#5
Not a single Texas City on there. Even Houston/Harris County and their catch and release program can't stop the locals from ventilating crooks. And I know they would LOVE to charge people for self defense shootings but they realize all that happens is the Grand Jury will say "Nope" and they're more likely to get voted out of office.
And on the border of Harris County is this billboard, informing them they are out of Harris.
[Women's Health] After over half a century of musical superstardom, Sir Elton John has got nothing to lose by being frank about his feelings. That’s why it’s no surprise that his new autobiography, Me: Elton John, is full of shocking revelations about his life in show business. Among those revelations are his comments about the late Michael Jackson, whom he calls, "mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around."
"I’d known Michael since he was 13 or 14," John writes. "He was just the most adorable kid you could imagine. But at some point in the intervening years, he started sequestering himself away from the world and away from reality, the way Elvis Presley did."
John also speculates about Jackson’s tortured relationship with prescription drugs, alluding to his addiction to painkillers: "God knows what was going on in his head, and God knows what prescription drugs he was being pumped full of, but every time I saw him in his later years I came away thinking that the poor guy had totally lost his marbles. I don’t mean that in the lighthearted way. He was genuinely mentally ill, a disturbing person to be around."
#4
All the dissing the dead aside. When a freak says someone else is disturbing, it had to be bad... Jackson does not deserve the respect we have for the dead.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
08/02/2022 11:45 Comments ||
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#5
^ I disagree. I met him, granted, just for a few minutes, in a posh hotel lobby. But he was friendly and polite. Didn't come off as a freak at all, despite his appearance.
I can think of dozens of celebrities both alive and dead I'd rather not be in the same building, let alone the same room with.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/02/2022 11:48 Comments ||
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#6
The only dead I have no respect for are those who were demonstrably harmful to others. Thinking Dahmer, Bundy, Stalin, Mao, etc.
Not some poor guy who was so messed up he used drugs until they killed him.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/02/2022 11:50 Comments ||
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#7
Pedophiles usually come off as "nice" guys.
Posted by: Chris ||
08/02/2022 12:27 Comments ||
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#8
also, just because you're dead doesn't mean you were not a piece of shit during life.
Posted by: Chris ||
08/02/2022 12:28 Comments ||
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#9
I had foot surgery in 2020. They gave me propofol. How that became his recreational drug is a story of stoopid. That shit was awesome. For surgery.
Posted by: Frank G ||
08/02/2022 15:06 Comments ||
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#10
Some people also use propofol for suicide. I used isoflurane once. It's cheaper and you don't have to inject it.
[CD Media Dec 29,2021] All dictatorships are illegitimate, because all dictatorships deny and crush the most essential traits of human beings: free will, creativity, and love.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), as is typical of all dictatorships, excels at the destruction of the human soul and freedom. The CCP has done its best to make the world afraid of its power, but one tiny country is saying "no."
Kudos to Lithuania for recognizing Taiwan and standing up to the Chinese Communist Party. Lithuania is confronting a bully at great risk to its prosperity and well-being, while much larger countries slink away. Accommodating totalitarians never works. Thugs and criminals who murdered tens of millions of innocent civilians have no conscience and will not change their behavior unless they are forced to do so by a stronger opponent.
Communist China demands that the world acknowledge that the real China is Communist China and that Taiwan has no validity as a separate country. They rattle their sabers and snarl threats to anyone who dares to question their narrative about Taiwan. Companies and individuals who want to profit from trade with Mainland China meekly apologize and move on, kicking Taiwan to the curb. To those who make millions of dollars from the Communist Chinese while abandoning Taiwan, one might suggest that they remember the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36: "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
But let’s consider for a moment the moral status of Taiwan compared to the CCP. And I say "CCP"—not "Mainland China"—because the communists in China are a minority of fascists who have enslaved their citizens and do not represent the hearts and minds of their people.
