Monica in Paris in the Spring
Friday Open Comments
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70 responses to “Friday Open Comments”
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Well, it looks like Friday to me.
Mornin’ Gang -
EPA poised to scrap fuel economy targets that are key to curbing global warming — setting up clash with California.
The Trump administration is poised to abandon America’s pioneering fuel economy targets for cars and SUVs, a move that would undermine one of the world’s most aggressive programs to confront climate change and invite another major confrontation with California.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce in the coming days that it will scrap mileage targets the Obama administration drafted in tandem with California that aim to boost average fuel economy for passenger cars and SUVs to 55 miles per gallon by 2025, according to people familiar with the plans.
The agency plans to replace those targets with a weaker standard that will be unveiled soon, according to the people, who did not want to be identified discussing the plan before it was announced.
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From last night;
UPDATE: I asked Jean-Louis about the origins of the word, his comment:
Glad you like the latest Internet of … Monday Note – and the word I made up, a couple of years ago actually, used in previous Notes: persphinctery, perfunctory acts by a$$holes…
Quite good, actually.
😀
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The Fab Five (Page, Strzok, Ohr, Baker and Priestap) are all but shackled and ready to do the perp walk. Can’t wait to see who they take down with them.
The IG does not have legal or prosecutorial authority – the IG must immediately refer unlawful activity to the proper authority; essentially to his boss. A DOJ prosecutor is then assigned to work with the IG (as Jeff Sessions confirmed today) and essentially creates a parallel investigation focused only on the law-breaking part.
[That prosecutor could, likely would, then begin a Grand Jury proceeding; and no-one outside the AG, AAG, and the ‘outside’ prosecutor’s office would know.]
The prior testimony/statements to the IG by the fab-five would explain why AAG Rod Rosenstein was negotiating with Devin Nunes; would explain why Rosenstein was reluctant to allow testimony; and would also explain why Nunes came away from those negotiations with wind in his investigative sails.
The DOJ (Rod Rosenstein) needs to wall-off the politics (Nunes/Congress) from the ongoing criminal investigation (DOJ-OIG-Prosecutor John Huber) to preserve the integrity of his advancing and assembling case (including criminal witness testimony).
As soon as Chairman Nunes recognized something was going on, and after a review of the FISA documents – Nunes dropped his demand for immediate testimony by the fab-five to the HPSCI mid-January. [A record is already established]
As a person familiar with such specific investigative measures recently shared:
“They are sat down, told to not do anything, say anything or discuss anything UNTIL they get an attorney. At which time, the attorney is handed a letter from the investigating unit. That letter says in essence, this is how screwed you are. If you want to be less screwed you will sign this letter of cooperation and assist us. When we don’t need you, you sit there. When we do we will call you and you will provide what we need. Any deviation from this agreement lands you in jail for the full term.”
Additionally regarding Bruce and Nellie Ohr:
“The Republican memo states they turned over all their work and testified to someone that Bruce Ohr met with Christopher Steele and Steele was saying he didn’t want Trump in office. They didn’t testify to a Congressional committee, so it had to be the IG.”
The already existing “outside DOJ official” outlined by AG Sessions, John Huber, is the person who would be constructing the witness agreements with approval of his DOJ bosses, Rosenstein and Sessions. Is this all making sense now?
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I think we should start a fund to raise the money for a life size bronze statue of this woman.
The ‘Nice Girl’ Who Saved the Second Amendment
Malcolm looks nothing like a hardened veteran of the gun-control wars. Small, slender, and bookish, she’s a wisp of a woman who enjoys plunging into archives and sitting through panel discussions at academic conferences. Her favorite topic is 17th- and 18th-century Anglo-American history, from the causes of the English Civil War to the meaning of the American Revolution. Her latest book, due in May, is The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold, a biography of the infamous general. She doesn’t belong to the National Rifle Association, nor does she hunt. She admits to owning an old shotgun, but she’s unsure about the make or model. “I’ve taken it out a couple of times, but the clay targets fall safely to earth,” she says in an interview at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School in Virginia, where she’s a professor who teaches courses on constitutional history as well as on war and law.
