THE MORNING RANT: Buck Shots

THE MORNING RANT: Buck Shots – March 10, 2023

Persistently Stubborn Inflation

It’s tough for Democrat politicians right now. As Ace noted earlier this week, the media now reports matter-of-factly that Democrat-run cities are in crisis because they are “ungovernable,” as is the nation’s transportation system which is tarnishing the rising star of Pete Buttigieg.

With inflation destroying household budgets and causing extreme financial distress, the media has been desperately trying to find a way to report that inflation is easing thanks to the heroics of the Biden administration and the wise eminences at the Federal Reserve. But inflation is not easing, and no matter how many stories the media produces reporting/predicting/hoping that inflation is easing, it’s not.

So there’s a term that is now being widely adopted by the media to try to absolve the politicians who inflicted inflation on us from the blame: “persistently stubborn inflation”

Yes, despite all the wishcasting stories from the media, and despite the wallet-crushing interest rate hikes from the Fed, high inflation remains with us. Persistently. And stubbornly.

By the way, why does anyone think that interest rate hikes alone will cure inflation? Was it low interest rates that caused inflation? Of course not. It was all the trillion-dollar bailouts and “emergency” funding blowouts that injected trillions of (borrowed) dollars into the economy.

Expecting high interest rates to stop inflation while Congress keeps spending trillions of borrowed dollars is like expecting a bilge pump to keep a boat afloat when the bow is under water.

*****

Equity and Honors Courses

These two headlines have been in the news recently.

To Increase Equity, School Districts Eliminate Honors Classes [WSJ – 02/17/2023]

23 Baltimore Schools Have Zero Students Proficient in Math, Per State Test Results

You’ve got to hand it to the Baltimore schools, for they succeeded in creating true equity, with exactly zero students across 23 schools being able do the math expected of their grade level.

As for “Honors Classes” (which I support) it long ago became clear that they are really just classes where there is still an expectation that students will learn the subject, attended by students who actually have a desire to learn the subject. These “honors” kids are separated from those who merely attend school without getting any education. If the honors kids are put back in regular classrooms, all it means is that they will not get an education too.

Public education is in a state of collapse. Efforts to impose “equity” on the last surviving realm where education actually happens in public schools shows just how hostile the left is to traditional K-12 education.

To deny an education to children who can be educated in the historic core curriculum, and who want to be educated, is a human rights violation. The children will suffer, and our country will suffer. It’s time for a radical change in education.

*****

Polite Conservatives and Net Zero

As you all know, I am passionate about battling net zero, green energy, mandatory EVs, and everything else related to our national religion, The Sustainable Organic Church of the Carbon Apocalypse.

I’m especially disturbed by how many polite conservative politicians and pundits just shrug about how leftists are wrong about net zero, yet these alleged conservatives have no real passion in stopping the left’s de-carbonification agenda.

Instead, these conservative “thought leaders” just tend to mention something about “markets” and how if the green mandates can’t work, then they won’t work, because of the magic of supply, demand, markets, scarcity, etc.

Right. But once we’ve destroyed all energy production, food production, transportation, etc, will those who have inflicted this catastrophe on us say, “our bad, let’s put it back like it used to be”?

No. They couldn’t even if they wanted to. As Covid showed us, you can’t just shut down an economy and then fire it back up, and you certainly can’t destroy an economy and then fire it back up.

You know what other economic experiments were doomed to fail? Those of Mao, Pol Pot, and Hugo Chavez. We are heading down that path with net zero. Politely criticizing it is not sufficient.

But most “conservative” pundits would rather focus their attention on a few random back bench Republican politicians who may be a little exotic than actively engage in the battle against net zero, which has wide support among the left, and which will result in massive human suffering.

*****

A Chicken In Every Pot and a Generator Beside Every Garage

Over 25 years of home ownership I’ve had just one neighbor who had a “whole house generator.” No other family or friends had them either. A generator seemed like a luxury on par with international first-class air travel – something reserved for only the very affluent.

That seems to be rapidly changing. It’s not just weather that causes blackouts nowadays, it’s capacity mismanagement as electric utilities pursue the green energy folly, leaving them unable to reliably provide electricity during heat waves and cold snaps. Even in red America, electricity blackouts are now a way of life, and from Texas to Tennessee I know people who are getting standby generators.

I expect that within a decade or so, a generator will be just another common feature of a house. Maybe they’ll even become as common as central air and two-car garages, which were also once luxuries.

Of course, with much of our political class committed to criminalizing petroleum products, generators may not be of much use if we lose the net zero battle and there is no propane or natural gas to power them.

*****

More Razors

A few weeks ago, I had a post about Throckmorton’s Razor and Minuteman’s Corollary. The comments were full of a whole heck of a lot of funny additional razors which deserve to be enjoyed by those who didn’t read the comments.

First off, here is what started it:

Throckmorton’s Razor: “Assume that any authority which has previously provided false data is always acting dishonestly.”

Minuteman’s Corollary: “Discount everything a liar says in his argument, even if it may support your position.”

Here are some of the additional razors y’all came up with or otherwise shared. Joe Mannix’s razor is a legitimate razor that explains a lot about the world we live in.

Mannix's Razor: Never assume that malice and incompetence are mutually exclusive.

Muldoon's Razor: Never trust a man who hears "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and sings "God Save the Queen"

Martini's Razor: Vermouth can be overrated.

Jukin’s Razor: Never attribute to stupidity or incompetence that which is more adequately explained by malice and corruption.

ShainS' Razor: Never attribute to ignorance, stupidity, loyalty, and/or incompetence what can be ascribed to corruption and/or malice ... but mostly malice.

Kitter' Razor: Follow the stink and find a dead mouse.

Gillette's Razor: A customer with five blades can be convinced that seven will be a noticeable improvement.

Bulgaroctonus’ Razor: Regarding cheese and fish, the stinkier it is, the better it tastes.

Zuby's Razor: Anyone with pronouns in their bio is insane and their opinion can be dismissed.

Banister's Razor: There are exponentially diminishing returns on doubling-down on stupid.

And finally, a few days later Ace offered up this helpful razor:

The LeMon Razor:Never ascribe to Don LeMon’s malice what can better be explained by Don Lemon’s incompetence.

*****

Songs of the Season

Daylight Saving Time starts this weekend, and I may be in the minority, but I am not a fan. I envy Arizonans that they won’t be losing an hour sleep this weekend, or having to mess with their clocks and their watches.

Grampa Jones agrees with me: Daylight Saving Time

For years and years folks got along with an old grandfather's clock
Or just a common old sun dial sitting out on a rock
Then the dollar watch it had its day and the wrist watch it was fine
Then along came a man who ruined us all with Daylight Saving Time
I’m a huntin' that man who first thought up Daylight Saving Time
Until he moved the clocks around everything was a goin' fine
But I guess he's hid and won't come out, he knows he was out of line
I get up late, have to wait, can't keep it straight
Who did he hate, I mean the man that first thought up Daylight Saving Time
His followers always argue that they've gained an hour of light
By moving all the clocks around but I can't see they're right
The sun still rises just the same and sets just as before
If they'd rise 60 minutes early, maybe they'd have an hour more
So why not leave the clocks alone so folks won't be confused
Let 'em hit the floor an hour before if it's daylight that they choose
I'm huntin' that man who first thought up Daylight Saving Time
If he will prove why the clocks are moved then I'll admit it's fine
I've twisted my old clock around 'til it ain't worth a dime
I'm countin' sheep, losing sleep, get up late, miss my date
Couldn't get there in a Cadillac 8
Try as they will they'll never gain with Daylight Saving Time

Enjoy your 47-hour weekend.

buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 TGIF!

Posted by: nurse ratched at March 10, 2023 11:00 AM (tzir9)

2 Whip inflation now!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 11:00 AM (4K3kx)

3 Shut off the printing of new money and you may be able to control it.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:01 AM (zZu0s)

4 Buck brought his Monkey Face!

Posted by: Skip at March 10, 2023 11:01 AM (hZwWv)

5 Heating oil was just under $800 this week, thankfully a extremely mild winter this year

Posted by: Skip at March 10, 2023 11:02 AM (hZwWv)

6 FIRST!!!!!

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:02 AM (IXZGh)

7 3 Shut off the printing of new money and you may be able to control it.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:01 AM (zZu0s)

=======

But the graft! Why won't anyone think of the graft?!

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 11:02 AM (4K3kx)

8 "TGIF" is an acceptable replacement for "First!" in the new HQ order.

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:02 AM (Vwz3I)

9 The only humans who are net zero on carbon are dead.

There's a lesson there.

Posted by: blaster at March 10, 2023 11:02 AM (pwExq)

10 Failure Theatre??

Chyron here: House votes unanimously to declassify U.S. intelligence information about origins of Covid-19.

@disclosetv · 16 minutes
JUST IN - House votes 419-0 on a bill that requires the Director of National Intelligence to declassify all information on the origins of COVID. The bill now requires Biden's signature.

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:03 AM (Vwz3I)

11 Yes, despite all the wishcasting stories from the media, and despite the wallet-crushing interest rate hikes from the Fed, high inflation remains with us. Persistently. And stubbornly.

She persisted.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:03 AM (IXZGh)

12 60 degree day in Feb. causes panic/anxiety among climate change indoctrinated school kids.

Posted by: BignJames at March 10, 2023 11:04 AM (AwYPR)

13 I've argued for years that large marathon races should be banned because the harder you breathe, the more CO2 is expelled. Therefore, exercise causes global worming.

Posted by: nurse ratched at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (tzir9)

14 Inflation, recession and finally, depression. Only one phase left to go.

Go team.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (Q4IgG)

15 Expecting high interest rates to stop inflation while Congress keeps spending trillions of borrowed dollars is like expecting a bilge pump to keep a boat afloat when the bow is under water.
========================
that this simple fact isn't better understood and talked about blows my mind.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (m3fzK)

16 Not my monkey, not my rodeo.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (uNylN)

17 You know what other economic experiments were doomed to fail? Those of Mao, Pol Pot, and Hugo Chavez. We are heading down that path with net zero. Politely criticizing it is not sufficient.