Slavery is the dividing line. The CCP might say that they don’t practice slavery, but enslaving an entire society under a totalitarian system of oppression fits the bill. It’s not just China, of course. North Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Venezuela, and every other repressive regime in the world can be succinctly labeled as a country of "illegitimate slavers."
Someone might point to the long history of conquest in the world and excuse the CCP as the military victor in an internal conflict. Mao Zedong won the war and to the victor go the spoils. Hasn’t that happened everywhere in the world, throughout history? Look at Britain: the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes occupied England and became "the rightful rulers," and then the Normans conquered the Anglo-Saxons. Such is life, and such is history.
#1
Chiang Kai-shek wasn't a model 'republican' either. Like Syngman Rhee in South Korea it was our dictator was better than your dictator era. Eventually both states evolved into legitimate representative government.
#2
Viet Nam could also be free if we had been willing to do what we did in Korea. I am against nation building, but I am really really against half nation building.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/02/2022 16:04 Comments ||
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#3
The Kuomintang (Nationalists) refugees from the Mainland also trampled all over the rights of the indigenous Taiwanese. Mandarin dialect was enforced in all the schools for example. Even so their cruelties were retail level while the CCP under Mao was, and is butchering people on an industrial scale.
BLUF
[ZERO] Below is an excerpt from an insightful post titled Red Clouds of War Looming Over Taiwan by a Westerner who is a Taiwan-based researcher...
Scenario 1: The minimalist approach. The PLA occupies Jinmen or Matsu islands, as well as Taiwan’s islands in the South China Sea, and maybe even the Penghu Islands. They also declare part or all of the Taiwan Strait a "no go" zone to foreign military shipping. This would probably be fairly easy for the PLA, and Taiwan would probably not want to overcommit to naval action against the huge PLA Navy (PLAN) if it didn’t directly approach the main island.
Scenario 2: Hybrid warfare. Some sort of partial naval and aerial blockade of Taiwan intended to interfere with the economy, combined with stepped-up harassment, such as direct flyovers of Taiwan’s territory by PLA Air Force (PLAAF) jets, or incursions into Taiwan’s maritime space by China’s naval militia, protected by PLAN warships. This might also be accompanied by cyberattacks designed to shut down the internet and other infrastructure for days at a time. Taiwan would have no choice to assert a stiff defensive posture, resulting in real engagements between Taiwanese and Chinese forces, posing a serious risk of escalation.
Scenario 3: A serious attack but no invasion. This would involve air and sea warfare only, no boots on the ground. A full aerial and naval blockade, a protracted set of naval and aerial battles designed to degrade Taiwan’s military, combined with ballistic missile attacks on military targets. Aggressive cyberattacks turning off the internet and shutting down critical infrastructure for days or weeks. Once air and naval superiority were established, China could pick off targets at will, ratcheting up the threat until the government breaks.
Scenario 4: The Full Monty — a proper invasion. Total air and sea blockade, massive ballistic missile attacks on military targets, massive cyberattacks to paralyze virtually all military, governmental, and civilian communication and shut down critical infrastructure. Aggressive naval and aerial engagements to degrade Taiwan’s forces and achieve battlespace superiority, followed by sustained aerial assaults by fighters and bombers on military targets. A decapitation strike at Taipei by special forces units to try to seize key leadership personnel. Well-coordinated insider treason and sabotage actions by gangsters, planted CCP agents, and other groups sympathetic to China — the so-called "5th column". An amphibious assault with close air support from fighters, helicopters, and battle drones at one or more locations in Taiwan, and very possibly a move to seize a major port, such as Keelung, Taipei Port, Taichung, or Kaohsiung. Then hundreds of thousands of troops would start rolling in until the island was occupied. That would be the plan, anyway. PLA success in such an endeavor is very unclear. But they could do a hell of a lot of damage trying. And yes, they might actually succeed, at least partially, such as in seizing and holding the region around Taipei.
