laugh every time some LIV thinks yelling "We'll do it live!" is striking some kind of blow against conservatism.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 28, 2015 02:01 PM (6QHER)

153
Don't be harshin' on Dylan, rickl may be along and we'll have chairs and bottles flying. Just saying.

Thirty years ago I was a journalist (fully recovered, please, don't be concerned). Even back then (this was inside the Beltway, "big" issues) our little office would often take the NYT and WaPo and play "find the news in the newspaper" game. Which meant looking at the front page, and subtracting "analysis" and framing and other b.s. and seeing how much actual new information remained. We'd often come up with almost nothing.

And it is absolutely the case that things were much, much less worse than (won't say "better"). There were actually good reporters at the big outfits who were not moronic anti-Reagan bots. On big beats. I recall Richard Burt at the NYT, did foreign policy/military beat, was appointed pol/mil director at State in Reagan's first term.

There's a good concrete reference point. Imagine any - any - major media figure today who would be suitable any govt. service above dog catcher, much less national security issues. Instead, today, we have this unbelievable intertwining (relatives, spouses, etc.) of the idiots in the admin. and the idiots in the media - all of them unfit for both sectors, all of them the sort who would have trouble becoming interns in a real govt. in a real country- which, effectively, the US no longer is.

Posted by: rhomboid at February 28, 2015 02:06 PM (afQnV)

154 I have two FB accounts, I am Bubba Smith on both. Got drunk one night and couldn't remember which email address I used, so I opened another account.

There are 725 Bubba Smiths, so finding me will be tough. FB is a disease for teenagers and middle aged women, like my sister, who post shit everyday.

I haven't looked at my page in three months. I also have a Twitter account which NDH says I haven't posted on in two years.

I am up to date, that's for sure!

I do have to text my sons, since they won't answer their phones or emails.

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 28, 2015 02:15 PM (0FSuD)

155 Facebook is what you make of it. I generally post an F-bomb laden screed first thing in the morning, when I'm seeing the days' news fresh and before I've had my coffee. It's cathartic. The rest of the time I bullshit with old friends, make plans with current ones, keep in touch with family/friends all over the country/world. I say nothing on there that I wouldn't say in person in front of all of them. I know my 70 yr+ parents see my posts, morons see my posts, guys I've known since kindergarten see my posts. It's fun and funny in that way. Rarely get complaints, they all know who I am and what I'm like, I couldn't get away with being phony even if I wanted to.

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 28, 2015 02:23 PM (2cS/G)

156 @155

I am sure it is a wonderful tool for some, to others it seem an obsession.

I also really really don't want all my shit on the web. I just went to my page, first time in three months, and because my wife is a friend, I now have suggested friends all her contacts and all my sisters contacts.

I think some people make a contest out of how many friends you can have.

Is that right?

Posted by: Nip Sip at February 28, 2015 02:31 PM (0FSuD)

157 I don't think anyone worries about friend counts anymore, maybe kids and "professional web presences", but not normal people.

Posted by: Lincolntf at February 28, 2015 02:53 PM (2cS/G)

158 The local weekly hippie papers are either owned by a big national chain (Tribune Media owns a bunch) or by your local daily paper . . . which is probably part of a big national chain, anyway.

The reason the weeklies can get away with printing such rubbish is that the "content" is just filler around ads and the calendar of events. It's about as important as the articles in Penthouse.

I've worked for a couple. At one, the only full-time reporter was a burnout who lived in his car. The rest of the paper was written by the interns.

At the other one, the only full-time reporter was a kid right out of college, and the rest of the paper was written by local merchants (the record shop guy did record reviews, the wine shop guy did wine reviews, etc.).

I actually thought it was pretty ballsy to charge people for advertising and then ask them to write the content for the paper, too.

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 28, 2015 03:00 PM (ULxbM)

159 Torquewrench @115

Went thru the mattress questions a couple of weeks ago; did the research, lots to choose from out there. Three types:
1. Latex (price range $2k - $5k)
2. Foam mattress (price range $400 to $750 for top five rated)
3. Innerspring (see also, Serta and the Curse of Joey Heatherton)

I chose option 2. Bought a King from Tuft Needle. $750. Last night was second night on it...holy crap...awesome. My previous mattress was a Serta and it was leaving me a twisted pretzel in the mornings. I think two weeks on my new mattress will resolve all my sore back/hip issues since the only time they hurt is the first 30 minutes each morning. My daughter has a Lucid brand foam mattress...also a King for only $400. She loves it. Good mattresses are more affordable than ever. Sleep Innovations also makes a highly ranked foam mattress.

Hope this helps.

Posted by: windrider95 at February 28, 2015 03:30 PM (QMxJS)

160 153
Don't be harshin' on Dylan, rickl may be along and we'll have chairs and bottles flying. Just saying.

Posted by: rhomboid at February 28, 2015 02:06 PM (afQnV)

Heh. I see my reputation has preceded me.

Posted by: rickl at February 28, 2015 04:00 PM (sdi6R)

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