I miss Chavez the Hugo.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (IXZGh)

18 The only humans who are net zero on carbon are dead.

There's a lesson there.

They are not net zero. They contribute carbon and other elements back to the soil.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (eOEVl)

19 Generator? CA governor Nusance will have a snitch phone to rat your neighbor out.

Posted by: Commissar of Plenty and Lysenko Green Power Failure at March 10, 2023 11:06 AM (Q4igz)

20 Bulgaroctonus’ Razor: Regarding cheese and fish, the stinkier it is, the better it tastes.

Objection!

I give you Casu martzu.

https://is.gd/KmAHEv

You're welcome.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:06 AM (zZu0s)

21 "By the way, why does anyone think that interest rate hikes alone will cure inflation? Was it low interest rates that caused inflation? Of course not. It was all the trillion-dollar bailouts and “emergency” funding blowouts that injected trillions of (borrowed) dollars into the economy."

Didn't work in the 70s and people are idiots if they think it will work this time, but here we are.

Stagflation here we come.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (uNylN)

22 By chance just now...

Disclose.tv @disclosetv · 1h
NEW - Net Zero initiatives of governments and private organizations are "scientiﬁcally invalid" and will lead to "worldwide impoverishment and starvation if implemented," a paper by the CO2 Coalition claims.

https://tinyurl.com/mrukmj4j

[printable PDF]

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (Vwz3I)

23 Demoncrats making sure everyone sucks just like them. Fools!!

Posted by: SOMEASSHOLESTOLEMYPEN at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (ytSiK)

24 *a wild throckmorton appears*

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (/6ur0)

25 I expect that within a decade or so, a generator will be just another common feature of a house. Maybe they’ll even become as common as central air and two-car garages, which were also once luxuries.

Nope. Soon to be outlawed, along with your gas stove, dryer and ICE.

You can't have gasoline or diesel for your generator, natural gas is verboten and you're only allowed solar or wind turbines on your property. Peon.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (IXZGh)

26 The only remaining, positive aspect of residing in AZ is the absence of DST. The McCain remnant of the state GOP pissed away the remaining items a few months back.

Posted by: Curly Shuffle at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (TNyrE)

27 Didn't work in the 70s and people are idiots if they think it will work this time, but here we are.

I'm sure you have an answer ready to go, but the interest rate hike by Paul Volcker is almost universally accepted as the reason inflation was tamed in the Carter / Reagan transition.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:08 AM (eOEVl)

28 Horseshit, I will just burn horseshit.

Posted by: Ben Had at March 10, 2023 11:08 AM (TiyYy)

29 Heating oil was just under $800 this week, thankfully a extremely mild winter this year
Posted by: Skip
---------------
Breaking911 @Breaking911 · 20h
BIDEN: "I took the most aggressive action ever — in all of history in any country — to take on the climate crisis by lowering your home energy bills."

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (Vwz3I)

30 I've argued for years that large marathon races should be banned because the harder you breathe, the more CO2 is expelled. Therefore, exercise causes global worming.

Posted by: nurse ratched

The largest source of CO2 on the planet is people. People are the pollutant, and must be eliminated.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (lTGtQ)

31 Horseshit, I will just burn horseshit.

I thought the idea was to STOP relying on Washington.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (eOEVl)

32 Sponge's razor, much like Damone's razor in Fast Times, everywhere you go, act like you're first.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (IXZGh)

33 the BLS or some other guv agency produces the inflation readings

so 9 yards of salt is recommended when digest such BS

Posted by: REDACTED at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (us2H3)

34 Diogenes' Razor: When it comes to intelligence, news, or rumors, the first report is always wrong.

Posted by: Diogenes at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (anj39)

35 How racist do you have to be to say that honors classes must eliminated? The implication is pretty blatant.

Posted by: Beckoningchasm phone at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (HAw9E)

36 High interest rates are definitely holding back economic activity. If that were the cause of the inflation it would work.

But the problem is government dumping trillions into the economy for nothing.

Posted by: blaster at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (pwExq)

37 By the way, why does anyone think that interest rate hikes alone will cure inflation?

But, but, but... that's how Paul Volker fixed inflation. We have a single datum which supports our theory. That makes it incontrovertible. That's science-ism! -- "Experts" everywhere

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (GYIa4)

38 Low inflation rates set the table for this persistent inflation bomb, full stop. The catalyst for it exploding were the handouts and goody bag legislation over the last three years. Fed policy this century is a disaster, mix it with Keynesian economic voodoo perpetrated by Biden and yes, Trump and viola. And yes, rates have to go up, a lot, to fix this.

Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (T8gHb)

39 @TheInsiderPaper · 10 minutes
JUST IN - White House welcomes deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia but skeptical Tehran will ‘meet their obligations’

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (Vwz3I)

40 So there’s a term that is now being widely adopted by the media to try to absolve the politicians who inflicted inflation on us from the blame: “persistently stubborn inflation”

---------

What, "ungovernable inflation" wasn't available?

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (wsx8x)

41 Horseshit, I will just burn horseshit.

I thought the idea was to STOP relying on Washington.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM
(eOEVl)

The shipping costs will kill you.

Posted by: BignJames at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (AwYPR)

42 How racist do you have to be to say that honors classes must eliminated? The implication is pretty blatant.
Posted by: Beckoningchasm phone at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (HAw9E)

EQUITY you racist bigot.

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (IXZGh)

43 It's bad enough that government steals all my money through taxes/inflation.

Do they have to steal my time as well?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (YIVH2)

44 Thomas Paine

Plankton, volcanoes, ants, cows, and Stacy Abrams have entered the room.

Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (u82oZ)

45 The largest source of CO2 on the planet is people. People are the pollutant, and must be eliminated.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM

I thought I read somewhere that termites were the largest single source of co2 on the planet. Maybe that was methane.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (uNylN)

46 > Heating oil was just under $800 this week, thankfully a extremely mild winter this year
Posted by: Skip
______________

Winter ain't over yet. I expect some more bitterly cold weather in late March into April. Spring can be a real bitch sometimes too.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (Q4IgG)

47 They experimented with doing away with honors history my freshman year in HS back in the Dark Ages on the theory that distributing the more advanced students around would raise the overall quality of the course for everybody.

As I recall, it turned out that about half a dozen of us engaged regularly and meaningfully while the other 20-odd just sat around staring into space.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (BTgKJ)

48 Disclose.tv @disclosetv · 1h
NEW - Net Zero initiatives of governments and private organizations are "scientiﬁcally invalid" and will lead to "worldwide impoverishment and starvation if implemented," a paper by the CO2 Coalition claims.

-

I actually assembled a group of intelligent, reasonable people to discuss the whole green agenda, and the analysis question was - what is the end goal? The only answer we could come up with was population reduction.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (lTGtQ)

49 @TheInsiderPaper · 10 minutes
JUST IN - White House welcomes deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia but skeptical Tehran will ‘meet their obligations’
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (Vwz3I)

I said it earlier:

"Biden Response: This is GREAT NEWS!! Stop ALL US DRILLING and go LOONNNGGG!!!! on Saudi Oil!"

Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (IXZGh)

50 Actually, I’d probably at least try casu marzu. And that rotting shark thing that the Icelanders eat.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (EZaTx)

51 34 Diogenes' Razor: When it comes to intelligence, news, or rumors, the first report is always wrong.
Posted by: Diogenes at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (anj39)

Aetius' Razor: People are fucking retards. Boobs are wonderful.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (zZu0s)

52 to take on the climate crisis by lowering your home energy bills."

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (Vwz3I)

I still don't have an adjective far enough beyond shameless to accurately describe these demons.

Posted by: ... at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (UC5Sf)

53 I'm sure you have an answer ready to go, but the interest rate hike by Paul Volcker is almost universally accepted as the reason inflation was tamed in the Carter / Reagan transition.

That worked because spending also slowed down. If the government keeps spending and printing money, there's not a lot the interest rate hikes can do to stop it.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 10, 2023 11:13 AM (ZGrMX)

54 They experimented with doing away with honors history my freshman year in HS back in the Dark Ages on the theory that distributing the more advanced students around would raise the overall quality of the course for everybody.

As I recall, it turned out that about half a dozen of us engaged regularly and meaningfully while the other 20-odd just sat around staring into space.

Yup. They're still holding this out as a magic solution to student inequality. They've been doing it for 50 years. It never works. They're slow learners.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:13 AM (eOEVl)

55 50 Actually, I’d probably at least try casu marzu. And that rotting shark thing that the Icelanders eat.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:12 AM (EZaTx)

I thought of that too. Isn't there a poisonous fish the icebacks eat that has to be treated with lye for months in order to be edible?

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:13 AM (zZu0s)

56
Trent's Razor: "Yeah, nine inches, give or take a quarter inch"

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at March 10, 2023 11:13 AM (pNxlR)

57 I was in honors classes in Hawaii, it was like 2 white people and about 28 Japanese people. And many of those Japanese people went to another school in the evening, after the public school closed.

Many of the Asian cultures are far, far more serious about education than the US has ever been.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (Y5qcH)

58 On the Casu Maztzu- nope. No bugs. I draw my line there.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (zZu0s)

59 There's a guy who reads Warhammer short stories, and he has a great voice. He sounds like Jon Snow's sailor from Game of Thrones. He pronounced epitome "ep-i-tome" not "e-pit-o-me", and I corrected him in the comments. The next podcast at the end, he very humbly apologized for any words he might have mangled. Some people are just too nice.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (44ww/)

60 What, "ungovernable inflation" wasn't available?

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:10 AM (wsx8x)

Stochastic inflation

Posted by: ... at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (UC5Sf)

61 I thought I read somewhere that termites were the largest single source of co2 on the planet. Maybe that was methane.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 10, 2023 11:11 AM (uNylN)

Good. CO2 is plant food and methane is used by bacteria that support the entire food chain.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (Y5qcH)

62 Daylight Savings Time? I am not aware of this phenomenon of which you speak.

Much like I'm not familiar with the term "Three Day Waiting Period."