Scenario 5: Worst Case (short of nuclear) scenario. Full air and sea blockade, massive ballistic missile attacks on military targets, massive cyberattack, aggressive naval and aerial attacks to degrade Taiwan’s forces and achieve battlefield superiority, followed by aerial assaults by fighters and bomber on military targets and area bombing of civilian targets. There are massive casualties, and Taiwan is crushed by brute force, surrenders, and then the occupiers enter the country and take it over.
#1
Senario 6: Brandon phones Xi. Apologizes for lose cannon Pelosi, Promises free shipments of SPR's crude oil, cut-off of military aid to Taiwan and Japan, discontinuation of Trump tariffs on China. Agrees to purchase billions in Wuhan lab Monkey Pox vaccine. Agrees to appoint Anthon Fauci US AMBO to China as Xi has privately requested.
#4
Senario 7: Following a carefully worked out, timed and flown flight plan.
Pelosi will claim a CCP plane fired warning shots.
CCP will deny and will have its own version.
The MSM/WH Propaganda Media arm will create PANIC. All leading to a BIDEN-XI sit down. Biden will then claim he has worked things out with Xi and the USA and CCP will grow closer as trading partners.
(All at the cost of several nations that China has interests in.)
The Onion
BEIJING; Warning the United States that the House Speaker would be spared, China reportedly threatened to retaliate Thursday for Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan by letting her return safely. "Should Nancy Pelosi follow through with her planned trip to Taiwan, China will be forced to take the hostile measure to weaken America by allowing her to return unscathed," said President Xi Jinping, warning that any move by Pelosi to legitimize the Taiwanese regime would be met with a first class ticket back so that she is well-rested and ready to return to legislative matters. "The folly of America's intransigence on China's territorial claims will be be made clear when Ms. Pelosi is permitted to set foot back on U.S. soil and continue to shape national policy. We have the entire might of the Chinese military standing by ready to defend Ms. Pelosi from any possible threat." At press time, Chinese leadership was tested in their resolve to keep Pelosi alive after hearing her speak.
#3
^ A sign the pendulum is starting to swing. Watch for the "fact checkers" to stop papering over every lie the dems tell. It won't happen in an avalanche, but it will happen.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/02/2022 10:29 Comments ||
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#4
No, not _every_ lie. The Party is not a monolith. Those losing internal struggles will lose their protection.
Posted by: James ||
08/02/2022 13:11 Comments ||
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#5
Leaving aside what exactly is the end game of this ridiculous stunt, what is the threat here? They're going to do something to and/or keep Pelosi? OK, but what about that threat.
If all we have to do to get rid of this parasitic class is to send them to Taipei, it's 'Mr Musk to the damned courtesy phone immediately, not only is it an emergency but we have a solution.' This sort of crap couldn't happen in a literate society, you know, The Ransom of Red Chief and all.
[MAIL] Top congressional Democrats have accused the US Secret Service of engaging in a cover-up immediately after the January 6 attacks on the nation's Capitol, by allegedly scrubbing text messages that could have incriminated them.
The potentially damning allegations were aired in a letter to the agency's inspector general Monday, penned by New York Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, and Mississippi's Bennie Thompson.
The note saw the two prominent progressives accuse Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of overseeing the cover-up, and demanded he step aside from his post as the House continues to probe the 2021 riots. "prominent progressives" = leftist corruptocrats
The embattled Homeland security official, who serves as the agency's watchdog, has come under fire after it was revealed he first learned of the missing messages in May 2021 - months earlier than previously known and more than a year before he alerted the House that potentially crucial information may have been erased.
It comes as part of a deepening investigation into the agency's handling of the now-deleted texts, which the reps argue may have provided proof that agents received instruction from higherups during the brazen daytime raid.
