Home » Open thread 12/3/22

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Open thread 12/3/22 — 55 Comments

  1. Just how crooked was the last election?

    Well, if the linked article is to be believed, in the case of the election in Georgia extremely fishy/crooked, with “Mules”–in some cases such Mules out of state and apparently unemployed–making thousands of individual small donations each–358,000 such small, individual donations for $10, $15, $25, or $50 dollars adding up to tens of millions of dollars in money flowing into the campaign of the Democratic candidate, done this way, I presume, to get around campaign finance laws. *

    * See https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/shocking-huge-exclusive-georgias-raphael-warnock-received-24-million-money-mules-unemployed-gave-small-amounts-358000-donations/

  2. According to the article linked to above this same kind of thing also happened in races all across the country.

  3. The DISNEY [company] is planning to close it’s “SPLASH MOUNTAIN” ride, or rides, because some Disney fans feel that it “promotes racial stereotypes”.

    The ride was built in 1989, originally.

    If the people of the Disney co. were uncomfortable with the ride’s themes, then why did they build it at all?

    Here’s a link to this story:

    https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/disney-sets-closing-date-iconic-splash-mountain-ride-reveals-princess-frog-replacement

    (The heads of Disney, or at least it’s CEO, seem uncomfortable with the ride’s themes- cartoon, human-like animals who act out The Uncle Remus [tm] story of Br’er Rabbit.)

    The Splash Mountain ride(s) are built + used in the Disney amusement parks, in: California, Florida, + [Tokyo, Japan].

    In my view- Mickey Mouse + Minnie mouse, who were created in the 1930s- might have their faces, + gloves, from “black-minstrels’s shows”.

    Maybe Minnie + Mickey will be pulled from the Disney products + parks, + toys, as well.

  4. }}} The DISNEY [company] is planning to close it’s “SPLASH MOUNTAIN” ride, or rides, because some Disney fans feel that it “promotes racial stereotypes”.

    They won’t tear it down. They’ll just re-skin it with something far far more woke.

    }}} The heads of Disney uncomfortable with the ride’s themes- cartoon, human-like animals who act out The Uncle Remus [tm] story of Br’er Rabbit.

    There’s the REAL problem, canceling the idea that ooooooh so pure DISNEY once made anything so “racially insensitive” as Uncle Remus (“Song of the South”).

    Europeans have been allowed to buy copies of Uncle Remus since they first released it on videotape decades ago. Not Americans — it’s NEVER been available in the USA… :-/

  5. In the above, I meant to say:

    In my view- Mickey Mouse + Minnie Mouse, who were created in the 1930s- might have their faces, + gloves- from artists who were inspired to create Mickey Mouse’s looks, + Minnie Mouse’s looks- (maybe) by the [stereotyped], blackface images, + white gloves- that were used in “blackface-minstrels’ shows”.

  6. To, um, segue from the Magic Kingdom to the Middle Kingdom…(and beyond)…here’s something a bit less entertaining to compare and contrast…:

    Klaus Schwab/WTF “It’s-a-small-world-after-all” special:
    “Why China Sucks: It’s A Beta-Test For The New World Order”—
    https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/why-china-sucks-its-beta-test-new-world-order
    “Biden” Saturday Night special:
    “LA County Experiences 1,200% Increase In Fentanyl Overdose Deaths Over 5-Year Period—
    https://www.zerohedge.com/political/la-county-experiences-1280-increase-fentanyl-overdose-deaths-over-5-year-period
    Orwell redux special:
    “The Ministry of Truth was far more sinister than we were told”—
    https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2022/12/02/the-ministry-of-truth-was-far-more-sinister-than-we-were-told-n515047
    + “Thanks-for-watching” Bonus:
    “Scientists discover two new minerals in meteorite”—
    https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2022/11/30/canada-university-alberta-researchers-discover-new-minerals-meteorite/2491669853788/