Perchance a non-resident of AZ can enlighten me?

Posted by: Blake - semi lurker at large at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (2YtOq)

63 RE: Education

I've been reading a book I found in the library in which I work (but do not work for). It's a compilation of papers from a symposium held in D.C. back in 1970 by various educational groups about the state of higher education.

It's just mind boggling that all the problems they highlight back in 1970 are STILL WITH US TODAY. The solutions they propose have never been implemented (or were never done so with serious intent).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (YIVH2)

64 A house with a generator?

Am reminded of this village in the Dominican Republic. Most lived in caves. There was one 'house' made of packing crates with a Yamaha generator. Us Gringos decided that was the rich person.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (pfggt)

65 Mr Aspirin Factory's Razor: blades need changed.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (n1JsZ)

66 We are getting a full house generator. I told J we should do it while the house was being built. Did he listen to me? No he did not. So here we are, 2 years out, getting quotes on generators.

Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (ZdaMQ)

67 So there’s a term that is now being widely adopted by the media to try to absolve the politicians who inflicted inflation on us from the blame: “persistently stubborn inflation”

At the moment an inflationary pulse caused in part by the Social Security COLA is being misread as persistent inflation. Over the next three to four months, the big numbers from '22 will start falling off of the 12 month numbers, i.e. March of 22 will no longer be used in the 12 month numbers reported in April.

Powel is consistently six months late. He should be cutting rates by the summer, but the first rate cuts won't come until the last meeting in '23 or the first meeting in '24.

And yes, new deficit spending is very counterproductive.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (cupoy)

68 The current inflation has nothing to do with the massive spending, but instead it based upon scarcity.

The lockdowns around the globe destroyed the well oiled just in time supply chains. There is a war against production still going on, including food production and other production. We are still below January 2020 employment, total workforce. There is still a chip shortage for instance, making anything with circuits, most things, more expensive.

Posted by: astonerii at March 10, 2023 11:17 AM (B9VxK)

69 There was massive spending, increases in spendable income all through Trump's term in office, and no inflation? Why? Because production met the needs of the economy. After the lock downs, consumption shrank, so no inflation despite the 3 plus trillion injected into the economy. But once consumption picked back up, inflation reared its ugly head. Remember, the vast majority of the spending of the last 3 years has been to big companies, and not on individuals. Those big companies do not drive inflation, individuals do.

Factories going up in smoke, chickens culled, cattle culled, a restriction on fertilizer, reduced land by dictate available for planting, supply chain disaster that will take a decade to recover from, the missing workers.

Posted by: astonerii at March 10, 2023 11:17 AM (B9VxK)

70 57 I was in honors classes in Hawaii, it was like 2 white people and about 28 Japanese people. And many of those Japanese people went to another school in the evening, after the public school closed.

Many of the Asian cultures are far, far more serious about education than the US has ever been.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (Y5qcH)

Traditionally the path to success in the US has been regarded as business, whereas in Asia it is regarded as joining the bureaucracy. Culturally someone with a civil service job there has "made it".

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:17 AM (eYoxG)

71 55 Aetius, I think that’s the shark thing. Maybe with Greenland sharks — I think they’re poisonous.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:18 AM (EZaTx)

72 That worked because spending also slowed down. If the government keeps spending and printing money, there's not a lot the interest rate hikes can do to stop it.

Nope, Reagan ran larger deficits than Carter, and Carter / Volcker implemented high interest rates deliberately, knowing it would cause a recession.

https://tinyurl.com/2u994z5x
https://tinyurl.com/53amrekz

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:18 AM (eOEVl)

73 Expecting high interest rates to stop inflation while Congress keeps spending trillions of borrowed dollars is like expecting a bilge pump to keep a boat afloat when the bow is under water.

---------

Not to mention the Junta and West's "War on Energy" -- extending the apt analogy to the bilge pump being inoperable owing to a lack of fuel.

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:18 AM (wsx8x)

74 "You’ve got to hand it to the Baltimore schools, for they succeeded in creating true equity, with exactly zero students across 23 schools being able do the math expected of their grade level."
-------

I'm sure it's been said but they will just lower the standards eventually.

Posted by: Javems at March 10, 2023 11:18 AM (AmoqO)

75 Bobby can't read.
Bobby can't write.
Bobby can get his dick chopped off and do butt stuff with his teacher.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (E+05M)

76 By the way, Aetius, I love your razor. Especially the second part.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (EZaTx)

77 63 RE: Education

I've been reading a book I found in the library in which I work (but do not work for). It's a compilation of papers from a symposium held in D.C. back in 1970 by various educational groups about the state of higher education.

It's just mind boggling that all the problems they highlight back in 1970 are STILL WITH US TODAY. The solutions they propose have never been implemented (or were never done so with serious intent).
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (YIVH2)

Many problems are not unfamiliar or undiagnosable, actually implementing a solution though is a different matter.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (eYoxG)

78 Hey, Grandpa, what’s for supper?

I got up late, you’ll have to wait, got nothing to eat with Daylight Savings Time!

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (EXyHK)

79 I'm sure it's been said but they will just lower the standards eventually.

Is it possible to have negative standards?

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (eOEVl)

80 23 Baltimore Schools Have Zero Students Proficient in Math, Per State Test Results

-
Well, at least it equitable.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (FVME7)

81 "We've got to fix inflation! Hey, everybody stop looking at the money supply that went up 40% in the last five years!"

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (lTGtQ)

82 Back to the spending of the last 3 years. $250 billion out of the initial $2.3 trillion dollar bill for covid was for individuals. The rest of the money went to big business for the most part. This is how it pretty much goes, 10% for the little guys, like 10% for the big guy. The rest pays off the people who do not need more money.

Posted by: astonerii at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (B9VxK)

83 Government will always be evil because it is made up of people and people are wicked. If it temporarily appears benign, it is probably due to their incompetence and cowardice.

Posted by: Methos' Razor at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (kOpft)

84 Leading Report @LeadingReport · 41m
BREAKING: Maricopa County reportedly received a $38 million payout from the CDC just 3 weeks after the 2020 election.

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (Vwz3I)

85 Nope, Reagan ran larger deficits than Carter, and Carter / Volcker implemented high interest rates deliberately, knowing it would cause a recession.

---------------------

Recessions can reduce the money supply or reduce the amount of new money created. But, not if the Fed is still creating money out of thin air.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (Y5qcH)

86 They are not net zero. They contribute carbon and other elements back to the soil.
Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:05 AM (eOEVl)

The carbon eventually finds its way to the atmosphere, where it belongs.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2023 11:20 AM (tkR6S)

87 Negative standards?

Have you looked at Cori Bush? All Democrats have is negative standards.

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (pfggt)

88 My son went to Catholic school K-8 and was going to go to Catholic High School but didn't want to go at all, so we sent him to the public high school. Biggest mistake. He had to take college prep classes he wasn't interested in or good at to keep him away from what they call the "general prison population" students. He was never going to attend college being a blue collar kid all the way. He was thrilled to even graduate.

Posted by: Jaimo at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (DBrN4)

89 The largest source of CO2 on the planet is people. People are the pollutant, and must be eliminated.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:09 AM (lTGtQ)

That's step 4, we're only on 3. Don't get ahead of yourself. -- Klaus Schwab

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (GYIa4)

90 Perchance a non-resident of AZ can enlighten me?
Posted by: Blake - semi lurker at large at March 10, 2023 11:16 AM (2YtOq)

AZ resident, but let me try on this one:

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down that people mess with their clocks on Sunday

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli)) at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (l7Kbv)

91 Good thread (detailed) as to bond markets and SVB and how the whole thing is playing out. "Smaller" banks facing liquidity crunch due to Quant Tightening.

My take: all the QE money is sitting in the "big" banks and not getting to the economy and the global market is choking out.

https://twitter.com/MacroAlf/status/1633944102826909703?s=20

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (1ais2)

92 > You’ve got to hand it to the Baltimore schools, for they succeeded in creating true equity, with exactly zero students across 23 schools being able do the math expected of their grade level.

Impressive.

Posted by: Senator John Blutarsky at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (bW8dp)

93 You’ve got to hand it to the Baltimore schools, for they succeeded in creating true equity, with exactly zero students across 23 schools being able do the math expected of their grade level.

---------

"something something equal in slavery something something unequal in freedom."

-- Stuff Some Dead White Racist Once Said, Vol II

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (wsx8x)

94 You can't have gasoline or diesel for your generator, natural gas is verboten and you're only allowed solar or wind turbines on your property. Peon.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at March 10, 2023 11:07 AM (IXZGh)

I want a nuclear whole-house generator.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2023 11:22 AM (tkR6S)

95 Government will always be evil because it is made up of people and people are wicked. If it temporarily appears benign, it is probably due to their incompetence and cowardice.

I mentioned my recent experience with Afghan refugees yesterday. It is truly amazing, even for someone who spent his career as a Fed, just how utterly incompetent and venal anything run by the government is.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:22 AM (eOEVl)

96 70 Yes. That’s why the exams to become a mandarin were so important in Imperial China.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:22 AM (EZaTx)

97 I want a nuclear whole-house generator.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2023 11:22 AM (tkR6S)

The NR-1 reactor was about the size of a trash can.

Posted by: sniffybigtoe at March 10, 2023 11:23 AM (Y5qcH)

98 By the way, why does anyone think that interest rate hikes alone will cure inflation?

———-

Because all you ever hear is Volker fixing inflation in the 80s by hiking interest rates. Never mind that was only one part of the Reagan inflation fighting.

Politicos in DC are just that stupid.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at March 10, 2023 11:23 AM (cMXNt)

99 Thank goodness AoP wasn't asking for a Nuclear Whore House...

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2023 11:24 AM (pfggt)

100 Kids these days don't know how good they have it. When I was a kid, all I had to melt plastic army men and burn ants was a lousy magnifying glass. Now they get to use atom smashers:

"CERN asks: Are you a high-school student with an idea for a physics experiment to be conducted at an accelerator, or do you know one?"