[WSJ] Is the U.S. prepared for battle? By one measure, military recruitment, the answer appears to be no. Nearly every branch has struggled to meet its recruitment goals for 2022, with some falling as short as 40%. Worse yet, only about a quarter of America’s youth meet current eligibility standards—and recent surveys show only 9% are even interested.
Military leadership primarily blames this slump on two causes: teen obesity rates and the tight labor market. But data for both claims can’t paint the full picture. Teen obesity did increase during the pandemic, to 22% from 19%. But that jump likely can’t account for the sudden and widespread collapse in recruitment. Neither can the labor market. The unemployment rate today sits at 3.6%—roughly the same as in 2019. Yet in 2019 the Army exceeded its recruiting goals. It’s falling perilously short today and will be understrength by 28,000 troops by the end of 2023. The military’s benefits—including child care, housing allowances, medical coverage and large bonuses, up to $50,000—should also help insulate it from the pitfalls of hiring young recruits in a tight labor market.
What, then, explains the shift? Perhaps one answer lies in the Pentagon’s wholesale embrace of woke politics.
Continued on Page 49
#2
I suspect they’ll start lining up as soon as the nonsense is forbidden again, ruprecht. Once the need to serve develops, I can’t imagine anything else satisfying in the same way.
#4
Large number of costly volunteers no longer required. Small number of WOKE, non-Binary volunteers needed for parades and domestic issues.
Klingon controlled AI and very highly paid 'Wagner Group' type contractors and uniformed Special Operators will execute precision "Over The Horizon" (OTH) missions. Contact Ayman Al Zawahiri senior staff officers for details.
Money saved will be transferred to Green Energy and Social Equity initiatives.
[Breitbart] FNC anchor Bret Baier said Monday on Fox News Channel’s "The Five" that President Joe Biden has had a "couple of good weeks" because the U.S. military killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri.
He also included Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), agreeing to a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on a massive tax and climate package.
Baier said, "We can confirm from two intelligence sources that al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed by a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan over the weekend. And that is what President Biden will announce from the White House tonight at 7:30 Eastern Time."
Discussing Biden’s speech about the drone strike, Baier said, "This is a huge, huge win for the U.S., and we expect to hear that and where the fight goes from here as far as taking out other terrorists."
#1
Klingons come to the aid of sagging poll numbers with Abbottabad redux.
No mention of origin of drone mission. No mention of location of targeting or bomb damage assessment (BDA) elements. No Full Motion Video (FMV) or happy snaps.
Still no "need to know" on number of US personnel "left behind" in Iraq after pull out. Oh, ok. Got it.
#4
If this is Joe's October surprise, someone should get him a calendar. If the Dobbs decision didn't move the needle, this surely will not.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/02/2022 7:56 Comments ||
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#5
The Saudi Crown Prince was laughing too hard to comment.
Posted by: Too Old To Work ||
08/02/2022 8:17 Comments ||
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#6
Did Talib comment on martyrdom of her Muslim Brother?
Posted by: Super Hose ||
08/02/2022 8:39 Comments ||
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#7
Al-Q has been losing influence to ISIS for a decade now.
ISIS is probably also celebrating this hit.
Posted by: Lord Garth ||
08/02/2022 9:05 Comments ||
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#8
I heard somewhere that Zawahiri had a really bad form of asthma and it was difficult for him to move around much. One could try watching his breathing in the more recent videos, but I don't know if there has been one in the last couple of years.
Moved out of a cave to town for 'medical reasons', I guess.
Posted by: Mullah Richard ||
08/02/2022 10:03 Comments ||
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[Rudaw] Rumors said that Ottoman Turkish President His Enormity, Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ...Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey. In Anatolia did Recep Bey a stately Presidential Palace decree, that has 1100 rooms. That's 968 more than there are in the White House, 400 more than in Versailles, and 325 more than Buckingham Palace, so you know who's really most important... ’s ambitions of launching a new military operation against Syrian Kurds were put down during his visit to Tehran, but the reality on the ground shows otherwise.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