She is also the lady who saved the Second Amendment — a scholar whose work helped make possible the Supreme Court’s landmark Heller decision, which in 2008 recognized an individual right to possess a firearm. “People used to ask, ‘How did a nice girl like you get into a subject like this?’” she says. “I’m not asked that anymore.” She smiles, a little mischievously. “Maybe they don’t think I’m a nice girl anymore.”
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5
Better yet, make her the next Supreme Court Justice.
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In 1963, the nascent Houston Colt 45s had a new 19 year old redheaded kid from New Orleans playing first base. The hometown crowd loved him. I was 11 at the time and a huge fan. Staub was my second favorite player after third baseman, Bob Aspromonte.
Staub ended his career with a .279 average, 2,716 hits and 499 doubles. He’s the only man in MLB history to get 500 hits with four different teams: the Astros, Tigers, Expos and Mets, spread over two stints. In Montreal he earned the nickname “Le Grand Orange,” for his burly frame and ginger hair, but in New York he earned the love of the city both with his play and his philanthropy.
“I have his jersey autographed,” Alderson said. “I bought it in an auction, really out of respect for him as a person more than even as a player.”
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Opening day was great! Driving up to Dallas on I-45, watching a complete game, then driving back to Houston all in one day is probably a bit much, though. Read comments on attendance on last night’s thread. Official paid attendance was 47,253. There weren’t that many people there but I would guess the crowd at around 42,000. It was a sizable crowd. We had a good view of the entire stadium as we were 2nd row from the top. Reminded me of a Mel Brooks movie:
Quite a view, isn’t it? Here we are. Top floor. Top of the hotel. You can’t get any higher. We’re pretty high.
Not a bad stadium. Even at the top o’ the world you could see the action. I wouldn’t think they’d need a new one (this one opened in 1994) but we talked with a bunch of Rangers fans and they agreed but noted that it can get pretty brutal on August afternoons.
Astros were well-represented. In my unofficial poll of people-watching I would estimate probably 25% Astros fans. All the Rangers fans I encountered were very nice folks. Having dealt with idiot Cowboys fans I was expecting the worst. Glad to see that imbecility doesn’t cross sports genres.
And of course the game started out great with Springer’s lead off home run. The wild pitch in the 9th that lead to the Rangers only run was a little disappointing but it was too little too late for the Rangers. Most of their fans had left by that point so there was not much rallying going on.
When the Astros announced that they were putting the new stadium downtown I was skeptical. It seemed like it would be a nightmare for parking, even worse than the Astrodome. That turned out to be a good move. Parking at the Rangers stadium is atrocious. The “cash lots” are a couple miles away. Seems like most of the areas closer to the stadium are season ticket lots and tailgating lots. Yup, they have a huge tailgating contingent at their baseball games. Never saw that before. We were able to find a “cash lot” for $40, but the shuttle bus ride was “free”, so we had dat goin’ for us, which was nice.
I-45. For an interstate that doesn’t go to any other state it sure seems like they can’t get that damn thing built. Seeing as how it was the “first freeway in Texas” you’d think they’d want to get it finished. There’s a section just south of Corsicana where there’s lots of bridges going over various tributaries of Richland Creek that have been under heavy construction for the last 25 years.
In summary, we had a blast watching the Astros beat the Rangers in not-so-hostile territory, although I would probably spend the night next time. Minute Maid Park is a fine stadium, certainly the best out of the six I’ve been to. I’m happy baseball is back. Not sure I could have handled another week where the only “sport” on TV was the National Cornhole Championship. Not sure about Texas but that had an entirely different meaning where I grew up and it didn’t involve throwing bean bags into holes in plywood.
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#4
Wow, DC does have the ability to keep a secret.