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:24 AM (MvF+J)

101 Recessions can reduce the money supply or reduce the amount of new money created. But, not if the Fed is still creating money out of thin air.

Sounds right. So it's a tension between the two. I wonder if the geniuses running the government have stumbled on to this fact.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:24 AM (eOEVl)

102 Mencken's Baltimore > John Waters' Baltimore > Freddie Gray's Baltimore

Posted by: mr tmz at March 10, 2023 11:25 AM (rJ48h)

103 Jim Jordan has Fiery Exchange with so and so...

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:25 AM (E+05M)

104 Did you notice that Jacob Chansley's lawyer on Tucker last night absolutely trashed the former lawyer Albert Watkins who was on Tucker earlier in the week?

A commenter on this blog wondered if the J6 defendants were getting stuck with lefty lawyers. Looks likely.

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 11:25 AM (ejBB9)

105 The Junta has proposed a nearly 7 trillion dollar budget, with massive increases in spending and massive tax increases, that, they say, will "cut the deficit," I mean, it's lunacy, but that's what we are dealing with.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at March 10, 2023 11:25 AM (oJb1g)

106 Chinese made plastic army man + CERN atom smasher

What could go wong?

Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (pfggt)

107 Milton Friedman: "Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon." So who quadrupled the money supply in 2020? It wasn't Biden:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1SL

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (MvF+J)

108 Mannix's Razor: Never assume that malice and incompetence are mutually exclusive.

———-

Yes, malevolent incompetence

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (cMXNt)

109 The Universal Law of Things dictates:
The more of a thing there is, the less it is worth.
This explains inflation.

Posted by: gourmand du jour, back to bipedal status at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (jTmQV)

110
crunch due to Quant Tightening

* finishes tightening belt and zips up zipper *

"Yeah, that was the tightest quant that I've plumbed in a long time ..."

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (pNxlR)

111 I suggest we burn down Atlanta and see if this improves things.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (GKqIR)

112 Recessions can reduce the money supply or reduce the amount of new money created. But, not if the Fed is still creating money out of thin air.

Sounds right. So it's a tension between the two. I wonder if the geniuses running the government have stumbled on to this fact.

I'm still thinking about this. As I said earlier, Reagan ran bigger deficits than Carter, citing supply side economics. Couldn't Biden say the same thing?

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (eOEVl)

113 Spring can be a real bitch

That would make a good chorus lyric for a song. Subverting expectations and whatnot.

Spring can be a real bitch
Summer makes my eyes itch
Autumn is a nasty switch
Winter - that's for me

Posted by: spindrift at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (h5TKJ)

114 Daylight Savings Time? I am not aware of this phenomenon of which you speak.

Much like I'm not familiar with the term "Three Day Waiting Period."

Perchance a non-resident of AZ can enlighten me?

I've heard stories that the Navajo Nation participates in this ritual. Perhaps if there are any residents of that nation nearby you could ask one of them?

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (Bd6X8)

115 So, to help folks, I will mention if you live in my area, and you have a family you want to feed, HMart has some more great produce sales this weekend. Stay out of the rest of the store (aka - shop meats/fish/grains/dairy elsewhere this week) but stock up on some really cheap fresh stuff.

And use my motto, if it's a fruit or veg on a great sale that looks good, buy it even if you have no plans for it. Just like you can build meals around a protein, you can also do it around a fruit/veg idea. And better to have it and have it cheap, than not have it and wish you did. And worse comes to worse, after a week, make a veg broth, fried rice, smoothie or muffin with what you didn't use or hated...or freeze it if that's possible (which it's not for me)...

Posted by: Nova Local at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (exHjb)

116

uh-early this-uh, m-m-morning I-uh, then over-uh there

yeah

Posted by: John Fetterman at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (vwCZJ)

117 76 By the way, Aetius, I love your razor. Especially the second part.
Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:19 AM (EZaTx)

It encapsulates my worldview.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (zZu0s)

118 To Increase Equity, Everyone will get to be POTUS for 30 seconds

Posted by: SMOD at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (RHGPo)

119 At one time, Indiana had THREE time zones. Even worse, the offsets depending on what time of year it was.

The corn-intensive regions in the middle of the state were on Eastern Time, but did NOT observe DST (because corn and hogs don't give a shit what clocks say).

The regions across the river from Louisville, Kentucky were also on Eastern, but DID observe DST (because there were a lot of commuters, and they wanted to be on the same time as Louisville).

For the same reason, the regions near Chicago were on Central Time, and DID observe DST.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at March 10, 2023 11:28 AM (bW8dp)

120 >>111 I suggest we burn down Atlanta and see if this improves things.
Posted by: Pudinhead

Just distribute tons of Tranq on the streets. Why risk getting burned?

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:28 AM (E+05M)

121 Jim Jordan has Fiery Exchange with so and so...
---
Wake me up when a literal flamethrower is involved...

Posted by: screaming in digital at March 10, 2023 11:28 AM (aBJcM)

122 Nuclear Whore House is a great band name.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at March 10, 2023 11:28 AM (n1JsZ)

123 UK considered killing all pets cats to fight Covid.
https://tinyurl.com/2z9bwj2x

Didn’t this result in a plague last time it was tried?

Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (ZdaMQ)

124 I think they say that the interest rate must be higher than the rate of inflation to work. And the Fed is always too slow to change course.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (6lj/r)

125
Politicos in DC are just that stupid.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at March 10, 2023 11:23 AM (cMXNt)

/////

Biden (and his puppeteer) have the 1960s mindset for massive tax and spend that led to the inflation of the 70s

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (ejBB9)

126 I expect that within a decade or so, a generator will be just another common feature of a house. Maybe they’ll even become as common as central air and two-car garages, which were also once luxuries.

------------

"Once we've banned & removed every gas stove in the country, we'll be coming for your unsafe home generators because a fake study commissioned by the feral government to some grifter 'non-profit' will 'prove' that they increase asthma in surrounding wildlife by 2%, h8rs!"

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (wsx8x)

127 JoeF.'s Razor---"Never assume that Mitt Romney and anything that's duplicitous, irritating, smug, self-righteous, holier-than-thou, back-stabbing, greedy, conceited, Brycreemed and phony is mutually exclusive"

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (mR6Gs)

128 Posted by: Anna Puma at March 10, 2023 11:24 AM (pfggt)

BTW, anna, was watching Nerdrotic's review of the continuing episodes of Picard Season 3. They keep going hard and liking it. I dunno. I might wait till all the episodes are out and then use the free 7 day trial of Paramount Plus through amazon and watch them.

They seem to really like episode 5. I think there are something like 10 episodes in total?

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (zZu0s)

129 > I've heard stories that the Navajo Nation participates in this ritual.

I've always wanted to ask them why, if they're actually "nations", they don't have their own currency, taxation, and welfare systems.

But I'm guessing that wouldn't make you very popular.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at March 10, 2023 11:29 AM (bW8dp)

130 I like Daylight Savings Time. It is Standard time that I dislike. Given that my working hours are locked in, I get more sun at the end of the day under EDT than EST.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at March 10, 2023 11:31 AM (P7Iz+)

131 Iron rice bowl!

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:31 AM (Vwz3I)

132 I suggest we burn down Atlanta and see if this improves things.
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 11:27 AM (GKqIR)

sure, man.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2023 11:31 AM (tkR6S)

133 So now that China, Saudi Arabia and Iran are on the same side, nothing can go wrong, amirite?

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:31 AM (mR6Gs)

134 "I suggest we burn down Atlanta..."

If it's any consolation, the current residents are working on that every weekend.

Posted by: Tom Servo at March 10, 2023 11:31 AM (r46W7)

135 If I didn't know better (that is to say, if I didn't know Washington D.C. was full of good, honest representatives working their hardest to find good solutions to help the average Joe in America succeed and thrive in abundance), I'd swear that D.C. is actually massively corrupt and yoked in tandem with powerful industry to take every last god-forsaken penny from every day Americans.

I'd think something like:

The oil and gas crisis is designed to take your money and give it to oil and gas companies.

The vaxxine mandates are designed to enrich pharma companies.

The Fed rate hikes are designed to take more of your money and give it to bankers.

The need to 'fight Putin' is designed to take money and give it to the MIC.

But I know better, and that could be the case.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (lCH0S)

136 Remember how the UK had that Mad Cow outbreak and they were killing livestock? Snd they wanted to kill a young boy's calf and he resisted? Caused an outrage that ended the slaughter. If the start killing dogs and cats, people will start killing politicians.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (6lj/r)

137 Couldn't*

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (lCH0S)

138 Jose's Razor: Never assume there are enough hot peppers in your food.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (P7Iz+)

139 Which is better, printing money based on nothing, or borrowing money you can't pay back, both ultimately leading to inflation? I suspect the former, because the inflation is more immediate with printed money, so you can make the connection to policy, and hopefully make corrections.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (eOEVl)

140 122 Nuclear Whore House is a great band name.

how about ... Liquid Door Knob

Posted by: SMOD at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (RHGPo)

141 DB's Razor: I'm pretty sure we're fucked.

Posted by: DB - eschewing the thing at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (geLO8)

142 Remember how the UK had that Mad Cow outbreak and they were killing livestock? Snd they wanted to kill a young boy's calf and he resisted? Caused an outrage that ended the slaughter. If the start killing dogs and cats, people will start killing politicians.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (6lj/r)
---
Wouldn't bother me in the least. I have 5 cats I love to death. I'd gladly die to protect them.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (YIVH2)

143 136 I think I would redefine crazy cat lady if they tried to cull the kitty boys.

Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (ZdaMQ)

144 Jose's corollary: There is no such thing as too many peppers.

Posted by: Earl Schlobodowicz at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (P7Iz+)

145 >I suggest we burn down Atlanta and see if this improves things.
Posted by: Pudinhead

it worked once

Posted by: DB - eschewing the thing at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (geLO8)

146 Archimedes' Razor: Those who are convinced things were always better in the past need to read a damn history book.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (eOEVl)

147 Anyone comes after my cat better come with a heavy hand.

Posted by: gourmand du jour, back to bipedal status at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (jTmQV)

148 23
Decouple from Demoncrats!