  7. Related to the above:

    This can’t possibly be true…(can it?)…
    “Disabled Canadian Army Veteran Paralympian Blasts Government For Offering To EUTHANIZE Her When She Complained About How Long It Was Taking To Install Stairlift At Her Home”—
    https://blazingcatfur.ca/2022/12/03/disabled-canadian-army-veteran-paralympian-blasts-government-for-offering-to-euthanize-her-when-she-complained-about-how-long-it-was-taking-to-install-stairlift-at-her-home/

    Looks like Trudeau, like “Biden”, is aiming to gut the armed forces…and decency in general…

    (BTW, not just the armed forces…but making “examples” of certain categories of people is a far more effective way of “passing along the message”…)

  8. It’s not really that far a leap from “you will own nothing and like it” to “you will be euthanized and like it”.

  9. Sounds like a beaurocrat that needs to be terminated. How progressive ideas play out. They mean well (not).

  10. Snow on Pine @ 10:03 linked to an incredible story. I would like to see it verified by some media/news site.
    If verified, this demonstrates the sophistication of Democrats illegal operations.

  11. From the “Great Minds Think Alike” File: “Biden”, together with Soros, spreads corruption internationally, characteristically calling it “Democracy”…
    “Soros-backed labor organization gets $12 million in taxpayer funding to back Latin American workers;
    “Controversial billionaire has given several million to group.”—
    https://justthenews.com/government/soros-backed-labor-organization-gets-12-million-taxpayer-funding-back-latin-american

    Meanwhile, back at home:
    “…Senate Fell for Biden ‘Scam’ on Railway Resolution”—
    https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/biden-white-house-gop/2022/12/02/id/1098938/
    Key graf:
    The Senate resolution, which also had the support of President Joe Biden, passed by a decisive 80-15 vote. However, Davidson said he believes it’s not the government’s job to force labor deals onto American workers.

    ‘…”A lot of my [congressional] colleagues, unfortunately, fell for the Biden administration’s scam here. They were [essentially] saying, If you don’t sign right here, you’re going to cause a rail strike,” said Davidson….’

  12. If the former Twitter “Trust and Safety” honchos hadn’t behaved as political operatives they wouldn’t look bad now. No sympathy for them. Naturally, violence towards them would be wrong, but naming them is not the same as making threats of violence.

  13. I was too late and too American to have caught Bardot in her prime. But she was sensational. I caught up when I discovered the Ye-ye girls, an underappreciated sixties French pop style.

    Among Bardot’s several roles, she was a Ye-ye girl, though not the best. Bardot’s best was her great figure and wide-eyed beauty looks in the many films she made.

    Here’s a tribute to Bardot with a Ye-ye soundtrack by France Gall, IMO the Queen of Ye-ye Girls. Ironically, the song title, “Laisse tomber les filles,” means something like “Leave the Girls Alone.”

    –“A Tribute to BRIGITTE BARDOT”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9AbHFtN_g4

    I wish there was more dancing in the video. Looks like Bardot made good use of those early ballet lessons.

  14. RE: My first post above–

    Make that people—many from out of state and many unemployed–each one making hundreds of small donations which collectively add up, in one instance illustrated, to one person from New Jersey making 381 donations totaling $6,491.

    Another unemployed out of state New York “donor” made 355 small donations—sometimes several in one day—totaling $10,432.

    This article also features a chart showing that the authors found that, of the top 30 “volume“ donors (all unemployed)–who made a total of 7,129 “donations” to Georgia Democrat Warnock–only one was from Georgia.

    Not suspicious at all, right?

  15. Oh … one mo’ Ye-ye comment.

    Here’s a crazy young anmiator with a Parsons pedigree who drew for “Ren & Stimpy” and created a Ye-ye persona named “April March” (as silly a pseud as France Gall).

    I’m not sure if it was a labor of love or a calculated bet that the world of 1995 was ready for a reboot of Ye-ye in America, but April March came up with a brilliant reworking of “Laisse tomber les filles” as “Chick Habit.”
    _______________________

    Hang up the chick habit
    Hang it up, daddy
    Or you’ll be alone in a quick

    Hang up the chick habit
    Hang it up, daddy
    Or you’ll never get another fix

    –“April March – Chick Habit”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjCl0DRsKHU

    _______________________

    Quentin Tarantino used the song for his movie, “Death Proof.” Which goes either way as a recommendation.

