Batting her eyes at me. I couldn’t resist. “Could you sit in for Friday afternoon Links?” Sure, I have massive amounts of work to do, but still. I admit weakness. But there are things about which I will not compromise. No links to gaming shit. No links to stupid superhero or fantasy movies. No links to Amazon specials on vibrating butt plugs. Nossir, these are pure news links, strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.
But both men AND women have birthdays today, including a guy who was in the Matrix; a guy who was at once a hero and a villain; a guy who wrote probably every opera you’ve ever heard of; a guy who I think of when I calculate ionization potentials; the guy who brought us gongs and Alec Guinness; a partridge in a Hartree; a woman married to the most awful American in my lifetime; a woman who got her share of pearl necklaces; a guy who is only behind Mel Ott in number of NYT Crossword mentions; the architect of the Forever Wars; one of the most cringingly shitty TV interviewers ever (who did she fuck to get to where she was?); two guys who pioneered the worst music genre ever; and a guy who Wikipedia helpfully describes as “Canadian.”
Onward and outward to Links.
I love how they bury the “Russia also abstains” part.
My election bet money has never felt safer.
Drug warrior piece of shit makes symbolic gesture to placate his base of morons.
“Think of it as evolution in action.”
Department of (((Self)))-Indulgence. But I think this is a really fine piece.
“Taken.” The passive is delightful.
Whoever did the video needs to be sent back to 1998. But the song is great and so is the band. If you’re a fan of indie rock (and the Old Man sure is), you’ll be seeing a lot of these guys in the next few years.
At least Liam Neeson should be just across the Irish Sea and all.
Happy Whatever-Holidays-You-Choose-To-Celebrate-But-Hopefully-Not-With-The-Ohio-Satanic-Goat-Or-Whatnot, folks… no idea how active I’ll be over the weekend going into Christmas, so just putting it out there now.
That guy’s grift is as good as any politician’s. What a f’n world.
Joe Biden’s a lot like a cartoon superhero.
Well written… bloody depressing. The continuing suicide of Western Civilization boggles my mind.
See? President Planet Justice saves the world
The Biden administration released its highly anticipated proposal for doling out billions of dollars in tax credits to hydrogen producers Friday, in a massive effort to build out an industry that some hope can be a cleaner alternative to fossil fueled power.
The U.S. credit is the most generous in the world for hydrogen production, Jesse Jenkins, a professor at Princeton University who has analyzed the U.S. climate law, said last week.
The proposal — which is part of Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act passed last year — outlines a tiered system to determine which hydrogen producers get the most credits, with cleaner energy projects receiving more, and smaller, but still meaningful credits going to those that use fossil fuel to produce hydrogen.
Let’s make vaporware profitable.
I know it wouldn’t be economical vis a vis current fossil fuel infrastructure — but the mind does wonder about a “renewable grid” with all the storage / transmission problems versus a nuke baseload grid with enough excess capacity to make hydrocarbons (which always seemed like the sanest “hydrogen storage” we know of… certainly doesn’t involve the containment issues).
But it doesn’t matter… all of that assumes they want things to work — and we know they don’t. They want us to die for the most part so their robot utopian green grid will scale to their needs and their needs only.
Boy I’m in a mood now.
Boy I’m in a mood now.
You gots the vapours?
I always thought “the vapours” was just farts
But then there’s The Vapors everyone knows.
Female hysteria.
You missed the “Oh the humanity!” part?
Might as well throw money at fairy dust and unicorn farts.
Gosh I wonder how they will choose the winners!
Kendi sees his next grift.
Administration officials estimate the hydrogen production credits will deliver $140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs by 2030 — and will help the U.S. produce 50 million metric tons of hydrogen by 2050.
According to my model…
‘$140 billion in revenue and 700,000 jobs ‘
After we spend $200 billion on subsidies, we get $140 billion back. And no way they make 3/4 of a million jobs. Maybe 70k for the connected and the absolutely necessary.
Ya gotta spend money to lose money!
😀
I wasn’t going to be the one to complain — but I actually look forward to the “gaming shit” discussions on Friday afternoon. Even if Riven often is talking about stuff I’ve never heard of. Nice change of pace.
I’m a semi-gamer so I don’t mind those links.
I get my Oled Steam Deck on Monday. 🙂
Wouldn’t you prefer a New Steam Deck?
Heh… now there’s a case mod hack for you — wood and leather for an Olde Oled Deck.