Disrespect their decisions. Ignore their laws. Nullify their votes.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (q3iUt)

149 TDS Sufferer's Razor---"If Trump says it's night, we say he's racist.'

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (mR6Gs)

150 Two leaked intelligence reports suggest that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have known about allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, despite insisting he did not.

Prime Minister Trudeau has claimed that he was not briefed on allegations of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) interference in federal elections but two memos from 2019 and last year suggest that senior government officials may have known of the allegations.

Posted by: SMOD at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (RHGPo)

151 20 Bulgaroctonus’ Razor: Regarding cheese and fish, the stinkier it is, the better it tastes.

Objection!

I give you Casu martzu.

https://is.gd/KmAHEv

You're welcome.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:06 AM (zZu0s)
----
See? Now that Sardinian delicacy will actually come to you if you call it.

Posted by: Ciampino is reminded of The Dinosaur series with The Live Food in the fridge at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (qfLjt)

152 Muldoon's Razor: Never trust a man who hears "My Country 'Tis of Thee" and sings "God Save the Queen"

I resemble that remark, as I grew up singing it at school. Boy I miss the old girl. It needs to be updated to "God Save the King". I'm not so keen on that version.

I do have to point out that it was the felonious Americans who stole the tune. They've never been good at writing music for national anthems. Even the current one's tune was stolen from the Brits.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (VROMF)

153 Straight's Razor - no matter how hard the crazies push, normies will not sip lady penis.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (h6/n7)

154 Perfessor Squirrel's Razor:

Dystopian science fiction is meant to be a WARNING to future generations, not an instruction manual.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (YIVH2)

155 alright I have groceries and 22 packs of Luckies

resupplied now, and rolling like a juggernaut

Posted by: DB - eschewing the thing at March 10, 2023 11:34 AM (geLO8)

156 139 Which is better, printing money based on nothing, or borrowing money you can't pay back, both ultimately leading to inflation? I suspect the former, because the inflation is more immediate with printed money, so you can make the connection to policy, and hopefully make corrections.
Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (eOEVl)

I'd say borrowing money is 'better'? At least theoretically you are not 'creating' 'value' out of whole cloth. Printing money directly is just insane.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (zZu0s)

157 "something something equal in slavery something something unequal in freedom."

-- Stuff Some Dead White Racist Once Said, Vol II

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:21 AM (wsx8x)

And the Left doesn't GAF as long as they have their slaves.

Posted by: ... at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (kmj3n)

158 Didn’t this result in a plague last time it was tried?
-------------
Unintended consequences.

Posted by: zombie chinese sparrows at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (Vwz3I)

159 119 At one time, Indiana had THREE time zones. Even worse, the offsets depending on what time of year it was.

////

Any horde-lings live in Indiana? How is it? Probably move there after divorce is final. Your womenfolk are safe. Burned/shy.

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (+Lv7q)

160 146 Archimedes' Razor: Those who are convinced things were always better in the past need to read a damn history book.
Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:33 AM (eOEVl)

When the Brave New World begins, history will be outlawed altogether.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (BTgKJ)

161 Chad's Razor---Don't listen to what women say, WATCH what they do.

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (mR6Gs)

162 That worked because spending also slowed down. If the government keeps spending and printing money, there's not a lot the interest rate hikes can do to stop it.
Posted by: Ian S. at March 10, 2023 11:13 AM (ZGrMX)

This is a short-sighted view. Interest rate hikes can help crush the middle class. That's big.

Not that this is what they're intending, you understand, purely coincidental that it aligns with everything else they're doing.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (GYIa4)

163 Stochastic inflation

Posted by: ... at March 10, 2023 11:14 AM (UC5Sf)

---------

Heh.

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (wsx8x)

164 Ellipsis' Razor: Stop bothering me. If you are in my vicinity you are likely bothering me.

Posted by: ... at March 10, 2023 11:36 AM (kmj3n)

165 Econ gives me a headache.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:36 AM (eOEVl)

166 Didn’t this result in a plague last time it was tried?
-------------
Unintended consequences.

Posted by: zombie chinese sparrows at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (Vwz3I)
---
omelets, eggs, mumble, mumble...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (YIVH2)

167 Mayor Eric Adams Surrenders New York City’s Title of ‘Sanctuary City.’

Posted by: SMOD at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (RHGPo)

168 Trannie's Razor--"Here, cut off your junk."

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (mR6Gs)

169 The Universal Law of Things dictates:
The more of a thing there is, the less it is worth.
This explains inflation.
Posted by: gourmand du jour, back to bipedal status

Also explains Whoopi Goldberg.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (FVME7)

170 161 Chad's Razor---Don't listen to what women say, WATCH what they do.
Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (mR6Gs)

That is a truism, but not just in regards to women.

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (zZu0s)

171 Jeremy's Razors: Are these guys stupid or what? They keep giving me business opportunities on a silver platter.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:38 AM (eOEVl)

172 My dream house would be one that would be off grid as much as possible. That would include solar power, diesel and/or propane generator and even a rain collection system.

That and plenty of ammo.

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at March 10, 2023 11:38 AM (qoLdL)

173 The robotic conversion is nearly complete.

https://notthebee.com/article/why-does-biden-walk-like-this

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:38 AM (E+05M)

174 I do have to point out that it was the felonious Americans who stole the tune. They've never been good at writing music for national anthems. Even the current one's tune was stolen from the Brits.

At the time stealing the tune was the gentleman's of saying "F off" to the English.

Or I may have just made that up.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (Bd6X8)

175 40 years of lowering rates as a means of Stimulating the Economy ended at Zero. It was inflationary, but increasing productivity kept making average life better (for less). Still, inflation showed up in stocks, in housing. Hostile takeovers funded with cheap money ... whooppeee, party on.

But indeed this last flush of trillions to save us from plandemic, to fund wars ... gave inflation a boost in things the average man could see. What does the "fed" have on its books now? Like 8 Trillion?

imo raising rates is the right move, it is essential. But all that Free Money has left a lot of distortions, so hard to say where we go from here. The congressional spending orgy continues, more corruption than ever. tick tock, #2weeks.

Posted by: illiniwek at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (Cus5s)

176

BURMA SHAVE!

yeah

Posted by: John Fetterman at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (vwCZJ)

177 Washington's Razor: Save the children, but not the British children.

Posted by: Basketball Jones at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (Lwmfp)

178 Bitter's Razor: Your transitioning Uncle is also your Aunt Once Removed.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (lCH0S)

179 150 Two leaked intelligence reports suggest that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have known about allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, despite insisting he did not.

Northern Lurker's razor: if Justin Trudeau is talking he's lying.

Posted by: N. Lurker at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (eGTCV)

180 Chad's Razor---Don't listen to what women say, WATCH what they do.
Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (mR6Gs)

That is a truism, but not just in regards to women.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:37 AM (zZu0

Correct.
But more men are more susceptible to the former than the latter

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:40 AM (mR6Gs)

181 Linus’ Razor: When a member of the news media moves their lips, they’re lying.

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at March 10, 2023 11:40 AM (iqzch)

182 >>167 Mayor Eric Adams Surrenders New York City’s Title of ‘Sanctuary City.’
Posted by: SMOD

I did that - Ron DeSantis

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:40 AM (E+05M)

183 177 Washington's Razor: Save the children, but not the British children.
Posted by: Basketball Jones at March 10, 2023 11:39 AM (Lwmfp)

lol

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at March 10, 2023 11:40 AM (/6ur0)

184 The robotic conversion is nearly complete.

https://notthebee.com/article/why-does-biden-walk-like-this

It beats Obama's "ain't I cool" pimp roll.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:40 AM (eOEVl)

185 Wouldn't bother me in the least. I have 5 cats I love to death. I'd gladly die to protect them.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
---
My ex once threatened to kick our cat. Didn't actually do it (that I know of), claimed he was "joking." All the other crap he did (alcoholic)... that was the one thing that made me so angry that I wanted to commit violence. (I didn't)

If a bureaucrat/politician goes down that road...
*types*
*deletes*

Posted by: screaming in digital at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (aBJcM)

186 Washington's Razor: Save the children, but not the British children.

Excellent!

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (eOEVl)

187 Chad's Razor---Don't listen to what women say, WATCH what they do.

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (mR6Gs)

----------

Karen's Razor -- Don't listen to any man, and ACT hysterically at all times.

Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (wsx8x)

188 Schiff's Razor--When I'm breathing, I'm lying

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (mR6Gs)

189 172 @scuba_dude

We had plans of a vacation cabin somewhere, maybe GA mountains that could go off grid. I think we are now expanding the potential geography to lands outside of the US.

Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (ZdaMQ)

190 I hate Daylight Saving time,just started to be Daylight at 6am

Posted by: Skip at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (hZwWv)

191 LeRoy Brown's Razor. "I keeps it in my shoe, mofo, and I gots a 32 gun in my pocket for fun".

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (lz5hY)

192 Washington
https://youtu.be/foqOtlrPCN4

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (/6ur0)

193 Remember how the UK had that Mad Cow outbreak and they were killing livestock? Snd they wanted to kill a young boy's calf and he resisted? Caused an outrage that ended the slaughter. If the start killing dogs and cats, people will start killing politicians.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM

The wife and I both are still unable to donate blood because we were in Europe during that mad cow stuff in the 70s and were possibly exposed to it by eating beef.

We keep trying to donate blood but every time we go they say nope but we will try to get you a waiver to donate but nothing ever happens.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (uNylN)

194 66
'Did he listen to me? No he did not. '

It will be your responsibility to remind J of this in every disagreement you have for the rest of the time you and J are together.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 10, 2023 11:42 AM (q3iUt)

195 107 Milton Friedman: "Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon." So who quadrupled the money supply in 2020? It wasn't Biden:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1SL
Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (MvF+J)

It's an interesting quote. Mostly because "inflation" and "money" are over-defined. The Fed famously holds no position on what "money" is. And "inflation" can mean anything from price increase to massive industrial growth.