    I’m not sure how close the English lyrics are to the original French, but they are wicked as any I can think of.

  16. Several years ago I saw the film “Contempt.” Looking it up just now I was surprised to see it at the top of the list for noteworthy Bardot films. A few of the opening scenes let you know right away that they are going to be breaking the rules of filmmaking. It’s a relatively early JL Godard film.

    I miss the sort of inventiveness & experimentation that existed in music & film back then. Not that it doesn’t still exist at some level. I went to a Sundance film fest. once. The more experimental stuff was truly terrible.

  17. Banned:

    It truly is a shame that you can’t comprehend that your boy Vlad chose to invade Ukraine. Chaff about Nazis all you want doesn’t change that.

    And for some reason Vladdy and the Wagner Group are hell bent on “liberating” Bakhmut, but mostly they’ve just killed 10’000s of poor Russian men. They’ve been “liberating” Bakhmut for 3 months now.

    Genius, your Vladdy.

  18. and peter the great, and then catherine the great, why is vyborg in Russian hands, instead of Swedes, much like why is San Antonio part of Texas,

  19. And yet Eastern Europe is no longer in Roosian hands, eh, Miguel? Nor is Finland. A great unsolvable mystery.

    Genius.

    Texas, indeed. Always there are apologists.

  20. mccaul was the alternate choice for bureau chief as wray, we roll snake eyes all the time, nunes was the best, that’s why they erased his seat ratcliffe was ok,

  21. it’s not a very defensible position, you can really only resupply from the sea, this was partly why kerch was retaken at the end of 2014, and it didn’t take 80 billion dollars, you read maps and you see how that is,

  22. Hey Miguel and Brain E:

    How much did it cost Vlad (rubbles (sic) or dollars) to sieze Crimea, build the Kerch Bridge, invade Georgia, and so on before 2022? And since it’s all about money, how much has it cost Vlad to liberate Kiev, Kharkhiv, Kershon, the Donbass and Luhansk Oblasts so far? And of course how much has it cost Vlad just this month to “liberate” the infrastructure of Ukraine. Since it’s all about money. No free lunches, boys.

    Converting the Moskva to a submersible was something Vlad didn’t put in his budget.

    There is a reason Vlad’s good times with nice things is probably not going to last.

  23. om,
    It’s past time for Europeans to step up and defend Europeans from Russian threats.

    What is the EU doing for Ukraine?

  24. Ah well. Thanks, neo, for inspiring a great Bardot / Ye-ye weekend.

    Ye-ye is like this weird vein of gold, not really out of the way, yet almost no Americans know of it.

    “Ye-ye” comes from the Beatles “Yeah yeah.” It’s the story of Music ricocheting around the globe from one people to another, percolating into new forms. Ye-ye wouldn’t have been possible without American and British rock, but when I hear Ye-ye I also hear influences on Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed and even Neil Diamond.

  25. Here’s a real gem I discovered tonight from Sylvie Vartan, another Ye-ye goddess in my pantheon, singing/twisting Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say?” The quartet behind her is kinda lame, but Sylvie kills it.

    –Sylvie Vartan, “What’d I Say”
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ4V9q1brTI

    I love the way she trades Ray-style moans with the drummer and has such a good time doing it.

    Then there’s the whiplash of the blind black American guy and the young white French girl doing the same song.

    I know I throw out a lotta links, but Huxley-Bob says check this one out.

  26. Brain E plays ignorant again.

    Is Poland in Europe? Are the Baltics in Europe? Is Great Britain in Europe? Have Sweden and Finland joined NATO (or started the process to join)? Have any of those countries done anything? Think before you answer.

    Do your homework or pay attention.

  27. Banned Lizard:

    By the way, that quote you offered is somewhat out of context and a person could read it as meaning those were Ukrainian casualties he’s describing. He’s actually describing Russian casualties. You can read the longer interview here.

  28. Vladdy has some other worries now, airfield deep inside Russia, used for Tu-95 Bears and other strategic bombers hit by Ukraine. The bombers carry cruise missiles used to attack Ukrainian infrastructure.