Hope you enjoy it, Sean — I thought they had some quality control issues and my son has been too damned lazy to give the non-OLED one I’ve had sitting around since he asked for it last year… so I’m in no rush. Just still gaming on the desktop like the fogey I am.
I kinda roll my eyes at the Riven links and move briskly to the comments.
I suppose some here like that stuff.
My first reaction to the main page illo was AI trying to do a multi-hand-shake.
LOL I had my specs off and I thought “polydactyls of color” or some shit.
So, what odds are you giving on this election? Ten to one? ‘Cause I’ll put down a a ten spot on that.
Department of (((Self)))-Indulgence. But I think this is a really fine piece.
That was a great read. Thanks for sharing!
Give a slice of pizza to your doggo for me too!
Wonder Dog is no longer with us.
I don’t know if his new shit machine eats the stuff.
Bummer.
Nor is SP, if you missed that.
New dog, though. Kaiser has not yet expressed a food preference.
Haven’t seen you in a while! But I have admittedly been scarce because of work and Tomb Raiding obligations.
I thought that pic on the main page was an AI attempt to draw hands.
Or what Juris said.
Edgar Degas used to charge his portrait clients by the number of hands in a painting? Not the number of faces, because he found hands to be far more difficult,
Not sure how a question mark sneaked in there.
I assumed you were uptalking.
Me? NEVER!!!!
That’s one of my major pet peeves and an extremely fast way to fail a phone screening interview.
uptwinkles
What about vocal fry?
“race race people of color race herpity derpity doo”
Biden Inc. needs to shore up his support from certain folks.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) endorsed Haley last week, a significant win for her as she hopes to gain momentum in the final few weeks.
Sununu has a shitty track record for endorsements. There are a good number of NH Republicans who will use his endorsement as a signal to not vote for that person.
On the other hand, there are a good number of NH Republicans that voted for Trump in ’16 and/or ’20 that won’t vote for him again.
So we’ll see, but I wouldn’t read too much into this poll.
Santa has obtained the yearly home-smoked kielbasa stocking stuffers. See, I made our stockings and thought, “Well, if small is good, big oughta be better!” But let me tell you. Stuffing ginormous Christmas stockings is no mean feat. You put a reasonable amount of stuff in there and they still look empty and sad. Put 2 pounds of kielbasa in them and suddenly, they don’t look sad anymore! Good thing everybody loves this stuff.
https://youtu.be/DCM71X8Ndds?si=9WxeS3zmCdyWvKi7
That does sound like what all you mythical females would say when it comes to stuffing kielbasa into things, doesn’t it?
Well, now, with some things, it’s not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean. Some things just look painful.
Like trying to drive an aircraft carrier through the Panama canal?
The obverse is hot-dog down a hallway.
Dime in quarter slot.
Ouch.
Mmm…kielbasa…
Yum! Kielbasa grilled over a charcoal fire is a little piece of heaven. We are talking about culinary sausages, right?
Oh, yes, indeedie. My husband is Italian, not Polish.
Explains why he’s adept at changing light bulbs ?
I don’t get the joke …
Glenn can explain it.
I like Italian sausage better.
My personal Italian sausage does not contain fennel.
Fennel 🤢
For shame.
I bet you like licorice and cilantro, too.
So…ground pork in a casing.
You’re wrong, but both are very good.
I happen to be a bit of each, which explains a lot in my life.
Shit flinging howler monkeys fling shit
HYPERLOOP ONE, A futuristic transportation startup highly touted by Elon Musk, is shuttering its airless tubes.
The company is laying off employees, selling remaining assets (which include a test track and machinery), and closing its offices, Bloomberg reports. After hiring more than 200 people in 2022, remaining workers — who are tasked with supervising the asset sale — were told their employment ends Dec. 31. All of Hyperlooop One’s intellectual property will be handed over to majority stakeholder, Dubai-based DP World.
——-
Musk has long evangelized on the concept of a Hyperloop, and news of its shuttering follows the recent revelation that two million Tesla vehicles were recalled following a two-year investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The agency found that the car models featuring the self-driving feature — including models Y, S, 3, and X produced between Oct. 5, 2012, and Dec. 7, 2023 — contain a high-risk software flaw that likely contributed to an increase in wrecks and crashes.
A report published by Reuters on Wednesday detailed how the electric vehicle manufacturer denied responsibility for the failures of parts it knew to be defective, and often cited “abuse” or “misuse” of vehicles in order to reject claims for repairs on cars under warranty.