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National Cornhole Championship.
Means the same thing here as far as I’ve ever known. Never knew there was such a sport, I must not get that channel.
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#5
Texpat, thanks for bringing Mrs Malcolm to our attention. I had never heard a single word about her, and she deserves to be well known and celebrated. -
It used to be “bean bag toss”.
Whoever changed it to cornhole was a moron. -
It’s a pretty big deal here around County Fair time. In the marketing for teams, I can assure you they don’t call it cornholing.
Hell, no one would show up. -
Those Iowa and Nebraska folks must use corn in their bags.
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#8 – Thanks for the update on baseball. I’m headed up to the Rangers v Blue Jays next weekend, and I’ve never been to the current stadium. Jays are opening against the Yankees, and it’s almost unfair. Yankees are loaded with bats this year. Jays have a good defense, but even good defenders can’t make the play when the ball keeps sailing into the outfield bleachers.
Another CAVU day out here, and cool. Mowed yard looks good even though the ground cover is mostly weeds that will burn off when it gets a little warmer. Working on the plan for the day right now. You all have a great one.
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Oh, and the Rangers ball park food really sucks. Jim Crane has definitely got that one right at Minute Maid Park.
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Remember the Pulse nightclub shooting in Florida. Apparently they tried the perp’s wife, but turns out she dinnonuttin.
https://apnews.com/c5613430d459423a9e45b1885bad29f3What is really says to me is that no one believes anything the FBI says any more.
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I-45. For an interstate that doesn’t go to any other state it sure seems like they can’t get that damn thing built.
Soon, you’ll take the bullet train!
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Despite my overall lack of enthusiasm for most feminine produced articles, I read this lady’s column each and every week, and I even send it out to my friends from time to time. So, here is this week’s column friends. Watch the short video – not bad for a woman. Not bad for anyone.
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/03/thoughts-from-the-ammo-line-213.php -
It is Good Friday.
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19 EG
8 out of 9 rounds to the head, one to the neck.
Nice.
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Holy crap Rush is blasting the Pope. He just pointed out how the Pope is corrupting the Catholic
ConclaveChurch. -
YES he said the Pope is corrupting the CC.
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/OUT
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Your new word for the day:
hybristophilia – A paraphilia in which a person is sexuoerotically attracted to a person who has committed an outrage or a gruesome crime
Whatever Burton’s reasons for pursuing the relationship, when news broke about the pair’s engagement, the Internet couldn’t stop talking about the sexual phenomenon called hybristophilia or, as it’s sometimes called, Bonnie and Clyde syndrome.
“Hybristophilia is a sexual disorder in which arousal is contingent on being with a partner who has committed an outrage, such as rape, torture or murder,” Katherine Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University and the author of The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, explained in an interview with HuffPost.
Prompted by…
Lovestruck groupies from around the country are showering the Parkland, Fla., gunman Nikolas Cruz with fan mail, including sexually provocative photos and donations, according to a Wednesday report.
One 18-year-old from Texas purportedly professed her love to Cruz in a March 15 letter adorned with smiley faces and hand-drawn hearts, South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel reported.
“When I saw your picture on the television, something attracted me to you,” the letter said. “Your eyes are beautiful and the freckles on your face make you so handsome.”
But here’s the money quote of the sales pitch.
The missive flatly concludes: “I’m really skinny and have 34C sized breasts.”
The report didn’t mention whether or not she was from Cut and Shoot.
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rotflol!!
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We are keeping the little ones for the day, Sweetie just called, she said L’il Ricky was in the backseat saying “I can’t wait, I can’t wait!”
Sweetie: You can’t wait for what?
Ricky: I can’t wait to see G’Pa Tim!
Ah yeah, kids make everything A-Ok.
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I know his game though, he just wants to ride G’Pa’s tractor and UTV. 😀
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The report didn’t mention whether or not she was from Cut and Shoot.