I favor the idea that we are seeing price increases due to causes other than industrial growth. And that the global economy is slowing rapidly. Prices should continue to fall steadily (except gas) for the near future. But the overall context is still bad for everyone (or almost everyone buy defense stocks lol).

All that printing has sat on the banks' books and is not being leant for "productive" purposes. I define productive as industrial.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:42 AM (1ais2)

196 It beats Obama's "ain't I cool" pimp roll.
Posted by: Archimedes

As I see it, yes.

Posted by: Magic Hate Ball at March 10, 2023 11:42 AM (E+05M)

197
The Fed rate hikes are designed to take more of your money and give it to bankers.

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at March 10, 2023 11:32 AM (lCH0S)

Banks(the ones that lend money) make their money on a spread. They borrow from depositors at some rate, and lend out at a couple percent higher. Low stable rates tend to be best for business since that means higher volume

Rising rates can blow some of them up, because they borrow at short term rates from depositers and make a lot of long-term fixed rate loans(at least in the US, Europe has this reversed).

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:42 AM (eYoxG)

198 Karen's Razor -- Don't listen to any man, and ACT hysterically at all times.
Posted by: ShainS -- Transgenderism is the Tip of the Transhumanism Spear at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (wsx8x)

Except when the cute liquor-delivery boy is here

Posted by: JoeF. at March 10, 2023 11:42 AM (mR6Gs)

199 https://notthebee.com/article/why-does-biden-walk-like-this

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:38 AM (E+05M)

"Don't fall down, Don't fall down, Don't fall down....

Posted by: Javems at March 10, 2023 11:43 AM (AmoqO)

200 My ex once threatened to kick our cat. Didn't actually do it (that I know of), claimed he was "joking." All the other crap he did (alcoholic)... that was the one thing that made me so angry that I wanted to commit violence. (I didn't)

If a bureaucrat/politician goes down that road...
*types*
*deletes*
Posted by: screaming in digital at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (aBJcM)

Thankfully, all the gals I have been with have loved dogs. If I ever came across one who wanted to get rid of Ajax... Goodbye, bitch.

I CANNOT understand these hamsters who jettison their dogs when they move or whatever. I 'can' understand if your dog is aggressive towards a new baby or something, but that is something where I would try like hell and exhaust every option before giving him away.

Who the fuck are these people?

Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:43 AM (zZu0s)

201 Yes, Trump had a lot to do with inflation, but he didn't sign the infrastructure act in 2021 that just added more fuel to the fire.

The roads are all fixed now, though, right?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 11:43 AM (LvTSG)

202 LeRoy Brown's Razor. "I keeps it in my shoe, mofo, and I gots a 32 gun in my pocket for fun".
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (lz5hY)

I have an idea

Posted by: Jim Croce at March 10, 2023 11:43 AM (mR6Gs)

203 The robotic conversion is nearly complete.

https://notthebee.com/article/why-does-biden-walk-like-this
Posted by: Maj. Healey

Cyberpunk Biden.

I went to the dentist the other day and he told me about an implant you can get in your throat that fights sleep apnea. You have a remote control. Turn it on when you go to sleep. Turn it off when you wake. I could go cyberpunk.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:44 AM (FVME7)

204 another big part of the current inflation is from the shut downs ... of small biz, of oil production, the cancelling of productive people. We have been under assault.

Posted by: illiniwek at March 10, 2023 11:44 AM (Cus5s)

205 Brad's Razor: Women drivers are crazy.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at March 10, 2023 11:44 AM (BTgKJ)

206 it might be a good time to rejoice the yeomanry in freedom cities on federal land. best with reinstated right to homestead.

Posted by: yoeman at March 10, 2023 11:44 AM (BYNHj)

207
Cornpop's Razor - Whatever Joe Biden says is a warped, senile recollection of an older, stupid lie.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at March 10, 2023 11:45 AM (oINRc)

208 >>
That and plenty of ammo.
Posted by: Scuba_Dude

Goes without saying.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:45 AM (E+05M)

209 Jimmy Carter will be the first man in history to return home after being discharged from hospice....

Posted by: Jim Croce at March 10, 2023 11:45 AM (mR6Gs)

210 Some of our long term increase in inflation is going to be due to decreased supply as the labor market shrinks.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:45 AM (eYoxG)

211 189 Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM

I had seen a house for sale about 40 minutes north of Houston that had 10 acres of wooded land. If I had had the money I would have purchased it for when I hopefully retire in 5 or so years.

I would have taken a half acre or more and made a solar farm. Buried a 20 or 30k cistern to collect rain water and installed a filtration system to make it potable.

Ahh, the things I would have done if I had been smarter with my money. LOL

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (qoLdL)

212 LeRoy Brown's Razor. "I keeps it in my shoe, mofo, and I gots a 32 gun in my pocket for fun".
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 10, 2023 11:41 AM (lz5hY)

A nice little .32 hammerless revolver would fit nicely into a holster built into the top of a boot, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (tkR6S)

213 Lena's Razor: Upper lip only.

Posted by: Lena D. at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (a3Q+t)

214 The government indoctrination centers are performing exactly as desired. There is no "reforming" or "improvement" possible. And as bad as they are now, they will continue to get much, MUCH worse until the Collapse.

Posted by: No Shirt Shylock at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (PWI4f)

215 The Epilady™ Razor:

Communism, like leg hair, cannot be eliminated by trimming it back, it must be ripped out by the roots.

Posted by: Muldoon at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (ykeLU)

216 Christians, Muslims come together to send a message outside Channel Ten studios over offensive comments

https://rebelne.ws/3J8Ci0b

Posted by: Ciampino has problem typing at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (qfLjt)

217 Full On Robot Chubby Razor - Enjoy The Decline Of America's Cities, They Deserve It!

I used to fret about the conditions in America's Blue democrat shitholes but no more since I embraced the Full On Robot Chubby Razor.

Now I sit back and enjoy the new lows and await the collapse while I point and laugh.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (R/m4+)

218 Polynikes Razor - Any good faith display by the Left is just a delay tactic.

Posted by: polynikes at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (PlEV5)

219 Jimmy Carter will be buried in a top hat, monocle, carrying a cane.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (lz5hY)

220 I should get a razor...

Posted by: BourbonChicken at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (kAhD4)

221 And now for something completely different, Michael Scott in Mass Effect.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UdecjBcKUwI

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (FVME7)

222 Phillip Steinmetz, the grand nephew of Grandpa Jones, was taught the clawhammer-style of banjo-pickin' by Grandpa and has been touring playing old-style mountain music since 2005. You will note the family resemblance in both look and sound. Go see him and his group The Sunny Tennesseeans if they come to your area.

Posted by: Clodhopper at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (wrJpE)

223 So there’s a term that is now being widely adopted by the media to try to absolve the politicians who inflicted inflation on us from the blame: “persistently stubborn inflation”

This is something that really really really pisses me off.

We know exactly what causes inflation and how to cure it.

Anyone with a 5th Grade education who can read, "Free To Choose" by Milton Friedman knows this. It's not some deeply hidden i secret.

If you want you can read the snazzy version of FTC by Milton Friedman titled, "Capitalism and Freedom".

The cure was tried in the 80's by Reagan and works.

That they don't do it is pure malicious fecklessness. Plus, fealty to their Chinese Bosses and the bribes.

I'll never forget, when Senile Pedo Dumbass Corrupt Joe stood in front of the American people, smirking like the moral cripple he is, and announced that "Milton Friedman no longer runs this town."

I knew at that point the economy was fucked. What I never expected was that Biden and the Democrats would keep fucking that chicken over and over and over in an effort to completely destroy America.

Ass.

Holes.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (L1tQx)

224 BREAKING NEWS!

Jenna Ellis @JennaEllisEsq
BREAKING: Camera footage from last night’s McConnell dinner obtained 👀

https://tinyurl.com/4vsx83my

Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (Vwz3I)

225 One thing everyone overlooks is that economics is a social science.

Social events have just as much, if not more, impact as moving numbers up and down.

What do you think happens when half the country or more thinks the 2020 Presidential election was stolen and a proven criminal was placed at the top? Not to mention that proven criminal’s son is allowed to walk free regardless of all his crimes proven beyond the reasonable doubt with publicly available information.

What happens is that the most productive become less so. With a drop in national productivity inflation must necessarily occur.

So there is a large social undercurrent that is affecting the national economics.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (cMXNt)

226

Barrell escape??

Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (L1tQx)

227 OJ's razor will cut a bitch.

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (MvF+J)

228 Brad’s Razor: Women drivers are crazy.

You’re still PO’d that dumb chick totaled you, I see.

Posted by: Bulgaroctonus at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (EZaTx)

229 I suggest we burn down Atlanta and see if this improves things.

I got you covered.

Posted by: Gen. Sherman at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (q3iUt)

230 I will beat inflation like I beat Corn Pop with that rusty chain!

Posted by: Resident Biden at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (ssESX)

231 213 Lena's Razor: Upper lip only.

Posted by: Lena D. at March 10, 2023 11:46 AM (a3Q+t)
----
Would that be 'a stiff Upper Lip'?

Posted by: Ciampino has pain problem typing at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (qfLjt)

232 194 66 It will be your responsibility to remind J of this in every disagreement you have for the rest of the time you and J are together.
Posted by: Dr. Claw at

His claimed defense is I blew the house building budget right out of the water with all my adds like a light fixture commissioned in NOLA…and a pool. Sounds like excuses to me. 🤣

Posted by: Piper at March 10, 2023 11:48 AM (ZdaMQ)

233 > I have an idea
Posted by: Jim Croce at March 10, 2023 11:43 AM (mR6Gs)

I remember seeing a video with Croce talking about the real-life Leroy Brown, who was a guy he was in the Army with.

One day Leroy decided that he just didn't want to be in the Army any more, so he went AWOL.

Unlike most deserters back in that day, he didn't head for Canada. Nope, he stayed in the area. In fact, he actually showed up for the next payday, whereupon he got cuffed and stuffed by the MPs.