Musk’s hype-happy approach to startups aren’t limited to transportation ventures either. After acquiring Twitter for $44 billion last year and promising shiny new changes to the platform coupled by his vision of making it a home for free speech, Musk managed to turn the once semi-functioning website into a hellscape. As X continues to burn in its own hot pile of misinformation, reinstated right-wing extremists and Musk’s own endorsement of white supremacist propaganda and antisemitic conspiracy theories — top advertisers cut ties while the company’s CEO has once again found a way to blame his misfortunes on anyone but himself.
Envious losers like to gloat when their former heroes are revealed to be imperfect. They really hate that guy, now that he’s no longer part of the hive.
A lot of big ideas don’t work out. I’m glad someone was willing to try, especially if they aren’t taking my money against my will to do so.
Most importantly, private investors know when to say it’s over and move on to something else. Government just doubles down on shit ideas.
hums… “Take the last train to Bakersfield….” Monkees cover song by CA High Speed Rail…
To be fair, we did our fair share of mocking David Hogg and his pillow company.
True, but Hogg was trying to make it a political thing by going head to head with the My Pillow guy.
I sure am and that was really good. Definitely on my “pay attention to” list now.
An hour long discussion on opening and owning a gym. The hardest part is something that should surprise no one here. Dealing with the government.
OK, I can kinda see FSU’s point – the ACC looks like they rolled over and begged for a belly scratch from ESPN.
On the other hand, you aren’t worth more than any of the other schools. Clemson was carrying the conference while you couldn’t settle on a coach, and your complaint only has merit this season. Funny thing, you win your release from the conference where do you go plant your flag? The new Pac-12? Bwahahahahaha
The schools in Florida and Texas should have just made their own in state conferences.
ESPN as the holder of the TV rights is hardly an objective source.
The link I posted in the previous post says the ACC won’t let schools copy the grant of rights, which seems insane to a non-lawyer like me.
https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-state-moves-ahead-with-lawsuit-against-acc-in-first-step-to-leave-conference-170309756.html
I’m sure that ESPN is willing to run cover for the ACC. It’s the least they can do.
I don’t understand any of this as a mostly non-fan of the thing but what I hear about eliminating historic rivalries and such makes it even less like I will care. Oh well, I’m sure $omebody care$.
$omebody care$
ding-ding-ding
I’ve had a long, tiring day. I’m ready to engage in frippery and folderol.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87821224358?pwd=eW55MTRDbDNtQkh2aHd3M1Nmenlzdz09
Folderol
Frippery
I’ll stop by. Home tonight for a change.
We’ll have to arrange for some frivolity and flights of fancy in that case
Ballyhoo, balderdash. https://youtu.be/YecBv-5JXmQ?si=Qm7DBMKQaaNB4OlA
👍👍👍
I was thinking about the story from this morning where Microsoft is trying to update things you write with doubleplus goodthink.
How long before regular thought is relegated to the same status as Ebonics?
“Why can’t those idiots learn to speak properly? Don’t they know how dumb they look when they use words like ‘insane’?”
I think the Glibs should put on their thinking caps and trademark a good term for this. Rube-onics?
Thanks, I missed the moring lynx, that is priceless. Newspeak is the antithesis of regular thought, so Oldspeak would be a possibility, but much too dry. Rube-onics is pretty good.
There was some concern about your well being in the Morning Lynx too. Glad to see Net Neutrality didn’t do you in and you are still kicking.
Thanks. I can’t wait to put 2023 in the rearview mirror. I’m sure 2024 will be much much better.
/checks news feed
OK, maybe not.
Good to see you around.
I hope all is well.
Plebeonics?
Glibberanto?
Fad compassion fizzles
Shortly after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police in 2020, Google
was among many tech companies that set up new programs aimed at supporting Black employees. The goal, CEO Sundar Pichai wrote, was “to build sustainable equity for Google’s Black+ community, and externally, to make our products and programs helpful in the moments that matter most to Black users.”
Google’s vocal commitments included improving representation of underrepresented groups in leadership by 30% by 2025; more than doubling the number of Black workers at nonsenior levels by 2025; addressing representation issues in hiring, retention and promotions; and establishing better support for the mental and physical health for Black employees.
The move was part of a broader trend in the wake of the Floyd killing, which sparked societal unrest and drew attention to the power imbalances in corporate America and the tech industry specifically. Corporations pledged to invest millions of dollars to improve diversity in their ranks and support external groups doing work on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.