    Ukraine Strikes Russia’s Engels Air Force Base – Home to Tu-95, Tu-160 and Tu-22M.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMMxaqkCzi0

    I’m pretty sure that striking a Russian military airfield is not a Ukrainian war crime.

  29. The EU is shirking its duty. Not surprising.

    As of Oct. 2022, a total of $98.4 billion contributed worldwide to Ukraine
    $55 billion from the US, $28 billion in military aid.
    $30.7 billion from the EU, $7 billion in military aid.
    $6.6 billion from the UK, $3.74 in military aid.
    $6.3 billion from rest of world.

    To put that in context, here is the 2020 GDP.

    US – $20.8 trillion
    EU – $15.3 trillion
    UK – $2.9 trillion

    Ukraine GDP – $156 billion
    Ukraine federal budget – $8.3 billion

    We’re flooding an extremely poor country with money. The level of graft and corruption is probably astronomical.

    Biden wants to send another $55 billion. Meanwhile:

    BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s prime minister said Friday that he will continue to oppose a European Union plan to provide an 18-billion-euro ($19-billion) aid package to Ukraine in 2023, a position that promises sustained tensions as the bloc and the nationalist Hungarian government wrangle over democratic standards.

    The money would be borrowed. Orban doesn’t want to incur debt, instead proposing each member state include contributions from each countries budget.

    Other countries have signaled they don’t have much more to give to Ukraine.

    https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/orban-hungary-stick-veto-eu-ukraine-aid-plan-94337847

    I’ve heard an analyst estimate it could cost $500 billion to rebuild Ukraine after the war. Who is going to pay that?

  30. Brain E:

    Who invaded Ukraine? Tough question, eh? Who has been destroying Ukraine? Another tough question. Who should pay to restore the stuff it destroyed? Another extremely tough question.

    Hint, it wasn’t the EU.

    Hungary is a curious case or haven’t you noticed that either?

    Or does Vlad get a pass, because, “Nazis/Azov?”
    Oopsie.

  31. Putin invaded under obama and biden, and not under trump what does that tell you

  32. What does it tell you? That Putin siezed a perceived weakness? That Putin is a moron? That Bidden and Obama are leftist snakes. That Putin, Obama, and Brandon badly misjudged how things have gone so far?

    Do tell what it all means.

    When you start a war the enemy has a say in how it plays out, Miguel.

    Best laid plans and all that.

  33. It means the war serves an ulterior purpose and not to our benefit

    The west would not readily accept such privations without this pretext

  34. I’ve heard an analyst estimate it could cost $500 billion to rebuild Ukraine after the war.

    The country’s nominal gdp is about $200 bn a year. About $75 bn would be returns to factors of production other than labor. Asset values are typically about 17x earnings, or about $1,300. All of the fighting has occurred in seven of the Ukraine’s 24 oblasts, and the Russians were in one of the seven for period measured in days and evacuated another months ago. It’s doubtful there was ever $500 bn worth of physical capital in the five remaining oblasts, or even half of that number. You need to consult different sources.

    We’re flooding an extremely poor country with money.

    No, we’re flooding them with equipment.

  35. But, but, but HIMARS, 155 mm rounds and tubes, and Soviet standard munitions are fungible (farce).

  36. Art Deco: “No, we’re flooding them with equipment.”

    Of the estimated $100 bn to Ukraine, $60 bn is for humanitarian relief. I would call that flooding Ukraine with money.

    As to the $500 bn to rebuild Ukraine after the war ends, I suppose it depends on how long the war lasts. It is probably a high figure. It was thrown out, during a discussion of the war.

    If Hurricane Sandy cost $70 bn to rebuild damage, and Hurrican Katrina is estimated at $150 bn, so it’s probably more in the $200 bn range. Your analysis doesn’t make any sense though. The infrastructure being destroyed is the cumulative product of 50-100 years of growth.

  37. Miguel cervantes

    Putin invaded under obama and biden, and not under trump what does that tell you

    That Trump colluded with Russia back in 2016. Or so our Democrat friends tell us.

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