Leroy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (bW8dp)

234 I'd say borrowing money is 'better'? At least theoretically you are not 'creating' 'value' out of whole cloth. Printing money directly is just insane.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (zZu0s)

Banks create money via lending. Instantly. I prefer printing money because it can be directed through public policy. And cut out the middle-man.

Of course, printing money and giving it to banks is idiotic. Defense spending less so. Infrastructure spending is excellent. Idc about the fraud and don't hate unions so don't bother pointing it out.

And it should be Treasury printing the money.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (1ais2)

235 "I'll never forget, when Senile Pedo Dumbass Corrupt Joe stood in front of the American people, smirking like the moral cripple he is, and announced that "Milton Friedman no longer runs this town.""

Did Biden do this?
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1SL

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (MvF+J)

236
naturalfake's Razor - Your first impression is almost always correct.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 11:50 AM (L1tQx)

237 Some of our long term increase in inflation is going to be due to decreased supply as the labor market shrinks.

This makes sense, but is mitigated by productivity improvements. At least I hope so.

Posted by: Archimedes at March 10, 2023 11:50 AM (eOEVl)

238 225 One thing everyone overlooks is that economics is a social science.

Social events have just as much, if not more, impact as moving numbers up and down.

What do you think happens when half the country or more thinks the 2020 Presidential election was stolen and a proven criminal was placed at the top? Not to mention that proven criminal’s son is allowed to walk free regardless of all his crimes proven beyond the reasonable doubt with publicly available information.

What happens is that the most productive become less so. With a drop in national productivity inflation must necessarily occur.

So there is a large social undercurrent that is affecting the national economics.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (cMXNt)

Economics suffered total regulatory capture by Finance. It is a science in theory. But as practiced, it is propaganda for Finance.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:50 AM (1ais2)

239 159

It's OK.
Politicians are mostly GOPe though.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 10, 2023 11:51 AM (q3iUt)

240 Elric's Razor: Don't fuck with someone who can fuck you back harder

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 10, 2023 11:52 AM (iFTx/)

241 My razor: expect stupidity,be pleasantly surprised when anything else happens

Posted by: Smell the Glove at March 10, 2023 11:52 AM (3f7vf)

242 >>224 BREAKING NEWS!

Jenna Ellis @JennaEllisEsq
BREAKING: Camera footage from last night’s McConnell dinner obtained 👀

https://tinyurl.com/4vsx83my
Posted by: andycanuck

Prediction: Turtle will retire within the next few weeks to spend his remaining time with Coco his dog.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at March 10, 2023 11:52 AM (E+05M)

243 234 I'd say borrowing money is 'better'? At least theoretically you are not 'creating' 'value' out of whole cloth. Printing money directly is just insane.
Posted by: Aetius451AD Work Laptop at March 10, 2023 11:35 AM (zZu0s)

Banks create money via lending. Instantly. I prefer printing money because it can be directed through public policy. And cut out the middle-man.

Of course, printing money and giving it to banks is idiotic. Defense spending less so. Infrastructure spending is excellent. Idc about the fraud and don't hate unions so don't bother pointing it out.

And it should be Treasury printing the money.
Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (1ais2)

Banks redirect capital from people who have no profitable means of employing it to those that do. Interest rates set the minimum standards on how profitable a business has to be.

Government spending just redirects resources from profitable ends to unprofitable ones.

The money doesn't create anything(workers or equipment), it just directs resources. The resource pool available is the same either way.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:53 AM (eYoxG)

244 240 Elric's Razor: Don't fuck with someone who can fuck you back harder
Posted by: Elric Blade at March 10, 2023 11:52 AM (iFTx/)

God I miss dating strippers...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, Buy ammo, food, water at March 10, 2023 11:53 AM (/6ur0)

245 233 As long as Leroy kept his ID for paycall, he wasn't a deserter, just UA (or AWOL in Army speak). Showing up for paycall showed initiative, and he should have been promoted on the spot. Maybe even commissioned.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at March 10, 2023 11:53 AM (lz5hY)

246 It's an interesting quote. Mostly because "inflation" and "money" are over-defined. The Fed famously holds no position on what "money" is

////

Friedman won the 1976 Mobel prize in Economics in part forvhis work on monetary history and theory. He had a good handle pn definitions.

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (oSfSP)

247 Say there's a business that needs a few million dollars to open up a new and highly profitable store. It gets that money from a bank's creditors(depositers), and the bank is the one that sets up and monitors to transaction to try and ensure things are on the up and up and everyone gets paid.

A lot of this has been moving into private debt markets though as Dodd-Frank is killing off small and medium sized banks.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (eYoxG)

248 Persistently stubborn hunger comes for some after the period of persistently stubborn inflation. Then will be the persistently stubborn starvation, which oddly enough stops when the heartbeat stops. So you might say the end is in sight

Posted by: Eromero at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (z3WCn)

249
Did Biden do this?
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1SL
Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (MvF+J)

He did.

His first day as Preezy he signed a bunch of bills including the ones that damaged US energy production. All of those bills guaranteed inflation and from that time it was baked into the cake.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (L1tQx)

250 209
'Jimmy Carter will be the first man in history to return home after being discharged from hospice....'

Jimmy's last act will be to fuck up even dropping dead.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (q3iUt)

251 Leroy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at March 10, 2023 11:49 AM (bW8dp)
____________

Well, they did say he was "bad bad." They didn't say he was smart.

Posted by: Elric Blade at March 10, 2023 11:56 AM (iFTx/)

252 I had seen a house for sale about 40 minutes north of Houston that had 10 acres of wooded land.

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at March

40 minutes north of Houston is about two blocks, correct?

Posted by: Thomas Paine at March 10, 2023 11:56 AM (lTGtQ)

253 Nanook's Razor: Eskimos eat whale meat and blubber. If they had something other than whale meat to eat they wouldn't blubber so much!

Posted by: Muldoon at March 10, 2023 11:56 AM (ykeLU)

254 "He did."

How did Biden quadruple the M1 money supply in 2020? He wasn't holding any office in 2020.

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:57 AM (MvF+J)

255 Comedian Reuben Kaye

From the way this gay comedian looks,a stupid crass joke about Jesus is yet another bid for attention, aside from the fact that Jesus wasn't-umm -nailed for three days ( Yes I know what naked means in sexual parlance). The nails were removed before he was taken down from the cross.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2023 11:57 AM (YGliX)

256 Report: Iran Behind Hit List Of Boston Jews

-
I wonder why Boston is special.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:58 AM (FVME7)

257 Banks redirect capital from people who have no profitable means of employing it to those that do. Interest rates set the minimum standards on how profitable a business has to be.

Government spending just redirects resources from profitable ends to unprofitable ones.

The money doesn't create anything(workers or equipment), it just directs resources. The resource pool available is the same either way.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:53 AM (eYoxG)

A loan by a bank creates new money. That's how the mechanics work.

There is no law that Gov spending has to be bad. There is no law that Bank lending has to be good.

But yes, it is an issue of varying incentives.

I could be facile here and say something like "TVA and Interstate Highways vs Silicon Valley Unicorn Startups".

But you're right. SOMEONE decides who gets the money. I prefer Gov, but I don't think it is flawless. Just better. Actually, much better but I am in minority: far far right MMT proponent.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (1ais2)

258 256 I wonder why Boston is special.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:58 AM (FVME7)

=======

Fenway?

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (LvTSG)

259 Very few real comedians nowadays.

Posted by: mrp at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (rj6Yv)

260 Interest rate hikes cure normal inflation by making it less attractive to borrow money, which limits the increase in the money supply from Fractional Lending. Problem today is that current inflation if caused by Government overspending. They will NOT limit spending due to interest rate increases... thus inflation will continue to grow...

AND the interest increases will limit economic growth. So, doubling down on stupid.

Posted by: Romeo13 at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (oHd/0)

261
Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 11:47 AM (L1tQx)

Yup. Friedman's "Capitalism and Fredom" is outstanding and quite readable.

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 12:00 PM (VJeh6)

262 259 Very few real comedians nowadays.
------------------
Doing comedy today is like dancing in a mine field.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:00 PM (HTCOy)

263 Kamala Harris: Biden “Has Said He Intends To Run, And If He Runs, I’ll Be Running With Him”

-
I wouldn't count on that if I were you, sugartits.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 12:00 PM (FVME7)

264 I had seen a house for sale about 40 minutes north of Houston that had 10 acres of wooded land.

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at March

Called the Woodlands/Lake Conroe area

Posted by: Quilter's Irish Death at March 10, 2023 12:00 PM (OgrpQ)

265 Stupid auto correct- nailed not naked.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2023 12:00 PM (YGliX)

266 My razor: Democrats love Precious Democracy but have no interest rights, freedom and liberty.

Posted by: N. Lurker at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (eGTCV)

267 THE BOSS HAS A NOOD UP

Posted by: Skip at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (hZwWv)

268 A loan by a bank creates new money. That's how the mechanics work.

There is no law that Gov spending has to be bad. There is no law that Bank lending has to be good.

But yes, it is an issue of varying incentives.

I could be facile here and say something like "TVA and Interstate Highways vs Silicon Valley Unicorn Startups".

But you're right. SOMEONE decides who gets the money. I prefer Gov, but I don't think it is flawless. Just better. Actually, much better but I am in minority: far far right MMT proponent.
Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (1ais2)

I didn't say it doesn't create money, I described what they're doing in real terms.

There is a law that says bank lending has to be good, it's called bankruptcy. They have to lend at higher rates than their borrowing rates, otherwise they die.

The law that says government spending is bad is called the taxpayers pays. Also known as moral hazard.

Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (eYoxG)

269 I wonder why Boston is special.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 11:58 AM

Boston* is very "special". In a short bus kind of way.

*the residents, that is.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (h6/n7)

270 I sent a couple of requests to my congressman Troy Nehls asking him to tell us what percentage of the USDA budget is geared towards agriculture vs welfare. I told him the only nexus I could see for the pairing was protein in-protein out.