But in 2023, some of those programs are in retreat.
That’s some top notch business journalisming.
What is the “Black+” community?
The dark complexioned ones.
Duh.
More African than American?
Guessing a clumsy attempt to throw a bone to not-black non-whites. Or something.
We’re still ignoring the original coroner’s report then?
https://glennloury.substack.com/p/what-derek-chauvins-trial-didnt-show
Once BLM latched on to this event as their golden ticket, that trial was never going to go any other way. Chickenshits and liars all around.
I want to know why nobody’s suing to stop the rampant racism that everybody knows is going on here. Or maybe they are and the media is terrified to report it.
So much for the Libertarian Moment. California bans ass sex.
Pendejos. Fredo hardest hit.
“an herb that is derived from the hide of a donkey”
That’s not how that works. Replace the author with AI, stat.
Ears in Tijuana perk up.
Immediate thought confirmed that this is some “Chinese medicine” hooey.
“uh-jee-ow”
That’s what she said?
+1 kielbasa
Maybe that CNBC thing was written by Microsoft’s AI social-justice-bot.
“Haven’t seen you in a while! But I have admittedly been scarce because of work and Tomb Raiding obligations.”
Womb Raiding still sticks in my head for some reason.
While internal DEI programs have suffered, the cuts were arguably even harder for external organizations who expected the same amount of corporate sponsorship and support from tech companies in 2023 as they had the prior few years.
In early 2023, big tech leaders, including Google and Meta were among companies that lessened their work with third parties that were counting on projects, according to several organizations and sources who spoke with CNBC.
Brij, CEO of Brij the Gap Consulting, explained how the steep cuts have affected her firm, which consults with companies on building an effective workforce for underrepresented workers and includes workshops and programs.
Muh gravy train!
Re: Old Man Music- I thought I liked indie rock but maybe I just didn’t know what it was. That is almost as sucky as X-mas music, I turned off John Hiatt to listen to that crap and you should feel shame for having had me do so.
I regret nothing.
Not indie rock, HTH. Merry Christmas!
How long before they pass a law banning this product?
Free association, mexicans, ass sex, gamboling, and all that….
Why make a dog-shit bag dispenser that looks like a grenade?
Car and Driver’s 0-150-0 test.
Video if you need more car porn after reading the article.
Disappointing that they didn’t have the Nissan GT-R
Daily Ray of Sunshine
I was going to make a crack about Manohmen at one time getting hassled by the do gooders who banned Native American mascots because they were the Manohmen Indians. Of course, they literally were the Manohmen Indians being a school on the White Earth rez.
But when I looked up that, I discovered that they changed their logo to the Thunderbirds when they merged with nearby Wauban (also on the rez). Turns out that too required them to file for exemptions for Native American Imagery.
Not sure how Thunderbird is now exclusively Native American cultural property. The super good news is that Warroad can also keep their “Warriors” mascot. Because of course there have never been warriors from any other culture.
Warriors are so yesterday, Microsoft would probably suggest something more inclusive. Like “Warmongers”, perhaps. Would work in DC, both in the inner city public schools and the private schools where the congresscritters’ kids go. Doesn’t get more inclusive than that.
Warroad Neocons has a nice ring to it.
Looking through that Car and Driver thing, I’m surprised the GT3 Porsche wasn’t best, but brake materials probably affected the stopping distance. They should have pre heated the brake pads.
Hmm. Looking more closely at the chart, the GT3 stopped quicker than the first two but took longer to hit 150. Gearing, maybe.
When the brownouts start Excel energy is closing down working coal plants with no realistic plan to replace that production, will the lamp posts actually be able to light up when the pols are hung?
So the plan is to make green energy more competitive by subsidizing it with tax dollars and regulating the shit out of coal. Not that it actually works better.
Look at how well purchasing energy on the open market worked for Xcel in the past.
administrative law judges
Fancy bureaucrats?
“A stable of wind power” Interesting choice of words, given that wind power isn’t stable.
Maybe they are meant to gallop to where the wind is blowing?
Gallivant. They meant gallivant where the wind is blowing.
Do it for Gaia.
Checking in. Eye improving and doing well, but reading is not easy. Doc said it looked good during my post-op this morning. I expect it will be mostly back to normal in another day or so.
Good to hear.
We’ll keep an eye out for ya!
Wait, I missed something. Did you have cataract surgery?
Nah, they had to scrape some nodules and scar tissue off my eyeball.
