Comments on: Open thead 7/2/24

By: Tom Grey

Tom Grey — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 12:36:56 +0000

Neo, Here’s a comment on gymnastics & ballet & soviet style training you’ll find interesting.
https://davidepstein.substack.com/p/inspiring-or-pathetic/comment/60106525
—-

The post is about a 29 y.o. amateur runner who just missed getting on the US Olympic team 1500, but hopes to make it for the 800.
Update says he got Puma sponsorship.

Later news – very much almost, but DQ out of 800.
https://www.wbng.com/2024/06/29/mackay-onto-1500m-finals-holt-dqd-mens-800m-team-usa-trials/

By: T J

T J — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:01:16 +0000

Brian E writes “Vivek is a libertarian.” As Ramaswamy has himself explained recently, he was a libertarian through his college years and a bit after. But he’s shifted since then, clearly not all Libertarians (ie, doctrinaire Party types are MAGA), but plenty of small l libertarians are — very like many times more.

The Austrian anarcho-capitalist economist Walter Block founded “Libertarians for Trump,” and Libertarian-Republicans are well-represented in various groups, including “The (gay) Log Cabin Republicans” — which, I believe Ambassador Richard Grenier is one such member.

Brian also states “Trump isn’t a Conservative, let alone a Republican.“ I am certain that Trump is a conservative in the broad sense, but not doctrinaire in the least.

He belongs with a group I call American Exceptionalist conservatives, like the great American historian Daniel Boorstin.

This is entirely consistent with Trump’s private HS time at a military academy not far from West Point in the early 1960s. And that means he is pro-military, pro law and order — like nearly all conservatives.

But, as Trump joked in his address at that wooly and obnoxious crowd at the LP convention a month ago, his political persecution has made him a lot more libertarian. And by that I’m sure he meant sharpened skepticism of state powers and the regulatory and administrative state — which are core libertarian values. And not automatically conservative values.

By: mkent

mkent — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 03:41:35 +0000

Grrr. This piece-of-crap iPad just ate a message I spent the better part of an hour composing. Maybe I’ll try again later. Maybe not.

By: R2L

R2L — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 03:03:04 +0000

mkent on July 2, 2024 at 5:15 pm said:
”I cannot and will not support a movement or a party that countenances the genocide of Eastern Europe.” That may be a little hyperbolic … but I agree that Putin/the KGB/ Russian nationalists need to be disabused of the idea that anyone seriously wants to invade and conquer them, such that they now need to reestablish control over the 9 or 10 geographic choke points around their heartland (mountain passes that the USSR supposedly held) to forestall any invasion.

I also join others in wondering about us helping to defend a Europe that seems hesitant about defending itself when faced with such a threat. That view is slowing changing/ improving, but a faster conversion would be well appreciated on this side of the pond.

Chases Eagles,
perhaps you and your wife can pretend those small shards are from Cinderella’s glass slippers instead, as you are clearly her prince incarnate. 🙂

By: huxley

huxley — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 02:44:34 +0000

Chases Eagles:

What a great horrific story. Your wife is a keeper!

For funsies, here’s an Annie Lennox 90s video, which isn’t quite the same, but it was one of her great hits and I like it.

–“Annie Lennox – Walking on Broken Glass (Official Video)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y25stK5ymlA

The powdered wig world of the video comes from the films “Dangerous Liaisons” and “Amadeus” plus the hilarious “Blackadder” tv show. That really is John Malkovich from “Dangerous Liaisons” and Hugh Laurie from “Blackadder.”

By: miguel cervantes

miguel cervantes — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 23:19:38 +0000

https://www.voanews.com/a/satellite-imagery-shows-china-expanding-spy-bases-in-cuba/7682716.html

By: Chases Eagles

Chases Eagles — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 22:13:15 +0000

When wife unit was 14, her family was on a 6-week camping trip when they were hit head on by a logging truck. Wife walked barefoot through broken glass to get help as she was the only one not disabled in the crash. It has been decades and she still pulls broken glass out of her feet at least once a month. When we were first married 40 years ago, it was once a week. Just pulled three pieces out this morning. They look like grains of sand now

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 22:02:24 +0000

mkent, nobody is voting for Steve Bannon. He’s not on the ballot. I would be extremely surprised if Trump in his second term capitulated to Russia.

By: Chases Eagles

Chases Eagles — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 22:02:18 +0000

August Astronomy (magazine) has a curious double blackhole with a companion blackhole that obits a SMBH at 90 degrees to the accretion disk. Kind of looks like a gyroscope.

The Russia Ukraine war is part of the continuing disintegration of the Soviet Union which ain’t done yet. Similar would happen if the USA breaks up.

By: Brian E

Brian E — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:45:06 +0000

mkent– Steve Bannon isn’t a Republican– he has declared himself to be a Populist Nationalist.

Trump isn’t a Conservative, let alone a Republican. We have formed an alliance– Trump spoke at the Libertarian Party convention asking for the votes of Libertarians. Vivek is a libertarian.

Will Trump leave an America First movement after his term? That will be up to those who believe in the core principals of national sovereignty. I think that sums up most of America First. Add a dose of economic conservatism coupled to a more decentralized Federal government and sprinkle with a traditional family (as much as possible in this hedonistic society) as the core to a stable citizenry.

As to Ukraine– had Trump been elected in 2020, none of this would have happened.

Even Zelensky is working on a new peace/ceasefire offer to present at the NATO summit.
He may be realizing Ukraine may not have years left.

Putin has no intention of “the genocide of Eastern Europe”– let alone the capability. His army can’t even make it to the Dnipro River.