The other was what part of defense spending funds the environmental regulatory choke collar USACE?

Posted by: DanMan at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (8uzBS)

271 107 Milton Friedman: "Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon." So who quadrupled the money supply in 2020? It wasn't Biden:

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/M1SL

Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:26 AM (MvF+J)

If you're trying to blame Trump, you're wrong :

"Before April 24, 2020, savings accounts were not part of M1. Limitations in the number of transfers from savings deposits made savings accounts less liquid than M1. M1 consisted of currency, demand deposits, and other highly liquid accounts called “other checkable deposits” (OCDs). An example of OCDs are the demand deposits at thrifts.

But the limitation on the number of these transfers was lifted on April 24 as an amendment to Regulation D, which specifies how banks must classify deposit accounts. Savings deposits are now just as liquid and convenient as currency, demand deposits, and OCDs. To reflect this fact, savings deposits are now included in M1.

As of May 2020, the old M1 would have had a value of around $5 trillion. The new M1 has a value of $16 trillion, a substantial increase and a clear break in the time series."

Posted by: a.moron at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (F6Xpw)

272 Doing comedy today is like dancing in a mine field.
Posted by: Pudinhead

Goldie Hawn Blasts Cancel Culture for Killing Comedy: “Mistrust Everywhere”

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (FVME7)

273 Bender's Razor: Never trust a man with no discernible neck and never fake the funk.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at March 10, 2023 12:02 PM (oJb1g)

274 McConnell's a tough old bird. If the body politic can keep *biden nominally alive they can keep McConnell seated in the Senate it that's what they want.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 10, 2023 12:03 PM (Q4IgG)

275 274 McConnell's a tough old ~~bird~~ tortoise. If the body politic can keep *biden nominally alive they can keep McConnell seated in the Senate it that's what they want.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at March 10, 2023 12:03 PM (Q4IgG)

=======

FIFY.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 12:04 PM (LvTSG)

276 247 Say there's a business that needs a few million dollars to open up a new and highly profitable store. It gets that money from a bank's creditors(depositers), and the bank is the one that sets up and monitors to transaction to try and ensure things are on the up and up and everyone gets paid.

A lot of this has been moving into private debt markets though as Dodd-Frank is killing off small and medium sized banks.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 11:55 AM (eYoxG)

It is a workable system. And one prone to abuses. And yes, that is correct re: Dodd. Giant Banks are now deciding who gets money. And they are making non-economic decisions. I prefer ppl who are accountable via elections to make those decisions.

Note: elections are currently rigged.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 12:04 PM (1ais2)

277 276 It is a workable system. And one prone to abuses. And yes, that is correct re: Dodd. Giant Banks are now deciding who gets money. And they are making non-economic decisions. I prefer ppl who are accountable via elections to make those decisions.

Note: elections are currently rigged.
Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 12:04 PM (1ais2)

========

The Federal Reserve isn't accountable to elections.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, watching some more Best Pictures at March 10, 2023 12:05 PM (LvTSG)

278 But you're right. SOMEONE decides who gets the money. I prefer Gov, but I don't think it is flawless. Just better. Actually, much better but I am in minority: far far right MMT proponent.
Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 11:59 AM (1ais2)

Total Government spending, Local, State, and Fed, are estimated to be between 40% and 47% of GDP. The Fed Govs own numbers show they 'redirect' (as you put it) more than 1/3 of the economy (Gov spending vs. GDP).

That is not a free market, nor economy.

Posted by: Romeo13 at March 10, 2023 12:05 PM (oHd/0)

279 Jim Croce was like a mentor to Jimmy Buffet.

I always wondered what fat, old, bald drunk parrotheads would be like now if Jimmy went down in that plane and they had Jim as their daddy figure all these years instead of Jimmy.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at March 10, 2023 12:05 PM (R/m4+)

280 Banks create money by lending out more than they have in deposits. It's the fractional reserve

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 12:06 PM (VJeh6)

281 I don't understand why anyone but cross dressers and gays would find this guys routine funny. He looks like a weirdo. Cross dressing was funny in "Some Like It Hot" It isn't here:

https://tinyurl.com/sj3ak4rs

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at March 10, 2023 12:06 PM (YGliX)

282 242
'Prediction: Turtle will retire'

If you're implying they're exaggerating the injury as a cover story so McConnell can retire with all his graft, I agree.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at March 10, 2023 12:06 PM (q3iUt)

283 I didn't say it doesn't create money, I described what they're doing in real terms.

There is a law that says bank lending has to be good, it's called bankruptcy. They have to lend at higher rates than their borrowing rates, otherwise they die.

The law that says government spending is bad is called the taxpayers pays. Also known as moral hazard.
Posted by: Red Turban Someguy - The Republic is already dead! at March 10, 2023 12:01 PM (eYoxG)

2008.

But yeah, small and med banks are a good. And are being screwed.

Bad gov spending is corrected by elections. (They are rigged now).

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 12:07 PM (1ais2)

284 Giant Banks are now deciding who gets money. And they are making non-economic decisions. I prefer ppl who are accountable via elections to make those decisions.
-----------------
Yep. One other thing is that local investments are overlooked due to the size of giant banks. This particularly hurts start up companies focused on local and regional needs.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:09 PM (HTCOy)

285 Banks create money by lending out more than they have in deposits. It's the fractional reserve
Posted by: JM
----

We can beat this by selling shares in the bank.

Posted by: Silicon Valey Bank at March 10, 2023 12:09 PM (VG0cN)

286 "He did."

How did Biden quadruple the M1 money supply in 2020? He wasn't holding any office in 2020.
Posted by: Ride The Non-Operating Reefer With gp at March 10, 2023 11:57 AM (MvF+J)

Yeah, excuse me. I got my numbers crossed.

The COVID spending guaranteed some inflation.
So, blame Trump if you wish. I( don't because it was the only way to keep the economy alive, while the Dims worked their scam.

But, with Biden and the "pandemic" over we're still spending at covid levels and above, this plus his ruinous Democrat legislation means inflation can never stop.
A dose of Milton Friedman right now would help.

Not sure if you wish to exonerate Biden and the Dims, but any persistence at this point is all theirs.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 10, 2023 12:09 PM (L1tQx)

287 Yep. One other thing is that local investments are overlooked due to the size of giant banks. This particularly hurts start up companies focused on local and regional needs.
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:09 PM (HTCOy)

Coincidence! Hahhahah

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 12:10 PM (1ais2)

288 172 My dream house would be one that would be off grid as much as possible. That would include solar power, diesel and/or propane generator and even a rain collection system.

That and plenty of ammo.

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at March 10, 2023 11:38 AM (qoLdL)
----
If you are dependent on diesel, gasoline or propane then you are not really off the grid. If you live near/in a forest then wood burning for fuel is good.

Posted by: Ciampino - may stop posting today as typing is painful at March 10, 2023 12:12 PM (qfLjt)

289 Banks create money by lending out more than they have in deposits. It's the fractional reserve
Posted by: JM
---------

'Deposits'? What are these 'deposits' of which you speak? It's just bits and bytes...stored in memory somewhere.

Posted by: Sam Bankman-Fried at March 10, 2023 12:12 PM (gKzkw)

290 287 Yep. One other thing is that local investments are overlooked due to the size of giant banks. This particularly hurts start up companies focused on local and regional needs.
Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:09 PM (HTCOy)

Coincidence! Hahhahah
--------------
Yes, I know our friends in Manhattan and San Francisco don't think much about flyover America what with their local foreign grift industries.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:14 PM (HTCOy)

291 None of these tired, old coots will retire. They live for power. Look at Feinstein!

Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 12:15 PM (8egF0)

292 Look at Feinstein!
------------------
Zombieland: Double Tap.

Posted by: Pudinhead at March 10, 2023 12:17 PM (HTCOy)

293 It's hard to fix inflation by just raising the interest rates when the Fed is printing literally tons of money.
It's like setting the parking brake on your car while hitting the accelerator; you still keep going while you burn out the brake.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at March 10, 2023 12:22 PM (ynpvh)

294 291 None of these tired, old coots will retire. They live for power. Look at Feinstein!
Posted by: JM in Fla/Ill -- Behold the Manchurian Candidate at March 10, 2023 12:15 PM (8egF0)

It's a weird thing to me. I've never been involved with anything that had the kind of Insitutional respect req to permit such decrepit ppl from being removed by ambitious underlings. Maybe so. Idk. Seems something else is going on.

How does a super ambitious person look at a Pelosi or ;cConnell and not think TARGET. Let alone get called to the carpet by them for some demented thing and not rebel?

I just don't get it.

Posted by: Thesokorus at March 10, 2023 12:22 PM (1ais2)

295 But most “conservative” pundits would rather focus their attention on a few random back bench Republican politicians who may be a little exotic than actively engage in the battle against net zero, which has wide support among the left, and which will result in massive human suffering.
-----

PREACH.

Posted by: insurgens ad opus at March 10, 2023 01:08 PM (b306O)

296 Our inflation issues arise from one thing: lack of fossil fuel based energy. Period.

Of the many things The Donald got right was UNLEASHING American energy. Biden stopped it and here we are.

Posted by: Danimal28 at March 10, 2023 01:13 PM (ryUqI)

297 gain an hour, lose an hour. one is feature, one is bug. i would prefer to stay on dst with no fall back- just this final spring forward. i am one who leaves all clocks (stove, dashboard) on dst year round... that kind of math i can manage.
indian chief: "only the u.s. gov't could think that cutting one foot off of the bottom of a blanket and sewing it onto the top would make it longer."

Posted by: cmeat at March 10, 2023 01:48 PM (cyZhK)

298 Careful Buck, you keep complaining about polite conservatives and Sarah Hoyt will smear you as Fed Narc Glowie trying to provoke us.

Posted by: Fen at March 10, 2023 03:39 PM (+LcMo)

299 Democrat run cities have higher Crime Rate and more Poverty and Unemployment then do Rebublican run cities

Posted by: Tamaa the Drongo Bird at March 10, 2023 04:20 PM (wGqjj)

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