Best wishes.
Did not know, sounds like things are going well. Good to hear.
Remember when journalisming used to present multiple viewpoints? You will search in vain for an alternate view in this propaganda piece about why it’s just great to overcharge weary consumers of wine and liquor in NY.
On a brighter note, it’s amazing that this is even a conversation. Perhaps outside of the bubble of leftist rags, maybe a small bit of greater freedom and choice has a chance here.
It’s not even as if grocery stores are going to have the same selection of wines that liquor stores do.
It could be worse. Behold the glory of New Jersey Liquor Sales Regulations
But wait, there’s more! Try shopping in Bergen County
Thank $deity I can shop in the relative freedom of Rockland County, NY, 2 miles north. That’s right, giving a shout out to NY for freedom. Sheesh.
I seem to remember buying liquor at the grocery store in Hoboken but that was decades ago and my only experience of living in NJ.
Though that is Hudson Co. IIRC.
But this shit arggh it makes me so angry. Blowing smoke about the poor independent shopkeepers and rubbing our noses in shit and telling us how sweet it smells.
The poor independent shopkeepers raged against Sunday sales too and guess what? They lost.
The fucking .gov took a big chunk of my X-Mas bonus. 😠
That’s why my employer distributed their holiday gifts to staff in green foldy form. 😁🤑
Withholdings on bonuses are at the highest marginal rate, but you will get it back in your tax refund. Still frustrating though.
The news tells me inflation is coming down.
‘Scuse me. Did you count food, clothes, rent, and gas? No?
No those things don’t count. That doesn’t take up much of an income unless you’re one of the pools. Those people don’t count either.
One of the poors
You misspelled “icky people.”
“Your car without brakes is approaching the cliff more slowly!”
This morning I went through $70 at Kroger on 3 bags of groceries.
Beer wasnt one of the staples I picked up.
“I know I’m not as cute as Riven…”
“I know I’m a Basalisk, but I have a pleasant personality.”
I am officially off work until next year.
#MeToo
…I hope
Husband’s surgery is tentatively scheduled for the 27th. If not then, we just pray it happens before the end of the year.
Ooh. Hope it works out well.
How are you doing Patzer?
Not too bad, thanks. Worst part is needing help with some simple things like putting on socks (no bending is permitted). Now I know what Mrs. Patzer has been going through for months.
Hope it happens for you.
Mine once had surgery on New Year’s Eve for the same reason yours is trying to get his in 2023.
I wouldn’t care if it were on Christmas Eve at midnight to get it done this year.
XY’s due date was 12/31 and I told my doc that kid WAS going to be born before the end of the year because I wasn’t going to carry him all year and then not be able to deduct him. They looked at me liked I was the coldest ice bitch who ever lived.
You were just being practical! In our case, I was the crass one who pointed out, “You know, you already met our deductible when you had that stroke this past summer…”
You can stop helping!
Mrs JI was also delivered on 12/31.
🤞
Best wishes
For anyone who missed the drama, he was scheduled for surgery on the 19th and 2 hours before his surgery the hospital called to cancel because of a “technical problem.” In this case, “technical problem” meant hackers hit the hospital with ransomware (that was the rumor, anyway). We’re still holding our breath in case it gets changed to 2024.
FWIW, my hospital (associated with Ardent, I think same as yours) was hit by the same ransomware attack, surgery took place on Monday as planned. Portal was fully online as of yesterday, when I went in I had to change my password. Which leads me to believe that there is a distinct possibility that the password associated with that email address is compromised, so lots of password changing is now taking place.
No, we’re not with Ardent and yours is listed here https://thereadable.co/a-list-of-healthcare-cyberattacks-that-disrupted-emergency-services-in-2023/ as having taken place November 23.
You know you have reached the old age threshold when you’re yelling at Wheel of Fortune contestants for their stupidity, and you’re REALLY INVESTED in the conversation.
“You idiot. You have only $300 and you solve the puzzle instead of spinning and calling the three ‘n’s staring you in the face.”
I’m sorry, it was ‘naggers‘
Our asshole governor, Mike DeWine, sprinkling us with some wisdom about the recent ballot measure that legalized use/possession/sale of recreational marijuana.
“He said he has concerns that we will start seeing storefront places, like vape shops, sell marijuana that is not regulated.”
Hey dumbfuck- where do you think people were buying weed before this passed? Where do you think I got weed in high school?
Hopefully from the black kids, they have the good shit.
Spaulding concurs.