I think she lives in East County Cut-N-Shoot.
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I just heard an ad for the movie “Chappaquiddick”. It had the usual warnings about disturbing images, etc., and then I heard this: “historical smoking”. I’m assuming the warning was about cigarettes and not about some Islamic terrorist burning someone to death.
Holy crap, we have to warn people that they might see someone on screen smoke a cigarette?
We have become a nation of wimps. Total wimps.
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The Catholic Church/Faith has survived scoundrels exponentially worse than this guy. This, too, will pass away.
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Sean Hannity Radio: Chairman Goodlatte confirms the Horowitz DOJ grand jury has been empaneled.
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If any of those Deep State bad boys (and girls) gets jail time, the MSM will collectively die of ruptured brain aneurysms.
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Comey may want to hurry up that book tour.
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ALERT
Spring fashion show in full swing. Interstate 10 crowded with cuties in convertibles. Truckers and other high profile operators happy.
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Spring musical interlude…
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2018 line of seat covers looking good!
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Chhh chh-chh
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I’m gonna get me some religion,
I’m gonna join the Baptist Church….Crank it up!!!
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Good afternoon Hamsters. Wonderful that there is a DOJ grand jury empaneled. The MSM will collectively have seizures over that first move, likely in fear of what said jury will hear, see, and decide. Better late than never. Stock up on popcorn for the long haul. Nice to see that AG Sessions’ staff can keep a secret.
Meanwhile on the sunny side of life, congrats to the Astros for yesterday’s great start to the season.
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Check out the video (on local news) of the Pasadena cop shooting some old white guy who pulled a gun on him yesterday.
Amazing.
Just goes to show ya, best to use a .45 or better.
Unless you’re willing to carry a 9mm fifteen+ round mag and a prayer. -
Poll:
Is that attorney for Stormy Daniels a guy you want to make sure you’re carrying a bat when you meet him, or what? -
My departed mother-in-law’s ancient Sweetheart Rose was transplanted from the old ‘Home Place’ to this yard a dozen years ago.
In no uncertain terms, I was recently informed that I had neglected it terribly over the last two years. (No mention made of my other distractions during the same time period.)
About six weeks ago, grumbling, I embarked on an intensive program of rose rehab. That thing is so green you’d almost describe the leaves as black. Three days ago, hundreds of flower buds exploded on the scene. Having discovered that someone left a short gallon of activated sludge in my truck, today I recycled it at the base of dear Evelyn’s rose.
In a week or so, we’ll just see who’s better at rose husbandry.
Harrumph!
(Yeah, yeah, I know….we want pics!)
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Well, the Mexicans around the corner already have their rib-shaking music starting already.
I never understood why people play their music so loudly. I mean, once you can hear it, does it need to be so loud that it’s distorted?
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Git out of my yard!!!
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Hey, it’s Good Friday. What better time to get drunk and crank up the band. It’s a 3 day celebration. Some people think you are supposed to be all somber and stuff. It’s only the entire reason Christianity exists at all.
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Just left the local grocery.
Pretty busy, but everyone was grinning, shuckin’ & jjive’n, talkin’ and generally having a grand old time.Must be Spring, on what surely will be the most beautiful day of the year. Until Fall.
Must almost be Easter.
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but everyone was grinning, shuckin’ & jjive’n, talkin’ and generally having a grand old time.
The Trump Effect
Huh, Phil?
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If it’s too loud, you’re too old 😉
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The Catholic Church/Faith has survived scoundrels exponentially worse than this guy. This, too, will pass away.
Amen. And, I will add, this is why the Holy Spirit has only allowed the Pope to invoke papal infallibility twice in 2000+ years.
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I think we’ve had this conversation before but, hands down, John Bonham is the best rock and roll drummer to have ever lived.
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Presume the sale of Easter candy treats is about at max level by now. I bought several Easter basket filling dark chocolate items and some Reese’s/milk chocolate bunnies yesterday to give away and a couple of things for us. The basket got delivered to our tax preparer who is a chocolate lover along with the last (I hope) item needed to finish our return. Got mostly the dark chocolate things where possible, since you might as well get the good stuff in that while racking up the calories, right?
He said he gave up chocolate for Lent and so would have to wait until Sunday to indulge. I replied that Lent ends at midnight on Saturday. 🙂
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I knew Fay’s ex-husband was/is a Navy man who served on the carrier USS Saratoga. I didn’t know until a minute ago that he’d actually seen a little action in the 1958 Lebanon Crisis.
One of those Christians vs. Muslims conflicts.
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Actually, at least for mackerel snappers, Lent ends when the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday begins. We are now in Easter season.
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#2 SD: I think 55 mpg CAFE, is unreasonable. In order to reach that goal vehicles would have to be built very small, light weight, and grossly underpowered. These are precisely the kind of cars that Americans do not want.
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The Chinese space station is supposed to be breaking up and reentering on Sunday. They are saying the odds of any of it hitting land are pretty remote, and even more remote that a piece might hit a person – although not as remote as winning the lottery though. Anyway, spending Easter Sunday searching for bits of Chinese space station parts sounds like a lot more fun than looking for Easter eggs. Oh wait, I forgot – we’re all doomed. This thing will hit all the population centers with the force of thousands of nuclear weapons – at least that’s the way the press will report it.
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#56, 2
You can’t give the Greenie Wienies any credit, because it is by far not what they intended, but past, ridiculous at the time, CAFE standards is what brought us 400+ HP EFI engines getting 20+ MPG, lasting 300,000 miles. Now, I don’t think 55MPG standards brings us anything fun to drive in the future or whether automotive engineers in the past would have brought us anything like we have now anyway, but you never know.
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My 2016 4 door F150 has a 2.7 liter twin turbocharged engine. 345 hp, 375 lb-ft of torque; steady cruise control with no ac, 65 mph gives about 24 -25 mpg. The cam – less Koenigsegg engine with continuously variable valve timing mated to a continuously variable transmission might get that to 35 mpg – maybe. I just don’t see how 55mpg is in the realm of possibilities.
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Sorry, I’m not giving any credit whatsoever to government mandates causing automotive engineers to work to improve performance. Competition does that much more effectively than government mandates. Mandates merely force decisions in favor of the mandate and away from some other variable, such as safety.
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My 6 year old Chevy Silverado has some kind of V-8 engine, transmission, brakes, a pretty decent AC, a darn comfortable seat, and a whole bunch of stuff I don’t care about. I don’t know what kind of mileage it gets because there’s nothing I can do about it…..I have to drive a PU for my work. I maintain it well and wash it pretty often.
But not as often as SD does his.🙂
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#61 EG: The competitive market and meeting consumer demands is by far the most efficient way to do things. If 55 mpg is good then why not 100? There is a point that the cost benefit curve get bent way out of proportion and it would require that the vehicle be made of unobtainium which no one could afford.
Y’all have a blessed weekend, Shabbat Shalom. -
I sure didn’t mean to give accolades to government though it may have seemed to. Mostly just noting how it all played out. American ingenuity would certainly have prevailed, who knows what they would’ve come up with, left free to explore. Of course Japan kind of kicked their asses in gear too. 😀
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Yes, since the horrible 80’s the great American car manufacturer has almost caught the Japs in reliability.
I’m so impressed.
Too bad we can’t slap a tariff on them…..because so many of the Jap cars are built in America now by Americans.
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Let’s close out the work week with a funny old ad I came across, posted Over Yonder.
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66
I guarantee that NO ONE ever predicted that mharp would come up with that one.
SQK, Hammie, and WB will long be cowering in the corner while trying to top that one.
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Well done Harper. Well done.
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“Ribbed for extra pleasure!.” “Ooh La La!”
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#66 mharper42
LOL.
And good night, everybody.
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